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Hakushaku to Yousei - Volume 2 - Chapter 3




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P. 77
        On the quiet surface of the lake, where there was no wind, and no ripple of a wave, a number of row boats glided across its peaceful surface. The lantern lights colorfully illuminated the row boats that were decored in a foreign theme, making them look like they came out of a dream and the mixture of the numerous lights and elegant boat shadows crossed and mingled among one another, filling the lake with a mystical blend of colors. 
        Sitting on one of those rental boats, Lydia was thinking there are so many people in London who have too much free time. She watched a nicely dressed couple pass by on their boat as they were chatting and giggling with each other.
        Of course, Edgar was also another member of that high class society, who had no need to work and had plenty of time on his hands. 
        On a row boat that had room for ten people, there was currently the three of them, with Raven as one of them, who had been waiting at the floating pier for them. Two oarsmen had also climbed on the boat and were rowing in slow strokes with the long paddles.
        “The climax of the Cremons Gardens is fireworks. The best seat is here atop the lake.”
        “We can see fireworks?”
        “Yes. Have you seen fireworks before?”
        “No.”

P. 78
        “Then I’m lucky. I can be along side you during your fresh impression.”
        Raven opened a bottle of champagne. She was handed a thin, tall glass and watched as she was poured the bubbly golden drink, but just the reflection of the flickering fire felt like it was enough to intoxicate her.
        “Let’s make a toast. To my valiantly brave fairy.”
        “Me, valiant?”
        “Didn’t you protect just earlier. Even getting yourself injured.”
        He’s over-exaggerating. And the ‘my’ part is unnecessary. 
        But, being with him after awhile, no matter how much Edgar talked to her sweetly, there was a part of her that thought that was just a common thing. 
        It wasn’t like she got used to it, more like, it wasn’t something special but a daily routine for this person to make an elaborate performance and act like the center of the crowd where ever he went.
        Even the bench that was covered with cushions was wide and plentiful, she felt that the distance between was unnecessaringly close since Edgar had deliberately sat right next to her, but after she swallowed down the champagne it wasn’t that big of a deal. 
        “Where did you see fireworks?”
        After she said that, she wondered what she was thinking to make herself ask that question.
        To tell the truth, Lydia had strictly decided to herself that she was not going to ask anything in regards to his past.
        It seemed complicated, and once she found out, she felt unwanted troubles would come her way, and most importantly, she didn’t have the intention of getting that deeply involved. 

P. 79
        All she knew was that he was born into an aristocratic family, but was involved in a conspiracy, and made society believe that he and his family had all died, but in reality he alone survived and was sold to a wealthy man in America. He then escaped from there, and as he evaded his pursuers, he did anything in order to live…
        She was only given a quick explanation, but if she were to honestly believe all of what he said, that would be just too much for her to handle, and so Lydia found in hard to believe and was half in doubt.
        And so, she had been evading any topic or comments that would touch about his past even in their casual chit-chat.
        “When I was a child, every time there was a party at our manor house there were fireworks. There was a natural lake on our grounds, and I remember there were a number of boats on the water just like this.”
        At his reply, she breathed a sigh of relief. It looked like she managed to not make him remember about his horrible experience in America.
        However, when she thought about how he had lost everything that he was suppose to inherit, like the manor house and vast family lands and the venerable family name, then it might have actually been a sad memory.
        Because in the past, he still had his family and friends by his side, and there was no need to hide anything behind his blessed beautiful looks and could have grown up smiling innocently.
        Although she thought about it for a while, there was no reason for Lydia to delve any further than that. If there was someone who could share this man’s past, then that person was someone who would share his future as well.

P. 80
        Edgar looked at Lydia with a not entirely satisfied expression after she suddenly went silent.
        “You’re not going to ask anything more about me?”
        “Eh? …..Umm, I really am not that curious about your past.”
        “Oh, really.”
        Oh, no, I said it too coldly again.
        “That’s not what I meant, um, I believe that what lies ahead is more important than what happened. You’re now a respectable England earl, and so what happened in your past is not something I should know.”
        She regretted for saying something so superficial and that made her sigh.
        “Then, let me tell a story about a friend of mine. He happened to have the possession of an agate stone that was a ‘fairy egg’.”
        The stone that Edgar showed interest and was called the ‘fairy egg.’ At such an unexpected name, Lydia turned back to face from curiosity. 
        “That’s right, after I was told from Professor Carlton, I was convinced. The stone that he had was no doubt the ‘fairy egg’ which had an interesting anecdote about it, said to have sealed an evil spirit. But apparently he had lost it when he was a young boy.”
        “How did he lose it?”
        “He didn’t really remember at that clearly, but he thinks he was captured by the fogman.”
        And now the key word fogman has come out. It seems the real reason Edgar stuck his nose into this case was behind that.

P. 81
        “He had at least believed that was what happened at the time, because it was such a pitch black place he was in. Like he was cast under a spell, his body didn’t move an inch, and so he was unable to escape. And then, two little fairies in the form of two young girls appeared before him. They were adorable little fairies who were wearing nice, pretty dresses. He had never seen fairies before, but he was made to believe that because he was in such a state of consciousness that he couldn’t tell between dream and reality. And he tried to ask for their help. But then, Lydia, like the rule in all the fairytales, the two little fairies asked him what he can give them in exchange. The only possession the boy had was that ‘fairy egg.’ And so he gave them that. The little girls said they would help him and disappeared.”
        He then went quiet and looked up to the sky. The fireworks still hadn’t started.
        “And so, was he saved?”
        “No. Most likely, the dark place he was in was some warehouse. He was carried out like a piece of luggage, and was put onto a ship and was sold.”
        Could he have been in the same place as Edgar who was also sold as a slave?
        “Is that person still in America?”
        “He’s dead.”
        “….Are you trying to find his ‘fairy egg’ for him?”
        “That’s not it, Lydia. I want to find ‘him.’ There are times when I imagine that perhaps, he was kidnapped by the fogman and no one saved him and the real him is still out there somewhere, lying in the dark and cold. But if that’s so, that’s fine, because I’ll be able to save him now. I have a reliable fairy doctor by my side.”

