Hakushaku to Yousei - Volume 7 - Chapter 7

Chapter 7 • In exchange with your life

“This is... Lady Gladys!”
Without blinking, Banshee stared in awe as Paul steadily showed her the portrait.
“I’ve been taking care of this painting for a while. This may have been the reason why you’ve felt drawn to me or even paid any special attention towards me.”
Banshee lightly caressed the woman’s golden hair with her fingers, as if aware of the amber within it. 
“These are my tears I have shed, the amber that prophesied Lady Gladys’s death.”
“It’s not your fault. I think, because of the amber, she wanted to pass on her will after her death. She was wishing for someone to succeed her family name.”
In order to bring Banshee away from Ulysses’s side, Paul continued his attempt to convince her.
He didn’t know how long Lydia could last, disguising as Banshee, before she was discovered by Ulysses. 
Especially with the whole place being created by fairy magic, Paul needed to quickly persuade Banshee’s mind. She needed to return outside, so he was desperate in order to help save Lydia and Edgar. 
“Banshee, if the amber can unlock your memories, then can you use your own power to unlock it?”
“......Only Ulysses great talent can do that.”
In truth, Paul was well aware. It was useless to try to lie that Edgar could also break the seal. Without a choice, he shut his mouth in silence.
Banshee knew better than anyone who inherited the power of the Earl.
If Ulysses unlocked the seal on Banshee, she would admit he was Gladys’s heir and would immediately hand the Ashenbert legacy to him.
“I suppose, you still don’t wish to return to Earl Ashenbert’s with me, do you?”
Troubled, Paul hung his head down. She looked at him apologetically.
“Sir Paul, your earl is certainly an outstanding gentleman, but he is still not my master after all......”
At that moment, the room’s door suddenly opened.
Frightened, Paul looked up and saw an angered juvenile standing in front of him.

It was Ulysses.
“I’ve let the dogs follow the scent of Banshee. It turns out she never even left this room. So, just who was the woman wearing the green cloak?”
Ulysses walked into the room, trailed by the hellhounds. He looked down and stared at Paul.
“You could not have entered here on your own. That could only mean the other woman was the fairy doctor.”
He let out a small smile.
“I don’t think she has the ability to enter here either. Unless, one of you have Banshee’s ambers?”
Paul nervously bowed his head and ended up confessing.
Within a second, Paul’s clothes were tightly seized at the chest, and he was beaten down to the ground.
Banshee involuntarily let out a scream. Before Paul could even look up, he was being kicked about.
The pain made him unable to breath, unable to stand up. After attacking Paul, one of the hellhounds transformed into a largely built man. He then, with one hand, grabbed Paul by the collar and pulled him up.
“Where is the amber? And don’t say you would rather die, because this guy can show you what it is like to be merciless.”
“.... Ulysses, please stop ......”
Jimmy pulled away from his close distance to Ulysses and threw a punch at Paul.
Paul finally collapsed, unable to rise. And then, another tall hellhound went to loot through Paul’s clothes for any amber. But he returned to his master with no findings.
“Perhaps the amber is with the fairy doctor instead.”
As Ulysses spoke, he watched as Jimmy restrained Banshee.
“Did this man hand you the amber?”
Banshee did not know how to answer. Jimmy followed her gaze that landed underneath the bed, where she hastily hid the portrait of Lady Gladys. He immediately dug underneath the bed. 
Not long after, he found the portrait and gave it to Ulysses.
“What is this?”
“It is ..... Sir Paul gave me the portrait. He probably thought I would like it, so he showed it to me. Please return it.”
Banshee’s voice trembled as she made the request to Ulysses.
Even though she believed Ulysses to be her master, why did she not speak the truth?
Paul momentarily thought of this discrepancy, but mainly he hoped Ulysses would ignore the portrait and return it to Banshee.
Ulysses didn’t see past the amber in the picture. He just thought it was an ordinary painting. However, instead of returning it to her, he threw it into the fireplace.
“The amber must indeed be in the hands of the fairy doctor then....”
“..... Probably not. Ulysses, this painting is not burning. ”
After hearing Jimmy’s words, Ulysses turned to look in surprise. Paul thought, this is bad. Banshee was scared stiff in place.
Ulysses walked to the fireplace, watching the portrait. The blonde female’s hair shone as it reflected against the flames.
He smiled.
“So, this is the original amber that will remove the seal!”
Ulysses continued to smile, subtly hinting Jimmy to grab the portrait from the fire. And then, immediately he gave a sinister expression as he walked toward Banshee.
“You clearly knew this man was trying to fool me, and yet you wish to defy me?”
“No, no, how I dare not....”
“Only I can unlock the seal, so don’t you dare. Come with me, I want you to give me Gladys’s legacy.”
Banshee was then forcefully dragged by the hellhound and couldn’t stop looking back at Paul.
“Sir Paul ......!”

