Hakushaku to Yousei Volume 20 Chapter 3

This was the gem that the fairy brought to her. 

Edgar gazed at it as he rolled the golden stone in his palm. He felt that compared to the nearby oil lamp, looking at the gem placed in a dark place would mysteriously emit a brighter light.

Although it was a zircon, it was no ordinary one.

If they know why the fragment of the gems would be embedded onto the map locket, they might be able to find out the location of Ibrazel as well. 

Although Edgar had the name, Earl of Ibrazel, he wasn’t the descendant of the Blue Knight Earl. In the end, would he be able to reach the territory, which originally belonged to the Earl house?

Apparently, the fairy that brought the zircon to London said that it was recently buried near Mr. Darnley’s cemetery.

Concerning Lydia obtaining the gem and news about the Darnley family, as well as the information concerning the Blue Knight Earl, Edgar had just heard about it from Paul, and now he was pondering about it by himself. 

He and Lydia began with different clues and arrived at the same place in the end. The two should have helped each other. It was a mistake telling her to go back.

He would have thought that if he were more calm, but this didn’t mean that the unease he felt about Lydia being possibly s.n.a.t.c.hed away, disappear.

He didn’t expect that the surname, McKeel, which he hadn’t heard in a long time, would make him feel so terrified. Furthermore, it was just a name and they weren’t here anymore, but as long as Lydia stayed in the same place where the McKeel clan left their marks, he would feel uneasy.

Despite Edgar believing that the Prince was the most dangerous enemy, compared to that organization, he didn’t want the McKeel clan to approach Lydia even more.

For him, the days when he was separated from Lydia were unbearable, and so he didn’t want to experience it again.

Nevertheless, perhaps pretending to be strangers wasn’t too unusual. 

Lydia, who was lying on the bed, was dozing. In order to not to make her feel unwell, Edgar loosened her clothes and untied her hair. She made him restless this way, and he barely managed to s.h.i.+ft his attention away from her body.

“If I was by Lydia’s side, then it would be impossible to not know that she was drunk. It would have been better to say that she was my wife from the start.”

Even at the dining hall, it wasn’t until Paul and Lydia stood up that Edgar realised she was unwell.

At the time, he was concentrating on the conversations of the people around him, because the people that knew of Darnley while he was alive were attending this banquet.

It was Mr. Coen, a member of the club whom he heard about from Mr. Beck.

He was one of the few friends that Mr. Darnley still had contact with up until his later years. He was a gentleman that was full of character. As he mourned about his deceased friend, he recalled memories with the owner of the mansion. According to him, Mr. Darnley didn’t have a granddaughter.

Although he had a daughter, she pa.s.sed away and didn’t marry.

This point was unanimous with what Lydia heard. 

A few years ago, Mr. Darnley seemed to begin hate dealing with people, so Mr. Coen seemed to drift apart from him slightly.

Even so, when he heard that Mr. Darnley was about to pa.s.s away, he still came to visit. At the same time, Mr. Darnley spoke in a way that it seemed like he was waiting for someone.

What he said was: “Has the Earl still not come?”

Edgar thought that perhaps he was referring to the Blue Knight Earl. According to Lydia, this land hasn’t seen the moon rise for six years. Before, when the moon didn’t appear, it seemed that a n.o.ble who might have been the Blue Knight Earl came and solved the issue. Perhaps this was what Mr. Darnley was talking about.

However, would the moon not rising be an inconvenient matter for him?

Although the power of the Unseelie Courts will strengthen, humans who couldn’t see these kinds of things wouldn’t really feel a sense of crisis.

What was Mr. Darnley waiting for? And why was he waiting?

The rumours of the ghost granddaughter, the incredible zircon, the disappearance of the moon, and the Blue Knight Earl, was this all connected together? 

“Raven, what about the mansion’s attendants? Have you heard anything?”

He asked Raven, who returned to the room.

“They served Mr. Darnley previously, and the attendants who still remain are the Wood couple, who were the most experienced. The other attendants were hired only for today’s banquet. The old couple denied the the existence of Darnley’s granddaughter as well as the ghost, merely having said that they did not know anything.”

“Do you think that they’re hiding something?”

“Yes.”

Raven answered unhesitantly.

“I see. Apparently that’s the loyalty to their former employers.”

At any rate, this place should have secrets.

Furthermore, Edgar understood that trying to keep Lydia away from this place was simply meaningless. Although he still wants to do that, Lydia won’t return. 

They should cooperate and solve the mystery. 

Was Lydia still angry at Edgar’s behaviour from before?

But Edgar thought that it was a trivial matter and so reconciling with her wouldn’t be difficult.

The two of them were a married couple, and he felt that they were part of each other, so although Lydia felt a disharmony between them, Edgar was slow to realize this. 