P. 82
        He says he wants to save someone who is no longer alive. It was strange words that didn’t sound like the usual Edgar at all. 
        Lydia just stared at him not able to measure the truth.
        “A boy who has disappeared into the London fog…. I wonder if I’m able to find the boy, whose still said to be missing, and drag him out of the mist, would that erase the fact that he had died? Lydia, would you please help him?”
        He plead to her with a calm, silent expression. She knew that what he asked was impossible, but she had the faint feeling that the one who was waiting to be saved was actually him as he was also in the same situation. 
With the disappearance of Lady Doris and adding the fact about the fogman which was the works of man, there could be the possibility that the reason Lydia was involved in all of this could be coming from the same reason.
        There was no reason to find out about Edgar’s past. However, if he was suffering from the accounts in his past, well, Lydia was the type to think that she shouldn’t just stand and watch. 
        “Well, if there is anything that I can do….”
        She replied, still unsure what he was truly asking from Lydia. If she said anything too easily, then there was a chance she’d be completely taken advantage of, but she wanted to believe that the pain he held within himself wasn’t a lie, and so Lydia was confused.

P. 83
        “Thank you.”
        They ended up looking into each other’s eyes unexpectedly. 
        Inside, she was panicking as not knowing what to do, but she remained still, perhaps because she felt like she was a mouse that happened to walk into the path of a lion.
        Of course she was frightened, but she also felt like she wanted to reach out and touch the graceful lion and its golden fur. She gazed up at his lips that curved up to a thin smile looking for a possible glimpse for his beautiful hidden fangs.
        Eh? Wh-what am I thinking! Oh, my goodness, could I have gotten drunk from just one glass of champagne.
        There wasn’t an once of romance inside Lydia’s head which was in the state of a little mouse, but her shoulders were softly pulled to him. 
        “I was always thinking, you have the fragrance of chamomile. The same smell like those biscuits.”
        Oh, no, but just in the second she thought that.
        “Ah, fireworks!” she gasped.
        With the blasting sounds, a brightly lit flower emerged in the sky.
        In one instant, Lydia’s eyes were spellbound by the fireworks she was seeing for the first time.
        “Oh, amazing! It’s so beautiful….”
        The tingling feeling that had been consuming her just earlier was gone. Lydia remained looking up to the sky, mesmerized by the fireworks, and at that sight of her, Edgar burst out laughing. 

P. 84
        What’s so funning, she thought, as she looked down to him as he was having a good laugh.
        “Wh-What!? It really is beautiful. Ah, there’s goes another one.”
        “No, it’s just, you looked completely captivated by the fireworks than from me.”
        It makes me lose confidence, said Edgar; he was apparently in a good mood as he was still chuckling.
        He sipped down all of his champagne and offered a serving to Raven. Of course, the servant strictly refused.
        As he evaded the jesting pursuits of Edgar, the first one to bring his attention to the row boat that was quietly approaching them was Raven.
        It was a sharp look that was targeted at anything that approached his master, no matter what it was, but the ones on the approaching boat was a young girl who was dressed like a member of the upper-class.
        “Oh, my, if it isn’t my lord. What a coincidence.”
        She was an adorable, pretty girl with large eyes and orange-colored spiraled hair, with white, purl skin like that of a bisque doll.
        “Oh, good afternoon, Lady Rosalie Worpole. How are you?”
        Worpole? Could she be related somehow to the baron family line?
        Now that she thought about it, she remembered that the baron daughter had been living with a cousin, one-year older than her and an uncle. 
        Next to the girl, there was a man in his late thirties. One could tell in a glance that he had put a lot of money in his wardrobe, and he was quite handsome as well. She introduced him as her uncle whose name was Graham Purcell. 

P. 85
        “It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Lord Ashenbert. This is the first time for me to personally greet you, but I have seen you several times at the club in Piccadilly.”
        The man took off his hat and lowered his head, to which Edgar returned with his head.
        “Ahh, which means, I heard while I was there, that there is a famous ladies’ man in the ton, I can see that must have meant you, Lord Graham.”
        It looked like both these men were the same type of rakes. Which means, they could be seeing each other as rivals, thought Lydia, as she sensed the cold presence behind Edgar’s smile.
        “Excuse me, my lord, but who would you have with you?”
        The girl who said that, glanced towards Lydia with a look mixed with curiosity and contempt. Like she was being judged her worth, she was inspected from top to bottom, which made Lydia feel slightly unpleasant.
        “This is Miss Lydia Carlton.”
        “Which Carlton would that be? What is her father’s work?”
        “I am the fairy doctor Carlton.”
        It was normal for a daughter to be ranked according to her father’s social position in society, but Lydia replied with a sense of rebellion. 
        “Oh, my, so you’re the rumored fairy specialist? You seem to be around the same age as me, but it must be tough to have to work.”

P. 86
        A daughter from a good family didn’t have to work. She understood that she was held in contempt with that meaning, but she held pride in calling herself a fairy doctor, so she didn’t mind the scorn at all.
        “Not really work, more like she is my advisor, and my trusted partner,” said Edgar.
        “But, my lord, isn't it a fact that she is under your hire?”
        And now she was being looked upon as a servant.
        “Miss Rosalie, do you think that King Arthur thought of the magician Merlin as his servant? You see, we have that sort of equal standing between us.”
        When she was defended like that, Lydia felt her heart unexpectedly beated a little faster.
        “Oh, how marvelous. But if it was me, I would prefer to be the princess than a magician.”
        It looks like she wasn’t the average reserved lady.
        “By the way, where is Lady Doris who is always with you?”
        Oh, my, goodness, Edgar, why did you have to ask something so daring. Lydia couldn’t help but be worried, but unexpectedly, Rosalie replied like it was nothing at all.
        “She doesn’t feel well, so she’s recovering in the countryside.”
        “Oh, my, that’s unfornate to hear. It must be quite lonely.”
        “Not all that much. Doris is a little too quiet and you must have seen how she was always following me around? Since I don’t have to look after her, I’m free to spend all my free time for myself.”

P. 87

P. 88
        If she wasn’t pretending to be tough, then she was quite the cousin, thought Lydia. Her cousin was missing, for goodness sakes.
        Or, was the truth being hidden from her as well.
        “Anyways, my lord, would you mind if I join you on your boat? If you weren’t in the middle of enjoying your time alone with Miss Lydia, then I would be more than thrilled to join you.”
        This girl must have feelings for Edgar.
        But she sure was a girl who openly displayed her attraction. She even didn’t forget to give a side-ways glance towards Lydia’s direction like she as seeing her rival. 
        “Rosalie, that’s impolite,” interrupted her uncle.
        “Oh, no, Lord Graham. I don’t mind at all.”
        However, there was no way Edgar was going to refuse an invitation from a lady.
        “Oh, really? My, I’m so happy. I was brought here by my uncle, but the conversation doesn’t last if you’re not among your youth.”
        “I consider myself still youth, you know.”
        “Uncle, you really must relinquish that rake name of yours and settle down.”

