Hakushaku to Yousei Volume 22 Chapter 2 Part2

Be Careful of Adorable Pets

“Lady Lydia, is what I hear of you keeping fairies true?”

Lydia was being surrounded by three young girls at a party she was invited to.

After her marriage, Lydia had been frequently invited to visit d.u.c.h.ess Masefield’s mansion. d.u.c.h.ess Masefield, who treated Lydia affectionately like her own granddaughter, was a benefactor as she helped with Lydia’s marriage to Edgar, a marriage which had to overcome the differences in their social standing. And so d.u.c.h.ess Masefield was someone whom Lydia treated like family.

This happened when these girls, who were d.u.c.h.ess Masefield’s granddaughters, had come to London to visit. Lydia, who was similar in age to them, was being introduced and asked to befriend them.

The three sisters showered their gazes on Lydia smilingly, while waiting for a reply with immense curiosity. As Lydia was slightly bewildered, the d.u.c.h.ess spoke up.

“Now, now, you girls, Lydia is friends with fairies. So she’s not keeping them as pets. Isn’t that so?”

Lydia said yes while she nodded with a smile.

The magnanimous d.u.c.h.ess was surrounded by many easy-going people who went about things at their own pace, and Lydia could see that the three Roden sisters were of a similar character.

“If so, I’m friends with Rudolf as well.”

The eldest of the three sisters took a tortoise out from her pocket.

“He is adorable isn’t he?”

“Ye- Yes…”

“This child is adorable as well.”

As the second sister said so, she took something out.

“A, a bat…?”

“This too!”

“…Kyaa!”

When she saw what the youngest sister held in her hands, Lydia clung onto the back of the sofa. Because it was a snake.

“Now, now, you keep that away. Lydia’s afraid of snakes.”

The d.u.c.h.ess admonished her coolly.

“Is that so? I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine, please don’t take it to heart.”

“We love small animals. Do you keep any pets? What’s your favourite animal?”

Although she was shocked at the snake, the three sisters were carefree and very amiable towards Lydia.

“Erm… I do have a cat at home…”

Nico will definitely get angry if he heard this. But Lydia couldn’t think of any other animals close to her apart from the fairy cat who had been by her side since she was born.

“A cat! We love cats too!”

“Can we go visit next time?”

“Certainly… But because he dislikes being touched…”

“It is fine, we’ll be careful. We have been scratched many times before because we tried to touch the animals too much.”

“These girls do not know their boundaries. Even my dog doesn’t want to be near them.”

The d.u.c.h.ess chuckled.

“That’s mean Grandmother.”

“We only wanted to be friends.”

Together with the three sisters, Lydia’s surroundings were filled with harmonious laughter. But at the same time, Lydia wondered a little at what they did to the dog.

“They were such broad-minded people.”

In the carriage on their way back, Kelly, Lydia’s lady attendant, voiced out her honest views. Lydia, who had become Lady Ashenbert, had started to be accompanied by Kelly wherever she went.

“That’s why the d.u.c.h.ess does not treat me like an eccentric person.”

Lydia smiled. So did Kelly.

“She’s a wonderful lady. She even gives sweets to a person like me.”

Because she had only been close to fairies, Lydia hadn’t been able to make human friends in the past but recently, she came to have more people with whom she could converse with in a friendly manner.

As she felt elated, she suddenly recalled.

About the lady whom she first became friends with.

I wonder if she is also living happily after she left with her lover.

As she wished that it would definitely be so, Lydia looked out of the window. River Thames was flowing by calmly.

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In the middle of the night when even London had quietened down, moist winds blew at the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park.

As the presence of something moved, it set off waves on the water surface suddenly. At the bottom of the lake, he picked it up by swaying his black mane which was darker than the darkness drifting in the surroundings.

Right now, this lake was his territory up until the edges. Since he had decided it was to be so, he had no intention of allowing any other magical creatures invade.

He stood up unhurriedly from the bottom of the lake.

To him, the jet black kelpie, there was no other creature which could overpower him in water. His territory was his castle, a country that belongs to him alone.

As he kicked off the water in his ascent, he was able to pick up even more clearly the presence of someone walking on the water surface.

Kelpie thought to himself, that it was someone of his own kind.

Although he couldn’t imagine there being a kelpie other than him to appear in a place like London, it appeared to be the case.

Regardless, even if it was his own kind, Kelpie would not allow an intruder in. To begin with, kelpies are a ferocious species for which it was not rare for them to devour one another.

Kelpie jumped onto the water surface while setting off waves, and stood upright. Beneath the dark starless sky, the gaze towards Kelpie which came from the thick reeds, was one of surprise and nervousness.

“This is my territory. Get out at once if you don’t want to be eaten!”

Kelpie threatened firmly. Yet, the shadow which was hidden in the thicket did not stir; instead, Kelpie felt that it had relaxed its nervousness.

“…Brother?”

So said a familiar voice.

The figure revealed itself to Kelpie from the thicket of reeds. It was a beautiful kelpie with a silver coat.

Kelpie was stunned.

“It’s…. you? It’s been a while!”

It was an existence which had been by his side ever since he was born; one which Kelpie felt that he had to protect; one which felt like Kelpie’s own other self. Even though he was a kelpie, he was timid yet gentle in a certain sense, and he wasn’t able to maintain his own territory; it was Kelpie’s younger brother.

“Brother!”

