Hakushaku to Yousei - Volume 24 - Chapter 7

Chapter 7 ♦ ​The gem will illuminate the darkness

Beginning from the orange light that was seen from the depths of her eyelids, Lydia felt the fatigue all over her body disappear gradually.
This was Francis’ healing powers. The poison that flowed from the demon as well as that dreadful feeling were all eliminated.
Speaking of which, Francis clearly had his blood sucked by the demon, but he was still quite vigorous.
He was probably able to heal himself.
While Lydia pondered over this matter amidst a shallow sleep, she felt a warm caress on her cheek.
There wasn’t a glove on that hand. She soon recognized that familiar and intimate touch. Even if there was a glove in between, Lydia would immediately know who it was. That gentle hand, overflowing with love.
Lydia opened her eyes slightly, which were still quite heavy, and stared blankly at the fingers of the person’s hand that was combing through her hair.
It was an oily green stone, which was seemingly familiar.
Is it the same as the queen’s bracelet? Why would Edgar wear a serpentine ring?
Furthermore, the shape of a four-leaf clover was stuck on top of the ring. It was like the four-leaf clover that Lydia tied onto his finger in the past.
No that wasn’t a four-leaf clover, it was a peridot. The peridot granules, which were imbedded in the form of a four-leaf clover, glittered.
When did he make this ring? If it was a ring, there ought to have been other gems that could have suited Edgar more.
The mysterious citrine, the lofty and unsullied beryl, as well as the supreme diamond.
The peridot barely resembled the color of Lydia’s eyes, and was Edgar’s favourite gem. It was the colour of the serene sunlight that shone through the leaves, resembling the iris leaves that carried transparent morning dew, as well as four-leaf clovers growing everywhere, facing towards the sun. Would it be too idyllic in this way?
It’s possible that this isn’t Edgar.
Yes, there’s no way that he would appear here.
Lydia desperately shut her heavy eyelids.
Because she really wanted to see him, she hallucinated.
Even if he wasn’t by her side, she had to reach the fairy kingdom. Because she thought that, she welcomed the day of the voyage. However, troublesome matters occurred unceasingly...... now wasn’t the time to retreat, and yet she wanted him to be able to return to her side.
“Edgar...... you aren’t here, I don’t know what should be done. Bearing the responsibilities of an aristocrat and so on, it’s the first time for me.”
“You’re already doing quite well. You use the ways that only you can accomplish to lead everyone.”
Lydia merely heard a voice, and felt that Edgar was really by her side.
“......Hey, it would be great if we could see each other right away like this.”
“Open your eyes properly, then you’ll be able to see.”
Open my eyes?
Lydia used all of her strength. Although she wanted to do so, it was quite difficult to move; she wanted to try her best, so as if she suddenly remembered how to move her body, she opened her heavy eyelids widely.
In front of her was a man with ash mauve eyes, smiling.
It’s Edgar......
Deeply moved, Lydia stared at the glistening blonde hair and his graceful face.
“Is it Edgar? Truly?”
Lydia, who suddenly jumped up, hastily embraced him tightly, as if to not let the illusion fade away. Even so, the illusion wouldn’t disappear. Lydia’s arms felt something genuine. As a result, he embraced her tightly.
“I’m dreaming, right? But I beg you, please prolong the dream...”
“I don’t want to wake up from this dream either.”

Edgar pressed his lips on Lydia’s head.
“That’s great...... you haven’t changed at all. You have the same feelings as before, you like me, I’m so happy.”
How could I possibly change. Edgar threw himself into a difficult battle for Lydia.
Lydia, who thought that, expressed her thoughts openly, which was very uncharacteristic of her. This was a dream, so anything could be said honestly. She merely wanted to convey the words that were in her heart.
“After we separated, I understood. I seem to like your kisses.”
He seemed a little surprised as he looked into Lydia’s eyes, then revealed an innocent smile.
“Really?”
Just as she tried to nod, her lips were overlapped.
Despite it being a simple touch, it shook her heart, which then carried a temperature soon after. Although it was like the sweetness of a dream, Lydia was completely surrounded by passion.
Lydia’s consciousness gradually returned to reality.
Eh...... this isn’t a dream?
Edgar moved away from Lydia, who was bewildered, and looked at her, then suddenly smiled.
“It would be great if you were dazed for a little longer.”
“Uh, Edgar...... what’s going on?”
“Well,  you are very cute even though you always get embarrassed easily.”
Recalling the words she said a moment ago, Lydia immediately turned red.
“However, I am a little concerned, you know of kisses other than mine?”
“How could I possibly know as such!”
Lydia turned to one side, but she was afraid that he would suddenly disappear again, and turned her gaze back in result.
Edgar didn’t look like he would disappear. The vast sea was outside the window, and the elegant interior possessed a uniform wooden color. In the fairy ship, he really, truly appeared.
“Edgar, it’s really you, right?”
“Yeah. It was him that brought me here. I think it was because you wore Her Majesty’s bracelet, so I came here without getting lost.”
Edgar shifted his gaze towards an area, where there was an oily green lion lying down.
Yes the lion that suddenly appeared was the one that drove away the demon.
“Is that a fairy bracelet?”
Lydia stroked the bracelet. The light green colors of the gorgeous serpentine overlapped with each other, and was exactly the same as the lion before her.
“The bracelet seems to be related to the stones extracted from the fairy kingdom. The door to the fairy kingdom is also made from this kind of stone, it seems to be the fairy that watches over the door.”
The lion suddenly stood up, and transformed into the appearance of a white puppy.
“Its appearance doesn’t seem to be permanent, and will change according to our desires. Little Bow said so.”
“According to our desires? If that’s the case, this puppy, ah...... it’s the puppy from that time, right?”
Lydia embraced the puppy.
It was a happy time when the two were alone, before she had to part unexpectedly with Edgar. During that period, she still wanted the both of them to be able to continue walking together for a longer time.
So with regards to Lydia, thinking that spending her life together with Edgar would change, what made her feel anxious was that she wouldn’t be able to have children.
Edgar himself had an even bigger problem, thus recalling those times now, Lydia became slightly relaxed.
