Hakushaku to Yousei - Volume 23 - Chapter 5

Chapter 5 ♦ The cursed mother and child

Within a pitch-black cellar, faint singing echoed.
This melody was probably “Greensleeves.” Although the trembling singing voice was intermittent, Ermine immediately made out this familiar tune.
Ever since reincarnating as a Selkie, she could still see quite clearly even if Ermine was in the darkness.
She had never transformed into a seal; in her heart, she somewhat believed that she was still human. But instead of swimming in the ocean since the beginning, or living in the mermaid country, staying in the human world like this would make her suddenly feel different than before. When she had this kind of feeling, her heart would suddenly feel a sorrowful-like helplessness.
However, she would forget about these sorrows quite quickly as a fairy.
There was water flowing in a trench next to the underground passage, Ermine looked at the iron cage on the other side of the stream.
The Nuckelavee, which had transformed into a young boy, was crouched down on the stone floor.
He heard the sound of footsteps, and used his only eye to look towards Ermine’s direction.
“I’ll let you escape.”
After she spoke, the Nuckelavee’s single eye widened. 
“I will stop the water, there is only five minutes. If there isn’t water, then it ought to be quite simple for you to try and destroy the cage, right?”
(......Why?)
His words and expressions were very sincere. If he didn’t have that monstrous one-eyed feature, the more she talked with him in this way, the more she would feel that he was an ordinary human child.
“If you don’t escape, then you will always be taken as Teran’s puppet. Even if you are considered as a monster, it doesn’t matter to you?”
(However, I don’t have a place to go to, regardless of where I go, everyone is afraid of me.)
Up until now, he lived without knowing that he was different from other humans. The one who brought him to the outside world and awakened him as a monster was Teran.
(Also, I will regain the form of a monster very soon, I will forget how to speak, how to think, and then eat humans.)
“Go and find the Blue Knight Earl.”
Ermine firmly stated.
(Blue Knight......?)
“He is a friend of the fairy race, he ought to save your soul.”
Then, she added in a few words.
“He is in Bodmin Moor of Cornwall.”

Ermine quietly left the underground which had the smell of sewage, and although she came outside, the alleys of the industrial zone were still enveloped with a stench.
The surroundings were very calm, but this stillness was suddenly broken. The Nuckelavee was shut inside a former underground meat warehouse, and the sound of him using his strength to destroy the iron door resonated throughout the small town late at night.
The subordinates that Teran arranged to remain here ought to have been in an uproar now. However, no one could stop the Nuckelavee.
After the Nuckelavee left the underground, it would probably head straight for Cornwall.
Teran himself was in Cornwall, so he would probably bring the Nuckelavee back rather quickly. Ermine sent the Nuckelavee to Cornwall before there was an opportunity in Teran’s scheme, and the purpose was to use this chance to create a hole in his plans.
Ermine wanted to take the opportunity to do something that she had to accomplish. 
Without a doubt, the reason why she informed the Nuckelavee about the Blue Knight Earl wasn’t by Teran’s orders. She actually didn’t know if doing so was good or not, nor did she know whether or not her future plan was the right one. 
That person had already expressed that there wasn’t any other way, and Ermine could only choose to believe in this.
“Hey, what are you doing here...... don’t tell me that you were the one who let that guy escape?”
She didn’t need to confirm who the presence that suddenly appeared standing behind her belonged to, as she knew their identity. It was a pitch-black kelpie. Ermine asked directly without turning her head around:
“I was just about to ask you why you were here.”
“I was looking for the Nuckelavee. I was originally planning to watch that guy, and not let him approach Lydia.”
Within the reproachful tone of his voice, there was wariness against Ermine. It was only natural that he would have this kind of reaction. Kelpie didn’t know which side Ermine was standing on currently. Although he knew that Ermine was devoted to Edgar, this loyal mind might harm Lydia.
“He is a pitiful child, and although he is being controlled by Teran, he actually doesn’t want to attack humans.”
“But he is a Nuckelavee, if he is released, the monster instincts will make him unable to restrain himself from attacking humans.”
Ermine finally turned towards the back and raised her head to see a strong and capable young man.
“You’re a demonic fairy as well. You can’t control yourself from attacking humans right?”
Kelpies would eat people too. He and the Nuckelavee were in different situations; when he transforms into a human, his appearance was so beautiful that it made others believe he didn’t belong to this world.
“Don’t confuse me with that beast! Kelpies possess the knowledge of learning through experiences, while that guy only has primitive instincts.”
“Madam Lydia will be okay. He would still be sure to protect her even if Lord Edgar were to exchange his life.”
Kelpie frowned keenly.
“Exchange his life? It’s impossible for you to let the Earl take that risk.”
Kelpie believed as such for a long time now, but in the end, Ermine’s actions always made Edgar face danger.
Since someone had always told her that there was no other way, she can’t go back now. 
“The person who possesses the Prince’s memories is the only one who can manipulate Unseelie Court magic.The Earl family has the Merrow’s sword, so even if they want to kill the Nuckelavee, it can be done.”
“I still think you’re sympathizing with that one-eyed brat, are you planning to kill him in the end?!”
Hearing this, Kelpie frowned even more deeply.
“There’s no other way, he can’t be liberated from the monster’s instincts.”
“So you want to turn the Earl into Prince? You’re crazy! That being said, what will become of Lydia?”
Kelpie approached Ermine and shook her shoulders in anger.
“In any case, this is the only way that can protect Madam Lydia, Lord Edgar probably became aware of this in the past few days.”
As she said that, the light of an oil lamp flashed through the depths of the alley.
Kelpie immediately hid away in the darkness, but Ermine wasn’t able to do this, so the light immediately shone on her.
“Ermine, what are you doing?”
She saw this man whose hat was lowered deeply, and was so shocked that her body immediately stiffened.
“Lord Teran......”
“It seems that someone let the Nuckelavee escape......”
He returned to London?
Teran approached Ermine, as if he was trying to observe her expression.
Currently, Ermine still had to act as this man’s subordinate, and it would be bad if the matters of her being a spy were exposed. 
How should I escape? Just when she thought that, Kelpie jumped in front of her.
Kelpie grabbed Ermine in front of Teran, who drew back in surprise, and pulled her over. In a rough manner, he wrapped his arm around Ermine’s neck.
“Hey, this one is my prey, you’re not allowed to snatch her away.”
“......A kelpie......? Why would a kelpie be in London......”
Even if Teran was able to control the Nuckelavee, Kelpie was probably a dreadful monster to him. Although he looked calm, he wasn’t able to act, and could only glare at Kelpie.