He came galloping over happily. As they stood facing each other on the water surface, they leaned and rubbed their heads against each other like ponies in a carefree manner.

“What’s going on? Didn’t you grow up to become a kelpie who could stand on your own after you set off with your bride? Did you have your dwelling s.n.a.t.c.hed away by someone?”

As his eyes brimmed with tears of nostalgia, the younger brother shook his head.

“I have protected our territory well for Ruth’s sake. Though it’s not as s.p.a.cious as this and it’s on land without kelpies.”

“Then why did you come down over to London?”

“Of course, it’s to meet you Brother. Because I heard that the fairy doctor is over here, so even though I did doubt that you’ll be here I’m glad I came. As I searched through the water bodies, I quickly picked up your presence.”

The younger brother had always been good at locating Kelpie. Kelpie narrowed his eyes as he thought about how his brother hadn’t changed.

“Even so, Brother, you’ve really taken a liking to that fairy doctor girl haven’t you? Yeah, since she’s strong-willed and bold, I had thought she was Brother’s type.”

Kelpie himself had never thought that he’d take a liking to human girls before he met Lydia. He had only witnessed with pity how his brother fell in love with a human. That’s why Kelpie was also surprised that his younger brother had guessed correctly that Lydia was his type.

Although Kelpie had intended to be a proper kelpie unlike his younger brother, from his younger brother’s viewpoint, perhaps he had a similar vibe to him which other kelpies did not.

“Well, I couldn’t be like you. Lydia fell for a hopeless human man and ended up marrying him.”

“Is that so? But aren’t you still here?”

“Because I’m bored.”

The younger brother looked at his brother’s eyes and laughed a little.

“So, you said you came to see me?”

When he asked that, suddenly, his younger brother lowered his eyes anxiously. After some time in which he looked troubled and was restlessly moving his front legs, he made up his mind and spoke up.

“Actually…”

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The morning room of the Ashenbert mansion was where the day begins for the newlyweds.

Although it might only have been the young earl himself who thought that it was a peaceful morning, in any case, it was a morning just like any other in the Ashenbert household.

“Lydia, you were the best last night.”

Flas.h.i.+ng a smile of good humour, the words that came out of the young man with refres.h.i.+ngly good looks were always sudden and unthinkable. Lydia, who was facing him while having her breakfast, nearly dropped her fork.

“Wh-what are you saying, Edgar!”

“You looked great in that dress. You were quite the centre of attention at the theatre.”

“Oh… i-is that so?”

“Of course, without the dress, it’d be …”

“Stop teasing me!”

“You become cold to me when it’s daytime. Even though you were so affectionate during night time.”

“It’s the same! Be it day or night I stay the same!”

“Yes, you’re always direct in your responses, it’s adorable.”

And with that, he took Lydia’s hands without any foreshadowing.

“But I hope you’ll show a little more of your love for me.”

If this person had been aloof, Lydia would probably have the chance to express her affection. But because Edgar would shower her tirelessly with sweet mutterings with no regard for timing or location, Lydia had no choice but to be on the defense.

“Edgar, we’re in the middle of a meal aren’t we?”

“Aren’t meals to be taken while enjoying conversation?”

“That’s…, aren’t there topics which are suitable for meals?”

“For instance?”

“The singer who played Violetta was more beautiful than the rumours said she was.”

“You’re so much more beautiful.”

“… Have you heard Ms Hale’s piano performance before? She’s very skilled.”

“I enjoy your awkward and earnest piano performance more.”

“… I heard that there’s a new store at St James.”

“You are even more.”

“That’s enough.”

Exhausted, Lydia pulled back her hand from Edgar and held up her teacup with both hands so as not to give Edgar any chance.

“I heard that you’ve recently met up with d.u.c.h.ess Masefield’s granddaughters, the Roden sisters? Does it look like you could get along well?”

As he looked enjoyably at Lydia who he had fun teasing, Edgar changed the topic.

“Yes, they were enjoyable people.”

“But I heard that they kept many pets of the kind which ladies would frown upon.”

It seemed that their interest of keeping rare pets was rather well known throughout the upper cla.s.s society.

And because of that, they were turned away by men of marriageable age in the society, which was also the market for marriage partners, but the girls themselves were unperturbed.

“They seem to think that most small animals are adorable.”

“It seems that they had loved animals since they were young, and they had torn it into pieces when the three of them fought over it.”

“Eh?”

“It was a soft toy.”

“…seriously, don’t scare me.”

Lydia set the teacup which she nearly spilled over down on the table. It might be good to ask Nico to hide if she were to invite the girls over.

As she thought of that, Lydia looked towards the empty seat.

“Come to think of it, I wonder what happened to Nico. To think that he’d be late for breakfast.”

Then, it happened. Just as she thought she heard a pathetic voice resonate through their surroundings, a grey coloured cat ran into the morning room.

“Lydi-, help me.”

Nico came towards the breakfast table as he ran on two legs while pressing a top hat against his head. Nico leaped onto the chair which Raven, who was waiting on the table, had pulled for him.

“Nico, what’s wrong?”

“Urgh seriously, what do I do about this…. To think that things turned out this way.”

Nico, who stood on the chair, fl.u.s.tered, was a fairy taking the form of a cat, as well as the partner of Lydia, a fairy doctor.

For Nico who was greedy over food to not pay any attention to the breakfast laid out on the table, was a sign that things were serious.

“So what’s wrong?”