P. 89
        With a sour smile, her uncle looked over towards Edgar.
        “If I may accept your kind offer, my lord, would you look after my niece? To tell you the true, I have a business affair after this, and so I was just being scolded by her in saying that I need to leave soon.”
        “Yes, of course, it is a pleasure to be able to accompany a beautiful lady.”
        I knew he was the kind of person to say the same thing to anybody.         
        The ever more defiant looks Rosalie was sending Lydia was making her feel disgusted and she didn’t think she would be able to continue enjoying the fireworks that were still being shot up.
        “Then it was good timing, Edgar, I’ll be leaving now.”
        “Eh, why?”
        “If I’m late, Father would be worried.”
        He shook his head a little like he was disappointed, but that was all.
        “Alright, then Raven, escort Lydia back home.”
        So you’re not going to stop me.
        …….Well, I’m fine with that
.
        The pretty doll-like girl had her boat rested next to the floating pier and gladly changed boats to sit next to Edgar.
        If she kept that up, Lydia thought there wasn’t going to be any troubles trying to woo her.

P. 90
        Well, it has nothing to do with me, she mumbled, and so Lydia left the lakeside. 
        Ladies are more happy to receive a hand-full of flowers from the road-side from the man they adore than a bouquet of fancy flower from a man they don’t care about. 
        She remembered those words of Edgar when she happened to see the Margaret flowers sitting in the vase by the windowsill of her room.
        Lydia was honestly happy to be treated like a normal woman by Mr. Langley. 
        The way Edgar treated as a lady…. Was somehow something she couldn’t honestly be happy about.
        She had a seemly frightening feeling about being honestly delighted about that, almost like she shouldn’t.
        If she didn’t keep her distance, she felt she might be dragged in and deeply wrapped up and messed around with.
        She couldn’t quite grasp what that feeling was called exactly, but Lydia was just simply scared.
        On the table she had lit, Lydia closed the book that she couldn’t concentrate on, and pulled out another book and opened its cover.
        She picked up a violet flower that she had dried and pressed, and she was about to throw it away, but rethought that the flower had no sin.
        The reason she brought back only this flower was just because it was one of her favorite kinds. There was no deep meaning behind it.

P. 91
        She just thought that its light coloration was rare; it had nothing to do with the fact that it resembled the same color of his eyes.
        Anyways, she must not be misled by what Edgar says. She already knew from the start, Lydia honestly regretted every time she came across the thought that he might just be kind-hearted only to herself.
        “He was just a lady’s man in the end.”
        It was annoying to have a bad mood because of that, so she took a deep breath to calm herself down.
        “Oi, Lydia.”
        She slapped the book shut. When she turned around, she saw Nico standing in the doorway. He entered the room and trotted over to her direction.
        “What are you panicked about?”
        “No-nothing.”
        “I followed after that bogey beast. And then I saw it enter the townhouse of that Baron Worpole family.”
        “Baron family, you mean the house of Lady Doris who disappeared?”
        “Yup. On top of that, the one who was making the bogey do trouble was an orange-haired girl with twirled hair.”
        “……Rozalie?”

P. 92
        “I don’t know her name. She was saying at the Cremorne Garden that she wished you would disappear from London just like Doris. It looks like she wants to get close to the earl. You should be careful.”
        She had already sensed that she had feelings towards Edgar when she met her atop the lake. 
        However, it was unexpected news that she was the one who had given the orders to the bogey beast. Did she have the intention of injuring Lydia at that time.
        But the thing she couldn’t dismiss the most was the part about ‘like Doris.’
        Did that mean she wanted something to happen to her cousin Doris?
        “But, Nico, why is the bogey beast doing as she says?”
        “No, it was saying something like it had an actual master who wasn’t her. And, it was just pretending to follow her orders for the sake of its master.”
        “Who’s its master?”
         “I don’t know that, but that young girl didn’t seem to know anything about the master at all.”
        Even if one is able to see fairies, it was dangerous to be in contact with them if you didn’t know how to handle them. And because of that, in the past, there were many people who were deceived by fairies and went through a bitter experience, which made them ask for the help of fairy doctors.
        Particularly, it was common for the mischievous fairies who played the pranks to purposefully show themselves to humans to talk to them.

P. 93
        People in the past knew that even if you saw them, you pretended not, and if you heard them, you pretended not, and by doing that, people were able to evade danger, but now-a-days there aren’t that many people who could teach that to others.
        If the young woman named Rosalie, remained unaware of the true master who is pulling the strings of the bogey beast as Nico says, and still in contact with the fairy, then that means she doesn’t have knowledge or understanding about fairies and thinks she has acquired magic powers. 
        That would be dangerous for her.
        Even if Rosalie wished for Lady Doris to disappear, if there were ulterior motives of the bogey beast behind that, then that means Rosalie is also caught in the trap that the fairy set.
        If she wanted to ask her about Lady Doris, she first needed to cut the ties between Rosalie and the bogey beast.
        But she wondered if that girl would honestly listen to what Lydia said.
        Judging from her attitude today, she thought that was impossible.
        It looks like the case regarding Lady Doris was a much more complicated case than she imagined.
        As she was mulling that over, on the other hand, Lydia was bothered about the ‘fairy egg’ Edgar brought up and the fogman. The glass ball of the fortune-telling game had nothing to do with the water sealed agate stone. And yet, Edgar thought they were linked.

P. 94
        She had the feeling like he was fixated on it more than it being just a simple related word. 
        Why? 
        It seemed somehow familiar with how Lady Doris was frightened of the fogman who was supposedly unrelated with the fairy egg fortune-telling game.
        “……Hm?”
        For a split second, Lydia felt like there was nearly something that connected in her thought. But she was unable to grasp what that was, and now was lost. 
        But what she vaguely thought was that Edgar was still hiding something from her. 
        The Worpole baron family was new to the social circle as aristocrats, but it was a wealthy family. The current master is the sixteen year old Lady Doris. Her parents died in a ship accident ten years ago. On the same ship, her cousin Rosalie’s parents were on. 
        The two girls who lost their parents at the same time, had been living with each other ever since. 
        Their ward was Lord Graham Purcell who was a distant relative with the baron. 