“I am Lydia’s kelpie, I won’t go easy on guys that harm her.”
“Is that so...... you’re the one who released the Nuckelavee?”
“Because if you don’t give it commands, that air-headed monster probably won’t go chase after Lydia specifically.”
Teran glanced with a blank expression at the miserable selkie that was captured by the enemy.
Kelpie quickly turned around while holding onto Ermine. 
“I’m taking this selkie away, unless you want to replace her and become my food?”
Without doubt, Teran’s wasn’t able to act to some extent, and as a result, Ermine was taken away by Kelpie. 
As her arm was being held by Kelpie, Ermine could only do her utmost to keep pace with Kelpie’s running speed. He certainly wasn’t using his full strength to run, but Ermine didn’t have the extra strength to speak.
Even so, she found it strange that she was being saved again, and in all likelihood, Kelpie had already become aware of her way of thinking. 
“Did you want to tell me not to be nice to you?”
He mumbled, probably recalling that Ermine had once expressed her dissatisfaction in this way before.
“I apologize, but I have to treat you a little better, because Lydia asked me to, she told me to help you.”
This sentence was spoken really subtly. Ahh, but this is really Kelpie’s style.
The corners of Ermine’s mouth revealed a smile that she had forgotten for a long time.

*

​
Lydia followed Edgar into a pub that was beside the hotel. As soon as they entered, Francis immediately waved his hand.
That silver shoulder-length hair was already quite conspicuous, on top of that, his movements were quite exaggerated, thus he was even more incompatible with the surroundings.
“Hey, Lydia, are you better already? Anyhow, Edgar, you arrived earlier than I thought.”
With a smile, Edgar approached Francis, who revealed a pleased expression, then said strictly while maintaining his smile:
“You seemed to have had a lot of fun yesterday? Going as far as to make Lydia work, you truly have a lot of courage.”
It seemed that Raven had already clearly informed Edgar about what happened until now. Naturally, he must have heard about Francis in detail as well.
Francis sensed this, so he glanced resentfully at Raven, who was behind Edgar.
“It’s not like I was playing around. I was collecting all kinds of information too. Listen, I heard that there used to be a hematite mine in the wilderness!”
Although he spoke complacently, Edgar and Lydia glanced at each other.
“That sort of thing was already known.”
“What? Is that so?”
“Anything else?”
This shouldn’t be all right? After Edgar used his expression in his eyes to indicate this, an anxious expression emerged from within Francis’ eyes, as if he was thinking deeply about something.
“Well...... in other words, uh...... in short, it’s quite possible that this place is the origin of the “Greensleeves” composition that Lydia was looking for.”
“That was already verified.”
Although the Knockers said that this place was definitely where the tune came from, Lydia wasn’t sure about the most important thing --- that is, the connection between the Nuckelavee and “Greensleeves.”
Edgar sat down on a chair of the narrow pub, and glanced in Raven’s direction.
“Raven, was it me who asked you to bring Francis over? At first I believed that he would be of some use, was he of any help in the end?”
“Lord Edgar, it’s the same whether or not he’s here.”
Raven replied firmly.
“It truly can’t be helped. If by any chance the Nuckelavee appears, in order to let Lydia escape, make him the first one to be eaten.”
“Yes.”
“Waaahh! Hold on, then, what about this information? When I was passing through the nearby spring water, I heard the song “Greensleeves” coming from somewhere.”
Francis hurriedly opened his mouth.
“Spring water?”
Lydia responded to this and leaned forward. 
“Although it’s already dried up now, I heard that it used to be spring water that could treat illnesses.”
“Could it have been green spring water? Hey, Francis, where is it?”
“Uh, where indeed......”
He worried while shooting a glance at Edgar’s expression.
“Of course I’ve asked, I’ll remember it right away! ......That’s right that’s right, inside a small forest by the eastern side of the moor. I heard it’s inside, this was what the old lady from the grocery store said.”
Lydia recalled that there was a forest by the foothills of the hematite mine that the Knockers told her about. 
The tune could be heard, was it because someone was singing there? Since that’s the case, it’s quite likely that it’s a Knocker from the hematite mine. It seemed that there was a connection between the dried up green spring water and the fairy doctor, Miss Rose.
“Let’s go and have a look!”
Lydia spared no effort in standing up.
Seeing Lydia’s appearance, Francis exposed a relieved smile towards Edgar.
“That way, I shouldn’t have to worry about being the first one to be eaten, right?”
“That’s great, Francis.”

The reason why they decided to ride a horse over was because they knew that the forest didn’t have any roads for carriages to pass through. Lydia and Edgar rode a horse together, and once again looked down upon the landscape that was seen with the fairies yesterday.
The stone circle on the vast flat land dropped shadows; that remnant was something that would overlap slightly with a different world, as an area of another world could be seen faintly once in a while. The stone itself was emitting an aura, as if it was showing that the stone didn’t belong to this world.
Perhaps it was because of this that Lydia felt as if she saw a mirage. Her body was as light as a feather, even feeling like she had a fever; perhaps this was an effect caused by the magic that remained in the scar from the Nuckelavee claw. 
If Lydia’s body was truly susceptible to magic like Nico said, then surely enough, the Prophet’s fiancée wasn’t her mother, but her.
Although compared to that, her anxiety with regards to whether or not Teran would appear once again was stronger, but as long as she remembered that Edgar was by her side, then she would be calmer compared to yesterday.
Francis and Raven were journeying together with them, and although they were each riding a horse moving forward, Raven was following precisely beside Francis, as if to monitor him in order to not let him escape.
At least in Raven’s mind, he distinguished Francis as the “incompetent” type.
Edgar looked at Raven’s appearance, and thought that he considered Francis as a comrade, so he whispered happily.
The former Raven seemingly wouldn’t have paid attention to a comrade’s style of work at all.
“You’re beginning to want to take care of others, don’t you find this quite astonishing?”
Raven was always classified as Edgar’s servant, perhaps he was finally aware that he was a member of the Earl family.
If everyone was under the Blue Knight Earl family’s name, and became genuine family members and retainers, then would there inevitably be a day where they would become genuine Earl clan members of the fairy kingdom?
Although she felt hope, on the other hand, the scale wound that remained on Lydia’s arm began to ache dully.
Since her body was marked, perhaps there really wasn’t any hope in trying to escape from the Nuckelavee’s hands. But there seemed to be a way, because the monster that she encountered wasn’t according to the Nuckelavee from the legends.
She definitely had to find a way to repel the Nuckelavee from this land.