Even Edgar was paying attention to Nico.

“Can you promise not to laugh?”

As he looked at Nico who looked serious, Edgar suddenly laughed.

“Hahaha, this is amusing; a cat standing on his hind legs is talking.”

“Edgar, don’t joke around.”

“But isn’t Nico himself a laughable existence? Yet he’s actually asking us not to laugh. I’d think we’d definitely be able to laugh.”

Instead Edgar was looking at Nico excitedly in antic.i.p.ation of being able to see something interesting.

Nico slumped onto the chair and hung his head low, depressed.

“Nico, I… won’t laugh. What exactly is the problem? Your whiskers are there and your coat is beautiful.”

Nico’s long fur, which was brushed properly every day, was glossy like oxidized silver, while his necktie which was a sign of his personal grooming as a gentleman was also tied neatly. His whiskers which was his pride was also trimmed thoroughly, and his silk hat was also sparkling.

Throwing a glance at Edgar who was smirking, Nico sighed. As he reached out his hands towards his top hat in a resigned manner, he lifted his hat up gently.

Shocked, Lydia held her breath instead of laughing.

“That’s it? It’s not like you became bald.”

Perhaps it was because it was not what he was expecting, Edgar did not laugh either.

The stifled laughter they thought they heard came from a different direction. In that direction, stood the ever-emotionless Raven.

“Raven, did you laugh?”

The brown skinned follower shook his head vigorously at Edgar’s question.

“No, I did not laugh. I… only thought that Mr Nico is liked by a variety of things…”

“Raven, I understand, that you’re different from the Earl and you don’t treat me like a fool.”

Although he said that, Nico was increasingly depressed.

“That’s not true Nico, even I have never treated you like a fool. Rather than that, what’s that egg-like thing?”

That’s right. It was something egg-like which was resting on Nico’s head.

“It’s somewhat an eerie egg.”

Though the surface was deep black, the egg was covered by blood-red downy hair.

They have never seen such a thing before, but its shape was exactly like an egg. It was one size larger than a chicken’s egg.

As they pointed at it, Nico dropped his shoulders and his eyes teared.

“Yesterday, I had a party with the small fairies in the courtyard and fell asleep there; when I woke up I became like this.”

“So, you can’t get it off?”

Edgar grabbed hold of the egg and tried to pick it up.

“It hurts!!! Stop that!”

Nico, who struggled and ran away from Edgar’s hands, stroked his head with tearful eyes.

“Hmmm, so it’s integrated with you like a parasitic plant. Will it absorb nutrients from you to grow?”

“Ehh! Does this mean that I’ll be this thing’s prey?”

“Edgar, don’t say irresponsible things. We won’t know what it is until we look into it properly.”

As Lydia stood up, she bent down towards Nico who looked pitiful.

When she reached out to gently touch the egg on Nico’s head, she was surprised to find that it didn’t have a hard sh.e.l.l but it felt warm and soft like a living thing.

Then, it suddenly rolled and fell onto Lydia’s hands.

Just as she thought that it came off of Nico’s head easily, Lydia felt that she was dragged into a slumber and collapsed.

Picture

Please read at Daydream Translations

It appeared that Lydia was simply sleeping. After he carried her onto the bed, Edgar looked at the egg she was holding on to and frowned.

“What exactly is this?”

Although Edgar held the t.i.tle of the Earl of Ibrazel, he did not have the ability to relate to fairies. Because Lydia was the one who handled all fairy-related matters as the fairy doctor of the family, if something like this happens to her, they had no means of dealing with fairy-related matters.

Although Edgar could imagine that what had happened to Lydia was a phenomenon caused by fairy magic, there was nothing he could do.

“I wonder if this time it’s stuck to the Lady’s hand.”

 Kelly also peered in worryingly.

Edgar, who was seated on the bed, stroked Lydia’s cheeks gently, as Lydia had a surprisingly serene smile on her face.

“No, it doesn’t seem like it’s stuck to her hand. But Lydia is holding on to it tightly and wouldn’t let go.”

“Regardless, I think it’s best to throw it away. Nothing good comes out from getting entangled with fairies.”

Even though Nico himself was a fairy, he said that seriously with his arms folded.

“I guess you’re right.”

Once Lydia wakes up, she’ll probably say that that’s what they ought to do. Although Edgar thought so optimistically, at that moment, Lydia woke up with her eyes wide open.

“Lydia, are you awake?”

“… No, you can’t throw it away!”

As she got up in a hurry, she embraced the egg dearly. On top of that, she glared at Edgar as if he were someone she needed to take revenge on for her parents.

Being glared at by his dearest wife in that manner, Edgar faltered.

“What’s wrong Lydia? Calm down.”

Although he tried to pacify her, Lydia only furrowed her brows deeper.

“You two were just discussing about throwing this egg away weren’t you?”

“Because that egg may be something dangerous.”

“That can’t be. That’s why I will raise this carefully.”

“Raise it? But it isn’t the egg of a normal animal.”

“That’s right Lydia, what if it’s a snake that hatches from it, something you are afraid of?”

The word ‘snake’ caused Lydia’s shoulders to twitch. But she still held on resolutely to the egg and shook her head as if she was convincing herself.

“This child isn’t a snake! I mean, it’s so adorable and endearing.”

“Adorable? Didn’t you just say it was eerie?”

“That can’t be! There’s no way that’s true!”