If they could reach the fairy kingdom, the problem could be resolved.
For Edgar, not only was he unwelcome in the fairy kingdom, he was even an enemy.  It was quite difficult for Lydia to imagine whether or not the Prince’s consciousness would awaken if Edgar entered that place.
“That time, I wasn’t able to understand what you meant when you said you were lonely...... but there will inevitably be a day when I will make the Earl family a livelier place than anywhere else after I return.” 
Lydia promptly nodded, smiling.
“What do you mean, loneliness? You sound strange. Our Earl family has many comrades. So I have to protect everyone in the Earl family. In order to not let the place you’re returning to change.”
Edgar, who also responded to Lydia with a smile, stroked the puppy on Lydia’s lap.
“Furthermore, I wasn’t aware either, the puppy from that time became a symbol of your happiness. So even if I’m in the organization, I am comforted because I have it.”
This couldn’t help but make them pray that a serene day, like the one from that time, would approach once more.
“I still remember clearly what happened that day. You remember as well, right?”
“Yes, when you were happy, I would feel happy as well.”
“Really? Then I must smile.”
If she could ease Edgar’s pain, then Lydia’s heart could relax as well.
“Hey, what about that lion’s appearance? Did this have a significant impression on us as well? It must have something to do with you.”
“Me? This is the lion of the royal family.”
“No, I think that this is your essence. The Duke of Sylvainford’s family possesses the bloodline ancestry of the royal family, right? It’s a lion that symbolizes the imperishable pride within you.”
Edgar seemed to find it quite unexpected, but smiled sadly soon afterwards, then held Lydia’s cheeks with both hands.
“There hasn’t been a day where I haven’t longed for you. Although parting has been quite painful, if the Prince and his organization aren’t defeated, then the date of our smooth and steady life won’t come. Since I knew this, I made up my mind. I hope that you can forgive me.”
“......After you disappeared, I couldn’t do anything but sigh. However, I’m okay now. Regardless of what choice you make, it’s all for me, right? So I’ve decided that I have to go to the fairy kingdom.”
Edgar’s hand slowly left Lydia, stroking the peridot ring on his finger.
“As long as I enter the organization, I will gradually approach the Prince. No, I have no choice but to approach him. I don’t completely understand that sort of matter either. The Prince truly does exist within me. If I cannot control my sense of self, then I will be consumed by him.”
“Are you going to liberate the Prince’s powers?”
“If I don’t become the ‘Prince’, then I can’t make Teran comply with my wishes.”
“But, what if......”
What if the Prince’s memories smother Edgar’s soul?
Edgar settled Lydia’s unease, slowly stroking her hair.
“Despite me being surrounded by the organization, I cannot stop Teran. Making the demon sneak into your ship, if it wasn’t for Kelpie telling me, I wouldn’t have noticed Teran’s plot.”
Kelpie was protecting Lydia as always. He also tried to stop the female demon.
Due to Lota and Paul having seen the female demon with Kelpie’s appearance, despite the amount of unmistakable injuries they received, they still informed Edgar. 
Lydia received everyone’s protection. And thus, Edgars greatest trial was attempting  to fight alone. I can do anything, Lydia couldn’t help but ponder over.
“So Lydia, I’m going to get a hold of the Prince’s strength. I think that if I have that power, I will be able to suppress the Prince’s soul itself.”
Was that sort of thing truly possible?
“It can’t be suppressed constantly, right?”
“Before finding the way to bury him, I won’t lose. I will protect the promise I made with you. Using my willpower to survive, I will lead the organization towards annihilation.”
“Then I have no choice but to find the fairy kingdom. In order to find the way that can eliminate the Prince within your body.”
“Even though it’s my request, is it okay?”
This, for Lydia, compared to his sweet nothings, this resembled words of his true love more.
She entrusted her faithful frame of mind to destiny.
“Of course. We are husband and wife.”
At the same time their gazes met, they held hands firmly.
“Hey Lydia, I found the route. We’ll be reaching the region with the rift!”
Nico said. Although he ran over with his two legs, Lydia didn’t let go of that hand because she felt shy. Furthermore, interlocking fingers with Edgar became quite natural for her.
“Really? That’s great. We’re heading out from Aspin River, right?”
“Hold on, Nico. If we head out from the human world’s boundary, the ship will be surrounded by the organization at the estuary.”
“Eh, if we’re surrounded at the exit to the sea, then there won’t be anywhere to escape.”
“However, if we don’t pass through there, we won’t be able to go anywhere.”
“Yes, Edgar. We can only think of a way to break through the surroundings. Hurry up and lend a hand. We’ll be holding a combat meeting on deck.”
Lota said, appearing behind Nico.
Lydia wanted to stand up, and so Edgar supported her. She was still a little unsteady, but had no problem walking. Because of Francis, her physical strength recovered gradually.
“Until now, I’d thought that I was walking at the forefront, whether it was when I lead my comrades in an attempt of revenge, or when I obtained the Earl family. Since the marriage as well, I wanted to use my own strength to protect you, but you became my partner that walks alongside me.”
It was no longer necessary for Edgar to continue walking on the road that couldn’t be seen ahead alone. Lydia wanted to become what he called his partner, from the bottom of her heart.
“There will be a day where we will go there and walk side by side, right?”
“Yes, of course.”
The oily-green lion walked over from behind unhurriedly.

“Hey, where did His Majesty go?”
Ermine looked down from the deck on the second floor, realizing that the small ship, which originally should have been connected to the side of the vessel, disappeared, and so she called Ulysses. He looked back and spoke.
“I don’t know either.”
In fact, she went to look for Edgar as well, and seemed to find nothing.
Edgar’s figure disappearing from the vessel happened recently. He didn’t inform Ermine, and it was quite difficult to consider whether he went to another ship or onto dry land.
However, one of the small ships connected to the vessel was missing.
Ermine felt that Edgar was actually anxious because he knew something bad happened. Even so, he still concealed this unease, and assumed an air of calmness to face Ulysses.
“Does it concern Teran? He doesn’t obey His Majesty from the bottom of his heart.”
“Please don’t joke around.”