She wanted to stay together with Edgar for a little longer, so she didn’t want to give up. 
After advancing towards the mountain for a while, they could see many trees growing by the foothills like yesterday.
They weaved between the branches and leaves of the gorses*, forging ahead further to a small path that remained after a wild animal walked through, which barely extended between the sparse trees. 
“Is it possible as long as we go northeast like this?”
“Yes, this is what I heard. The person said that the cloths tied to twigs act as a sign, and that it will be fine as long as you follow the sign.”
“Hey, is that the so-called sign?”
Edgar rode the horse near the direction that Lydia pointed towards, and there was a white cloth tied onto a twig that was at eye-level. The same cloth could be seen several yards away; this was probably a signpost to the spring water.
“Even now, there are people going to the spring water as well, huh.”
“Although there is no water, I heard that some people will go there and pray for illnesses to recover completely.”
The more they rode the horse forward, the more the extended branches and leaves overlapped layer by layer and obstructed the way, making it quite difficult in trying to identify the marks on the grass that was stepped on. They had already arrived at the depths of the forest.
Even so, they still found cloths that were considered as signs one after another, and knew that they were definitely not lost.
They finally arrived at the location, which was an area with many cloths hanging down, as if it was surrounding them.
Although there was a mysterious feeling, Lydia actually felt that it was a little scary as well, which was probably because the shredded cloths looked like clothes that were torn by teeth. Apart from this, the area was merely a depression in the ground with a pile of dead leaves.
“Francis, this is the place where the “Greensleeves” tune was heard?”
“Oh my, that was the old lady from the grocery store...... I don’t know if it’s genuine or fake.”
Lydia got down from the horse and entered the hollow; beside it, there were two rocks that were almost buried by plants. Although she was standing there and strained to listen, she merely heard the sound of the wind brushing past occasionally.
Lydia closed her eyes and concentrated; at that moment, she suddenly heard Edgar’s voice.
“Lydia, don’t leave my side.”
Edgar nonchalantly walked over and said calmly. After Raven met his gaze, he acted immediately.
As he threw the knife towards the depths of the thickets, a pitch-black dog yelped and jumped out.
It was a black demon dog.
Although the iron knife weakened the black demon dog’s magic, making its body crumble like soil, it regained its form quite quickly.
“Whoa! M--monster......!”
Francis let out a cry after seeing the black demon dog, then kicked the stirrups and escaped on horseback.
In that moment, Raven must have hesitated about whether or not he should throw the knife towards Francis, and although he seemed to have assumed his throwing posture, he still hadn’t thrown it.
Compared to Francis, he turned his attention rather quickly back to the black demon dog. Several demon dogs appeared from other directions as well, growling while surrounding from a distance.
Edgar pulled Lydia closely, glaring into the depths of the forest.
“Ulysses, what is the meaning of this?”
A familiar-looking young man walked out from behind the black demon dogs, then took off his hat.
Lydia hadn’t seen that face for a long time, so she overall felt that Ulysses’ appearance seemed to have matured a little compared to before. Even so, he was still a young man who hadn’t yet reached the age of twenty. He obtained a young body like the “Prince”, so he has lived for several generations; since he possessed the blood of the Blue Knight Earl’s illegitimate child, he possessed very formidable fairy doctor abilities as a result.
Even by the former Prince’s side, he ought to have been the strongest person among the leaders.
But even if it was Ulysses, whose powers were formidable, perhaps he wasn’t able to control the Nuckelavee either, yet Teran actually accomplished it; His’ position was gradually being snatched away by Teran.
“It was your side that attacked first, we were merely trying to look for an opportunity to pay our respects.”
After Ulysses said that, he easily made the entire group of black demon dogs withdraw.
“I heard that you seemed to have lost influence?”
Edgar’s satirical remark immediately made Ulysses reveal a displeased expression. 
“Only the ‘Prince’ can decide this. I received his former Majesty’s designation, have commanded the organization for a long time now, and can likely become a necessary person for you. You probably don’t like Teran’s kind of subordinates, because you don’t understand your own duty.”
“Is that so, you mean that you’re well aware of your own duty?”
“Teran is a monster that possesses a human body, he doesn’t act as a member of the organization, and his desire is to manipulate everything according to his wishes. Perhaps he was assuming an obedient approach when faced with the “Prince”, but it wasn’t known when he became hostile.”
“So what about that? You think that I would help you take back your position of highest authority in the organization?”
Ulysses looked at Edgar resentfully. Edgar obtained the sword, which was proof of the Blue Knight Earl’s status, so Ulysses detested him, and yet because Edgar was the “Prince”, he had to obey Edgar; perhaps it was this kind of twisted mentality that made Ulysses impatient.
Even so, he still maintained a respectful disposition.
“The head of our organization is you. What I want to say is that not letting Teran’s power increase is advantageous to you. After all, he wants to take that woman’s...... no, wants to take the Madam’s life.”
“I know.”
“Furthermore, not only does he want the Madam’s life, if you knew what Teran is trying to do, you probably wouldn’t ignore him.”
Lydia subconsciously held Edgar’s arm firmly.
“Besides, Teran is a person that shouldn’t exist. He is an ominous man that was born from a human and Nuckelavee.”
“That...... that sort of thing is simply impossible!”
While Lydia trembled, she reflexively shouted --- the problem didn’t lie in whether or not it was possible, but rather how terrifying it was by merely imagining that. However, Ulysses added something more frightening.
“In the past, he was born on the coast of the Highlands. His mother was violated by a Nuckelavee, and her mind and body were tormented by the monstrous child that was conceived in her abdomen. The pain lasted for five years. In the end, she was eaten by the sons that tore her abdomen apart during birth until not even bones remained, and died.”
Lydia felt dizzy --- the illusion that Teran made her see reappeared for a moment, and that image subtly overlapped with the terrifying scene Ulysses spoke of, which made her feel like throwing up.
“Sons? What do you mean?”
Edgar was still very calm, and this question made her recall something important.
Lydia was quite unwell, but now was the only chance to understand the connection between Teran and the Nuckelavee. She mustn’t faint.
Ulysses saw Lydia’s pale face, and so he sneered softly with his nose. What would an immature fairy doctor that merely encountered this trivial matter become in the future? He jeered in this way.
Lydia understood it well, so she didn’t want to concede, and tried her best to straighten her back.