Lydia was seriously enraged.

He couldn’t imagine that Lydia was playing a prank on them, and it seemed like she was serious about finding the egg adorable.

“Also, it’s completely depending on me. It must have been abandoned by its parents. If I don’t keep it warm like this, it’ll die.”

Lydia was acting just like a mother bird who instinctively strives to prevent its egg from being taken away.

“Lydi-, don’t be wilful. You’re already married. You should understand that you can’t bring such things of dubious origins into the Earl household.”

During times like this, Nico would adopt the mature att.i.tude of being Lydia’s guardian. But he forgot that he was the main culprit who brought the egg in in the first place.

“Right Earl? You’re also against raising such a dubious egg right?”

“Well...”

“If so, I’ll return to my parent’s house.”

Lydia stood up while still holding the egg against her chest. Because she looked so serious that there was no doubt she’d really leave the mansion, Edgar panicked.

“Lydia, wait!”

As he stood at the doorway to block her way, he placed his hands on Lydia’s shoulder.

“There’s no need to leave, is there?”

“I can’t raise it here can’t I?”

“That’s not it. If you say that you want to raise it, then I should also raise it together with you. That’s only natural isn’t it? Since we’re husband and wife.”

“Earl, what are you saying!?”

Nico raised his voice in opposition.

“That thing glued itself onto my head and flattened my fluffy fur! There’s no way it is something adorable! Earl, take it away from Lydia quickly!”

Although it was an advocate mixed with personal vindictiveness, it was a correct advocate coming from Nico. But with Lydia backing away uneasily, Edgar was only left with one choice.

“Raven, take Nico out.”

“Oi! Earl!”

“My apologies, Mr Nico.”

Raven picked Nico up apologetically and exited the room. Edgar heaved a sigh of relief as he looked at Lydia.

“Lydia, it’s alright already. No one will take that away from you.”

Even so, Lydia still held on to the egg protectively and backed away from Edgar who approached her.

“Can’t you trust me?”

“Do you also find it adorable?”

“Hmmmm.”

Edgar couldn’t understand those feelings of Lydia’s at all. It was completely black, had bright red fur growing all over it and the elastic sh.e.l.l felt more like skin than an egg, so he couldn’t see it as anything other than being entirely eerie. Although he intended to appreciate the maternal instincts in women which want to protect something weak, he couldn’t find the adorable aspect of it which Lydia was fixated over.

Yet, because Lydia’s eyes were starting to be filled with mistrust simply by Edgar’s hesitation, Edgar hurriedly temporized.

“I- I do think it’s adorable. It’d be great if it hatches soon.”

Perhaps because she was relieved, Lydia finally smiled.

Even so, though she smiled, she still would not let Edgar come close to her. Even if he had smoothed things over with words, she may still have sensed the suspicions he held towards the egg.

This was a big problem to him.

At this rate, Lydia may not let Edgar come near her for some time until the egg hatches. 

It looks like everything will be about the egg be it day or night.

This is troubling. To think that I won’t be able to kiss or embrace her.

“Oi, where did you pick that up?”

As he was distressed over it, he heard a voice from the balcony.

A young man with black curly hair stood there.

“Kelpie, what did you come here for?”

When he took the form of a human, Kelpie became a man with a mysterious unworldly beauty. But his true form was a devilish fairy who used that beauty to delude humans and devour them.

Even though he knew that this was an eccentric Kelpie who had taken a liking to Lydia and so would not harm her, to Edgar, Kelpie was nothing but a hindrance to his love.

To begin with, Edgar was also not pleased with the fact that Kelpie continued to hang around Lydia even after their marriage.

Although Edgar glared at Kelpie with displeasure, Kelpie approached them briskly.

“Earl, what are you doing letting Lydia hold on to that kind of thing? Take it away from her quickly!”

Once he said that, Kelpie tried to grab Lydia.

“Kyaa!”

“Kelpie, stop!”

Of course Edgar pulled Lydia towards her in order protect her from Kelpie’s rough actions, but Lydia tried to escape from Edgar as well.

“That thing will devour Lydia once it hatches!”

Kelpie raised his voice as he was at his wit’s end.

Kelpie said that it was the egg of a sea horse. Because it couldn’t hatch without being kept warm by a human female, it would latch onto the bodies of livestock so that it would be carried to places where humans were. If a curious woman were to touch the egg, it was said that the egg would use magic to control the woman and make her do its bidding.

I’m not livestock, muttered Nico discontentedly.

In order to calm down Lydia, who had tried to run away out of fear, Edgar left her alone in the bedroom and brought Kelpie to another room. And so, now they were hearing about the egg.

The woman who was captured by the egg will raise it carefully. The sea horse will devour the woman immediately after it hatches and run off towards the sea.

Because they learn of the taste of humans immediately after they are born, such fairies will end up feeding only on humans. It was said that the magical creatures who had left behind frightening legends of entire villages being completely devoured, were referring to these sea horses which were hatched from eggs. 

It seemed like Lydia was being caught under the influence of such an unthinkable Unseelie Court.

“From what we can see, it may already be impossible to take the egg away from her.”

Judging from Lydia’s earlier att.i.tude, it was as Kelpie said.

“It’s a kelpie from the seas right? Isn’t that your kind?”

Agitated, Edgar paced about the room.

“I’m a kelpie from fresh water. Those guys from the seas are much more stubborn over what they eat, and their forms are also not beautiful.”

