P. 122
On that night, when Lydia left the duke residence, she said to her father that she had forgotten something at the Ashenbert house and got onto a hackney by herself.
However, she didn’t head to the Ashenbert house, but to a studio.
When her hack arrived to Paul’s new room in a boarding house that he had just moved into, she was told by the old housekeeper that his room was the corner on the second floor and so she took the liberty and went upstairs.
She knocked his door, but there was no reply. Since the housekeeper told her he should be in his room, Lydia guessed that he must be focused on his painting, so she stubbornly pounded on the door.
“……Lydia? What happened?”
He finally opened the door, and whipped his paint stained hands on his trousers as he looked at Lydia with a surprised face.
“There’s something I want to discuss with you. Would you let me inside?”
“What? Uh---, I live alone, so it’s not a good idea for a young daughter to be in a room alone with a man….”
P. 123
"What would happen if we’re alone?”
“Eh, oh, nothing,” he replied.
Paul made a troubled laugh as he scratched his head.
She knew she was troubling him, but there was something she really needed to ask him, so they could only talk in a private space. And besides, Lydia
was convinced that no matter who thought about it, nothing bad would happen from her being alone with Paul.
“Excuse me.”
She forced herself into his room.
“Please tell me. What is Edgar plotting? You know, don’t you?”
Paul was mulling over whether he should keep the door open, but he must have decided that it would be dangerous for anybody to hear Lydia’s question, and so he quietly closed the door.
“I think it would be best for you to ask the Earl himself.”
“He’ll just avoid it. And besides, I don’t feel like talking to Edgar.”
“Why is that?”
“Isn’t Ulysses on the move right now? He’s a person who can use fairy magic. I was hired as a Fairy Doctor, and yet I’m not needed?”
“That’s because Ulysses doesn’t seem to making any moves on us right now. When it turns to the time we need your help, I think the Earl would come and explain everything to you. And I have the feeling he wants to keep you away from danger as much as he can.”
P. 124
So he’s also on Edgar’s side.
But still, she figured Paul would be able to consider Lydia’s position than Raven or Ermine could, who was extremely loyal to their master, and so she decided to come here.
That’s right, even if I’m told it’s for my sake, I can’t agree to something like that.
“I went to the harem.”
Paul’s face suddenly looked disturbed.
“I found the wax doll that was wearing the black diamond. ….No, that doesn’t matter. Anyway, isn’t Prince looking for that black diamond and its white diamond pair?”
He made an even more disturbed expression.
“A number of years ago, only the white diamond was found in Rome and even though it was going to be brought back to England, it was stolen, I heard that Edgar’s father was suspected for doing it. Isn’t Edgar trying to set a trap to capture the culprit who worked for Prince and stole the diamond at that time? The true culprit, the man who is called duke is a frequent customer of that harem, isn’t he?”
Paul let out a sigh, as if to forfeit, since she figured out everything.
P. 125
“Yes, that’s right. At the time when the white diamond was stolen, Duke Barkston had participated in the mission to visit Rome along with Duke Sylvainford. The earl had given hints of the pair black diamond in front of Duke Barkston, and make him steal out the white diamond that he had been taking care of to present to Prince, by making the duke think that this was a perfect chance to out smart Prince and get his hands on both of the diamonds.”
But, Ulysses stood in his way.”
“To tell the truth, it seems Ulysses has taken Jimmy hostage.”
“What, that young boy?”
“That’s why the Earl isn’t able to take any drastic measures, and so, while we keep our eyes on the enemy’s movements, we’re currently thinking what our next move should be.”
So that was why he wanted to say to Lydia to not but her head into their affairs right now.
“Can you tell me one more thing? What kind of woman is Jean to Edgar?”
“Jean? Oh, one of his past allies, a girl that died for the sake of hiding the black diamond.”
“She died? …..Was she his lover?”
Lydia must have been looking up at him with a grave expression. When Paul realized that, he swiftly waved both his arms.
“Oh, no, that would be impossible. She was a black girl and seemed to be quite young.”
P. 126
Huh, black? Wait, what’s going on?
So, then that would mean that the wax doll doesn’t represent her.
“I don’t think it’s that Jean.”
“…..Oh, yes, the other lady also had the name Jean.”
“Are there two Jeans that are important to him?”