“Teran’s form is human. Except that his age won’t seem any older than now, and that he possesses some abilities similar to a magician. There isn’t anything about him that would make people sense that he has Nuckelavee lineage, but he possesses the Nuckelavee’s cruelty and lack of emotions. On the other hand, his younger twin brother was born with the form of a Nuckelavee. The younger brother’s knowledge is no different from that of a child’s, and isn’t able to completely transform into a human, nor is he able to maintain his human form for a long time, but he possesses a human heart.  Although he is quite clumsy, his soul is human. It’s just that when he transforms into a Nuckelavee, it becomes the sole instinct of a monster. The monster instincts will engulf his human emotions, so the younger brother ought to have lost his human heart quickly.”
“Is that the Nuckelavee that appeared in London?”
He transformed into a one-eyed child. If his strange form wasn’t seen, he would have simply been considered as a child that was scared because he was lost.
A genuine Nuckelavee wouldn’t have any relations with humans, and the reason why he wasn’t like the monster from the legends was because half-human blood was flowing within his body.
Although this really was hard to imagine, Lydia began to understand.
“Brothers...... so only then is Teran able to control the Nuckelavee as he pleases.”
It was a monster that originally couldn’t be ordered around by humans, but they were brothers; both of them were half-human, half-monster, so even if the older brother had a way to order the younger brother around, it wouldn’t be unusual at all.
“Why is he doing this now? Since Teran is taking advantage of his younger brother, he probably would have begun to act earlier. When the Prince died, he ought to have immediately found a way to drive you out and control the organization himself.”
“The younger brother’s consciousness is in an unstable situation, before he forgets his human heart and completely changes into a Nuckelavee, he must be isolated.”
“I see. Only Teran can control the Nuckelavee, furthermore, that guy has ambitions, and you dread this point. So you hid the younger brother away in some place beforehand, right? But that guy brought the younger brother out now.”
Ulysses didn’t admit nor deny it, but the reason why his eyes seemed fidgety was probably because it was guessed correctly.
“Your Majesty.”
Ulysses placed his hand on his chest more respectfully.
“Only the Prince can control Teran. The Prince’s memories can use Unseelie Court magic, so those memories are the only powers that can stop Teran from going out of control.”
As expected, this was Ulysses’ goal --- Lydia reflexively stepped out and opened her arms, trying to protect Edgar. 
“Only that is out of the question!”
Making Edgar and the Prince merge together in order to stop the Nuckelavee, wasn’t this getting the priorities wrong?
However, Ulysses ignored Lydia and continued to ask Edgar.
“Even if the woman that you love the most encounters the worst tragedy, are you planning to watch from the sidelines?”
“You said that he..... isn’t only trying to kill Lydia, what is the meaning of this?”
“I’m referring to that.”
Ulysses put on an act and stopped talking.
“He wants to make the Madam encounter the same thing that his mother did.”
What......?
Lydia thought she had misheard, and her legs that she forcefully used to step out towards Ulysses were shaking. The cruel words that he spoke and the distinct scene began to overlap once again with the illusion that Teran made her see.
Although Edgar used his arm to support Lydia, who had nearly lost her strength, his hand was trembling as well. Perhaps this was caused by anger.
“Earl, he might carry out this sort of thing in front of your eyes. When the time comes, even if it’s you, there probably won’t be a way for you to maintain your sense of self. Teran’s goal is to destroy your mental strength that is repressing the Prince’s memories.”
“......Since you want the “Prince” so much, I think you and Teran’s goal ought to be the same.”
Edgar didn’t want to be influenced by Ulysses’ words, so he replied that way.
Ulysses raised an eyebrow, seemingly believing that this was an insult to him.
“What I actually wish to see isn’t a stage prop-sort of “Prince” like Teran’s. I believe that the aristocratic nature in your heart, your pride and desires will make the Prince become a stronger and terrifying existence.”
“As a result, you just don’t want to let Teran have the position second to the Prince, right?”
As long as he could force Teran back and obtain the Prince, this was an ideal situation with regards to Ulysses. However, Edgar wanted to stand on the side that brought down the Prince’s organization as the Blue Knight Earl. Lydia grabbed Edgar tightly, trying to protect him from the hands of Ulysses and Teran.
Edgar kept calm in front of Ulysses as well, not letting him see the unease in his heart.
“My pride and desires belong to the Earl family, I’m not planning on handing it over to the Prince.”
So, only then was he able to find a way to calmly answer with resolution.
“I will go and inform Teran, if he approaches her again, I will take the Prince to hell.”
“This sort of matter where one calmly ends their own life without the least bit of despair like a martyr, can you really do it?”
“Did you want to confirm that?”
Ulysses stared at Edgar, as if to try and see through him; Lydia sensed the tense atmosphere between the two of them, and felt that she couldn’t endure it any longer. But this atmosphere was suddenly alleviated, as Ulysses put on his hat.
“At the present time, I will only give you advice first.”
After Ulysses’ figure gradually vanished into the thickets and the black demon dogs’ presence disappeared as well, Raven relieved his tension and put away his knife.
Lydia gasped for breath as well, but Edgar suddenly embraced her tightly.
He pulled Lydia towards his body with a strength that would leave one breathless, and pressed his face against her beautiful hair.
“Unforgivable......”
Edgar mumbled.
“If by any chance you become the Nuckelavee’s...... if it become like that, I will definitely sell my soul to the devil.”
“Edgar, it’s all right.”
“The only one I want to protect is you. Regardless of what I have to do, it doesn’t matter.”
Edgar saw his important family being snatched away with his own eyes, and Lydia didn’t want to make him face that again.
The him from ten years ago was an incapable child, so he wasn’t able to protect his family, however, he wasn’t incapable. It was because of this that he felt pain, since he didn’t know whether or not he could endure his precious things being taken away while in the situation of sealing the powers within him.
“Yes, become the Blue Knight Earl and protect me.”
“Do we have much time? Teran and the Nuckelavee are already drawing near at present.”
The cause of Edgar’s worry was the scale that scratched Lydia’s arm. She had already become the Nuckelavee’s target.
“It’s all because of me, I made you this frightened.”
Lydia’s body trembled, and couldn’t conceal herself from Edgar at all.
Perhaps she herself was on the verge of being unable to imagine the feeling of pain; upon thinking up to here, Lydia became extremely afraid. However, she couldn’t make Edgar more anxious; this thought supported her.
“I’m not afraid. Let’s find a way to repel the Nuckelavee together.”
However, even if this area once had spring water in the past, Lydia and the others couldn’t find any clue. They weren’t able to hear the “Greensleeves” song, and like this, the color of the sky became dark. The three of them walked back to the small path. 
Just as they left the forest, crossed through the wilderness, and saw the stone circle, the standing monoliths that was illuminated by the setting sun cast a slender shadow onto the earth. A mysterious atmosphere which was different from when they came adorned the landscape before their eyes. 
