Hakushaku to Yousei

Apart from the silence and especially cheerful mood, Lydia wasn’t any different than usual.

In the morning, she would get dressed, then sit down at the breakfast table. Whether it was adding the amount of milk to the black tea or spreading thin jam onto the bread, she did it without a sign of hesitation.

The meals were sent by Raven to Edgar’s room. Edgar wanted to make Lydia not appear in front of people before returning to London as she was, and considered asking Paul to bring Lydia back to her room after the meal. 

Obviously, it was himself that kept Lydia here overnight, and felt that it was too late to care now, but it was really noticeable during the day. Lydia would care about the gazes of other people, so he ought to be doing this.

“Lydia, it is delicious?”

Lydia put down her tea and smiled.

“Is that so? That’s great.”

Although dressing room illuminated by the morning sun was a little cramped, the two had enough s.p.a.ce to eat. On the contrary, he could view Lydia closely when having a meal, even with a smaller table, so it wasn’t bad at all that way.

“After the auction ends tonight, we will return to London, so we don’t have to pretend that we aren’t in a relations.h.i.+p together......”

Edgar stopped halfway and put down his knife and fork.

Perhaps she felt that he had a serious att.i.tude, Lydia also stopped eating. 

“Lydia......what should I do? I am willing to do anything you say, so please let me hear your voice.”

But she merely looked at Edgar in a strange way.

He frowned, and Lydia pushed a plate filled with sausages towards him. Did Edgar’s expression seem like he didn’t have enough to eat? Lydia seemed to want to share her meal with him.

Edgar shook his head, expressing that it wasn’t like this, then held Lydia’s hand that was on the table.

“Whether you are discontent or have any complaints, I will listen to you, so please tell me how you are feeling.”

Although Lydia seemed a bit surprised at that moment and immediately gave him a smile.

“Are you disillusioned about me? Even if you say so it won’t matter, if you don’t respond, how will I have the chance to explain myself?”

He used both of his hands to hold Lydia’s hand, and she did the same.

“I love you.”

Lydia was unable to understand the pain in his heart, and simply smiled. 

“Although there are times where I get emotional, and times when I will unintentionally say hurtful things to you, it doesn’t mean my feelings for you have changed. You understand that, don’t you? You are the same way, aren’t you? Although you won’t talk to me, you still love me, and I know that your smile isn’t the least bit fake.”

He grasped Lydia’s fingers and folded his hands together like in prayer.

“I love everything about you...... I don’t even want to lose the you that was genuinely angry at the time.”

Edgar poured out these words in pain, and didn’t hear the knock on the door. It was not until Raven came over and put his hands on his shoulder that he finally raised his head.

“Mr Paul is here.”

Edgar came to his senses and gently released Lydia’s hand, trying to reveal his usual smile towards Paul as he turned his head.

“Good morning, Earl.”

Paul, who stood at the door, looked like he still hadn’t woke up yet, as he was probably investigating information late last night.

“Hi, you’re really early. I thought that you’d still be sleeping, so I planned on calling you a bit later.”

“Well, it’s because......”

Paul scratched his head and a girl with brown hair tied in a bun came out from behind him.

“I woke him up.”

“Lota! Why are you here?”

Edgar’s face immediately stiffened and without a care in world, Lota walked up to him. 

“Huh. Yesterday Raven said that Lydia told me to go back first, and I found it suspicious. As I thought, wasn’t that your idea?” 

“Why are you still here?”

“I was taking care of my family’s house and helping fix the roof, and they were very friendly to me as a result. Aside from that, why won’t you let me get close to Lydia!”

“If you are here, then Lydia won’t pay attention to me.”

“You’re so honest that even I can’t complain.”

Lota put her hands on her hips as if she couldn’t bear it anymore, and stared at Lydia.

“Lydia, do you know me?”

Lydia looked at Lota and smiled, but her reaction was merely that, not even saying a word.

After smiling with Lydia, Lota looked up, seemingly having given up, and sighed.

“Yeah, I just heard the same thing from Paul. Edgar, what did you do to Lydia? Be honest.”

“Don’t presume that it’s my fault.”

“Then can you guarantee that you didn’t do anything?”

“This is our problem as husband and wife, it has nothing to do with you.”

“Yeah, I was originally relieved at having Lydia by your side after getting married, as a result something happened, and it’s because you haven’t been caring for Lydia properly that you don’t know what happened!”

“You’re saying that I don’t worry about Lydia? I’m thinking about Lydia all the time.”

“Your kind of concern is one-sided self satisfaction. The degree of hara.s.sment towards her clearly exceeded normal standards, and yet you were unwilling to do the things that Lydia hoped for you to do.”

Lota probably hit the nail on the head, as Edgar felt a surge of anger.

“What do you know!”

He stood up and glared at Lota as if he was getting ready to fight.

“Of course I understand! Because I am Lydia’s good friend!”

Lota also brought out an overbearing att.i.tude, and at the same time, Paul came between the two in a panic.

“Ahh, please calm down. If you two fight, you will only make Madam Lydia troubled.”

Although Lydia just smiled, Edgar moved away from Lota towards the window while sulking. 

“You see, Lydia has been a little down lately.”

Lota used a calm tone to speak, as if she was trying to cool her mood.

Edgar didn’t know that Lydia was down. Although it was inevitable that the two didn’t even have a good chance to talk to each other, he felt remorse and replied snappily:

“Then what did she come to you to discuss?”

“Nothing, it’s just that the day you said you were with everyone from Scarlet Moon discussing things until midnight, that day I happened to be with Paul and the Louis brothers.”

Lota would often go to the rooms that Paul rented, which was really quite problematic. Thinking about it carefully, revealing the hole in the theory in this kind of place was to be expected.

Edgar had a bad feeling about this as he buried his fingers in his hair and turned towards Lota.

“Lota...... you wouldn’t have told Lydia about this, would you?”

“Of course.”

How could this be?

“That way, wouldn’t Lydia think that I was lying?!”

“But you were already making up excuses to begin with!”

“That’s different. Lydia seemed to think that I was discussing things with the Scarlet Moon members, I just didn’t make any particular corrections, that’s all.”

Lota opened her mouth in surprise.

“-are you stupid? What do you mean, ‘seemed?’ The way of a normal wife of society, would be to pretend she’s thinking that and investigate her husband in secret, am I not telling the truth?! Just because you’re lying in this kind of place, your unfaithful actions were exposed!”

At the moment Lota said the word ‘unfaithful’, Lydia’s head turned around, and Edgar hurriedly opened his mouth:

“Lydia, I wasn’t being unfaithful, please believe me. It’s just the usual social interactions, and it was only because I was keen on talking about insignificant topics and making bets that I lost track of time, but I wasn’t being unfaithful.”

As soon as he explained, Lydia smiled. Edgar’s expression relaxed for a moment, but he was aware that it was too early to be at ease.

Because the distrusting Lydia that was being embraced by Edgar’s lies would be the Lydia that wanted to run away on that night.

He was both late and broke the promise, while making excuses as well, and when Lydia wanted to approach him to explain the zircon’s significance, he treated Lydia as a stranger.

Lydia’s heart was probably quite uneasy all along, so she refused at that time.

“Ohhh, Lydia has become so lenient, not bad.”

Lota coldly ridiculed him, and Edgar became increasingly dejected.

“How is that any good!?”

Once he got angry, Lota looked at him sympathetically.

“If you don’t think this situation should continue as it is, then good. What are you going to do?”

Edgar shook his head.

“The cause isn’t clear, so I don’t know what to do......”

“Lord Edgar will likely have to extend his stay here. Last night, Mr. Nico said that there must be issues with this place.”

Raven said.

“What did Nico say? Did he find anything?”

“No, nothing as of yet.”

Is that so. Edgar collapsed onto the chair, and Lydia walked in front of him.

She gently reached out and brushed the blonde hair with her fingers.

Before, when Edgar revealed his fragile side, Lydia would do this. The only person he would completely reveal the profound wounds in his heart to was Lydia. 

Lydia, just like that time, used both her hands to embrace his head, and pressed her cheeks against him.

She once promised that she would love him no matter what, and now Lydia was like herself from that time, trying to soothe Edgar’s pain. 

He hugged Lydia, his heart merely feeling absolute affection.

“Hey, Edgar.”

He rarely immersed in Lydia’s love, yet Lota called out to him without the least bit of worry. Edgar intended to ignore this, but his shoulders were grabbed.

“Look.”

“Tell me after.”

“Lydia doesn’t appear in the mirror.”

Edgar couldn’t help but look.

Beyond his gaze, there was a marble washbasin. Placed above it was a mirror that reflected Edgar and Lota’s figure.

However, Lydia’s figure wasn’t among them.

Surely, Edgar was holding Lydia, but she wasn’t reflected by the mirror. 

After Paul ran over and looked into the mirror, he gasped.

“This......what on earth……”

As Edgar was surprised, an idea came.

The reflected painting.

The mysterious painting of changing content was the traded item between the Blue Knight Earl and the former owner of this land, that is, the former Baron.

Also, this mansion had a room full of mirrors, and Lydia fainted there.

The mirrors had some important meaning. 

The reason why Lydia is the way she is, definitely had something in relation to mirrors. 

                                                                                                                                                 *

After Lota walked into the room full of mirrors, she looked around, unable to speak.

At a first glance it looked a child’s bedroom, but there were various sized mirrors crammed onto  the walls, perhaps it was the mirrors gathered from the mansion.

“So Lydia collapsed here.”

“Yes.”

Raven replied. He led Lota, who wanted to look at the room that was full of mirrors, to enter.

“Even if you examine it, nothing can be seen. I thought this place was suspicious before, so I surveyed the whole room.”

The voice came from the window. They turned around and looked at Nico who crossed his arms and stood there.

“That’s right, you were the first one to find that Lydia fainted, what was the situation at that time?”

“What do you mean?”

Nico stepped down from the window and walked towards Lota.

He looked at Lota with his hands on his hips. Lota crouched down to make it easier for him to speak.

“What I’m asking is whether or not the mirror reflected Lydia’s appearance.”

“Lydia is human. She isn’t like us fairies, so it"s only natural that she would be reflected by the mirror. But, well, if a high-level fairy such as me is willing to, I can find ways to be reflected by it.” 

Nico stood in front of the mirror on the wall, tidying his fur and necktie, and his appearance truly did appear in the mirror. But at that moment, Nico who was in the mirror, suddenly disappeared, and then turned towards Lota and puffed out in pride. 

“Mr. Nico, you truly are amazing.”

Raven stared at him, and even Lota looked as if she saw a ghost,  but now wasn’t the time to be admiring someone.

“Hey Nico, in that case, would Lydia have become a fairy since she’s being reflected by the mirror?”

“Lydia turning into a fairy? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“However, her appearance didn’t reflect in the mirror. Right, Raven?”

Yes. Raven also agreed. As a result, Nico widened his eyes in surprise.

“What! You should have said that earlier!”

“I did say it.”

Although Lota refuted back, Nico was already in deep thought.

“That being said, then Lydia has lost her reflection. No, wait, although Lydia seems to have lost her will, I think that there isn’t something like a vessel here either, so could it be that her reflection……”

“Hey, you cat, I’ve been trying to find you for a while.”

Another voice came, but no one was near the window.

“I’m not a cat…… Ke--Kelpie!”

Nico shouted while pointing towards the direction of the largest mirror on the wall.

The mirror reflected a young man with black curly hair; he was a fairy who met with Lota from time to time, and was still revolving around Lydia’s side now. However, he wasn’t in the room.

While Lota was surprised, Kelpie came out of the mirror as if he was pa.s.sing through water and stood in front of Nico.

“Hey, you come with me. Lydia’s waiting for you.”

“Lydia? Kelpie, is that Lydia the usual Lydia?”

After hearing Lydia’s name, Lota couldn’t remain silent. She stood in front of Nico, and Kelpie looked at her as if it were troublesome.

“What, so it’s the pirate woman. Yeah, only Lydia’s consciousness is running around in the mirror and she can’t get out. She said to bring this cat over first at any rate.”

“What?! She asked me to go inside the mirror?”

Nico hesitated.

“Good grief when it comes to Lydia, obviously I am by her side. And yet, is this cat really worth relying on? It’s all because of that owl rascal who misunderstood me that made her say that I can’t show my face and things like that.”

“Hey, I want to go too. Lydia is over there, right? Can’t you bring humans over there?”

“You’re really brave.” Kelpie laughed.

“Having me bring you over is quite simple, but it’s better you don’t. The mirror on the other side has acc.u.mulated disordered magic, a human without magic will be detained. Even if I take you there, it will be very difficult to bring you back.”

Nico felt even more afraid upon hearing these words.

“I--I’m not going! I don’t want to go into that kind of strange place!”

“Ha? You’re a fairy, fairies have ways to protect themselves from magic.”

“B--but, won’t Lydia’s future life be protected by the Earl? That’s right, I will call the Earl over.”

Kelpie grabbed Nico, who quickly turned around.

“Cause there’s a chance of not coming back, Lydia said that the only person that can’t be brought over is that guy.”

“But I want to be able to come out.”

“You’re so annoying. It doesn’t matter if you can’t come out, you’re making me work like a cow staying by Lydia’s side!”

Kelpie grabbed Nico, who struggled, intending to enter the mirror.

“He--help me……”

Raven acted immediately.

Despite him trying to stop Kelpie, he had already transformed into a dark horse in an instant. Raven was nearly swept to the ground, but he still managed to grab Kelpie’s mane, trying to pull Nico away.

But Kelpie jumped into the mirror.

“Hey, wait......”

Lota immediately grabbed onto Raven’s coat.

While she gripped Raven’s coat tightly, she charged into the mirror. She thought that she would b.u.mp into it, but she didn’t feel any impact, as if she was flying in the sky. Not long after, Lota fell to the ground, like she was tossed aside.

She endured the pain and lifted her head, and saw Raven and Kelpie standing up quickly. At the same time, she realised that the room’s belongings appeared symmetrical to the arrangement from just a moment ago.

The large mirror was now behind her, she saw Nico on the other side, anxiously grabbing the fur on his head, with her and Raven collapsed by his feet.

“.....Wait, Kelpie, what’s going on!?”

Lydia saw Kelpie, who brought Lota and Raven, and couldn’t help but cry out.

“There was a small mishap.”

Kelpie murmured with disappointment.

“Lydia!”

Lota ran towards Lydia and hugged her, as if she couldn’t wait. 

“Ahh, it’s great to see you. I was worried about your situation all along.”

Lydia also hugged Lota, whose dimples were now in a position opposite from usual.

“Lota, I’m sorry that I couldn’t contact you. I’m glad that you were worried for me, but I didn’t imagine that it would turn out like this.”

Then Lydia did the same to Raven, who stood still, and he immediately stiffened, as if he was shocked.

“Raven, I have also brought you trouble. Was it because of Nico?”

Raven looked troubled for a moment, then shook his head and said:

“......Lord Edgar would perhaps commend me for coming here, because I can protect you from Kelpie this way.”

“Hey, don’t blame everything on me.”

“Nevertheless, Lydia, you spent the night here.”

Lota looked around at the cabin where they were with keen interest. 

Although this small cabin, that was located at the corner of a courtyard slightly apart from the mansion, was narrow, it had the feeling of a house, as it was probably a cabin that a gardener or a guard lived in. 

After all, Lydia stayed here alone last night.

“Well, yes, because I was driven out of the mansion by Owl.”

“My lady, was Kelpie with you?”

Raven glared at Kelpie and stood on guard.

“Kelpie was staying outside, and also Raven, he isn’t human, so you don’t have to worry about having to tell Edgar.”

Although Raven nodded with a blank expression, he was loyal to Edgar more than anyone else, so it wasn’t known whether or not he would obey Lydia’s request to not tell him. However, within time that he was staying here, it was impossible to tell Edgar even if he wanted to. 

“Good grief, I brought a troublesome guy in, that useless cat is practically so much better.”

Kelpie moved away from the doorway, and Lydia also urged Lota and Raven to go outside. The cloudless sky clearly reflected the swamp.

“Although it was foggy in the morning, it’s already cleared up now.”

Even if the weather was clear during the day, the night sky would definitely be covered by clouds. This was the situation of the moon not appearing for six years.

Lydia, Lota and Raven walked along the swamp. The water didn’t reflect anyone, and only reflected the surrounding scenery.

After walking to a place where the mansion was visible, Lydia stopped.

“I have to see Phyllis. Owl should have already gone to bed.”

“Who is Phyllis?”

“The girl that was thrown into the mirror. She is the granddaughter of Mr. Darnley, who used to live in this mansion, but she hasn’t been able to get out up until now.”

“The owl hasn’t appeared, but the girl wasn’t in the room with mirrors, did she wander off somewhere?”

Kelpie said.

“I hear a voice, it seems that someone is crying.”

After Raven said that, Lydia listened carefully. 

However, there was only the sound of the wind swaying the withered gra.s.s.

“I think it should be here.”

Lydia was led by Raven into a garden that was piled with dried leaves.

Finally, Lydia heard the voice too; it really was someone sobbing.

“Lydia, there’s someone over there.”

There was a orange-haired maiden sitting by the rock wall Lota was pointing at.

“It’s Phyllis.”

She ran over towards Phyllis, who raised her head in surprise.

“Lydia.......”

“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

“......Because I thought you disappeared, and that I was going to be alone again……”

“Oh my, please don’t worry. Thinking of a way to get out isn’t that easy after all.”

“But Owl said that the dark fairy from yesterday ate you……”

After Phyllis said that, she noticed Kelpie on the side and gasped.

“He said that I ate Lydia? Looking for trouble are we?”

“Kelpie, don’t glare at her.”

*Please read this at Daydream Translations*

Lydia then pushed Kelpie behind her back, then smiled at Phyllis and said:

“Don’t worry, he won’t eat people. That’s right Phyllis, I will introduce them. There two are my friends, they ran into a little bit of trouble, so they’re in the mirror.”

Lota smiled at Phyllis, but tears appeared in her eyes once more as she cried, then covered her face with her hands and said:

“Someone came in again, once someone comes in they can’t get out anymore...... it’s all because of me, it would have been better if Luna wasn’t dead, but me.”

“W--what are you saying Phyllis? Didn’t you say not to give up?”

“No, it’s already too late...... Lydia, I thought that I might change after meeting you, but I understood after being alone again that things cannot change.”

Lydia’s heart felt a burst of pain. 

Lydia encouraged Phyllis, but it was because she didn’t have the power to change the mirror world. Phyllis knew that Lydia was unable to get her out, was she disappointed?

Of course, Lydia knew from the beginning that she didn’t have the ability to rescue Phyllis, but she believed that as long as they worked together to find a way, there would definitely be hope.

“You’re clearly a boy, yet you love crying so much.”

A bellow suddenly came from the top of the stone wall.

It was a youth standing on top that was wearing beautiful ancient styled clothing.

“Owl.....” So it wasn’t that he was unable to move during the day. When it came to whenever he was seen at night, only the brown wings on his back weren’t there.

Owl glared at Lydia, Kelpie and the others, and was urging Phyllis to return to the mansion.

“Did you just say…… that she’s male?”

Lota muttered, as Lydia was full of confusion as well. Although Owl’s appearance made her a little frantic, surely he did say that. 

“You’re.....a boy?”

Phyllis had pale skin and a gentle appearance, and regardless of the slim figure and elegant long hair, it all gave the impression of a girl. For Lydia right now, the Phyllis in front of her looked like a girl.

Phyllis looked fl.u.s.tered and cried out again.

“Didn’t I just say to not cry? Come, hurry back to the mansion, these guys can’t be trusted. If you don’t listen to what I say, I won’t save you if something happens.”

After Owl said that, he immediately turned around.

Phyllis also stood up, staggering.

But she, no, it should be he, didn’t take a step. 

“Owl, in truth, you hate me, don’t you?”

Owl stopped, turning his head unwillingly.

“You know that Luna isn’t going to return, and so you hate me?”

“You said that she will never come back?”

He look up and raised his eyebrows in question.

“Because she is dead, she died in front of my eyes.”

“No, Phyllis, she likely isn’t dead. If a fairy loses its body, it isn’t necessarily dead.”

Lydia interrupted, trying to ease the unstable atmosphere.

As Phyllis has predicted, Owl seemed to have been already been aware of what could have happened to Luna. He replied in a firm tone, without the least bit of surprise: 

“That is why I am going to protect this place until the day Luna returns. As long as I am alive, I will protect this place and not let those vile Unseelie Courts take over.”

Owl clenched his fist.

“However, you simply said that Luna won’t come back again, yet for six years, you only knew how to cry incessantly and not do anything. Even if you were nearly killed, dressing up as a girl, hiding in here and pretending nothing happened, is there any meaning to that?”

Then he turned around again.

“Coward.”

After Owl spat that and left, Phyllis slumped down to the ground.

The person who wanted to kill Phyllis, was the one who killed her, no, his mother. Because Phyllis saw that person’s face, he was targeted. 

Phyllis only knew the person’s appearance, but not their ident.i.ty. However, his mother was said by surrounding people, to have been followed around by some man. 

Phyllis’ father was her mother’s fiancé, but he suddenly went missing before Phyllis was born. His mother worked in her friend’s variety store while raising Phyllis. At that time, he still didn’t know the existence of his grandfather.

The night his mother was killed, Phyllis was being chased by a strange man and desperately fled. He borrowed girl’s clothes from a house that was hanging laundry, and ran on a small path in the fields. He felt that he pa.s.sed the side of a carriage and saw the criminal’s face. He thought that if he wore men’s clothes, he wouldn’t know how it would end, and so he felt afraid.

Later, he hid in an uninhabited church, but the next morning, the janitors handed him over to the orphanage.

Phyllis didn’t know who the criminal that killed his mother was after all, so even though he saw the face, he couldn’t give a careful description because he was too young, and if the criminal himself didn’t appear before him, he wouldn’t be able to help.

Although he was under the care of the orphanage after the loss of his guardian, Mr. Darnley, who claimed to be his grandfather, appeared soon after and brought him to this mansion.

Phyllis believed that the man who killed his mother would surely come to take his life again, so he has been unable to stop the act of wearing women’s clothes. 

He hoped that when the murderer would appear again, they wouldn’t realize that he was the child from that time.

However, the man finally appeared. He noticed that Mr. Darnley took a child under his wing, concealed him and that the child was a boy.

After those six years had pa.s.sed, Phyllis still dressed as a girl. Being in the mirror yet fearing the criminal was basically meaningless, moreover the man already knew that Phyllis dressed up as a girl.

If that person killed Luna, who was pretending to be Phyllis and felt at ease thinking that he had already killed Phyllis, then it would be unlikely for him to enter into the mirror.

However, Phyllis had always continued to be afraid, not thinking of a way to get out of the mirror. Even though his grandfather was bedridden and pa.s.sed away later, he would only weep towards him.

The reason for leaving his hair long and dressing up like a girl perhaps wasn’t to flee from the criminal who murdered his mother, rather to escape reality altogether. 

Whether it was Owl hoping to find Luna, or Phyllis’ grandfather hoping that he would one day come out of the mirror, he had att.i.tude like it had nothing to do with him, and could only sigh at his own helplessness.

“.....Owl was right, I am a coward. ”

Phyllis muttered to himself, and even the tone of his voice was still that of a woman’s.

“Phyllis, I believe that people can change themselves. From now on, no matter what kind of person you want to become, you can definitely do it. I am the same, although I would give up on things that I couldn’t do before, but now I understand that there are things that aren’t impossible.”

Since meeting Edgar, Lydia had changed.

“Don’t you want to fall in love?”

“But.....”

He almost said something pessimistic, and so he quickly shut his mouth. Lydia thought that as long as he had hopes and dreams, then he would definitely be able to change.

“I have always been dressed like this, don’t you think it’s strange?”

“It’s okay Phyllis, I think boy’s clothes would suit you.”

“Do you want to fall in love as a man?”

Lota interrupted unexpectedly. 

“That is the case, isn’t it, Lota?”

After all, he is a boy. Lydia was absolutely convinced of this. Phyllis blushed as he stared at his hands that were being held by Lydia. Lota laughed after discovering his reaction, but Lydia did not realise this.

“I see, you still have the feelings of a man. Then there isn’t any problem with that, Phyllis you need to be confident in yourself!”

Phyllis’ shoulders were slapped hard, and so he released Lydia’s hands, fl.u.s.tered.

                                                                                                                                                *

The painting that was the portrait yesterday had become a landscape painting once more.

Edgar and Paul wanted to carefully investigate the painting that was taken down from the wall of the grand staircase, and so they asked someone to bring the painting to the parlor.

“That being said, Paul, she truly is still clingy with you.”

Paul was about to remove the painting from its frame, but because Lota wrapped around him, it was difficult for him to move.

Lota followed Paul around like a child, it was not known whether she was tightly hugging him, as she would pull his hair and clothes. She was also in a ridiculously good mood. 

“What! I--is that so? Lota was originally the kind of woman who would easily mingle with others.”

“Honestly, what progress have the both of you been making?”

Once Edgar asked, Paul looked away, fl.u.s.tered.

“Pr--progress? ......What do you mean?” 

“In any case, she doesn’t have anyone. If you’re interested then you don’t have to be modest. Honestly speaking, I really don’t want to recommend that savage person to a friend, but there are people in this world who like peculiar things.”

“Earl, what are you saying? Lota isn’t a peculiar thing.”

You wanted to correct that point? Edgar said this with a smile, finding it amusing.

“If by any chance other people know that your lover is that type of person, normal women won’t pay attention to you. But you don’t seem to need my advice.”

Lota brought her face close to Paul, and after their eyes met, he blushed and looked away. It seems that the normal women of this world were insignificant in his eyes.

Compared to this, Paul asked Edgar, revealing an impatient expression.

“Um, does Lota really have five lovers?”

He still seemed to care about that rumor.

“How could that be possible?”

“......Right.”

He revealed an expression of rea.s.surance. He was clearly someone whose mind could easily be seen through, and yet there wasn’t any progress with Lota, which was practically unimaginable.

“She has fifty lovers.”

“What?!”

“It’s all those strong guys in the East End of London. Having so many rivals is really exhausting.”

Although they likely weren’t lovers, but friends, there really were a lot of men that adored Lota. Despite being favored without using the status of a woman, she had other endearing qualities since the beginning.

Paul revealed a complex expression, but Lota naively put her head against Paul’s back.

“Is that so......Lota has a personality that treats everybody equally, and even if she gets drunk,  she would still act this way regardless of who it is.”

He truly was a man who loved to cherish people. Edgar felt disgusted at Lota’s current personality, because he would get the annoying feeling of being hugged by a man.

So from the beginning, he made sure to not approach Lota while helping Paul. 

On the other hand, Raven was waiting for orders at the corner of the room, expressionless.

“Raven, could you help in holding it up here?”

As Edgar opened his mouth, Raven complied perfectly. He usually won’t say anything unnecessary, so even if he didn’t speak, there wasn’t any difference.

But to say that there is no problem, that didn’t seem to be the case.

“Whoa! Lota, stop!”

Edgar suddenly cried out loudly as he was almost hugged by Lota. Raven immediately grabbed Lota by the neck and pinned her to the ground.

“Wait, Raven! Lota isn’t an enemy!”

Raven couldn’t control himself currently, so he was a dangerous existence that might kill people that he saw, as in the past. As long as it was someone who was planning to harm Edgar, he would attack them ruthlessly.

Edgar held Raven from behind, trying to pull him away from Lota.

Paul quickly helped Lota up, and as a result, she hugged Paul, not knowing what happened.

“Lota, are you hurt?”

“She seems to be alright.”

Edgar was relieved and released Raven. With a calm face, he went back to the painting in accordance with Edgar’s orders.

“Paul, could you tell Lota to leave for a moment? She should listen to what you say.”

“What? I doubt it.”

Despite Paul looking confused, he still stroked Lota’s head like a child.

“Lota, it’s dangerous here, so could you move away for a little while?”

Lota blinked as if she was thinking, then smiled and left the paintings. 

Sure enough, Lota trusted Paul deeply.

Having said that, not only Lydia, even Lota and Raven had the same disease, what on earth was going on?

About an hour ago, they fainted in the mirror room, and although they regained consciousness quickly, they soon turned into such a state.

Moreover, the mirror didn’t reflect their presences.

The situation unexpectedly turned out this way, and after taking Lydia’s condition into consideration, Edgar thought that the only reason could have something to do with this place and the mirrors.

At any rate, he needed to solve this painting first. Edgar carried out the investigation once more.

After removing the fixed frame on the painting, the inside of the painting was revealed.

“There is a signature. It reads Ashenbert. I don’t know whether or not it is the child of ‘Scarlet Moon’s’ founder.”

According to the era, it seemed that it could be the child that Julius Ashenbert’s lover gave birth to. His lover was also is a painter, who was said to be under the protection of the Blue Knight Earl’s artist organization, Scarlet Moon.

“Julius Ashenbert used this painting as a trade, and obtained the map of the fairy land, correct? Are there any other clues?”

After a closer look on the inside, there was a white object in a gap between thin plates. 

“There seems to be a sc.r.a.p of paper inside.”

In order to not tear the paper, Paul carefully removed it; it seemed to be a letter.

“It is.....a letter written to the Earl.”

Edgar took the letter, surprised, and the written recipient was indeed the “Earl of Ibrazel”.

The piece of paper wasn’t very old, so this letter shouldn’t be written to the Earl from three hundred years ago; at most, it seemed like an item from a few years ago.

However, the owner of this mansion pa.s.sed away two years ago, so the letter shouldn’t have been written for Edgar, but in hopes that a member from the Blue Knight Earl’s family from somewhere could find it.

This strange painting was drawn by someone who inherited the lineage of the Earl’s family, so perhaps he believed that this painting might be handed over to the Earl’s home after his death.   

Reportedly, after Mr. Darnley had said “the Earl still hasn’t come?”, he took his last breath. The one he was waiting for was the Blue Knight Earl’s successor, who was said to have once appeared on this land and made the moon reappear.

Edgar hesitated, he worried about whether or not he could read this letter.

He wasn’t the person that Mr. Darnley was waiting for, but other than him, the Blue Knight Earl’s successors, who were qualified to take the letter, have already been severed. 

He looked over towards Lydia’s direction. Lydia sat on the chair and gave a gentle look, revealing a smile.

She encouraged Edgar many times, saying that he would definitely become the true Blue Knight Earl. Edgar didn’t possess fairy-related abilities, but as long as Lydia was around, then he could accomplish it.

Edgar opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.

The signature was indeed Darnley’s, and the date was two years ago. He likely wrote it not long before his death. Darnley began to write the letter, hoping that the Earl would help his grandson, Phyllis.

“What’s written in the letter?”

Edgar quickly skimmed over it then frowned. Regarding this kind of content, if the recipient wasn’t the Blue Knight Earl, it wouldn’t have been odd if it was considered as prank mail and thrown out.

“Mr. Darnley’s grandson seemed to have entered the mirror.”

Paul opened his mouth, speechless.

According to the letter, the incident happened six years ago, and afterwards Mr. Darnley could see his grandson in places with mirrors.

The reason why Mr. Darnley was able to accept and treat this strange matter as a fact was because he knew such things had happened before.

“I heard that the fifth generation Baron of Rochester once traveled to other side of the mirror by the power of the Blue Knight Earl. However, Phyllis is different, I hope that you can make him return to this side. He is my only heir, the doc.u.ment of proof is with this letter. After I have pa.s.sed away, please handle the formalities to make Phyllis inherit all the property.”

The person in the portrait is the fifth generation Baron of Rochester.

This is a reflected portrait, and he traveled to the other side of the mirror borrowing the power of the Blue Knight Earl.

Mr. Darnley’s grandson is there currently.

“ ‘He’? Mr Darnley has a grandson and not a granddaughter?”

Paul was puzzled.

Indeed, the rumors including the ghost all mentioned a granddaughter.

“According to the content, he should be a boy.”

Why was it not a girl? The room of mirrors was decorated in a feminine style. Was it because something happened that he entered the mirror?

Then what about Lydia, Raven and the others?

Everyone fainted in the room of mirrors.

“Could it be that Lydia and the others have entered inside the mirror......”

Edgar turned around towards Lydia’s direction. She was currently sitting next to Lota, both smiling at each other. Then Lota suddenly kissed Lydia on the cheek.

“Hey, what are you doing to my Lydia?”

Edgar ran over in dissatisfaction, pulling Lota’s face away from Lydia, then embracing his beloved wife.

Even so, Lota still held onto Lydia’s hands, and Lydia also smiled towards her friend.

Even if Lydia was in an unconscious state, did she still prefer Lota over him? Edgar got angrier the more he thought that and shook Lota’s hands off, but Lota glared at him, unwilling to let go in defiance.

“Hey, why on earth are you guys fighting over Lydia like children?”

Nico, who appeared from the window, stood in front of Edgar.

“Nico, where have you been? Raven and Lota have….”

“I know. Kelpie appeared and took them into the mirror.”

“What did you say! Kelpie?”

“It seems that guy saw Lydia. The world on the other side of the mirror appeared to have acc.u.mulated abnormal magic, so when humans are caught it’s hard to leave. Because of the bogey beast, Lydia ran into the mirror, but the magic on the other side is keeping her imprisoned, and even if the bogey beast’s magic disappears, she still can’t come back.”

Edgar managed to take Lydia back from Lota’s arms, but upon hearing Kelpie’s name, he embraced Lydia, as if he wanted to protect her even more.

“In other words…… Lydia and Kelpie are in the mirror, right? It’s just like with Mr. Darnley’s grandson.”

“You said grandson?”

There was another voice that came from the direction of the window once more.

“Ohh, that little girl, no, I should say little boy. He is with Lydia and the others.”

Kelpie appeared and Edgar held Lydia more tightly. The current her, regardless of who it was, would straightforwardly display real emotions, and even if she faced Kelpie, she definitely wouldn’t hesitate to show a smile, that Edgar viewed as a treasure.

Such a waste. Edgar glared at Kelpie while not letting Lydia turn around and look. 

“Have you seen Lydia? You wouldn’t have done something strange, would you?”

“Hmph, aren’t you happy with that Lydia? Seeing you satisfied with an obedient wife, Lydia was really upset, so what’s wrong with me comforting her?”

Kelpie said that he comforted Lydia. At the other end of the mirror, the one that Lydia was most dependent on was perhaps this fairy.

Although it was inevitable, Edgar could not to keep calm. Besides, that was not the only thing that was inexcusable. 

“Can Lydia see us?”

“Yeah, if people on this side are reflected by the mirror.”

Would the Lydia on the other side of the world believe that Edgar was quite welcoming of the current situation?

He didn’t really think that Lydia was very willful. It was only because he should get what he wanted by request, and yet he was rejected that day, so he was a little angry.

What was Lydia from the other side of the mirror, thinking, when looking at Edgar who was like this?

“Is there no way…… for me to see Lydia?”

“Lydia’s body is here, do you still have to see her?”

Kelpie said that coldly.

“The most important part of her soul is gone, I’m not satisfied at all.”

Lydia twisted around in Edgar’s arms, as she seemed to have been scared by him talking loudly.

He faced Lydia like a child and smiled at her, expressing that it wasn’t serious. Despite him finding it contradictory to his own actions, he didn’t want to ignore the Lydia on this side.

Obedience wasn’t equivalent to being cute.

“Kelpie, even if Lydia sees me like this and is upset, it can’t be helped. However, the Lydia here is also very important to me, and it is my duty to protect all of her.”

Kelpie tutted and didn’t know whether or not to acknowledge Edgar’s feelings.

“I’ll think about it. But I have something that I want to you to investigate on this side.”

“What is it?”

“If you want Lydia and the others to return from the mirror, then Luna must be found. The one named Luna seems to be a fairy related to the moon, but I’m not sure what kind of fellow it is. Phyllis’ life was being kept watch by the man who murdered his mother, and when he was almost killed, Luna seemed to have come out from the mirror as a subst.i.tute. In other words, that guy currently might know of Luna’s whereabouts.”

“......You want me to go and find the murderer?”

[Ill.u.s.tration – Edgar, Kelpie]

“Yeah.”

“And the clues?”

“He’s a middle aged man.”

Kelpie finished, and prepared to turn around, so Edgar had to stop him.

“Wait, is it only that?”

“Yeah.”

“How am I going to find the murderer with only that?”

“This is for Lydia, think about it.”

“The man who almost killed Mr Darnley’s grandson might have sneaked into this auction.”

Edgar a.s.serted to Paul and Nico, who were in front of him.

“Do you have any proof?”

Nico crossed his arms and asked, looking proud. This guy was scared of going into the mirror and thanks to him, Raven was captured on the other side, and yet his att.i.tude towards the situation wasn’t modest in the least bit. 

“This mansion had rumors of a ghost roaming about since the past, and the ghost was said to be Mr. Darnley’s granddaughter. The person who specially came to this place and wasn’t overly curious is the criminal.”

According to Kelpie, the fairy called “Luna” became a subst.i.tute for Phyllis. If that was the case, wouldn’t the criminal be unable to determine whether Phyllis was dead or not? 

Fairies don’t have a corpse after death, so if Phyllis’ remains disappeared before his eyes, he would surely be filled with confusion and he might have believed that he saw a mirage. Even if he left the scene before confirming Phyllis’ death, upon hearing that the granddaughter’s ghost appeared in the mansion, rather than believing it to be a ghost, perhaps he would think that Phyllis might be alive.

“Not all of the people staying here are simply overly curious guys?”

“Yeah, because they are all members of the paranormal club. But I found it very strange, because if they simply wanted money, then they didn’t need to do such things. On the contrary, if they really cared about the mansion and the rumors of the ghost, they could only take advantage of the club. Mr. Chambers, who inherited the mansion, seemed to have recently joined the club, but made light of the rumours of the ghost, so I think he only joined to hold this auction.”

“Do you think he is the criminal?”

“There’s that possibility, besides, the right of inheritance is also involved…… but if the property manager found Mr. Darnley before he pa.s.sed away, then he truly doesn’t know anything, and he couldn’t have targeted Phyllis from before.”

“Then could be it someone else?”

“It should be somebody who claimed to Mr. Chambers that he could make a profit from the guys who are interested in the haunted house, and moreover, this is an opportunity to stay here using the auction as a purpose while investigating all over the mansion. The criminal probably wanted to confirm whether or not Phyllis was really dead, so it was impossible for him to not take advantage of this opportunity.”

“How can we identify the criminal?” 

Paul tilted his head and Edgar smiled at him. 

“The person should almost be hooked, because I have already cast the bait beforehand.”

At that moment, there just happened to be a knock on the door. Raven responded reliably and opened the door, and three men appeared. 

It was Mr. Chambers, the owner of the mansion, Mr. Beck, who was presiding over tonight’s auction, and Mr. Coen, who claimed to be a friend of Mr. Darnley.

“Earl Ashenbert, I heard that you informed everyone that it was best not to buy the goods at the auction, may I ask what is going on?”

Mr. Chambers looked quite distressed. This was understandable, after all, he put in a lot of money into the auction, and it could be a problem if the funds couldn’t be recovered smoothly.

“If you already heard about it, then you should be able to understand why, right? Mr. Chambers, you"re not Mr. Darnley’s successor, no, I should say that it would turn out this way sooner or later.”

Edgar didn’t intend on getting up from his chair, and so he leisurely looked at him.

“There might be some misunderstanding, isn’t there? Lord Ashenbert, I don’t know who you heard this from, but Mr. Darnley doesn’t have any grandsons or granddaughters. I have met with him several times and visited here once.”

Mr. Coen asked Edgar in a steady tone.

“Yes, if there is an heir, then the trustee does not have to specifically look for Mr. Chambers, furthermore, he doesn’t have to worry about how to handle this unsold house...... As the sponsor of this auction, I cannot tolerate malicious nitpicking.”

Mr. Beck was angry to the point his face was red.

“Oh, so you were the one who suggested holding the auction? Were you the one who invited Mr. Chambers to join the paranormal club as well?”

“It was me who invited him.”

Mr. Coen answered.

Well then, who is the real criminal? They all fit in with the rather obscure criteria of being middle aged men. Perhaps the three men aren’t the criminals, but the person inevitably has to show up one day.

While Edgar pondered, he began to speak, casting out the next stage of the bait.

“This isn’t nitpicking, I have evidence as well. The one that Mr. Darnley carefully hid and entrusted to me is Mr. Phyllis Darnley.”

“You said ‘Mister’? Isn’t it a granddaughter?”

“He is a boy.”

The criminal should know that Phyllis is a male. Was Beck truly skeptical? Edgar observed him carefully.

“Why would he entrust it to you? I don’t think that a young person like you would be an acquaintance of Mr. Darnley’s. At least I haven’t heard him mention your name while he was alive.”

This time, Edgar raised his head and turned to Mr. Coen, revealing a leisurely smile. 

“You should have heard it. The Earl, who Mr. Darnley was waiting for up until the last moment, is me.”

Edgar slowly got up from his chair. He stood up with a straight back; as long as he made a move, it gave off the impression of a n.o.ble, while reciprocating with a sense of intimidation. An elegant smile appeared from his refined face, and the people before him were immediately speechless.

“Earl of Ibrazel is my official t.i.tle, also known as the Blue Knight Earl. Mr Darnley mentioned this before did he not?”

As long as Edgar said that with a distinctive tone, people would presume that he was a man with a complex background. For Edgar, it wasn’t difficult to try and make others believe that he was an enigmatic man who couldn’t be contended against; this was only the first move in order to gain victory.

“......However, why have you come here now? After Mr. Darnley pa.s.sed away, why did you continue to hide the matter of his grandchild?”

Mr. Coen was very calm.

“Did you know? Baron Rochester, who lived in this mansion, was close with my ancestors, and this land has many unfathomable legends, so he needed to borrow the abilities that the Ashenbert family possessed.”

Edgar also replied calmly.

“Mr. Darnley’s grandson, Phyllis, is in the mirror. This is because the land possesses magic. If you wanted to come out of there, you would need special abilities. Mr. Darnley knew this and so he waited for someone from the Ashenbert family to appear.”

“In--inside the mirror?”

Their reactions were of course shocked beyond the level of surprise, but Edgar continued to talk leisurely.

“I am the Earl of Ibrazel who returned to England after three hundred years, and I received Her Majesty’s approval to rule over the fairy territory belonging to the British Empire. Mr. Darnley’s grandson was entrusted to me, so I must respond to his request, in order that Phyllis could be fairly considered as Mr. Darnley’s successor.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

Although Mr. Beck spat that out, it could be seen that he was trying not to get caught up in what Edgar was saying. 

“Mr. Darnley’s grandson will come out of the mirror, so you want me to stop the auction?”

“Oh my, Mr. Beck, you need to calm down first. Lord Ashenbert, regarding the situation about the rights to the inheritance, it wouldn’t hurt even if you reconsider while waiting for that Mr. Phyllis to appear, right? Tonight the auction will start as scheduled, because he might not appear.”

Edgar smiled at the reactions of the three people.

“Then I will bring the real successor before the auction.”

There was no need for the talk to continue.

Edgar urged Paul, and the two of them left the parlor. Raven silently followed behind, and Nico unknowingly disappeared.

“Earl, do you have a way of bringing Mr. Phyllis out of the mirror?”

Paul asked after hearing the whole conversation, as if he found it inconceivable.

“There is no way unless we find the criminal and know of Luna’s whereabouts. But on one hand, the criminal will probably act before the auction.”

That person knew Edgar was not fooling around. Since that was the case, he would likely be afraid if Edgar really brought Phyllis back. 

“Paul, please don’t let Lydia or Lota get close to me for the time being.”

Paul looked surprised with a taut face.

“......But Earl, aren’t you in danger right now?”

Paul turned his head back towards Raven, as he was worried about Edgar’s safety.

Although Edgar intended to become the bait by provoking those who had the suspicion of a criminal and making them attack him, they did not know whether or not the current Raven was perfectly guarding Edgar like usual. That being said, if the criminal was killed, then everything would have amounted to nothing, so it should be better to tell Raven to leave first, right?

“I might be.”

He wanted to see Lydia.

These were his sincere thoughts. As long as he could hear Lydia’s voice, hear her speak, a little danger was nothing. 

After going past the grand staircase, there were mirrors hanging on the wall. How was she getting by on the other side of the mirror now? Although his eyes were fixated on the scenery in the mirror, he could not see Lydia.

Although the mirror reflected Edgar and Paul, it did not reflect Raven’s figure.

Edgar looked out from a nearby window.

The vast swamps that surrounded the mansion reflected the scenery all around. Since that was the case, then he should be able sense Lydia’s presence somewhere over there.

“I’m going to take a breath of fresh air outside.”

After Edgar said that he went down the stairs.

                                                                                                                                                 *

“Kelpie, where are you going?”

Lydia asked Kelpie, who was walking ahead. He called Lydia to come out alone, and was now silently walking along the swamp.

“Aren’t you willing to take walk with me?”

“No, that’s not the case, but if you made it clear that you wanted to take a walk, then couldn’t the three of us enjoy ourselves?”

“Three..... wait, why did you come along?!”

After Kelpie turned his head around and chided him, Raven still followed behind Lydia’s back, remaining unmoved.

“I cannot leave Master’s wife alone with a horse.”

Kelpie tutted.

“Since they’re already married, can’t you loosen up a bit?”

“Due to the matters Lord Edgar encounters that are in relation to Madam Lydia, he can never remain calm.”

Is that so? Lydia felt doubtful. In Lydia’s eyes, Edgar was always going at his own pace, and never seemed to panic either. Furthermore, he was always self-centered regardless of the situation so Lydia was could only be bewildered by it every time. 

Upon mentioning that, perhaps Lydia should be more calm regarding her role as a wife.

With regards to Edgar’s excuses and lies, as well as the intimate relations.h.i.+p between them as husband and wife, she was making a fuss over small things, while being unable to give up her childish side. 

“Lydia, aren’t you more or less disappointed in marriage?”

Kelpie asked that while looking ahead and walking.

There were sounds of three people’s footsteps on the gra.s.s coming over. This was obviously the mirror world, and yet it was practically the same as reality. Lydia found this inconceivable.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“You’re still the same, being involved in troublesome incidents, and the Blue Knight Earl who merely possesses the name is basically useless.”

“It is my duty to settle those matters. This is what I ought to do, one way or another, for the sake of the Earl family.”

For Lydia, the choice of becoming the Earl family’s fairy doctor, as well as the determination to make this choice wasn’t difficult. However, the matter of having to act as the good wife in Edgar’s mind was actually something that she couldn’t accomplish smoothly.

So every time Lydia thought of this, her mood would become heavy. Compared to the possibility of not returning, she felt that this aspect of the issue was more serious. 

“Hey Raven, has Edgar said anything about me?”

“Yes, he said he loves you.”

Kelpie tutted again and Lydia blushed.

“That was said towards the gentle and tender me, right?”

“Both are the same.”

Lydia felt that it was not the same. The “Lydia” over there likely wouldn’t slap Edgar on the face.

How was he looking at Lydia now, whose body was here? Lydia didn’t understand Edgar’s way of thinking, so her uneasiness began to increase.

Regarding the clues of the man who tried to kill Phyllis as well as Luna, she had already entrusted Kelpie to inform Edgar of this. 

Will Edgar go and find that man? For the time being, Lydia could only wait for the results of his search, but if he had to find a man whose whereabouts were unknown, he would undoubtedly need manpower. Edgar might also leave here in order to investigate matters regarding Phyllis’ mother.

Thinking up to this point, Lydia couldn’t hide the loneliness in her heart.

If he left the mansion then she would not be able to see him.

“It’s better if you confirm it with the person himself for that sort of thing.”

Kelpie suddenly said that as he stopped.

He pointed towards a small bridge ahead of the path.

The suns.h.i.+ne was pouring down. The branches of the giant trees hanged down, seemingly covering the bridge floor. While the suns.h.i.+ne filtered through the leaves, and on the bridge reflected by the surface of the water, there was a figure.

There wasn’t anybody on the bridge before them, but the scenery reflected by the water had someone. It was Edgar, standing on the bridge on the other side of the mirror.

“That guy rarely comes to find me, just when I wondered what was going on, he said he wanted to see you no matter what, even if it was from across the mirror.”

Although Kelpie was the only one who had the freedom to go in and out of the mirror, Edgar asking Kelpie for a favor was truly unexpected.

“Although he wanted me to bring you out quietly, I have no obligation to listen to him. However, I feel that if you want to see him, then you can’t ruin this chance.”

Will Edgar think that if the two met, Lydia would run away again, just like that night?

Lydia stopped, with both her legs shaking, but it wasn’t because she felt that Edgar was terrifying, rather she didn’t know what to say in order to restore their relations.h.i.+p to before, so she was very afraid.

Even his desires to touch and kiss each other couldn’t be followed, if she a.s.sumed an awkward att.i.tude, would it make the misunderstanding between them worse?  

Even so, Lydia took a step towards the bridge. 

He must have wanted to see Lydia before leaving this place, because there were matters that he had to return to London to settle. 

When is the next time I can see him? I want to see him, then I want to apologise for last time, and tell him that I will wait for him.

I want to tell him that although I spoke selfishly, please don’t hate me.

Edgar was probably staring at the surface of the water all along. He turned his head slowly, and seemed to see Lydia’s figure on the bridge.

Lydia was shocked and stopped.

“Lydia? …...It’s Lydia, isn’t it? There is fine, please don’t leave, stay where I can see you.”

After he hurriedly said that, he added anxiously,

“Can you hear what I’m saying?”

Lydia nodded.

“.....Listen Edgar, I.......”

The words that she originally wanted to say had already disappeared from her mind completely and she couldn’t go on, but he smiled gently.

“That’s great, I can hear your voice clearly. Lydia, can you come a bit closer? Please let me see your face properly.”

Although Lydia tried to lift her head, she was unable to look at Edgar calmly.

“Hey Earl, you have to capture Lydia’s heart properly, otherwise I’ll take her away immediately.”

After Kelpie turned around and intentionally kicked the water, he disappeared.

As the water surface was disturbed by the ripples, Lydia couldn’t see Edgar’s figure for a moment.

But after the rippling disappeared, Edgar appeared right in front of Lydia’s eyes, which made her fl.u.s.tered.

“Wh--why did you suddenly come so close!”

“I’m glad. It’s the usual Lydia.”

He looked over, seemingly gazing at the water surface. As soon as Lydia became aware of the person she wanted to see, she didn’t want to leave even if she was embarra.s.sed.

“No......you’re making it as if I’m always angry.”

Maybe I am always angry. 

At least for now, if I show him a smile….

“Lydia, there is something I want to say to you.”

However, Edgar began speaking with a solemn face, so Lydia couldn’t smile.

He was probably going to say that he was leaving this place. He will take the obedient “Lydia” back with him, so perhaps the feeling of leaving was faint for him.

Lydia didn’t want to actually feel this, thus she took the initiative to speak. 

“I understand, Edgar, as soon as the auction finishes, you will return to London, right? Don’t mind me, Lota and Raven are here, so I won’t be lonely.”

Edgar revealed a troubled expression.

“Even if I am not by your side, will you mind?”

Oh no, I’ve done it again.

Why can’t I honestly say anything charming?

“I--It’s not that, I just don’t want you to worry about me. Although the bogey beast will pull pranks, I still have Kelpie here......”

“I see, having Kelpie by your side will make you feel at ease, won’t it?”

Saying that wasn’t great either. 

“Ah! But he is a fairy...... so, uh...... Edgar, you will find clues about Luna, right? I will wait for you.”

Edgar’s expression didn’t ease up at all.

“Are you really going to wait for me? I have already made you wait several times, and my senses have already become sluggish.”

When small disputes keep acc.u.mulating, it will become a fierce quarrel. But Lydia didn’t want to think about that. 

“......I have also done many things that have troubled you. But I won’t be selfish anymore, so rest a.s.sured.”

Although Lydia managed to squeeze out a smile, his eyebrows furrowed even deeper.

Have I said something that I shouldn’t have? What should I say to make Edgar happy? Lydia was confused and very anxious.

“Has the me over there given you any trouble? I think she probably won’t hide like me...... so…… um, be a little gentle with her tonight.....”

Oh no, what am I saying?

“I won’t do that.”

“What?”

“Your heart obviously isn’t there, I can’t ignore your will and have an intimate relations.h.i.+p with you, or it will the same as last time.”

Edgar’s face was seen in pain. Lydia began to worry again.

“Y--yes. As long as you see me, you will recall memories you don’t want to remember, nor will you be in that kind of mood.” 

Edgar sighed. The gap between the two shouldn’t be getting any closer the more they talk.

“Lydia, I didn’t come to talk about these things. Please say what you really want to say, tell me about your current feelings.”

My true feelings? Once Lydia pondered, perhaps she would act selfishly again.

“Even if it is a slight disagreement, I had thought our relations.h.i.+p wasn’t affected.”

Ah, that’s right.

The two’s relations.h.i.+p had collapsed after that matter.

Did Lydia not want to admit it?

She was afraid of facing the matter from that time. Being separated to two sides by the mirror made her feel like they were at a constant standstill, unable to forgive each other and naturally restore their relations.h.i.+p to its original state. Therefore, she was unable to understand Edgar’s feelings.

She didn’t know what sort of att.i.tude to a.s.sume either.

Edgar must be the same as well.

“...Has my selfishness hurt the feelings you have towards me? 

Lydia spoke, repressing her trembling.

“No, you weren’t selfish at all. I wasn’t thinking properly at the time. But, you’re still afraid of me even now, right?”

Her love towards Edgar hadn’t changed, and she hoped that they could interact like before. If she could show her feelings honestly like the Lydia without her consciousness, she wouldn’t know how much happiness there would be.

On the other hand, if he made that request again next time, Lydia wasn’t confident that she could produce the same feelings as before.

“I don’t know because I can’t touch you right now, so I don’t know your true feelings.”

Now, she could only say the most sincere words from her heart, and they were words that wouldn’t make Edgar happy.

Even so, he finally relaxed the expression on his face.

“If that’s the case, as long as we touch each other then we can understand. I promise you, I won’t make you feel afraid of me anymore, I want to hug you, and make it so that your heart will only be filled with joy and a peace of mind. For that day to come, I will get you out of the mirror.”

His strong tone made Lydia’s heart skip a beat.

Lydia felt her chest burning up, and she wanted to cry. As long as these feelings emerged, the confusion and misunderstandings of his thoughts became completely insignificant in her heart.

The thing she wanted to do the most was running into his embrace immediately.

This was an impossible thing to do. Lydia covered her face with her hands.

“Lydia I won’t leave your side. We’ll return to London together.”

Just when she heard his gentle words, his tone hardened again.

“Raven, Lydia will be in your care.”

Not knowing when, Raven’s presence was by her side.

Although Kelpie had already left, he seemed to be staying at the same place; was it because he wanted to see Edgar? Lydia raised her eyes and saw the gazes between master and slave meeting each other between the world reflected by the water. 

The gra.s.s by the bank of the river seemed to sway, and that faint vibration seemed to be flowing to  the gra.s.s growing in the swamp as well, making the water suddenly ripple. 

*Please read this at Daydream Translations

Edgar’s figure shook, and Lydia barely managed to see someone approaching him from behind.

It was a man holding an axe.

He raised the axe, and just when Lydia screamed, Edgar dodged it.

Have they already shown up?

Edgar thought as he got up. He also heard the sound of the wind; it was the sound of the axe slicing the air. 

The man struck and missed, he stumbled for a moment, but he turned towards Edgar again. Although Edgar acted first, grabbing and blocking his raised arm, he was pushed back by the man’s strength.

Amidst the struggle, Edgar took off the man’s hat and revealed his face.

He was the man that Edgar noticed as the most good-natured gentleman of the three men.

“Coen.....”

“......You, what is your intention? You said that you’re the real Blue Knight Earl? That’s just a fairy tale!”

While Coen said that, he felt a sense of crisis to the point of feeling the need to kill Edgar.

He saw Raven, who was reflected in the water, das.h.i.+ng over, but he couldn’t do anything, as he was in the mirror.

But Raven still tried to say something. The water was disturbed, making Edgar unable to hear clearly, but he noticed that Raven’s attention wasn’t on Coen.

He then released Coen immediately, and wanted to turn around.

But someone grabbed Edgar from behind, and this time, he collapsed and was wrestling with this man on the gra.s.s.

This man was Chambers.

“Don’t let go, keep him down!”

Coen commanded. Chambers was extremely desperate, because he was afraid that if Phyllis appeared, he would have to surrender his unexpected inheritance, so he complied and agreed to help him.

Edgar felt that he heard Lydia’s scream. He didn’t want her to see him in a miserable state.

Edgar struggled to kick Chambers’ abdomen, but Coen’s axe already approached his eyes.

At that moment, the person with the axe was suddenly thrown back unnaturally.

The axe flew in the air and Coen fell into the swamp. As soon as the dark skinned teenager standing in front of Edgar saw Mr Chambers crouching down to the ground, he kicked him. After Chambers became motionless, Raven grabbed him by the neck.

“Raven, that’s enough.”

Raven reacted to Edgar’s words and let go of Chambers, but the pet.i.te man was already unconscious.

“Hmph, luckily I brought Raven along Earl, because I saw you walking out on your own.”

Nico appeared in front him as he spoke. Towards this gentlemen standing on his hind legs and swaying his graceful ash-grey tail, Edgar rarely expressed his grat.i.tude frankly.

“Yeah Nico, thank you for your help.”

“If you want to thank me, Scotch whisky will do.”

The one that did the work was Raven. Edgar forced a smile while nodding.

Compared to this, Coen had to be dealt with now, as he fell into the swamp and couldn’t move from his foot being stuck in the mud.

The more he struggled, the more his body sank into the deep mud acc.u.mulating in the water.

“Hmm, I didn’t expect the swamp to be this deep.”

Edgar looked down at Coen from the sh.o.r.e and said that coldly. Coen’s thick eyebrows twisted in a complicated expression.

“......He......help me......”

He had probably already reached a dead end, to go as far as to say that to the person he tried to kill.

The water was muddy and in disorder; Lydia’s figure couldn’t be seen, which annoyed Edgar even more.

“Ha? What did you say? You wanted to harm me, it’s only a matter of fact that I’d have you go down to h.e.l.l.”

“Wait...... is your goal money? H--how much do you want…...”

Edgar pretended to think for a bit.

“I have something to ask you.”

After Edgar finished speaking, Coen had a sly look on his face. Perhaps he thought that if it came to making deals, he could find ways to gain the upper hand compared to this youngster.

But Edgar merely made the other person think that way. He knew that as long as he crushed the hopes that barely sprouted in their hearts, then he could control them as he pleased.

“You killed Phyllis’ mother, and you also want to kill him, right?”

“......I don’t know anything…...”

He was still playing dumb even now, which was within Edgar’s expectations. Edgar picked up Coen’s axe and revealed a sn.i.g.g.e.r while standing on the sh.o.r.e.

“Then I’ll let you choose. Do you want to slowly sink underwater while having mud fill your stomach and die under these circ.u.mstances, or is it better to have your skull immediately split open with this? You should have a careful think about that. Your weapon isn’t really suitable. Due to where it’s split, a long time will pa.s.s until you take your last breath, perhaps you can enjoy the two pains of having your head getting cracked open as well as the muddy water filling your lungs and stomach.”

Coen’s face looked pale. There was the sound of his mouth mumbling, but it didn’t seem like a reply at all.

“What? I can’t hear you. Then I can probably be the one to decide, right?”

Edgar raised the hand holding the axe.

“I--I’ll speak, I’ll say anything, please help me!”

He fell into the trap so easily. Although Edgar lowered his hand, he played with the axe while asking him.

“That’s good. Oh that’s right, when you tried to kill Phyllis, you broke into his room and chased him, who was trying to run away, then strangled him, correct?” 

“Ye…...yes.”

“After killing Phyllis, how did you dispose of him?”

“That…...he disappeared. Believe me! It’s true! After I took him out of the room, he just disappeared and turned into a stone…...” 

“Stone?”

“I’m not lying!”

He explained desperately. He scoffed at the matter regarding Phyllis being in the mirror, and yet he now had to think of a way to persuade other people to believe that a dead body became a stone; Coen seemed quite miserable that way. 

“It was a strange yellowish stone, because it felt creepy, I ran away just like that……”

Yellow stone. Edgar unconsciously touched his coat pocket to check that he was touching the golden zircon that the fairy brought.

This didn’t seem to be an ordinary zircon crystal, and it was believable that Luna was involved.

“Hurry up......hurry and help me......”

Coen began to groan.

Edgar revealed a slight smile while thinking to himself that it wasn’t easy to pull up a man who was chest deep in mud.

“Co--could it be that......you want to see me die?”

“You don’t have to be so afraid, if I wanted to kill you, I wouldn’t have to get my hands dirty. I will save you.”

Even if Coen was saved, he wouldn’t be able to prevent the collapse of his social status. While Edgar felt sorry for him, he turned towards Raven.

As he was instructing Raven to deploy the rope and for people to come…… 

Coen screamed.

He suddenly went mad, struggling with all his might. His bloodshot eyes widened from fear, merely knowing that something strange was happening to him.

“Le--let go of me!”

Coen cried among the screams.

“Someone’s grabbing my feet, le--let go……!”

All of a sudden, he sank deeply into the swamp.

“Wa...... wahhhh!”

Another scream came from behind; the voice came from Chambers who seemed to have already woken up. He was confused at what was happening to Coen and looked frightened, barely managing to use his legs to crawl away from the area.

When Edgar looked back to the swamp, he saw a struggling hand coming out of the mud, but it immediately sank and vanished. The surroundings the became silent again.

“It’s the bogey beast! That man was taken over to the other side!”

Nico waved his limbs and called out.

“You said the other side, meaning the world inside the mirror?”

“Yes, but the problem is more serious than that, because the man’s evil intentions extended the bogey beast’s powers. If his physical body dies here, his soul will be captured, and it might become a monster manipulated by the bogey beast.”

He said that as his hairs on the back immediately stood up.

“What did you say? Lydia and the rest are on the other side.”

Edgar began to panic, and Nico became anxious as well.

“What about Lydia......? Oh no, I can’t see her. If she’s still nearby then she might be in danger...... Oi, Earl, where are you going?”

“The water on the other end of the duckweeds is very clear, we might be able to see Lydia.” 

But as Edgar took a step, raindrops fell from the sky. It was sunny a moment ago, but without knowing when, the clouds covered the sky. The falling rain became more intense, and the swamp water had been completely disrupted by the raindrops.

If it was like this, then it couldn’t be used a mirror.

Edgar felt that it was someone deliberately separating him from Lydia.

“Nico, is this the work of the bogey beast?”

“Yeah, upon receiving the malice from that man named Coen, the bogey beast’s magic would surely increase as a result.”

Will Raven protect Lydia? However, being unable to stay by Lydia’s side made him anxious to the point where it was almost unbearable.

“......I also want to go to the other side.”

Edgar whispered.

“Wh--what are you saying, you don’t know whether or not you’ll be able to return.”

Nico waved his limbs again in panic.

“As long as I am with Lydia, it doesn’t matter to me where I am.”

“To begin with, how on earth do you plan on getting over there? It’s impossible for me. You must have a fairy who has powerful magic in order to do it. ”

Only Kelpie had a way.

(Right now, the mirror and the water haven’t merged, and that Kelpie must have also been stopped on the other side from coming over.)

There was a sound coming from the air. 

“Arrow.”

As soon as Edgar called out, Arrow appeared by his feet in the form of an impressive star sapphire-embedded sword.

“My lord, please think of me every now and then.”

Despite him saying that, Edgar, who was normal, wasn’t able to see this fairy. Moreover, the fairy’s real body was a long and heavy sword, whose outer appearance were like that of an period where it was used to fight against dragons, but there weren’t many situations where it came in handy. 

“How about you? Will you be able to take me to the other side?”

(My deepest apologies.)

“Then what are you doing out of the sword?”

(Please do not panic. I can temporarily transfer your consciousness into your own image reflected by the sword.)

“Then please do that.”

(However, your reflection will be a different image that doesn’t exist in the mirror world, so please do not touch people who are imprisoned on the other side. As they are magically detained, if you touch them, my magic will disappear, and you will return to this side.)

“......Is there no way for me to touch Lydia?”

However, he had no leeway for choices.

                                                                                                                                                 *

The man who attacked Edgar was the criminal who tried to kill Phyllis. Although the surface of the swamp water rippled, Lydia did not understand what happened however, she heard Edgar’s voice as he was questioning the man.

Then, something different happened suddenly.

The red-eared bogey beast appeared, dragging in the man who fell into the swamp.

This place is very dangerous.

After Raven said that, Lydia planned on leaving the bridge with him.

But just when she thought that, a shadow-like black mud spouted out of the swamp.

The red eared bogey beast stood on the tree, laughing loudly as he called that object to come out.

The black mud became a man with a dreadful appearance, who stood up from the swamp.

The red-eared bogey beast took the evil intentions of the man who wanted to kill Phyllis and pulled him in, and he no longer possessed the consciousness of a human.

Lydia ran along with Raven. Her foot was tangled by a dried branch that the bogey beast threw, causing her to fall.

(You"re a hindrance, loathsome fairy doctor!)

Lydia heard that and tried to stand up, but the dark figure charged towards her.

The hands full of mud caught her neck.

Compared to that, the bloodshot eyes approached her face as if an object which embodied malice stared at her, making her entire body tremble.

Lydia recalled Raven immediately charging towards the man and rescuing her. However, she appeared to be affected by the miasma and so she collapsed, unable to move.

“Edgar…...”

Unconsciously, the name of the person occupying her heart changed into a voice as it spilled out. 

“Lydia, I am here.”

She heard a voice. Lydia thought that she was dreaming, and if she opened her eyes, her dream would disappear.

So she shut her eyes just like that and whispered.

“I beg you, stay by my side......”

Lydia felt that making selfish demands in her dreams didn’t matter.

“After returning to London, you will forget me, right?”

“How could I possibly forget you?”

“......I’m scared of waiting.”

The voice paused, as if he hesitated. Not being able to hear a reply made her uneasy, and just when she almost opened her eyes, she heard him apologize.

“I’m sorry, I won’t make you wait any longer. I will stay by your side.”

“......Liar.” 

“I’m not lying to you.”

“But I’ve done selfish things. ”

“That’s all my fault.”

Lydia gradually woke up, and felt that she seemed to be lying flat. She was probably lying in the same place where she slept yesterday, that is, the bed covered with straws.

This isn’t a dream. However, Edgar’s voice was near her ear.

Could it be that something is wrong with my head?

“Lydia, I remember you said that you couldn’t understand my heart. Although I can’t touch you at the moment, I can get close to you.”

The presence of Edgar wasn’t even by her side, but his soothing tone made Lydia recall him stroking her hair.

“Close to me.....?”

“Can I kiss you?”

You don’t usually ask this sort of question.

“Let me kiss you in my heart.”

She understood, this was said in order to touch each others hearts.

She remembered the cautious kiss of those lips as well as the gentle, soft feeling that nearly made her melt.

Lydia wanted to hurry and return to that embrace as she held back the feelings of wanting to cry.

“You’re not afraid, right?”

After she nodded her head, she heard Edgar whisper, as if he was relieved from the bottom of his heart: “I’m glad.”

“Open your eyes and take a look.”

Won’t the dream disappear? Nevertheless, she was already unable to bear the thoughts of confirming it.

She opened her eyes, and a pair of ash mauve eyes were in front of her. He smiled as his blonde hair swayed lightly.

“Edgar....how come you’re here?”

Although Lydia’s mind was in confusion, she still tried to think. She looked around; this place was certainly the cabin in the corner of the courtyard, so she was still in the mirror world.

“Don’t tell me that Kelpie brought you in......” 

She quickly got up from her straw bedding.

“It definitely wasn’t me.”

At that moment, Kelpie appeared at the door looking angry.

“Good grief, the rain is falling heavily, even I couldn’t enter in and out freely when the swamp water was messed up.”

Now that he mentioned that, Lydia had only just noticed now that it had been raining all along.

“I used Arrow’s magic to get here. Coen was pulled in by the Unseelie Court, and I was really worried about your safety. However, my image reflected by the sword seems to be quite weak, so if I touch someone on this side, then I will be pulled back into the real world.”

“Then there is a way for you to return.”

After Lydia was relieved from the bottom of her heart, Edgar had a complicated expression and said,

“Aren’t you displeased at not being able to touch me?”

Come to think of it, it was certainly the case.

But as long as she saw Edgar’s face, the pain from the miasma gradually faded.

Just by having him by her side, the feeling of anxiety and fear also weakened.

Although her heart was nearly defeated because of the trivial matters, as long as she had reliable support, she could become strong.

“That’s right, Edgar, the zircon crystal!”

It was too soon to feel happy from meeting again. Lydia naturally resumed the awareness of a fairy doctor, which made Edgar smile wryly.

“After waking up, you turned back to your original self. Just a moment ago, you were undoubtedly acting extremely spoiled towards me.”

Of course, Lydia remembered what she said while half-awake, so she looked away from him.

She thought to herself that the current situation of Edgar not being able to touch her was perhaps a good thing, otherwise he would probably hold her stubbornly and stare at her face.

“Mo--more importantly, if we can awaken Luna, then we’ll be able to go back. I already knew that the zircon was Luna, then if you......”

How can we resurrect the zircon into the fairy named Luna?

“However, the zircon can’t be brought into the mirror.”

If that was the reincarnation of Luna, then the mirror can’t reflect it. In other words, she doesn’t exist in this world.

“You’re holding the zircon over there, right?”

However, concerning Edgar who came here, this meant that only Paul and Nico were left over there.

“Regarding what happened after, I have already asked Nico. I think Paul will help out as well, but I don’t know how things will turn out.”

Edgar, Lydia as well as Lota were unconsciously moving over there.

“Lord Edgar, there are not any other young women apart from Madam Lydia at the other side. Therefore, even if your desires cannot be stopped, you need not to worry about extramarital affairs.”

The person who said this was Raven. Lydia noticed that he was in the corner of the room, but didn’t expect him to say such things, and so her face turned red.

Edgar coughed intentionally.

“Raven, I am not a man without integrity. As I am a real gentleman, I wouldn’t do those kinds of things even if I am unconscious.”

There was nothing more doubtful than that.

“But, that pirate girl is also a young woman.....”

“That is out of the question.”

As soon as Kelpie interrupted, Raven quickly cut him off.

The me over there should be okay. Lydia restlessly aimed a glance at Edgar.

He grinned.

“Lydia, we are husband and wife now, you wouldn’t bother about little things happening, right?”

“Be--besides that, in regards to Luna...”

Lydia went back to the topic and decided not to think about it again.

“The zircon decorated on Diana’s locket is also a part of Luna.”

“The previous Blue Knight Earl gave a painting to the owner of this land in exchange for the magic map. That was what happened in the first place wasn’t it? Turning the fairy kingdom map into something unique ought to be that gem, that is, Luna’s magic.”

Lydia nodded in agreement with Edgar’s words.

“So, as long as Luna returns...... the map will also change, and might go back to the state where it wasn’t blank.”

“Is Luna the key to solving this mystery? Lydia, do you know how to wake up Luna?”

Lydia began to worry, as she tried her hardest to think.

“......Maybe we can only return the zircon back into Luna’s source of life, because the link between the fairies, land, and natural environment were quite deep to begin with. If it’s her birthplace, then surely, it might be able to breathe life into the zircon.”

“Doesn’t she come from the sky? Carrying the zircon to a place as high as the moon is quite difficult.”

“Yeah.”

Kelpie agreed. 

“The moon is indeed in the sky. So it might be a flower that will bloom on a moonlit night, or some kind of spirit that loves the moon.”

“Could we work it out if we knew what kind of fairy she is?”

Wouldn’t Owl know?

But, how could he be convinced that Lydia and the rest weren’t enemies?

“Lydia, you’re here! I’m glad.”

As she was thinking, she heard Lota’s voice. She ran through the doorway, which had ruined planks, and brought Phyllis as well.

“Those tiny black fairies are constantly making noise, what’s going on?”

“Yes, in fact there are strong evil intentions flowing into the world here, so the Unseelie Courts’ vitality has increased.”

“Is it because of Coen?”

Edgar frowned.

Lota appeared to look at Edgar in astonishment, but she mumbled: “As I thought, you came.”

“Lydia, have the Unseelie Court done anything horrible to you? They told me that they’ve already defeated the fairy doctor.”

Phyllis worriedly ran over towards Lydia and hugged her knees, his orange hair swaying lightly.

“They also tried to attack me.”

“But I drove them away.”

Lota raised her fist.

Whether it was the thin shoulders, pale face or the slender-waisted dress, Phyllis looked like a girl. Lydia touched his hair, still thinking that he was like a younger sister.

However, Edgar was different. He looked down and called out “oi”, to Phyllis. 

“You’ve stayed in the mirror for many years, so you might not understand the common sense of society, but a man who makes a move towards another person’s wife can’t complain even if he were to be suddenly shot dead.”

He glared at the astounded Phyllis, then used his index finger to beckon Raven to come over.  Raven nodded after merely exchanging glances with Edgar, then pinched Phyllis’ cheeks.

“Edgar! W--what are you doing!”

Although it was Raven who pinched Phyllis, he was doing so because of Edgar.

“But you don’t seem to be a grown man at all, so I will pardon you.”

Raven loosened his hands.

Phyllis was probably scared of the sudden situation, so although his eyes were glistening with tears, he didn’t cry. Lydia got up and protested against Edgar.

“Why are you so jealous?”

Edgar shrugged his shoulders, seemingly unable to endure it.

“Oh dear, you really don’t understand men. Originally, I thought that you were strangely fastidious but in regards to this, you are too defenseless.”

“The only person whom Madam Lydia is guarded towards is Lord Edgar.”

Raven interrupted calmly.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

“Now that I think about it, that’s true.”

Even Lota agreed, and that made Edgar angry.

“What? You’re mistaken. For me, it doesn’t matter no matter how unguarded I am, but opening up your heart towards other men is out of the question.”

“B--but…… That……”

Lydia was confused and didn"t know how to answer.

“You’re the most dangerous. If she relaxes her focus, I won’t know what you’ll do.”

Lydia almost nodded to what Lota was saying, but quickly went resumed her upright posture.

It was already her habit to let her guard down while being away from Edgar, but even after becoming lovers, and later a married couple, she still had a guarded heart. Perhaps it was because prior to sensing her own feelings, she was being closely pursued by Edgar.

“Umm, Edgar, Phyllis isn’t what you think, he is merely dependent on me as a fairy doctor.”

“Lydia, your way thinking is also unguarded. Even if he is a young boy now, he will have a beard in a few years, so I can’t tolerate him rubbing his face affectionately against your knees.”

Phyllis quickly stroked his own face, but Lota intervened, as if she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Besides that, everyone move to the mansion quick. Paul and Nico are waiting in the mirror room, and because he said that he wanted to discuss something with everyone, I came to find you guys.” 

“Can we enter the mansion?”

“Owl seems to sleep before sunset, so if we go in quietly, there shouldn’t be any problems.”

“That’s good. Let’s go before we’re discovered by Coen.”

The reason why Edgar suddenly went from being happy to speaking solemnly was perhaps because he heard someone’s howls mixed within the sound of the rain.

The evil intentions of that man seemed to still be prowling around the swamp.

His goal must be Phyllis. The inside of the mansion is Owl’s territory, so it’s definitely safer.

“I’ll take a look at that monster’s situation.”

After Kelpie said that and disappeared, everyone went hastily walking onto the small path.

Although they were surrounded by a sense of tension, Edgar still didn’t forget to make fun of Phyllis.

“You really do have the gaze of choosing the opposite s.e.x.”

Phyllis glanced at Lydia, then looked away and blushed.

“While you disguise yourself as a woman to escape, you’re not even fit enough to be my rival in love.”

On the other side of the mirror, the walls were filled with mirrors which reflected exactly the same furniture and household items. Nico and Paul sat on the white chair that was in the room. 

When Lydia and the others appeared in the mirror, Paul looked quite surprised, but he immediately smiled in relief.

“Everyone really is there.”

“Paul, I am really sorry for giving you trouble, but I need your help before we return.”

Paul nodded solemnly.

“Yes, everyone seems to be getting along well at the moment.”

“Getting along? Is everyone together? No way, could you leave me and Lydia to be alone together?”

When it came to Edgar, he would interrupt and make fun no matter when or where. Paul looked confused while scratching his head.

“Huh...but Lota is keeping close to Madam Lydia as if she’s protecting her.”

“As expected, that really is me.”

Lota nodded with satisfaction, and Edgar tutted.

“Paul, I’m handing Lota to you, do as you please.”

“What? Edgar, don’t just say that so casually!”

“Th--that’s right, Earl, you said that giving her to me isn’t so simple......”

Paul hid his anxiousness.

“What’s the matter, Paul, you don’t need me?”

Lota asked, who seemed to find this very unexpected. Paul’s panic grew, as his hands shook.

“......No, I didn’t mean that.”

“Then let me and Lydia take refuge in your room.”

Of course, Edgar wouldn’t agree.

“Lydia is mine.”

“If Lydia is left alone with you, who can’t restrain himself, she will definitely have a very hard time.”

“Even if I can’t restrain myself there are also limits.”

“What are you going to do until you reach your limits!”

The topic seemed to be continuing endlessly, which made Lydia begin to feel nervous.

“Everyone, wait......! Phyllis is here too, please don’t talk about it anymore!”

“Umm, I......”

After Edgar and Lota finally shut their mouths, Raven mumbled. He probably cared about his own current situation as well.

“Ahh, naturally, you’re by the Earl’s side. It’s alright, you’re working diligently.”

“Furthermore, you also know when to pretend to not see anything.”

After Nico said that, he laughed.

“Mr. Nico, has the me over there given you trouble?”

Raven seemed to be concerned about this too. 

“Of course you have, if I accidentally get close to you, the you on this side will try to stroke me.”

“How envi-- No, I apologize.”

Raven lowered his head. Nico was in his gentleman mode which made him not care. He was clearly displaying an att.i.tude of being amazing, yet when there is something that requires his help, he becomes really cowardly.

“Nico, I am going to say this clearly, it’s all because of you running away that Lota and Raven came into the mirror. Don’t put on an arrogant att.i.tude when you are in a safe place, you should help me finish the things that ought to be done.”

After Lydia said that firmly, Nico’s ears and whiskered drooped quickly, like he was reflecting.

“I understand.”

“Paul, how is the situation over there?”

“The auction has already ended. I haven’t seen Mr. Chambers himself nor his luggage, but people have seen him running while screaming that there’s a curse and such, so the members of the paranormal club have been in an uproar, and many have already prepared to go back.”

“I see. It’s better that it’s suspended. So this way Phyllis’ possession won’t be sold without permission.”

“Mr. Paul, I want to see the painting that was exchanged for the map. There might be a clue in there about Luna.”

After listening to Lydia’s advice, Paul nodded and stood up.

“I thought it was best to have it within sight, so I have already brought it over.”

After Paul moved away, his figure was reflected in another mirror. He took the painting that was laid upside down from the table and raised it before the mirror. 

A portrait appeared in front of Lydia depicting a man and woman wearing olden style clothing.

“It’s Luna!”

Phyllis suddenly called out.

“What! This woman?”

“Yeah, she’s Luna. I didn’t think that a portrait of Luna would be in this house.”

“This is a mysterious painting, its contents will change into that of a landscape. You have likely only seen the landscape painting.”

Why would it become a landscape painting? Lydia was thinking while listening to Edgar describe it.

“It’s a landscape painting of a moonlit night. It depicts the moonlight illuminating this mansion as well as the surrounding forests. But, what’s strange about it is that it’s a mirrored painting. The form of the mansion is exactly flipped from left to right.”

“It’s mirrored? Why?”

“I’m not sure, but the portrait is a mirrored painting as well.”

Edgar pointed towards the book cover.

“It’s really true. Would it be because Luna resided in the mirror?”

Luna is the mirror’s...... Lydia felt there was something important that had come to mind, but she couldn’t grasp it. Lydia was irritated and was too impatient to cover it up.

In short, if this painting depicted Luna, then the inside should have her fairy essence painted in as well. Lydia calmed down and thought about it again.

“Who is the man beside Luna?”

“It’s the former Baron of Rochester, who was the owner of this land in the past.”

He had thick eyebrows, large eyes and nose, and had the appearance of a dauntless and able-bodied man.

It really resembles someone......

When Lydia was in thought, she heard a slight creak. As she felt nervous about the unpleasant sound, Edgar yelled out.

“Everybody get down!”

Just when she thought she heard the mirror cracking, there was a shattering sound. 

“Ahhh!”

The mirrors in the room shattered in succession, and the scattered pieces fell from the air. Lydia was pulled by Raven and hid behind the sofa with Edgar. Her eyes kept watch on Lota, and after seeing Lota and Phyllis get under the table, she was relieved.

Although the sound soon stopped, the mirror in the rooms were already smashed into bits.

Lydia raised her head and looked around. She found small, shadow-like Unseelie Courts snickering in the dark.

“What have you done!”

Lydia stood up and threw a exorcist tree fruit that she gathered in the courtyard.

Although they disappeared immediately, the magic of the goblins was unexpectedly getting stronger.

This place had originally acc.u.mulated evil magic because of the moonlight disappearing, and now that magic was suddenly amplified. 

The red-eared bogey beast used Coen, and was trying to turn this place into a stronghold for Unseelie Courts.

“Lydia, the mirrors in the hallway are also broken. All the mirrors in the mansion probably might not have.....”

After she heard Lota say that, Lydia and Edgar both rushed out to the hallway. Upon heading to the hallway and taking a look, the large mirror that was originally hung by the grand staircase had also shattered. Perhaps all the mirrors in the mansion were destroyed.

While the outside gradually darkened, and it rained harder. Once it becomes night, the Unseelie Courts will gain more power.

“Even the surface of the swamp can’t serve as a mirror now...... Our connection with the real world seems to have been cut off.”

Approaching the broken stained gla.s.s window, Lydia looked down at the swamp and sighed.

“Was it the bogey beast who pulled Coen in that destroyed the mirrors? Is their goal to stop us from contacting the other side?”

“Edgar, this is because the you on the other side has Luna’s zircon. No matter what, they don’t want Luna to awaken. As long as the moon appears, their magic will be weakened.”

“In that case, if the things that the bogey beast hates are done, then Luna will wake up. They probably don’t want the zircon to be brought over to this side.”

However, is there a way to bring the zircon here, which couldn’t be reflected in the mirror? ......Moreover, the place where Luna’s essence is a.s.sociated with isn’t known.

Kelpie, who was the only one who could cross the border freely, was an Unseelie Court, and probably can’t touch the zircon because of it’s radiance. 

However, before considering that issue, he’s unable to move around because of the rain.

“Oi, that man is heading over here!”

At that moment, Kelpie jumped in through the window. As Lydia stared intently; she could see a large shadow-like object that was slowly dragging its body and approaching them.

“Wh--what is that.”

That object was probably Coen, but even the traces of it’s humanity had already disappeared, and was now a monster who was attracted to the surrounding evil with its powers strengthened.

The red-eared bogey beast was probably manipulating him, as it was sitting leisurely on his head.

Edgar and Raven locked the entry door in front of the hall, blocking the exit with furniture, took down the pikes decorated on the wall and placed it in front of the door in a cross. It wasn’t known if this could stop that monster.

“We need to run.”

Phyllis was afraid, but Lydia pulled his shoulders toward her.

However, Kelpie stood in Lydia’s way. 

“If we abandon this guy and run away, the monster won’t chase us.”

“Kelpie, don’t be ridiculous!”

“That monster was originally the person who tried to kill this kid, right? So, he’d be subconsciously going after him.”

Phyllis widened his eyes in surprise.

“That’s the man who killed my mother......?”

“Earl, you must feel the same way. Sacrificing one or two people for Lydia shouldn’t be a problem!”

Edgar turned his head around and reached for the sword that was used as decoration on the wall.

“It isn’t a problem. But the awareness of not being prepared to risk one’s own life and sacrificing someone else is something I’m not willing to do.”

After returning to Lydia and the others, he unexpectedly smiled towards Phyllis.

“After all, Mr. Darnley entrusted you to me.”

“Grandfather......?”

“I received a letter addressed to me.”

Phyllis looked up at Edgar, finding it unimaginable.

“......You......”

“Phyllis, you don’t have to worry, we will protect you.”

As the building shook, Coen’s incarnation as a monster was already getting closer. The huge body could be seen beyond the small window, trampling the plants on the ground and waving about a pillar with a horned owl engraved in it.

When the monster approached the door, it suddenly stopped moving. The red-eared bogey beast looked up and glared at the direction of the roof.

A pair of brown wings fell from the sky, and immediately attacked the red-eared bogey beast.

The red-eared bogey beast screamed, as it fell off the monster’s head.

“It’s Owl!”

After the long-winged youth descended to the ground, he raised his arms high. The boy’s slender arms turned into a raptor’s limbs with sharp hooks and aimed it at the red-eared evil bogey beast’s throat.

But it was at that moment.

“Owl, it’s dangerous!”

Phyllis shouted.

Just after seeing the monster moving, Owl was suddenly knocked down by an arm like unknown thing.

Owl was sent flying and slammed onto the ground.

At that stage, he couldn’t move. Lydia broke out into a cold sweat, but now wasn’t the time for distractions, because she had to hurry and stop Phyllis, who tried to run to him.

“You can’t go, it’s very dangerous.” 

“But, Owl will die.”

“No, the monster’s attention seems to have changed.”

The moment Edgar said this, the monster’s eyes were glowing red as it looked towards the mansion.

The monster was getting closer again towards them. Lydia and the rest were watching from the small window and as a result, they entered the corner of the monster’s vision and a harsh sound was heard. 

The door of the hall entrance way shook, the furniture blocking the door immediately began to rock, and even the crystal chandelier was shaking.

“Lydia, go with Phyllis and Lota and escape.”

After Edgar said that, Raven took out a knife and stood at the door.

“Edgar...... that thing isn’t human, holding a weapon from the human world can only be for a peace of mind.”

“Yes, but even so, fairies still hate iron, that way we can buy time somewhat.”

Edgar took the decorative sword and stood in front of the door.

“Don’t worry, we will definitely return together.”

He cast an elegant smile towards Lydia, and she nodded her head. Kelpie unwillingly stood next to Edgar and said:

“Hmph, there really isn’t any other way. You people couldn’t even possibly buy time. Even if this place is dry land, it’s still their territory, and I’m quite useful here too.”

The force exerted on the door bent the pike, and it seemed that it would break at any time.

“Lydia, Phyllis, let’s go.”

Lota urged the two of them, and Lydia pulled Phyllis’ hand.

When they ran up the staircase, the main door was knocked down with a bang, the strong rain and wind blew past the lounge.

It was unknown if it was because his feet were limp as Phyllis stopped.

“Phyllis, they will think of a way, Owl will definitely be saved.”

“......But, Lydia, if anything happens to your beloved......”

“He will be okay, because he promised me. ”

However, Phyllis looked solemnly at the broken door.

The dark monster was about to invade. Edgar and the others a.s.sumed a defensive position.

The monster roared in an intimidating manner, which echoed throughout the hall. At that moment, Phyllis let go of Lydia’s hand and ran towards the monster.

Coen’s malice could probably recognise Phyllis, and it’s large black body reacted.

“Phyllis, don’t!”

Lydia wanted to catch up and stop him, but Phyllis was already standing in front of the monster. Although his face was pale and couldn’t stop trembling, he still stood firmly.

“......Th--this is my house, get lost!”

He desperately squeezed out his voice.

“I can’t forgive you, you killed my mother...... if you can kill your own son, then go ahead and try!”

“Son? ......Coen’s?”

Edgar murmured in astonishment.

Lydia was shocked to the point where she couldn’t say a word. The black ma.s.s in front of her staggered back, as it seemed to have felt a strong impact.

The Unseelie Court magic that wrapped around the monster weakened, making it turn into a black mist like state. Coen’s human appearance appeared vaguely, but the red-eared bogey beast immediately jumped by his feet.

Coen’s figure suddenly disappeared, like it had been taken away by the red-eared bogey beast, and Phyllis sank to the ground.

                                                                                                                                                 *

“I heard that man began one-sidedly pursuing my mother alone, but he was a man with status, so no one believed it and said that my mother had a prejudice....”

After Phyllis finally calmed down, he began to speak bit by bit. 

There was a s.p.a.cious room in the depths of the mansion, it wasn’t known whether it was a library, as the towering walls were crammed with books, but in the corner, there was a canopied bed. 

Owl, who was injured, lead everyone here, then collapsed onto the bed.

It seemed that this place was probably Owl’s room.

Only Kelpie seemed to be reluctant to enter another fairy’s hideout, so he said that he was going on patrol, then disappeared off somewhere.

Owl said that he didn’t need to be healed, and curled up like a wild animal conserving its strength, motionless.

Rather than saying he accepted Lydia and the others, it should be said that he acknowledged that the enemy’s status was equal to his.

“Although Mother already had a partner whom she promised to marry, that man simply wanted to take Mother away...... Mother’s fiancé knew everything and didn’t intend to break off the engagement, so I always believed I was that person’s child all this time, even Mother’s friends and Grandfather think so too.”

If a man was to marry a pregnant woman, it would be normal to think him as the definite father of the child, otherwise it would be impossible. 

However, Phyllis’ mother’s family name didn’t change, as it was always Miss Darnley.

Although she said that her fiancé was missing, was that person really missing?

“How did you know that?”

Edgar asked gently.

Phyllis looked towards the direction of the bed and glanced at Owl.

“It’s Owl......”

“He should know these things.”

Owl, who was motionless, suddenly cut in.

“Phyllis should be aware about the enemy that he will confront. He has always been lamenting about his father, whose whereabouts are unknown, and that if he were alive, he would come and save him. If he understood what nonsense that was, then he’d rely own his own strength to stand... that’s what I thought.” 

Nevertheless, Phyllis avoided the facts and disappeared since then, only knowing how to be afraid, he couldn’t stop disguising himself as a woman, and gave up at the current situation.

However, he wasn’t the same as before as he had faced reality.

He first recognised his own ident.i.ty, not until his determination to fight against Coen emerged.

“Phyllis is really brave because he saved us.”

“......The swamp will reflect everything. Luna had been watching the things that happen by the waterside for centuries, be it what happened to Phyllis’ mother or her fiancé, Luna knew it all. Her fiancé has already sunk under the swamp. It was the man who attacked Phyllis that did it.”

Owl whispered again, as if he was talking to himself.

“However, the other side of the mirror was a world that could be watched and not interfered with, even so, Luna still felt that she should at least save Phyllis, so I told everything to Phyllis, who was saved by Luna. If he wants to to return to the real world, then he’s bound to have a duel with that man.”

Were Owl and Luna acting as Phyllis’ parents and watching over him?

Phyllis’ true ident.i.ty made the significance of Coen’s actions begin to waver. Not only was he unable to obtain Phyllis’ mother using all kinds of methods, he also planned to kill his own child without understanding the situation. Moreover, he understood that he was facing his fate of his own kin exacting revenge.

Coen’s human side that remained within the monster felt desperate and scared to be destroyed.

“Phyllis, Owl doesn’t hate you at all.”

Lydia whispered to Phyllis.

Phyllis stood up beside Lydia, slowly approached Owl’s side, gently touching his paralyzed wings, which couldn’t be folded back. 

“I’m sorry...... Owl......”

*Please read at Daydream Translations

He slowly moved his wing, stretched out his hand and lightly stroked Phyllis’ head.

“I don’t know how to get along with children, no..... you aren’t a child anymore.”

“Although the current situation should be celebrated, the problem still hasn’t been solved.”

Edgar peeked out of the small window.

“It’s been raining constantly, does this mean that the Unseelie Court’s magic is still in an active state?”

Lydia nodded.

“Coen’s evil thoughts are in the hands of the red-eared bogey beast. It will build up its power and definitely appear again.”

“The key to solving this problem is to awaken Luna. As long as we know the way, then we can take them out at once.”

After Edgar said that, he looked towards Owl.

“For this, we need your help, Baron Rochester.”

Lydia cried out in surprise and looked at both Edgar and Owl.

“The person painted together with Luna in the portrait is you, right? Are you willing to believe in us like before?”

Owl sat up and looked at Edgar with sharp eyes.

“You said before....what does this mean?”

“Long ago, my ancestors ought to have been friends with you. I am the Earl of Ibrazel, Edgar Ashenbert, and she is my wife, Lydia.”

Lydia still hadn’t fully understood the situation, she even forgot give her greetings when she was being introduced. Furthermore, although it was rude, she still stared at Owl.

The mature man in this painting was this winged boy?

But upon looking closely, his features and profile were quite similar. When Lydia looked at that painting it felt like that person resembled someone and it turned out to be Owl.

“The Blue Knight Earl’s bloodline should have already been severed. Since then, no one has visited this place as a friend for three hundred years, so I didn’t think that the Earl had descendants.”

Although Owl said this, but he didn’t hold any hostility against Edgar, and merely wanted to have a careful look at him.

“No one came? Even if it wasn’t the Earl, was there anyone who came from Ibrazel?”

At first, Lydia hoped that Diana visited, so she repeatedly asked the question, but Owl said that he hasn’t seen anyone.

What on earth did Diana want to do in Britain? This place seemed to have no clues.

Even so, there was still the map as a clue, in order to open up her fate with Edgar, Lydia hoped to do this with all her strength. 

“We are the new members of the Blue Knight Earl’s family, and although there are no blood relations, I have inherited the Blue Knight Earl’s t.i.tle and responsibilities.”

Edgar and Lydia lifted Diana’s locket for Owl to see. Although the place where the zircon was embedded was a hole, the material of the locket itself seemed to be reflected in the mirror, so Edgar was able to take it out from his pocket.

“This is something that you had sent.”

Owl gazed at the object.

“This thing...... is indeed what the Blue Knight Earl wanted, a present that Luna and I gave to him. Luna’s hair is buried in the lid, giving it a magical touch.”

He used that portrait as a trade and sent the magic map to the Earl’s family. Owl, no, Baron Rochester, why did he make people paint that portrait?

There basically wasn’t a need to think about it, because the Baron’s current situation was clearly explained.

“That painting, was it painted in order for you to become an inhabitant of the mirror world?”

Owl nodded slowly.

“I met her by the sh.o.r.e under the moonlit night. Ahh-- It was the most beautiful night that I have ever seen. I... I fell in love with her at first sight. I knew that the girl with that beautiful blonde hair wasn’t human, but it didn’t matter. She promised to stay for a month and lived in the house.”

He narrowed his eyes, as if he was looking far away.

“However, three months pa.s.sed, then a half a year, then a year, and I couldn’t let her go. Afterwards, I realised that the moon hadn’t appeared in this land for a year.”

As the owner, this ought to have been a very serious matter.

“In the state of being surrounded by darkness at night, the number of thefts increased in the village, and rumors of monsters and magic objects became exaggerated. I thought the majority of it was the wild dogs’ doing, but the livestock being brutally killed made people uneasy. At about that time, the Blue Knight Earl came to this place.”

Edgar stared into Owl’s eyes, not wanting to miss out on any word.

With regards to the Earl’s family matter, whether it was his ancestor’s actions or character, he wanted to know as much as possible.

“The Earl said that Luna is an existence from the other side of the mirror, and that if she doesn’t return, the moon will vanish from the sky forever. The fairies that possess evil power will finally spread and contaminate my territory. I was forced to separate from Luna, but she loved me too.”

“So you went inside the mirror?”

“That’s right, under the Earl’s proposal and taking the mansion into consideration, I lived in the mirror world. A human’s form will experience aging, and their lifespan is very short as well, but this castle is the place that I grew up in, and is also the inheritance that my ancestors have pa.s.sed down from generation to generation. I thought that this place became an appropriate symbol for starting a new journey of spending time together with Luna.”

“And so you became Owl. This mansion seemed to have been known as the horned owl’s castle in the past.”

The portrait thus portrayed him as a human as well as the horned owl of the castle. 

“Hey, the monster is alive again.”

Lota, who was looking down from the window, called out. Meanwhile, the vibrations shaking the building spread to the room as well, which was surrounded by solid walls.

“I feel like that it simply wants to destroy this place.”

We need to hurry up.

“Owl, in order to read the map, we need Luna’s power. We promise that you that we’ll definitely make Luna return, so please tell me, what sort of fairy is she?”

Lydia pleaded with Owl, but he frowned, as if he was thinking hard.

“What sort of fairy? Luna is the moon, she is the moon of this land......”

“I know, but the moon of the sky is above the thick clouds, and even after Luna went missing it didn’t disappear, so I don’t think she is the moon, rather something with a deep connection to the moon.”

Owl went into deep thought, but he shook his head and said:

“I don’t know. Although I have already become one with this mansion, it was after I obtained the name Owl that I began living with this appearance. I can understand Luna having a true form, but not one I have ever tried to know.”

The clue that was their last ray of hope was gone. Even so, Lydia still continued to think hard.

“Edgar, the main point lies in the portrait. I think you can see Luna’s true appearance painted in the landscape painting. Is there a gra.s.s named after the moon? Or it might be some kind of object shaped like the moon.”

“What was most impressive was the building with the full moon. I don’t really recall the details, but the moon itself isn’t Luna right?”

Yes. But Lydia went into deep thought again. That painting seems like a landscape painting, but is actually a portrait, so the one that’s conspicuous like Owl should be Luna.

“......Perhaps..... that’s how it is? However.....we can only try and see!”

“Lydia?”

“Edgar, you need to make the you on the other side move. You have Luna’s zircon on you, right? Ahh-- but how do I tell you?”

Lydia looked anxious. Edgar said something to try and calm her down.

“Let’s go and try to find any unbroken mirrors, or something that can be used as a mirror.”

Edgar’s calm att.i.tude could make Lydia feel at ease more than anything else; even if it was really hard to do alone, as long as she was with him, then everything could go smoothly.

“Lord Edgar.”

Raven will remain silent when necessary, but he suddenly interrupted this time. Then, he went into his pocket and took out a hand mirror.

Unexpectedly, Raven was carrying something apart from his dagger, which he kept on him at all times. Not only was Lydia surprised, Edgar looked amazed as well.

“Raven, why do you have this?”

“It was Miss Kelly who gave this to me.”

“Oh my, are you and Kelly are getting along well?”

“I previously saw her lend the mirror to Mr. Nico. As a result, she told me to not stare at her, and then she gave me this.”

No, the two didn’t seem to get along very well, but Raven seemed quite satisfied.

“As long I have this, Mr. Nico will be very happy.”

That pretentious fairy cat always pays attention to the tidiness of his fur. It seemed that in order for Raven to be a good friend in this way, he began carrying a hand mirror on him.

“Raven, this is truly wonderful. Your out of sync friends.h.i.+p with Nico is a big help.”