“Uhh, her name is Jeanmary. The little black girls had apparantely asked the Earl to give her a name of a woman who was special to him, and so she was given the same name.”
“A special woman? So, Jeanmary really was Edgar’s lover?”
“But, Lydia, that shouldn’t be something that should worry you….”
“Why,”
Lydia’s mind had become completely confused.
She hated herself for not knowing anything about Edgar. There were two Jeans that were special to him?
She couldn’t stop herself for letting her emotions spill out on Paul.
“Why hasn’t Edgar said anything of this to me?”
“That’s because, he is worried about you, and,”
“No, he isn’t. He’s sure to be thinking that he could just use me when it’s convenient for him. Because he’s saying that I should shut up when he doesn’t have the energy, right?”
P. 127
“No, that isn’t,”
“Because, he doesn’t listen to me no matter how much I warn him. It’s dangerous to keep on having that cursed diamond with him. Even if it was for revenge…. If he doesn’t intend to listen to my opinions, then there’s no point in keeping me here as his Fairy Doctor.”
“It can’t be helped about that diamond. And we need for just a little while longer anyways.”
“What if something were to happen during that time?”
If it was him, then he deserved it, but Lydia realized that she was terrified of that happening.
Edgar wasn’t ever scared of losing his life.
He wasn’t in love with Lydia, and that’s why it didn’t trouble him to do dangerous things even if she was worried for him.
And because Lydia felt frustrated, and as she wanted to help Edgar, she ended up doing selfish things on her own.
She quickly becomes emotional, and forgot about the Coblynau’s warnings and left Edgar all by himself.
If it was the moonstone ring, then it had the power to protect him from the curse.
Oh, no, she suddenly was filled with worry.
What if something happened to Edgar while she was doing this?
Lydia tried to stand up, but she caught her foot on one of the art supplies that was lying around on the floor and nearly fell over.
P. 128
She grabbed ahold of Paul’s arm that he reached out to her.
“Are you all right?”
She could smell the turpentine oil, and the thought that he was different from Edgar came to her mind.
He was different from him who was surrounded by noblewomen who carried the aromas of perfume with them. If it was her father, then he would have the smell of fine particles of crumbled stone and dust and medicine.
If this was the true colors of men, then Edgar was the worst of them all.
But, she knew of the part of him that had on only the smell of freshly washed shirt. What is going on for her to be frequently close in close proximity to him to be able to notice something like that?
“I’m not adorable or attractive, aren’t I?”
Because that those kind of times, Lydia should be glaring at him most of the time.
“Huh? Y-……..you aren’t at all.”
“Please don’t try and push yourself. I’ve been made a fool of by Jimmy so many times.”
“Uh, what I said to Jimmy really wasn’t something that I wanted to be polite about,”
“I wouldn’t be attractive at all. Since I’m hard-headed and difficult to handle. I understand that even if a woman wasn’t beautiful, as long as she smiled, she’d look like she had an adorable side to her. But, I’m not able to do that, so I came here wanting to do what I’m able to do. And yet, when I get worried, or take actions which I thought were for the sake of good, does that come out as causing trouble for Edgar? If he doesn’t need a Fairy Doctor, then why is he so fixed on marriage? He isn’t even serious and yet goes around calling me his fiancée, how heartless is it of him to enjoy throwing me around like that. If it was like this, then I can’t rest easy and come to feel for him….”
P. 129
Lydia kept on spilling out what was bottled up inside her as she leaned up against Paul who didn’t know what to do.
“Paul, it’s dangerous of you to not lock the door,” said a voice by the doorway.
“M-my lord….. Oh, no, this is nothing….”
Paul swiftly let go of Lydia and Lydia also rushed to step away from him, but her foot caught on another painting tool.
Did he hear me just now?
From pain and embarrassment, Lydia felt her face turn red and quickly turned away.
“This isn’t what you think, my lord. I had no intention like that, Lydia just wobbled over and I….”
Even if he didn’t want to be taken under the wrong impression, Lydia thought he didn’t have to go and deny it that hard and it made her depressed.
“I had presumed that.”
Edgar walked over to Lydia and tried to lean down to look into her face, and so she went on further into the darker part of the room.
“Lydia, you’re adorable. More than anybody else.”
P. 130
“I don’t care about something like that.”