                                                                                                                                                 *

The clock hand pointed to twelve o’clock, and Lydia was wondering why Edgar hadn’t returned, whilst sitting on the bed, waiting in a dark room.

The door finally opened as Edgar’s figure appeared.

“Welcome home.”

Lydia smiled and greeted him, but Edgar stood at the doorway, revealing a surprised expression.

“Why are you here?”

What did he mean, why? 

“Um.......aren’t we married?”

“You’re saying something amusing.”

He snickered while approaching Lydia.

“But I don’t remember marrying you.”

Lydia was distressed.

Not again.

Just when Edgar denied that Lydia was his relative, she was shocked and she felt a pain in her chest.

Why would he say something so hurtful?

As soon as she felt that she couldn’t understand him, Lydia became frightened. 

Lydia tried to stand up.

I’m just having a nightmare. I must wake up immediately.

“I will go b-”

“You don’t need to go back.”

Her shoulders were held down and her body fell onto the bed. Edgar pressed against Lydia’s spread out hair as he looked down on her from above.

“Bu, but......we aren’t married.”

“Instead of marriage, it’s best to consider you my lover.”

What does that mean? Do you consider me as your plaything?

“I’m quite clear of your feelings. I don’t think it’s bad.”

Don’t think it’s bad? What did he mean?

Lydia felt very sad.

No, this isn’t the usual Edgar.

“That’s right, I am not Edgar.”

What?

He smiled coldly.

“The name of that man is dead. He no longer exists.”

No way… that can’t be...

“No! Give it back to me…… my most important…...”

Lydia was suddenly woken up by her own loud voice as she opened her eyes.

The light of the oil lamp penetrated her eyes. No, it was the blonde hair that shone brighter than the light.

“Lydia, how are you? Were you dreaming?”

It was Edgar. Although Lydia slowly understood that the situation just then was a dream, her mind was still wandering, and felt at a loss.

Raven handed her a decorated gla.s.s with water. Lydia got up with the help of Edgar, as she held the cup with both hands.

As the cold liquid flowed past her throat, Lydia’s consciousness was finally clear as she looked at Edgar, who was in front of her.

He blinked worryingly, then smiled gently.

“It’s okay now, you don’t have to be afraid.”

He’s really…… Edgar, right?

“Why am I…… what is this place?”

“This is my room. You drank too much and you didn’t feel well. So I brought you here.” 

She remembered that Paul was supposed to take her back to her room, and Edgar appeared at that time.

“You spoke of wis.h.i.+ng that your most important thing was returned to you?”

The dream that Lydia had still lingered in her mind, so she couldn’t help but blush as she looked down and pushed the gla.s.s into his hands.

Although she still hadn’t fully recovered from her drunken state, her mind was already slightly sober.

Edgar undoubtedly wanted her to go home, but she stubbornly stayed behind and acted disrespectfully.

After recalling many things, she fell into a strong sense of self-disgust.

“........Sorry, I’ve caused you trouble.”

He shook his head with a brief lonesome expression.

“I have to return to my own room.”

“It’s best that you rest here for tonight.”

Lydia looked up at him, wondering what what he was talking about.

“I can’t.......do such a thing now, right? Because I am currently Mr. Paul’s sister.” 

“You don’t have to perform that kind of act again.”

“But this is my ident.i.ty here. Explaining that it was lie now, and then I go and rest in your room? That is quite strange, isn’t it?”

Even if Lydia was unversed in the affairs of life, she was doubtful about this. Who would believe that she was actually married to Edgar? People would definitely be suspicious.

“That is correct, but this is common so people will pretend to not see it.”

Common? Lydia pondered over this with all her might, with her head practically in chaos.

“......Do you often let your friend’s sister sleep in your own room?!”

Lydia couldn’t help but cry out, as she remembered Edgar from the dream, so her thoughts started to confuse her.

“No, not me, I meant talking in general about society.”

“Society? Weren’t you planning to have me stay here tonight? And yet we’re not married!”

“What? Hold on, we’re already married.”

Yes…… but…… 

“No one will believe that. Won’t they regard me as an indecent lady?”

“That isn’t true, nor it is something that should be concerned about, right? Moreover, I think everyone has already misunderstood, because I had taken you, who was drunk, away from Paul’s side, took you away from the dining hall, and did not come back.”

“How could this be......”

Lydia felt dizzy because the effect of alcohol still hadn’t worn off, or was it because of Edgar’s casual att.i.tude?

“Starting from tomorrow, everybody will give me the cold shoulder.......I can’t get married.”

“Lydia, are you still drunk?”

Edgar stared at Lydia, who covered her face with both hands. He gently moved Lydia’s hands apart and used his finger to raise her chin up.

“Listen, Paul’s sister doesn’t exist. You are the Lady of Earl Ashenbert, and we are a married couple not only in name, but in reality as well, so no matter who misunderstands, it won’t make a difference. Our relations.h.i.+p in London is a well-known fact, so there won’t be any strange rumours appearing.”