P. 95
        Previously at the baron house, it was well known that Rosalie and Graham were doing as they pleased without regard to the rightful master Doris.
        The dull and shy baron daughter and her showy, strong-willed cousin. Naturally, the one who came to grab the spotlight and be the center of the crowd was Rosalie and Doris was always by her side like a servant and did as she was told.
        However, Doris had the higher title. She was after all, the current head of the baron family. That’s why her strong-willed cousin wanted to stand out more than Doris. 
        Even in front of others, she would periodically act cruelly to Doris and basked in the sense of superiority. 
        Rosalie stated to Edgar straightly that she was so glad her cousin is gone, when the two of them were alone together. 
        Her cousin was a girl who couldn’t do anything on her own ever since she was a child. She was timid and a coward, and that’s why Rosalie told her that the fogman would come to punish her since she broke the promise that they swore on the fairy egg, and that honestly frightened her and so she left London and is staying away in the countryside. That was also what Rosalie revealed to him.
        Either way, she was a girl who really didn’t have a tight lip.
        Edgar had only met her a few times in a few social gatherings of the upper class, and she had always served as a handy source of valuable information.
        If he would only just hint a sign of interest, she was more than delighted to answer. There was no trouble at all in retrieving the every single bit of inside information of the baron family than he expected.

P. 96
        And, now, for the next step. Which paun should he move.
        As he thought, Edgar tied his brows deeply together.
        It was like a game. Perhaps what he was trying to do was meaningless even if he were to obtain victory. 
        He forced that thought out of his head. Even if a game, once he started it, he needed to win. That was all there was to it. 
        How many more moves until checkmate?
        “Welcome home, my lord.”
        To the butler who saw his arrival, he gave his hat and stick and forcibly handed over his coat and then Edgar walked over to Raven who had entered the entrance hall. 
        “Raven, how was Lydia? Was she jealous?”
        “You wish to know if she showed signs of jealousy?”
        Raven tilted his head as if he was confused at the unexpected question.
        “Seeing at how I was getting along with another lady, one would think I’d have a chance if she should signs of being jealous, right?”
        “Uh-hm, however, master Edgar, I was not given the order to make sure if she was jealous or not,” he replied seriously. 

P. 97
        “…Well, yes, that was so. I forgot.”
        “And I wouldn’t be able to judge such a thing.”
        Treated as a living, breathing weapon, Raven was unable to feel his own feelings or will as his own. It seemed it was even more difficult for him to understand the feelings of others.
        His eyes, which at one glance appeared pure black, had a faint green tone to it when you see the light reflect in them. Apparantely, in his homeland, that meant he had the fierce and untamed sprit that rejoice bloody combat. 
        The child with the spirit that only bowed to a king and born to fight, had incredible fighting skills. At the same time, the child’s human senses and feelings were dim, and didn’t hesitate nor give mercy or need a reason to kill as it was ordered.
        If there was no need for a heart in a weapon meant for battle, then he was the ideal fighter anyone would want.
        There was no way to make sure if there was indeed a spirit for Edgar, but he knew that Raven was that sort of lad. However, there was no such thing as a human with no heart.
        If one was treated as a weapon, then he was only left to act like one, but he was perfectly able to feel and think for himself. 
        Raven strived to serve Edgar, who came in place of his ‘King,’ not only by just listening to his orders, but keep a relationship of trust and loyally follow him. Edgar hoped that he kept that in heart and slowly turn those feelings to other humans besides his master. 
        Going up the hall stairs, and opening the door to his room, Edgar turned his focus to what he had asked from Raven.

P. 98
        “Ummm, then let’s hear what you found that I asked of you.”
        “I safely escorted Miss Lydia to her home.”
        “Was there anyone suspicious?”
        “No one appeared.”
        As he thought, he threw himself onto the sofa. 
        “Hmm. There should have been word that I was going to take Lydia with me to Cremorne Gardens, and I thought that the situation where Lydia went home by herself was a golden opportunity. Oh, well, it’s not like the culprit was going to do the work personally, so it could have meant the culprit didn’t have its men prepared in time.”
        “Uh, Master Edgar, will you be continuing to use Miss Lydia as a bait?”
        “If it makes you feel uneasy, I could think it over?”
        “No, that’s not what I meant.”
        The order from Edgar to protect Lydia as well as capture the ones who attack her wasn’t that difficult a bid to follow for Raven.
Of course Edgar understood what Raven wanted to say, he was thinking about the insensitive approach of willfully making Lydia a lure without her knowing it.
        There wasn’t such a time in the past for him to show such a worry for someone and it to be one besides Edgar and his sister.

P. 99
        Raven’s sister, Ermine, who died before they were able to obtain their freedom, and her memory was still fresh in their minds, and when Edgar remembered her, he was deeply saddened. She was against using Lydia and when he remembered how she said that, it was natural for Raven to be reluctant.
        But even if Edgar didn’t do anything, Lydia, who was in London and carried the name as the Earl’s fairy doctor which attracted the curiosity of others, and as long as there were people who thought that they could make money off of her ability, there was going to be the possibility that she would be captured. Truth be told, he had gotten the insight that there were suspicious movements that were sniffing around on who were entering and leaving the earl house, and just when he asked Raven to guard Lydia, the near kidnapping incident happened at the park.
        At that time, it was difficult to grab the situation because of the thick fog, and since there were dogs used, Raven couldn’t get around as far as to verify the attacker’s motive.
        In any case, if there were any threatening schemes, then Edgar thought it was best to quickly lure them out and knock them out. To find the enemy and eradicate all dangers was also in the best interest of Lydia as well.
        And above all, it was for Edgar’s goal.
        “It’s to determine which member of Prince’s men he is. The culprit that’s using ships for smuggling, and preparing the stolen goods according to orders put in, and even putting his hand in human slave trade is definitely in London.”
        The man called Prince who held Edgar captive in America was the head of some strange organization.

P. 100
        His name and origins and even the goal of forming the organization was unknown, but to Edgar and Raven who managed to escape from there, he was an intensely hated, loathsome man.
        His men, therefore the one who in the past put the nearly-dead Edgar onto his ship and carried him to America and handed him over to Prince was the one he was going to have his revenge on was the goal for Edgar for the present time.
        The one who meets the same conditions at that time has already been researched. However right now, there was nothing to determine if that person was just a simple criminal or someone faithful to Prince.
        “Will the culprit make Miss Lydia his next target? We weren’t able to determine if the attacker yesterday at the park was just a passing-by maniac.”
        “He’s sure to; he knows that Prince is willing to pay a handsome fee for people who have a unique ability beyond that of a normal human. I know that one of them with special ability who was imprisoned at Prince’s headquarters was also put on the same ship as I was, and in these past several years in London, there were a number of psychics who have disappeared. If the smuggler is one of Prince’s men, and he found out that Lydia is a fairy doctor then he’s sure to target her. He’ll surely make a move again.”
        The Brit who was ordered by Prince and sent Edgar to America could only just have been a handyman but he was the one who directly responsible with Edgar’s misfortune and hence the most unforgivable.
        And Edgar wanted to indicate to Prince that he was alive and was rising up in revolt. 
        “Just a little more. And then I’ll be able to avenge my friends.”