“You can rest easy and grow to love me.”
“That was just a figure of speech!”
She was driven into the corner of the room, and so had no choice but turn her face down.
“Lydia, we need to talk.”
“Don’t keep on meddling with me. There shouldn’t be any meaning for you to keep me by your side even when I’m so useless. Why don’t you go and propose to your precious lover?”
“You’re my only lover.”
There was no way she could believe that.
“That’s Jeanmary!”
She didn’t know why, but Edgar let out a tired sigh. And that made her even more furious.
“Now, Lydia, that building is a place that’s rumored to be a harem, so naturally, I didn’t want to reveal that to you. Because you already see me as a flirt, I didn’t want you to have the wrong impression.”
“Well, I don’t care at all.”
“No, you shouldn’t not care. I was hiding something from you, and that was wrong of me. So, I’ll explain everything to you…”
“It’s all right, you don’t have to force yourself and tell me! More than that, I want you to take off this ring.”
P. 131
Lydia unraveled the bandage around her finger and held out her fist in front of him.
“The coblynau said that if this ring was by your side, then you would be under its protection that will ward off the power of the curse. So don’t let Kelpie find out and keep it with you.”
Did Edgar feel frustrated at Lydia’s attitude of not allowing him to speak even one word?
He crossed his arms and looked down at Lydia and said “No, I don’t want to.”
“You can wear it and be by my side together,” he added.
“I wouldn’t want that even more!”
“I’ll force you to come home with me,” he threatened.
Just when she heard him say such a competitive remark, he kissed Lydia’s fist that she was still holding out in front of her.
Why is he always acting like this?
He easily did something like this even if it grated against Lydia’s nerves.
It was also her fault for being so stubborn and staying so obstinately unwilling, but Lydia was so blind to her own faults, that she was still confused at why she was being so irritated and shook away her hand.
“…..I’ll never again go and worry about somebody like you!”
Before he was able to take her home, she dashed out of Paul’s room.
*
P. 132
She hasn’t seen the coblynau ever since she went with him to the harem. Most likely, the fae had gone to call its friends so that they could take care of the black diamond.
Nico was no where in sight. Lydia had no idea where he was and what he was doing, but he had the frequent tendency to not come home for days after he discovered something enjoyable, so she wasn’t worried.
Lydia was in the garden gathering hawthorn berries that could be used to ward off evil spirits just when it started to rain lightly.
“Miss Carlton, you will get wet.”
Raven held out a shawl for her.
“Did Edgar tell you to do that?”
He remained silent, perhaps because she guessed right.
Because Lydia hadn’t been hiding the fact that she was avoiding Edgar since this morning, it looked like he was using Raven as the in-between.
That’s not going to put me in a good mood, thought Lydia.
“Please accept it.”
“Please tell him I don’t need it. More importantly, Raven, weren’t you yelled at by Edgar? For revealing to me of Madam Eve Palace.”
He couldn’t keep any secrets from Edgar, so if he was asked by his master, then he was sure to answer honestly.
P. 133
“He said if you would accept this, then he would forgive me.”
Wha-what a nasty scoundrel.
But, she gave up when she saw the desperate eyes of Raven, which easily let her see how determined he was in making sure she accepted the shawl, no matter what.
“….I’m sorry. You went through such a troublesome experience because of me.”
“I didn’t feel troubled at all. Lord Edgar is periodically unreasonable because he urges me to put my efforts into thinking for myself, since I can only act when given orders.”
What a convenient interpretation he came up with.
His twisted personality is just unreasonable, is what it is.
But, Lydia didn’t want to throw cold water on Raven’s feelings of trust and loyalty he had towards Edgar.
Because the unreasonable and half-hearted and frivolous part of him seemed like it was actually helping Raven’s conscious be released into independence.
That’s why she surrendered by taking the shawl and wrapping it around herself.
“Today’s a little colder than usual.”
“Yes, since it is the turn of the season where it suddenly turns cold. I will make sure to put fire in the hearth.”
When his business was over, he was quick to leave.
P. 134
He probably didn’t want to be troubled if Lydia were to question him something again.
I should head back as well, thought Lydia and passed through the garden and under the tree doorway.
Then she heard the talking voices of Edgar and Ermine from the open-windowed terrace.