However, she didn’t want to do something so inappropriate. 

Edgar suddenly telling her to go home, suddenly pretending to be strangers, then suddenly wanting her to sleep here.

She didn’t understand what Edgar was thinking.

“No, I’m going to return.” 

Just as she was about to stand up, Edgar grabbed her hand.

“Lydia, please don’t be selfish.”

Was this selfish? Lydia was surprised.

“Even if there’s something you’re discontent with, you don’t have to refuse me with a displeased att.i.tude.”

Refuse? What did I refuse?

“It was you who pretended to be a stranger first, and now you’re forcing me to act the unbearable role of a respectable woman?”

“Then do you want me to suffer?”

Although their conversation was already out of focus, she knew that Edgar was feeling quite irritated now.

Because Lydia refused him, he was angry.

Edgar pulled Lydia’s hand slightly roughly, and her body immediately fell onto the bed, then he pressed down on her in a suppressive-like manner.

Lydia was unable to move, and the atmosphere felt different from usual. On top of that, she sensed Raven leaving the room, and so she suddenly became tense.

“We haven’t been like this for so long.”

If it had to be said like this, Lydia recently had always spent the night alone waiting for him.

However, what Lydia minded wasn’t this. She didn’t mean reject him because she was displeased with him. 

“Umm, Edgar…… please stop this.”

“Why?”

“......I am not in the mood…...”

“I will get you in the mood right away.”

The more she resisted, the more force he would use. Lydia merely felt anxious at his att.i.tude, and so she was afraid.

“Hey…… if you’re doing this to tease me, then please stop.”

“Considering this as a punishment can really provoke my desires as well.”

Was this a punishment?

Was it because Lydia was an incompetent wife who would always resist?

Usually at moments like this she had always felt cherished, however was Edgar going to do something different this time?

“No…… let me go!”

She raised her hand and hit Edgar’s face, creating a slapping sound.

Lydia still wasn’t sober, but she found a way to break free of Edgar’s hold. This was because Edgar truly didn’t want to force her, but she found that out without any extra effort.

Lydia desperately escaped as she rushed towards the door.

“Are planning on going out to the corridor with that appearance?”

Hearing him say that, Lydia woke up.

The b.u.t.tons on her dress weren’t fastened.

“We should both calm down for a while.”

But Lydia couldn’t stop trembling. She found it difficult to breathe, and her body was stiff, as if she felt her dream continuing on.

Edgar only wanted to come close to her, but her heart couldn’t stop.

I want to get out of here. Lydia thought, confused. She put her hand on the door lock, not minding her clothing at all. 

Lydia’s reaction made Edgar surprised to the point of stopping. At that moment, he nervously called out to Lydia to wait.

“I will leave this place…… I am not going to do anything, so fix up your clothes, and……” 

He stopped halfway, recklessly grabbing his hair and looking away from Lydia. Soon after, he disappeared through the dressing room’s door.

                                                                                                                                                 *

Lydia was unable to sleep as she was tossing and turning in bed.

The darkness surrounded the moonless night, thus even if one were to open open their eyes widely, their surroundings nearly couldn’t be seen. Only the direction of the window’s square frame roughly came into view. 

She could see another item, which was a small golden object in the middle of the room.

Was it the crystal on the table that was radiating from inside the bag?

Lydia came down from her bed, watching for obstacles while approaching the table. She reached into the opening of the bag and took out the crystal.

They gem suddenly became very bright as it was taken out of the bag.

It seemed that it definitely wasn’t the gem itself that was producing the light, but the surroundings became bright, and the objects all around could be seen clearly. Could it be because the light possessed magic that it was like this?

Just when Lydia felt at ease from obtaining the light, a small voice came from somewhere.

She thought that it was Nico talking in his sleep, and so she turned her head around.

With the light, Nico could be seen snoring on the chair that was near the window. That happy sleeping face was simply to be envious of. 

When Nico informed Lota that Lydia was going to be staying at this mansion, Lota was in the middle of chatting enthusiastically with the curate’s family, and said that she was going to stay there.

Lydia intended to head over to where Lota was after daybreak and head back together.

However, by doing that, she couldn’t investigate the zircon. Lydia sighed as she was unable to decide what she must do. 

At that moment, she heard a faint voice again.

It was a subtle sound that was similar to a girl sobbing.

A ghost? It can’t be.

Lydia remembered the rumours about the ghost, who was said to be Mr. Darnley’s granddaughter. It was the moment when the moon disappeared six years ago that the rumors began to spread.

I have to go and check.

She put on her robe and gently opened the door, and the sound of it could clearly be heard. 

The corridor was dark, but as long as she had the golden zircon, she could still move around even without an oil lamp. 

In this way, she set foot into the corridor and quietly headed towards the direction of the sound.