To Edgar, such things did not matter.

“These are horses, why are they hatching from eggs…”

No, even though this didn’t matter as well, the thought of Lydia being affectionate towards a horse’s egg was infuriating.

“I’m not a horse! Moreover, it’s also rare that those guys from the sea are born from eggs. To begin with, fairies do not have a prescribed way of being born.”

How random, thought Edgar as he got increasingly enraged.

But that didn’t matter either.

“That’s it. You can take over to raise it. Since you’re also an aquatic horse.”

“The egg can only be hatched by a human female. That’s why it cannot leave a woman’s side. To make matters worse, it is intensely wary, because both you and I have tried to take the egg away. Once we have been branded as enemies, it will induce Lydia not to come near us.”

As he said that, Kelpie appeared to think over something.

Finally, Kelpie focused his black pearl-like eyes on Edgar and grinned broadly.

“Of course, Earl, there is a way to save Lydia.”

It can’t be anything decent. Edgar was cautious but still waited for Kelpie to continue.

“Hand Lydia over to me. Even they would not think of s.n.a.t.c.hing something which belongs to a kelpie. Even a sea horse which was just born will know instinctively that I’m not someone it can overcome.”

“No way. Lydia’s my wife.”

Edgar said that without a moment’s hesitation.

“Well then Earl, you can only take it away from her using force. Water fairies will disappear once you throw them into a fire. But if the egg does not hatch in front of her eyes, the sea horse’s magic will not be undone. To have her important egg s.n.a.t.c.hed away from her will be a pain so great that it will break Lydia’s heart, and she will probably hate you. With this, your marriage will fail.”

Though it’s vexing, it seemed like Edgar was only left with these two choices.

Edgar turned around silently and exited the reception room.

“Hmmm, though things took an unexpected turn, whichever way things go, it looks like I’ll have a chance to obtain Lydia.”

When Kelpie muttered that, Nico looked at him coldly. Of course, that did not bother Kelpie a single bit.

“Hey, cat, it’s all thanks to you picking that up.”

“You’re horrible. If things were going to be like this… I’d rather I had been eaten up…!”

Even though Nico was a heartless person who would push Lydia towards danger when push comes to shove, he would say such fine things. At the very least, in situations whereby he was not in personal danger, Nico would genuinely think so. Nico rubbed his teary eyes and left through the window. 

“I’m horrible?”

Even Kelpie thought of Lydia dearly in a way that was comparable to that heartless cat and the Earl. But Lydia was already captured by the egg’s magic. Kelpie had only presented the solutions.

Putting aside whether that was the best course of action.

“Huh. Am I the only bad guy here?’

Irritated, Kelpie muttered that.

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“Lady Lydia, how are you feeling?”

Kelly entered the room with a worried look.

With Edgar and group out of the room, the danger of having the egg taken away from her lessened, so Lydia was able to recover her calmness to some extent.

“Yes, I’m fine already.”

Kelly, who approached her, knelt down by Lydia’s side and looked up towards her.

“Could you please entrust that to me?”

Once she realized that Kelly was referring to the egg, Lydia unconsciously pulled the egg towards her chest.

But at the same time, she remembered what Kelpie had said earlier.

‘That thing will devour Lydia once it hatches!’ 

He had indeed said that.

Earlier on, she was filled with the feelings of having to protect the egg, but now, she vaguely understood that she herself was in a dangerous situation.

Lydia knew about the existence of fairies like those mentioned by Kelpie.

Those were fairies which would control humans with magic and make humans raise them, but the moment they hatch from the eggs they would devour that human.

It seemed like she herself was under the control of the magic of such terrifying fairies.

Although she was able to understand it mentally, even so, the feelings of finding the egg endearing did not disappear. Such was the kind of magic at work. She felt that she had to protect it and if it were taken away from her … just thinking about it felt like her heart was being torn apart.

“… I can’t, Kelly, this child already belongs to me.”

The feeling that she did not want to hand the egg over to anyone, as well as the thought that she did not want Kelly to become a sacrifice were mixed together.

In truth, the egg had already decided that Lydia was its prey. Even if another woman were to touch it, they would probably not succ.u.mb to the magic of finding it endearing.

“Furthermore, Kelly, there is no need for you to go so far for my sake.”

Kelly lowered her eyes sadly.

“Lady Lydia, even though you’re a fairy doctor…”

If it had been someone else who was captured by the egg, Lydia would search for a solution desperately. Yet in her current state, she did not feel the need to do so.

No, even though she understood that things cannot stay the way it was now, she was unable to let go of the egg.

“I’m sorry, Kelly. Please leave me alone for a while.”

Kelly got up hesitantly.

Lydia, who sneaked out of the mansion by herself while avoiding notice, trudged along the avenue aimlessly.

While still clutching the egg in her hands.

I wonder what will happen from now on. If I were to be devoured, isn’t it fine if it’s by this child?

As she stroked the venomously red downy hair which was thinly grown over, she ended up having persuaded herself so.

Even though she knew that there was something wrong with her, she was able to think that way.

On the other hand, Lydia tried desperately to think.

She was a fairy doctor. Since she should know about fairies much more than other people, there was no way that it was fine for her to give up like this.

Since it’s a water fairy, it would probably disappear if she threw it into a fire. Yet, for Lydia in her current state, simply thinking of that made her sad.

“What should I do…?”

She gazed at the egg in her hands uneasily.

