Hakushaku to Yousei Volume 22 Chapter 23 Part4-5

4) Sylvainford: The Trap

Truth be told, the new tutor was the type of man whom Edgar found difficult to get along with.

Firstly, he would not entertain small talk during and outside of cla.s.ses. He would also say nothing except what was necessary.

He was the type which gave off a neurotic impression and would frown at even the smallest creases on cloth, yet he was also smooth in currying favours with the Duke and the d.u.c.h.ess.

It was to the extent that Edgar was shocked when he saw how garrulous Goldin was when Goldin talked to his mother. Because Edgar had thought that he was a man of few words.

In front of Edgar’s father, Goldin appeared to be a zealous scholar while in front of Edgar’s mother, he acted as a good humoured gentlemen on top of that. No, it’s unknown which was his true self.

And then, Edgar also observed Goldin getting closer to his mother empathetically as a rift began to form between his parents.

In fact, that was what Edgar disliked more than anything else.

On the other hand, Goldin treated Edgar with great caution, or rather, with extreme caution. 

“Lord Edgar, you know what kind of a woman Lady Norrish is don’t you? Your mother will get worried if you get too close with her.”

That was what Goldin, who would rarely deviate from lessons, said.

Edgar had gotten along quite well with Rachel. She did not treat Edgar like a child.

“Because she’s a hetaera? But doesn’t Viscount Norrish treat his marriage with her as something of utmost honour?”

Edgar deliberately mocked at the grown-ups’ logic. Goldin probably disliked that precocious nature of Edgar’s. Goldin frowned and took on an increasingly hypocritical courteous tone.

“I know that if it’s you, you already understand the workings of the adult world. If you thought about why she was staying on at the Sylvainford mansion, you should have sensed your mother’s anxiety.”

“She’s not Father’s mistress.”

Edgar said so clearly in order to block his tutor’s unpleasant orders.

“She’s my lover.”

Stumped, Goldin shook his head sideways as if he thought that it was a foolish joke, but he did not say anything further on the subject.

At that time, Edgar had thought that to his mother, it was better that Rachel was his lover than if she was his father’s mistress, but was that really the case?

It was only that he thought those jokes of his would probably not reach his mother’s ears. Because for Goldin, who wanted to console and get into his mother’s good books, there was no point in telling on Edgar.

In any case, Rachel did not come to Sylvainford for love affairs.

The walls were buried in Renaissance paintings while the tall ceilings were decorated with Gothic arches. The double doors which were framed by the marble arches respectfully welcomed guests into the banquet hall. Edgar stood there by himself.

At the same time as he entered the entranceway of the doll house, the scenery surrounding him changed.

And with that, there was the grand salon of the manor house, exactly like how it was in his memories.

“I see. It’s a mansion which reflects one’s memories huh.”

This hall was already something which exists only in Edgar’s memories. The fact that it was spread out before Edgar’s eyes only made him find it laughable instead.

And so he turned around and exited the hall. He came here to look for Lydia. He had no intention of immersing himself in his memories. Edgar remained much calmer than he thought he’d be.

From the parlour to the dining room, Edgar continued on through the white salon and the sunroom. As he looked into each and every room, he checked whether Lydia was in them.

The corridor from which one could look down towards the atrium had handrails with latticework. Edgar, who pa.s.sed by the corridor, noticed a figure and stopped in his tracks.

It was not Lydia. Numerous people had pa.s.sed through the hall and were headed towards the stairs.

Yes, those were the relatives of the Duke’s family. The whole family had gathered in order to celebrate the Duke’s birthday the next day.

That’s right… It’s that day.

Though he had antic.i.p.ated it, Edgar’s palms became covered in perspiration.

Soon, the happy days at Sylvainford would come to an end.

None of his relatives who had gathered knew of that. Their chatting and laughing voices resonated through the hall and disappeared towards the depths of the mansion.

Edgar left that spot as he pulled his body away from the handrails.

However, perhaps it was because the illusions of the past were born from Edgar himself, the illusions chased after him. The figure of his mother who appeared in the drawing room caused him to come to a stop.

His mother, with her fair skin and slender built like a porcelain doll, stood facing against a beautiful woman with a voluptuous figure and mysterious charm. With both of them standing together, the contrast in their temperatures became evident.

Even so, his mother appeared to be unusually emotional, as her fair cheeks were flushed.

“You, what are you investigating?”

She questioned Rachel so.

In the past, Edgar had encountered this scene and eavesdropped on the conversation through the gaps in the door.

Now, even if he stood in plain sight at the open doors, the two women inside the room did not notice him. Of course that would be the case, since what Edgar was looking at was an illusion of the past and he was not standing in front of them in reality.

“What are you talking about, d.u.c.h.ess?”

“You intercepted and read through my letters and diary didn’t you?”

“Is there anything that would be troubling if seen?”

For some reason, Rachel was firm. In contrast to that, his mother became uneasy and fell into a chair.

“Is that so… As I thought, you came to investigate me right.”

His mother covered her face with both hands.

“… I do not know anything, be it the royal family’s diamond or the Stuarts…”

“I do not have the authority to listen to your explanations.”

“I do not have any intentions of rebellion! I am not related to the Jacobites in any way!”

At that time, Edgar did not understand why his mother was suspected of being related to the Jacobites, but he vaguely understood Rachel’s objective.

The incident in which the royal diamond was lost led to rumours doubting his father. Because of that, Rachel was sent by the government to observe the Sylvainfords who were under surveillance.

“d.u.c.h.ess, I will simply report matters as it is.”

“‘As it is’?”

His mother, who lifted her face, was ghastly pale.

“Yes; that the French aristocrats who were your ancestors were …”

“Are you saying you have evidence of that?!”

“Not at the current moment. But if that were true, it’d be a problem. As it stands, the diamond was stolen under the Duke’s watch; there’s also an anonymous letter addressed to you with contents which are suggestive of a rebellion.”

“Please leave!”

Even in the face of his mother’s strong words, Rachel replied staunchly. 

“I cannot do that. I came on the orders of Her Majesty the Queen. The Duke himself has also permitted my stay if it could prove his innocence. Madam, it’s unfortunate if even the Duke isn’t aware of your lineage, but I must report it to my higher-ups. It will probably become the focus of future investigations.”

The illusion vanished suddenly, because Edgar had only heard until that point in the past.

And so, now Edgar stood stock still in front of the drawing room, and recalled matters slowly.

On this night, he heard his parents in an argument. It was the first time he could hear his parents quarrel from his own room.

