Hakushaku to Yousei - Volume 26 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 ♦ ​Shaken by the storms

(Were you captured again like I was?)
A voice was suddenly heard from somewhere. Lydia, who returned to her room while lost in thought looked all around in a flurry, but no one was there.
However, the voice of the unseen figure came again.
(Don’t tell me that the handkerchief that you had was taken away? However, this time it was brought back to the residence. The magician told me that because the pastor from the church over there is already dead, I didn’t have to remain there, then told me to stay here to work.)
“Could you be the Pixie from that time? Where are you? You can’t let humans see you?”
(Well, it’s a bit of a pain. I’m in the fireplace right now. Because I was arranged to clean the chimney. Ahhh, he said that I wasn’t allowed to come out from the chimney. I can only use my voice, please bear with it.)
“I see...... Me too, I can’t do anything to help you now, sorry.”
Lydia spoke, looking in the direction of the fireplace. The temperature was warmer during this time, and the fireplace wasn’t lit during the day.
(It’s okay, the ants told me that someone will immediately come to save me.)
“Save you?”
(They said that they would take revenge on the guy here.)
In other words, the Pixie’s comrade has finally come here?
“However, Unseelie Courts have gathered on this island.”
Even if more pixies were gathered, Lydia didn’t think that they could disperse the larger numbers of Sluaghs and black demon dogs. However, the pixie in the fireplace was full of confidence.
(It has no relation to them. Since ancient times, it has been well acquainted with every inch of land in this region. The earth is it’s ally as well. It won’t become acquainted with outside fairies and such.)
He was saying that currently, there was a fairy existing here which was closely linked to the land, and still retained its power until now.
Catena’s figure appeared within Lydia’s mind. She was the last descendant of the ancient gods that were linked to this island.
But even though it was Catena, she had already lost the formidable power. Merely guarding the stone perimeter, she had used up all her mental and physical effort.
However, this was originally a land that had many fairies. The existence of a fairy that had the ability to rescue a pixie from danger wasn’t strange either. Unable to hear what kind of fairy it was from the pixie in the end, and remembering that she was able to save him, Lydia smiled.
“That’s great, this time you’ll definitely be able to return to Cornwall.”
(It would be great if I could help you escape as well.)
“Yes. But even if the magic binding you can be undone, there’s no way to destroy the lock that traps me.”
After Lydia spoke, Pixie seemed to have just noticed this, as a dejected sigh came from within the fireplace. Although the Pixie couldn’t help her, Lydia felt happy that it was feeling truly indebted to her. 
(Fairies can’t do anything to break an iron lock. It seems that humans still require human help.)
“It’s okay. I..... will try my best to think of a way. Ah, well, can I ask you for something?”
(If it’s something that I can do.)
“I dropped my brooch in the courtyard. Can you help me look for it?”
(Ah, if that’s the case, it’s a piece of cake.)
Possibly truly wanting to repay Lydia’s kindness, the fairy happily said this.
“Thank you, Pixie.”
(That’s right, perhaps the human fairy doctor might come along as well, if that’s the case, you can be saved.)
“There’s a fairy doctor? ......Um, do you mean that the saviour you spoke of will bring a fairy doctor?”
(That’s right, so just wait.)
What Lydia immediately thought of was the possibility that the person would be regarded as an enemy by Edgar.
Because the magician Teran captured the Seelie Courts and ordered them around at will, and Edgar was the head of the organization that Teran belonged to. The other person will definitely think of Edgar as an evil leader. 
If they were merely a guileless fairy doctor that only wanted to rescue the Pixie, then it was fine, but if they had formidable powers like Ulysses as well as ambitions, wouldn’t it have to turn into a very troublesome situation? Moreover, if the fairy doctor brought over by the fairy said they were going to take revenge on someone here, in other words, they might harm Edgar.
“Hey, what kind of person is that fairy doctor.”
Lydia tried to question the fairy, but it seemed as if the Pixie was already gone when Lydia was pondering, as she didn’t hear any response.
Being saved was naturally worth celebrating, but Lydia didn’t wish for Edgar to be hurt.
If that were to happen, which side should Lydia stand on?
Lydia hoped that there would really be a fairy doctor coming. However, even if it’s Edgar, who acquired the Prince’s strength and had changed, Lydia didn’t want to lose him.
When she sighed deeply, there was a sound of a knock on the door. Lydia hurriedly assumed a defensive posture, and as a result, the voice of Kathleen talking to Lydia came through.
“Lydia, how are you feeling?”
Maintaining her defensive actions, Lydia replied.
“......May I help you?”
“Teran’s subordinate, who returned from another island, brought a midwife over. The ship is already pulling close to the breakwater.”
Eh? Already?
“I wanted to say that it would be better to tell you sooner. You have to work harder with your one-man show.”
After saying this, Kathleen left. But Lydia stood up from the chair, ill at ease.
What should I do, can I deceive them smoothly?
It still couldn’t be recognised from her appearance. Her opponent was a midwife; she had to carry out the lie until the end.
But why were all women able to find out that they were pregnant so soon? 
Lydia, who was thinking from different angles, wanted to ruthlessly curse at her own ignorance.
Using this kind of arbitrarily fabricated lie without thinking the matter through, it seemed that she would reach the limit soon. Under the circumstances of Edgar no longer having any feelings for her, this was the enemy location, even if Ermine was willing to stand by her side regardless, nothing could be done. 
Lydia’s vigour gradually weakened.
This time, another knock on the door echoed.
Did they come? ......It’s too soon.
Amidst the confusion, Lydia looked everywhere for places to hide; she could only dig her own grave if she wanted to find a hiding place. As she was ridiculing herself, the lock creaked open. Nearly simultaneously, a woman holding luggage was pushed in.
For a moment, Lydia thought that it was the midwife, but when she saw the braid, as she fell down from fear, Lydia called out in shock.
“Kelly!”
Lydia hurriedly stepped forward and helped her up.
“Madam Lydia......I’m glad you are safe.”
Kelly, who lifted up her face, looked into Lydia’s eyes, which became filled with tears.
“Why are you here......”
The man that pushed Kelly stood by the doorway and spoke.