P. 101
        There was a painful strength in his stained whisper.
        When Edgar escaped from Prince, beside Raven and his sister, there were a number of allies who broke out with them.
        However Prince’s chase was ruthless and Edgar wasn’t able to protect them.
        “Lord Edgar, is your revenge for the sake of my sister or our allies? If it is, I don’t believe any of them who wish such a thing.”
        Perhaps so. However it was Edgar who planed the escape and he was also the one to lead it. What else could he do for his allies who believed in him and followed but were mercilessly killed. 
        Edgar obtained the status of earl and so he was no longer an unidentifiable hoodlum. So Prince wouldn’t be able to get his hands on him that easily. And if he was going to remain quiet and be sure to protect his identity and it would be best to start a new life that had nothing to do with the organization.
        If he was able to throw away his past completely. 
        But he was walking on top of the sacrifices of his allies, and could he throw all that away? If he didn’t have their help, then Edgar couldn’t have managed to successfully escape. 
        “Raven, in the end, you’re the only one left,” he whispered as he rested his cheek in the palm of his hand. 
        Raven remained standing straight and lowered his eyes quietly to the floor.
        “I wasn’t able to bring any of them here when they helped me in our escape. Even when I promised them freedom.”

P. 102
        “I’m sorry.”
        “Why apologize?”
        “I think that none of them would have regretted it. If they saw you now, I believe all of them would be deeply happy. But, ….. I don’t know how to say it well.”
        “You’ve said plenty, Raven.”
        He stood up and placed his hands on Raven’s shoulders.
        This small eighteen year old young boy from the eastern globe of the world, he was the only reason that Edgar was here.


*

        “What? Lydia, would you say that one more time?”
        “I said that the bogey beast that appeared yesterday at Cremorne Gardens was apparently following the orders given by Rosalie.”
        “No, after that.”
        "It looks like the bogey beast may be somehow related to the disappearance of Lady Doris.”

P. 103
        “After that.”
        “It’s dangerous to be in contact with fairies if you don’t know anything about them, so including that, I wanted you to ask Miss Rosalie and warn her.”
        For some strange reason, Edgar made a displeased face. But she thought it wasn’t that difficult a task for him to cajole a young girl and persuade her. 
        “You can’t? It seems like she would listen to what you’d say, and I thought she would accept it if you cautioned you, since you would be seeing her again, aren’t you?”
        “So you aren’t the least bit jealous.”
        “Huh…..?”
        Lydia had just arrived for work at the earl’s house, and was about to enter her office when she was caught by Edgar and made to come along and spend time in the salon with him.
        While she was at it, she decided to bring up what she was thinking last night about Rosalie and the bogey beast to him, and hearing what he said she wasn’t able to figure out what was going on inside Edgar’s head.
        “Why would I have to be jealous? You’re free to approach anyone you like, and if that means I won’t have to be dragged around to different social settings then I would be grateful.”
        Ahh, for some reason, the more I’m with Edgar, the more bitter I become.
        “Do you really think that?”

P. 104
        Of course I think so. So you’re free to invite lady Rosalie or any other well-to-do family daughter as you please. It’s a waste of your time to hand around with me: was what she really wanted to say, but she didn’t because that only sounded like she was jealous.
        In no way am I jealous.
        “Now, listen, I’m not here to talk about that. To ward off the bogey beast for the time being, it’s best to keep a cross made of a rowan tree with you at all times. If that doesn’t work, well, then I’ll think of something else.”
        “Ahh, if only you would spend have of your heart that you do on fairies and send those feelings towards me.”
        She was thankful of the space they were in, sitting across from Edgar with a table in between them in a grand spacious room. 
Last night Lydia made a fresh resolve to herself that she was just going to let Edgar’s sweet words pass over her left and right, and so she glared at him with a heavy barrier in between them in mind.
        “Please don’t look at me with such skeptical eyes.”
        “There isn’t any more a skeptical person than you.”
        I’m definitely going to smack back those smiles or melting eyes of his that’s sure to easily put the guard down of other ladies, she thought and made her body even more tense.
        “You really are on your guard more than usual.”
        Of course I would be.

P. 105
        “My lord, you have a visitor.”
        To the butler’s voice who entered the room, Lydia was relieved. Finally, just when she thought she would be released from listening to him speak.
        “Edgar! Oh, I’ve missed you so much!”
        Probably not able to wait for the butler to lead her in, an orange-colored curly haired body came bounding in. And she went straight to Edgar.
        “Good morning, my lady. You’re even more beautiful today than before.”
        With an attitude that of a queen, she lifted up her hand and waited for him to greet her with a kiss. Of course, the girl didn’t have Lydia in her sight.
        “Oh, Edgar, there’s going to be a solo recital by a pianist from Vienna at the Watts house. Wouldn’t you like to go? It’s only a small gathering of people who are very close with Lady Watts.”
        “I wonder if it will be all right if I intrude.”
        “Of course. If you would escort me, that is. And besides, everyone wants to get to know you.”
        Taking this opportunity, Lydia tried to slowly creep out of the rom.
        “Oh, yes, Rosalie, I was told that you apparantely should keep a cross made of rowan with you. According to my fairy doctor, it's to ward off malevolent spirits.”

P. 106
        But that made her stop in her tracks. If he said something like that, then she was sure to hear a retaliation. 
        And just like she expected, Rosalie’s eyes sank into Lydia’s back.
        “Excuse me, Miss fairy doctor. Would you mind not making strange accusations at me?”
        Having no choice, Lydia turned around to face her.
        “It isn’t an accusation. You’re aware that a bogey beast is hanging around you right? That fairy is dangerous.”
        “It’s my slave. It’s protecting me, so don’t speak like you would know.”
        “That’s only for show. You know nothing at all about fairies. If that keeps hanging around you, terrible things will happen. It might even be related to the Lady Doris’ illness.”
        What Lydia wanted to say wasn’t about an illness, but the reason behind her disappearance, but she keep with the story about it being an illness as Rosalie had said.
        “Are you saying Doris was my fault? Are you saying that I did something?”
        “I didn’t say that….”
        “It isn’t my fault! It’s because she broke our promise. We both pledged to the fairy egg, and because she broke it, she angered the fairy. She was a coward and yet she had to spend her days trembling in fear, and so she broke her health and sneaked away to the countryside and her not being able to see anyone has nothing to do with me!”