“As long as you behave, I will spare his life.”

Ermine, Lydia and Edgar finally left the blowing snowstorm of the forest. The three people walked discretely into the corridor, each step causing the floors to creak. At last, they returned to the room where Banshee was originally trapped in.

Ermine entered into the room first but returned with no one from inside.
“Did Sir Paul taken Banshee to leave already?”
Lydia thought, hopefully that was so. However, Edgar was doubtful.
Although he was painfully leaning against the wall, he forced himself to continue to walk with his remaining strength. As to avoid the blood from dripping on the floor, he caught the curtains that were hanging in the corridors. He watched as the blood stained the curtains, the stain growing progressively bigger......
Surprisingly, his tone of voice still remained clear.
“It’s impossible for Paul to coax the girl in such a short period of time anyway.”
This is not a pursuit of love.
However, Lydia was also puzzled as to what happened. Edgar seemed to be taking everything into account as he entered inside the bedroom.

“Paul!”
Once Edgar loudly yelled out his name, Lydia also saw Paul laying face down in a dark corner.
“......Lord Edgar ... ...? Miss Lydia as well? Ah-- thank goodness. ”
“What happened? And Banshee?”
When Paul saw Ermine, he was clearly startled and jumped up.
“Sir Ferman, are you all right?”
“Well, yes. I’m fine, I just came across an incident, so my mind right now is not very stable......”
Paul took deep breaths, diligently trying to calm himself down. He finally turned around to face Edgar, kneeling down to apologize.
“Lord Edgar, I am truly very sorry. Ulysses unlocked Banshee’s seal, and the amber was taken away from me.”
“I’ll take it back then.”
Edgar, without thinking, answered.
As each second started to count, they didn’t have time to do that sort of thing. Lydia needed to hurry and find Nico to help Edgar escape. But, it seemed Edgar didn’t care for his physical condition.
“Lydia, you stay here with Paul.”
“I don't want to. I also want to go together.”           
But Edgar gave Ermine a look. Then, they quickly left the bedroom and closed the door.
“Wait, Edgar! Open the door!”
“I’m sorry, Lydia. I’ll certainly find Nico and ask him to lead you out of here.”
“I don’t want that! This building is magically built by Ulysses. You will definitely be lost without me.”
“Lord Edgar, I want to go, too. Please open the door!”
Lydia and Paul were violently knocking on the door together. Though she was constantly crying out to him, the door remained locked from the outside. Moreover, Edgar did not respond again.

What should I do? Edgar intends to sacrifice himself.
Lydia began to look around the room, trying to see if there was another way out. However, there were only windows in the room.
But, the windows couldn’t be opened. Because it was protected by magic, no matter how the glass was struck,  it would not break.
Paul attempted to peek through the door lock, to see if whether it was possible to unlock it.
With all of that, the two moons still hung high in the sky. Lydia gazed at the scenery outside the window. 
She kept thinking about how when she first entered the building, she was so concerned of this strange sky.
Here, the magic seemed to be fixed on the outside scenery, which was very similar to the Merrows’ use of magic.
But no matter how strong the magic is, it cannot change the nature of the scene. So, there really can’t be more than one moon.
So, why are there two of them?
The right moon looked as if it moved higher than when they first came. The other moon stayed in the same place.
Why...?

“Miss Lydia, do you have a pistol?”
As Lydia heard Paul’s voice, it brought her back into the room and she remembered she was gripping tightly onto the pistol.
“Ah, well, that’s right. You can use it to break the door lock.”
“However, the sound of the gunfire may attract the attention of the hellhounds and Ulysses.......”
Lydia and Paul began to think again and, before getting lost in thought, there was a voice from outside.

“Lydia, are you inside?”
Nico’s voice! Lydia hurried close to the door.
“Nico? Quickly help open the door for me! This is no good. Edgar has gotten injured, but he went with Ermine to see Ulysses.”
The door was immediately unlocked, and it opened. Outside, Lydia saw Raven and a masked Nico standing.
“Did Lord Edgar get injured?”
Raven immediately revealed a murderous expression. 
“Well, Ulysses broke Banshee’s seal, and so the amber was robbed. Edgar intended to risk his life to stop Ulysses from getting Gladys’s legacy. ”
“Then, let us go.”
Though Paul rarely ordered, he and Lydia left the room together. But Nico only shrugged helplessly and said:
“I told her to stop getting involved with the earl again, and she still never listens.” (?)

Edgar intended to go alone with Ermine to ambush Ulysses.