“She’s your maid, right? She said that she wanted to stay by your side no matter what. Consider yourself lucky, His Majesty just gave out the order for you to have a maid, but there was no one suitable at hand.”
The man, who was probably a male servant, stopped talking, then crudely shut the door, locking it up once more.
“You truly are foolish, to go as far as to run to this kind of place. I cannot anticipate what kind of treatment you will suffer.”
“It’ll be okay. Everyone from the Earl family will definitely come to help us. Until then, if there are any difficult circumstances, we will definitely be able to overcome it together.”
Forcefully grabbing both hands, relief washed over Lydia.
Kelly’s back had Nico and Raven there. Lota and Paul were there as well. At the thought of this, Lydia felt that she was able to give it her all once more.
However, there was a difficult circumstance that had to be overcome without delay already positioned before her.
“Th--that’s right, Kelly, right now there is a crisis that we simply must overcome right away.”
“Eh, is that so?”
Even though Kelly, who looked nervous, sat down and still straightened her back.
“The midwife has come!”
“M--midwife......? Madam, in the end that’s......”
“I’ve conceived a child. If this gets exposed, I will be killed.”
After all, the details were as such; Lydia moved close to Kelly’s ear and quietly spoke. Kelly’s eyes went widened as round as a ball, then peeked at Lydia with a solemn expression.
“It’s a lie.....?”
“Yes, because I rolled and tumbled down the slope of Catena’s maze.”
“......I understand, please calm down a little.”
“They’ve already come, a moment ago it was said that they had arrived at the breakwater.”
“At any rate, Madam Lydia, sit down on the chair, then please look a little tired and keep still.”
“Keep still? But......”
After Kelly pushed Lydia down onto the chair, she picked up the shawl that was on one side and draped it over Lydia’s shoulders.
As Kelly corrected her posture and mustered up her courage, the door echoed once again.
The one that was brought by another servant was a wrinkly old woman. This elderly woman was so old that she had a hunched back, and needed to use a cane to walk around. The pair of dead wood-like hands resembled a witch’s claws; not only that, when she raised her face, which was covered in a scarf, only her eyes strangely glistened. The old woman used these unusually conspicuous eyes to perceptively sweep over Lydia and Kelly in turn.
When the servant closed the door, the old woman strode with fragmented footsteps and walked up to Lydia.
“You’re the pregnant woman?”
“Our Madam is the Countess, please speak to her the way you would converse with a noble lady.”
Kelly interrupted, yet the old woman drew back the corners of her mouth, which had no front teeth, and burst into laughter.
“A woman bearing a child of an unknown man here, and you say that you’re a lady of nobility?”
“How rude! That is the child who was conceived when she was with her official husband!”
“That’s enough, Kelly.”
There was no need to explain to this person. With regards to these people, who weren’t aware of the actual facts, even if they believed that she was an unrestrained woman no matter what, it didn’t matter.
“Hmph, the pride that you insist on is useless now. Well then, when did it stop?”
The old woman asked, bringing her face closer to Lydia.
Stop...... what?
Kelly replied in the place of Lydia, who was dumbstruck.
“Since last month. During this time, the Madam’s mood wasn’t lively, and her appetite wasn’t quite good either.”
Eh, this morning I actually ate until I was full.
Although she thought this, Lydia still leaned back in the chair powerlessly with a tired appearance.
“Any other changes?”
“Previously, she still had a bit of a fever, but now it seems that she is okay.”
Kelly swiftly replied to the midwife’s question, even Lydia couldn’t help but admire her deeply.
“Madam, you handed everything over to the maid? Isn’t this about you?”
Being spoken to like this, Lydia panicked slightly.
“Uh, well...... I......”
“Because it’s the first time, our Madam is a little overwhelmed. Naturally, this is a very happy occasion, but her body is changing every day, so the Madam feels quite uneasy thinking that she suffers from a serious illness. You can understand as well, right? The so-called noble girls are all at an age where they get married without being taught this aspect, and can only rely on their husbands to teach them about marital matters. But with men, in regards to the knowledge of having children, it could truly be said that they couldn’t be more ignorant.”
In order to hurriedly prevent Lydia from giving it away, Kelly took a step forward without delay.
“So in order to make the Madam settle down, please tell her, ‘you are absolutely pregnant.’”
Kelly, who approached the old woman, seemingly stuffed something into the woman’s hands.
After the old woman checked that item, she reached out towards Kelly. Lydia caught a glimpse for a split second; it seemed to be silver coins.
Kelly appeared to be embarrassed, barely managing to take out another coin-like item to hand over to her.
A snort from the old woman’s nose came out, as she took the item Kelly was holding and stuffed it into a bag that she carried behind her slanted back. At that moment, she left Lydia with a grotesque mischievous laughter, and sat down on another chair.
“You’re a fairy doctor? I heard it from that man with a scar on his forehead a moment ago.”
Lydia nodded.
“Then surely you yourself know how it is with children? Before it is born, rather than saying a child is human, it’s closer to a fairy.”
Lydia knew about this theory as well. A child before it is born, as well as a child not long after being born, are both very close to the fairy world. So it was vulnerable to the effects of magic, and a high tendency to become a changeling.
With regards to a pregnant woman and an infant, amulets were a necessity.
However, when an existence that is quite close to a fairy is bundled in her womb, as a fairy doctor, how should she feel, and how would she understand it? Lydia as she is now still didn’t understand.
But with regards to this old lady, who began to bring up the topic of fairies, a somewhat intimate feeling gradually emerged. Lydia’s wariness towards her had slightly weakened as well. 
“Could it be that you’re a fairy midwife?”
“Eh? This person is a fairy?”
Kelly raised her voice in shock.
“No, she’s human. A fairy midwife is someone that helps fairies give birth. Sometimes, fairies will need a human midwife, and will bring them to the fairy realm.”
“Yes, those guys are generous. At first, they didn’t allow telling other people what was seen and heard in the fairy realm.”
“What would happen if they told other people?”
“They wouldn’t be summoned by the fairies any more.”
“I still think that they would suffer the fairies’ revenge.”
Kelly listened eagerly.
“If the fairies’ blessing was there, dealing with stillbirth cases would lessen. But if this was lost, then your reputation as a midwife will deteriorate.”
After changing to the topic of fairies, the atmosphere inside became gentle.