“The servant of the duke’s?”
There was no particular reason, but Lydia hid herself.
“It seems he was found collapsed by the side entrance of Mr. Slade’s club. We were able to find out his identity from one of the ‘Scarlet Moon’ members investigating about the Duke Barkston family, who thought the male servant’s face looked familiar, but the letter the boy was gripping in his hand was written by Jimmy begging for help.”
“Were you able to find out the location where Jimmy is held captive?”
“It is somewhere near the White Chapel.”
“And, how about the young boy?”
“It seems like he was put through a horrible beating, so he isn’t in any condition to answer questions.”
“So, Jimmy might also be getting the same treatment.”
Edgar appeared like he was in pain, like he was the one being tortured. And yet, what came out of his mouth next was surprisingly cruel.
“There’s a possibility that the letter could be Ulysses’trap. What reason would there be for a boy to go through a near-death experience in order to save Jimmy? Because Jimmy is a petty thief that snuck into the duke family’s house and got captured, right?”
P. 135
She imagined that he wanted to go and rescue him immediately, but Edgar wasn’t someone who could be moved by his emotions. That’s why he sometimes appeared like a cold liar. Lydia still didn’t know what he was really feeling in his core.
“Mr. Slade says he will still go and rescue the boy and has led a group of his men from the ‘Scarlet Moon’ on the move.”
“Slade, huh. He is at the top of the group that doesn’t like how I work.”
Edgar seemed a little stumped as he tried to think of something.
“Oh, yes, I’ve heard Jimmy is an orphan from the slums and had been stealing all the time. Then he came to admire the ‘Scarlet Moon’ which was like Robin Hood’s gang of thieves and he came offering his skills in stealing and so Slade let him join.”
“That is what I also heard.”
Edgar thought about something even harder.
“Is there something that is bothering you?” asked Ermine.
“No, I just can’t get a clear picture about this. Ermine, it might be a trap and it’s definitely dangerous, but would you go along with the ‘Scarlet Moon’ group?”
Ermine nodded and was about to leave, but she stopped like she had remembered something.
“Shall we discuss this with Miss Carlton?”
“Why,” asked Edgar.
“If it were the case of Ulysses’ trap, then there would be a chance he would be using fairies. There is a possibility that something unexpected and unimaginable might happen.”
P. 136
"Ermine, what about you? Can’t you see fairies now that normal people aren’t able to see?”
She titled her head to the side like she was slightly troubled.
“I do see them, but I do not have the knowledge regarding fairies.”
“…..I see.”
In the end, it only appeared like Edgar’s decision in discussing with Lydia was out of the question.
Before she realized it, Lydia had left the Ashenbert house and was walking along the side of the street.
The soft sprinkle falling down in-between the faint, dark clouds wasn’t that heavy enough to be called rain, but time had passed so much that her hair and clothing was completely soaking wet.
Lydia had let the shawl fall and arrived at the park and sat down on a bench.
“What on earth am I doing?”
Last night, Edgar had said he will tell her everything, but Lydia was the one who didn’t want to listen.
And yet, she felt like she was being kicked out of the circle by him.
It was sure that Edgar wasn’t going to want advice from Lydia. Since he was thinking that Ermine, a fairy, would be able to replenish the aid that Lydia could provide.
Her eyes fell down to the ring on her finger that was feeling like a nuisance, and she struggled with the unnecessary effort to take it off.
P. 137
No matter how much strength she put in her grip and pulled, it didn’t budge.
Lately, she felt like all her efforts were going around in pointless circles, and now she was starting to not be able to tell what she wanted from Edgar or what she wanted to do.
“What are you doing?” asked a tall shadow looking down at her from above.
Lydia turned her head up while she flinched back in caution.
“Kelpie….”
“You sure have on quite a glum look,” he said and then grabbed Lydia’s cheeks with both hands and pushed the sides of her lips up to force a smile.
“Wh……at are you doing!”
“I thought I could make you smile.”
“Leave me alone.”
“Lydia, I’ll show you something you’ll sure to like.”
Kelpie pulled Lydia up with both arms to make her stand.
She had no idea what he was planning, but it seemed fun.
“Didn’t you want something like this?”
The object that Kelpie proudly hanged in front of Lydia’s eyes was the jeweled necklace.