When she felt that it had moved slightly, her uneasiness vanished and even more affection welled up in her chest.

I wonder if it’s going to hatch soon.

In Lydia’s imagination, the venomous egg transformed into a small light blue horse.

The pony, which was small enough to sit on her palm, had round eyes.

Even though it was so charming, it was a ferocious fairy.

If it opened its mouth, it would bare sharp teeth. Its bright red tongue would be squirming.

I don’t find it scary. But.

Suddenly, she felt confused at being by herself.

If I only have a little time left, there is someone who I want to spend my time with. I need to go back, thought Lydia as she felt anxious.

But if I were by his side, I might drag Edgar into this.

I wonder if the pony would devour any human near it indiscriminately.

It’d be better that I don’t return to the mansion.

“I’m such a fool, to have dashed out of the mansion without thinking…”

I wish I could have taken a good look at his face once more.

I wanted to embrace him closely.

As she thought about Edgar, she felt like she was losing her strength and leaned against a tree by the street.

“Lydia!”

At that moment, she heard Edgar’s voice.

As Lydia turned around, her eyes caught his blonde hair. Edgar, who came running over, was still in his casual getup from the morning, without his gloves, top hat or walking stick.

He must have dashed out of the mansion to look for Lydia.

“Edgar…”

Her impulse to run towards him was restrained by the egg’s magic, and Lydia put herself on guard out of reflex.

He is trying to s.n.a.t.c.h this egg. The egg’s magic warned her so.

Seeing Lydia back away from him unconsciously, Edgar stopped in his tracks.

“Lydia, please don’t run away. I’m on your side, aren’t I?”

Lydia nodded.

“Edgar, I’m sorry, that things turned out this way.”

The one before her eyes was the person who was the most important to Lydia. Yet she was guarded towards him because of the egg. She felt upset at being unable to be close to Edgar like she always was, and irritated at how unreasonable the situation was. Yet, she felt that the egg was precious and did not feel like letting it go.

“In any case, let’s go back together. Let’s think about what we can do together.”

I can’t do that. Lydia had thought about that desperately until just a moment ago. And she had just realized that she couldn’t endanger Edgar.

“Please, don’t come any closer.”

When Edgar tried to take one step closer, Lydia would take another step back. He furrowed his brows sadly.

“There has to be something that I can do for your sake isn’t there?”

As she looked at Edgar who no longer tried to get closer to her, Lydia resolved to etch his figure in her eyes.

His slender and well-proportioned physique with his aristocratic good looks, his brilliant blonde hair and captivating ash-mauve eyes. She had thought that these would always be by her side.

At the very least, she wished that he would be by her side until the very last moment. She stopped at such a thought.

“Please leave me alone. I think that would be for the best.”

“To you, that egg is more important than me.”

“That’s not true. I don’t want to endanger you.”

“But at this rate, this is the end for us. Can you accept this so easily? Is this the extent of our relations.h.i.+p?”

“…No!”

Lydia shook her head desperately. Even so, since she was unable to take a step forward, Edgar, appearing to be at a loss, said

“I’ll give you up to Kelpie.”

“Wh-what are you saying Edgar!?”

“Once the contract with Kelpie is established, the thing that hatches from the egg will not be able to devour you.”

“If you give me up to Kelpie, then I will no longer be your wife.”

This meant that it was by Edgar’s will, that he would part with Lydia, that their marriage would be dissolved.

“If I make a contract with a fairy, I would probably not be able to bring you back. But it’s much better for you to be alive.”

I don’t want that.

Lydia, who cast her eyes downwards, was so shaken that she wasn’t able to look at his face.

She had thought that her marriage with Edgar was something that would not waver no matter what happened. Until death do us part, so long as that vow doesn’t disappear, she had thought that even if her life was taken away by a magical creature, she would be able to stay as his wife forever.

Lydia shook her head vigorously as the one thing she did not want was to have their marriage dissolved.

“Even if I stay alive we wouldn’t be able to meet, we won’t ever be able to touch or kiss each other….”

By the time she realized it, Edgar was right before her eyes.

His hands touched her hair gently. As he kissed her on the cheeks, Lydia too held onto his arm.

The uneasiness of having the egg taken away from her, was warning her to distance herself from Edgar. Although the magic was urging Lydia, Lydia felt that even so she wanted to be close to him.

“Aah, that’s great. I was able to be close to you once more.”

As he pulled her towards him in an embrace, Lydia entrusted herself to him without any resistance.

Although she held the egg in her arms protectively, as she felt Edgar’s warmth, her true feelings spread across her chest bit by bit. The magic had not disappeared but Lydia understood that the existence which was irreplaceable to her, was him.

“Edgar…. What should I do…?”

“I’ve already made up my mind. I can’t part with you. No matter how much I may be hated by you.”

Don’t tell me, that he intends to take the egg away from me?

I don’t want that. Although she thought that, on the other hand, Lydia already felt that she could only yield herself to Edgar’s idea.

Even though she was a fairy doctor, her present self was controlled by magic and so she couldn’t think. If so, she’ll do as Edgar thought to. Whatever he intends to do, was for Lydia’s sake.

“Lydia, how about you? If you had to keep hating me, do you want to leave me?”

That would mean that the magic that made her think of the egg lovingly would remain. Each time she looks at him it may be painful for her.

“No… no matter what happens, the feeling I have of wanting to stay by your side will not disappear.”