The sound gradually came closer; it still sounded like sobbing, and it seemed that there was no sign of it stopping.

In the end, Lydia came to the end of the corridor, and the sound seemed to be coming from the other side of the door.

She placed her ear against the door, and discovered that the source of the sound ought to be here.

Lydia worried a little, then knocked on the door.

There wasn’t any response coming from inside, and the sound of sobbing continued to spread, as if they didn’t hear the knock on the door.

She gently opened the door and looked into the room.

Lydia saw something like a shadow of a figure that was moving and she almost screamed, but as soon as she realized what it was, she sighed.

It was only her appearance in the mirror.

She was then taken aback, because the room was full of with mirrors.

Lydia looked around the room, and the closely arranged mirrors all over the walls reflected her figure.

This placed seemed to be a girl’s room, but the excessive amount of mirrors was really unusual.

“......There shouldn’t be anyone….. here, right?”

She looked around the room and realised that the sobbing had already stopped.

“Could it be that it wasn’t this room?”

It was when Lydia was going to turn back. 

“Who is it?”

There was a sound that made her turn around. 

“You can hear me?”

Surprised, Lydia looked around the room again, but there was no one in front of her.

“A gho......ghost?”

“I am not a ghost, but I can’t get out of here.”

She clearly heard the sound in the room.

“Where are you?”

“Over here.”

Lydia walked around slowly as she followed the sound

“Over this way.”

Lydia felt that the voice was nearby and so she stopped, however, there was only a large full length mirror in front of her.

By reaching out and touching the mirror, she could see herself doing the same action. It was Lydia, with unraveled dark reddish brown hair and who merely wore a nightgown over her undergarments.

As she slightly moved her eyes, she found that the mirror reflected another figure apart from her own, and couldn’t help but gasp.

The mirror reflected a girl with a gray dress and orange hair cascading down to her chest.

Lydia quickly checked behind, but there was no one, and yet there was a figure in the mirror.

“......Are you...... in the mirror?”

The girl nodded.

“......Are you Mr. Darnley’s granddaughter?”

The girl looked about fourteen to fifteen years old; if she was the child who supposedly appeared at the cemetery with Mr. Darnley, then she would more or less be at this age.

“Yes...... My name is Phyllis.” 

So Mr. Darnley’s granddaughter really did exist.

Although she probably wasn’t a ghost, Lydia didn’t expect her to actually be in the mirror.

“Umm, why are you in there? You can’t get out?”

She nodded again and suddenly tears fell from her eyes and onto her cheeks.

“Grandfather already pa.s.sed away, but I still can’t get out... I felt broken-hearted at the thought that no one would find me here.”

“Please don’t cry, I have found you.”

Perhaps because she saw hope in these words, she lifted her face and wiped off her tears.

“......However, no one could let me leave to this day. Whether it was a psychic or a magician, they all desperately tried to undo the mirror’s secret trick, and although grandfather spoke to me in front of the mirror every day, he couldn’t hear my voice.”

It seemed that no matter who it was, they could see her in the mirror. Due to this, she was regarded as a ghost. 

“I am a fairy doctor. If you are staying in there because of fairy magic, then I may be able to do something about this.”

“Fairy doctor?”

“I’m Lydia, a fairy specialist. Have you seen fairies on your side?”

Phyllis looked around the room timidly.

“I can’t see it now...... there are a lot of ugly fairies on this side that do bad things. I think they were the ones that made my voice not come out.”

The moonless night continued on, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the Unseelie Courts were acting up.

“Listen Phyllis, you won’t be forgotten anymore. So rest a.s.sured…...”

“Lydia, watch out!, it’s a fairy---”

As Phyllis began to speak, Lydia felt a strong push behind her. In front of her were mirrors, so if she crashed head first, the shattered gla.s.s would surely cause her to be injured all over. 

While she thought that at that instant, she didn’t feel the impact and was plunged into darkness.

[Please read this chapter at hakushakutoyousei.weebly.com]

That’s a mean bogey-beast.

Lydia felt that she saw a glimpse of a hairy back with red pointed ears just before it lost consciousness. 

It was possible that it knew Lydia, who had spoken with Phyllis, was a fairy doctor and had come and attacked her. 

Overall, Lydia felt that that the fairy didn’t want Phyllis to come out of the mirror, and moreover, prevented people from hearing her voice.

But why? If Phyllis was unable to return to the real world, then what would the bogey beast gain from this?

Or was it just an ordinary prank?

My head hurts again.

Lydia felt the morning sun and came to her senses. 

That’s right, she remembered that she fainted in a room full of mirrors, and from then on, had morning come after?

She got up in a panic and found that she had been properly sleeping on the bed. This was Lydia’s guest room and it was strange that nothing was recently changed at all.

“Who sent me here? Nico, do you know something?”