Was the fairy land’s scenery like this? At least, she had to support Edgar until he was brought there. While Lydia was blankly pondering, Edgar stopped the horse.
“Who is it?”
There was a figure standing beside the circular arrangement of stones, waving towards them. Because of the backlighting, it merely looked like a round shadow.
“It seems that it’s Mr. Francis.”
Raven, who could see the distance clearly, replied.
“I thought he ran away, how else would he be in this kind of place?”
“Heeeey Edgar, Lydia!”
It truly can’t be helped. Edgar changed the horse’s direction and headed towards the stone circle where Francis was.
“Francis, what are you doing? If you don’t run back to the village at once, the demon dogs might appear again.”
“No...... just now, I was shocked, so I couldn’t help but kick the stirrups. I wasn’t trying to abandon you and run away.”
“You don’t have to look for excuses, even if you stayed, you would have been unreliable.”
“Oh my, you don’t have to say it like that.”
Francis scratched his head, and Lydia saw that there was another figure beside him. That person hid behind Francis’ back and looked over timidly; it seemed to be a child.
“I found a lost child.”
Lydia dismounted from the horse, planning to walk over towards Francis, who had his hand on the child’s shoulder, but she stopped in surprise.
“It’s the Nuckelavee!”
As soon as Lydia finished speaking, Francis scrambled away from the child’s side and jumped behind Raven before Edgar raised his pistol. 
The young boy, who blankly stood in place, didn’t transform into a violent monster, and the single eye blinked sadly behind the gaps of his bangs that swayed in the wind.
“Hold on, don’t shoot.”
Edgar put his finger on the trigger, and Raven’s hand was holding a knife; the reason why Lydia stopped them was because the Nuckelavee seemed to be mumbling something.
Although there was no way for human weapons to overthrow the Nuckelavee, she felt that he mustn’t be attacked when he is transformed into a young boy.
(I’m sorry......)
The weak voice that the youth let out was nearly dispersed by the wind.
(I’m really sorry about last time, I couldn’t control myself.)
He seems to remember Lydia.
The young boy merely said these words, then turned around, planning to slowly take a step outwards.
“No, don’t walk away from the stone circle.”
Lydia said hastily.
The Nuckelavee would probably attack Lydia unconditionally. Previously, Lydia was injured by the claw and shed blood, so he probably already knows the blood’s scent, and that mark meant that Lydia was his prey.  But now, he was in a state of a human that possesses rationality. Although Lydia was in front of him, it seemed that there was no sign of him turning into a monster.
“When you’re here, you feel calmer right?”
The young boy turned his head, and although he had a face of doubt, he still nodded.
“Because this place is a sacred place, thus the magic of Unseelie Courts can be subdued here.”
“Then, it doesn’t matter even if you approach him now?”
Lydia nodded in response to Edgar’s inquiry.
“Yeah, I think it’s alright.”
Lydia walked with Edgar, who put away his weapon, towards the side of the rock where the young boy was standing. He merely raised his head and looked over, overwhelmed, with no sign of him becoming a Nuckelavee.
“Nevertheless, I thought he wasn’t human.”
Francis timidly went back to his side again.
“Francis, it’s surprising that you weren’t scared to the point of running away.”
A moment ago when the demon dogs appeared, Francis immediately escaped upon seeing them; if he previously discovered that the young boy only had one eye, why didn’t he run away? Lydia felt that this was odd as well. 
“Because, isn’t he the same as me?”
He pointed to his own eye that was covered with an eye-patch. 
“It’s not the same.”
“Well, in my case, I just wasn’t born like this.”
He felt that wasn’t the problem either.
“In short, because he said he wanted to see the Blue Knight Earl, I thought that he probably wasn’t a dreadful fairy.”
Hearing this remark, Edgar began to stand guard once more.
“As expected, you came using Lydia as a target, right?”
“I don’t think so. He said that he was imprisoned at first and escaped afterwards. Then, he wished for the Earl to save him.”
“Save? Me, save a Nuckelavee?”
(Someone told me that if it was the Blue Knight Earl, he should be able to save me.)
The youth spoke quickly, as if to try and undo Edgar’s misunderstanding.
“Who told you this?”
(A woman.)
He looked up expectantly at Edgar, who was in the middle of contemplation.
(Are you...... the Earl?)
“Yes, that’s right. What is your wish?”
(I want to go to heaven.)
This unexpected answer made Edgar and Lydia look at each other.
“Do you want to die?”
(Die......? I don’t know, but I heard that Mother is in heaven.)
“But you......”
There’s no way for you to go to heaven --- Although Edgar wanted to say it as such, he shut his mouth, and Lydia wasn’t able to say anything either.
He was born with cursed magic, and was an existence that went against God. Yet he possessed a human heart.  He wanted to die because he was born with the form of a Nuckelavee that tears apart human hearts and is tainted with the true character of a monster. 
This really was too heartbreaking. Lydia bent down in front of him, softly placing her hand on his head.
Edgar shifted his body nervously, but didn’t stop her.
“Why? Do you want to see your mother?”
(......I don’t know either. I heard that Mother resented me. However, when I was together with Mother, I wouldn’t turn into a monster. I could always be myself, and I didn’t want to eat people either.)
Their mother ought to have died when the two brothers were born. He spoke about being together, was he referring to the time when he was still unborn? He remembered what happened back then?
Ulysses said that it was five years. Since he was half-fairy, that sort of thing probably wasn’t strange either.
(Ah, Earl, I don’t want to become a monster...... last time, I ate a man, because the smell of that blood was something that I remembered previously, I couldn’t stop myself. But at the time, there was a woman next to him, she was crying while telling me to stop, and told me to eat her first......)
Would that have been the Parrish couple? Lydia gasped, and intuitively thought that this ought to have been the case.
(Brother said that the woman was very meddlesome, so he killed her. That man wasn’t willing to let go of the woman since the beginning...... Until Brother cut off his hand, he didn’t let go.)
Were the curse and divorce rumours that were fabricated by the surroundings without permission? In other words, during that split second, the couple’s feelings that had accumulated for a long time prevailed over everything?
Lydia wiped the corner of her eyes. 
This young boy was another victim. He felt distressed about the things that he did, because his human heart could understand this. 
“After your brother...... Teran killed that woman, he threw her away somewhere, right?”
The young boy nodded.
(The more I eat people, the more monster-like I become. However, there’s no way that I can resist Brother, I don’t want to do this kind of thing anymore, I want to go to a place without monsters and without Brother.)