P. 107
        Apparently Rosalie really did believe that Doris is recovering in the countryside. It appeared to Lydia’s eyes like she didn’t disbelieve the false announcement made by the baron house to keep up appearances.
        Then that means she only had a quarrel with Lady Doris and had no thoughts about getting her in trouble and saying that ‘she should disappear’ was only her little wish.
        But the fairy that was hanging around Rosalie was a bogey beast. Even if she only intended it to be a small quarrel, if that fae put its hands into it, there was a chance it would cause more trouble.
        “But Lady Rosalie, there is a possibility that the bogey beast would put you or the person around you in a trap without you knowing it. That’s why…”
        “You, you don’t like it how I’m so intimate with Edgar.”
        Lydia could only think how the topic had changed out of no where.
        “Huh?”
        “That’s why you’re saying such things to insult me.”
        “I have no interest in a philanderer like him!”
        “That’s not convincing when you’re irritated like that.”
        It didn’t seem like she was going to be able to have a serious talk about fairies.
        She sneaked a glance at Edgar but he didn’t show any signs of settling down this situation. 

P. 108
        More like Lydia resented him for instigating this.
        He was enjoying the quarrel of girls that were after him.
        But Lydia had no reason to fight with her.
        She attempted to walk off, but Rosalie dashed in front of her and stopped her.
        “Just because you don’t have the beauty or seductive charm that can match me, don’t try to get in my way by doing something like that. Besides, the color of your eyes makes you look like a witch. Or are fairy doctors not even human? Are you a fairy that’s taking the shape of a human?”
        “What did you say?”
        There was no reason for her to fight for Edgar. But if she was ridiculed for her looks that she was concerned about as a young woman, then there was nothing to keep Lydia quiet.
        And to add to that, she grew up with the nightmare of being called a fairy changeling from her childhood.
        “You’re not that great of a work to boast yourself. You only making yourself look showy, and how many hours do you curl that frizzled hair of yours?”
        It looked like she hit the spot that she had a complex about, as she set a deep knit in her brows.
        “Even if it was frizzled, better than that rust colored hair of yours.”
        “This is caramel!” yelled Lydia after being so furious and lost her temper.

P. 109
        The only one to call the mediocre hair color that Lydia herself couldn’t come to like like that was Edgar. It was amazing how just one word would make it seem like a charming color, but it was embarrassing for her to be clinging onto something like that. 
        She looked over to Edgar’s direction but it seemed like there was nothing for her to worry about him noticing her worry, since…
        “Then, Edgar, which do you like better, orange or caramel?” asked Rosalie and turned his attention to her question.
        “Let’s see, I haven’t had a taste of caramel yet.”
        What is that suppose to…..
        Lydia saw Rosalie act like she was turning embarrassed as she was giving her a victorious smile, that made Lydia immediately understood his meaning and turned bright red.
        Unbelievable! He’s a frivol man whose just a quick worker with women.
        “This is stupid, I’m not going to be part of this anymore!”
        Pushing aside Rosalie, she crossed the room in wide steps and headed for the door. She hear the small ‘You’re so naïve’ comment from Rosalie and she intended to hit her back by slamming the door behind her. 
        Even after she confined herself to her office, Lydia was still lingering with a disgusting feeling. 

P. 110
        She stood by the window and looked at the carriage that was parked by the front entrance ready for Edgar and Rosalie, but when he lifted his head up to her direction, she rushed to close the curtains.
        “It isn’t a problem for me if he’s a rake. Even if he kisses ladies whenever he meets them, it has nothing to do with…”
        Turning around, she jumped to shut her mouth closed.
        Raven was standing in the room near her.
        “Wh-what is it? Couldn’t you knock?”
        “I apologize. I came in since there was no reply.”
        Was I so angry that I couldn’t hear?
        “Oh…., I’m sorry. But shouldn’t you be accompaning ‘Lord’ Edgar?”
        “Miss Carlton, Lord Edgar isn’t that frivolous a man,” he suddenly said with a serious expression. 
        So you heard. Lydia was suddenly in an awkward position. 
        “He’s only frivolous in what he says. He wouldn’t dare force his way with a woman. Although that would be different if she was wishing for that.”
        That’s what you would call frivolous.
        “That’s why, Miss Carlton, would you please trust Lord Edgar just a little? Since you’re hired as his fairy doctor, he wouldn’t kiss you just for fun. As long as you don’t allow it.”

P. 111
        “I would never allow it.”
        “Then there should be nothing for you to complain about.”
        “O-of course not. If all was according to what you’re saying. But, I don’t trust him. Even yesterday or today, if I was to put my guard down, who knows what he would do. I’m only here as a fairy doctor, so I don’t want to be treated as one of his female followers.”
        “I can bet on it.”
        “You’re so loyal.”
        “You don’t have to run and it will be safe to put your guard down.”
        He would do anything for the sake of Edgar. More than eradicating his master’s enemies or those that got in the way, most likely Raven was attempting to soothe and calm down Lydia, which must be even more difficult for Raven.
        She simply admired his loyalty.
        However one would think about it, he was a master who was a difficult, unreasonable one to serve if you were his servant. However, to Raven, he was the only one who would accept every part of his, hence he was his irreplaceable master.
        Because the only one who he says could accept the blood-driven, murderous sprite inside Raven and calm it down was Edgar. 

P. 112
        And so if she continued denying Edgar, she felt bad towards Raven who trusted his master above all else.
        “Fine then. Decide the amount you wish to bet on. But if he kisses me for fun, I’m going to punch that smart, straight face as hard as I like.”
        Raven only had his dark green eyes set onto her and slightly lifted up the corners of his lips, but that was all, so the bet was set.
        If she really thought about it, Lydia needed to be kissed in order to win, but she would realized only long afterwards.
        For now, until then, she was filled with the motivation to test Edgar.
        In truth, she must have had the wish to test if he was thinking lightly of Lydia or not.
        “One more piece of business, you dropped this,” said Raven.
        Raven placed a white, round object, which was a size that could fit in one’s hand, onto the table.
        “I found this on the floor in the salon just now.”
        She opened her mouth to say it wasn’t hers, but she quickly shut it.
        Because she realized that it was a white agate stone.
        It wasn’t pure white, but had a light green pattern that looked like the veins of a leaf on it.
        A pettermint onyx

P. 113
        When she shook it, she could hear the sound of the splish-splash of water. She rushed over to the window and held it up to the light, and saw through the thinly shaved part of the stone that there was some blackish water trapped inside it.
        Is this the ‘fairy egg?’
        Is it the real one?
        The one that was said to seal a devil sprite in it?
        The one that Edgar’s friend was said to have in his possession?

        If it was found in the salon, then the one who dropped is was Rosalie?
        “Uh, Raven. Do you remember what Edgar said on the boat yesterday? About the young boy who was captured in the London fog and said to have died in America.”
        Raven, who was nearly on his way out of the room, stopped, and turned around to face her.
        “Yes.”
        “Was that true? If it was Edgar’s friend, then it must have been someone you knew as well right?”
        “There were many who respected Lord Edgar and was by his side as allies. Since all of us were sold and bought, we were all in the same situation, so I couldn’t exactly say who it was.”
        “Allies, so everyone…”
        “They’re dead.”
        “Why?”
        “Every one of them were killed. Prince doesn’t forgive traitors.”

P. 114
        The children who disappeared like the mist and sold off. The one Edgar said he wanted to save, perhaps wasn’t a certain someone, but maybe all of his friends and allies.
        Knowing that it was impossible to rescue those friends who were not really taken away by the fog but sold and killed, he envisions that fantasy.
        If they were just captured by the fog and not by a malicious human being. If they were just hidden in the fog, then he would do anything to find and rescue them. And like that, he was still in regret for letting them die.
        Like a prayer for the repose of souls for all of the children’s souls, including his, Edgar is still unable to discard the ‘fog’ and the ‘fairy egg.’
        “But, Lord Edgar was the one who met the two fairies.”
        “Eh?”
        “That’s what I heard before.”
        “Is, is it alright for you to spill something like that to me?”
        “It isn’t like I am reframed to speak of it. Although I know nothing about how it’s related to the fairy egg.”
        She was surprised to be straightly told of it from Raven’s mouth, but it was something that Lydia had a small hunch about.

P. 115
        That even if that story was symbolically telling about the allies that were in the same situation as him, she thought that he was speaking from his own experience as well. And if it was Edgar who was the one to meet the two fairies, then that would mean the one to originally have the possession of the ‘fairy egg’ was him. 
        An agate wasn’t that rare of a stone, but those that were of high-quality and had a rare coloration were considered as jewelry.
        If it was a large stone, and came into the hands of humans then it would normally be broken into pieces and processed to be sold, but if it remained the same as it was found, then a wealthy family would surely had custody of it.
        Then the young boy who had the ‘fairy egg’ couldn’t have possibly been of low class descent.
        “Uh, were there any other people in your group who were children raised in the peerage besides Edgar?”
        “No. No one that I know of.”
        Edgar, who saw the illusion of the fogman in some dark warehouse. He traded this in exchange for help, but wasn’t rescued. Maybe he was still lost in the deep fog, along with his comrades and felt like he still wasn’t able to escape it.
        Even though he asked Lydia to save him…..
        “Miss Carlton, I would have no regret if I gave up my life for the sake of Lord Edgar. I believe it was the same for all of us. But would it be painful for Lord Edgar even if there was no regret by the ones that died?”
        “It would be painful, I think.”

P. 116
        The young man who asked that with a serious expression, lowered his eyes a little.
        “Lord Edgar was always our master and leader. He never made complaints or asked for help, and stood by himself with everyone’s trust on his back. There were some comrades who stood equally with him and they opened up to each other, but it would be questionable for me to say if they were able to accept Lord Edgar’s weakness. Our leader never showed defeat, or regret or hesitation, and that was our pride.”
        But humans are not that strong. She admired how Edgar carried that on his shoulders and yet he had the strong will to motivate and lead his band of brothers. 
        Perhaps, now that Raven had gotten his peaceful life, he was able to realize that.
        “But now I just wish that he would rest his feelings a little.”
        “All you need to do is just say that to him. He’s sure to think of you as an equal friend than master and servant.”
        Raven only shook his head strongly.
        “That’s impossible for me. The sprite inside me only obeys Lord Edgar because it accepts him as hits master. If I make that pledge indistinct then someone disastrous would happen.”
        Lydia didn’t know all that well about Raven’s spirit, but she understood that there must be a complicated reason that he must not level down his servant position.
        “That’s why Miss Carlton, please don’t come to hate Lord Edgar.”

P. 117
        “Eh, it’s not like I hate him or anything…”
        She was confused at what he suddenly said.
        “Even if Lord Edgar isn’t perfect, will you not be dejected?”
        “I don’t think of him as perfect. Because he’s frivolous and a scoundrel and a liar, he’s full of defects.”
        Even though she said quite a lot of rude things about his master, Raven only gave a response of quickly leaving the room like he was satisfied.
        Lydia was left standing by herself dumbfounded.
        “So, what was his point?”
        Did he mean that he wanted her to say to Edgar, who was no longer the leader in battle, that it was alright for him to take a rest.
        Was Raven wanting Lydia to take up the role of listening to his master’s whimpers and complaints?
        But I don’t have to be that unless he quickly makes a lover of his own. And besides, there are plenty of candidates lined up.
        Out of the blue, Rosalie’s face popped into her head, and Lydia’s temper quickly resurfaced which blew away the sympathetic feelings she was feeling towards Edgar’s pain from Raven’s story. 

P. 118

*

        Claiming that she had something she wanted to look up, Lydia left the earl house early. 
        Nico sneaked into the office that Lydia wasn’t in, and quietly opened the closet door and took out the box that he had hidden in the back of it carefully not to make a sound.
        When he placed his ear to it, he could hear a rough whispering sound coming from the box. The tin can that he placed in the box was speaking something to itself. It hadn’t realized that Nico was listening to what it was saying.
        (Rosemary, sage and basil, all the delicious smells of the herbs.)
        The voice was hard to hear, but it’s intonation sounded like it was singing, so he could tell what it was saying.
        (A bed bareel filled with rosemary, never imagined that there was such a wonderful spot like that in London.)
        (Ohh, but I was tricked. A canning factory? I was sleeping on my herb bed and before I knew it I was trapped inside the can.)
        “Oh, so you were canned while you were taking a nap.”
        Nico couldn’t help but make that remark, and after that, the thing inside it went silent. 