She turned to the chair that Nico should be sitting on, and there was no sign of the grey cat. Although it was still early for breakfast, where did he go?

That’s right, I must inform Edgar of Phyllis  Lydia thought that and hurriedly got dressed. 

But she suddenly felt uneasy.

Although things were bad between her and Edgar, what sort of expression should be have when she sees him?

Pretend that nothing happened yesterday? Or should I apologize to him?

I wonder if Edgar’s still angry. 

It was because their opinions were slightly different, but Lydia believed that as long as she could talk to him then he would understand, and the two would be able to reconcile.

However would the relations.h.i.+p between them stay intact? At the thought of this, Lydia immediately began to worry.

Last night where she felt afraid, she felt as if the love she couldn’t feel from him was forced on her; it was like smouldering fire remains. 

Lydia firmly shook her head.

No, I was drunk last night and wasn’t my usual self. She was afraid because of her heightened sensitivity. 

In the end, Edgar relaxed his strength. 

If she saw his face, then her mood should disappear. There was no mistaking that when her gaze naturally met his, then she would want to tenderly embrace him. 

I have to apologize for slapping him.

Lydia made up her mind and stood up.

Although she headed towards Edgar’s room, the mansion was silent.

Was everyone still asleep? Even so, it was already completely bright outside.

Regardless of the guests for the time being, the servants had already begun working. Even if she couldn’t see human shadows, she should be able to sense that people were there, however she couldn’t even feel their presence. 

Finally, she arrived before Edgar’s door without encountering a single person.

Although she knocked on the door, there was no sign of Raven coming out, nor was there a response coming from the room.

Lydia gently opened the door and had a peek inside, but there was no one in the waiting room.

“Raven, is Edgar there? Is he still sleeping?”

She called out, but the door leading to the dressing room and the door to the bedroom didn’t make a sound. 

Lydia wanted to open the bedroom door, but she was slightly hesitant. She believed that it was quite disgraceful to peek into a man’s private room, yet this thought shocked her.

In the end, how long do I plan on maintaining the mentality before marriage?

Although they were newly wedded, they should be used to living as a married couple. Perhaps to this day, Lydia was unable to break away from the mood of an unmarried girl, and because of that, she had a stubborn att.i.tude yesterday.

The things that Edgar wished to have as well as the intimacy between them, to Lydia, wasn’t part of her daily life, but rather something special, and so she needed mentally prepare herself. In spite of this, as long as Edgar was willing to be gentle, then she could feel at ease and give herself to him. It’s just that his att.i.tude was different from usual, and so Lydia didn’t know how to react.

However, the reason why Lydia bore a defensive heart regarding everything was probably because she lacked the awareness of a married woman.

“Edgar, are you there? I’m coming in.”

She called out as she opened the door, but Edgar wasn’t inside and she blankly stood still.

Because the room practically had no signs of it being used.

Not only did the bed have no sheets, even the tables and chairs were covered with dust cloths. No matter how you looked at it, this was a guest room that hadn’t been used in a long time.

Did she walk into the wrong room? Lydia hurried back into the corridor and checked the neighboring room, but that room wasn’t used either.

She thought calmly, but she didn’t think that she went into the wrong room.

“What’s going on? Did Edgar go back last night? And then the room was cleaned up immediately…...”

This was impossible, because other rooms were completely empty. Neither was it possible for a large number of guests to go home all at once. 

Her last hope was only Paul, but after the examining the room, the situation was the same.

There was no one in this room, not even Nico.

Lydia was probably the only one in this s.p.a.cious mansion.

What am I going to do?

She took a deep breath and tried to calm down her feelings of panic that was about to grow. 

How did this all happen? She thought calmly.

“That’s right, what about Phyllis?”

She turned around and tried to go to the room full of mirrors, but then….

“Lydia, you were here.....”

Phyllis appeared before her eyes. Soft orange hair, a slender figure with the same grey dress that she wore yesterday. She looked at Lydia with a relieved face. Finally, Lydia found someone, but instead of looking happy, she looked surprised.

“You weren’t in your room, so I looked for you for quite a while. Are you hungry? Did you want some breakfast?”

Perhaps she had been wis.h.i.+ng for someone to accompany her, so she revealed a shy and hesitant att.i.tude, then decided hold Lydia’s hand.

“You came out of the mirror....”

Lydia began to speak whilst slowly understanding that wasn’t the case. Phyllis didn’t come out of the mirror, but rather she ran into the mirror.

“I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I was talking to you, so that horrible red-eared fairy made eye contact with you.”

Lydia did see that red-eared beast. Could it be that Lydia was pushed into the mirror by that bogey beast?

In short, she and Phyllis were now in the same situation.

Things have become troublesome.

Although she thought this, Lydia tried her best to calm down.

If she panicked, it might make Phyllis uneasy.