P. 138
“A diamond. It’s real.”
Huh, gasped Lydia and grabbed Kelpie’s hand to take a closer look.
It was a large pear-shaped crystal-clear diamond that sparkled in an array of rainbow colors.
“Th-this is….”
It had the same size and cut as that black diamond ‘Nightmare’and the design of the necklace was exactly the same as well.
Oh my goodness, could this be the other pair ‘Daydream’?
“What did you do? How did you get this?”
At Lydia’s pressuring voice, Kelpie made a dubious face.
“I picked it up.”
“It isn’t something that’s normally lying around somewhere!”
“There were some goblins in the area. And they dropped this.”
They were small fairies that were evil-natured. They loved to trouble people and pull pranks, but if they were to have dropped this, then they weren’t just any normal goblin.
She had a feeling that Ulysses was the one who controlled them.
“Hey, was there a master of the goblins?”
“There was. He was young, and he didn’t flinch when he saw me and stood his ground.”
P. 139
P. 140
She was sure it was Ulysses.
“Hey, Lydia, don’t say something senseless like returning it to its owner. Because I don’t think the master of those goblins was a decent owner himself. I’m sure he had stolen it from somewhere.”
He may be right about that.
As Lydia thought about it, she looked back and forth from Kelpie to the diamond.
Kelpie thinks that Lydia wants this diamond. It seems like he just happened to pick this up and he wanted to make Lydia happy.
Lydia said she wanted the diamond only because she wanted to test Edgar, so it wasn’t like she really wanted it. And besides, she was not fit for this diamond.
But, if she had this, then Edgar would be able to prove his father’s innocence to society.
If he returned it along with the black diamond to the Royal family, then Ulysses and Prince won’t be able to get their hands on it.
Would he really give it to her?
She glanced up to him to try to see what he might be thinking, but Kelpie put the necklace over Lydia’s head and settled it down around her neck.
He then inspected her and then tilted his head.
“Wouldn’t a white clover look better on you?”
Is that supposed to mean I'm not sufficient to wear the diamond?
P. 141
“Oh, well. If you like it, it’s yours.”
“Yo-you’re giving it to me?”
“In exchange, how about, cancelling your engagement with him and returning to Scotland?”
Kelpie made a delightful grin.
Well, there was no way he would give it away freely.
Oh, no, what should I do, thought Lydia.
It was a diamond that Edgar really wanted. He might just agree to annul their engagement.
But Kelpie figured that if it was those conditions, then Lydia would accept.
It was true, if he was asking her to leave the human realm right now and marry him, then she couldn’t nod to that, but if it was just returning to Scotland, then to Lydia, that just meant she was going to return to her previous lifestyle.
Kelpie must have thought if he was able to spend time with Lydia in the peaceful countryside like before, then he would be satisfied.
“It’s not like you really want to marry that man, right? I can understand that you want to work as a Fairy Doctor and stay in the human world. But if you are just engaged to him just so you can void the promise to live with me, then let’s just return everything back to a blank slate. This situation you’re in, it’s unnatural.”
Most likely, it was just as Kelpie said.
P. 142
Lydia should put back everything to as it was before, and after that, she should think about her future.
This situation, of not knowing Edgar’s true intentions, and become jealous and thrown around and having her feelings become jumbled up, was unnatural.
“I’ll bring this up with Edgar.”
“Good, don’t lose.”
She wasn’t sure what part of it was a win or lose situation, but Kelpie patted Lydia’s head in a rough shake to perhaps, cheer her on.
He was rough and she felt he treated her as a child or maybe even a pet, but since he didn’t have another hidden side to his character, she wasn’t bothered by it.
“The rain, it’s growing heavier. It’s bad for human health if you get soaking wet, right. You should go home.”
“Yes.”
He looked up to the sky and narrowed his eyes like he was irritated.
“And the London rain is filthy.”
With the palm of his hand, Kelpie whipped Lydia’s face and made a grin, and then, disappeared.
The diamond that had been hanging around Lydia’s neck disappeared along with him.
P. 143
“Lydia, you’re soaking wet. Where have you been?”
As soon as Lydia returned, she made her feet take her straight to the room Edgar was in.
“Ohh, but, I’m so happy that you came to see me on your own. I was so worried that you wouldn’t speak with me for a while.”