Although he did not know what they said, he figured that it was related to the conversation with Rachel.

His own family had come under the suspicion of rebellion. It was something completely unbelievable to Edgar. He had thought that the suspicions surrounding the loss of the diamond were already lifted, and his father was not the sort of person who would deceive others and engage in dodgy dealings. His father was so honest that he was inflexible and stubborn.

That was exactly why, when it was something on his mother’s side that caused the suspicions to deepen, his father must have been at a loss and became enraged.

Edgar tried to shut his ears as he ran out of his bedroom and headed towards Rachel’s room. He intended to persuade Rachel to change her mind and not report the matter to her higher-ups.

Her father and mother were loyal subjects. And Edgar was also the heir to the dukedom. If they could be given more time, he would definitely prove their innocence.

Yet, Rachel would no longer hear Edgar out.

Because she had turned cold as she lay on the bed.

With a knife stabbed deeply into her chest.

Please read this chapter at Daydream Translations

Realizing that her surroundings had changed, Lydia looked around the room.

She should had been in an adorable tearoom which was covered with floral wallpaper, but unbeknownst to her, the room became a s.p.a.cious salon-like room. In this room was a red tapestry on the wall ill.u.s.trating a scene from an old epic poem as well as a brightly coloured Persian carpet laid out over the floor; this was a room which Lydia had no recollection of. It also did not seem to be a house from her mother’s hometown which Nico would recall.

(Oh dear oh dear, it seems like another person has entered again.)

(Oh well, isn’t it a wonderful room?)

So said the two fava bean fairies at the table, as they held cups in their hands.

The King and Queen, whom Lydia came searching for, had invited Lydia to the table as Nico’s friend. They had gold and silver crowns atop their heads the size of which were small enough to be placed on one’s palm.

Because they had promised to return in time for the Twelfth Cake in tonight’s banquet, Lydia was relieved and was in the midst of joining them at their banquet.

“Whose memory is this?”

Lydia tilted her head to the side together with Nico, and she stood up abruptly as she figured out.

“It may be Edgar’s! … It must be his.”

“The Earl’s huh. I see, he’s the only one who has lived in such an extravagant house.”

“I wonder why he came here.”

(Well, that should be in order to fetch you, the Consort.)

Said Coblynau.

That may be the case, but if Edgar were to see illusions from the past here…

“Oh no!”

Lydia panicked and ran out of the room.

(They must be getting along very well for her to rush out to meet him.)

As she heard the voice of the fava bean Queen say so leisurely, Lydia, who took a step out from the tea room, started to feel ever more panicked. She was overwhelmed by the long corridors which seemed to go on endlessly. There were countless doors and she was at a complete loss as to where she should go.

In any case, Lydia pressed on, but after she turned a couple of corners, she could no longer even be sure of how to get back to the tearoom where she came from.

“Edgar! Where are you?”

She had no choice but to call out to him as she walked around.

She went up and down numerous flights of stairs. She wondered how many staircases there were in this mansion.

It was when she was out of breath and had paused in her tracks that she finally found Edgar’s figure.

He stood stock still at a doorway and looked inside a room without moving an inch.

Lydia ran towards his side. As she made it a point not to look inside the room, she said:

“What you see here are simply illusions. These are things that had already happened in the past.”

There was no need for him to be hurt multiple times by things which only happened once.

Edgar, who turned gradually to face her, had a slight look of amazement as Lydia was reflected in his eyes. He then relaxed his expression in relief.

“I know, Lydia. I’m fine.”

He enveloped Lydia in his arms softly and embraced her.

As he stroked Lydia’s back with his palm as if he was trying to affirm Lydia’s existence in a calm, rather than a pained manner, he held Lydia entirely in his arms.

As she entrusted herself to him, Lydia felt that he was not shaken and let out a sigh of relief. Relieved, she relaxed in his arms.

The sense of comfort outweighed the embarra.s.sment she felt as she buried herself deep in his arms; recently, Lydia had come to feel Edgar’s increased presence in her heart.

It was precisely because Edgar came to be able to reveal his weakness to her that she was able to relate to his pain. Be it the things which Edgar had shouldered or the things which Edgar desired from her, in doing so, Lydia came to understand just how much she was loved by him.

Most probably Edgar, as well as Lydia, had become a little stronger.

The two of them were no longer alone. They were able to become stronger because they were able to believe in that firmly.

“Edgar, let’s go back. Mr Tomkins is waiting for us to start with the Twelfth Cake preparations.”

Lydia said so cheerfully as she thought that if she could distract him, the illusion surrounding them may change as well.

“I was searching for the gold and silver fava beans to put in the cake. The fava beans which had been pa.s.sed down through the generations of the Earl family turned out to be fairies.”

As he nodded, Edgar relaxed his arms slightly, but he still did not try to move away from that spot.

“Yeah, I heard from Tomkins earlier. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a cake with fava beans. When I was younger, I used to have such cakes often, but I’ve never gotten the slice with the bean.”

For a moment, he had a distant look in his eyes; his feelings were still bound to Sylvainford. 

“It’s alright. I’ve always gotten the slice with the bean, so I’ll get it this year as well. And when that happens, I’ll make a wish for the happiness of the both of us.”

He looked down towards Lydia who said so with all her might, and held her cheeks with his long fingers. Edgar smiled, but a crystal-like firm and unwavering resolve resided in his ash mauve eyes.

He had protected his injured soul thus far all by himself through this resolve. Lydia may have been attracted to this character of his, but this sharpened strength was a little sorrowful.

Although Lydia wished that someday, he would be able to forget the sharp blade which he hid in his heart, Lydia had only just begun her days with Edgar, so more time was probably needed before that happened.

“I want to put an end to the days in which I am shaken by what happened at Sylvainford. I think I’ll be able to do so if you are by my side.”

Edgar too wanted to change. That was precisely why he did not want to run away from the illusions.

If so, then Lydia too must not avert her eyes. Strengthening her resolve, she turned her eyes slowly towards the room, as if she were urged by Edgar.

A woman had collapsed there in a pool of blood. Though she was shocked, thanks to the fact that she was in Edgar’s arms, Lydia was able to look at the scene calmly as an illusion.

“Rachel was murdered. Those guys, Prince’s subordinates who had infiltrated the mansion, had probably discovered her role…” 

Lydia did not know what person Rachel was, but she simply nodded.

“I had stood grounded here. Eventually, Father came running here and when he found out that Rachel was dead, he flipped over the carpet and found a letter underneath. Most probably, Rachel had exchanged information with him that way. When my father read through that letter, he trembled.”

A tall bearded man appeared in the room but he soon vanished. That man was probably Edgar’s father.

As he hugged Lydia, who was thinking, by her shoulders, Edgar started to walk away from that scene.

“That night, all my relatives had gathered. I ran towards the salon, thinking that I could call for help, but everyone had collapsed.”

Edgar opened the door. Every single person who was inside the s.p.a.cious room, was motionless, as if they were dead.

“They were drugged. Be it the people in the guest rooms or even the servants, everyone was put to sleep so that they would not wake up no matter what happened.”

Leaving that room behind, Edgar continued to head towards somewhere.

“In every room was a wine with a memo stating that it was from Her Majesty the Queen. But this was not delivered to me and my parents. I guess that’s true; my father would know that there was no such present and since Prince intended to show me my family’s destruction, there was no need to put me to sleep.”

Suddenly, a burning smell drifted towards them. There was smoke at the end of the corridor.

“A fire…?”

When Lydia stopped in her tracks, Edgar nodded and embraced her by the shoulders.

At nearly the same time, a woman dashed out from the long gallery. This was also an illusion of the past. And the illusion of a woman, called out Edgar’s name countless times.

She was probably his mother the d.u.c.h.ess. She embraced the young boy who ran towards her; the young boy was Edgar.

There was a young man beside the d.u.c.h.ess and he said:

“Hurry outside, it seems that the fire is spreading quickly.”

Holding on to her son’s hand, the d.u.c.h.ess was about to follow that man, but young Edgar took a step backwards out of caution.

“Mr Goldin, why are you unharmed? Isn’t it odd that you did not drink the wine?”

The young Edgar who said that, had the same blonde hair and n.o.ble good looks as he had now, only that he did not have the ruthless sharp gaze in his eyes. Lydia saw him as a youth with a strong sense of justice.

“Are you the one who killed Rachel?”

With that, the man sneered as he a.s.sumed a defiant att.i.tude, and placed his hands inside his breast pocket. When it looked like he was about to take out a pistol, a gunshot resonated.

A painting which hung on the wall tilted and fell to the ground.

The tall man whom Lydia saw earlier, Duke Sylvainford, held a rifle in his hands.

Gunshots resonated for a second and third time, and even though Lydia knew that it was an illusion, she shut her eyes.

“There’s no point in escaping, Duke. This mansion is already …”

She heard the voice of the man who was supposed to be the tutor, but his voice trailed off and when Lydia opened her eyes once more, the illusions of the human figures had vanished.

“From here onwards, perhaps it was because I was dazed halfway through, I can only remember bits and pieces.”

Let’s stop, Lydia wanted to say that, but she restrained herself.

Now, Edgar was trying to retrace the past together with Lydia, in order to be convinced that what happened in the past had no bearing on them from now on. 

“By the time we escaped to the bas.e.m.e.nt, Mother sustained an injury. She was probably shot by Goldin’s subordinates on our way there.”

Going through a door hidden behind a large painting at the corner of a study-like room, Edgar descended down a narrow spiral staircase. Eventually, they arrived at a room which was like a storehouse.

Various aged items, such as armours and sculptures were placed there disorderly.

Perhaps there was a ca.n.a.l, because the sound of water could be heard.

“Further down, there is also a staircase and a secret path. There is a device which will drain out the water that had flowed in from the lake, and if we were to trigger the device, the path should appear. But the chain which would move the gears was cut; Prince’s organization was scrupulous in their preparations.”

Once again, illusions of scenes triggered by Edgar’s memories appeared before them.

The Duke and d.u.c.h.ess, as well as young Edgar, were there. Young Edgar lay crouched while holding on to the seated d.u.c.h.ess’ hands, while the Duke punched the walls out of despair.

“Why… did things turn out like this…!?”

The Duke groaned.

“Jean-Marie, why must my Duke family shoulder the misconduct of your family?”

He tried to shake the shoulders of the d.u.c.h.ess, who was seated as she winced from the pain of her wound. The skirt of her dress was stained with blood.

“Father, stop.”

The young boy who tried to stop him, was flung aside; he fell onto a large oblong chest which struck his body severely.

“Edgar, it’s you. You’re the true objective of those guys who targeted the royal diamond.”

The Duke held his head in his hands and when he lifted his face once more, he glared at the young Edgar.

“They intend to destroy this Duke family in order to get their hands on you? What a joke.”

The Duke pointed the rifle at the young boy, who staggered as he desperately tried to stand up.

“You shouldn’t have been born.”

“Dear! I’m the one who’s at fault!”

Mustering her strength, the d.u.c.h.ess s.h.i.+elded the youth behind her.

“It’s not Edgar’s fault…”

The illusion of the figures vanished suddenly.

“I guess even fairy magic won’t be able to show what happened after I lost consciousness.”

Edgar muttered as he let out a sigh.

Lydia was still frozen and though she put strength in her arms and clung on to Edgar, he remained calm and hugged Lydia by the shoulders softly.

Edgar wiped the tears which were about to fall out from the corner of her eyes with his finger.

“Lydia, it’s fine, because you told me that you were thankful to G.o.d that I was alive, it no longer hurts even if someone denies my existence.”

Lydia nodded and looked up towards Edgar.

When they eyes met, they smiled at each other naturally.

The kiss he placed softly on her hair was gentle.

Even though she felt that she wanted to stay like this for a little longer, this place was probably not one which Edgar wanted to continue to look at even if his parents’ illusions had vanished.

“Let’s go. Nico and the fairies are in the tearoom…”

It was when she was in mid-sentence.

“Fire-!”

She heard Nico’s shouting voice.

As he ran down the staircase in a tumbling fas.h.i.+on, Nico noticed them and raised his voice further.

“Lydia! Quick, run! The mansion is in flames!”

The fava bean fairies and other fairies also came running in together.

“What’s going on?”

“The fire earlier was nothing more than an illusion reflected from my memories wasn’t it?”

However, white smoke hung over the top of the stairs. There was also a burning smell.

“Is it really a fire?”

(When we became boisterous as we drank, the wine we spilled caught fire from the fireplace!)

When the fairies ran into the bas.e.m.e.nt, they came to a stop.

(Ahhh, it’s a dead end here!)

“Let’s go back to the top of the stairs.”

Lydia exited the bas.e.m.e.nt in a hurry as Edgar pulled her hand along.

Nico and the fava bean fairies followed as well, but when they were above ground, the smoke which hung around was worse. Their vision deteriorated and they wouldn’t tell their left from right.

“This way.”

With Edgar who was familiar with the layout leading the way, they ran while avoiding the smoke and opened the door at the end.

At that moment, they felt a hot wind against them; it was a sea of flames before them.

“Wah, the fire has spread to this place already!”

In the midst of Nico’s shriek and the fairies panicking, Edgar looked upon the flames crawling up the walls with a grim expression.

“It’s here…”

“Edgar, it’s impossible for us to go through from here.”

Lydia tried to turn back, but Edgar remained rooted and did not try to move.

“I saw them for the last time, in that instant when I regained consciousness…”

Lydia noticed the figures of a man and a woman who laid collapsed in the flames. The two who were no longer moving, were probably Edgar’s parents. This was probably what he saw after the events at the bas.e.m.e.nt, just before he was taken away.

“I need to put out the fire quickly.”

Said Edgar.

“Don’t be foolis.h.!.+”

Nico shouted.

It’s exactly as Nico said. It was impossible to extinguish a fire which happened in the past. It was impossible to save people who had already died.

Even so, even if he knew that they could not be saved, there should still be a difference in the depths of regret between trying to save them and overlooking them.

Making up her mind, Lydia held both of Edgar’s hands in encouragement.

“I understand, let’s put out the fire.”

“Har? Lydia, what are you saying!?”

Nico became even more fl.u.s.tered.

“We’ll fetch some water. There’s a ca.n.a.l at the bas.e.m.e.nt earlier right?”

“I-it’s impossible!”

If they were able to put out this fire, Edgar’s regret would definitely fade away. It was the fact that everyone was killed because of him and that he alone had survived which he felt regret over, more than the fact that his father had denied his existence.

“Edgar, we’ll save everyone from this place, including yourself.”

Lydia tried to return to the path they came from. The smoke was thickening, but she had to hurry.

Lydia was about to run off, but Edgar pulled her arm as if he came back to his senses.

As he looked with a painful expression at Lydia who turned around, he shook his head to the sides.

“It’s fine. … I’m sorry, it’s my duty to protect you, rather than anything else.”

“But, Edgar...”

As if telling her that she did not have to say anything further, Edgar pulled Lydia’s head towards his chest. And so, he embraced Lydia once more and leaned against the wall in the midst of deteriorating vision due to the smoke.

“There should be a door just ahead.”

They moved forward while following the wall, and as he found the k.n.o.b while groping for it, Edgar told the fairies:

“Everyone, this way. Hurry!”

Smoke had still not invaded the pa.s.sageway. It was when they thought that everything was fine already..

(Sir Nico, there’s fire on your tail!)

Nico jumped upwards when Coblynau pointed that out.

“Ehhh! Ahh!”

Nico escaped headfirst towards the door.

“No! Put it out for me! My tail is getting burnt!”

He shouted as he shook his tail about and ran in circles.

The narrow pa.s.sageway ahead led to the kitchen, but Nico could not afford to search for the backdoor and jumped towards the window. Then it happened.

Just as they thought they heard the sound of breaking gla.s.s, water gushed in. Lydia, who was about to be swept away, clung onto Edgar desperately.

The fairies also held on to Lydia’s skirt so as not to be swept away. In the midst of that, when they thought that the water had suddenly receded, Lydia found herself standing in the small room in the Earl’s mansion together with Edgar.

The doll house and the table before them, as well as themselves, were all drenched. A slight burnt smell drifted from the dollhouse, but it seemed that the fire, which was perhaps of a small scale, was put out.

The sea of flames which they saw, was probably an illusion from Edgar’s memories.

And beside the doll house, was Raven who stood stock still while holding on to a large vase.

“Lord Edgar… My apologies, because I heard Mr Nico’s voice shouting that his tail was burnt...”

He probably did not expect that Edgar was present as well. Raven, who was usually emotionless, appeared to be slightly fl.u.s.tered at having splashed water on his master.

He remained frozen as he hugged the vase.

“You saved us, Raven.”

Pus.h.i.+ng up his wet hair, Edgar combed down Lydia’s messed up hair as well.

“It’d have been great if both Lydia and you were there for me back then.”

Raven tilted his head to the side as he did not know what Edgar meant, while Edgar chuckled.

(5) Manan Island: The Wish

The deliciously baked Twelfth Cake prepared with the Gold and Silver fava beans was served at a time when dinner was nearly finished. Everyone who had gathered in the dining room was surrounded by a relaxing atmosphere.

A faint sweet aroma drifted from the circular and simple baked cake.

Tomkins sliced the cake with a practiced hand. No one knew which slices contained the fava beans.

Though it’s a game of luck, everyone’s eyes were focused on the cake.

“I can just pick a slice that I like right? Then I’ll go with this.”

Lota picked out a slice ahead of everyone else, and Edgar knitted his brows.

“Lota, don’t you have any reservation? It’s only considerate to let the Archduke pick first.”

“Gramps doesn’t like sweet things. I can have another slice right?”

“I’m sorry Earl, it’s because my grandchild is like this that she can’t blend into the society, but it’s thanks to you being friends with her that she seemed to have adapted to life in England.”

The Archduke, who was reputed to be a man of character, appeared to have a soft spot for his grandchild; the tips of his eyes were pointed downwards.

Lota swiftly took another slice of cake and, while taking a good look at the cakes to see if they contained the beans said:

“Edgar doesn’t treat me like a friend. I enjoy meeting with Lydia.”

Lydia smiled as well when both she and Lota faced each other. Edgar glared at Lota as he became even more displeased.

“Is it alright for you to say such things? I’ll bar your entry into my house.”

“Is it alright for YOU to say such things? Because I’ll persuade Lydia to leave your home.”

“What did you say? Lydia’s my wife. There’s no way she’d leave our home.”

“Hmph. I wonder about that. I’m her best friend.”

“Let’s verify that then. Lydia, between your husband and your best friend, who…”

“Edgar, you’re fooling around too much.”

It was their usual banter, but when Lydia thought about how the Archduke and her father were present, she held him in check and stopped Edgar from speaking further.

“Speaking of which, Archduke, when you came here, did your s.h.i.+p sway considerably? It seemed that the winds were rather strong in the afternoon.”

Perhaps it was for Lydia’s sake, that her father skilfully changed the topic.

“Oh no, I was surprised but the closer we got to this island, the calmer the waves became. Was it due to the Earl’s powers?”

“It wasn’t mine but the fairies’ powers. I usually tell the Merrows to make the waters turbulent when Lota’s s.h.i.+p comes, but since the Archduke is on board today, I requested that the Merrows protect the s.h.i.+p.”

“What do you take me for!?”

Lota became enraged again.

“It’s fine isn’t it? You like crossing turbulent waters right?”

“I get fired up over it but that doesn’t mean I like it.”

“That’s what it means to like.”

“Well, I did feel that it’s a pity not being able to show my maneuvering techniques to Gramps.”

Lota puffed up with pride, but the Archduke answered plainly.

“Lota, I’ll refrain from that.”

“I’d want to try experiencing that. Will it feel like I’ve boarded a pirate s.h.i.+p? Doesn’t that seem interesting?”

Francis said so smilingly. Francis, being a chatty person, played the role of livening up the dinner tonight.

“That’s right, Paul, let’s have Lota let us on her s.h.i.+p on our return journey.”

“Eh, m-me too?”

Paul, who was unusually tense and so spoke little, lifted his eyes in surprise as the conversation was suddenly directed towards him.  

“Since Paul has experienced it countless times huh.”

Edgar meanly pointed that out.

“Oh, is that so? Countless times?”

Of course, Edgar was being meddlesome when he wanted leave an impression of his friend on the Archduke’s mind. It seemed that he had succeeded in a certain way.

“Erm, no, just o-occasionally.”

Even though Paul averted his eyes, the Archduke continued to watch him.

“Come, Lydia, you should pick a slice too.”

Urged by Edgar, Lydia looked around at the slices of cake, while wis.h.i.+ng in her heart that she would get the slice with the bean.

Or rather, may Edgar himself get the slice this year.

Following Lydia’s lead, everyone reached out towards the cake. Edgar, who had finally chosen a slice after pondering over it, grinned when he met Lydia’s eyes.

She wondered what kind of Twelfth Nights Edgar had spent. The Twelfth Nights he was used to were probably more gorgeous events spent being surrounded by his many relatives.

For him, spending Twelfth Night with only his wife, father-in-law and a few close friends, was probably not a lively event, but Lydia was relieved that he seemed to be enjoying himself from the bottom of his heart.

She wondered if the fire in Edgar’s memories had disappeared when Raven extinguished the flames in the dollhouse. It’d be great if that were the case.

Edgar had always felt his own powerlessness over what they saw in the flames, how his parents were in their final moments and how he had everything robbed from him without being able to do anything.

But Edgar was no longer powerless. He did not lose sight of himself as the head of the earldom and had also protected Lydia properly.

“Well, let’s dig in quickly! If the Gold and Silver fava beans emerge from inside, I can take them right?”

Without delay, Lota pierced the cake with a fork.

“They belong to the Earl family. Please don’t steal them.”

“Tsk. The only thing I can take is just good fortune huh.”

“That’s more than enough.”

Laughter filled the room. Even with just that, Lydia was encouraged and felt that from now on, there should no longer be any more painful things that would cause Edgar to suffer.

The Twelfth Night dinner became an enjoyable night that marked the end of the Christmas season.

Please read this chapter at Daydream Translations

The banquet continued after they s.h.i.+fted to the salon, and laughter continued from their circle as they were pleasantly drunk.

Beside the Archduke and Professor Carlton who were conversing harmoniously, Lota and Francis were laughing together enjoyably.

Paul looked on absentmindedly from a sofa a little distance away.

“Is it alright for you to be careless?”

At some point in time, Nico was seated beside him. The grey-coloured cat who was dressed formally for dinner, was drinking scotch from a gla.s.s.

“Putting aside whether it’s alright, Francis is skilled at making conversations. He got along well with the Archduke quickly as well.”

“That guy fails as a man. He’s below the Earl.”

“But he’s probably not bad as a friend. Rather than saying that I like it when Lota is enjoying herself; that alone is enough for me.”

“Do you truly feel that way?”

“I do.”

I wonder why I’m discussing about love with a cat. Even though he tilted his head sideways as he thought that, Paul himself did not quite relate to the term love.

He did not intend to wish for anything inordinate, while Lota probably also did not wish for anything like that from him.

“Because I myself am a boring man.”

“How about asking the Earl to teach you a thing or two about courting girls?”

“It’d only have the opposite impact. Because Lota is one of the rare ladies who does not fall for Lord Edgar’s looks and words.” 

It was Raven who said that. He presented finger food to Nico.

“Oh, how thoughtful.”

“Mr Nico, how’s the burn on your tail? If it’s human medicine, I do have it.”

“Oh, that. I didn’t get a burn. It seemed that the fire on my tail was an illusion. It was probably because I panicked at the fire and recalled some unpleasant memories.”

Nico picked up the tail he was proud of and rubbed his face against it as he earnestly felt happy that it was fine.

Raven filled up the whiskey in Paul’s gla.s.s. But Paul decided to restrain himself and not drink too much as that itself may cause him to end up blurting out things that would have the opposite impact.

“Rather than that, Raven, if so, what kind of man does Lota like?”

Nico, who returned to the topic, was quite meddlesome.

“Well, about that.”

“It’s fine, please pay no heed to me.”

Even Paul understood that even if he got the Earl to teach him how to court girls, those countless lines for courts.h.i.+p only worked because it was the Earl who said it.

Even just now, Edgar, being in high-spirits, had coaxed his wife and came up with a good reason to leave before the session was over and bring her back to their private room. She appeared to have wanted to speak with the Professor and Lota a little more, but the Earl would definitely not let her out of the room until morning came.

“The Earl has settled down after marrying Lady Lydia. He used to have a precarious feeling about him, as if he was walking a tightrope, but now he seems to be walking firmly on the ground.”

“Is that so? Instead of saying that he’s settled down, he seems to be getting ever more in heat.”

“Well, in that respect…”

Although Edgar was never in any shortage of women, Paul saw it as Edgar making it a point not to be too deeply involved with anyone. Yet now, he was infatuated with a single woman. Even those looking on from the sides saw that.

That being said, since that was his wife, it could perhaps be said that he had settled down as a man.

“I’d been worried that the Earl can’t help but remember what happened in the past at this time of the year. Because it’s a somewhat complicated feeling to be made conscious of the fact that he has no family during this period when everyone is spending time with their families. Last year, the Earl had also made sure that he kept himself busy. But this year, he has Lady Lydia by his side and is treasuring this moment from the bottom of his heart.”

“I see, your parents were also murdered… You’re the same as the Earl.”

Paul couldn’t say that it was the same. Even so, he wanted to think that he was able to understand Edgar a little. Paul thought that the trial which may be awaiting Edgar was not something that he should let Edgar shoulder alone.

“Mr Paul, you’re a good person.”

Being told that by Raven with a straight face, Paul turned red while he was surprised.

“No, there’s no…”

Raven was also someone whose family was robbed from him. And so, he had offered his entirety to Edgar.

Paul felt rea.s.sured that Edgar did not only have unreliable comrades like himself.

As he muttered “Thank you”, Raven seemed to have revealed a rare smile.

When he looked around the salon, unbeknownst to him, the number of people had increased. It seems like the Merrows came as well, said Nico.

The several people who had faces similar to Tomkins’ and wore red hats were probably so. Francis, seemingly without any uncomfortable feeling, placed his arms around the Merrows’ shoulders and exchanged wine with them.

“Hey Paul, I wonder if it’s about time Edgar stopped monopolizing Lydia?”

Lota came over and said so.

“They’ve only been married for three, four months right? It can’t be helped right?”

“I guess so; he got the slice with the Gold fava bean, said it was all thanks to Lydia and had his hands all over her.”

 “Lota, didn’t you get the slice with the Silver fava bean as well? Have you made your wish?”

“That may be Gramps’ slice isn’t it? That’s why, how should I put it, once I started thinking about how rather than my own wish I should be wis.h.i.+ng for something like Gramps’ longevity, that’s the only thing that comes to my mind. I wonder if I should’ve wished for getting Lydia back.”

It seemed that more than anything else, Lota felt disappointed at having Lydia s.n.a.t.c.hed away by Edgar when she wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with Lydia.

“Well, it’s fine. Since I have Paul tonight.”

With her usual att.i.tude, Lota placed her arms over Paul’s shoulder.

“Hey, let’s drink in my room, the two of us.”

“Th-that’s not appropriate, Lota.”

Paul got fl.u.s.tered and pushed Lota back. Because the Archduke of Cremona turned towards them, as if he had heard them.

“Huh? Why? I always stay over at your lodgings, and there was nothing bad about that?”

Paul felt like fainting but when his eyes met the Archduke’s he couldn’t even do that.

“May I join in?”

Lota turned around at the Archduke’s voice, but even if she knew that he had heard them, she did not care in the least bit.

“That’s right, Gramps, you’re quite the heavy drinker; I guess that was still insufficient for you.”

And she looked at Paul.

“Paul, it’s fine right?”

These three people drinking together?

“Mr Ferman, it seems that Lota has always caused you trouble.”

“N-no, there’s no such thing.”

“I wanted to speak with you at length.”

“Ha….”

“Well, let’s go.”

“Paul has it rough.”

Nico’s words reached Paul’s ears but because his hand was being pulled by Lota, Paul had no choice but to exit the salon.

Unbeknownst to them, the winds stopped and only snow fell from the skies endlessly and silently. As the snow acc.u.mulated outside the window, the Twelfth Night wore on slowly.

                                                                                                                                                 *

“Duke, I still do not know if I should believe this. But I have decided to pen this down quickly in order to inform you. That’s because I sense danger to my safety. Once I have finished writing this down, I will leave this place before dawn breaks. Please forgive my rudeness.

I came on the orders of Her Majesty the Queen, to verify if there was anything amiss with your loyalty. I had investigated into your friends and acquaintances, and of course, your family.

Regarding the incident of the royal diamond, you did not have any contrived actions, or at least, there is no evidence that suggests so.

However, there is some concern over your wife’s lineage.

On this matter, as I had spoken to you the other day, it’s as if it seems that even the Jacobites are not aware, then I’d like to say that there should be no need to be worried over your treatment from now on. However, recently I have received information on a separate rebellious organization.

The source is… If it’s you, you’d probably be able to have a greater sense of realism towards the family that holds that name compared to the other aristocrats. I have heard that the ancestors of your duke family had friendly relations with the Earl of Ibrazel 300 years ago. That’s right, this was information from someone who has ties to the Ashenbert family, the Earl of Ibrazel, 

According to that, the organization in question controls the magic of Unseelie Courts and schemes to usurp the English throne. Just as the term ‘throne’ suggests, it seems that their leader sees himself as a descendent of the royal family. Furthermore, that he is the illegitimate child of Prince Charles Edward who had invaded England in the past.

This is probably thought of as a story from a hundred years ago. However, it’s said that Prince is able to live on by obtaining a new body countless times.

And once more, in order to invade England in the near future, it’s said that he desires a young body.

Their target is a boy with as thick of blood of the Stuarts as possible, one which is close to that of the initial Prince. For that purpose, they had probably traced the genealogy of the illegitimate child. And they finally arrived at your wife. In order words, it’s your son.

It was difficult for me to believe in this story suddenly. You would most probably feel the same way as well. However, I am not the one who will judge this. I will only report this matter to my higher-ups.

In doing so, it is highly possible that this information will be laughed off. But I sense danger to my safety so much that I believe in it.

I found a cryptogram containing the crest of Prince Charles Edward in Mr Goldin’s room. I think I was discovered when I tried to take it away.

If he is truly a spy from the organization in question, I may not be able to reach all the way to London. That’s exactly why I thought that I must pen this down.

Duke, I have judged you to be a faithful subject of Her Majesty the Queen.

I wonder how this country could fight against those, who I can’t help but say that they have joined forces with the devil. The family of the Earl of Ibrazel, who had been said to prevent the fairy realm from becoming chaotic for the sake of the King since the past, no longer exists.

Though many people think of this too as a fairy-tale, in any case, there is no power that can go against the likes of fairies and magic.

The person who provided this information to me, had given me one piece of advice, that we still have a chance.

Actually, I hesitated over whether I should inform you of this. But I had thought that this too, was something that I was not in a position to judge.

… To put an end to your son’s life. I was told that that was the only way to save the Sylvainford family.”

Please read this chapter at Daydream Translations

The Duke crumpled Rachel’s letter as he grasped it tightly. 

The thin moonlight shone into the bas.e.m.e.nt through the small lighting window near the top. Perhaps it was due to the wind’s direction, it did not smell like smoke. However, the hint of the mansion going up in flames and crumbling down, while far, still felt certain.

“Fairies… you say?”

Those words slipped out in a mutter from his clenched teeth.

Putting aside whether the existence of the person who proclaims himself to be someone related to the Earl of Ibrazel is real, the Duke also remembered something similar.

Shortly after the incident in which he lost the diamond, he received a letter from that person. It only asked him to entrust a certain painting taken care of by Sylvainfords since before to a painter called O’Neil, in accordance to the promise and friends.h.i.+p between the ancestors of the Duke and Earl family. There was no other explanation.

It was true that there was a painting in the duke family which the Duke from four generations ago was said to have been entrusted with by a friend who identified himself as Ashenbert; the image was also in line with what was described in the letter. The Duke complied as O’Neil was a trustworthy man and there didn’t appear to be a problem with entrusting the painting to him; on top of that, it was also difficult to think that the letter which knew about the existence of the painting could be a prank.

The family of the Earl of Ibrazel, should have died out. Even so, did a relative survive and was he secretly working for the sake of England?

Even so, Unseelie Courts? An illegitimate prince?

Were they dragged into a battle which went beyond the human understanding?

The Duke fell into deep thought as he continued to sit down with his back to the wall.

In any case, there was no change to the fact that they were in danger. 

Goldin’s accomplices would probably enter this place before the fire reached here.

His wife who leaned against his shoulder, was not moving an inch while her eyes were still shut. Although he had tried to stop the bleeding of the gunshot wound on her thigh by tying a cloth around it, she continued to bleed. When he grasped her fair hand, she grasped his back in response. It appeared that her consciousness was still steady.

As for his son, he had collapsed and was still unconscious.

He was still a child. Moreover, he was not responsible for any of this. He did not choose to be born into this duke family yet he pointed a gun at him. The Duke felt regret over what he did.

But his feelings of wanting to help his son up and apologise were held back, because Rachel’s warning wouldn’t leave his mind.

“… For the sake of this country, if the one who should never have been born is my son, then does it mean that it’s my role to put an end to him with my very hands?”

When he thought about how it’s impossible for him to do so without burying his feelings as a father, he couldn’t reach his hand out towards his son.

“I’m sorry… I had been told that I must not give birth to a boy, yet I hid that fact and married you.”

Muttered Jean-Marie.

“It’s fine, I was the one who wished for you.”

“I’m a woman who has nothing to say even if I am punished. But both you and Edgar are innocent…”

Even if she was dragged into such a tragedy, she still wished for happiness as an aristocratic woman, which was to be married and give birth to a boy; she did not regret it.

That’s why she said that the sin laid with her.

But, this sin was not hers alone.

“Even if I knew, I would still have married you.”

It was difficult for him to imagine life without her and his youthful self wished for her so ardently as to use his influence to push her fiancé aside.

Jean-Marie revealed a faint smile. She lifted her eyelids lightly. She entreated him with her teary blue eyes.

“… Help me stand. Let’s look for a safe place.”

And so, she exerted strength in her body.

Their opponents had proceeded with a meticulous plan. It’d be difficult to escape. The Duke thought so, but he kept silent for his wife’s sake.

If things would turn out the same way even if they stayed still here, he should probably act as she wished.

Putting strength into his legs, he supported his wife’s body.

She said that if she walked along the wall she should be able to walk somehow. Nodding, he lifted his son up.

Exiting the bas.e.m.e.nt which became a dead end, they climbed up the hidden stairs. As they avoided the dancing sparks of fire and smoke, they searched for a way to escape.

However, Jean-Marie’s bleeding worsened even more as she moved.

By the time they ran into the sitting room when they saw the figures of their pursuers, she was at her limit.

“Please… Dear, protect, Edgar.”

Leaving those last words, she stopped moving. She may still be breathing. But there was probably no longer any way to save her.

And that too was the same for the Duke himself. Those people planned to kill every single one of the duke family. With the exception of one person.

“Edgar…”

He looked down towards his son whom he laid on the floor.

If I were to protect Edgar, isn’t bringing him along the only way? If what was written in Rachel’s letter was true, the fate which awaited Edgar would be too cruel.

In the end, I have no other choice but to put an end to him with my own hands?

There were also the enemies’ figures outside the window. As they hid in the shadows of the cabinet, the Duke held his son, stroked his hair and placed his hand around his neck.

“You do not resemble me.”

His brilliant blonde hair was his mother’s. But apart from that, they probably resembled each other like a normal parent and child. Only that with Edgar’s growth, the Duke had more instances when he felt irritated at Edgar.

Crazy, mischievous, a prankster and toys with adults. Even though he’s a child, he was strangely precocious, crafty and clearly a ladies’ man.

That being said, he was not twisted but was cheerful, sociable and well-liked by others.

Objectively speaking, one could say that Edgar was a fine son but he couldn’t say so honestly because Edgar resembled his own father too much.

Edgar’s personality was just like his father’s, the previous Duke, whom he had found it difficult to deal with since he was young and only felt rebellious towards.

A high-handed and proud playboy. Despite that he had a crowd of believers gathered around him. His father was cheerful and personable. He would thoroughly crush people who went up against him while if it was someone useful, he would join forces with them even if they were from the underworld. His father, whom he did not know what he was thinking about, felt somewhat frightening. He himself who had no merit other than being honest, felt that he was thought of as an uninteresting son, so as he grew up, he distanced himself from his father. 

The fact that his younger brother Philip was more doted on than him may also have scarred his heart as a child.

Edgar resembled his father. The more he thought that, the more he felt perplexed at how he should interact with his son and no longer displayed his love towards his son honestly.

He feared that Edgar might see through the fact that he was a father who did not excel in any particular regard.

Suddenly, he felt like he was being watched by someone and the Duke raised his eyes. It was his father’s portrait, hung on the wall in the sitting room.

“Father… I’m already left with no other choice.”

Even as he felt with his finger, the pulse on the youth’s slender neck, he tried to exert strength.

The hint of the flames was approaching. The air was heated and the wallpapers started to become charred. The flames burned vigorously as it appeared to lick the curtains.

He continued his words, as if he was trying to justify his actions to the portrait which looked on as if it was glaring at him.

“I envisaged that someday, when Edgar inherits the peerage, the Leeland family would achieve greater prosperity. Father, even if you felt chagrin towards me being born as the eldest son instead of Philip, it’s my pride to have this child as my son…”

As he said that, he realized.

The truth is, this is a son whom I am proud of.

Yet, he may become the root of all evil?

That cannot be. He is my son. He is the splendid heir to this dukedom.

The Duke felt all the strength in his body disappear at the feelings which welled up in his chest suddenly.

Ahh, I see… 

If it’s this child, he may be able to overcome any kind of cruel fate.

He resembled the previous Duke so much, there’s no way he would submit to anyone easily. As a member of the Sylvainford family, he would strive to live on without losing his pride.

He felt the presence of the door opening and someone stepping in.

He grasped the hands of his son from whom he would soon be separated from, and said:

“Edgar, from this moment on, you’re the Duke of Sylvainford. The honour and pride of our ancestors belong to you… Never forget that.”

                                                                                                                                                 *

“Lydia…”

Realizing that the usual warmth wasn’t there when he stretched his arms out, Edgar woke up.

He thought that it was only around twenty or thirty minutes ago when he dozed off into a comfortable sleep while holding her in his arms, but he did not realize that Lydia had gotten out of bed.

As he moved his eyes, he saw that the lamp beside the fireplace was lit up. The profile of Lydia as she was seated on the armchair, with a book on her lap looking absentmindedly at the flames, reflected in his eyes.

Her sweet-looking caramel coloured hair framed her faintly flushed cheeks and softly rested over her chest which was covered by her gown. As he traced with his eyes the charming bridge of her nose and the lines of her full lips, Edgar sat up.

Perhaps she noticed the faint movement of the air, she turned around slowly.

Her mysterious golden green eyes widened. If it was in order to meet these eyes, what happened ten years ago and the painful times after that, were just a path to her.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Is the light too bright?”

Because she averted her eyes out of shyness, Edgar decided to put on his gown. Otherwise, Lydia would probably continue to turn her face away from him.

“You can’t sleep?”

“Yeah, somehow I became wide awake.”

“Did I do something that stimulating?”

“Eh, wh-what are you talking about.”

Because he wanted her to look at him, he stood in front of her and looked straight at her face.

“Do you still feel hot?”

Lydia’s cheeks which he enveloped with both hands, were still coloured warmly, just like how it was when he did the same thing in the bed earlier.

It may have been the warmth of the fireplace. But Edgar decided to think of it as his warmth from earlier still colouring Lydia. 

“I hope that you’ll never cool down. Because you don’t quite get heated up.”

When he said such things, Lydia appeared troubled and frowned again. But he couldn’t stop because he found such an expression adorable.

“I hope that you’ll always be faintly coloured.”

As she had a troubled expression, Lydia was probably trying desperately to think of how she could distract Edgar. Although as she did that, she stopped trying to escape or push him back ever since they got married, and he found her ever more adorable.

“Even so, when your skin gets hotter faintly, just that alone is enough to make me feel like I’m melting.”

He overlapped his lips with hers softly, held back from going deeper just like that and parted.

Now, he only wanted to feel her warmth. Rather than the urge to s.n.a.t.c.h it, with the desire to give each other warmth, he gently wrapped his arms around her in order to hold her in his arms tightly.

“Lydia, this is a first for me. I’m unexpectedly filled with so much happiness that I’m afraid.”

Simply feeling Lydia’s arms moving nervously across his back, made him feel satisfied.

“Edgar, I’ve been thinking about what happened at the dollhouse.”

As if she was checking Edgar’s reaction, she s.h.i.+fted her head and turned her eyes towards him.

“Yeah, what about it?”

“I… thought about it. Father, he did not put an end to you. Because that’s the undeniable truth, that anger then was not his true feelings.”

These were unexpected words.

And Edgar felt the little remaining thin threads which bound him snapped.

Edgar had always been told that his father had killed his mother before committing suicide, and he believed that because of the gun which was pointed towards him and the words of denial which were burnt into his heart. Yet it was not at the bas.e.m.e.nt where he last saw his parents. If it was as the illusion he saw in the dollhouse, his father may have exited the underground which was a dead end and tried to protect Edgar and his mother until the very end.

Somehow suddenly, he found it amusing.

“Yeah, now that you mention it, my father was a person who would lose himself when he blew his top. There were times when I’d heard from my uncle that my father felt that he might have gone too far and reflected on himself a little afterwards. Though it seemed that he did not show in his behaviour that he was repenting.”

When he chuckled, Lydia had an expression of amazement.

“Thank you, Lydia. If so, my father’s words then would be similar to the countless harsh scoldings I had received from him.”

“Were you scolded often?”

“Yeah, I’m often told ‘Someone like you isn’t my son!’”

“What did you do?”

“Hmmm, it’s a secret.”

He tried to evade the topic, but that appeared to come across unnecessarily clearly to Lydia.

“It involved women right!”

“Eh, of course not. I was a child you know.”

“You must have been a ladies’ man since you were small.”

“I only have you now.”

As he said so jokingly, he hugged Lydia’s head, pulled her towards himself and kissed her on the temple of her forehead.

Lydia entrusted her body to him as if she felt at ease.

Edgar also felt at ease. Simply by having Lydia by his side, this year’s Twelfth Night was different from those before this.

“When I’m with you, I’m blessed with good fortune. This was the first time I had ever gotten the slice with the beans.”

“Have you made a wish?”

“Of course.”

“I see, that’s good.”

“Aren’t you going to ask me what I wished for?”

“Eh, well, since it isn’t necessarily a wish that you’ll want to talk about…”

“Lydia, if so, do you have wishes that you can’t tell me?”

“Wh-why?”

She wriggled within his arms. Bull’s eye, thought Edgar as he felt a little mean. Even though he wanted to know everything about Lydia, it was boring that she did not think that way.

“Since you’ve always gotten the slice with the beans, this time you also intended to get the slice right? I heard a little from Kelly that you might have a wish right?”

“… That’s why, it’s fine isn’t it? Since I didn’t get the slice with the beans.”

“Isn’t it a matter of the luck which should have gone to you ended up coming to me? Shall we divide in two the good fortune from which wishes will come true?”

“Geez, like I said, it’s fine with just your wish coming true.”

“Eh-, why? Let’s tell each other.”

“No we can’t.”

As the two of them sat on the sofa by the fireplace side by side, they argued back and forth continuously.

“For me…”

“I said you don’t have to tell me! … I won’t tell you mine.”

“I wish that your wishes will come true.”

“Th-…”

Lydia suddenly turned red, and looked down as she seemed a little embarra.s.sed.

Because, seeing her like that, Edgar realized that her wish was something which would definitely bring him happiness, he decided not to press her on it any further.

“Wh-what is it. I said that I won’t tell you mine right?”

Lydia looked at Edgar, who fell silent suddenly, suspiciously.

“I think I get it more or less.”

“That can’t be. What? What do you think it is?”

“It’s a secret.”

Though there was no way for him to know, he found Lydia, who became redder and fl.u.s.tered, adorable.

“Geez, Edgar.”

He embraced her when she bent forward. Burying his fingers in her supple hair, he thought fondly of her soft skin and slender figure.

I must repair the doll house properly.

From now on, each time I enter the doll house, I will see the scene from this Twelfth Night and the memories that the two of us made.