Because there were things which magic would not be able to restrain completely, even now, Edgar and her were looking into each other’s eyes.

“But Edgar, would you truly be fine with this? And, would you not come to hate me…”

He silenced her by placing his index finger on her lips.

“Let’s go back to the mansion.”

She felt that the egg was wary but Lydia earnestly moved her legs and followed Edgar.

                                                                                                                                                  *

Please read at Daydream Translations

“Lady Lydia, it’s great… I was worried that something might have happened to you.”

When she returned to the mansion, Kelly immediately came running towards her. It couldn’t be helped because Lydia had also left her room without saying a word to Kelly.

“Kelly, I’m sorry.”

She may had also made Kelly go through a difficult time.

Lydia had thought that even if she were to suffer because of the magic, she wanted to stay by Edgar’s side. But if such a situation was to continue endlessly, Edgar would suffer and this would also be painful for Kelly as well.

This would be a painful experience for everyone in the family.

I wonder if things would truly be alright like this.

She also didn’t know if the fact that she’s starting to waver was because of the egg’s magic.

“It’ll be fine, Lydia.”

Edgar had wrapped his arms around her shoulders firmly so that Lydia would not run away again because of the egg.

“Lord Edgar, welcome back.”

Raven, who came out to receive them, had his hair and clothes somewhat ruffled. On top of that, he was carrying a limp Nico on one arm.

Before she could ask what happened, Edgar spoke up.

“Raven, are they here?”

“Yes, this way.”

“They’re here. What are you going to do for me!”

The exhausted Nico raised his voice.

“Who’s here?”

“The Roden sisters. Looks like Nico’s already defeated.”

Raven had probably rescued Nico from the concentrated a.s.sault which made the pet dog not want to go near them anymore.

“But, why are they here?”

Edgar revealed a smile of satisfaction.

“Lydia, I do not want to lose you, give you up to Kelpie or be hated by you. That’s why I had the Roden sisters come.”

“Huh?”

“So long as I’m not the one who takes that away from you it’s fine right? The one who is hated will not be me. After the three sisters get their hands on the egg, I will just have to s.n.a.t.c.h the egg from them and throw it away. Because I don’t care about being hated to death by any girl other than you.”

Th-that’s what he thought of?

“But, I think that the egg will no longer cast its magic on other girls.”

“That’s exactly it. Moreover, there are not many ladies who would be inclined to touch that. Let’s place our expectations on them.”

While she was still thinking of whether she ought to be amazed or angry at Edgar, Lydia was pulled into the reception room.

The gaze of the three sisters there, fell on her at once.

“Lady Lydia!”

“We heard you got your hands on a rare pet?”

“We came in a hurry to see it!”

As they ran towards her, the three girls noticed the egg in Lydia’s hand.

“Wow, it’s adorable!”

Considering that they were not under the effects of the magic, it was amazing that they were able to find it adorable.

But that was not the problem. The three of them reached out their hands at once and tried to touch the egg.

“No…”

Lydia tried to protect the egg out of reflex, but they were forceful.

“Hey, let us touch it.”

“Me too!”

“Me too!”

Lydia, who was unable to let go of the egg because of the magic, joined in the tussle over the egg together with the three girls.

“Hey, if you are too forceful with it…”

Just as she thought that the egg might get crushed, Lydia fell on her behind, as if she was flicked off and repelled away. So did the three sisters.

The egg left the hands of the four girls and bounced off the floor. It headed towards the window as if it was trying to escape.

“Raven, catch it!”

At Edgar’s orders, Raven swiftly jumped to try and catch it, but the egg did a big leap and flew out of the window.

“Oh no! If someone were to pick that up something disastrous would happen…”

The moment when Lydia hurriedly ran towards the window, Kelpie jumped in through that window.

The egg which he caught, was struggling in his hand.

Edgar swiftly wedged himself in between and stood in front of Lydia.

Edgar was wary of Kelpie possibly forcing the egg onto Lydia again.

“To think that this thing would get frightened, it seems like there are some capable human females.”

Kelpie, who looked at the three sisters, had a look of amazement on his face.

“Kelpie, what do you intend to do with that?”

“Don’t worry. There’s someone who wants this.”

As he said that, even though it was indoors, they were suddenly enshrouded by mist.

As they lost sight of the sofa, table or any furniture for that matter, Lydia and Edgar stood still in a quiet s.p.a.ce which was filled with thick mist and were distanced from the bustle of London.

In front of them was Kelpie. Behind him, in the depths of the mist, was a shadow. The shadow was approaching them.

The figure which revealed itself to them gradually, was a pure white horse.

“Lydia, it’s been a while.”

The young girl who sat on the back of the horse, said so.

Her hair was draped over her back loosely and she smiled with a lively young face. Lydia, on finding the past traces of gentleness and elegance, blinked her eyes.

“…Ruth? It can’t be… Is it truly you? I can’t believe we are able to meet again…”

“I just heard that you got married. Congratulations, Lydia. You have a wonderful husband.”

“Thank you, Madam.”

Said Edgar smilingly.

“Then, you’re Kelpie’s younger brother?”

“It’s been a while, Fairy Doctor.”

The white horse, which had a gentle presence unexpected of a kelpie wrapped around it, transformed into the figure of a young man with silver hair in the blink of an eye.