P. 119

P. 120
        The thing inside this must have went into a herbed fish cannery factory and fell asleep in a bed of herbs, so it must be a fairy, and it was trapped inside one of the cans.
        It must have forgotten the time from the plesant aromas and sleep. What a foolish one, he thought. But since Nico was also a fairy, once he had his attention onto something, it was an everyday occurrence that he wasn’t able to pay attention to anything else. Of course fairies never ever thought of themselves as foolish. 
        “But more than that, who was it that tricked you?”
        The thing inside the can, shook the can violently from the built up irritation of being trapped inside the can and from the caution towards Nico.
        “Hey, now, let’s talk calmly. Who are you? If you answer, I’m saying that I will open this up for you.”
        Nico had been asking the same question for the past few times. The thing inside the can wouldn’t open its mouth at first, but once it was put inside the closet and figured out that things were going to progress, it started to speak out in a quiet voice.
        But that voice was hard to hear since it was trapped inside a can.
        “You want to know who I am first? How could I reveal myself when I don’t know what you are. You want to meet the fairy doctor? I can’t trust you so that’s why I’m checking you out first. Huh? I’m the one who can’t be trusted? This isn’t going anywhere.”

P. 121
        It was quite the stubborn one.
        Apparently the thing inside wanted out and went berserk here and there, making everyone creped out and hence no one dared to open it. So it figured that it was best to stay quiet, and now a suspicious fairy was nearly going to eat it and now it was taking precautions.
        Nico told it that he wouldn’t want to eat something like I, but there being a fairy who would want to eat a awful thing like a can was more unbelievable to it.
        A can that only humans could open, and a human that the fairies could trust was only a fairy doctor. That’s why the thing inside the can requested for a fairy doctor to act as arbitrator, but for Nico, since he couldn’t say the thing inside didn’t have any ill intent, it was a problem.
        It would be troublesome if it attacked Lydia as soon as it came out, and so after making repeated arguments and counter arguments, they were being persistent.
        And in the end, their conversation would end without any answer. Because the thing in the can was sealed in, hence, its powers were sealed, it didn’t have that much energy. It’s active time period was short and because it fell asleep very quickly, it looked like they weren’t going to be able to have a talk for a while. 
        However, he could understand how the thing inside would be extremely cautious of Nico. If it was tricked and put in this state, then one’s level of caution would indeed rise. 
        He felt pity towards it, but if it turned out to be something bad, and it was sealed because of its wickedness, then there was no way that he would let it out.

P. 122
        Since this was a delicate situation, it was hard to decide if he should talk to Lydia about this. What made him hesitate was because she was chronically soft-hearted and she was sure to pity it than sense the danger.
        That’s why Nico cautiously put it in a box, so its voice wouldn’t be heard by Lydia, and hide it in the back of the closet.
        Just then the door of the room opened without a knock. Nico panicked and threw the can under the table cloth and jumped up to sit in the chair. He pretended like he was drinking tea by casually picking up a teacup, but the one who entered was Edgar.
        Oh, darn it, I screwed up
        I needed to pretend to be a cat
        After Edgar returned home and opened the door to Lydia’s office, the first thing that came into his sight was a gray-haired cat gracefully sipping tea from a teacup. 
        It was sitting on a tower of pillows on top of the chair so it could reach the table. 
        Its nose twitched like it was enjoying the steam and aroma, and after it took a quick sip, the cat returned the cup back onto the saucer. 
        It took a quick glance towards Edgar, and changed its posture as though nothing had happened. In other words, in a sitting position like that of a cat.
        What was now in front of him was just an average, normal cat that made it seemed like the sight of a cat drinking tea just now was a figure of his imagination. 

P. 123
        “I thought I heard that Lydia went home, I see that you didn’t go with her.”
        “I quite like it here. Since fresh hot tea comes out immediately when you ring a bell.”
        Leaning up against the cushion, it narrowed its eyes satisfactorily. 
        Its meow somehow sounded like they were meaningful words. Edgar was made to think again that Nico was perhaps not an ordinary feline. 
        He went to sit down opposite of Nico on the other side of the table.
        “Say, Nico, what do you think Lydia thinks of me?”
        “A shady philanderer.”
        Was what he thought Nico’s cold stare was saying.
        “Oh, well, that can’t be helped.”
        “Oi, you’re agreeing?!”
        “But for the time being, she doesn’t have a man she fancies, right? I think I still have a chance, you know.”
        “Huhhh? Or rather, weren’t you after that curly, orange haired young lady?”
        “Oh, Rosalie, we’re just friends. She thinks the same of me.”
        “How half-hearted of you, the two of you were so close, that’s hard to believe. And generally speaking, even your attitude towards Lydia looks like you’re just joking around.”

P. 124
        Like he was disgusted of him, Nico leaned against the armrest and rested his cheek in his paw.
        It was an unrealistic position, but not impossible. 
        “I don’t intend to be fooling around, it’s just that I don’t have that much confidence, and I don’t want to be jilted.”
        “Liar. A girl like Lydia is just something rare for you. Let me point out that the world Lydia lives in is completely different from yours. Lydia is well aware of that and keeps her distance from you, so don’t mess that around.”
        He felt like he was seriously lectured, and Edgar let out a sigh.
        What is the reason that’s keeping me from making Lydia stay by my side, he wondered.
        He believed that a fairy doctor was needed for the earl family. Not only that, but he did have and interest in her and found her charming, and of course, he was well aware that their worlds were completely different. 
        She was filled with unpredictability and mystery, and he found it exciting to talk to her so that made him go after her. It was that sort of sensation, but knowing that their worlds were different and yet if there was no discord, then it was truth that his feelings were shallow. 
        “It would be nice if Lydia would just open up to me just a little more. Nico, what should I do? Since you know Lydia so well right?”
        Even how he asks a cat was a game-like facetious feeling.

P. 125
        Like he was saying, How could I be frank with a gang member, he swished his tail around.
        Or is he saying, How could I tell you for nothing?
        He thought of something and called for the butler.
        Hearing the order of his master, the butler left the room and came back holding a silver tray.
        On it rested a silver container with a leg that held sweets that gave off a sweet aroma. After it was set down, Edgar pushed it towards Nico. 
        “These are chocolates with liqueur that just arrived from France. I’m sure you won’t be dissatisfied?”
        Leaning himself over just a bit, Nico stared quietly at the brown rounded objects.
        A cat that had a necktie tied around its neck, picking up a chocolate in a graceful gesture, didn’t appear all that mysterious. 
        Putting it in his mouth and rolling it over on his tongue, Nico narrowed his eyes in pure delight. 
        “You can have as much as you want.”
        “Don’t lie to Lydia.”
        Was that his advice?
        He thought that that was what Nico said as the cat pulled the silver bowl with his hands, or his two front paws, like he was cradling it.




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