Chapter 2 ♦ The strange visitor
The roof of the Earl's mansion, which overlooked the whole of London, was a very nice place. Nico sat down in his favourite position. The bright lights of the neighboring mansion’s wall, the small birds returning to their nest, the white moon peering at the earth from between the clouds; although there were all kinds of things that make people feel happy, Nico was concerned about Lydia, and waited there for her to come home.
After Lydia and Edgar’s lawyer friend got in touch, she went out. Despite Kelly accompanying her, Nico couldn’t calm down as it was concerning the will. Even Nico began to care whether or not this was a matter that irritated Lydia.
Nico swung his long tail listlessly and sat down on the edge of the roof. The night wind blew his gray hair into a mess. Although Nico had the form of a cat, he believed that he was a gentleman; he was usually very attentive to his manners, but he didn’t dislike the wind at this time. So regardless of how the fur on his body was blown, he didn’t care, and merely straightened his tie several times.
“Lydia...... is so slow.”
Nico was Lydia’s childhood friend, and was also her companion as she was a fairy doctor. Nico felt that Lydia’s current pain was slightly his responsibility, so he couldn’t be so relaxed anymore.
Lydia’s mother, Aurora, was once Nico’s partner, but the problem of Aurora leaving the clan involved Lydia. Thus, Aurora asked Nico to help Lydia, but having a fairy like Nico by Lydia’s side also caused Lydia to associate with fairies all along, furthermore, this was also the reason why the McKeel clan still had a predestined relationship with the fairies.
Having already parted with the McKeel clan on her mother’s side, there was no need for Lydia to become a fairy doctor.
Her abilities were something Nico didn’t need to talk about, and it was what the McKeel clan wanted to pursue.
“Ahh...... what should I do?”
“What’s wrong, Mr. Nico?”
Walking on top of the roof, it must have been Raven questioning Nico.
This foreign attendant was an existence slightly different than other people, as he was born with a sprite inside of him. Although he was loyal only to Edgar, he had been resembling an ordinary person more and more recently.
He was worried that something had happened to Nico. Because Raven was very powerful, with regards to Nico, he was a trustworthy partner.
“Well, recently I’ve seen Lydia in a lot of pain.”
“Miss Lydia is someone who is very strong.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. She is clearly suffering a lot, yet she stands strong and cares about everyone, she is an extraordinary Countess.”
“She is too desperate, which will make the surrounding people worried instead.”
“Conversely, everyone is worried about Madam Lydia, so I think that this is just fine.”
Sometimes, Raven understood the nature of things sharply. He himself didn’t have the self-awareness in this aspect, so he did not need to be self-assertive.
“Ahh...... that’s also true. I’m also quite worried about Lydia. I’ve been together with her since she was a baby, so I can’t help but want to protect her emotions.”
Lydia was already a remarkable adult. Even though he was quite worried about whether or not problems would arise with marriage and her childishness, she was already a Countess now.
Presumably, Nico still had the mindset of acting as Lydia’s protector for the time being.
“It’s almost a full moon.”
Looking up at the moon that was gradually appearing between the clouds, Raven mumbled.
“The fairy kingdom...... it can be found, right?”
Nico raised his head and muttered too.
“It can’t not be found. ......It was because of this that Lord Edgar vanished without a trace.”
“Is the Earl’s disappearance related to the departure of the ship to the fairy kingdom?”
“I don't know either, but I don't think that it is completely unrelated.”
Is that so. Nico lowered his chin. Suddenly, the sunroof had opened from the inside of the room, and the head butler, Tomkins, extended his plump body out the window and peered out.
“Ahh, Raven, sure enough you were here. Can you come over here for a moment?”
“Yes, I will go.”
“A visitor came suddenly, how should I say it, their appearance is quite strange.”
Together with Raven, who quickly got up, Nico also followed.
“Their appearance is strange?”
Nico asked, and Tomkins looked over, widening his round eyes.
“Yes, Mr. Nico, they don’t seem like an ordinary person no matter how you look.”
Nico and Raven followed Tomkins into the reception room. A young girl, looking around nervously, sat in a chair and waited.
Lydia returned to the Earl's mansion, and arrived at the door of the reception room together with Kelly.
Upon hearing from the head maid in the entrance hall lounge that there was a visitor, Lydia entered the reception room, and standing before her was Nico, Raven, as well as Tomkins. Nico turned around, and said “Lydia” dully.
“Do you know this person?”
Lydia shook her head promptly. The guest was a young woman whom she didn’t recognize.
She stood up in bewilderment, stared at Lydia, and curtsied stiffly.
“Are you the Countess of the Blue Knight Earl family? ......My name is Emma. I know that this is very rude, but I beg you to save me......”