“Monsters disappearing mean that you will disappear as well, you won’t be able to think or have any feelings anymore.”
The young boy tilted his head slightly. He didn’t understand the meaning of death, however, he knew that his wish could only depend on this method; perhaps this was understood in a way that broke away from theories.
(It’s okay, I don’t know whether or not Mother resented me in the past either, isn’t that so? Since that’s the case, it doesn’t matter even if I don’t know, if I go to the same place as Mother and won’t be hated, then it is fine.)
Lydia didn’t know what method humans had to use in order to be able to kill a Nuckelavee, besides, she didn’t know whether or not doing so was right either. Furthermore, this young boy was being controlled by Teran. If he took one step away from the stone circle it would probably be like the time when he attacked Lord Parrish, and attack Lydia under a strong urge. However, Lydia pondered over how they were going to save him.
“Hey, do you know the tune ‘Greensleeves?’”
Even if he was being controlled by the Nuckelavee’s consciousness, he had a reaction to that tune nevertheless, so perhaps the music had a deep connection with him. Lydia firmly believed that this was probably a clue to solving this, having come to this place. 
(What kind of tune is it?)
After Lydia hummed several bars, the young boy opened his eyes wide.
(I know, Mother used to sing it before. When Mother sang, she would become tender and kind, and she would speak to me......)
However, he spoke halfway and stopped suddenly, then looked around everywhere with unease.
A cold breeze blew past. The sun was setting, and yet it became cloudy and they felt the surroundings suddenly become dark.
Lydia also felt that the group of stones that were arranged together started becoming restless.
The sacred magic was weakening. Why is that?
She promptly looked around the surroundings, and found that the shadows of the stone circle were fading. The power that originally filled this place was gradually fading away at the same time, like it was being dispersed by the wind. 
“Nuckelavee......”
When Lydia turned around, the young boy’s form had already changed. 
As his skin melted and his bare muscles and arteries emerged, his body suddenly extended, becoming a four-legged beast. Within that widely split open mouth, countless sharp teeth could be seen.
“What’s going on!”
Edgar clicked his tongue, and Lydia stood dumbfounded at the scene. He pulled Lydia’s hand and started running. 
But there wasn’t anywhere within the wilderness for them to hide; naturally, there weren’t any streams to hide them from the Nuckelavee either.
They were overtaken all of a sudden, as the Nuckelavee easily went ahead and blocked their way.
“Lord Edgar, please go behind that stone over there!”
Raven ran to the front and called out.
Upon carefully looking behind the stone, Nico was found waving from there, and Lydia ran once more.
“Hurry here, run around the rock in clockwise twice!”
Although the situation wasn’t understood, she did as what Nico said, and ran around the stone with Edgar leading.
The Nuckelavee’s claws swept past Lydia’s hair at the second turn, but just after they were barely able to finish running, the surrounding landscape changed all of a sudden.
“This place is......?”
This place was the bottom of a very deep cave. From a distant cavern entrance that opened above and was surrounded by rocks, they could see the front of the stone that they were going around just a moment ago, as well as the sky that was beginning to darken.
Of course, the Nuckelavee was nowhere to be seen, Raven was standing at the side, raising his head and looking up in marvel. 
“Luckily I caught up. I heard that the magic above the stone circle will disappear at night, but this vicinity is within the Knockers’ range of influence, so only then was I able to find the Nuckelavee and you guys.”
Nico said from underfoot. 
“Is that so, then this place is the Knockers’ cave.”
Since yesterday, Nico and Coblynau had accepted the Knocker clan’s hospitality, and thanks to this they were saved; Lydia breathed a sigh of relief.
“Francis isn’t in here.”
After Edgar spoke, Nico tilted his head.
“Was he with you guys? I didn’t notice.”
“Will he be alright? He probably wouldn’t have been attacked......”
“He is not nearby.”
Raven said with a firm tone.
“He must have escaped first.”
From the beginning, the Nuckelavee aimed for Lydia, so Francis likely had time to escape, furthermore, she had always felt that Francis was quite shrewd in this aspect.
On the other hand, the more Lydia understood that they were already safe and escaped danger, the more she cared about the Nuckelavee’s heartbreaking wish. The human heart within him would easily be eliminated by the monster’s instincts. Even so, he still tried his best to be a human, and wanted to die as a human.
(Blue Knight Earl as well as His Majesty’s consort, I welcome you two.)
Lydia heard a new voice, and turned around in surprise. What appeared from behind the rock was a Knocker holding an oil lamp in his hand.
(I will guide everyone to the Knockers’ village.)
This fairy had grown a white beard which nearly reached the floor, and he slowly took steps forward. In the place which was originally believed to be rock walls, a horizontal cavern appeared.
“He is the Knockers’ elder, I heard that he had a very old friendship with the Knocker that sealed the hematite mine.”
Nico spoke while beckoning for Lydia and the others to follow along.
“Then do you know how he is now?”
(I don’t know at all.)
They listed to the elder quickly say the answer, and Lydia couldn’t conceal her face of disappointment.
“He told me there was a fairy doctor named Miss Rose that was murdered, is this true?”
Edgar asked instead of her.
(That’s right, I also heard that the Nuckelavee will inevitably come to this place one day. In order for him to protect this place when the time came, he entered the hematite mine.)
“I heard that this was Miss Rose’s request.”
(Yes.)
“Then, Miss Rose anticipated that the Nuckelavee would appear beforehand?”
(“The time when the rose blossoms in red in the hematite mine, the monster will disappear.” After my friend said this, he sealed the mine.)
Roses?
“Is the rose in that sentence referring to Miss Rose? Or is it something related to her?”
(I’m not too sure.)
In any case, Lydia felt as if something had come to mind, but she wasn’t able to properly collect her thoughts, thus she stared at the oil lamp in the elder’s hand up until now.
That wasn’t the light of a flame.
A crystal was emitting light; this was a mysterious magical light.
After a similar blue-white light appeared ahead, Lydia and the others passed through a horizontal tunnel, arriving at a precipice which overlooked the Knockers’ village.
Below was a bottomless valley, and the stone houses covered the raised rocks that were scattered on the valley slopes. The light of the minerals flowed out from the round windows and made the scenery in the valley seem like stars twinkling in the sky. The stairs were dug out and built along the precipice, as the Knockers freely walked up and down the stairs.
“So this is the mine fairies’ village, it truly is spectacular.”
The elder listened to the compliment and laughed.
(It seems that it will rain tonight, so it should be difficult for the Nuckelavee to move, but it’s safer to stay here nevertheless. Before dawn, would you like to come to my home?)