“No, it’s not your fault. Let’s go and have breakfast.”

Lydia started walking alongside Phyllis, who lowered her eyes and nodded. She brought Lydia into the room that was full of mirrors, perhaps because this was her room.

Somehow, there was food prepared on the table.

The food was obviously not only for one person, even so much that two people couldn’t finish it.

“Everyday, Lady Wood will prepare meals on the other side of the mirror, and she would put the food on the table and let the mirror reflect the food.” 

As it turns out, the things of the real world reflected in the mirror will also exist on this side.

However, this didn’t seem to be the case for living beings like humans, or things that moved. 

“But there’s a lot of food.”

“Because she doesn’t know how many people are here.”

“Will the amount of food be reduced over there when it is eaten?”

“That doesn’t seem to be the case. The food reflected by the mirror doesn’t decrease.”

Perhaps they would eat something like the soul of the food; that is, the essence.* 

Fairies would occasionally steal the nutrients from the food. It was said that foods such as bread or cheese whose nutrients were stolen by fairies would be like eating something tasteless and innutritious.

Additionally, Lydia definitely only had her consciousness, without her body here on this side of the mirror.  

As if proving this point, the surrounding mirrors didn’t reflect her figure.

“From here, what you see is the real world on the other side of the mirror.”

Phyllis told her. 

Lydia kept pondering. 

Most likely, the current Lydia’s consciousness was thrown into the mirror, and so what happened to her body in the real world?

At least Lydia’s body couldn’t be seen on the other side of the mirrors that were crammed all over the walls. 

Before, why was Lydia sleeping on the bed in her own room?

“Hey Phyllis, I collapsed here last night, correct?”

“Yes, it was Owl who sent you to your room.”

“Owl?”

“He is a person of this world, but he only appears at night. Because the bad fairies are afraid of him, he will patrol this mansion, but he can’t attend to each room either, so the fairies will do bad things behind his back. Although Owl doesn’t really seem to like me, he helps me occasionally so that the fairies won’t bully me.” 

“That person probably isn’t human, right? Is he a fairy?”

Phyllis shook her head, as she was unsure.

According to what Phyllis said, he probably wasn’t a bad person, but was he actually a spirit?

“Why did he help you?”

As long as Lydia looked Phyllis straight in the eye, she would look away, but she still tried to answer Lydia’s question.

“That is because of Luna, who went missing. Luna is his lover and I am Luna’s friend......”

“Where is Luna?”

“I don’t know.....If Luna comes back, we should be able to get out of here, that is what Owl said. But Owl believes that her disappearance is my fault.”

The disappearance of Luna; that is, the disappearance of the moon.

Regarding the legend pa.s.sed down in this region of the moon having already died, perhaps Owl’s lover is the key to that legend.

“Did Luna disappear six years ago?” 

“Yes, after I came here, Luna disappeared.”

If the moon didn’t appear after that, then Luna should be with a fairy that is a.s.sociated with the moon.

If the rumours of the ghost was Phyllis, then the reason for two things happening at the same time could be understood.

“That being said, Phyllis……you’ve been here for six years?”

She ate alone and could only meet with her grandfather separated by a mirror, spending countless dark nights with the bogey beast’s devious behaviour.

Moreover, this kind of day began since her childhood.

Phyllis lifted her gaze and looked at Lydia, suddenly bursting into tears.

“......At first, I thought the people who could understand me would never appear again…...”

Grandfather died, the mansion was pa.s.sed onto others, and the a.s.sets were being sold off. No one could imagine how hopeless she must have felt from the situation. 

Lydia hugged Phyllis, and said to herself that she would definitely rescue Phyllis. 

“It will be alright. Something that can’t be done alone can perhaps be accomplished if two people are together.”

That’s right, as long as two people are together. She and Edgar will also become an irreplaceable existence in each other’s heart.

Although the situation became unpleasant, she was already married to him and possessed a true bond; this really strengthened Lydia’s heart considerably. 

Even if they were separated by two places, Lydia wasn’t alone. Although she quarreled with him before...... it would surely be alright.

Edgar will definitely wait for her to return.

“Two people together? Are you saying that we should work together to think of a way to get out of here?”

Had Phyllis never tried to do anything on her own before? She looked up at Lydia, surprised.

“Yes, we need to think of a way to bring Luna back.  Do you have any clues about getting out of this place? Anything is fine, I hope that you can tell me.”

Nevertheless, Phyllis immediately gave Lydia a trusting look, nodded and began to think seriously.

“Grandfather and the Wood couple would speak to me on the other side of the mirror, and Grandfather would often say that if the Earl comes here I will be saved…”

“The Earl?”

“I read a book in the past. The feudal lord of the fairy land, known as the Blue Knight Earl, was quite successful in the book.”

“The Earl you’re referring to is the Blue Knight Earl, correct?”