He stood up and walked over to her. It seemed like Edgar was discussing something with Raven, but it seemed like he was trying to hide the serious air that was just between them, as Edgar’s smile looked like it was purposefully made.
“Edgar, I have something I want to discuss.”
She didn’t intend for her voice to come out sounding angry, but then, he pulled back his hand hesitantly which was initially stretched out for Lydia’s hand in an overly-friendly manner.
“Is it something bad? Then let’s talk about it another time,”he said as he turned back towards Raven.
“Get a towel for Lydia. And I think we need a new set of clothes.”
“If it’s me, I’m fine. And what I want to bring up isn’t anything bad.”
“But, ever since you came into the room, you’ve had a frown on your face and are glaring at me.”
Lydia rushed to rub down the wrinkle between her brows and tried to make a smile.
“I promise that it’s something you’ll be glad to hear.”
“About when we should pick our wedding date?”
P. 144
“…………………”
“You don’t have to make such a stern face.”
“Just listen!”
She just wanted to get this over with. If she could make him annul the engagement and take off the ring, then Lydia could finally relax.
If he would easily let go of Lydia in exchange with the diamond, then she wanted to talk about everything before she would realize that she wasn’t useful and now unwanted, so she unconsciously rushed the speed of her conversation.
“There is a fire ready in the drawing room hearth,” said Raven as he handed a dry linen towel to Lydia.
“Then let’s have our talk there.”
Edgar said that as if he finally surrendered, as his hand naturally went around Lydia’s back and he escorted her out into the hallway.
She imagined how she wouldn’t be treated as a lady ever again after she went back to the countryside.
This could have been a good experience for her. As she thought that, Lydia made a small sneeze.
“You were feeling chilled, weren’t you? Your hands are this cold.”
When she lowered her guard, he was quick in holding her hands.
Lydia thought how hands were so warm and comfortable, but she managed to shake them away.
P. 145
He sat down Lydia on a sofa that was relatively close to the hearth in the drawing room and then sat down next to her.
“Uh, we can have a conversation without you being that close.”
“I’ll listen next to you.”
Lydia thought it was a waste to try and quarrel with him about their distance, so she pretended like she was drying her hair with the linen towel to cover her head and that allowed her eyes to be cut off from meeting Edgar’s eyes and that helped her to relax.
“I found where the ‘Daydream’ is that you wanted so much. See, good news.”
She said as she made a smile.
For Lydia, returning to Scotland wasn’t that big of an issue and this wasn’t a seriously bad bargain.
Lydia might have been quite a serious condition by having her mind be careful in carrying her tone of voice in a good, bright mood, but she was just trying to shift her mindset to how happy she would be once the engagement would finally be called off.
She wasn’t sure if he was surprised or just couldn’t believe her as he made an ‘uh-huh’ kind of half-hearted reply.
“Duke Barkston, was his name? Weren’t you having him bring it out? But, I heard from Paul yesterday that Ulysses had gotten in the way. You were saying that Ulysses might have gotten it, but it seems like he was using his goblins to go and search for it.”
“Goblins? You mean fairies?”
“That’s right. He’s able to control goblins. They are an evil fae and they’re large in numbers, so be careful.”
P. 146
Edgar nodded and urged her to go on.
“And, the diamond?”
“It was found before the goblins.”
“By you?”
“By Kelpie.”
“I see, so the finder is a problem.”
“Oh, no, it’s not that much of a problem. It’s easy, Edgar, you just need to call off our engagement.”
Lydia had intended to say that as plainly as she could.
Edgar was silent. He was unexpectedly silent for such a long time, that it befuddled Lydia.
“……..Because, well, this engagement was originally made so that I didn’t have to go to the fairy realm with Kelpie. But now, Kelpie is saying that he will negate that promise. If he can return to Scotland with me, then he says that will do for now.”
She felt like she was silently pressurized by Edgar who didn’t move a muscle as he sat right next to her. Lydia was starting to feel uncomfortable and wanted to escape from her spot.
“In exchange for the diamond?”
He finally opened his mouth to say that.
P. 147
“That’s right.”
“And so, you thought that wasn’t a bad condition.”
“It isn’t a bad one for you either. When you need a Fairy Doctor, we can just contact each other by letter. The point is, if you have that white diamond, you’ll be able to prove your father’s innocence. And wouldn’t you be able to stop Prince’s plot as well?”