Ironically, instead of Edgar seeking him, it might as well been said that Ulysses came out to invite Edgar who came for a visit (?), because not long after, the hellhounds came out from the hallways and found Edgar and Ermine. Seizing them, the hellhounds leisurely brought them in front of Ulysses.
“I was too careless. I had unexpectedly forgotten your expertise was in deception.”
Ulysses stood tall in the middle of the broad hallway, no longer than a step closer to Edgar, placing both his hands on his chest as if he was upset.
“Do you wish to continue our bet from earlier?”
Banshee sat in a large chair next to Ulysses with her head down, on the verge of tears. As Edgar saw this, he sympathetically said to her:
“You don’t need to worry about Paul. My friends will save him.”
“Even if someone came to support you right now, it’s impossible for you to win against me.”
Ulysses then gave side-long glance at Ermine.
By his look alone, Edgar was unsure whether Ermine and Ulysses were speaking with each other in secret.
“Lord, I should advise you to quickly beg for mercy, Then perhaps, I may let you go.”
“Do you mean to say that, as long as I give my body for Prince to use, I will be saved?”
“You may think about it however you like. I just want you to see me receive Gladys’ legacy right this very moment.”

Ulysses stood up.
Edgar, with shaky footsteps, stood up straight as well. Provokingly, he spoke:
“No matter what you gain, you do not have what it takes to be a noble. You're not qualified to call yourself the Earl's last descendant. You, who does not even understand the history or significance of this English title, not even the noble obligations, nor the spirit of chivalry; and yet you still intend to fight against me?”
“You also only have your scathing words. Do not forget your poor life and future are in my hands now.”
Although Ulysses arrogantly spoke in a tone full of pride, his heart must’ve felt differently for he clenched his fists and was trembling.
In England, it wasn’t easy to be a noble. Even Ulysses, who was dressed ostentatiously, spoke words that were those of a commoner. As long as he had that mouth of his, he would always be discerned of that truth.

Edgar, at an advantage, continued to say:
“Prince is also the same. Is that fabricated virtue of his also regarded as royalty? He's a rogue in a masquerade of beauty. He is excessively underrating the historic nature of the English royals.”
In reality, Prince was also said to be part of the English upper-class, but that was not all important. Edgar was only deliberately trying to enrage Ulysses.
However, though he was provoked before, Ulysses did not fall for it this time.
“The useless talk ends here. Unlock the seal.”
As he spoke, Ulysses placed the portrait on a small table, touching the blond hair with his fingers. Edgar couldn’t help but feel surprised. So this was the original amber.
It was hidden so well.
In a low voice, Ermine whispered to Edgar whether she should snatch the portrait back. He did not know whether it truly came from her heart, but the chances were obviously not high.
Edgar shook his head to slightly decline.
“The only ability needed is to make it impossible for Banshee’s amber to burn and melt. That, Lord, was what you lacked.”
Ulysses took a knife and lightly grazed his fingertips. With the blood that seeped out, he smudged it onto Lady Glady’s silky, golden hair. This was supposed to be a remarkable moment. However, Ulysses lacked the grace and beauty, so Edgar couldn’t help but frown in disapproval.
Whether or not it was beautiful, the blood-stained hair began to emit flames.

The amber burned, and the flames spread across the portrait.
Banshee stood directly at the flame and stared at the portrait. Not before long, she staggered and fainted on the ground.
Edgar automatically tried to go to her side and lift her, but Jimmy blocked him by grabbing onto his wrist.
Jimmy deliberately used his nail to cut across Edgar’s bite wound.
“Do not touch me, you degenerate canine.”
After hearing Edgar’s words, Jimmy became furious and flashed into his original shape of a hellhound.
Ermine immediately blocked the front of Edgar, but Jimmy jumped back in time to avoid her knife.
Edgar took this chance to approach closer to Banshee, but he ended up surrounded by other hellhounds.
One came flying at him, so Edgar grabbed a candle to repel against it. But then the other hellhounds came from behind and began to strike again.
Edgar’s body just couldn’t keep up to stop it.
At this point, he was swooped in from behind by one of the dogs and was knocked down to the ground.

Through his dim sight, he saw a boy with brown skin standing in front of him.
“My Lord, I’m sorry that I've come late.”
Then, Raven took out a knife, as if to intimidate the hellhounds.
It’s difficult for humans to kill magical hellhounds. Moreover, Raven and the hellhounds had created an entirely new battleground just a moment ago.
The hellhounds seemed to realize the spirit that lurked in Raven’s body. Therefore, they growled in place instead of moving.
“Ah!”                                                        
At that moment, a cry came out of Banshee.
Ermine grasped Banshee with a knife against her throat.
This, Edgar and Ulysses did not expect would happen at all.
“Ermine, what are you doing...”
“Lord Edgar, as long as Banshee dies, Lady Gladys' legacy cannot be given to anyone anymore. I now have fairy magic in me, so, I can kill this young girl.”
“Stop!”
Ulysses could not help but become tense.