“Eh, you said to save you......?”
Lydia asked her without thinking.
But Lydia sensed that it was already too late. Regardless of that, her face was as pale as a corpse, and her clothes were covered with mud and blood. Her neck was bound with a rope, and it was quite difficult for the light to illuminate that area.
“It seems that I’m going to be ki--killed...... so I escaped. But those people won’t let the people who flee get away...... many villagers who escaped have been killed. And I’m bound to be... I heard that the only one who can withstand those people is the Blue Knight Earl family.”
She still hadn’t realized that she was already dead. But Lydia was bothered about whether or not to tell her. Compared to that, she first had to understand what had happened.
“Those people? Who are they?”
The one who asked in place of Lydia, who was caught up in contemplation, was Darnell Finn. Lydia had just come across him, who had come to visit, in front of the mansion.
Lydia was preoccupied by situation with the visitor, that the head maid that informed her of, so she forgotten to guide Darnell to a different room. But because of his calm attitude, Lydia calmed down as well.
Darnell also possessed knowledge pertaining to mysterious things, like fairies and magic. It shouldn’t be necessary for him, who stood in a position opposite to Edgar, to have a good relationship with Lydia, and was an enemy regardless, yet he was someone who couldn’t be abandoned no matter what.
“They are very terrifying people...... I was brought in front of a man who looked like an aristocrat, then I was forced to wear red-hot iron shoes......”
She couldn’t continue speaking. She buried her face in her hands to stop her wails.
After hearing about the shoes, Lydia looked at her feet, and was so shocked that she couldn’t help but take a step back.
Kelly looked away, and Darnell frowned. The iron shoes and the scorched feet were caught in their eyes. Her body was almost gone, why hadn’t she taken off those vile shoes off yet?
“Why would they be so cruel? Who on earth is the aristocrat?”
“He was addressed as Your Majesty.”
“Your Majesty...... is it the royal family?”
Suddenly it became very painful, and Emma pressed her hands against her chest. She desperately tried to squeeze out words.
“That man deliberately let me escape, but took me back, as if he thought that this was very interesting to look at.”
And then her life ended in this way?
“Please save me...... I am already at my wit’s end, regardless of where I escape, my feet are still threatened by the iron shoes.”
She spoke, and her body gradually faded away.
“Disappearing......?”
“Did she faint?”
Darnell still spoke in a calm tone.
“Ghosts faint too?”
Raven’s calmness always felt quite out of proportion to his questions.
“Perhaps they do...... after fairies faint, their bodies will disappear.”
Lydia was also affected and calmed down. Upon seeing everyone standing there in a daze, Tomkins spoke.
“Aside from that Madam, how about receiving this guest first?”
Lydia, who was gradually returning to her senses, invited Darnell to sit down.
Raven and the housekeeper withdrew together, while Kelly sat down on the side.
Considering that Lydia wasn’t allowed to be alone with male guests, it was only natural that Nico, who sat by Lydia’s side, felt that Kelly’s approach was also in order to increase the number of people.
“If it’s a ghost, then they will purposely show their form in a way that is most like themselves, while they were alive. Since she wasn’t aware that she had died, doesn’t this explain that appearance of her shortly after she was tortured to death?”
Nico crossed his arms, tilted his head, and said.
“Yes. However, it was because she died not long after, her mind didn’t leave her body.”
This truly is quite strange.
If it was a fairy, it shouldn’t be surprising to know the Blue Knight Earl’s name, then come to ask for help, but Emma’s self-proclaimed name suggests that she ought to have been human not long ago. She hadn’t noticed that she had become a ghost, why would she think to find the Blue Knight Earl for help? It could have also been family, relatives, or friends that knew of the Blue Knight Earl; it was more reasonable to think in this way.
“Didn’t she go to the Prince’s organization? It should be the reason that the organization is somewhat wary of the Blue Knight Earl’s family.”
Lydia was surprised by Darnell’s words.
“Please hold on, then, ‘Your Majesty’......”
“Is it the Prince?”
The fur on Nico’s back stood.
“I’m afraid that’s the case. If ‘Your Majesty’ is the Prince himself, then wouldn’t it be the Earl? He was washed away by the groundwater at that time, and though he was rescued, he became the Prince.”
Indeed, the people in that organization did address Edgar as “Your Majesty”. They had the eager anticipation of making the Prince within Edgar lead them after his awakening.
However, Edgar’s parents were killed by the organization, then he was taken away. He suffered all kinds of abuse and brainwashing in order to become the vessel of the next prince and then escaped; now, he was acting as the Blue Knight Earl, fighting against the organization.
“How...... how could that be! Edgar wouldn’t do that sort of excessive thing!”
Upon recalling Emma’s feet that were forced into the iron shoes, Lydia shook her head desperately.
“But she said that she saw the man that was called “Your Majesty”. In that organization, the Prince’s power is absolute. It is impossible for anyone other than the Prince of the Stuart family, who controls the Unseelie Courts to be called Your Majesty.”
“But--”
“If the Prince’s memories stifle the Earl’s personality, Madam Lydia, then that person over there isn’t the Earl that you know. Taking pleasure in doing cruel things, he certainly is a demonic existence.”
“No, regardless of what happens to Edgar, his consciousness won’t be taken away by the Prince. ”
Upon seeing Lydia, who spoke desperately, Darnell sighed.
“......Perhaps. I do not know the Earl very well. That’s why, this time it was a little surprising. He said that he was going to protect you, then actually went and fought the Nuckelavee.”
However, Darnell suddenly walked out with a straight back and strengthened the tone of his speech.
“That isn’t something that can be done with an ordinary mentality. Because of this, it’s possible that he obtained the help of dark forces in order to satisfy that desire. If he voluntarily got a hold of the Prince’s powers, then that will be more dreadful than anything else.”
It was quite rare for Darnell to display his own feelings.
In order to achieve this wish, even though Edgar made a pact with a terrible demon, even though he would no longer be an ordinary person, he did not hesitate. Therefore, Edgar’s strength made Darnell feel a sense of crisis instead.
“Becoming like that, he isn’t obsessed with the throne, but you. You’re in grave danger now. You will become a victim of twisted love.”
Suddenly realizing that he spoke these kinds of words, Darnell immediately stopped and shook his head for losing his calm.
“I’m sorry. I have to go back.”
Thus, he immediately stood up.
“Are you going back? Why did you come here?”
Nico asked. Speaking of which, Lydia still hadn’t asked Darnell the purpose of his visit.
“......Ahh, that’s right.”
Suddenly grabbing his head in confusion, he opened the violin case beside him, took out a bouquet of primroses from the inside, and handed it to Lydia.
“During the time that the Earl is absent I thought about capturing your heart, but I could only think of giving this to you.”
This was also a completely genuine thought. Thinking about it carefully, treating another person’s wife like this was quite discourteous. Lydia widened her eyes with great embarrassment, but Darnell seemed more embarrassed than her. He, whose words and actions were dull, quickly spoke out of character.
“I’m still not used to doing this kind of thing, and with regards to you, accepting other people’s gifts and pursuits is a common occurrence, right?”
He shoved the bouquet into her hands.
“In any case, I ask that you do not reject it, please.”
Being asked in this way, Lydia could only accept it, furthermore, she didn’t think that Darnell had romantic feelings for her, so being sent flowers by bachelor in this way didn’t bring about a sense of guilt.
“Mr. Darnell, because you are the Prophet, you gave me flowers? You think that I am likely the fiancée of the Prophet from the McKeel clan’s sacred land.”
A century ago, the prophet of the McKeel clan was sleeping in the sacred land in order to fight against the “Prince of Calamity”. The one who opens the coffin and is able to awaken the Prophet is the chosen “fiancée”, a woman amongst the McKeel clan that can communicate with fairies.
In fact, the Prophet and the engagement were similar to that within the legends, and didn’t seem to exist. During this century, all kinds of unexpected matters occurred, and therefore, there existed a possibility that an immense change had already occurred in the future foreseen by the Prophet. Darnell claimed to be the Prophet, and said that he couldn’t completely recall everything; whether or not he was the true Prophet, Lydia didn’t know.
But his goal was very clear. In order to overthrow the Prince, the help of the “fiancée” was required, so in any case, he had to take Lydia as his fiancée.
Although she felt that he was a very charismatic violinist and a very honest person, Lydia believed that there likely wasn’t any special purpose of him giving her flowers.
“That can’t be denied. It's just that I’ve always wanted to know what my real identity is. Now that I’ve met you, I'm starting to think about my deeper-seated fate. Don’t you want to know what you must accomplish in this world?”
“I’ve haven’t thought about it, I chose to be myself.”
“A Countess, huh.”
Although Lydia nodded her head, her confidence was wavering.
A Countess, was this truly the role that Lydia chose? I don’t understand at all.
Due to Lydia having received the magic influence of the Prophet’s fiancée, she wasn’t able to give birth to an heir of the Earl family. Despite Edgar saying that it didn’t matter, within the immense tides of fate, perhaps this wasn’t allowed with regards to Lydia’s position as the Countess.
But Lydia really wanted to always stay here, and be together with Edgar.
“Knowing how you’re going to play the role, then continuing on in accordance with your own desires, these people become quite happy in return.”
Grasping his hands on his knees and listening to Lydia’s mumbles, Darnell suddenly narrowed his eyes sadly.
A young teenager sat on the throne. He wore a crown embedded with rubies, known as the “Black Prince”, and he held a scepter adorned with the world’s largest diamond. The teenager sat on the high chair and looked at Edgar with discontent.
Gathered around him were all kinds of unusual fairies. The Unseelie Court, who emerged with dreadful appearances, were also attracted to the teenager’s dark magic and kneeling in worship.
Edgar seemed to naturally know who this teenager was.
He is the original “Prince”. The essence of the Unseelie Court were for nurturing demons like him.
He was the illegitimate son of the royal family.
He won’t fall in love with anything. Thus, he was indifferent towards the throne and whatnot. He merely hated everything, and felt that forcibly taking everything and destroying it was a fairly joyous matter.
The adults around him instilled in him the idea that Britain was originally his, but he merely suffered irrational abuse. Speaking of his goal, he merely wanted to look down at the war-torn people, the fallen royal family, as well as the collapsed cities.
Therefore, he was quite hollow. By watching the suffering of others, and watching terror and despair strike other people’s hearts, he obtained momentary excitement and a surge in spirits, then became hollow again afterwards. Why couldn’t he be satisfied? It wasn’t known if it was because the impatience gradually accumulated, causing him to have an illness of constantly seeking stimulation. Edgar understood him as if he understood his innermost feelings.
“So you’re my new physical body. Hurry up and let me leave this place.”
Said the teenager on the throne. And sitting on the throne, he was like a man surrounded by a lattice cage, as if he were imprisoned.
This lattice, showing a mottled appearance, was an oily green stone.
As expected, this is merely a dream. But in his own heart, could the “Prince’s memories” be imprisoned by doing it like this?
Not only did Edgar know that he was the original prince, but he also seemed to know that he had lost his physical body at the age of fifteen.
The Prince’s memories, which seeped out from the gaps between the cage, unwittingly infiltrated into Edgar’s heart.
He had already lost count of how many times this teenager appeared in his dreams.
(It’s better to not approach him, if you don't want to touch that power.)
Arrow’s voice came from the side. He was the Earl family’s fairy, and usually stayed by Edgar’s side all the time; he was the star of the Star Sapphire, which was embedded in the Merrow’s sword. Normally, Edgar wasn’t able to see Arrow, but in dreams, perhaps the fairy realm could be seen. He emerged with the appearance of a silver child.
“Arrow, don’t you want to access that power? The completely awakened strength of the Star Ruby, which has been sealed for a long time, is over there.”
(Although I’m quite interested, is that the strength bestowed upon me? No, you should use the power of Star Sapphire. The Star Ruby isn’t entirely my power, it’s the ugliness of those guys.)
The fairies lingering around the throne looked towards Arrow.
If Edgar became the Prince, perhaps the Blue Knight Earl family’s sword would surely become a weapon of destruction.
Originally, the Blue Knight Earl could use the two powers of defensive blue and offensive red, which the sword possessed. But because the red star was the magic of the Unseelie Court, it was a more dangerous power.
Thus in order for people to not misuse it, the Blue Knight Earl sealed the ruby’s powers.
Edgar did not have the genuine bloodline of the Earl family, and wasn’t able to draw out the sapphire’s powers. But what was ironic was that after he became the Prince, he was able to draw out the Star Ruby’s powers and demonstrate the sword’s abilities.
“What are you guys talking about? Speak louder if you’re going to talk.”
Anxiously calling out, the teenager raised the scepter. Edgar looked at him.
“Dying at such a young age, huh. After all, ordinary people have the weakness of a physical body.”
“What I have is strength. If it’s a physical body, it can be changed at any time, that is a completely insignificant matter.”
Edgar quickly headed towards the teenager. One by one, he walked up the steps towards the throne. The closer he got to the teenager, the more clearly he could sense the teenager’s memories and feelings.
If the teenager was touched, then Edgar will lose his sense of self; he really wanted to know if this was true or not, and so he continued to get closer.
“Then why are you so empty? I can only be angry at the emptiness in your heart.”
“It was taken away by them. Those Englishmen took everything of mine...... hurry and come to my side. After you become me, you will be stronger, and you will obtain all the power you want.”
Edgar stopped and smiled at him provocatively.
“You have absolutely nothing, so nothing can be obtained from you at all.”
The imprisoned teenager impulsively stood up, grabbed the lattice, and gazed at Edgar sharply from between the gaps. It was a gaze that was seemingly able to piece and see through a person’s heart.
“When facing me, no one has not wanted to obtain my powers. Why are you so determined? Do you not possess hatred and desires?”
Of course I do. His hatred towards the Prince as well as his strong vengeance helped him continue on. It was presumably this kind of feeling that increased the dangers of Edgar and the Prince merging together.
So, he tried to keep himself calm. But whether it was his vengeance or his regretful feelings of his oppressive nature, it was all thawed by Lydia’s warmth. Because she was around, Edgar gave up his obsession with the Prince and the Sylvainford family, then continued on living.
“You...... have already obtained satisfaction? What do you have. Take it out!”
It’s Lydia.
Lydia, who forgave him, healed him, and said that she would love him no matter what happens, supported Edgar the entire time. There is no need for anything else, no matter where he was, he had already obtained satisfaction.
“Regardless of who it is, I won’t hand them over to you.”
Edgar gave him a strong gaze in return, as if to instigate a conflict.
Amongst the persistent glaring, Edgar suddenly felt like his heart was being toyed with, as one hand brusquely trespassed into his heart.
Lydia's smile, her gentle words, the scent of chamomile remaining on her adorable lips, her soft hair, her moist eyes, were all treasures that Edgar had to protect.
Even if the Prince occupies his own heart, it was only her that Edgar would never give up on.
In order not to let the teenager find his and Lydia's memories, Edgar desperately concealed his heart. But the strange monsters surrounding the teenager were already rushing towards him.
(Lord, hurry up and open your eyes!)
Arrow shouted.
Open my eyes? How do I do that?
Suddenly, a large white object jumped towards him.
It was a fluffy ball, no, it was a dog. The puppy, which had become enormous, barked fiercely. The Unseelie Court before him gradually withdrew.
At the same time, Edgar felt the floor beneath his feet collapse, and then he fell. But Arrow was above, looking at him calmly.
(You will win when you escape, and that is now.)
Edgar merely relied on his body’s sense of whereabouts, and quickly broke away from the dream.
(You have a fine servant.)
Edgar, who regained consciousness in bed, merely heard Arrow’s voice, but he was already gone.
But that white puppy jumped onto his chest. Bark, the puppy called out.
“It’s you, you woke me up.”
The puppy immediately around Edgar, who woke up. He got up from the bed and fed it the dried meat on the table.
At that time, Edgar found a very rare ring on his finger.
The ship is in Wickerbone. The night of the full moon after the vernal equinox, depart for the green wilderness.
What to follow is the path where the ancestors journeyed to seek the new world.
The sun rises from above the stone, falling at the end.
Beyond the end of Double Britain’s magic pathway, a divine power is collected there.
Cross over Lyonesse.
Grasping the rudder and keys, find the island of happiness in the vast ocean.
When was that?
On a sunny, rare warm winter day, Lydia and Edgar set off together toward the outskirts, happily travelling on a boat.
“On the hills of Wickerbone, there has been a lot of progress in the restoration of the ship painting.”
Edgar smiled, and handed a glass of wine to Lydia. The two of them on the ship bathed in the sunlight from the sky and from the reflection in the water, and sensed the early spring ahead of time.
Edgar’s blond hair and smile were very dazzling. That day, she couldn’t help but fix her eyes on him with an uncharacteristic gaze. That mood, Lydia still remembers to this day.
Edgar’s eyes that gazed at Lydia overflowed with tender love.
“The night of the full moon after the vernal equinox, depart for the green wilderness.......huh. In short, it has to be done according to the details of the poem.”
The contents of the poem were written down in the pendant of the map to the fairy kingdom, and the details were already memorized completely. As long as they did according to the contents of the poem, then they could reach the fairy kingdom.
Through their efforts, the ship was found. It seemed to be a fairy ship that the former Blue Knight Earl hid in a secret place for his descendants.
The river flowed comfortably without waves. The landscape of a sunny and clear shore was everywhere. Sometimes, sheep could be seen poking their heads out of the woods.
Because Raven was rowing at the front of the boat, this was the alone time between the two of them, as said by Edgar.
He touched Lydia's hand without restraint. Thinking that he pulled her closer in order to play with her hair casually, he kissed her on the head unexpectedly.
“......Hey, speaking of the ‘path where the ancestors journeyed to seek the new world’, the Blue Knight Earl originally lived in Wickerbone, right?”
“It’s possible. In the past, those that lived on the British Isles were from tribes that had deep roots with the fairy race. After the Vikings and the Saxons were driven out of the land...... they went to the border areas of Wales and the highlands. Among them, there was also a tribe that crossed to Brittany, they were the distant people that went over the ocean.”
“So the target of the Blue Knight Earl’s ancestors was the fairy kingdom as well.”
“Yes, we have no choice but to take the same path.”
“However, in order to find this path, we must first solve the contents of the poem.”
Lydia was sighing, but Edgar looked at her happily.
“I understand it more or less.”
“Eh, really?”
“However, there are some areas that aren’t understood. Because it’s a fairy’s ship, perhaps the sea route can’t be explained with an understanding of reality.”
“Hey, tell me quickly. That’s my job.”
Lydia leaned her body forward. He hinted at her with his eyes, then whispered in her ear.
“Kiss me and I'll tell you.”
“Eh......”
Edgar brought his face close to her and smiled. Lydia refused harshly because she was teased. But the cozy feeling of the tranquil sunshine as well as the unusual feeling of the river swaying the small boat made Lydia relax her mood a little.
So, she shyly offered a touch-and-leave kiss. Edgar blinked, then gazed at Lydia as if it couldn’t have ended.
It can’t be helped, she could only bring her lips close again.
As if he couldn’t wait for the moment of touch, he leaned his head forward and kissed her on the lips. Gently rubbing against each other, he encouraged her to open her lips. Being urged with great nature, Lydia unconsciously responded to him.
He himself unconsciously moved Lydia's body with strange passionate feelings.
He hugged Lydia gently and lay down on the board of the small boat. Lydia was forced to topple down as well. However, this completely turned into a position of Lydia pushing him over. She left his lips in bewilderment, but within her daze, that fervent impulse hadn’t disappeared.
“You still remember the way to kiss.”
Lydia immediately blushed and intended to leave his body. But Edgar wanted to stop her from leaving, and used his arm to embrace her back.
“Wh--what are you saying! ......That’s because, many times with you......”
“Don’t let other men treat you like this. Because this is what I taught you, a special method that makes me really happy.”
“How could I possibly do that!”
Despite Lydia protesting in her loudest voice, the thought of “it turns out that this can make Edgar feel happy” appeared in the corner of her mind. Because she was like this, Lydia was so embarrassed that she couldn’t say anything.
“Fascinating. The pure and innocent Lydia has become an expert at kissing, how cute.”
The river air was clearly quite cold, but her face was so hot that it became red.
“I still want to tell you more.”
“A--any more than this won’t be remembered!”
Although this was said firmly, her words weren’t persuasive at all, and she was pressed against his chest the whole time.
“......Compared to this, Edgar, what I want you to tell me is the fairy kingdom’s......”
Lydia tried to change the subject, but Edgar changed his posture, causing the two of them to switch places. This time, it became her looking up at him.
The sun poured down through his blonde hair, and the glittering radiance before her eyes was so beautiful that Lydia was enchanted.
Raven, who was to the side, entered the edge of the field of vision.
“There’s no need to be in such a hurry, right? The boat tour still has a lot of time.”
Closing her eyes, Lydia followed the soft whispers. There was a slight sense that his body was moving. Yes, he said.
So Lydia opened her eyes and the vast azure sky entered into her field of vision. Lying down on the boat, the sky was not obscured by anything.
While the white clouds drifted peacefully, her feelings that overlapped with the flowing river felt as if she were floating in the sky.
“See, in this way, it becomes only our world, right?”
He lay down beside her, looking up at the sky.
“Like this, perhaps we can go to the fairy kingdom.”
Lydia realized that her hand was held by Edgar. Although there were still many worries regarding future matters, as long as they sensed each other’s love, they would forget their worries.
“The fairy kingdom’s ship must be as cozy as this boat. So when the time comes, let us admire the moon together.”
“Ah...... yes. As long as I’m with you, I think any wish will come true, no matter what it is. With the things that are impossible for me, you are definitely able to make miracles happen.”
I must bring this person to the fairy kingdom. Because I am a fairy doctor of the Earl family.
At that time, Lydia thought so strongly.
But now, on the occasion of setting sail, Edgar, wasn’t by her side.
Where is he, and what is he doing? Did he truly become the Prince, and abandon all of his plans with Lydia?
No, even if they are separated, the heart won’t change. Only this couldn’t be doubted, Lydia said to herself, firmly grasping the locket that contained the map to the fairy kingdom.
“So Lydia, what’s Edgar’s explanation to the poem?”
Lota asked with her arms crossed.
Before setting sail on the full moon, all the members that booked the travel in advance had gathered in the Earl’s mansion.
The date of the voyage couldn’t be delayed either, if you simply missed it, then you would have to wait another year. Lydia still hadn’t truly made up her mind yet.
Edgar was no longer here; can the goal of reaching the fairy kingdom be achieved? Lydia took his place and led everyone off.
“Lydia?”
Presumably, the only one that was at a loss was Lydia. Tonight, everyone had a solemn expression.
“Ah, I’m sorry. Well...... let’s take a look at this first.”
I must pull myself together, Lydia told herself, and then unfolded the map that Paul was holding on the table. This was a map that recorded the straits of England and the United Kingdom, as well as the portion of the coastal regions of France.
Apart from Lota and Paul surrounding the table, there was also Francis, Kelly, and Raven. The above mentioned were the members appointed to ride in the fairy kingdom’s ship.
“Um, Mr. Nico isn’t here.”
Raven looked around with great concern.
“It’ll be alright without the cat. Hurry up and get into the subject.”
Raven glared at Francis, who spoke. It wasn’t known whether or not it was his imagination, but it was as if that expression carried a murderous aura.
Some time ago, Francis joined the “Scarlet Moon” members in the search for Edgar, and returned to London when the search ended.
He would talk to Nico sometimes, but he still seemed to think of Nico as a cat.
“He must be in his usual bad mood, that’s all. Raven, how about passing on the conversation to him afterwards?”
Raven nodded; his discontent seemed to have disappeared that way. After he withdrew the murderous aura, Lydia breathed a sigh of relief, then began to speak.
“The riddle lies in this part of the poem in the pendant, ‘the sun rises from above the stone, falling at the end of the land’. In other words, the crucial point lies in the east stone and an area in the west end.”
“When it comes to the west, would it be a coastline that can connect to the sea everywhere? In this way, the meaning of the ‘end of the land’ is there.”
Lota leaned her head forward.
“Yes, but look here.”
Lydia pointed to the map. The sea to the west of the British Isles has a peninsula that stretches out. Thus, everyone’s gazes gathered at the summit of the region of Cornwall.
“......Land’s End, so that’s it, the ‘end of the land’ is precisely like the toponym of this area!”
Paul leaned out his body, and Francis called out afterwards as well.
“There’s one in Brittany too! It has the same name, Land’s End!”
The Cornwall region lies on the opposite shore of Brittany, sure enough, it was an area in the western end, as pointed out by Francis.
“Look, Finistere also means ‘Land’s End’ as well.”
“Finistere? Isn’t that Mr Francis’ last name?”
Kelly spoke, so Francis had an expression like he had just realized it a moment ago.
“Ahh, yes. I don’t usually think much about what my name means. That’s right, my ancestors were there. Then Lydia, did Edgar realize the meaning of ‘end of the land’ as well? What about the stone aspect?”
“Well, Edgar thought that it could be a stone remnant. That should be an area where there are deep roots with the fairies, and where magic can easily be gathered, right? ”
“Yes, Double Britain, in other words, the British Isles and Brittany, have the same stone at the ‘end of the land’. If it’s said in this way, there ought to be stone remnants in both locations.”
“Yeah. The largest remnant of the British Isles is Stonehenge, and Brittany’s is......”
“The Carnac stones!”
“Then, what is the magic line?”
“The various places where magic gathers, though separated, are also connected. For example, a stone’s remnants or a stone base, these places are arranged into several lines, or put together inside a triangle. With these features, there were many remains that could be found along the regional line that connected Stonehenge to Land’s End. So Edgar thought that this might be the line where magic is gathered.”
“With the same reasoning, will the headland summits of the Carnac stones and Finistere have to be connected? But there are several headlands.”
“If it’s the westernmost end of Brittany, it’s Pointe du Raz.”
“Extend these two magic lines, then you’ll get a point of intersection. A point in the Atlantic ocean should have a special domain of magic.”
“In other words, that place is Ibrazel......”
Lydia nodded.
Everyone around the table nervously found a point on the map that had nothing on it.
“However, Edgar wasn’t certain about whether or not it was possible if we depart from here.”
“Why?”
Lota leaned her face to the side quite energetically, and she appeared vigorous with her hair tied with rope.
“Aren’t there any more clues in the poem?”
What on earth does ‘cross over Lyonesse’ mean?
“Lyonesse, huh. The country from the legends has to be reached first.”
Paul tilted his head.
“‘What to follow is the path where the ancestors journeyed to seek the new world’. The ancestors of the Earl family seemed to have reached Ibrazel after crossing Lyonesse. No, it's because Ibrazel can only be reached by getting through Lyonesse.”
“It’s possible. So, where is that?”
“I don’t know.”
Within legends, Lyonesse is like the sea country of Brittany, as it is a nation that has close ties with the fairy kingdom. So Lydia asserted towards Edgar to consider finding Lyonesse as her duty as a fairy doctor. He wasn’t here now, and the riddle really was left behind for her to solve; Lydia felt rather uneasy.
“Well, there’s no need to be so worried, it can be found within the voyage route.”
“However, we don’t have the key to the fairy kingdom. Edgar is probably holding it.”
“That might be it too. Because Edgar got married, it would become Lydia’s as well. Since before, the city’s key was left to the Madam for safekeeping, so Lydia might also be holding the key.”
Francis spoke frankly like always.
Is it really such a simple thing, Lydia thought. Even Edgar couldn’t see the key, and granted that he could, he wouldn’t know how to accept the key either.
In short, the problem could only be put aside for now.
“Speaking of which, can the ship sail in the wilderness? From where would it head out into the sea?”
“It seems to say that there is a sea of the fairy realm nearby. But we can’t find the bearings of the fairy realm’s sea, so in order to not lose our way, we have to set out from a sea from the human world.”
“If that’s the case, then it’s here, the Aspin River.”
Paul pointed to Aspin River on the map, and Lota pressed her face close to the map to have a look. Despite their shoulders touching, Lota didn’t mind, but Paul was even aware of other people’s gazes.
At one look, it was Paul’s unrequited love. Although Lota didn’t have an awareness of the opposite sex at all, Paul was like a very special existence to her. And the action of Lota sticking to him made Lydia see it.
This ought to have been a romantic feeling. Even Lydia, who was quite awkward with love, felt it, so she felt that she had to support them.
“By the way, Lota, did you the Grand Duke’s permission for your voyage to the fairy kingdom?”
This was going to be an unpredictable voyage. The Grand Duke was rarely reunited with his granddaughter. Taking Lota away from the Grand Duke made Lydia quite worried.
“Yeah, he approved formally. Ships are in my field of expertise. There’s no way he won’t let me go.”
“Hehh, so be properly gave you permission. Him wanting you to soon settle in, despite the Grand Duke complaining.”
Francis and the Grand Duke met in the Earl’s house during the Christmas holiday, and he seemed to be open to have a chat with everyone. Even the Grand Duke, who doesn't complain about other people doing reckless things, was able to hear these kinds of things from him and thus, Lota was perhaps important to him.
“Grandpa, even this kind of thing was said out loud? But he didn’t say anything to me. However, he seemed to have said that there wasn’t a problem being together with Paul.”
“Eh, me?”
Paul suddenly spoke rashly.
“Were you planning on not going?”
Lota asked uneasily. It truly was rare for her to actually dependent on men like this.
“......No, it’s n--not like that, the Grand Duke, he...... acknowledged me......”
Lota revealed her dimpled smile at Paul, who was deeply moved.
“Yeah, as long as it’s you, there won’t be a misunderstanding.”
This is a really good sign, Lydia happily thought. But Paul was very confused, and Francis patted his shoulder to encourage him.
“You weren’t acknowledged as a man.”
“......Ah.”
Lota and Lydia sensed their gloom, but soon after, they heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching.
“Lydia, come here for a bit!”
Nico cried while jumping up. Following behind him was the ghost of Emma.
“Countess, is it true that you will be heading out soon? What...... should I do......”
So she was still there, Lydia mumbled. Because she disappeared at that time, Lydia thought it would have been nice if she had ascended to heaven.
“I’ve said it before, I cannot take you with me.”
It was just as Nico said. Although she was still here asking for Lydia’s help, she couldn’t be brought to the domain of fairies. Ghosts and fairies do not have physical bodies. However, there was also a time where the two were confused with each other. But there were very few cases in which the deceased turned into fairies. Even so, if she truly became a fairy, then that would be a very unfortunate matter for her. The dead who become fairies cannot go to heaven.
Naturally, this was unacceptable to those who lived with faith. She couldn’t be allowed to come into contact with the fairy realm.
Lydia left the lounge and brought Emma to another room. In the quiet room, she began to speak cautiously.
“I apologize, Emma. I can’t bring you, you can stay here.”
“But, if I’m found by the pursuers...”
She, who was trembling, seemed to have still not noticed that she had become a ghost.
Even if they were being chased due to fleeing, the Prince’s organization probably wouldn’t chase a person to death.
“It’s safe here.”
“......Really?”
Although she was still quite uneasy, Lydia’s words were very resolute, so that unease was slightly appeased.
“Yes, so you don’t have to be afraid anymore.”
Her heart calmed down, which made her accept her death naturally. That was the journey of returning to God’s side.
“Madam Lydia! It’s terrible!”
Along with the sound of panicked footsteps, Kelly called out for Lydia. She, who was supposed to still be in the lounge, came flurrying in, holding letters and other things in her hands.
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