Lydia’s towel was quietly taken away and she was peered down by his ash mauve eyes, putting her in dismay.
Edgar was in a bad temper that she had never seen before.
“Do you realize what you’re saying is horrible?”
“Eh….”
“Did you think that I would happily agree to that? If so, then there couldn’t be any worse insult than this.”
He leaned his body over towards Lydia.
“I’ve said it countless times. I love you. Please marry me. You won’t allow yourself to accept that so easily but even if our feelings slipped pass each other, I felt like our feelings were slowly coming closer together. And yet, you thought I would choose the diamond.”
“Th-that’s because……, the diamond is much more….”
“You can’t believe in what I say that much?”
Even if Lydia inched her body back into the pocket of the backrest and armrest of the sofa, she couldn’t move away from him any further, and so he pressed himself up to her and that threw her mind off balance completely.
P. 148
“If you say that my wish would come true if I bargain, then tell me. What is it that I have to exchange so you’ll become mine?”
She felt his fingers touch her damp hair. Just when she sensed warmth across her cold skin, she felt the same warmth on her lips.
That heat stayed there for a short moment. And yet, Lydia had definitely felt it touch her lips as she sat in complete shock, her eyes locked on Edgar right in front of her.
Edgar gazed curiously at Lydia, who wasn’t making any kind of reaction, and after he tilted his head to the side, his lips came down towards hers again.
At that moment, Lydia finally pushed him back.
“Wh-what are you doing!”
“I haven’t done anything yet.”
“Yo-you just kissed me!”
“That doesn’t fall under a kiss. A kiss is more like this….”
This time she used her nails on him.
“Don’t use me as someone’s replacement!”
“Someone? What do you mean?”
P. 149
P. 150
“Why don’t you listen to what your heart tells you?”
Lydia swiftly stood up and dashed over to the doorway.
“Am I not good enough? If I’m going to have you taken away, then the diamond can just go to hell. Kelpie can have it for all I care!”
Hearing his yell from behind her, but not knowing what to do, she ran out of the room.
From where Lydia ran out and left him, Edgar didn’t move and just slumped back onto the sofa.
After a while, Raven came in and reported that Lydia had gone home early.
“It was not good news?” he asked.
“It was awful.”
Without hiding his misery, Edgar rested his chin in his palm.
“It seems that Kelpie had found the white diamond ‘Daydream.’ He’s saying that in exchange, I have to call off the engagement with Lydia.”
“Did you call it off?”
“Raven, even you think I would choose the diamond over her?”
P. 151
“…..I’m sorry.”
So he does think so.
Then Lydia’s reaction couldn’t be helped, but for Edgar - who thought he had been openly showing his feelings for her - it was a depressing reality.
“Ahh, what is it that’s wrong with me?”
“But, Lord Edgar, did you intend to choose Miss Carlton over the diamond?”
“You’re quite the harsh one aren’t you?”
To begin with, Edgar’s way of thinking wasn’t to choose just one of them.
He needed Lydia. But, the diamond was also important. He couldn’t let Ulysses get it.
At these kinds of moments, Edgar knew what it was he had to do.
“It isn’t like there wasn’t a way that I could have gotten both of them.”
“Then, why did you make Miss Carlton run off?”
Yes, exactly.
If he had done it right, he would have been able to keep Lydia, and at the same time, be able to get the white diamond from Kelpie, but since she looked so unconcerned, it frustrated him to see how sure she thought he would choose the diamond.
And he let his emotions take control and lashed out on her, but if he wanted to get both, then anyone would have said he did the most stupidest thing.
P. 152
He had every intention of obtaining what he wanted and needed, so he didn’t intend to let Lydia go. He didn’t even need to rethink about that, as he was already decided on that matter, but it was so unlike him and a shock, for saying he’d let Kelpie have the diamond.
He was adept at lying. But, there was no point in a lie that didn’t have profit. There shouldn’t be any meaning in what he said to her before she left, but if what he said were to have just spilled out of him, it could have been what he was really feeling.
As he remained confused, Edgar stood up.
“Raven, it isn’t like she has escaped.”
“But, she left marks on you.”
Raven held out a handkerchief.
Good God, this was also unexpected.
He was careful not to force himself on her, so lately, when Edgar would get close to her, Lydia hadn’t put her guard up like before.
However, if he was going to kiss her, there should have been a suitable situation than just now. And he had been holding himself back all this time, and yet, he did it at the worst possible timing out of all the situations he could have chosen.
“I couldn’t hold myself back.”
So annoyed and in a fret, he rubbed the blood that was oozing out of his cheek with the palm of his hand.
P. 153
“Ahh, maybe this really is the curse of the diamond.”
Just then, Raven suddenly turned his head towards the window with a nervous look.
And in the next moment, he swiftly stepped over to guard Edgar.
“Like always, that servant of yours is quick to notice.”
By the time Edgar turned around, a young man with black wavy hair was sitting down on the windowsill like he had been there all along.
“What’s up, Blue Knight Earl.”
“What’s your business, Kelpie.”
The water horse wore a faint grin but glared at Edgar.
This fae was the one who had the white diamond that Edgar wanted so much. On top of that, he brought up the idea of bargaining to Lydia.
He was the source of Edgar’s depression.
“Hey, what did you do to Lydia?”
“It has nothing to do with you.”
“It does. Since the diamond I have seems to be the blame. Ahhh, I picked it up intending to give it to Lydia, and yet it was something you were looking for. When I was a little worried and came to check things out, I find Lydia bright red in the face and running out of here and hear you saying a ridiculous thing like you want both Lydia and the diamond.”
P. 154
Kelpie narrowed his black pearl eyes in a suggestive way.
He had a seductive, perfect beauty. That’s why Edgar didn’t like this kelpie.
To Edgar, his only weapon was his looks. He was well aware that on the inside, he was unfair, narrow-minded, had a jealous nature and was self-centered. For him to seduce women and make people his allies was all thanks to his smart talk and deceiving them with his looks.
That’s why he hated men who had a much more attractive face than him.
If it was a human, then they were sure to have a fault, and if they were offensive and detesting, then he'd be satisfied by embarrassing them, but if it was a fairy, then there was nothing he could do.
If the only reason for Lydia to be engaged with Edgar was so she could remain in the human world, then as for her personal feelings, she might actually have positive feelings towards Kelpie than Edgar, and that was another irritation for him.
“Lydia is my fiancée. There is no way I would exchange her for a diamond.”
“She wants to call it off. That’s why it was such an ease for her to be able to bring this up with you.”
True. That’s why, Edgar became even more furious.
“So?”
“Then, how about a bargain with me. Let her go. If you can’t, I’ll give this to the another who wants this. A human with light blond hair; the one who looks like a young boy but can control fairies.”
P. 155
Ulysses.
Edgar looked straight back into Kelpie’s eyes as he tried to think.
He wanted the diamond, and Lydia.
If he were to agree in annulling the engagement, then he would get the white diamond that Kelpie had. Even if he returned his relationship with Lydia to a blank slate, there was still a chance for him to win her over.
But, was that really possible? He mulled that thought around in his mind.
He lost his temper when Lydia brought up the suggestion of calling off their engagement, and made her cry, and yet, if she were to find out he bargained with Kelpie...
Even if Lydia was a soft-hearted girl, that would make her never trust Edgar again.
But she didn’t trust him from the start. No matter what her feelings, there were plenty of methods to have her agree in their marriage.
“What are you going to do?” asked Kelpie.
Kelpie made a grin like he was enjoying how he was able to play with him.
Although he hadn’t made a decision yet, Edgar’s emotions made a mumbling response.
“Get out of my sight.”
“Hmmm, so that’s your response?”
“I’m not bargaining. Lydia is my fiancée!”
P. 156
Kelpie tutted and then, vanished.
At that same time, Edgar felt the strength in his body go out. He grasped the windowsill that Kelpie was on with both hands.
“Raven, what on earth am I doing.”
He wasn’t able to make a rash, clear-minded decision. He ended up letting the diamond go, that was hanging right in front of him.
“There is no problem. Lord Edgar, no matter whose hands it falls into, I will retrieve the white diamond. But, I can do nothing about Miss Carlton.”
That could be true. However, Edgar was more befuddled about his own uncontrollable feelings, than wondering if it was the right decision or not to kick away the bargain with Kelpie.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login