“Thank you very much, but we probably can’t enter your village.”
The petite Knocker looked up at Lydia and the others, having seemingly remembered this.
(I see, what you said was right, then please come to the plaza.)
They were brought to another cave, and the inside dimensions just happened to be like a reception room.  The crystal that was set up in the middle emitted just enough light, making the room a cozy space. The crystal brought a faint warmth, as if it could protect Lydia and the others from the cold air of the night.
After they sat down on the soft moss, the fairies delivered food. There was bread and butter, honey, and fish steamed with herbs and mushrooms; it truly was food from the human world.
Nico rushed to eat first, and enjoyed the beer in the stone cup.
“Mine fairies really love to drink, so they understand delicious liquor quite well.”
“That’s right, what about Coblynau?”
“He is in the village. He said that he rarely comes here, so he had to go and bother a relative’s home.”
“He has relatives?”
“Because they get along quite well, he felt that they must be relatives.”
It truly was great that fairies were this carefree.
“Anyways, they were also quite welcoming of us.”
Edgar looked at the strange stone bowl. Whether it was the honey or the soup spoon, they were all quite tiny.
“Their ancestors seemed to have been taken care of by the Blue Knight Earl in the past.”
“I see.”
“Well, I’m going to continue playing a game with the guys in the village.”
After Nico, who quickly stuffed his belly, stood up, he looked at Raven. 
“Do you want to go together?”
Raven seemed to raise his body slightly, but he looked at Edgar, as if he reconsidered.
“No, because it cannot be guaranteed that the Nuckelavee will come here.”
“The elder said that there won’t be a problem today, because it will rain. The rocky areas dispersed in the wilderness will form puddles as well.”
Lydia nodded in agreement with Nico’s words.
“Raven, please read the mood a little.”
After Edgar finished speaking, Raven stood up, slightly flustered.
“Then, I will go with Mr. Nico to play.”
“Go and enjoy yourself.”
Nico and Raven left this place; if it was like usual, Edgar definitely would have reached out towards Lydia without the least bit of apprehension. But he didn’t do so tonight, rather he cautiously asked Lydia:
“Would it have been better to let Raven stay here?”
The elder said that this place wasn’t completely safe either, moreover, Miss Rose considered the possibility of the Nuckelavee attacking the village.
But Raven was human too, he didn’t have the kind of strength that could stop a Nuckelavee.
“If the Nuckelavee appears, you will be in danger as well.”
“But I wanted to be alone with you.”
Lydia had the same thought, so after she nodded slowly, Edgar finally embraced her shoulders. As long as they shut their eyes, they could practically forget that they were in the depths of the earth. Although this place was quite peaceful, it wasn’t completely dead silent. Was this because the sound of water that they could faintly hear was a sound familiar to the ear, and so it brought about a feeling that it was connected with the world above ground? 
“It seems to be raining.”
“How do you know?”
“Because doesn’t the sound of water flowing underground change a little? The volume of water seems to increase.”
“Yes, this is the sound of river water flowing underground.”
Underneath the spring water which had already dried up, there was likely this kind of stream in the past as well. Lydia pondered blankly.
“Lydia, if I can draw out the powers of the Merrow sword’s star ruby, then even if it’s the Nuckelavee, it’s likely it can be killed, right?”
Lydia raised her head and looked at Edgar’s face in surprise.
Within the Earl family’s sword that was passed down from generation to generation, it originally simultaneously possessed both good and evil powers, and when the star sapphire became the star ruby, the sword would possess powerful destructive magic, where even the fairy race could be killed.
However, the former Blue Knight Earl sealed this dangerous Unseelie Court magic, making it unable to be used by anyone.
Now, only the “Prince of Calamity” had the ability to use Unseelie Court magic, that is, the Prince’s memories within Edgar.
If the power of the star ruby was completely guided out, then the sword might have the power to kill even a Nuckelavee. However, this meant that Edgar would completely draw out the Prince’s memories, and merge together with the Prince.
“No, Edgar, please don’t think of that sort of thing.”
He gazed at Lydia, who had a look of worry, and laughed softly.
“Then, Lydia, cancel the deal you had with Patrick too, I will definitely become the Blue Knight Earl.”
Although Lydia nodded, she lowered her gaze slightly, as if she was a little hesitant.
In fact, if Lydia began to think about this, her mind would be in disarray. She could stick out her chest and say that her duty is to bring Edgar to the fairy kingdom and make him become the Blue Knight Earl, but even if this was achieved, she didn’t know whether or not she ought to stay by Edgar’s side.
Edgar lifted Lydia’s chin with his finger, making her gaze shift towards him, then revealed a sorrowful expression.
“However, even if everything is carried out smoothly, you will leave my side.”
Her heart seemed to have been seen through, and she felt unwell. If Edgar wished so, then Lydia wanted to stay by his side as well. But even though he was willing to say it as such, it wouldn’t be much help to the Earl family.
“It’s..... nothing like that.”
Saying that already made her use all her strength.
He moved his hand away from Lydia’s chin, then held her in an embrace. She hoped that they would be like this forever and not let go.
Probably because Lydia leaned her body over, Edgar embraced her even tighter.
“Patrick won’t kill me. I have already prepared things in advance, so he probably won’t be able to act for the time being.”
“Prepared?”
“Yeah, so, let’s concentrate on dealing with the Nuckelavee first.”
Even if they continued to worry, it wouldn’t be of any help, they could only do the things that could be accomplished at the moment.
“Teran seems to only possess abilities like that of a human, the reason why he was able to obtain power in the organization and consider you as a target was because he obtained his younger Nuckelavee brother that was previously hidden by Ulysses, right?”
It was a monster that couldn’t be controlled by anybody else, however, a younger brother wanting to escape from his older brother, and him feeling that his thoughts were being consumed by the monster instincts were unbearable matters.
“Speaking of what we currently understand, the first is that Miss Rose might possess the power to stop the Nuckelavee.”
Lydia listened while feeling that the thing she almost remembered just now had reappeared.
This time, she absolutely had to grab the clue that drifted aimlessly like a balloon.
“Edgar, would she have been that Nuckelavee’s mother?”
She thought that if the mother was Miss Rose, who was taken away from here by someone and murdered, then it would make sense.
“It seemed that she went missing one hundred years ago, and it was the period when the Prince’s organization began to move. Moreover, Miss Rose told the Knocker she was very close with and who came to find her about the dangerous nature of the Unseelie Courts and the Nuckelavee, then asked the Knocker to do something, isn’t that so? Perhaps after she was taken away by the Prince’s organization, much more was known.”