“Well. This is all I heard, I’m not a fairy midwife.”
“However, you do know a lot.”
“My grandmother used to be a fairy midwife. Before she was at death’s door, she took the chance when no one was around to speak to me alone.”
“Oh my, she also spoke of the fairy births?”
“That’s right.That was already a mysterious story......”
The midwife’s words attracted Lydia’s interest.
At that time, there was suddenly a “bang”, and the door opened.  
A man whose head was deeply covered with a hat stood there. It was Teran.
Inheriting the blood of Unseelie Courts, if his presence was felt closely, then he could make the surrounding atmosphere freeze in an instant. If one was stared at, it seemed that even their soul would be snatched away by him.
“Is it over?”
“Suddenly bursting in, how rude.”
Lydia desperately summoned her courage and replied in this way.
“You think you’re a guest? You are merely a prisoner.”
Being disdainfully swept over with slanted eyes by Teran, the hairs on Lydia’s back immediately stood. The appearance of being interrogated in the cellar and the smell of blood emerged in her mind.
“You’re the father of the child?”
The midwife asked, but Teran didn’t seem to have the intention to reply.
“I asked you if it was over.”
He spoke forcefully, but another voice came from behind him.
“If you are asking about the father of the child, it’s me.”
Edgar appeared. He didn’t even glance at Lydia, and directly walked in front of the midwife.
“Okay. If you are the father of the child, then I’ll have a talk with you.”
“She is pregnant for sure, right?”
Getting straight to the point, he asked for the result. The midwife was planning how to reply, as Lydia was so nervous that she broke out in a cold sweat.
Although she accepted Kelly’s bribe and halted the pregnancy examination, it wasn’t clear whether or not she would conceal the truth for them.
When Lydia and Kelly both stared at the midwife while holding their breath, she drew back her toothless shriveled mouth and laughed. 
“It’s without a doubt, I say.”
“......Hah?”
“You’ll know once it’s born, it has been like this since long ago. If a woman says such, the man can only think that that was the case. It’s the same with the question of whose child it is within her womb, the man will say that they know, when in reality they still don’t know.”
After she finished speaking, she drew back the corners of her mouth and laughed heartily again.
Teran clicked his tongue, and it echoed to the point where Lydia, who was standing a slight distance from him, could hear it clearly.
“Hey! Don’t tell me that there was only this old fool.”
He angrily denounced the subordinate standing outside the door.
“Don’t call me an old fool. I am but the best midwife on the Isles of Scilly. On so many islands, I can almost say that all of the children were brought out by me. The other midwives don’t have to say it, it was those pretentious ship captains that sat on luxurious stools, and didn’t dare to raise their heads in front of me, who allowed me to cut the umbilical cord.”
After speaking, she approached Edgar.
“You must treat a pregnant woman with care.”
With that, she leaned on her cane and leisurely left the room.
Edgar’s back was still faced to Lydia, and disdainfully looked at Teran from the corner of his eye.
“You called a midwife, yet you didn’t inform me?”
“This wasn’t something that needed to be specifically reported.”
Hmph, snorting with his nose, Edgar strengthened his tone a bit.
“Teran. Lydia is our guest --- before she gives birth.”
After nodding to give his salutations, Teran left, as if to escape from trouble.
Edgar walked out immediately afterwards, stopped at the moment he left the room, and spoke without turning back.
“Lydia. You will be attending tonight’s banquet as well.”
This sudden statement made Lydia shoot up from the chair suddenly.
“Eh...... Edgar, banquets and such, I......”
Wanting to look at Edgar’s face talking, Lydia went in front of him. Unwittingly feeling as if she could secretly reach out and pull his arm, Lydia truly reached out without knowing, yet Edgar nonchalantly drew back.
“The gowns will be delivered later.”
Still facing away from Lydia, Edgar left.

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*

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“How was it Jenny?”
Approaching sunset, the midwife, who hurriedly rushed to return home, heard someone calling her, so she stopped. The humans that called her by her nickname from when she was a maiden were all underneath graves now.
“It’s like you said, there is a female fairy doctor there.”
A youthful face with wavy silver grey hair tied into a bun nodded with a subtle expression.
He, who came to visit Jenny’s house first thing in the morning, asked her without even exchanging greetings, “Can you give a recommendation to the men who came to this town in order to find midwives from Cypress island?”
Then, he added: “Regardless of the truth, I hope you can give the result of the woman’s pregnancy examination.”
Although Jenny vaguely replied, “If I want to,” he still willingly said that it was okay.
Jenny had already known him for a very long time. With such a thought, he surely ought to have been an acquaintance of Jennie’s grandmother, who was also a midwife in the past.
Although she was still a maiden during that time, Jenny had only seen him two or three times, he still remains fresh in her memory to this day.
If one stuck the flowers of a foxglove on their eyes, perhaps they could see fairies. He had said this to Jenny once. Then when Jenny stuck the flower that he picked onto her eyes, she vaguely felt as if she saw another world different from this one, as something resembling geothermal steam appeared faintly.
Afterwards, she tried again many more times, yet the magical matter like that time was never experienced again.
It might have been her own exuberant imagination when she was a child, or perhaps it was caused by the confusion of her memories.
But every year, each time the foxgloves bloomed in the courtyard of the residence where her grandmother lived, Jenny always subconsciously recalled that silver-haired youth.
After that, without knowing how many years had passed, Jenny had become an old woman. However, he stood in front of her with no change in his appearance since that time. 
On the path at the end of the small town, the only figures that remained were him and her.
She felt as if she had carelessly slipped into the afterlife without knowing. But Jenny was still alive, and so was he.
“Then, is Lydia truly pregnant?”
“Using a midwife’s intuition, I think that she doesn’t have anything in her womb.”
“Is that so.”
He sighed. Did he feel sorry? Or was he relieved? Jenny couldn’t determine which side it was.
“I still think she is your lover......”
“No, she is...... a very important woman. However, I will only have one lover forever.”
With regards to his lover, she had accidentally heard about it from her grandmother. In other words, it was a tale from long ago. Although he still had his youthful attitude until now, he didn’t have a new love, and while he hasn’t aged, it was possible that the healing and forgetting caused by the passing of time had no connection to him.
“Did you do as I asked?”
“It can be concealed, that is, for several months.”
“Ahh, that much is enough.”
Seemingly approving of this result, he turned around and was planning to leave.
“Are you going to grandma’s courtyard? The foxgloves are starting to bloom.”
Jenny recalled that he, who would go and pay a visit to her grandmother in the past, always stood by the blooming flowers in the rear court for a while.  For a long time, he was motionless, making people think he was praying, as he stood there with his eyes closed.
“I was there just now, those flowers made their way out of the courtyard’s range, and are growing in the plains.”
“Because it has already been several decades since anyone cleaned up.”
“Possibly.”
“Grandma, she was laid to rest underneath the flowers. I already can’t tell where she is specifically. She is together with the many infants that she couldn’t save despite all her effort.”
Making a small sign of the cross to his chest, the silver-haired youth revealed a smile. It was unexpectedly a calm and tender smile.
Yes, even though it was like this with him, it was the same as sediment that had gone through many years, and the pain that was once concealed in his smile had become a little lighter.
“Hey, do you know the flower language of foxgloves? It represents fervent longing that can’t be hidden. I really like this flower.”
A foxglove which had already become crimson red was stuck into his collar. As his silver hair fluttered in the wind, the flower swayed gently as well.
“Then, see you next time. Take care, Jenny.”
Saying goodbye to a tiny, shriveled old lady the same way he did when she was still a maiden, he turned around to leave.

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*

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Please read this at Daydream Translations
Using the Scotch broom shrubs as a cover, Nico gazed at a rock cave which was close to the seacoast.
A little earlier, the smell of roasted fish drifted over from that area. There was definitely a human there.
Nico and Raven both disembarked from the ship, and after sending Kelly to the vicinity of the organization’s stronghold, they began to look for people who may have been detained on Cypress island.
The ones that said this were Francis and Darnell. Regardless of which one, these two were acting alone, but according to their chess-like paths, the corresponding tactics on this side had to change accordingly. Nico believed that the next steps ought to be to do his utmost to find their locations and trace their movements, thus after parting ways with Raven at an area not far from the port that belonged to the organization, he carried out his investigation. 
Normally, if they were concerned about the Prince’s tendencies, they would naturally operate near the organization’s stronghold. This was Raven’s theory.
“Oh, someone has come out.”
From within the rock cave, a figure appeared, getting a glimpse of the surrounding conditions. But that face startled Nico. Because that person wasn’t Francis nor Darnell.
“......Isn’t that Patrick? Even this guy appeared unexpectedly.”
This person called Patrick was the fairy doctor of the McKeel clan. It was this person that maintained Darnell’s identity as the Prophet, and carried out an attempt with him to bury the Prince.
It was Darnell who called him to this place.
Raven must be notified; Nico, who quietly drew back, was suddenly grabbed by the shoulder, and for a moment, he was so frightened that all the hairs on his body stood on end.
“It’s me, Mr Nico.”
It was Raven.
Raven, who was still crouching behind the Scotch broom shrubs to hide, patted Nico’s shoulder softly.  Nico, who breathed a sigh of relief, wiped his forehead with the back of his paws.
“Don’t scare me. Aside from that, Patrick is over there at the rock cliffs......”
“Yes. I found Mr Darnell and followed him. These two seem to have agreed to meet up here.”
Following Raven’s gaze, a teenager with vermillion-coloured hair could be seen walking over. Patrick, who was standing by the rock cliffs, looked in Darnell’s direction.
Then, the two of them, who eventually met up, began to speak.
“They are discussing something. I can’t hear what they are saying from here.”
Nico and Raven had a fairly large distance between them, and although they could hear the sounds of chattering, they weren’t able to make out the details of the conversation from far away.
“Let’s try to get a little closer.”
After they went along the back of the shrubs and changed their location, the figures of the two were covered by the rocks, but it might have been because the actual distance became closer that they were actually able to hear their voices clearly this time.
“It’s already been used...... the organization’s stronghold is in front of this port. Right now, we’re starting to excavate the cave that leads to there.”
Who did he say was digging a hole?
Although they were baffled, this was Patrick’s voice. Nico pricked up his ears, listening carefully without missing a word. But Darnell’s voice, who spoke afterwards, couldn’t be heard clearly.
Then, it was Patrick’s voice again.
“Even if you do so, the Earl has still become the Prince in the end. Darnell, pertaining to future countermeasures, you said that you wanted to steal the sword, what are you going to do? Tell me, what on earth are you thinking?”
Steal the sword?
Nico was taken aback, and exchanged looks of dismay with Raven.
Darnell might have gotten caught up in contemplation. After a period of silence, they heard a voice again.
“After the Earl obtains the Prince’s magic, apart from using the method mentioned in the prophecy, there is no other way to kill him, correct? But on the other hand, he also has the status of the Blue Knight Earl at the same time. Apparently even now, it seems that he still hasn’t completely handed his body over to the Prince yet. However, the biggest reason for the change in the prophecy is due to the Prince’s character existing simultaneously within the Blue Knight Earl.”
Without the slightest hesitation, Darnell spoke resolutely.
“So much time has passed, what was prophesied about in the past have already deviated greatly. The prophet’s fiancée has already become the Prince’s wife. In order to amend the part that has deviated, it isn’t the Earl, but the true Prince’s resurrection that is necessary. Thus, only then did Miss Lydia agree to act as a member of our McKeel family and accept the duty of the Prophet’s fiancée.”
I see, Patrick agreed in a low voice.
“You knew that the Earl would become the Prince sooner or later, so you didn’t take action at all, and calmly waited on the sidelines for the situation to develop. Is it because in order to accomplish the prophecy, the complete Prince is necessary?”
“More or less. Because the possibility that the Earl won’t liberate those powers is very slim.”
“You truly are a pushover.”
“Our enemy is the Prince, not him.”
“However, he has become our enemy now.”
“That’s true as well.”
Then the problem now is that Lydia seems to have been captured by the organization.”
“It won’t be good if she isn’t rescued. But at the same time, her sentimental attachments toward the Earl have to be severed.”
“If the Earl’s spirit has already been completely taken over by Prince...... when she sees that situation with her own eyes, her opinion will change as well.”
They don’t know how stubborn of a person Lydia is. As Nico thought this, he also felt that he couldn’t give in to Edgar, who had been controlled by the Prince. For Lydia herself, it really was too dangerous.
“Although the Earl is someone with strong willpower, resisting the Prince’s evil spirit isn’t an easy task. And the element that can ultimately defeat him is...... that sword.”
While perking up his ears high, Nico’s tail wasn’t idle either, as it swung back and forth.
“The reason why the Earl’s willpower still hasn’t been completely taken away by the Prince is because the sword’s strength, which possesses magic, considers him as the Blue Knight Earl and is protecting him.”
“I understand quite well. Muryan has already begun to act.”
“Then, I’ll leave it in your hands.”
Raven, who followed closely behind Nico, asked.
“Muryan...... what is that?”
“It seems that there is a fairy called by that name.”
“A fairy, is that so. Should Lord Edgar be notified?”
“No, Lydia should be notified.”
“How?”
“I’m beginning to think of that now.”
It might have already been discussed, as Patrick and Darnell’s topic began to change to insignificant matters.
“Nevertheless, why didn’t you contact me sooner? While they’ve set off towards the fairy kingdom......”
“Because I was also involved at that time. It wasn’t until Penzance that I had the opportunity to send a telegraph.”
Hearing such dialogue, Nico and Raven proceeded to leave the area under the protection of the shrubs.

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*

This banquet seems to have been held in order to entertain the Torrey family’s second son.
Ned, who brought several subordinates, had temporarily stopped over Cypress island since yesterday.
The reason why Edgar would come to the Isles of Scilly was without a doubt on account of pursuing Lydia’s group to the fairy kingdom. However, because the Torrey clan had nearly monopolized the smuggling ship businesses in this vicinity, after they found out about the news of the Prince’s resurrection, they came to have an audience sooner than the other criminal organizations. Apparently, their skills were quite exceptional as well.
Why did Edgar make Lydia attend this kind of banquet? Be a little more careful, Ermine said to Lydia.
Because Kathleen would be attending as well, this would likely be an unbearable dinner. But in some sense, standing in an area within Edgar’s reach was the safest place to be right now.
After loosening her corset slightly, Lydia put on her gown. Even so, because this gown had layers of overlapping folds below the waist, luckily with the fluffy skirt’s design, the waist already seemed slim enough.
Was this skirt chosen by Edgar? If this was said to have been entrusted by another person to choose, it would rather be a little too clever, so clever that Lydia would find it unexpected.
If the dress was chosen by Edgar himself in accordance with Lydia's condition and preferences, it seemed to be chosen with a good method; Lydia couldn’t imagine the Edgar from that time barely looking upon her without a personal opinion.
But this might have been intentionally done for the Torrey family to see, because he couldn’t let an unpresentable woman be in attendance.
As if to prove this point, Kelly put a very large emerald hair accessory on Lydia’s combed hair. This was also an item bought by someone here.
When Lydia enters the dining hall, Kathleen will have an utterly astounded expression, which would also be due to this luxurious gem.
However, Lydia increasingly felt that she wasn’t receiving special treatment from Edgar. This gown and jewelry was seemingly in order to attract the gazes of the guests, only then was she made to wear it.
In fact, Ned was indeed attracted, as he looked at her with a lecherous gaze, and Lydia was arranged to sit beside him.
In the banquet, although Ulysses and several other officials were present, Teran wasn’t there. He must have been unable to participate in this kind of situation. The Torrey family’s side had several men present, but whether or not these men were Ned’s relatives, Lydia didn’t seem to have the chance to learn more. 
“Yo, we meet again.”
Ned moved close and whispered in Lydia’s ear without hesitation, then looked at her with gleaming eyes. He wasn’t filthily dressed like yesterday, rather he was properly dressed in a suit, but he didn’t shave his facial hair.
“I accidentally heard just now, the woman with the honey-blond hair over there is His Majesty’s fiancée? So what exactly is your position here?”
Kathleen was standing by Edgar’s side. Anyone present that saw this would all believe that she was Edgar’s fiancée.
Thinking it was possible that Edgar himself publicly announced this, Lydia felt that she couldn’t continue staying here, and could only continuously tell herself that the Edgar now wasn’t the true him.
“Don’t bother me.”
Lydia looked straight at the dining table in front of her coldly, but Ned didn’t care.
“I say, if I say that we’re close now, how do you think His Majesty will reply? In front of his fiancée, he might give you to me quite frankly.”
Even if she could ignore him, she couldn’t leave her dining seat. It was at this point that Ned seemingly leaned his body out and brought his face close to Lydia’s ear.
“All the Prince’s women died quite terribly as also in the past, this surely is not an exception. Do you think you’re the only one that can be safe?”
Deliberately increasing the strength of his words, Ned’s voice subtly echoed compared to the noisy banquet.
Lydia anxiously glanced at Edgar, but Edgar didn’t even take a look at her side.
“......Edgar won’t hand me over to you.”
“Then, I’ll go and give it a try.”
“Give it a try?”
“If it’s truly as you said, it won’t matter if I give it a try.”
“Please don’t be like this.”
She didn’t want to test the current Edgar at all, because Lydia would certainly be hurt even more.
Lydia looked away, yet he reached out toward her hair. Although he just touched the hair ornament slightly, Lydia pushed him away reflexively.
Hitting her elbow, the fork made a clunk as it fell to the floor. Along with the sound of the fork falling, everyone’s gazes gathered to that side.
“Don’t be so alert. I was thinking this was truly a nice gem, that’s all.”
Although Ned tried to settle the scene, everyone began to notice the terrible mood between him and Lydia.
“Ned, that is a commodity of Mr. Berg’s. The items collected from there are refined.”
After Edgar began this topic, the noises that came from all over the banquet hall stopped suddenly. At his seat of the banquet, which became absolutely silent, Ned looked at Edgar openly.
“Ahh, is that so. Berg’s cargo ship stopped here yesterday. Although it’s a little unexpected for young women to wear emerald, it seems to suit her quite well.”
Looking as if he wasn’t particularly interested in this topic, Edgar leisurely put the cutlery into his mouth.
“You still haven’t given anything to your fiancée, yes? There are top-notch gems among our family’s goods that can set off to the honey-golden hair.”
Hearing these words, Kathleen’s eyes immediately shone, but before she opened her mouth, Edgar replied.
“She probably isn’t very fond of smuggled items.”
“Even so...... it is worthy of a noble young lady.”
Indeed, Kathleen’s noble background, Lydia was unable to compare to. In other words, she might be judged as a cheap woman; at the thought of this, rather than saying that Lydia was unhappy, it would be better to say that she felt sad.
Was there a big difference between Lydia, who wore expensive smuggled goods, and Kathleen, whom Edgar refused to give a gift to?
The “Prince” doesn’t love anyone.
After realizing this, her fears that she might be jealous of Kathleen, who got close to Edgar, had disappeared.
But this point was a fact that made Lydia more sad than anything else.
Not only did Edgar forget his longing for Lydia, he also seems to have lost the feeling of love itself.
“Looking at you well-matched beautiful people, even I want to copy you guys and find a lover. Can you introduce me to a madam? Your Majesty seems to know many women.”
“Introduce? Your words alone can coax them.”
“But whether it’s the people or the things on this island, all of it belongs to Your Majesty. The same goes for women, that’s right, even if it’s a maid, it’s something of yours, right?”
“No need to worry. If there’s anyone you fancy, don’t hesitate to bring them back to your room.”
“Oh my, seriously? Anyone?”
Lydia sensed that Ned was now carrying out the “giving it a try” that he spoke of, and became nervous, but she didn’t have time to interrupt.
“That’s right.”
“Your fiancée as well?”
“Of course.”
With regards to Edgar, who replied without the slightest hesitation, Kathleen became pale.
“Are you testing me?”
“If that’s the case, what are you going to do?”
Right now, Ned was guessing the extent the new Prince could respect him, and the extent he could concede.
For Edgar, on the other hand, he had to carry out negotiations with Ned as well as the Torrey clan behind him. He wanted to see to what extent Ned would dare to ask him.
This was a haggle. All the talk just now was in order to distinguish the standpoints of both parties, a contest of ulterior motives. Lydia understood this as well. Thus, she didn’t say any more.
However, Lydia had a bad premonition in her mind. Because for Edgar, passing out his fiancée as a present was a question of his reputation after all. So, the chess piece applicable to this contest would be......
“Then, it’ll be her.”
As expected, Ned spoke while pulling Lydia’s hand, naturally kissing her on the fingers.
Edgar’s eyebrows didn’t even move as he spoke.
“I don’t mind if it’s a pregnant woman.”
Whether it was Ned or the surrounding people, everyone held their breaths and didn’t dare to make a sound.
Lydia recalled that at the time, she seemed to have suddenly stood up.
What happened next, Lydia couldn’t remember well. When she woke up, she was on a spacious bed.
Lydia, who sat up in a panic, thought to herself that this shouldn’t be Ned’s room, and when she hurriedly assumed a defensive posture, she realized that Ermine was by her side.
“How are you feeling?”
Taking the drinking glass offered by Ermine, Lydia let the ice-cold water flow into her throat. After gasping for breath, Lydia tried her best to remember.
“I...... fainted? During the banquet?”
“It was due to breathing difficulties caused by the agitation and tension. This isn’t surprising, the men of the dark organization always overdo their jokes.”
The button at the back of the gown was undone by Ermine, and the corset was loosened as well.
“A joke...... huh.”
“Yes. Exploiting the topic of women to provoke each other is a game they play frequently.”
Lydia didn’t think so. At least, Ned didn’t conceal his ambitions of trying to obtain something from Prince.
After that, Edgar had thrown Lydia to Ned, as if he was throwing leftover bones to a dog. Judging the value of alms that Ned and the others received from him on one side, and declaring that they wanted Lydia on the other, it was a completely worthless matter to Edgar. Edgar relied on this kind of method to declare the Prince’s claim to the dark world.
Feeling her head ache, Lydia pressed her forehead.
“That being said, what is this place?”
“It is Lord Edgar’s room.”
Actually, it wasn’t too unexpected. An entire set of luxurious furnishings and commodities were provided in the enormous bedroom. The room which was full of such things, the answer just now was the most probable one.
“Why?”
“Because Lord Edgar instructed as such.”
Ermine, who tilted her head slightly while replying, didn’t seem to clearly understand Edgar’s thoughts either.
“I want to return to my room.”
Granted that it was narrow and small, with the windows that couldn’t even open, the area where she was being imprisoned was a little better than being here now.
“Are my indoor clothes here?”
She immediately wanted to eliminate the memories of this gown and the banquet.
“I will call Miss Kelly over.”
After Ermine left, Lydia stood up from the bed and went to the window side.
It was pitch-black outside, and nothing could be seen. Because the light of the oil lamp inside reflected on the glass of the window, Lydia’s appearance was reflected as well.
The emerald ornament glittered with a dazzling radiance. A loathsome feeling bubbled up from her heart, and Lydia took off the hair ornament irritably. Her hair subsequently became undone, loosely spreading down to her back.

​
*

“That one is His Majesty’s woman.”
From a room with the oil lamp put out, Teran pointed to a distant building on the opposite side of the courtyard.
A woman was standing behind the balcony window of a room on the east side of the third floor. She undid her hairdo with an irritated motion.
Watching the scene attentively for a moment, the tall, slender refined man turned to face Teran.
“Is this true, Teran? You’re saying that this mediocre woman is His Majesty’s greatest weakness?”
Exactly, Teran nodded assuredly.
“It truly doesn’t make sense. This is merely a feeble little girl, that’s all. But why would someone like you leave this woman alone, and obediently follow His incomplete Majesty without a word?”
“Major Cloak, I don’t want to negligently go against His Majesty’s orders.  He is indeed the “Prince” with frightening powers. Only during the time that the woman is pregnant, I cannot touch her as I please.”
“In other words, if I make her drink an abortifacient, for you......”
“That won’t be discussed for the time being. If I find out that this woman truly isn’t bearing a child, or if the child is miscarried, even if it’s His Majesty, nothing can be done to protect that woman any longer, isn’t that so?”
Cleverly avoiding words that would make others criticize him, Teran instigated the man in front of him.
“Major Cloak, wouldn’t it be too clever to let the situation of that Sylvainford family’s son obtaining the Prince’s powers continue? If possible, I truly want to awaken the first Prince a little sooner. In order to destroy his mind, which is suppressing the Prince, the first step is to drive that woman to despair.”
“However, if it fails, I don’t think one will be let off easily.”
Cloak said this, not knowing whether or not he was beginning to feel frightened.
“That is certain. It is but a matter of laying a hand on His Majesty’s child.”
A pleading expression was mixed within Cloak’s uneasy gaze towards Teran. Teran spoke quietly, as if he was thinking aloud.
“As such, there is someone who detests that woman and the child in her womb.”
“......I see. In other words, it means that you don’t have to do it yourself, right? It truly is your style.”
Cloak’s forehead was completely covered in sweat, probably because he was nervous.
Hmph, Teran snorted.
“Ah, that’s right. You seem to know quite a lot about poisons, does this kind of poison from the legends truly exist? I’m speaking of a poison that can not only be used to induce a miscarriage, but can also show many gorgeous results.  Under the premise that they won’t be unconscious, the person taking the medicine will writhe in pain, their face will twist to one side in an unsightly manner, and blood will spurt out from their pores...... does this kind of poison truly exist?”
“It truly is in poor taste.”
“It’s just my hobby, that’s all.”
Teran laughed softly, and Cloak’s entire body shivered.
Teran shifted his gaze out the window.
The female fairy doctor had a grim expression, and stood by the window of the Prince’s room.
Seeing that woman, an intense hatred welled up in Teran’s mind.
His younger brother might have opened his heart wide to this woman as well.
For Teran, this was something unbelievable.
Why would that woman have sympathy for my younger brother, who looks like a monster? And why would my younger brother not fear disobeying me and want to help this woman?
He, who had half-human blood flowing within him, didn’t understand this either. He was unwilling to admit this point, and was only aware of the blind agitation that burst forth towards Lydia.
Teran ought to have been an existence more perfect than any other species in the world. Even more outstanding than humans and fairies. Possessing the immortal body of a Nuckelavee, he really wasn’t a demonic beast, rather a human that possessed knowledge. Furthermore, he could use magic.
Even the current Prince was an incomplete human; only Teran was special.
With regards to this kind of perfect existence, assistance and sympathy were unnecessary. In addition, the person that could understand how perfect of an existence he is, was only the first Prince.

​
*
                

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Lydia turned her head thinking that Kelly had come. After glancing at the person’s figure, she was so shocked that her entire body went stiff.
“Wh--what is it?”
In a panic, Lydia carelessly spoke feeble-minded words.
“This is my room.”
This was precisely correct. Edgar merely returned to his own room.
“It...... it is. I will leave at once.”
“You may remain here tonight.”
Edgar, who said this, then shut the door behind him, straightforwardly locked the door from the inside.
Lydia subconsciously covered her chest with both arms, as if to protect herself.
“Why? It isn’t necessary for me to remain here, isn’t that so?”
Approaching the window side without a word, Edgar pulled the curtains. Lydia took several steps back, as if to keep a distance from him.
I don’t mind if it’s a pregnant woman. Edgar’s voice saying these words still echoed in her ear.
“I’m going to be handed over to that man?”
Lydia asked with a trembling voice. Edgar frowned, as if he felt pain, but this might have simply been due to him not being in a good mood.
“He declined.”
Although he said this, it still wasn’t reassuring. How would Edgar handle her next?
“That’s...... because he dislikes pregnant women, right?”
In order to support herself, who nearly fell apart, Lydia spat out these harsh words.
“Or, did he express that he didn’t want to become the Prince’s lackey?”
“Won’t you sit? The window side is quite cold.”
When he left Lydia’s side, he noticed the hair ornament that had fallen to the floor, then bent down and picked it up.
“You don’t like it?”
Edgar was very cold, speaking without a hint of emotion; it sounded as if he was unhappy.
“It was you who insisted that I wear this thing at the banquet. I didn’t particularly like it or anything.”
“I was still planning to give it to you as a present.”
“Don’t tell me you thought that if it was me, I would be deeply grateful and accept it, even if it was a smuggled good? Don’t be foolish.”
“If you don’t want it, you can throw it away as well. Throwing it back to me, and I won’t have any place to use it.”
Edgar pushed the hair ornament onto Lydia resolutely, then she threw it into the bin.
This way there won’t be any complaints, Lydia looked at Edgar with an expression of provocation.
“But nevertheless, the gown’s skirt seems to have been something that was stolen as well.”
Her blood rushing forth, Lydia instinctively removed her gown, tossing it toward Edgar. It was the same with her shoes and petticoat, everything that was borrowed was completely torn off until nothing was worn apart from only her loosened corset outside of her undergarments. Lydia, who had lost her mind, didn’t feel any sense of shame.
Edgar, who held the dress that Lydia took off as if he was embracing a real woman, suddenly laughed.
“The past me wanted to make you take off all your clothes, but it took a lot of trouble, yet now it’s very simple.”
Being told this, Lydia suddenly felt ashamed standing there in her undergarments, but there wasn’t anything else she could wear. Furthermore, Lydia didn’t have a definite reason to run out from there. Thinking up to here, she straightened out her chest and stood still.
“But you might as well make it a little bit more amorous. You seldom strip naked, yet it isn’t particularly arousing.
“You’re the worst.”
Why would Edgar......
No, wrong, this person isn’t Edgar.
“Where is my Edgar? Return him to me.”
Lydia questioned him, unable to control herself.
“Hey, return him to me!”
Edgar, who was no longer smiling, revealed a slightly hurt expression to Lydia, who clutched his coat while denouncing him.
“Even if you have Edgar’s face, and know about Edgar’s past, you won’t be Edgar! Why must you torment us?”
She clenched her fists and beat his chest.
Edgar grabbed her hands to stop her and mumbled, seemingly angry.
“Ahh, good. It’s good to be agitated. I can conquer you with brute force.”
Lydia was unable to throw off Edgar’s hand even with all her strength, and just when she realized that she was going to be picked up, she was thrown to the bed by him. From the eyes of Edgar, who was looking down at her from above, she couldn’t read what he was thinking at all.
How frightening. Just as Lydia thought this, she suddenly felt as if her entire body went numb, then Edgar let go of Lydia’s hand, like he had snapped out of it.
What was that just now?
Lydia wasn’t able to make sense of the situation, and Edgar, who was shot away, glared at her with a pained and loathsome expression.
“The Prophet’s fiancée, is that so? So the ‘Prince’ can’t even touch you?”
She felt this before. It was after she was captured by Teran, when Edgar, who appeared shortly afterwards, touched Lydia.
That time, Lydia, who was extremely scared, had a burst of numbness from head to foot as if she was covered in goosebumps, and Edgar released her.
Was that because she was the Prophet’s fiancée? Was this a reaction to expelling the Unseelie Court?
What if this is like making the Nuckelavee fall apart?
Am I really the Prophet’s fiancée?
“Truly an unpleasant attack. Merely relying on a bit of strength, you believe you can banish me?”
Both of Lydia’s hands were seized by Edgar, who pushed down on her from above. The unpleasant and loathsome feeling all over her body becoming more difficult to endure, she desperately twisted her body, struggling to escape.
Her hand, which she completely concentrated on pulling away, involuntarily bumped into something, overturning the fruit bowl that was placed on top of the bedside cabinet, with the fruit knife inside falling into the bed.
Pushing away Edgar, who slightly relaxed for a split second, Lydia stumbled from the bed and crawled up. At the same time, Edgar picked up the fruit knife that had fallen.
Edgar determinedly stared at the fruit knife for a moment, and suddenly stabbed it into his own wrist.
After Lydia, who was suddenly petrified, saw the blood flowing and immediately came to her senses. 
“Edgar, what are you doing!”
Yet Edgar roughly pushed Lydia away, who wanted to touch his wound.
“Enough. The games are over. Leave, hurry......”
Still not understanding what he was saying, Edgar abruptly stood up and suddenly kicked the side table over. The water jar, which had been thrown down, broke into pieces with an astonishing sound. The bronze ornament, which was thrown away, hit the wall, making the paintings that were hanging there fall to the ground loudly.
“Please stop......”
Edgar, who broke the things near his hand one by one, thrust the blood-soaked fruit knife into the seat cushion. Along with the sound of silk splitting open, the feathers inside the cushion scattered one after another.
“Hey, Edgar.”
In order to stop him, Lydia approached. However.
“......Didn’t I tell you to not come near!”
At this time, there was a sound of the door knocking.
“Your Majesty? Are you okay? I heard a sound......”
It was Kathleen’s voice.
Heavily gasping for breath, Edgar stopped, swaying over towards the doorway.
Then, he subconsciously mumbled a sentence to Lydia.
“Don’t watch for what happens next.”
Edgar, who told Lydia to “get out”, called for Kathleen to come in. Was he going to take his uncontrollable urges out on Kathleen?
As soon as the door opened, Edgar roughly pulled Kathleen in at once, pressing her against the wall while putting his hands on her neck.
“You came at a good time, Kathleen.”
“Edgar, don’t!”
“You want to become Lydia’s substitute, right?”
The Prince within Edgar was going mad.
When he touched Lydia, did that unpleasant feeling provoke the Prince? Edgar himself was already unable to control the evil tendencies that began to violently surge within his body.
Her neck being choked, Kathleen widened her eyes in fear and pain.
“No, what do you mean substitute! Don’t take anyone to be my substitute!”
Lydia tightly embraced Edgar from behind.
As if he suddenly regained his mind, Edgar let go of Kathleen.
“Run.”
Lydia desperately told Kathleen. Kathleen trembled and pressed her back against the wall, turning her body and shivering until she finally moved to the doorway, then suddenly ran out and shut the door. Hearing the sound of her footsteps leaving, Lydia still embraced Edgar.
Although she held him tightly in order to stop him from shaking her off, he was motionless up until now. Edgar wearily reached out and supported himself against the wall, silently standing in place.
Has he calmed down? Or does he still feel very sick? Lydia, who peered at Edgar’s expression, loosened her strength.
“Edgar......”
Edgar lifted his head like he was responding to her, his sorrowful eyes meeting her gaze. In a flash, it was as if Edgar was controlled by his berserk state of mind again; he grabbed Lydia, and the two of them fell onto the sofa.
Her mouth was covered, and her actions were stopped. Feeling frightened once more, Lydia’s entire body began to resist, as if she wanted to escape.
“Don’t move, I beg you.”
Along with the sound of Edgar’s voice, she felt a weight on her abdomen. This time, Lydia didn’t feel unwell.
Glancing nervously, Edgar rested his head against Lydia’s abdomen, as if he wanted to press his ear against her body.
“I can be stopped like this.”
Still pressing down on Lydia tightly, he spoke in a pained voice.
“Otherwise, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
There was undoubtedly no child within Lydia’s womb, yet Edgar embraced her, as if he was looking for a sign.
Lydia reached out, gently stroking his head.
The numbing-like feeling of resistance still continued. Edgar still suffered from the magic that rejected him. Even so, it was as if he was merely sensing Lydia’s breathing. At the same time, his breathing gradually stabilized as well.
The Prince’s memories, under what state of affairs did it exist within his body? Liberating the powers now ought to have a more personal feeling to the Prince compared to before.
However, in order to protect her, Edgar still continued to fight.
It was possible that Edgar hadn’t changed.
He might have merely been bearing something that he couldn’t speak about to Lydia or anyone else; this was the reason for him displaying this ice-cold attitude.
“If you do this, do you calm down a little?”
“......Why is it so?”
“I don’t know.”
He finally got up. Have I finally regained my self-awareness? Although he sighed in relief, he didn’t look at Lydia.
“Hey, Edgar, you’ve actually already realized it, right? The baby......”
“Don’t say it.”
He interrupted Lydia with a strict tone.
“You can’t say that.”
Lydia nodded obediently.
Then, Edgar finally turned towards Lydia, and without realizing himself, he whispered to Lydia: “You’re not hurt, right?”
“I’m not.”
Edgar stood up very wearily, planning to leave this room.
“For frightening you, I apologize...... Tonight, don’t leave this area.”
Walking up to the door, he barely left these words behind.