Once he took up that form, Lydia was also able to remember clearly. She knew with certainty that this was Kelpie’s younger brother. And Ruth, who had a small frame, was carried down by him easily as if she were a child.

“I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, Blue Knight Earl. My apologies for the sudden intrusion, but Ruth can no longer touch anything from the human world, so I hope you can understand.”

“So you’re the one who married a human lady… I’ve heard about you from Lydia.”

Lydia ran towards Ruth’s side. As she took care not to touch her, Lydia tried to take a good look at her familiar face.

“Ruth, when did you arrive in London? Don’t tell me, that the person who wanted the egg is you?”

Ruth nodded quietly.

Kelpie handed the egg over to his brother. Ruth then accepted that gently.

“It’s truly… how endearing. Though I had left the human world, this child seems to still take a liking to me as a human female.”

“Did you ask Kelpie about this egg?”

Yes, answered Kelpie’s brother.

“This egg was something which Brother obtained for us. Because it is something rare, I wasn’t able to locate it with my magic so Brother found it for us. Yet, we heard that it was lost before it was handed over to us. We were troubled over it but we were surprised to be told earlier that you had picked it up.”

Kelpie’s brother said so.

“What did you say? Then, doesn’t that mean that the fact that something like the egg of a sea horse was stuck to Nico was because Kelpie had brought such a thing over to begin with!?”

Edgar was infuriated.

“But it’s alright already, Earl, because we will take over the egg.”

Ruth was a human female. She would be able to hatch the egg. And with Kelpie’s brother by her side, the child of a sea horse would not be able to devour Ruth.

“Ruth, what do you intend to do by taking over the egg?”

“I haven’t had my own child haven’t I? Though I had given up on such a life, after I married him, I came to want to raise a child together with him. But my body has already aged.”

Although in the fairy world, there was no meaning in the age of one’s physical body, a couple comprising of a human and a kelpie was unthinkable to begin with. Based on the fact that Lydia herself had also not heard of anyone being able to have a child, Ruth and Kelpie’s brother had probably thought the same too.

“Though it may be an aquatic horse, it is still a different species isn’t it? Do you mean to say that you’d raise it as a kelpie?”

Edgar was also surprised at the unexpected words he was hearing.

“Yes. But it’s not all that different. If we were to relate it to humans, it’d be like someone from a different country.”

“I see.”

“Lydia, would you entrust this child to me?”

If it’s them, they would probably be able to raise a fine aquatic horse.

The magic cast on Lydia had already been undone at the point in time when the egg tried to escape from Lydia and the three sisters and bounced off. Even so, though Lydia still felt a little lonely at having to let go of something endearing, she thought that regardless of whether it was for the egg or for others, it would be for the best. 

As she nodded, Edgar, who had been behind her, gently embraced her shoulder.

“Thank you very much, Fairy Doctor and Earl. Until we meet again.”

Kelpie’s brother transformed into a horse once more and disappeared with Ruth carrying the egg on his back.

By the time they realised it, the mist around them had disappeared completely, and Lydia stood in the reception room with Edgar, together with the three sisters who were still on the floor.

                                                                                                                                                 *

“It’s unfortunate that it escaped through the window.”

The Roden sisters appeared to be genuinely disappointed.

“I wanted to touch that fluffy fur….”

“Lady Lydia, please let us know if you find such an adorable pet again.”

But it’s not a pet. Lydia revealed a bitter smile as she drank her black tea.

“Yes… but for me, I’d prefer something more docile like a squirrel or rabbit.”

“Now that you mention it, I was surprised that it was nimble.”

The three sisters giggled.

Though she had unexpectedly fulfilled her promise of inviting the three sisters over, now that everything was resolved, they were enjoying a lively teatime together.

“Why do you ladies like such small and eerie… no I mean, rare animals?”

Edgar was also in a good mood. He had known about their pa.s.sion towards adorable animals, but he probably did not expect that it was of the extent that would make a sea horse run away from them.

“It’s because it’s small that it’s adorable. If it’s large, wouldn’t it be scary if it were to go wild?”

But there are those which are small yet scary.

“Lydia keeps a horse you know.”

Eh?

“Horse? Oh no, that’s not adorable!”

“Isn’t that right?”

“Lady Lydia, you have an odd interest.”

“There he goes shooting his mouth off. I’m not a horse. I’m fine with not being adorable.”

Seated on the stone wall surrounding the fountain, Kelpie was sulking over the voices which he could hear all the way at the courtyard.

“Hey cat, if you get acquainted with those women, you’ll be treated like a pet too.”

Nico, who had also taken refuge here so that he would not be chased about, sat at the fountain.

“But well, it’s great that Lydia didn’t end up being eaten.”

“Hmph, if only those people weren’t around, the Earl might have let go of Lydia.”

Even though Kelpie said that, the truth was that he wasn’t expecting that to happen.

Edgar wasn’t a human who would think of something so obvious. That man was a good-for-nothing who was one of the trickiest even amongst humans.

“It’s an egg which you searched for your brother’s sake wasn’t it? Even you weren’t seriously thinking of s.n.a.t.c.hing Lydia away from the Earl.”

The mansion had returned to normal. Occasionally, he would hear Lydia’s laughing voice. He would also hear Lydia’s angry voice because of something the Earl said.

Either way, they seemed happy.

His brother and his bride were also delighted from the bottom of their hearts.

That’s good, thought Kelpie. And so, as an aquatic horse, Kelpie may be an oddball like his brother after all.