“Raven, quickly take Edgar away. His injuries are in dire need of help that his life depends on it.”
After listening, Raven was startled to see Edgar’s wrist. However, he was unable to move one bit for he was still surrounded by the hellhounds.                        
“Please make way, or I shall kill this girl.”
Ulysses, through his doubts and worries, could not even guess Ermine’s intentions.
Edgar didn’t understand the reason for her actions either, but from this situation she created, he knew he could be saved. But after further thought, the problem still wasn’t resolved.
He took a deep breath before he ordered Ermine:

“Ermine, let go of her. I do not intend to sacrifice her in order to escape.”
Banshee was a member of the Earl family after all. Even though he did not have the powers of the true Earl, he inherited the Merrow’s sword. Therefore, he intended to also bear all responsibility.
It was Lydia who had woken up the noble side in him. At the same time, she helped him claim the Blue Knight Earl’s title, which he was also quite proud of.
He could not sacrifice the family members.
Ermine looked puzzled at him but still obeyed the order.
Ulysses gave out a triumphant laughter that echoed in the halls.
Following his footsteps, Lydia and Paul arrived a bit late compared to Raven. They ran to the high stairwell of the balcony above. From there, they were able to see Edgar who was surrounded by the hellhounds, along with Ulysses giving out a loud laughter.

“Lord, you just sacrificed your partner in the fight so far. Such naive judgements.”
“At the time, a companion and this young girl were different. Moreover, my position at that time was different."                                
“Are you speaking from the pride of a noble? If this becomes detrimental weakness, I’d rather not have it for myself.”
A tense atmosphere permeated in the hall.
Lydia, who was hidden on the sidelines watching the scene, was trying to come up with a way to lift the crisis before her.
“Has Banshee’s seal been unlocked yet?”
Paul muttered to himself.
“It should have. It seems there are ambers on the edge of the canvas at the table. This meant that the amber itself was burned.”
After hearing Nico’s words, Paul couldn’t help but frown.
“Ah~~ such outstanding work is grey now...”
Paul seemed to have treasured the art’s value of the portrait so much more than the Banshee’s amber.
“Banshee, come here.”
Ulysses shouted. She staggered up to him.
“In the end, all of your memories should be restored. Do you not have anything to give to the Blue Knight Earl’s descendant?”
Lady Gladys’ legacy must not get handed to Ulysses, but how can it be prevented?
Lydia swallowed her throat. She could only quietly wait and see what would happen.
Banshee stopped her footsteps in front of Ulysses. She did a little bow as if for a nobleman and continued on to say:
“Ulysses, please save this gentleman’s life.”

Ulysses, who didn’t think she would make such a request, immediately scowled.
“Please send him to a place of sunlight, and afterwards I will immediately give you Lady Gladys’ legacy.”
“Are you trying to give me conditions to comply with? You are saying such a thing to your master?”
“No, I was only......"
Tears fell on her face, and her body was trembling. She was probably very fearful of the hellhounds and Ulysses. Then, she first stole a glance at Edgar, gaining ground, she resolutely looked at Ulysses and said:
“I do not think you are my master.”
Not only Lydia, but everyone was astonished. The room was surrounded by silence for an instant.
At that moment, cold rage rose up in Ulysses.
“Then, I’ll immediately kill that man. You have no choice in the matter.”
With his hand, Ulysses excitedly commanded Jimmy to begin.
The hellhound restored to being a young boy before swooping past Raven with a brandished knife attack.
Then, the other dogs came bouncing up behind. The scene abruptly became chaotic in the room.
“Stop!”
Lydia couldn’t help but loudly shout, as she walked out of their hiding spot.
“Lydia? Stay back!”
Edgar, in order to block her, loudly shouted. Lydia stepped down the stairwell to find a hellhound lunging at her with menacing claws.

Without a choice, she immediately stooped down and was reluctantly ready to take the blow. When she finally looked up, she saw that jet-black hellhound jumped, and it was preparing to attack Edgar.
“Edgar! Watch your back!”
Edgar also noticed the hellhound behind him, but he could only sit wearily against the wall. He probably couldn’t even see the scene properly.
At this point, a silhouette came in front of the hellhounds.
Suddenly rushing in front him was Banshee. She was immediately bitten by one of the hellhounds and fell to the ground from the attack.
How could this be… ?
Lydia spoke to herself, but she had no more time to think of making a firm decision.
We must move everyone out of here.
Although she didn’t know whether she could accomplish it, or whether her guess was correct. However, there was no other choice.
This was the perseverance of a fairy doctor.
She grasped tightly the pistol Edgar had given her, and as she lifted it up high, she cried out loudly:
“Hellhounds, listen clearly. Return to your lair now. Return to your graveyard! Otherwise, I’ll call back the sun to this place!”