“This region’s legend had also appeared in the past before. In the past, when the moon wasn’t hanging in the sky, there was a n.o.ble wielding a blue sword that appeared by Baron Rochester’s side, who lived in this mansion, and resolved the matter. Grandfather said that the n.o.ble was the Blue Knight Earl.”

This was the same tale as the farmer told her.

After that, Baron Rochester established a deep friends.h.i.+p with the Blue Knight Earl. Grandfather encouraged me, saying that if anything happens to this land, the Earl would definitely come. However, that is an Earl from fairy tales.”

“That isn’t a fairy tale, a n.o.ble that possesses the name of the Blue Knight Earl truly exists.”

However, Lydia couldn’t say that she was the Countess of the Blue Knight Earl, as he was different from the former one. Although the rank of Earl was of real value in England, she couldn’t be certain that he was the feudal lord of the fairy land.

If they were a member of the Earl family, then they should be able to solve the mystery of the dead moon and the mirror.

“Really? The Earl of the fairy kingdom really exists?”

“Yes.”

Even so, Lydia still replied in this way, as she will definitely make Edgar become the true Earl.

“However, the Earl did not come, and Grandfather waited for a long time.”

Mr. Darnley died two years ago, and it was slightly before Edgar obtained the t.i.tle of Earl. If he could have lived a little longer, he would have known that the Earl of Ibrazel appeared in London, and would probably come and discuss about this with him.

Which means, Lydia might have arrived here a bit earlier after some struggle. 

Even if this wouldn’t necessarily get Phyllis out earlier, as long as the people who knew of her existence increased, then they might be able to relieve her loneliness and anxiety.

“There must be a reason for him not having arrived.”

“Is that so? The Rochester family no longer exists, and although Grandfather is a distant relative of the Baron’s family, there seems to be no blood relation, and the Earl is a person who has nothing to do with us.”

So ultimately, Diana didn’t come here?  She didn’t hear anything similar coming out of Phyllis’ mouth.

However, Lydia possessed the zircon, and even if Diana hasn’t visited this place, the zircon was decorated on the locket of the Earl family’s map, which meant that this place must have some connection with the land and Mr. Darnley.

Moreover, as long as Lydia encountered something that had to do with fairies, she would do her utmost within her range of abilities to help.

“You see Phyllis, the Blue Knight Earl still takes everything into consideration, he wishes that humans and fairies could coexist like neighbours, and hopes that neither side encounters misfortune because of the other.”

Lydia’s wishes were probably the same as the duties that Edgar bore as the Blue Knight Earl.

                                                                                                                                                 *

In the middle of the night, Nico discovered that Lydia wasn't in her bed. It seemed that he was dreaming about eating a huge fish, as a result he fell from his chair and woke up.

At that time, he heard the sound of a bogey beast running down the corridor and found it suspicious, so he tracked down its footprints. As a result, he found Lydia collapsed in the room full of mirrors.

After Nico called for Raven, Raven immediately informed Edgar. 

Edgar rushed over, carried Lydia to her room, and made her sleep on her bed.

Although she wasn’t injured and seemed to be asleep, there weren’t any signs of her waking up.

Nico said that it was likely the bogey beast’s doing. If this was a fairy’s small prank, then the magic should disappear at dawn.

Although Edgar was really worried, he still entrusted Lydia to Nico and decided to wait until the morning.

After the sun finally rose, Edgar first went into Paul’s room and pulled him up from his bed.

“Earl.....what’s going on?”

Paul rubbed his eyes, as Raven forcibly took off his pajamas and put on his s.h.i.+rt.

“I want to go into Lydia’s room.”

“......In that case, it doesn’t matter whether I go or not…...”

“What are you saying? You’re Lydia’s brother. It’ll be a problem if I intrude when her brother isn’t there.”

“Hah? But last night you took her into her room when she was drunk.”

It was because of this that Lydia was angry at him, so Edgar thought that before visiting in the morning, he shouldn’t lose his gentlemanly air.

“Anyhow, please come with me.”

Edgar seemed to be at his wits end, so even if Paul didn’t understand the situation, he nodded seriously and replied: “I understand.”

When Edgar brought Paul, who was hastily dressed, to visit Lydia’s room, she was already fully dressed and sitting down on her chair, looking over.

“Good morning, Lydia.”

Edgar walked over to her side and knelt down, then took her hands and kissed her fingertips.

“I am truly sorry for yesterday. I will abide by the standards of etiquette during our stay here, I a.s.sure you. Are you willing to forgive me for yesterday?”

“You’ll only follow etiquette here?”

Nico interrupted Edgar, yet Edgar didn’t mind and continued speaking.

“It’s all my fault. How should I put it? I was just confused for a while, and as long as you’re in front of me, there’s no way for me to show restraint, you should understand, right? Uh, you don’t understand? ......That’s right, it’s like placing a deep-fried fish in front of Nico, he wouldn’t be able to restrain himself either.”

“Don’t confuse me with you!”

“But that’s because I love you, if an insignificant woman rejected me, I wouldn’t feel sad at all. You see, that’s why I came to see you after gaining Paul’s permission.”

“h.e.l.lo......good morning, Miss Lydia.”

Although Paul was confused, he still smiled politely.

Lydia slowly raised her head and looked at Edgar. The mysterious pair of gold-green eyes looked straight at him without the least bit of her usual hesitation or embarra.s.sment.

Then, Lydia smiled.

That smiling face calmed Edgar down. His lips approached.

After a gentle touch, he confirmed that Lydia wasn’t going to escape from him while tasting her soft lips.

Until now, Lydia was motionless, seemingly still not used to it, but now, she reacted normally. Even so, she didn’t move her face away, and if Edgar requested it of her, she would gently open her tightly sealed lips.

Such an obedient att.i.tude was rather abnormal. 

Obviously Paul and Raven were there, but she didn’t feel shy, which was quite inconceivable. Of course, Paul looked out the window and Raven looked down.

But she didn't resist it, which wasn’t bad. Edgar thought this to himself.

“I’m glad. You’re not angry at me anymore, right?”

He quietly asked as he held Lydia’s face with both of his hands, and Lydia nodded.

Lydia really attracted affection like this, thus Edgar embraced her tightly.

“Lydia, please let me hear your voice. If you don't speak, it’ll make me worried about whether or not you’re still unhappy.”

“It’s no use. She hasn’t spoken a word since this morning.”

Nico’s words were mixed with a sigh, roughly pulling Edgar out of his happy dream-like mood.

He gently let go of Lydia. Lydia still smiled, as Edgar turned his head towards Nico.

“What do you mean?”

“She smiles happily, and if I call her she will come here. She is dressed up properly, but she doesn’t speak and no matter what you say to her, she won’t get angry.”

“She won’t get angry no matter what is said?”

“Yeah. If you say that she has bedhead or that her face is swollen, she will still smile. Try it.”

In other words, Nico meant to try saying something that would make Lydia angry.

If he really did it and made Lydia angry as a result, then what was he going to do?

“Raven, you try it.”

“......What would you like me to do?”

“Find a way to provoke Lydia.”

Raven stared at Edgar’s face closely, not knowing whether or not this was a sensible request. Even so, Raven didn’t shake his head.

“......I understand.”

After thinking about it for a while, Raven went in front of Lydia and said:

“My lady, my sincerest apologies. I said something a few days ago that wasn’t consistent with the facts. The reason why Lord Edgar returned late was not because he had a meeting with the members of Scarlet Moon, rather it was a woman……”

“Raven! That’s enough!”

Edgar quickly stopped Raven, and as a result, Nico cast him a cold gaze.

“I didn’t do anything shameful. Paul, you know the reason as well, don’t you? Please explain it to him.”

“But Earl, I don’t think that is necessary.”

Paul, who rarely responded calmly, looked at Lydia, who was smiling and wasn’t bothered at all about the details of the conversation.

Edgar also noticed and stared at Lydia’s face again.

“Lydia, what happened to you?......I’m not unfaithful, a friend wanted me to create an opportunity for him to talk to this Italian woman, so I merely helped with mediating it.”

Lydia didn’t say anything as she stared at Edgar with a pleasant smile. Her smile and straight gaze was filled with affection.

Lydia was no longer Lydia.

“Even so, I still haven’t told you the real reason for my late return, so you can get angry at me.”

But even if Edgar frowned, she still continued to smile.

“Nico, did the bogey beast take away Lydia’s soul?”

Nico sighed as he crossed his arms and said:

“No, her soul is still there, because she is awake at the very least and can move.”

“Then why is she like this?”

“She might be ill.”

“Ill!?”

“Because if it isn’t the magic’s influence, then it could be that Lydia is ill or is doing this on purpose.”

“Are you absolutely sure that it has nothing to do with magic?”

“I can’t say for sure. It’s my first time seeing something like this.”

If she was ill, would that mean Lydia’s heart was broken yesterday? To her, the man she ought to trust the most seemed to have humiliated her.

For Edgar, it was merely a follow-up joke. Although things didn’t go according to his plan, he was a little angry, but he merely wanted to embrace Lydia like usual.

However, Lydia was unable to calm down in front of Edgar, so she didn’t understand his bad joke at all. Even now, perhaps the confusion couldn’t be avoided.

Or was she reacting like this out of her own will?

This was practically like protesting against Edgar.

Despite the smiling and not denying his requests, yet not willing to hand herself over to Edgar, this really was an excessively pitiful protest.

Even when faced with intolerable pain, he didn’t know how to react.

He didn’t even know what Lydia wanted, whether it was an apology or a hug.