“Ermine, you became Teran’s subordinate and brought His Majesty here. However, was that truly the case? His Majesty came here out of his own will, right? Because he still hasn’t become ‘The Prince’.”
Ulysses looked at Ermine, seemingly probing around.
“Furthermore, in reality, you wanted to leak out Teran’s intelligence for His Majesty. You predicted that Teran would control the organization, then you left me in order to inform His Majesty of his actions.”
“Because I am Lord Teran’s subordinate, doing so is only natural. Even if I was still Lord Ulysses’ subordinate, I wouldn’t go against the ‘Prince’, would I?"
“Ahh, yes. This is the genuine ‘Prince’ you’re talking about? If the Prince awakens, you won’t know if your existence is still necessary.”
“I do not require your concern. Moreover, have you found the fairy ship?”
Ulysses smiled faintly at Ermine’s tough counterattack.
“A small ship was found at the border of the fairy kingdom. It seems to be the ship that was connected to the vessel.”
“What...... is the meaning of that?”
“His Majesty went to help the Blue Knight Earl’s ship escape. What will Teran do?”
Did Edgar truly go to their ship?
If it was truly in this way, what should be done if Teran found out?
Teran will use the tactics in mind in order to awaken the Prince, and will interrogate him so as to not let Edgar die under these circumstances.
She couldn’t let him use that sort of method.
Ulysses got up and left, leaving behind Ermine, who stood there blankly, worried that she couldn’t do anything. She was suddenly patted on the shoulder, and so she shook.
“......What are you doing, don’t scare people.”
“What’s wrong with you?”
Kelpie, in the form of a young man, crossed his arms and looked down at her.
“Don’t put on such a serious expression.”
“Lord Edgar is missing. He might have gone to look for Miss Lydia’s ship alone.”
“Ah, going as far as to do such a bold thing.”
“However, I’m not quite sure either. Lord Edgar cannot enter the rift of the fairy realm alone, right? Who helped him?”
“It wasn’t me.”
This point was naturally known.
“In short, if the Earl and Lydia are together, we will know soon. I saw the figure of the fairy ship in the rift.”
“What, and you returned already?”
We will arrive at the estuary soon. Teran and Ulysses’ ship has also begun to take action in order to surround them.”
So Ulysses went to look for Edgar in order to report this.
Leaving this matter aside for now, what was the situation inside the ship now? Was everyone safe? What about the Baobhan Sith that Teran sent?
Ermine overlooked the sea from the deck. She seemed to want to jump down, but was grabbed by the collar by Kelpie.
“Hey, what’s going on with you?”
“I’m going to check on the fairy ship.”
“Are you going to swim over?”
“I am indeed a Selkie.” 
“Ah, that’s true. Then, hurry and go. Don’t drown on the way there.”
“Are you going too? ”
“If you swim over in your seal form, the skies will darken. I can make rivers, follow me.”
Because she had a partner, Ermine seemed to realize that she had already forgotten those awfully old matters.
Since leaving Edgar, doing the things she alone had been instructed to do became natural.
When she returned to her senses, Kelpie turned into his horse form and dived into the waves. Thus, Ermine hastily followed him from behind.

Please read this at Daydream Translations
In the sea of the fairy realm, the scenery began to change.
The landscape between the waves and the prairies overlapped, and the ship subsequently proceeded into the wilderness.
It wasn’t known if they were far from the hill that was lit on fire, or if the fire had already been extinguished.
After the sun rose, the Unseelie Court weren’t able to move. Amidst the soft rays of the early morning, the sails swelled with wind, proceeding ahead to the prairies.
Soon afterwards, the river could be seen ahead. Going out from there, they ought to be able to head out to sea.
However, it was rather too early to believe that they could escape danger.
“I can see the ocean. Near the estuary, there are ships lingering around.”
Francis said as he looked through the binoculars.
“No matter where we go, I think we will be discovered by those ships.”
Edgar mumbled.
“However, a ship from the human world can’t simply approach this place. In the rift, even Swan can’t move the ship smoothly.”
“In other words, they can never enter the rift. If we sail up the river continuously, we’ll have to return to the human world.”
Nico crossed his arms and said.
“If we slow down here, we will merely give the enemy an opportunity to surround us. We can only rush out. Edgar, what do you think?”
Lota leaned out her body from the window of the pilothouse.
Currently, they didn’t even have the time to discuss the plan about how to break through the defenses.
Lota, the silhouette of the island and the surrounding ships are in the sea before us and they have surrounded the estuary. If we’re going to break through, we can only choose the shoal rocks, which is quite difficult even for them to move forward,” Edgar said quickly.
“We have to switch the boat over to the west side of the island, which can be seen ahead. That place has a very shallow area, so the organization’s ship won’t be able to approach, but this ship might be able to pass through there.”
“Shoal rocks, huh. We have to give it a try. Swan, what do you think?”
“If the ship is steered correctly, we’ll be able to know how deep it is.”
The structure under the ship was quite shallow; if they wanted to make such an immense sailboat sail properly, wouldn’t this be fairly challenging? Although Lydia thought that, Lota raised a thumb reliably.
“In any case, Swan and I will think of a way.”
“I’m counting on you guys. Then I will go and stop the organization’s ships from pursuing us.”
“Edgar, how are you planning to do that?”
Lydia couldn’t help but worry, and Edgar smiled at her. However, that smile carried a slight sense of nervousness.
“Teran must be stopped.”
“That......”
Edgar took Lydia’s hand and walked over towards the bow of the ship.
They stood by the railings, looking at the river route that extended all the way toward the sea. It would be great if this route lead to the fairy kingdom. If that’s the case, she would be able to reach the fairy kingdom together with Edgar......
But now, having finally set out on the trip, she was faced with a difficult problem.
“Last night, I had a dream. I dreamt that you guys slaughtered each other because of the demon. Yet now, it didn’t turn out that way, thanks to you, Lydia.”
Upon being brushed by the river breeze, Edgar squinted and looked into the distance.
“Thinking about it again, I still want to be a man that won’t humiliate you.”
“What are you saying, you have been my pride all along.”
And in the future too. Even if you access the Prince’s powers as well.
In order to have a proper look at Lydia’s face, he used his hands to comb through the caramel-coloured hair, which had been blown into disarray by the wind.
“I must hand over the fairy kingdom’s key over to you.”
“Can you see it?”
Edgar nodded, then lifted the other hand before Lydia’s eyes.
On the ring that was made with the oily green serpentine, a peridot was embedded in the shape of a four leaf clover. 
“It’s this.”
“Eh, this? I merely thought that it was a ring that I had never seen before......”
“Regardless of that, this is the shape of the key of the dream I wanted. Despite separating from you and having to confront the Prince, the day of happiness felt like it was going to become an illusion, so I suffered a lot. During that time, it didn’t make me forget those days of happiness, and it made me remember as a result. Therefore, I felt that the key was protecting me.”
“Then, what is the key?”
“In the beginning, it didn’t have a form from what I remember.”
Edgar looked at the docile lion that seemed to be pressed close against him.
“The door to the fairy kingdom is made out of serpentine. It is the gatekeeper fairy. In other words, it can open the door to the fairy kingdom.”
“It’s the key, huh.”
“Gladys, who locked the door in the end, brought it to England. Then, she left it with Banshee.”
Although Lydia was surprised, she understood, then reached out and lightly pet the lion’s mane.
“Is...... that so. As a result, it protected you from the Prince all along?”
But now, the situation has changed. Edgar himself had the awareness of fighting the Prince within the organization.
“Although it is something that I received, I married you, so now it also belongs to you. Thus, its form was given by the both of us, together.”
Now, Edgar had no choice but to hand the key over to Lydia, and Lydia had no choice but to accept the key. When they were in the position of needing the key, it appeared.
Edgar spoke to the green lion.
“Go to Lydia’s side. Then, return to the fairy kingdom with her.”
It wasn’t known if the lion understood, as its body slowly disappeared.
“Hey, look at the estuary. We’ve been surrounded.”
Almost simultaneously, Francis called out.
They suddenly looked ahead. Looking over from the bow, where Lydia and the others were, the ocean could be seen. Ahead, the figure of a small island drifted, and several ships proceeded towards them.
“Swan! Break through according to plan!”
Accompanying Lota’s echoes were the sails unfolding substantially. The sails swelled with wind, creating a subtle angle. Lota mobilized the sailors, who were familiar with the ship, to raise the sails, but Swan alone was able to accomplish Lota’s instructions.
She’s the ship after all.
Swan forged on ahead at roaring speeds, sliding from the river towards the sea.
They were going to break through between the ships that were approaching the island’s shadow. The hull squeezed out with great difficulty, and the waves that collided with each other shook the boat. Lydia desperately grabbed the handrail, unable to stand firm.
Even so, the organization’s ships have been there for a long time, obstructing the way ahead.
“Lydia, it’s really dangerous on the deck, hurry and go back inside!”
Francis hastily went down, in order to not fall.
Lydia and Edgar hastily crawled to the staircase, and at the same time, she asked Lota.
“Lota, are the injured at the ship cabin alright? They might have rolled off and fallen from the sofa......”
“Then they’ll have to bear with it. Darnell is here, in short, they probably won’t bump their heads.”
Hearing Lota speak of Darnell’s name, Edgar remained silent. He might have already known about him appearing in the ship. 
Even so, under the circumstances of him not knowing, the Prophet, who claimed that Lydia was his fiancée, was on the ship; to Edgar, this wasn’t anything good.
Going down the stairs, Lydia ran to the nearby window of the cabin and grabbed onto the mounted table tightly and peeped out the window.
Since the view from the window was quite narrow, she didn’t see the enemy’s ships. There was immense swaying once again, and Lydia fell into Edgar’s arms.
“Be careful.”
“Yeah......”
However, Lydia was quite worried. She didn’t want to part ways with Edgar while leaving behind a seed of misunderstanding.
“Um...... about Mr. Darnell......”
“Earl!”
Just as she was going to speak, Paul ran in, and Lydia was interrupted. Darnell and Kelly also appeared.
“I heard that you came here...... ah, you’re okay, what a relief......”
“You seem to be okay as well, Paul.”
Edgar reached out and supported Paul, who was walking unsteadily.
“I’m sorry, Earl. I was the first to be gotten rid of by the demon, and became a burden to everyone.”
“Paul, I apologize, I involved you in such a dangerous voyage. However, because I didn’t know what would happen, I needed a person with common sense. Lota is easily hot-headed, and Francis gets bewildered. You have to help Lydia from the sidelines.”
Deeply moved, Paul, whose hand was held, nodded.
“As long as it is something that I can do, I will do it. But Earl, your target ought to be the fairy kingdom.”
Paul returned the grasp on Edgar’s hand, strengthening his grasp so as to not let Edgar leave.
“Being alone in the Prince’s organization and whatnot...... don’t do those things, everyone will protect you and Madam Lydia.”
“Thank you, Paul, but what you said lacks persuasiveness.”
Although Edgar spoke jokingly, Paul released his hand, as if he was powerless.
Paul had other companions who weren’t powerless at all. The battle between Edgar and the Prince within him was something that only Edgar could do no matter what, Lydia gradually understood this as well.
“You weren’t planning to return, Earl, were you preparing to become one with the Prince? This is too reckless.”
Darnell said, and Edgar frowned deeply. 
“Burying the Prince does not require the assistance of you, the McKeel clan. After breaking through the organization’s surroundings, let me find a seaport to disembark.”
“However, if you are controlled by the Prince, only the McKeel clan will be able to protect Lydia. ......We have the strength to bury the Prince.”
“Is this the future that you predicted as well?”
Lydia recalled this and became scared. Darnell prophesied that the the master of the Unseelie Court would be buried.
“Well, yes.”
Sure enough, he spoke bluntly.
However, Edgar wasn’t intimidated at all.
“Then, what about if you die right away? The future you predicted will disappear.”
The two of them looked each other in the face, but Darnell withdrew his gaze soon after.
“That is also a possibility. If you kill me now, there is also the possibility...... that the Prince will not die.”
Edgar looked at Lydia, who was nervous, and spoke.
“However, Mr. Finn, you’re worried, right? I’m not planning to take action against you right now, and because of this, I won’t sell my soul to the Prince.”
Darnell was speechless. He also wasn’t planning to make a conclusion here now.
“Master, are you going to leave again? Abandoning the Madam......”
Without doubt, Kelly was filled with anxiety. Hearing that Edgar appeared on the ship, perhaps she was slightly relieved, but she must have felt uneasy once again.
Because she was worried about Lydia’s pain more than anyone else.
“It’s all right, Kelly. I believe in Edgar, so I have been moving forward continuously. I am no longer at a loss.”
“In short, there is no time now. Could you please be considerate of the situation?”
Edgar glanced at Lydia, and urged Paul and the others.
“Ah, y--yes.”
Paul and Kelly suddenly exchanged looks.
“I apologize, us wounded people won’t disturb you, and will return to the room first. Isn’t that right, Mr. Darnell?”
“But I’m not injur---”
Paul and Kelly lead Darnell out as he spoke. 
The two were alone again, and so Edgar looked at Lydia directly in the eyes.
“I’ve heard about Darnell from Raven just now. Incidentally under these circumstances, he had no choice but to get onto the ship.”
Lydia recalled what she said when she was interrupted a moment ago, then spoke.
“Yes, But Edgar, I......”
“It’s okay, I believe you.”
Edgar said firmly, then smiled.
“Worrying over someone snatching you away can’t be helped. However, it’s quite mysterious. After separating, I could only remember this proof of how much you love me. Therefore, rather than jealousy, I’m more worried about whether or not you’ll forget how to kiss.”
“Wh--what are you saying!”
“Not only kisses, but everything I’ve taught you. You mustn’t forget.”
“I’m telling you......”
Lydia blushed while getting angry. Because the ship swayed suddenly, Lydia embraced him tightly, in order to not lose the opportunity. Lydia lost her balance due to the swaying, and Edgar embraced her with all his strength.
As scheduled in advance by Lota, the ship proceeded towards the west side of the isle, which had many shoal rocks.
In this region, the ship couldn’t help but slow down. Swan avoided the rocks which couldn’t be seen, while carefully moving the ship forward.
The organization’s ships seemed to be approaching as well. They avoided the shoal rocks, enclosing them from a distance while keeping a close watch.
However, if they couldn’t break away from this place at full speed, then they would be forestallen.
However, the ship suddenly slowed down. Upon thinking like this, it came to a complete stop not long after.
“We can’t get through. Please wait a moment. I will go and look for other deeper areas.”
Swan said.
Edgar brought Lydia into his embrace, then turned his face toward the window, gazing outside.
“That is Teran’s ship.”
There was a ship approaching them, hardly minding the shoal rocks at all. Although the other ships were on the embankment, they were sailing from a distance.
Even if they weren’t certain that it was Teran, Lydia already had goosebumps. Nuckelavee blood flowed within Teran, and at the thought of him approaching her again, Lydia had an unpleasant, poisonous-like feeling. Although he had the form of a human, he possessed formidable magic like fairies and his soul was that of a monster’s; the existence of this kind of thing made people’s hairs stand on end.
Edgar called Raven over. Lydia heard his voice, and looked back at his body, flustered.
“Do you already have to leave?”
“I will stop Teran, in order to not let the organization’s ships catch up.”
He didn’t say how he was going to do it. In order to find a way out, Edgar was forced to leave the fairy that protected himself to Lydia.
“Edgar, don’t worry about me. ......Because I won’t forget.”
“Yeah, I will immediately remind you about the things you forget.”
Edgar smiled, then gave her a light kiss. Subsequently, the clover-like peridot on the ring shone.
“Hey, did you know? I heard the peridot is a stone that can protect a couple’s love.”
“Is that so?”
“This is what Professor Carlton told me. Furthermore, it can produce sun-like rays of light even within the darkness, as if it’s a stone that can guide people to head for tomorrow.”
If that was the case, then wasn’t the gem something that gave them hope?
He carried the meaning of the gem closely in his heart. Edgar, who looked directly into Lydia’s pupils, made her see the light of hope from the peridot as well.
“Lydia, you have to take the gem and my longing for you and merge them into one with the key, then bring it into the fairy kingdom. If it’s like that, then I will always be able to accompany you. If it’s the two of us, we will definitely be able to find the right future.”
He embraced her tightly once more, and after seeing Raven come, he reluctantly let go of her arm.
“Raven, get ready, and bring the female demon over.”
“But she still has the form of Madam Lydia.”
“That’s fine. Make everyone hide, and don’t be discovered by Teran. I will distract Teran’s ship, during that time, make the ship break away from the shoal rocks and move forward at full speed. He will enter the shoal rocks as well, but won’t immediately give pursuit. Take advantage of the other ships not coming over and escape at once.”
Raven nodded slightly, and immediately turned to leave.
In order for the female demon to stay in a secure place, it was locked in a room by Raven, and naively continued to act as Lydia.
Edgar opened the door, and said “Let’s go.”
“Where are we going? ”
“We’re escaping. This ship will immediately sink.”
“......What about the female demon?”
“No one knows who the female demon is, so everyone has begun to kill each other. ”
“What......”
The demon spoke in this way, and a twisted smile faintly appeared from the corners of its mouth.
“I have already confined several people in the ship, let’s take the opportunity to leave this place. After this, if the ship sinks, the demon that frightened you will be tidied up.”
Edgar went up to the unmanned deck.
Everyone seemed to have followed instructions to hide and hold their breaths. Lota wasn’t in the pilothouse either.
Teran’s ship was going to approach this area very soon. Thus, Edgar said this to the female demon tenderly.
“There is no mistake that only you, are truly Lydia right? As long as you are rescued, then it is enough. Bury this place, and everyone will believe that you are genuine. Understand?”
“Yes, I understand. I will do as you say.”
The Baobhan Sith before his eyes resembled Lydia very much. And yet it didn’t bring about any feelings from Edgar. 
It seemed that Edgar wouldn’t be confused by thinking like this. When he and Teran confront each other, the female demon taking on Lydia’s form will make him embarrassed.
Edgar took down the flag on the deck, trying to give Teran a signal.
The ship ahead saw Edgar’s silhouette. They were probably aware that Lydia was by his side as well.
“That ship is?”
“It’s our comrades’, they came to save us.”
Edgar brought the demon down to the small boat, then rowed it towards Teran’s ship. Doing this ought to be able to stop Teran’s ship.
Furthermore, this can stop Teran from approaching the fairy ship.
In an area that was tens of feet away from the fairy ship, Teran’s ship stopped, and waited for Edgar’s return.
Teran probably believed that the fairy ship was stopped by the shoal rocks, so he felt that there was no need to overtake them immediately.
Now is our chance to quickly find a way to break away from the shoal rocks.
Edgar prayed. Soon after, he boarded Teran’s ship, and faced the man that had a scar on his head. Teran’s subordinates very tamely brought the demon, who had Lydia’s form, onto the deck.
“Your Majesty, it truly is great that you are unharmed. You went to that ship alone, which made me quite startled.”
On the deck, Teran lowered his gaze and spoke, assuming a modest approach on the outside.
The female demon walked over to Edgar’s side at a relaxed pace and began to speak, seemingly bragging about her work.
“That ship over there is already done for. Everyone is killing each other inside.”
Teran knew that this woman was the Baobhan Sith. He would likely doubt Edgar’s methods more and more, but Edgar didn’t give him leeway to ponder.
He looked directly at Teran and deliberately spoke with a displeased voice.
“More important Teran, do you have anything that you want to say to me?”
“......What do you mean?”
“You forgot a considerably important report. You said that the fairy ship would appear at the estuary, when in reality you knew where the ship was, didn’t you”
“How could I possibly? If I knew, I wouldn’t be able to conceal it from you.”
“Hmph. So, you have deceived me, dispatched the monster to attack the ship, then attacked and sunk the ship.”
“My plan was turned down by Your Majesty. Therefore, we carried out Ulysses’ battle plan.”
Sure enough, he openly feigned ignorance.
“Forget about it. Speaking of which, do you know who this woman is?”
Edgar grabbed the arm of the demon, who was by his side. Since Edgar became rough unlike a moment ago, the female demon looked over in confusion.
“This is Lady Ashenbert.”
“Kill her.”
Edgar threw the female demon in front of Teran. The female demon, who fell down, looked up at Edgar and Teran in a daze.

Edgar undoubtedly boarded Teran’s ship, which was stopped tens of feet away. Lydia and the others came out from the ship’s hold, concentrating on the open wall of the pilothouse. They hid in order to not let Teran and the others find them, and desperately looked for a way to break away from the shoal rocks.
“Swan, how is it? Have you found an area with deeper water?”
“I apologize, please wait a little longer.”
“Even if Edgar is buying time for us, we can’t continue waiting like this. Look, the other ships are approaching here as well.”
Francis peeped from the shadow of the railings with an anxious expression emerging.
“You’re too noisy, don’t rush her! We can only rely on Swan right now!”
Lota shouted; Raven and Darnell, who were silent, had become impatient as well.
“Hey, what are you guys dawdling for? The ship fairy can’t see the bottom of the ship, relying on her takes a lot of time!”
At that moment, along with an angry voice, a pitch-black horse stood upright on the deck.
“Kelpie!”
He glanced at Lydia, replacing a greeting in which he hadn’t seen her in a long time, then squinted for an instant and spoke urgently. 
“Although there are areas with deep water, escaping as far as possible still seems quite difficult, because the tide levels have been continuously dropping.”
“Y--yes. Because the full moon is sinking towards the west. If it continues like this, the tide levels will decline more and more.”
It wasn’t a situation for Lydia to be happy at the reunion either.
“I see, the more we drag on, the more we won’t be able to break away from here.”
Even Lota had an expression of despair.
What should be done? Lydia looked at Nico, not hopeful that a way to save the situation could be found, as he shook his head persistently as well. The puppy that sat by Lydia’s feet tilted its head blankly, as if there was nothing to be done. Of course, Lydia knew that the gatekeeper fairy wasn’t able to display its strength at sea.
Even if it was the expertise of Lota and Swan, they didn’t have the skill to make the ship move.
“Even if Lord Edgar is confronting Teran on the ship ahead and diverting Teran’s attention, he might not be able to delay a lot of time either.”
Said Raven, who used the binoculars to confirm Edgar’s figure.
If the tides could be made to rise......
Lydia pondered after ignoring the natural phenomenon, involuntarily praying with her hands together.
Rising tides?
The moonstone ring on her intertwined fingers shone before her eyes.
That’s right, the moon had an impact on the rising and lowering of tides.
Lydia’s hand held the moon. The moonstone of the Blue Knight Earl’s family was like the genuine moon, possessing the fairies’ moon that waxed and waned.
As Lydia stroked the moonstone wedding ring, she sensed Little Bow whispering, and so she was speechless.
No, those aren’t words. It was barely an impression that flowed out from him.
“Can...... you do it?”
Lydia couldn’t help but ask. But the moonstone didn’t reply, and those impressions didn’t appear again. However, the thought that emerged a moment ago didn’t fade from Lydia’s mind.
“What’s wrong, Lydia?”
“Perhaps we can make the tides rise. Although it only lasts for a moment, it can probably be done. Kelpie, if the tides rise, then you can find a passage, right? You have to lead the ship to that path.”
“Hey, if we can’t make the tide levels rise, the ship will run into the rocks of the seabed and be stranded.”
“I know.”
However, Lydia wanted to try and believe in the impression extracted by Little Bow.
Arrow had already said it before. Although Little Bow couldn’t speak, the official Countess ought to be able to communicate with his spirit.
If the fairy kingdom doesn’t acknowledge Edgar, then Lydia isn’t the official Blue Knight’s Countess. However, Edgar was acknowledged by the fairies that he came across at the present time, as well as the gem.
So, there definitely wouldn’t be a problem.
“Swan, Lota, make the ship move forward.”
“Let’s go, Swan.”
“Lydia, your way of showing off it quite similar to the Earl’s.”
Kelpie shrugged his shoulders.
“After I see the water levels that can let the ship through clearly, I will give you guys a signal, then you make the ship go forward.”
After saying that, he crossed over the handrails and jumped into the ocean.

“Kill her, what is the meaning of this.”
Teran inquired at Edgar’s statement. Edgar deliberately stared at Teran with an impatient attitude.
“Ah yes, you said that you made everyone riding the Earl family ship kill each other, so this woman is the last one.”
“......You said to keep her alive for information before. In short, this woman is your......”
“I changed my mind.”
Edgar tried to follow the former Prince’s impulsive change of words and mood closely. Edgar pursed his lips into a smile, grabbing the hair of the demon, who had fallen down.
“The Blue Knight Earl is still alive within my body. He is trying to resist me. This woman dies, then the Blue Knight will disappear henceforth.”
“Don’t! ......No, I am not that woman!”
The demon, unable to bear that it was about to be killed, struggled out from Edgar’s hand and cried out.
“I understand. As you command.”
Teran must have been intent on keeping his lips sealed. He took out a lash from his jacket with both hands, grabbing it tightly.
The demon saw the lash and was confused. That was because for fairies, the suffering that Teran causes to people can make fairies prefer death.
The Nuckelavee’s blood was undoubtedly an unclear existence to any fairy. But regardless, Teran couldn’t kill fairies either.
Edgar had known, as there was only one kind of power that could kill fairies. The Blue Knight Earl family obtained that power, and yet sealed this power.
That was the Merrow’s sword bestowed from Edward I.
“Lord Teran, please save me! I did as you commanded......”
The female demon tried to escape, and so she planned on revealing Teran’s plot.
“He made me go and spy, then told me to kill the Blue Knight Earl family’s comrades. Lighting a fire on the hill, forcing the ship to escape, also that I could sink the ship…”
Teran interrupted the demon, kicking her away.
The demon, who was thrown to the floor again, groaned in pain.
“What is the meaning of this, Teran? Was it not the plan this time to acquire the ship and nothing more? And you making the demon sneak into the ship, was this with the intention of sinking the ship? You ignored my commands, isn’t this a preposterous action of betrayal?”
“Please don’t be misunderstood by the female demon. I did not order her.”
“That...... I really did obey Lord Teran’s commands!”
Due to anxiety and fear, the demon began to be unable to maintain Lydia’s form. Its hair became white, its cheeks cracked, and it let out a sound that was neither male nor female.
Teran looked askance, pretending that he didn’t know her.
“Someone might have been passing themselves off as me. Someone tried to frame me as well.”
“What are you trying to say?”
It was Ulysses’ voice. His ship seemed to be able to enter the shoal rocks as well. He forced the ship to approach them, then spoke on the deck while leaning out and peeping over.
Your Majesty, Teran is the genuine traitor. He should be punished!”
Upon hearing Ulysses’ yelling, Teran smiled.
“Ulysses, who can punish me? If it’s His Majesty, he hasn’t awakened yet, right? He still can’t bring out his strength completely.”
This is true. Edgar still hadn’t awakened as the Prince. Teran, who knew this, secretly initiated a provocation towards Edgar for not being able to kill him.
Human weapons won’t be able to kill Teran, who was half-fairy. Only a person who possessed Unseelie Court magic could kill him, that is, the current “Prince”.
“You’re saying that my strength as the Prince is still lacking? So you’re trying to plot a rebellion?”
When he obtained the Prince’s powers, Edgar still couldn’t believe that he could persevere with his own willpower and bury Teran, but now, he was determined.
“No...... I merely wanted to tell you that I don’t know this female demon and nothing more.”
“Then, the one violating my will is that thing?”
He pointed to the female demon, who was crying.
“You understand, right? I cannot forgive traitors.”
The Merrow’s sword appeared in Edgar’s hand, which made Teran retreat slightly.
Edgar flashed the edge of the blade in front of Teran, then stared at him.
For the things that were lost and for the future, he had to fight to protect them. This wasn’t the Prince’s strength, but the strength of the Blue Knight Earl family.
This time, the Star Sapphire was seeking its complete power from the Star Ruby, thus Edgar reached for the memories within himself. This was in order to obtain the Unseelie Court magic of the Prince in his memories, who was struggling in the cage.
Although Edgar was awake, the cage that he saw in his dreams appeared before his eyes.
It was the serpentine cage that the gatekeeper fairy built.
Edgar glanced at the serpentine ring on the finger holding the sword. The peridots in the shape of a four-leaf clover were made for Edgar by the gatekeeper fairy as well.
However, it was the key to the fairy kingdom. It had already been entrusted to Lydia.
But the power of the serpentine still remained with Edgar slightly at present. Was it because he contacted the Prince that it tried to stop him? Edgar sensed the conflict within him. 
It’s enough. You don’t have to protect me anymore.
Edgar said to the ring.
No, if you are the symbol of my happiness, then I wonder if you can preserve the memories of this happiness. In order to not lose my most important thing, I will give it to you, you have to guard it carefully.
It was only the longing for Lydia that he absolutely couldn’t let the Prince’s filthy soul touch.
In the next moment, the serpentine ring split open, then scattered into fragments.
Edgar felt the impact, and the scarlet light of the Star Ruby was liberated immediately before his eyes.

Lydia felt the sky suddenly darkening.
She looked up at the sun which was covered by clouds, which became particularly red. Like sunset, the surroundings were dyed in a shade of red.
No, only the bay region was getting dark. The isle still had a blue sky; only this side was covered in a red light.
“What... is this...”
“It’s being emitted from Teran’s ship. I saw that place let off a red light.”
Hearing Raven’s words, Lydia couldn’t help but look over there, then leaned against the handrail.
“Edgar, he......? ”
She saw a figure, similar to his, holding a sword.
“Could it be that this color is the sword’s Star Ruby?”
Did he liberate the Prince’s memories?
“Hey Lydia, the moon is starting to shine.”
Upon hearing Nico’s voice, Lydia came to her senses. Although she was quite worried about Edgar, her role now was to make the ship break away from here.
She checked the ring’s moonstone quickly, as the white radiance became even brighter.
Since the red sky was darkening, a faint light appeared from the moonstone, like the moon emitting light at night.
“The tide levels are rising. Now, make the ship go forward!”
At the same time of Kelpie’s instructions, the sails had already swelled with the wind.
The sunlight suddenly disappeared because of the moonlight, and this moonlight became incomparably bright in the darkness. The darkness that was created from Edgar liberating the Star Ruby helped the moonstone.
This was the Earl family’s gem. Included among this, Edgar’s Star Sapphire as well as Lydia’s moonstone were the gems held by the Earl husband and wife since the beginning, and they individually assumed the positions of a bow and arrow.
When the Star Sapphire becomes the ruby, the sword will bestow Unseelie Court magic. It was an unexpected strength. But whether it was the sapphire or the ruby, both of them were items of the Earl family.
Edgar obtained the sword and became the Blue Knight Earl, and despite merely receiving the ancestry’s other half of Unseelie Court magic, it couldn’t change his status as the Blue Knight Earl.
So, he wasn’t going to lose to the Prince.
“A little more, the tides will rise a little more, then you can get through.”
“Little Bow, I beg you......”
Lydia prayed while lifting the moonstone in the air.
Looking ahead, she saw Edgar raising the sword to the sky as well.

It was an intense red. The darkest red colour that gathered had poured out from the darkness. Edgar waved the sword, releasing its strength, and split the female demon open.
Listening to the dying struggle of the fragmented demon, Edgar shifted his gaze to the fairy ship that was in the corner of his eyes.
That was the moon, the moonlight released by the moonstone.
The bird-like ship escaped, quietly sailing with the wind.
Hurry, Lydia.
Don’t let Teran catch up.
Gasping for breath, Edgar looked all around, and everyone retreated back, as if they were timid. Everyone there couldn’t escape. These were the people that worshipped demons like the Prince.
After that, Edgar fixed his sight on Teran.
“......If you deceive me, I can make you disappear at any time. Bear that in mind.”
Teran slowly knelt down.
“Yes, Your Highness, I will engrave it in my heart.”
The surrounding people were surprised speechless.
But not long after, a noise entered Edgar’s ears.
“Hey, the fairy ship is escaping!”
Ulysses shouted.
By taking advantage of the chance where everyone’s attention was focused on Edgar, Lydia and the others had already sped far away without a hitch.
Sensing that the organization’s ships tried to chase them, Edgar anxiously prayed that the fairy ship could escape.
Suddenly, Edgar felt the sky turning along with an intense dizziness, and his entire body was attacked by chattering pain and breathing difficulties.
Within the broken cage, under the power of the darkness, the accessed memories gradually began to flow into his heart. 
Edgar struggled in pain, then collapsed on the spot.
Within his thin consciousness, Edgar saw Ermine kneeling down by his side and looking at him.
“The fairy ship is okay now.”
She quietly whispered in his ear.
Even so, he couldn’t feel relieved.
The true dangers were starting now.
Hurry, Lydia.
Don’t be caught by me.

“Edgar! ”
Lydia cried out.
She looked over in the opposite direction of the ship heading forward and saw Edgar collapse, and his figure gradually becoming distant from her sight.
The ship immediately broke away from the steep rocks on the sides and accelerated in the sea.
They had already freed themselves from the shoal rocks.
Teran’s ship gradually became tiny. The pursuing ships were far away, and the ship entered the ocean, where the field of view was vast.
“It’s okay now.”
Francis suddenly sat down, and Lota embraced Lydia’s arm.
“That’s great, Raven!” 
Nico jumped up to Raven’s shoulder. Raven stood upright and motionless, and because the furry tail swept against his head, he appeared to be happy.
But no one was overjoyed, as they continuously stared at the shadows of the isle in the distance.
“We will definitely rescue him.”
Hearing Lota whisper earnestly, Lydia couldn’t help but walk over to the rear of the ship.
She looked at the sea that was stretching out before her, then surveyed the boats that were surrounding the island’s figure ahead until they couldn’t be seen.
The sky that was dyed red gradually returned to a light blue.
“Lydia, I won’t be able to get close to the Earl again.”
Suddenly appearing at the tip of the ship’s stern from the ocean, Kelpie sat down there without knowing when.
“If I approach him carelessly, I will be controlled by the Unseelie Court, my spirit will be swallowed, and then I won’t be your water horse.”
The powers that Edgar and the Prince possessed had merged into one.
By obtaining the powers that could control all the Unseelie Court as well as manipulate magic, he was already no longer the Edgar that Lydia knew.
However, this was the outcome that he chose for Lydia. Lydia had to try her best to live up to his expectations.
“Kelpie, you protected Edgar. Thank you.”
“Because for you, he is the Earl who is more important than anything else.”
Although there were many hardships now, Lydia was encouraged by his words and smiled.
Thinking about Edgar was painful; if this was the case, then it couldn’t be said.
“Edgar, you must live...... No matter how you are.”
If it’s like this, then we can surely meet again.
She wore the serpentine bracelet on her wrist, that was leaned against the handrail. Without knowing when, a carving of a lion appeared on the bracelet, and peridot granules were embedded within it.
The peridots that formed the shape of a four-leaf clover were set in the back of the lion, which was laying prone.
Just like the lucky mark that was engraved on the back of the white puppy from that day, it fell asleep in content.
This was the proof that the key, which was by Edgar’s side, was transferred over to Lydia.
And because they possessed the same ways of thinking as well as shared memories, the two of them created the same impression. If this was the shown form of the key to Ibrazel, for Lydia, a lion was fine, and a four-leaf clover was also fine, as it represented Edgar’s eternal unchanging heart.
The lion was Edgar’s unbreakable pride.
And the peridot was the guardian stone of the couple, the sun that illuminated the darkness, but also the guiding stone that would lead them towards the correct future.
“Lydia, you have to take the gem and my longing for you and merge them into one with the key, then bring it into the fairy kingdom. If it’s like that, then I will always be able to accompany you. If it’s the two of us, we will definitely be able to find the right future.”
Edgar said in the past. Lydia would engrave these unforgettable words in her heart.
She was merely a village girl, and he, who made her the Countess, unexpectedly used the gem to describe her.
At the thought of Edgar, who broke of crises fearlessly and courageously whenever, Lydia could only move onward like him. In this brief goodbye, Edgar shared his courage with her.