All the hellhounds’ eyes were turned toward Lydia. They growled lowly in confusion.
“Before the sunlight blinds your eyes, quickly return to your lair!”
“Oh, I would like to see what the so-called fairy doctor can do.”
Ulysses gave an arrogantly mocking laughter. But unyielding, Lydia continued shouting:
“You used magic to link the night and the entire building together. But no matter how clever your magic is, it cannot conceal that link, revealed by the moons. The left moon never moved as if glued to the window. If that is the link that represents the source of magic, then once I destroy it, the sun shall return to this building.”
The hellhounds roared in turmoil, almost in fear. It appeared Lydia guessed correctly, but that was not her only challenge.
“I see you could figure it out. I’d really like to applaud you. But whether you miss the shot or not, as long as you try to shoot, the hellhounds will tear your throat on the spot.”
Lydia never used a pistol before. The moon was hanging in the distant window, and, once she shot, there was no possible way to escape.
“Lydia, it’s no problem. You can certainly shoot it.......”
Edgar sat against the wall, smiling as he watched Lydia. He seemed as if he was about to lose consciousness.
Lydia suppressed her wrist from shaking, trying to aim at the target.

Oh God…
“This is it ...... Shoot it well.”
At Edgar’s urging, Lydia prayed in her heart and then immediately pulled the heavy trigger.
The next moment, the moon along with the window shattered into pieces.
“I-it hit, I hit it?”
In reality, the bullet did not hit the targeted window and was embedded in the walls instead. However, Raven swung his knife together at the same time of the shot, which shattered the glass into falling pieces. This, Lydia had no idea of and merely found the shot to be really miraculous.
The dazzling sunlight from the broken window shot into the room.
Meanwhile, the night view from outside the hall, began to melt and disappear, while the sunny sky rose up.
The magic coating the buildings vanished. The original surroundings of the place returned to normal as it was in the human world.
Because of this, many hellhounds fled and disappeared. At the same time, Jimmy who also transformed into a human immediately opened the door in the corner of the room.
“Ulysses, hurry up!”
At this rate, it seemed that even the darkness was reluctant to connect with the evil spirits of the night.
Ulysses stood at the door, staring indignantly at Lydia. Then, he turned to Edgar, saying:
“Lord, count yourself lucky, but that is as far as your luck can go. His Royal Highness, who’s in America, will come visit England very soon.I believe your methods are very clear to the Royal Highness. Perhaps you’ll feel better being killed by me by that time.”
With that threat, Ulysses left those words and then disappeared into the door on the other side.
At once, Raven went over and opened the door. But on the other end was merely an empty, ordinary room.

“Edgar!”
Lydia threw down the pistol in her hand and rushed to Edgar’s side.
“You were saved, it's all fine!”
Edgar raised his wrist that was bitten by the hellhound and looked at the wound in awe. The blood was gone. Even the cloth dyed in blood was clean.
“The wounds and blood all vanished…”
“This means you weren’t truly injured. It was all just the dark fairy magic since the sun dispelled it.”
Helplessly confused, Edgar slightly cocked his head to the side.
“But Banshee’s prophecy did not disappear.”
“You'll be fine, I've blocked it for you, the prophecy.”
Banshee was supported by Paul’s arm as she explained.
“Sir Paul, I believe in your earl. Please take me to his side.”
Paul nodded and, picked her up, brought her to Edgar.
She knelt beside him and gave him a smile.
“Thank you for saving my life, Banshee. From the hellhound’s bite, did you feel pain? It should have been restored immediately by the sun.”
“I’m a fairy, so we’re unable to resist the magic of other fairies. For humans, the sunlight can dispel magic, but it has no effect on us.”
“How could that be.”
Paul whispered sadly in a low voice. Edgar, who was surprised, turned his eyes in a look of hope towards Lydia. However, she could only shake her head to the side.
“It doesn’t matter. I am also a member of the Earl family. My death prophecy has been achieved, and the other family members have not died.”
“But why did you sacrifice to this extent... Why did you resist Ulysses who helped unlock your seal?”
Banshee’s figure began thinning. Although she wasn’t bleeding, Lydia felt her life span was getting weaker.
“Because I finally remembered my purpose.”
Banshee began to quickly explain.
“We hoped to predict the death of a family member, but there was also a chance for me to become a sacrifice in order to save the lives of our family... I really wanted to save Lady Gladys, for she was the last blood descendant of Earl Ashenbert. She would have wanted to live and hoped for future generations. But because of Prince of Calamity, she had to give up her own life and the rest was left up to me.”
As Edgar listened, he nodded. He looked into Banshee’s eyes, as if listening intently as to not miss even a single word she said.
Perhaps Banshee’s words, for Edgar, were Lady Gladys’s personal instructions to him. Although he was fond of playing the role of a noble, he did occasional reveal times when he appeared as a true leader.
In Lydia’s eyes, Edgar was exuding a dazzling light.
“After Lady Gladys died, her soldier's strength drained with her. The history and strength of the earl was forced to become lost forever. But even so, my master risked that in order to avoid having the legacy placed in the wrong hands. That was why she chose to have this relic passed on to future generations. Master wholeheartedly expected someone from England, and perhaps even other of the Earl’s descendants, to exist. Someone who could retrieve the Merrows’ sword and inherit the title of Earl. Therefore, I was handed the last mission, a heavy responsibility, to decide the next Earl of Ashenbert. England was a promised land where humans and fairies could coexist. The Blue Knight Earl would’ve been the kingdom’s fairy doctor .......”