“Then, the Knocker saw her life end, then sealed the mine according to her final wish?”
“Because she was a fairy doctor, she found a way to endure the magic of the Nuckelavee child that she gave birth to. Someone from the Prince’s organization specifically picked her, and created a half-fairy between a human and a Nuckelavee.”
Edgar sighed deeply, as if he was trying to calm down.
“You are a fairy doctor as well, so Teran......”
He wasn’t satisfied with just a younger brother, and wanted to create a new servant that belonged to him?
Lydia might be the Prophet’s fiancée, if this situation could influence the monster child, perhaps she could avoid the worst situation of bearing a Nuckelavee child. But even if she was merely attacked by the dreadful monster, with regards to Lydia, it was the worst situation.
She could only think of a way to settle it before it became like this.
“In short, if she is the Nuckelavee’s mother, then she probably knew the way to truly stop the Nuckelavee.”
“Yes, if we assume she asked the Knocker to seal the hematite mine, making it possible to repel the monster when it is “the time when the rose blossoms in red”...... but I don’t understand the meaning. The hematite and the rose...... in other words, the rose is referring to her name? In short, is there any connection?”
Lydia began to think as well. After Edgar was silent for a moment, he muttered as if he was talking to himself:
“Did she want to dispose of her own child?”
From the beginning, Lydia believed that Miss Rose intended to repel the monster as a fairy doctor, but if she was truly the mother, then perhaps her heart had other plans.
“I don’t think that was the case.”
“It’s a monster that would even eat its own mother. He can be stopped as long as he is killed, right? Didn’t that Nuckelavee also say that he was hated by his mother? Because this wasn’t what she wished for to happen, rather it was the result that was produced from the torturing violent treatment.”
It wasn’t wrong; both sides really couldn’t be called mother and child, what’s more, the situation wasn’t filled with affection.
“The human heart will slowly be eroded by the monster’s blood...... is that so? She wasn’t able to resist the monster within her body, perhaps it was because she was cursed into giving birth to that kind of child, and so she thought of all the ways to eliminate the monster, right?”
Edgar seemed to be speaking for himself to listen.
“The reason why he was made to listen to ‘Greensleeves’ was in order to draw him towards this land, and the hematite mine ought to be referring to something that is a trap with regards to the Nuckelavee.”
Trap --- was that the case?
“The Nuckelavee’s heart harbored something else that wasn’t itself, and because a human heart still remained in his body, he could only choose to die......” 
Taken aback, Lydia seized Edgar’s hand. Edgar overlapped his own circumstances together with the Nuckelavee’s. Within his body, he possessed the “Prince” and received the curse of someone else’s memories. He also felt that he might lose himself, and perhaps he had always the resolve in his heart that he needed to bury the Prince.
“It’s not like that! Perhaps there’s a way to save him, and besides, Miss Rose might have wanted to save the Nuckelavee as well!”
Lydia said desperately.
They heard that the Blue Knight Earl and the fairy kingdom might have a way to save Edgar, so the two of them solved the riddles slowly yet continuously; until now, there was probably a little bit left until the path leading to the fairy kingdom could be opened. Perhaps it was still too early to seek death; Lydia didn’t want to lose hope.
“How are we going to save him? Death is the only way in the end, right?”
“......Maybe, Miss Rose believed that she at least had to bring him to heaven.”
Lydia could only say these comforting words. Even if it was heaven, it was bound to mean death as well.
Even so, Lydia still shook her head forcefully.
“This place is Miss Rose’s homeland, since she made the Nuckelavee come here, it meant that she really wanted to bring that child to her side for a while...... she must have thought that.”
“Bring to her side...... is that so.”
“Yes, even if it was only like that, that child’s human soul ought to be saved.”
Edgar grasped Lydia’s hand in return, and looked at her with an earnest expression which he never had before.
“Will you stay by my side forever?”
“As long as you need me, I will always stay by your side. ”
Lydia replied with a serious frame of mind as well.
“Did you think that I might not need you any longer?”
Lydia wasn’t sure, so she lowered her head.
Was now the opportunity to talk about that? She still hadn’t firmly decided, so she couldn’t say a word.
“Lydia, I want to make you happy. For you, what kind of future is happiness?”
“......It’s the Prince disappearing, then the two of us......”
Speaking halfway, Lydia began to hesitate. If she wished for the two of them to live together forever, then Edgar might not be happy.
“Please tell me your wish that you want to come true the most.”
Even if she prayed for the Prince to disappear, if Edgar himself wasn’t safe and sound, then it would be meaningless. Compared to this, would it be fine as long as the two of them stayed together like now? Even if she didn’t wish to have a child and ignored the Prince’s existence, was it possible? That sort of wish really was too meaningless, with regards to Lydia and Edgar, it wasn’t fit to be called happiness.
“It’s fine even if it’s only a dream, I want to achieve it for you. There’s no way for me to go to heaven, because my future might be separated from yours one day.”
Lydia was unable to respond, and Edgar spoke to her softly.
“Then I don’t want to go either.”
This might have been the first time that Lydia spoke out what was directly in her mind so bluntly. It’s just that now, she didn’t have the extra energy to feel embarrassed, and only the thoughts from her heart were continuously rushing forth.
“I am very happy, but...... well, I don’t want to make you suffer up until this situation.”
Edgar didn’t use his usual approach that was full of confidence, perhaps an optimistic joke came to change the subject. Rather, it was spoken just as sincerely.
“I made you suffer a lot of pain now as well. I anticipated that the organization might target you, and yet I wished to get married with you. Because I firmly vowed to protect you, even if I sink into hell for this reason, I wouldn’t regret it. It’s just that I don’t want to take you there with me.”
“Don’t say any more! I am only staying by your side because I want to be with you! I am not an amazing wife!”
He heard Lydia’s cries, then buried his fingers into her beautiful hair and kissed her.
She hoped that Edgar could be happy, however, he said that it didn’t matter even if he sank into hell. Somewhere in his heart, he felt pessimistic towards the future, and believed that nothing could truly save him. 
Lydia wasn’t able to answer with her own wishes. Since their happiness couldn’t be identical, she couldn’t speak it out.
The flowing groundwater seemed to increase, as the sound of water entered into their ears without stopping.
Words weren’t able to completely express the thoughts in their hearts; however, even if their lips touched, it couldn’t be fully conveyed either.
Even though they understood, the two of them could only forget their impatience and kiss each other unceasingly.

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[1] A type of shrub native to western Europe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulex