Hakushaku to Yousei - Volume 6 - Chapter 7

P. 235
    Edgar fixed his eyes straight at the Wyrm and gripped his sword harder which he had held ready and pointed downwards.
    He was watching the Wyrm’s movements, thinking that the moment the Wyrm faced his direction and opened its mouth wide was the moment to aim for. 
    If the freya wasn’t there, then it was the end of the story and he would be swallowed up whole by the Wyrm.
    He wondered if he was doing something reckless. But even Lydia said she was going to break the rose with her hands even though she didn’t know what that would do to herself.
    What was he going to do if he couldn’t protect that kind of girl.
    He might have approached her in the beginning with the aim to take advantage and use her, but he didn’t want to lost her ability and how she was stubborn and softhearted and strong-willed and serious and felt so fragile and soft and smelled like chamomile when he held her and how she would use her hands when she got angry at how he would try and get close to her.
    That’s why he had to do it.
    The Wyrm was coming towards him.

P. 236
    It came charging along with its head and its mouth was only opened just a crack. 
    Edgar decided he should get by this and ran.
    The pillar that the Wyrm crashed into and broke came nearly falling down onto him so he dodged it just barely.
    When he moved his gaze, his eyes fell onto Lydia who was trying to climb up the rock wall.
    What is she doing?
    Or did she find the wild rose?
    She should just wait quietly. But even though he thought that, there wasn’t a time when Lydia would act as Edgar wanted her. 
    He sensed a shadow come over him and he shot his eyes upward.
    The Wyrm’s nails was coming down over him.
    He rolled across the ground and managed to evade it.
    He tried to hurry and stand up, and the Wyrm opened its mouth at him. 
    At the end of its long tongue, he saw there was red fluorite that shined so bright like it was a burning fire.
    That’s it. But, he held the sword ready too late.
    The sharp fangs charged at him.
    Just then, the Wyrm’s movement suddenly dimmed.
    In that short fraction of a second, Edgar recovered his balance and lowered his body and dodged the fangs.

P. 237
    As he did that, he steadied himself for the target and swung his sword aiming at the end of its tongue.
    He felt a resistance as he cut and the fluorite cracked and shattered.
    That second felt as it time had stopped.
    The Wyrm’s movements and the water sound that should have been ringing throughout the limestone cave; he was in a soundless world where everything didn’t make a sound.
    At the moment he finally heard noises again, he noticed the Wyrm’s raised head slowly came falling down and he rushed to get out of its way.
    It made a crashing sound and the Wyrm that fell down right in front of him didn’t show any more signs of moving.


    Lydia had sled down to the bottom of the cliff and hit her back, and got her body up as she fought against the pain.
    She wanted to make sure what the reason was that it suddenly fell silent after the earthquake, and she squinted to look. However, she couldn’t see past the area around her as it was blocked with a white dust that had blown up. 
    Where’s Edgar? What happened?
    “Lydia!”
    Just then, she heard a voice call her name and saw that Edgar was running over to her direction.
    “Edgar….., you’re all right?”

P. 238
    “Yes, the dragon has died.”
    He knelt down on one knee and looked down at Lydia, but then he knit his brows and lifted up her hand.
    What Lydia had gripped in her hand was a wilted wild rose. 
    Edgar shouldn't be able to see the rose. Only, he opened up Lydia’s fist that had blood oozing out from between her fingers and his eyes gazed painfully at the cuts that were made by the thorns.
    “You ripped the roses. So that’s why the Wyrm moved so slowly. I was saved by you.”
    And then he pulled Lydia’s head into his arms in a worried manner like he didn’t know what was going to happen to her because she had broken the rose.
    “Let’s hurry and get out of here.”
    Lydia was also frightened. She didn’t know herself, what was going to happen to her.
    “Do I still have the body of a human?”
    “You are not a changeling.”
    “It’s only just begun.”
    They stood up.
    The Wyrm’s body, which lay motionless with its head stuck into the stone pillar forest with its body wrapped around in a circle began to turn to stone. At that same time, a faint fire came up from the forest stone pillars.
    Like fireflies, the fire spread to one and another.

P. 239
    “What should be in the human world, should be returned to the human world. They are the souls that were bound to this place by magic.”
    Edgar pulled Lydia’s hand, who eyes were nearly taken away by the lights that were floating up into the skies.
    “I heard something weird.”
    The noise sounded like waves, or something like a strong wind.
    “The magic that was bottled up in the Wyrm’s nest had lost its chain and was flowing out. It’s going to come towards me as I was the one who snapped the thorn. If you stay by me, you’ll be caught up in it. You won’t be able to return….”
    “What are you saying. We are always together. For now on.”
    He’s saying the same thing again.
    It was the same line that Edgar says on a whim. But they were in the fairy realm that was filled with magic, and because Lydia wasn’t able to figure out what her true self was, she thought that was a rare will-power. 
    If one’s will wins against magic, then their wish will be granted. That was the rule of the fairy realm.
    If she was with him, then she might be able to return?
    Lydia dashed off as her hand was pulled by Edgar.
    However the sound of the wind was fast. Something warm came blowing up against them from behind them.
    The faint light that was floating around, and Martha’s baby who was nearly put to stone was also pushed along.

P. 240
    The landscape of the limestone was changed in a instant.
    They were planning on going back the path they came in, but the two of them were standing in a narrow path between two precipice edges.
    “What is going on?”
    “It looks like we are caught in a magical delusion. Since the purpose of a fairy’s magic is to confuse people’s memories and senses.”
    “Anyways, let’s keep moving.”
    Edgar pulled himself together and started to walk. And then he said,
    “In a fairytale book I read just a while ago, there was this kind of story. A man went into the fairy world to retrieve his lover who was taken away and a friendly fairy gave him a word of advice. In order to return to the human world, he must keep going straight no matter what he saw. Until he got outside, he must not, at all costs, let go of his lover’s hand. But the fairy’s magic showed them frightening illusions one after another and tried to pull the two of them apart.”
    “I know that story. While that happened, the man saw his lover as a ferocious monster and doesn’t he let his hand go of her. And then the two of them are separated from each other for eternity.”
    “…….Was that so?”
    So he hadn’t read it to the end.
    “How do I say it, children’s tales are cruel. But I won’t let go no matter what. In order to pass by the fairy’s delusions, we need to believe in each other and keep moving straight and not let go, isn’t that what it means? So in other words, that’s what I wanted to say.”

P. 241
    He really has the smart tongue.
    Logically, it was just as Edgar said. However, it wasn’t something easy. In order to dodge the delusionary magic, it mattered how strong the two of them were bonded together.
    Doubt and fear was going to confuse the heart.
    Betty and Pino were sure to be all right. However, Lydia has never established an emotional bond with Edgar.
    Still holding each other’s hands, Lydia became scared as they walked along the narrow precipice.
    She wondered when and what kind of opportunity was going to make him let go of Lydia. She was afraid of that moment and so she was overwhelmed with the urge for her to be the one to run off.
    What if my body might change into a fairy? Because to the human eye, she might appear like an ugly monster.
    “What is the matter?”
    Edgar turned around with a look of worry at Lydia who sudden started to slow down her pace.
    “I-I don’t have any confidence that I will be able to win against the magic. Because, I don’t have any ground in the human world. In the beginning I didn’t know what kind of existence and which world I was from.”

P. 242
    “That’s why I am with you. I will become a root for you and a life line for you to get out of here.”
    Her grip of his hand became weak and nearly fell out, but he gripped hers tightly.
    “Lydia, don’t hesitate.”
    It might be impossible.
    Because I am not the most important person to you.
    See, already, I’m this unstable.
    Lydia couldn’t think for a long time that Edgar’s words were serious. But that wasn’t because of his cheating habits.
    She had realized it, and yet to believe was something she couldn’t possibly do. 
    “Edgar, if you’re going to end up letting go of my hand, then let go now. If it was now, then I can feel all right about it.”
    “All right? That’s horrible of you. If I lose you, then I wouldn’t be all right at all.”
    The more he said such soft, kind words to her, the more Lydia slowly wanted to believe in him. 
    Even now, she wanted to believe him.
    I want to go home with him like this. If that happens, then I would be able to act more honest from now on.
    But, does he really want that, she wondered.

P. 243
    If she hesitated for even a second, the delusionary magic would sneak into that opening in her heart.
    “Lydia, don’t believe in that man’s words. You’re only going to be put through pain later on.”
    Near the rocks above them, there was Kelpie in his black horse form. 
    “Come with me. You now plenty already, that in the fairy world there is nothing there that would hurt you.”
    Yes, that’s true.
    Her feet that were walking forward began to feel heavier. She was just barely able to be pulled along by Edgar.
    “To me, there is only you. Since I don’t have any interest in other humans, or even fairies.”
    Is he really Kelpie?
    But, nothing seemed to be seen by Edgar who continued to move forward and it looked like he wasn’t hearing anything either.
    Then is that an illusionary magic?
    The landscape around them shifted. Lydia wasn’t able to move anymore, and slumped down to the ground.
    Even so, Edgar tried to pick her up and make her stand.
    Just then, she saw a person’s figure down below.
    When she squinted her eyes to look at the path at the bottom of the cliff, the one who lay unmoving there on her side was Ermine.
    “Edgar, it’s Ermine!”
    At Lydia’s cry, Edgar peered down at the ground below them and it seemed like he also saw her. She could feel his tension through their hands which were held.

P. 244
    “She needs to be helped.”
    “No…., it’s impossible. There is nothing we can do for her now.”
    That was because he was holding onto Lydia’s hand.
    “I will be fine,” said Lydia, trying to be careful not to talk with a shaking voice.
    “If it was for just a little while, then it will be all right to let go of my hand. I’ll be waiting here. I’ll wait here so that we don’t lose our way while you go help Ermine and return.”
    Edgar remained still like he was unsure as he looked at Lydia.
    “……Really?”
    If he lost Ermine like this, then that would deeply hurt Edgar again. Much more than Lydia disappearing.
    “Yes.”
    As she nodded, Lydia whispered Goodbye to him in her heart.
    Edgar’s grip loosened.
    Lydia lowered her face and took in a deep breath. When their hands separated, she felt the pressuring sensation of the magic that was going to come crushing onto her.
    She closed her eyes.

P. 245
    Suddenly, she couldn’t sense Edgar’s presence.


    “What are you doing Earl! Don’t let go of her!”
    At Nico’s cry, Edgar came to his senses.
    In the next second, there was a strong gust of wind, and it was so violent like he was thrown into the middle of a tornado and so he wasn’t able to open his eyes, however, he desperately tried to reach and grab Lydia’s hand that he was just about to let go.
    He felt that he grabbed it, and pulled her to him.
    He caught Lydia’s body that unexpectedly came falling helplessly into his arms, and that made Edgar sense something strange and looked down into her face.
    “Lydia, what happened? Wake up.”
    Her body and her eyes that were closed didn’t show any signs of moving.
    “I was too late,” said Nico who came running to them as he was out of breath.
    The place where Edgar was, wasn’t near any precipice but inside the limestone cave where the sea water was coming into view.
    He hadn’t realized it, but it looked to be night and the limestone cave where the moonlight came shining into made the lime shimmer, making the area lit up enough to see clearly.

P. 246
    Ermine was no where to be seen.
    He finally realized that she was an illusion. He was tricked by the fairy’s magic and nearly made to let go of Lydia’s hand.
    No, although it was just for a second, he had let go of her. 
    Because Lydia told him that it would be all right even if they let go for just a little while. No, Lydia must have known this was going to happen before she said that.
    So that Edgar wouldn’t have to hesitate in going to save Ermine.
    Even Edgar should have known that although it was just a second, he shouldn’t let his feeling or hand get separated from Lydia.
    He held her as she lay lifeless in his arms and slumped down to the ground.
    “It was too late? But Lydia is here. She’s breathing and she has a pulse.”
    “Because that’s like her remains. Lydia’s soul has been taken by the fairy world.”
    “Nico, you have to help her. Isn’t there anything you can do.”
    “Since I’m a fairy, I don’t have any power to pull her back to the human realm.”
    He placed his paws on his hips and let out a deep sigh.
    “Sorry, Earl. You best hurry and go back. Get on that small boat there. Once you‘re on the sea water, it’ll be the human world.”

P. 247
    Then, this bank here must be right next to the border. In just a step, they were about to get outside.
    He was so vexed and pressed her body against his, but there was no response. 
    “You should leave that behind. It can’t be taken outside with you, and its just something that will disappear when you let go of it.”
    “Then, I’m staying here. I’m going keep staying.”
    “…….I see, well, you’re free to do as you like,” lightly said the cat without any pity.
    Edgar intended to stay here.
    Lydia told him to go save Ermine and that she was going to wait here, but at the same time she looked so lonely and sad. Maybe she might have wished, even just a little, that Edgar would realize her lie.
    Even if she wasn’t wishing, then all the more, he should have noticed. How she looked so pressed and on the verge.
    Even as he tied her down using an engagement and if he were thinking of protecting her at all costs and seriously try to love in exchange, then he should have realized it.
    He wasn’t able to use the sword and at this rate, wouldn’t be able to completely protect Lydia, and because he was hesitating, he wasn’t decided on one or the other, that was why it ended up like this.
    He wanted to keep her tied to the human world and support her because she had no attachments and because she was so soft-hearted that she would give up being able to go back home for the sake of others and so worked so hard for people and fairies.

P. 248
    He said that to her a number of times, but he wondered if that ended up as a lie.
    Nico had said that her body here was just remains, but he didn’t want to leave her here alone and wanted to stay by her side for always, and so he combed her smooth caramel-colored hair.
    Because he promised that he would stay of her side.
    Edgar brought her hand that he clutched up near his mouth and let his eyes roam across to the moonstone engagement ring.
    The soft milky-white light flickered faintly.
    He realized something. Couldn’t this ring act to stop Lydia’s soul from not leaving?
    It was a ring of a guardian fairy. By its power, it should be promised that Lydia would stay in the position as Edgar’s fiancée.
    The power of the ring should be fighting against the power that was trying to pull Edgar and Lydia apart.
    “Lydia.”
    As he called to her, he closed his eyes.
    And then, he felt her presence just by him.

P. 249
    Dimly, he sensed the sight of her on his eyelids. She stood like she was completely lost and was looking around herself to see if anything was around her. 
    Lydia was still here.
    She heard Edgar’s voice in her ears, however because she wasn’t able to see where he was, she was tilting her head a little. He could even see that expression on her. 
    Edgar? Where are you?
    He sensed her voice.
    “Right here. Right next to you.”
    ……So, you’re very far.
    Maybe it was a far distance for Lydia.
    “Lydia, I’m feeling really hurt. In how you went and made a lie so that I would let go of my hand.”
    But it’s to save Ermine.
    She murmured weakly.
    “You were wrong, we only saw an illusion of Ermine. Most likely, I must have been tested on my feelings for you. But, don’t you think it was not fair. You said that it would be all right.”
    Yes, it wasn’t fair of me.
    “If I knew I was going to lose you, I wouldn’t have let go even if it killed me.”

P. 250
    I didn’t want to make it painful for you.
    “Then, can you tell how much pain I am in right now? If I can’t return with you, then I don’t have any wish to go back. I don’t mind if I stay here and die.”
    ……You wouldn’t let yourself die for my sake.
    “Then you can just watch there. Until you know it isn’t a lie.”
    Suddenly, Lydia lost her composure with nervousness.
    He couldn’t tell what her real feelings were. But right now, he could only take advantage of the soft-hearted part of her.
    From the moment they first met, she wasn’t able to abandon Edgar who was in trouble. Even if he was going to take advantage of that kind part of her, he wanted to get her back that much.
    “Lydia, you are still here with me. To drive away the fairy’s magic, we should put our hearts together, then we should be able to return home. Let’s go back together. Please wish that you want to go home for my sake.”
    …..I was wishing that I could return.
    Her face twisted into sadness.
    If it was all right in believing in you, then I had wished to go home together.
    “Yes.”
    With his eyes closed and still feeling Lydia’s heart, Edgar gripped her lifeless hand tightly.
    It was impossible because they weren’t real lovers. Although she thought that, if they were able to drive away the illusionary magic and able to return back, then I was thinking of honestly accepting what you say.

P. 251

P. 252
    “Then our hearts are one.”
    Lydia was troubled at how to respond, but Edgar didn’t pay any heed and continued to speak.
    “I’ll never let you go.”
    In the next second, the moonstone gave out a shining bright light.
    The light of the moonstone was so bright that one could tell even with their eyes closed as that white light filled his view.
    Edgar felt her hand softly grip his hand back and he opened his eyes.
    He was feeling how Lydia, in his arms and her golden-green eyes that were facing him were like a precious treasure.

***

    “Yes, I mean really, I have no idea how it happened, but in the next moment I was standing in front of the landlord’s house.”
    In one of the landlord’s rooms, Lota was resting down in a bathtub that was set out in front of the hearth and spoke as she blew out a puff of smoke from her cigarette.

P. 253
    “That’s because the changeling magic was broken. Remember, Lota how you exchanged with Betty and was made the changeling. That’s why you were naturally returned to the place where you were meant to be,” said Lydia as she dried her hair that was just washed with a towel.
    “That was easy for you. As Pino and I were walking together, we were being followed by frightening monsters.”
    Betty let out the hot water that was in pail out onto the top of Lota’s head. Lota smartly lifted up one of her arms so that the light of her cigarette wouldn’t go out.
    “Hmm, is that what happened. But, didn’t Pino protect you safely.”
    “Yes. I finally found out what his true feelings were. Although it was quite a long roundabout way to it.”
    With an embarrassed face, Betty smiled.
    “It took too long.”
    Lota, and even Lydia was made to smile.
    The three of them who returned from the Wyrm’s nest washed off the dust and dirt on them and were just finally settling down in relaxation. 
    Then Nico came in where they were with a brush in his hand.
    “Hey, Lydia, would you brush the fur on my back.”
    Inside the limestone cave, when Lydia’s consciousness returned, Nico, who was by Edgar’s side was as filthy as a cat on the streets.

P. 254
    Their eyes met each others and Lydia, who said “You look awful”, instead of reacting in rage, he just was appalled at her.
    Rather, he might have been appalled at how Lydia easily came back when she was called by Edgar.
    He only said that he wanted to hurry and get washed, and went ahead to go back home. 
    Lydia combed his gray fur that had its shine returned to it in front of a large mirror and looked at herself curiously at how in the end she still had the body of a human.
    She wondered if she might not be a changeling. Or she didn’t know if this was the result of the moonstone of the guardian fairy protecting her so that the changeling magic casted on her wouldn’t be broken.
    Because the immeasurable power that was stored in the moonstone had made it so that Lydia would remain in the form that the Blue Knight Earl had desired of his fiancée.
    “Misses, shall I add more hot water?”
    Miss Tyler came into the room. They heard that her baby who was put through the changeling had returned back to her.
    “Martha, you don’t have to work so hard at a time like this. Please stay by your baby’s side.”
    Looking at Lydia, she loosened up her eyes that reflected her strong will. 
    “My baby is sleeping right now so I am all right. And besides, I wanted to show my thanks to the earl and everyone. Even the villagers, after they learned that they don’t have to do as the mayor and the fake landlord tells them, they are here because they want to do something to help.”

P. 255
    Lydia just honestly thought thank goodness.
    Just a little earlier, the dobie mother also appeared and was carrying her baby and looked so happy and had thanked Lydia.
    The dobie clan had left behind a large fish in the footsteps of the landlord mansion as their thanks to the Blue Knight Earl for defeating the Wyrm. 
    But still, that didn’t mean all the problems were solved.
    Raven had returned just a little after Lydia and the others and he showed his disappointment that Ermine wasn’t able to be rescued out.
    Edgar said that they could only wait.
    Lydia asked the dobies for help and had them search every corner inside the limestone cave. If she couldn’t be found, then it meant Ermine was able to move around and she should eventually return on her own.
    However, they couldn’t rest easy until they saw her themselves, and Edgar looked calm at first glance, but when Lydia imagined how worried he was, that made her heart ache.
    The Ermine they saw lying at the bottom of the cliff was just an illusionary magic spell that had entered into the openings in Lydia and Edgar’s hearts.

P. 256
    But because it was such a realistic-looking illusion, the ominous feeling couldn’t be wiped away from her mind.
    “When you are finished getting dressed, then please come to the salon. I will have tea and something to eat prepared for you,” said Martha on her way out. 
    Lota and Betty let out thrills of joy.
    When she finished brushing Nico from the tip of his tail carefully, Nico inspected himself in the mirror and narrowed his eyes in satisfied delight.
    “Well then, I’ll be going off to the banquet of the dobies.”
    “Don’t drink too much.”
    Seeing Nico off and turning back around, she saw that Lota had gotten out of the tube and was getting ready to change.
    Betty pulled up her coffee-colored hair and tied it in a tail at the top of her head like usual.
    She was quite swift in doing it. Lydia could easily imagine that the two of them had set each other’s hairs ever since they were young children.
    “Lydia, I’ll set your hair as well. It’ll be a bother if you leave it wet.”
    Betty grabbed Lydia by her shoulders without giving her anytime to object and made her sit down in a chair.
    “That’s such an adorable dress. Is that his taste?” said Lota in a teasing tone.
    Her own clothing had become so filthy and she didn’t have any other change of clothes, so Lydia was dressed in the rich-daughter like dress that she was wearing when she first arrived here.

P. 257
    But, for some reason, it looked like she was dressing herself up pretty for Edgar’s sake.
    As her hair was being fixed, Lydia felt that more and more convincing.
    In no time, Betty had woven Lydia’s hair up beautifully and decorated it with a ribbon. 
    “Now that’s perfect. But, Lydia, you really are not living up to your worth with that man.”
    “Yup,” agreed Lota.
    “But, well, you can say that he has become a little bit more worthy? I thought that when he came back bringing you along.”
    Even after they left the limestone cave, and even when they got up on land, and even when they came into view of the landlord mansion, the one that was still worried of letting go of the other’s hand might have not of just been Lydia, but anyhow, the two of them kept a tight grip of each other’s hand and Lydia remembered how they were walking so close, shoulder-to-shoulder and it made her turn red.
    “W-we aren’t in that kind of…..”
    Even as she said that, how they returned from the fairy world together made this night feel a little different from any normal night and made her fidgety.
    “Telling you the truth, even if he had a woman he was courting, he always had a number of others he was fooling around with, and it looked like he didn’t have a grain of feeling guilty about that. But, I hear that even as he is proposing to you, he feels guilt towards fooling around. Don’t you think that quite a step forward?”

P. 258
    “Lota, how come you would know something like that?”
    Betty tilted her head.
    “Just a while ago in London, I saw him enter into a house that was across the street from a bookstore. Lydia, didn’t you see that as well?”
    “Huh, why do you know…..”
    As she said that, Lydia suddenly remembered. At that time, there was a girl who was looking at Lydia who had yelled out in a loud voice.
    “That was you Lota?”
    “But, Lydia, he came out by himself immediately. I had thought that the husband who should have been out had returned home ahead of them. But now, I feel like he thought it over himself.”
    “R-really?”
    “And then, he went into some club. That’s the end of what I know though.”
    She wondered if how he said that he was at Slade’s club till morning was actually true. 
    But she didn’t know if that was because of the guilt he could have felt towards Lydia.
    She didn’t know, but she was a little relieved.
    “Now then, let’s hurry to go for tea.”
    Lota had finished pulling on her boots and energetically stood up.

P. 259
    In that moment, Lydia had the faint thought to look outside the window. There was quite a magnificent carriage parked outside.
    Lydia was familiar with the figure who stepped out of it, and she let out a gasp.
    Betty and Lota came rushing over and peered outside the window.
    “Who is it?”
    “That old gentleman, he’s the Grand Duke of Cremona.”
    What, said Lota and Betty and they looked at each other.


    The three of them were positioned themselves by the salon door and quietly pricked their ears to listen on what was going on inside.
    It seemed like the Grand Duke was inside, but they couldn’t hear very clearly. When Lota opened the door a crack, the delicious aroma of sweets came flowing out and it tinkled Lydia’s appetite.
    However, it still wasn’t a situation where they could enjoy themselves with those sweets.
    Even though she thought it was improper of her, when they peeked inside, they saw that the old gentleman was shaking hands with Edgar.
    And then suddenly, Edgar turned to face towards the door.
    “Lydia, come on inside.”
    Being called, Lydia panicked, but she couldn’t run off when she was noticed, so she walked quietly into the room.

P. 260
    Because the Grand Duke looked at her with such gentle eyes, she relaxed with relief and bobbed.
    “Your Excellency, thank you so much for saving me the other day.”
    “Oh, no, no, have your wounds healed? I had heard that you had rescued my granddaughter, and I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
    It seemed like Edgar had called for the Grand Duke. He must have told him about the situation about a fake earl existing.
     However, when it came to now there was no fluorite ring so she wondered if the Grand Duke would accept her as his grandchild.
    “Lydia, would you bring the princess here.”
    Now that she recalled, Edgar should be under the impression that Betty was the princess.
    “Umm, Edgar, before that, I have something to tell you,”
    Lota was saying that she might want to meet her grandfather. However, for Lota who was raised by pirates, her fear of being rejected should be strong. 
    On top of that, if the Grand Duke became confused about not knowing if Betty or Lota was the real princess, then there would be no tearful reunion. 
    “Is something the matter?”
    “Uh, to tell you the true, the two of them were exchanging positions….”
    “Oh, I know that.”

P. 261
    “Eh?”
    “Although I was also deceived for a long time.”
    Just then, the door opened.
    Lota and Betty both came walking into the room.
    The two of them were both silent.
    Since there was no crested ring as proof, it seemed like Lota was going to silently wait until the Grand Duke would realize who his real granddaughter was. 
    The Grand Duke was at first a little taken aback at two young girls entering, but he was quick to focus his eyes on one of them.
    “The right is Lota and the left is Betty. Can you tell who your granddaughter is?”
    When Edgar said that, he didn’t show any hesitation and walked forward and took the hands of one of them.
    “It is really you.”
    Lota, who was said that opened her eyes wide in surprise. However, she quickly lowered her eyes at not knowing what to do.
    “I’ve lost the crested ring. But would you still think me as your grandchild?”
    “You are a living reflection of your mother. There’s no mistake. And the name Lota…., all of us in the family called you by that.”
    “If it was a child around three-years-old, then it wouldn’t be a surprise that she would say her name when she was rescued,” said Edgar and smiled at Lydia who was making a confused face.

P. 262
    “Eh, but the Grand Duke didn’t say his grandchild’s name was Lota.”
    “He said that she was Charlotte. They speak Italian in Cremona, so that would make it Carlotta. Which means her nickname is Lota. So when she was young, she remembered others calling her by her nickname they normally used.”
    So from the time Edgar met the Grand Duke, he had realized that Betty and Lota had exchanged places.
    “Lota, although your country doesn’t exist anymore, would you stay by my side from now on. I had thought that I didn’t have anyone who I could call family left, but you were the only one who remained alive.”
    “But I was raised by the captain of pirates. I have no right to be grandpa’s grandchild.”
    “They were the people who raised you up till now didn’t they? I only have feelings of gratitude to them.”
    Making a relieved face, Betty backed away and walked over towards Pino who was standing in the doorway. The bear of a man was on the verge of tears. As she soothed him down, they quietly left.
    And Lydia as well, was urged by Edgar and left the salon.


    Moving over to another room, Lydia was finally able to have a moment to relax with some tea and sweets.
    Right next to her, Edgar was eyeing her readily.

P. 263
    His gaze was so hot and longing, that Lydia, who brought her cup of milk tea to her lips suddenly became embarrassed and lowered her cup.
    “I wonder what Lota is going to do from now. Can one abandon one’s post as the head of a crew of pirates that easily?”
    “If Pino gets married with Betty, then wouldn’t there be no problem if he took up the ship? Since it’s the ship of the previous captain, so that means it belongs to Betty who is his daughter.”
    Oh, I see. So Betty was a daughter of a pirate.
    Now that I recall, she had quite the bravery it seemed. It looked like she was dodging the eye of the Wyrm and loaf out on her duties.
    As she was having a strange feeling like she understood now, and when she brought her eyes up, she met with Edgar’s eyes again.
    “……Aren’t you going to eat?”
    “I’m tasting the sweet happiness of being by your side again.”
    When they became alone, it was normal that he started his moves of seducing her. However, this time, Lydia was nervous more than she ever was.
    That was because she was at quite a disadvantage.
    She wanted think about Edgar seriously and that was why she had said she wanted to go home. 
    She had broken the wile rose and the fact itself of escaping that place was absolutely saying that she had perfect trust towards Edgar already.

P. 264
    He was sure to point that part out, and if he did….
    “Lydia, it is all right for me not to have to give up on you, right.”
    She couldn’t reject him completely like she could before.
    Edgar took away the cup from Lydia’s hand while she was silent and put it back on the table. 
    She didn’t know what to do with her empty hands and she gazed in a daze up to his face.
    All this time, Lydia had thought of Edgar as a skirt-chasing cheater. That he wasn’t a person who could love just one woman.
    However, if it turned out that wasn’t the case.
    Perhaps, just like Betty in the past, he might be putting a bet on Lydia to see if he could become serious about her.
    If that happened, maybe he might be feeling that he would be able to unbound himself about Ermine.
    Most likely, there was no necessity for that one person to be Lydia, but because he was having a dim feeling of love towards her and so he might be trying to build up from those feelings into seriousness.
    And when it came to Lydia’s side, the only reason she was able to keep on rejecting him all this time was just on the point that he was a half-hearted person. If he wasn’t half-hearted, then she worried that there wouldn’t be any other good reason to reject him.
    If he became a man who could care for someone so hard that he would seal away his feelings for the one person he loved, then she might just fall in love with him.

P. 265
    They supported each other in order to defeat the Wyrm and pledged to go back home together and if she wanted to believe in him, then Lydia was thinking about something like that.
    Even now, she was thinking that as she was watching Edgar press his body forward.
    She wondered what would happen if she came to love him.
    His eyes were bordered with golden-colored lashes and reflected Lydia in them kindly and his finely sculptured lips gently held a smile.
    “Don’t make such a scared face.”
    “Eh…..”
    It seemed like she was being too daunted. But Lydia remained stiff and was apparently glaring back at Edgar.
    “Well, then, could you close your eyes. Then you won’t be scared.”
    Hey, what are you planning on doing?
    …….Or was that a stupid question to ask.
    However, suddenly there was a sound of knocking, and Lydia who was so tight and tense as a stretched string was made to jerk her shoulders.
    “Lord Edgar, my sister has returned.”

P. 266
    At the same time Raven reported that, Edgar had stood up.
    When they saw Ermine bowing her head in the doorway, he rushed to walk over to her and wrapped his arms around her like he would to a family member.
    “Thank goodness, I was really worried. If you were a human being, it wasn’t a place that you could possibly survive through.”
    “I am terribly sorry. I had lost my way.”
    “That’s all right, as long as you are safe.”
    Lydia also felt relief and stood up.
    “Ermine, I’m so sorry. You went through such danger to save me.”
    “No, it was my duty. The most important thing was that Miss Carlton would be safe.”
    It looked like she had taken off her coat and was only wearing her shirt and vest on top. She must have fallen into the sea as the smell of salt drifted out from her clothes that were not completely dry yet.
    Lydia happened to notice there was a red-colored stain on one of her cuffs.
    “Ermine, are you injured?”
    But as she nearly said that, she remembered that her selkie blood would instantly turn into something like clear sand.
    Which means it was someone else’s, like a human’s blood.
    “…….I had found the mayor’s corpse,” she said, turning to face Edgar.

P. 267
    “There were two villagers who had dragged his body up from the sea and was searching his clothes, and it looked like they were trying to take something from him. When I called out to them, they came out to attack me, so I defended myself.”
    “They must have been searching for the freya,” said Edgar with a stern expression.
    Prince had apparently ordered Ulysess to awaken the Wyrm so that he could get his hands on that.
    The fire fluorite, or freya turned out to be the Wyrm’s weakness and might have been very close to magic itself that a fairy would posses.
    “Then what about those two?”
    “They managed to escape.”
    “Along with the freya?”
    “…..Most likely.”
    Edgar let out a sigh. But still, he made a smile as if he still appreciated the pain she had taken. 
    “You have been through so much trouble.”
    She shook her head to the sides softly. To Lydia she looked like she could fall down at any moment.
    “Ermine, you don’t look well.”
    Her eyes wavered for an instant, like she had lost her composure.

P. 268
    “It’s all right for you to retire to your courters. It’s best you let your body rest.”
    She made a bow and left the room. Raven followed after her and closed the door.
    “I wonder if she’s all right.”
    “Yes, me too.”
    Seeing the side of his face that looked a little worried, the rapid beating that was filling Lydia’s heart turned into pain.
    Maybe it isn’t such a good thing to love him.
    Edgar reached his hand out to Lydia like he was going to continue where he had just left off. But he looked unsure as he did so, which made Lydia turn her face away.
    He looked at Lydia with a painful face.
    “Are you also tired?”
    “Eh? Uh, yes, I think so. There was so much I went through….”
    “I see. Then you had better take a good rest tonight.”
    Because he so easily backed away and as Lydia watched the back of him walk off, she remained standing there, surprised at what just happened.
    Is that all?
    If it was how it was in the past, then he would normally keep on trying to seduce even if she openly showed her dislike. And yet why on this night, did he let himself go off so easily.

P. 269
    And you said that you would never let go of my hand.
    Lydia sat down onto a chair and as she drank her tea that had turned cold, she began to feel suffocated like there was something stuck in the back of her heart.
    I wonder if he was worried about how Ermine seemed.
    Yes, that must be it.
    That’s how life is, but as she thought that, she suddenly became depressed.
    This is just like when they saw that illusion.
    For Ermine’s sake, Edgar nearly let go of Lydia’s hand.
    And yet he still desperately tried to get back Lydia and because she felt those feelings of his wasn’t a lie, she was here now.
    That’s why, for tonight, Lydia was thinking on being honest with her own feelings. 
    And not just hell-bent on rejecting him.
    Like if he were to desire a kiss from her, she would try and think about not hitting him or run away.
    “Ohhh, geesh, stupid, stupid! I am a complete idiot!”
    “What are you yelling out about?”
    Kelpie came into the room through the window. With haste, she tried to fix her composure, but since it was Kelpie, there really wasn’t that much of a need to worry about her manners.

P. 270
    “…..Nothing is wrong.”
    He came over next to Lydia and plopped his hand on her head freely and peered down to look into her face.
    “In the end, you’re still a human. It’s too bad, but it can’t be helped.”
    “Now that I remember, thank you for helping me. Were you all right from the Wyrm’s fire?”
    “Do I look like I have any problems?”
    “Not at all.”
    “Well, that’s that. So, are you having tea by yourself? How unusual.”
    Lota was with the Grand Duke and Betty was with Pino, and they were reflecting on all the things that happened and must be spending their time peacefully. 
    Edgar……might be where Ermine is.
    Lydia also went through quite a few things, but she was alone now.
    But, I was always like this.
    “Everyone is busy.”
    “Then, I’ll spend time with you.”
    Kelpie settled down on the table and grabbed ahold of a scone and threw it into his open mouth.
    Even as she thought there were no manners at all in his behavior, Lydia still chuckled.
    Whenever it is, it was always fairies than people that were by her side.

P. 271
    That’s why it might have been better that she wasn’t been made advances by Edgar tonight.
    It wasn’t like it was decided that she was going to fall in love with Edgar yet to the point that she would accept his proposal, but she was nearly made to feel like they were lovers.
    But when she thought about it more closely, if she did come to love him, then Lydia’s feelings would be one-sided forever.
    Even if they got married and he stopping cheating, she wouldn’t be his number one. 
    I have to be calm.
    I don’t want to think that it might have been better that I didn’t return to this world.
    It wasn’t Edgar’s fault that she was put in sad feelings.
    At the least in that moment, from the bottom of her heart Lydia had wished that she could return with him and he should have wished for the same thing as well.
    Unlike fairies who went through no changes, the human world was easy to shift and people’s heart would sway and move on.
    Even if she knew that, Lydia might not have been that strong enough to think she liked him.

*

    In the old days, the Blue Knight Earl was begged by villagers and sealed away a dragon Wyrm.
    And he must have hidden the fire fluorite, freya that was its weakness somewhere in the village.

P. 272
    The one who came later was the brothers that carried the earl’s blood. They knew where the dragon’s freya was and that if they used it, it would once again awaken the dragon.
    The older brother only used his talent for sculptures to increase the value of the fluorites.
    However, the younger brother was different.
    It seemed like the red fluorite, freya that the dragon creates has another special use to it.
    The mayor claimed that it was the stone of immortality and it could only be handled by those who carry the blood of the Blue Knight Earl, but Edgar didn’t know what kind of method it was to gain such an outcome, so didn’t know if it was true or not.
    Anyhow, the younger brother had revived the dragon and thought to once again make it so that freyas could be mined.
    The older brother who sensed the danger in that had entrusted the only fluorite that was able to revive the dragon to the far away Cremon dukedom.
    Molding it into a ring that had the crest carved into it.
    Before he was killed by his younger brother.
    The young man Ulysess that Edgar knew, could he be the son of that younger brother?
    He gave the impression like he had gone through special education and brain-washing, but he still must be a part of the bloodline.
    Anyhow, Ulysess who became a pawn for Prince still carried the blood of the Blue Knight Earl and wasn’t killed because he turned his allegiance to Prince.
    And then he searched and found the fluorite that was sent to the Cremona dukedom in secret, and revived the dragon.

P. 273
    In the end, it looked like the freya was carried out of the village. The two villagers that Ermine was talking about still was no where to be found.
    If that stone ends up in the hands of Prince then I wonder if that would make him not die.
    I wouldn’t want that to happen, thought Edgar.
    Putting that aside, mysteries kept on increasing.
    Even if the dragon was defeated, it was mostly thanks to Lydia and for Edgar who couldn’t bring out the power of the merrow’s sword against a fairy, there still was no guarantee that he could keep on fighting.
    And it still was unknown what he should do with Lydia.
    Edgar was standing out on the balcony as he looked out at the sea which the morning sun reflected out over and he shivered in cold and entered back into the room.
    It just when Raven came in to announce that the morning meal is ready.
    “Lord Edgar, I will be going to the village postal office, but do you have any other duties for me?”
    “Postal office? To do what?”
    “To send out the letter that Miss Carlton asked of me.”
    “Who is the letter addressed out to?”
    Even if he thought he was breeching her privacy, when it came to Lydia, he became too curious and ended up asking.

P. 274
    “To her father, Professor Carlton. It seems she is informing him that she will go back to Scotland from here and will be spending the holiday with him.”
    That was a complete bolt from the blue. Holiday? Echoed Edgar back to him.
    “She said she got the approval already for an early Christmas holiday. Did you not approve of it?”
    I have never heard that.
    With his coat in his hand, he tried to hurry out of the room.
    “Um, Miss Carlton has already departed long ago.”
    “You let her go?”
    There was no fault in Raven. However, Edgar was completely confused. Why, why, why was the only thing that came to his mind.
    “I haven’t approved for time off for the holidays. Why didn’t you give me any word of this?”
    “It was still dark before morning. If he was told he didn’t have to wake his master, then your loyal servant would take the word of your fiancée Lydia.”
    Without giving a knock, Lota came into the man’s private courters. And then she held out a piece of paper in front of his eyes.
    “The holiday request form of Lydia’s. I’ve made sure to hand it to you.”
    “…..But it’s still November.”
    “It seems like you put her through hard work, so shouldn’t she have the right to rest for a month and a half until Christmas is over?”
    The strength had completely disappeared from his body, and Edgar slumped down onto the sofa.

P. 275
    “Besides that, why is it you that she entrusts to submit her form?”
    “Because I was the one who suggested the idea to Lydia. About the idea of getting a holiday break from here and spending some time away from you. I pushed that once you have the idea, it’s best she go through with it before she was talked out of it.”
    “Whaat?”
    His open mouth didn’t shut back closed.
    “It’s because I let it slip to Lydia that you might have become a little more decent. But, don’t you feel that you haven’t changed that much since the time with Betty? I felt the guilt of making Lydia become depressed.”
    Lydia was depressed?
    She didn’t show any such signs, so Edgar had no idea what Lota was talking about.
    “I thought you didn’t make any slips or blunders with women, but I was wrong.”
    That made him irritated, and so he raised his brow and glared at Lota.
    “Or is it, that you can’t think calm and straight when it comes to Lydia?”
    “You go and get in other people’s love affairs, and what is it that you want to say?”
    “Till late in the night, there were quite a number of fairies partying in her room. Although I could only see the black-wavy haired one and cat, it seemed quite lively and loud so there must have been quite a number of little ones there too. So, I thought why you weren’t there with her.”

P. 276
    “I had said to Lydia that it’s best she rested. Shouldn’t she be tired?”
    “Yes, she did go through a hectic day for someone. She needed to save Betty and me, and Martha’s baby, everyone all at once, and she couldn’t turn to anyone when it came to fairies.”
    She was correct. Lydia tried to do it on her own and was prepared that she might not be able to return.
    That’s why Edgar thought he definitely didn’t want to leave her by herself. Even if he didn’t have any power to fight against fairies, he believed he could stay by Lydia’s side at least.
    And then he realized.
    That last night, she was all alone.
    “I had thought that you would stay by her side. Since the two of you broke through the danger together, then all the more you are the only one who knows all the trouble she went through. I had imagined that you were flirting with her and then Lydia would completely forget about all the frightening memories and I thought that would make her relaxed and be able to rest.”
    Edgar could only remain silent. However, it wasn’t like he thoughtlessly made her be by herself.
    He was thinking about shortening the distance between him and Lydia all at once, but he hesitated because he felt like he still didn’t have the right to do that.
    He wasn’t able to retrieve the freya and still didn’t know what kind of mysterious power it held.
    He didn’t know how he was going to continue protecting Lydia against Ulysess who carried the blood of the real Blue Knight Earl.

P. 277
    He didn’t want to let her go and yet he wasn’t able to step in towards her.
    Lydia was willing to face him heart-to-heart but Edgar had ran away.
    “Lydia had a smile on her face. She said that fairies are the only ones that would stay by her side.”
    She had come back because she decided to believe in humans, in Edgar, but it was fairies who were beside her.
    That…..was sure to hurt her.
    “That girl, because she could see fairies, I heard that she was made fun of a lot. But, just like that she must have always smiled about it. I wish that Lydia would become happy with a man who she considers the most dearest. That’s why I can’t entrust you as you are right now with Lydia.”
    “Are you considering yourself as Lydia’s guardian?”
    “As a friend. Lydia is not like Betty. You seduce her with such thin feelings, but from her point, she only has one of the two options of rejecting you or seriously loving you.”
    Her words were bitter through and through. Lota looked to be completely enraged with Edgar.
    Thin feelings, that’s not how I feel.
    Even if he thought that, he couldn’t retaliate, and so Edgar was left to remain alone. 
    “Shall I go after Miss Carlton?” asked Raven, who apparently was still remaining where he was.
    “…..No, right now, I don’t feel like I can properly seduce her.”

P. 278
    Raven bowed and left the room.
    It was definite that he gained a step closer to Lydia. And with that, Edgar thought that he might change her destiny and that made him unnerved.
    He was completely half-hearted.
    Because he wasn’t making the his choice, and when they were thrown inside the magic of the fairy, Lydia had gone out for Edgar’s sake so that he could let go of her hand.
    He pledged to his heart because he wanted to save her, and if it was for Lydia, then he wouldn’t lose to the illusionary magic of the fairy, but it was Edgar who made her make that kind of lie.
    He wanted to protect her but he was hurting her. At this rate, she was only going to go through alienation in the human world, and on day she might leave his side. 
    “What should I do?”
    Even if he asked himself about what to do, he just couldn’t think about making himself put distance between her.
    In the end, he was thinking about how he could make this misconduct of his erased.
    And as he thought, if it was a holiday break then she would be coming back, right?

P. 279
Afterword