The original Blue Knight Earl was a fairy doctor but not any ordinary fairy doctor.
“Whenever the country was shaken by the involvement of fairies, in order to lift away the chaos, it was the responsibility of the Blue Knight Earl to bring peace among everyone. In order to show gratitude to the Earl’s contributions, regardless of his disappearance 100 years ago or his heir being unknown, the country will always permanently award the title Blue Knight Earl to the one who deserves it.”
“......Prince of Calamity, is he related to the disruptions among the fairies?”
“Yes.”
“However, who is Prince?”
“As far as I know, he is the shredded blood and resentment of the opposing English families during the Highland War. And then, from the dark magic, he was born.....”

The Highland War occurred 100 years ago. It was all due to the descendants of James II who were exiled.
In order to reclaim the throne, they instigated the Highland War to set off support for James II. This brought about the countless deaths of soldiers. A tragic, ruthless war that ended with numerous being killed.
Before, Lydia have heard a little of the story. It seemed that there was a prince who claimed to be the heir of an exiled king.
“When England won the victory over the Scottish Highlands, the country was able to restore its peace. However, the battle was not over for Lady Gladys. She and the others had to continue fighting and receiving further damage from Prince, whose presence wasn’t even known by the King of England. One time, Lady Gladys told me, if someone who was able to unlock my memories appeared, I should decide whether they were qualified as the Blue Knight Earl.”
Banshee looked up at Edgar again, as if to confirm again that her judgement was correct.
“I have always believed that blood was more important than anything else. But, it seems to not be the case. I believe Lady Gladys is pleased of the decision I made.”
Banshee respectfully took Edgar’s hand to her forehead.
“My master, I am here to give you the Ashenbert key, where you and future generations will oversee the fairy realm. For the kind fairies on the island, and those of the neighbouring English country, please be sure to use the power of Ashenbert to sever the blood of the evil Prince of Calamity.”

Banshee’s forehead suddenly began to glow, but her presence became more transparent, as if they could see through her body.
The translucent Banshee turned towards Lydia and gazed at the moonstone ring on her finger.
“This is the Moonstone of the Earl... Ah... I did not even notice the ring. That is very disgraceful of me. Fairy doctor, please forgive my rudeness. You are the Earl’s wife.”
“What? Ah, well...... "
“May the guardians of the fairies lend their powers to the two of you always.”
Banshee never minded Lydia’s hesitation. Because she was running out of time, so she slowly got up.
And then finally, she turned to wave and smiled shyly.
“Sir Paul, thank you for taking care of me. Since I’ve met you, I was able to properly find the heir for the Earl Ashenbert family. I may finally go to Lady Gladys’ side now, going to the place of return for the human soul, receiving the call of God. For me, that matter is worth celebrating... ”
Banshee then dissolved into the air and disappeared, though her voice lingered from the echoes in the hallways. Paul continued to look towards the window unmoving, not fully understanding as to what happened. It was as if he was still watching Banshee leave.
Everyone fell into silence, no one opened their lips to speak.
The dusty, empty room was bathed in white light, and the halls of the building were quiet. It was as if time stood perfectly still at that moment.

Finally, Edgar wearily rose up and broke the silence:
“...... Ashenbert key? I cannot see or feel anything.”
He mumbled irritably, as he opened the hand Banshee touched.
“Lydia, do you see it?”
“I also cannot see it. Probably, only those who inherit the key can feel it.”
Then It was something that was already belonged to only the Blue Knight Earl, for certain. Therefore, no one else, not even Ulysses, could take it away.
“I already cannot see the fairies nor the key. And to not know how to use the key, the key she delivered to me, I have already failed to live up to her expectations.”
Even though he said so, he tightly closed his hand, resolutely cherishing it even though he couldn’t see what was inside his clutch.

Edgar sat in the carriage for London. He squinted at the soft, gentle clouds as the bright sunlight shone through them from time to time. He turned his gaze back at the scenery through the window and fell into deep thought.
The building Ulysses used was several miles away from London, so Edgar had to take his carriage to return back.

Edgar mentioned that he wanted to have a word with Lydia alone. However, after boarding the carriage, he had been silent for a while. Lydia sat next to him, fully alert.
Anyway, to avoid the recent intimate event from happening again, if Edgar was to open his advances, she must insistently refuse him for good.
Though she reminded herself to be careful, while she sat next to him in the rocking carriage, she noticed that he was solemnly thinking something serious. He was so stern that she couldn’t help but worry.
Banshee’s “key” that Edgar was entrusted with, the key he also did not know how to use, represented the unfinished mission of the last Earl’s descendant. This was something Edgar had to continue and shoulder himself with.
Edgar probably did not even know how to view this heavy responsibility.
“...... Bridget?”
Opening his mouth, Edgar said suddenly.
“What? What did you say?”
“This was the name of the dog I raised before.”
“….I see.”
“It’s not this name? Lydia, please. At least telling me the first letter of the name is good enough.”
“You, you were really thinking with such a serious expression on this matter!?”
“This is a very important matter.”

Had Banshee known Edgar’s true colours, her idealistic expectations would have been crushed.
Lydia unconsciously let out a heavy sigh.
“Lydia, if you don’t forgive me, I won’t be able to continue moving forward.”
“You're exaggerating too much.”
Lydia was on full alert. Her hands were firmly on her knees. But Edgar, without hesitation, folded his hands into hers.
As always, with a confident smile, he gazed at Lydia with a forward attitude. But somehow, at the moment, his tone seemed more serious than ever before.
“Since long ago till now, my purpose was to take revenge on Prince, to constantly challenge him. But now thinking carefully on it, maybe my heart never wanted to win against him. I just wanted him to regret striking a vicious blow against me, my parents, as well as Duke of Sylvainford. Therefore, I never cared whether or not I died.”
Lydia agreed with Edgar’s words. Especially now, because of Banshee’s predictions, it was intended to bring an end to Ulysses and bury him. Even if it meant Edgar and his people had to bury their lives without having attachments as well.
“However, when I was injured for ridiculous reasons and truly faced death’s door, you were by my side. And then, from that point, I suddenly didn’t wish to die. Had I died, then you would have been taken away by another man. Obviously whispering words of love in your ear, holding your hands like this, or even to mutually gaze into your eyes right now, these are my exclusive rights.”
Those are not your exclusive rights!
“Moreover, I have yet to completely have all of you. So, I cannot tolerate it if there may be another man, when I don’t even know how you are when you are mine.” (?)
You're getting more and more ridiculous.
“I really wanted to continue to live at that time. Before you return home safely, before you fall in love with me... Before I let you obtain happiness, I must continue to live under that good life. (?) When the desires of my heart pour out in me, my mood also immediately changes. I not only want to continue to live, but with my own hands, I want to achieve all of your heart’s desires.”

After hearing all of this, Lydia couldn’t help but want to run away on the spot. But even when she moved further toward the corner of her seat, Edgar moved closer to her without a care.
“Lydia, can we start over again? I don't wish to break up with you.”
We were never together, so what do you mean start over again? Break up?
“I know one thing. I was able to gain my title of the Blue Knight Earl, not by my own power, but because of Lady Gladys and Banshee whose future I hope to live my life through. With you to support me, along with Paul, Raven, and everyone’s help, I was able to successfully play the role of the Blue Knight Earl. Therefore, I will no longer allow myself to dwell only in my personal revenge. I can no longer fight in such a self-destructive manner.”
Lydia was confused as Edgar tightly held her hand. Initially dull, after Edgar showed such strong determination, her unsuspecting heart was now intensely racing.
“I don't want to lose anything again. I would like to protect everyone all around us in the future, no longer letting anyone become a sacrifice. With the life Banshee gave me and the name of Earl, I would say these things are no longer a tool for my revenge. But more importantly, I hope to do my best for both fairies and humans to live a peaceful life... And it can only be done with you.”
“However, I don’t have the strength of the Blue Knight Earl. I can’t become a great fairy doctor.”
“Then, I will become a great Blue Knight Earl. Although I have no family related to fairy magic, Banshee also said that bloodline is not the most important. It is the Blue Knight Earl’s responsibility to defeat Prince. Therefore, I will defeat him. And I know that this will put you in danger. Despite that, I cannot see a future where this fight would not be so. I only hope that I could still believe in the chance for a brighter future. So, I beg for you to listen to my one wayward request.”
Edgar never wavered his sincere eyes towards Lydia, which made her heart pound even faster, making her feel dizzy.
“I hope to better understand and firmly take responsibility, to be able to protect those I need to protect. Therefore, I hope that you will stay by my side forever.”
"Forever…... If it’s employment as the family consultant at the earl’s manor....... "
“No, until death do us part.”
Is this a third proposal?
The air was filled with his affection. Lydia nearly nodded, until she realized what he meant and desperately shook her head.
Edgar slightly downcast his eyes, seemingly appearing troubled as he thought.
"Well, can you at least tell me this. Do you like me to the point that is beyond being ordinary friends?”
“You are so full of yourself.”
Lydia blushed and lowered her head. Edgar’s hand never seemed forceful on her, so she always felt his words didn’t seem so convincing.
However, his attitude became stronger altogether.
“Lydia, no matter how kind you are, no matter how much you wish to be comforting, it is impossible to enter an ordinary male friend’s bedroom. I think you should still have that discretion.
“That, that is your stance....”
“However, at the time, you still conceded to my unreasonable demands.”
“I just did not know what to do.”
“Then I guess you, who is hopelessly good-hearted, must be very concerned for me who is a very flawed man. Therefore, you cannot leave me alone. In other words, I am the perfect one for you.”
Indeed, he did well to indulge in his favorable fallacies.
“I believe that this is not my unrequited love.”
“…… However, I am not going to marry you.”
“Then, you admit that you do like me?”
Lydia couldn’t refuse, so she remained silent.
Because once she admitted to it, it would undoubtedly become an unrequited love for her.
Edgar took her shoulder and pulled her closer to him. Lydia felt his hand, touching her cheek, lift up her face. She didn't know how to react, and so she stiffly lowered her head.
“We agreed that when we came back, you would give me a kiss, should you not refuse?”

I completely forgot.
What should I do… ...?
This is not good! This time, I must say no! That's right. I need to be determined, or else…..
When Edgar saw Lydia’s panicked expression, as if to comfort her he said:
“However, it is only until this kiss is something you look forward to. Otherwise, it’ll lose its meaning. So before you promise to marry me, I’m willing to wait.”
Edgar’s fingertips gently touched her lips.
Frightened, Lydia was taken aback. Immediately looking up, her eyes connected with Edgar’s. His ash-mauve eyes narrowed as he smiled warmly at her. Lydia then felt a burst of inexplicable sadness, and she gazed at Edgar in tears.
Startled, Edgar quickly moved his finger away from her lips. But Lydia’s tears kept streaming down, unable to stop crying as she continued to look at him full of tears.
“I'm sorry, please do not cry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“I don’t know, but I feel that I always made you cry.”
Yes, it is all your fault.
“Enough already. You always promise these things regardless of the time.”
Although she said this, Edgar was tightly cradling her in his arms. Her head buried in his chest as she continued to cry. It felt almost as if Edgar was telling her: I love you.
“No matter how many times you deny me, I will never give up. Or otherwise, my confession will just be a lie.”
Even if you say that now, one day you'll find out that the one you truly need is not me.
“…… Ermine truly wants to protect you. Her secret connection with Ulysses may only just be a misunderstanding.”
With Lydia’s sudden change in subject, Edgar assumed she was only being shy.
“Well, I will certainly observe her for now.”
For Edgar’s sake, Lydia didn’t want Ermine’s betrayal to be true. She sincerely hoped that such a thing wouldn’t happen.
Lydia thought, how much pain would he have to suffer if he lost Ermine’s presence?
Maybe Ermine was expecting to cut off all she had faced in her own past.
At the thought, Lydia alone felt a sense of guilt for Edgar.

Kelpie slept in the High Park at the end of the lake. At dawn, the lake began to crack as he opened his eyes, and the water waves flowed.
It seemed someone had broken into his territory.
Kelpie decided to get rid of the intruder and quickly swam in the water. His black hair was swaying along the waves, as he quickly rushed to the other side of the party.
Eventually, the one who appeared before him was the girl --- Selkie. However, she still remained her human form in the water. Then again, she had no fur, so it was impossible to restore the appearance of a selkie. Basically, the short-haired woman who dressed in men’s clothing turned to Kelpie at the bottom of the lake.

“So, it's you. What are you doing here?”
“I occasionally like to swim.”
“This is my turf.”
“This is shared by the public park.”
As a Selkie fairy, she was still too young, so she continued to speak in the tone that was human-like.
“Are you not going to find a way to separate Miss Lydia from Lord Edgar?”
“How can it be that simple. The engagement between the two is not easy to break off.”
“That means you failed then.”
“Shut up, do you wish to be eaten?”
Ermine eyed Kelpie carefully, but he had no attention of attacking her. So, she remained where she was.
She spoke again:

“I wanted to let you know, it is impossible for Miss Lydia to avoid Lord Edgar’s battle, because neither Lord Edgar nor the enemy could have expected the battle to have this tremendous change.”
“What do you mean?”
“Prince is coming to England. Since Lord Edgar is Ulysses’s enemy, he has no interest in anyone else but to constantly challenge Lord Edgar in one-on-one fights, in an attempt to humiliate him. However, Prince is different. Lord Edgar is very important, so he will try to lay his hands on him.”
“Who the hell is on which side?”
Ermine didn’t answer, but in a dull, flat voice, she continued:
“There is only one way to protect Miss Lydia from Prince’s destruction. It is to help Ulysses.”
“What? Don't make me laugh, I don't take commands!”
Kelpie had never been so angry in his entire life. He thought, I detest that boy named Ulysses, and you’re asking me to help him? Don’t make me laugh to death!
“Ulysses would not want anything to interfere with his plans. Therefore, when you compromise with him, you can come up with the right conditions to protect Miss Lydia. It’ll be a wise decision to think it over.”

Ermine then gently swam upstream to the surface and disappeared from Kelpie’s sight.