Raven seemed to be unaware when Edgar said that it was an out of sync friends.h.i.+p, but his praise might have brought him great joy.

“Lota, Phyllis will be under your care. Lord Rochester likely hasn’t recovered yet.”

Edgar then took the pocket mirror and spoke.

“Blue Knight Earl.”

Owl called for Edgar, does this mean that he already believed in them? However, he said something unexpected.

“Although no one from Ibrazel came, there was a person who came here seeking the map.”

However, this didn’t seem like an unexpected topic for Edgar.

“Was it a member of the McKeel clan?”

Lydia looked up at Edgar in surprise.

“Edgar, the McKeel clan is moving? You already knew?”

Sorry, he merely whispered.

“That person firmly said that the Blue Knight Earl had no successors, so if the map was given to someone with questionable motives, then it would it be dangerous. I didn’t know the map’s whereabouts, so I couldn’t help him.”

“Do you think that I am among those people with ulterior motives?”

Edgar, who said these words, seemed to be in pain. Lydia’s heart ached immediately afterwards.

The McKeel clan probably wasn’t their enemy, but now they weren’t allies either. Despite them being the family of Lydia’s mother, she had already decided to be part of the Ashenbert family.

No, rather than saying that she is a member of the Ashenbert family, it should be said that she thinks she is his only family. 

Nevertheless, with regards to Edgar, perhaps the McKeel clan was the family he didn’t want Lydia approaching the most.

Was it because he knew someone from the McKeel clan visited this place that he asked Lydia to go back?

Edgar’s feelings originally seemed unclear, but now Lydia felt that she could understand a little.

Although they couldn’t touch each other, but Lydia got closer to him.

“Who knows, I thought perhaps you do. But this fairy doctor over here, who is also your wife, did her best for Phyllis, and changed him as well. I merely wanted to convey this matter.”

After Owl said that, he pointed towards the corner of the room.

“As long as you use the hidden staircase inside, you can take the shortcut and head for the building where the salon is.”

“Thank you, Baron Rochester.”

When Edgar and Lydia left, Raven also left without saying a word.

                                                                                                                                                 *

The mirror suddenly broke, causing them to lose contact with Edgar and the others, which made Paul and Nico on this side filled with anxiety.

The sun had set, and the surroundings became dark. The auction was already stopped, so apart from them, everyone seemed to have already gone home.

The waiters who were hired for today were still working, but they remained in the salon.

There was no one around, only the rain resounded throughout the s.p.a.cious mansion.

“Mr. Nico, what should we do? Are the Earl and the others alright?”

“Yeah, I think they should be fine. If something happens over there, their bodies on this side might sustain injuries.”

Edgar was still the same as before, where he wasn’t willing to let go of Lydia. As long as he could hold Lydia’s hands, he would feel really happy, but at least he maintained his manners.

But perhaps this was because Lota was here. Lydia was willing to accept most of the body contact with Edgar, but if she looked a little troubled, Lota would intervene.

Naturally, Lydia got along with Lota quite well, but Edgar would be annoyed about this. He walked into Paul and silently pushed him in Lota’s direction.

“Whoa! E-Earl......!”

Paul fell to the ground, Lota clung onto his neck like she found a new toy, but she still didn’t let go of Lydia’s hand. At this moment, Nico’s body was suddenly floating in midair.

He was lifted up by Edgar, and thrown onto the top of Paul’s head. Lota happily stroked Nico’s fur, and Edgar took advantage of the discord to try and monopolize Lydia.

Nico spent a tremendous amount of strength to crawl out and shouted out in a voice of disgust:

“Ahhh, enough! All of you, hurry up and turn back to normal! I don’t want to be these guys’ babysitter!”

As he started grooming his fur, Raven immediately handed him the pocket mirror.

Even if his conscience was in the mirror, he was still silent and expressionless. He was probably in danger of his back being stroked, but to Nico, he felt that Raven was too normal compared to the rest of the guys.

“Ah, thanks, you really are clever.”

When Nico was fixing his disheveled fur and neck tie, he suddenly realised something.

“Huh? Th--this is a mirror! Paul, there’s a mirror that isn’t broken here!”

“Really?”

Paul escaped from Lota, and just when he looked at the mirror......

“Nico! That’s great, you found Raven’s mirror.”

Lydia’s voice came out from inside the mirror.

The mirror in Lydia’s hand was completely totally crammed with Nico’s face, and he spoke in one breath, his fur disheveled from head to toe.

“Lydia! What on earth is going on! All the mirrors are broken, I don’t know what to do, I was actually really worried!”

After Lydia and the others arrived at the salon, she stared at Raven’s mirror and saw Nico’s face. Regardless, Lydia breathed a sigh of relief.

“It was all caused by the Unseelie Courts. But I think I know Luna’s true ident.i.ty now.”

“Really? Then hurry up and come back--”

Was he truly aware of being Lydia’s partner?

But Nico’s att.i.tude was nothing out of the ordinary, and Lydia pulled herself together. 

“Of course I’m trying, so I need you to help.”

“Ehhh? How can I help?”

“Bring me over with you as well.”

After Edgar said that, Nico shook his head with an att.i.tude of it being impossible.

“There’s no way, the Earl full of ulterior motives won’t leave Lydia alone!”

“What, is that so? I’m over there too?”

“Lydia, it’s best that you don’t look.”

Nico tried to take the mirror and reflect Lydia’s situation, but Edgar s.n.a.t.c.hed the mirror.

“Then you bring Lydia here.”

“Ehhh? How am I going to get Lydia’s attention?”

What was her own attention attracted by? Lydia thought for a moment yet still wasn’t clear about it.

“I--I see. Then bring Lota......”

She always felt that she could go along with Lota, but......

“Lydia, is Lota your favourite person?”

Edgar began to criticize, and Nico protested aloud once more.

“Please stop! These three together have already caused a scene!”

“Mr. Nico, I think that Madam Lydia would also want to rub her face on your fur as well.”

Raven suddenly said that.

“Raven, that’s probably something that you want to do, right?”

But Lydia was slightly interested in that. 

“Um...... Well, shall we try?”

“What! You’re not willing to press your face towards me, but you’ll agree to rub your face against Nico’s fur?”

Edgar let out a dissatisfied voice again.

“I don’t want to! Don’t take me as a cat!”

“Nico, if you continue on like this, we won’t be able to return.”

Despite Nico being quite unconvinced, he seemed to have given up after Lydia spoke firmly. He turned towards Lydia with look of disapproval.

The mirror was too small, so his side couldn’t be seen clearly from here but Nico seems to have jumped onto Lydia’s knee.

It wasn’t long until there was the sound of a “Whoa”. Not knowing whether or not it was an optical illusion, Nico’s fur was seen from the mirror, seemingly raised vertically.

For a split second, a soft tail could be seen stroking Lydia’s cheek.

“......Alright Lydia, come over here.”

Nico strode off after saying that, and the mirror reflected his face again.

His mood seemed worse than before.

“For the time being, Lydia and the Earl are coming over.”

“I’m glad, that went smoothly.”

“That sort of tail could actually be a weapon to attract women.”

Edgar murmured that to himself, as if he seemed to want one. Nico revealed his fangs and said:

“Don’t even think about it! I won’t give it to you!”

“Nico, continue on like this and go towards the swamp. We’ll meet under the beech tree.”

Lydia and the others left the salon as well.

“We’re going to the swamp? What do we do afterwards?”

Edgar asked.

The way to awaken Luna was something that miraculously came to mind. Since the beginning, she had been checking whether or not if the idea was wrong by any chance. Now that she had finally gathered her thoughts together, she planned on speaking about it.

“We must call Kelpie over, then take the zircon......”

However, she spoke up to this point and stopped.

Because when they arrived at the grand staircase of the salon, there was someone crouching before the door. Lydia noticed orange hair draping down their back, and then ran over in confusion.

“Phyllis, what’s wrong? Where are Lota and Owl?”

“Things are not good...... help me.”

Just when Lydia put her hand over Phyllis’ trembling shoulders, a hairy arm reached out and grabbed her.

At first, she thought that it was Phyllis, but pointy red ears stuck out from its hair.

It was the red-eared bogey beast.

“Lydia!”

Edgar ran over, but the bogey beast grabbed Lydia and opened a black hole on the floor, trying to pull Lydia in.

Edgar reflexively grabbed Lydia’s hand.

Lydia immediately cried out. Edgar was also stunned, but it was already too late.

Edgar’s figure was about to disappear. Lydia desperately shouted:

“Edgar, Luna is a reflection, she is a moon fairy reflected by the swamp! You have to put that zircon......”

Just before Lydia was covered in darkness, Raven’s hand reached out. But in a split second, the two of them fell into a pitch-dark area.

“Ouch......!”

Lydia rubbed her waist while trying her best to get up.

(Hmph, you guys are a big hindrance.)

She heard a voice in the darkness.

“......You’re the red-eared bogey beast, aren’t you? What are you going to do to us?”

(Shall I pinch you mercilessly, or shall I scratch you? In any case, you’ll never be able to get out of here...... ah! Whoa!)

Lydia finally heard a scream, had Raven leapt at it?

Although she felt the presence of someone moving, her surroundings suddenly became quiet.

“Raven? Are you alright?”

Lydia asked while crawling towards the direction of the voice.

“Yes.”

“What about the red-eared bogey beast?”

“As soon as I grabbed him by the horns, his presence disappeared.”

Its vital point was attacked, and so it ran away?

A sound came through, revealing a slight flame; it seemed that Raven lit a match.

He lit a small candle that he took out from his pocket, with this, they were finally able to see the surroundings clearly.

“Raven, you really have everything.”

“Do you need anything else?”

Lydia laughed, she thought that as long as she spoke of something, it seemed that Raven would really bring something out.

Raven, who was reliable, walked by her side, which made her feel very grateful, and so she held Raven’s hand.

“Thank you, I don’t need anything right now. Aside from that, this place is surrounded by stone walls. It looks like a bas.e.m.e.nt, but there isn’t an exit.”

Although Raven seemed a little confused, it appeared that he wasn’t like before, when he thought that touching Lydia was bad thing. 

Perhaps he already understood that after Lydia and Edgar got married, he wouldn’t leave over a simple matter. He had a good impression of Lydia at the initial stage, and gradually considered her as family.

“This place probably isn’t in use, so the entrance is blocked.”

However, although she had Raven by her side, she wasn’t at ease.

“How troublesome. We can’t get out without the red-eared bogey beast’s magic.” 

Just as Lydia was thinking, Kelpie’s voice came through.

“Oi, how did you get trapped in a place like this?”

“Kelpie! Where are you?”

“I’m on the outside. I saw the red-eared bogey beast jump out of the ground and found it strange, so I came to take a look. Because of that, I heard your voice.”

“Kelpie, how’s the situation with the monster?”

“He seems to have gone mad, I don’t know if he’s lost his mind or not. The red-eared bogey beast probably can’t control him either. If we don’t think of something quickly, the mansion might be destroyed.” 

Phyllis gave Coen a shock, which might have made his human side completely crumble.

“Well, can you take us out of here?”

“I can’t, this land isn’t my territory. ”

That’s right, Lydia sighed.

“There really is no choice, I’ll go and catch the red-eared bogey beast.”

“Even if you catch it, will he obediently obey?”

“Threatening him will do.”

Compared to this, there were more important matters to be done. She finally met Kelpie, and that side had to be taken as the priority.

Lydia raised her head, determined.

“Aside from that, Kelpie, please go to the swamp.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Edgar is back on the other side, he should be waking up Luna, then the dark magic here will be purified. We will be able to return to our original bodies, and you won’t have to follow the red-eared bogey beast.”

“Did that Earl touch you? He really is man who can’t resist.”

But it’s not really like that.

“Then you already know the way to awaken Luna?”

“Yes....however I didn’t have enough time to tell Edgar everything.”

“What, if it’s like that then you won’t know if he’ll be able to complete it smoothly.”

“At any rate Kelpie, please help Edgar. I think we need to make the surface of the swamp into a mirror. Please use your magic to stop the rain for a bit, aren’t you very good at controlling water?”

“But I can’t use two kinds of magic at once. If you want me to stop the rain, I can’t speak to the Earl nor go back to the other side at the same time.”

“It’s possible as long as you stop the rain, Edgar will definitely know what to do.”

After Lydia said that in a definite tone, Kelpie paused and sighed.

“Tch, when did you become so much like a member of the Earl’s family.”

Although he whispered in a disapproving voice, his presence immediately disappeared.

In the cold rain, Edgar embraced Lydia’s body and walked between the plants.

He was now with Raven, who was holding the oil lamp, and Nico, as they were heading towards the swamp. At first, he believed that since he had already returned to this side, he should have left Lydia behind in the safe mansion, but now, even if Nico lured Lydia, she wasn’t willing to return.

She nestled against Edgar tightly, perhaps this feeling had some important purpose.

The reason for having such a reaction might be because the Lydia on the other side was worried about whether or not it would go smoothly for Edgar.

In that case, Lydia should be safe. She is a fairy doctor with fairy-related knowledge, and Raven was also by her side. Right now, she should be able to act calmly.

Lydia being taken away by the red-eared bogey beast really happened too suddenly, so there was no way for her to tell Edgar what should be done next.

Nevertheless, the important things have already been conveyed to him.

Perhaps Lydia had only thought halfway about the next steps, so Edgar tried hard to think about the following details.

Lydia said that Luna was the moon reflecting on the swamp, the portrait was a mirrored painting, and that Luna and Owl were both reflected from the swamp.

In other words, Owl wasn’t the embodiment of the mansion, but rather the personification of the reflection of the mansion by the swamp.

Luna leaned on Owl’s side; she was the moon in the swamp, that is, the reflected moon.

If the swamp didn’t reflect the moon, then it was understandable that the moon couldn’t be seen in the sky.

Edgar held onto the zircon firmly, thinking to himself while quickly moving ahead.

Before long, the sound of the rain was different. It changed from the sound of the plants getting drenched to the pitter patter of the water surface.

They hid underneath the beech tree. Raven avoided the rain while lifting the oil lamp. The pitch-black water reflected the light back.

“Earl, what are you going to do now? Are you going to wait for Lydia to come?”

Nico looked into the hand mirror, but Lydia did not appear.

Edgar didn’t know whether or not she simply escaped from that fairy’s hands. What’s more, it would be dangerous if she didn’t escape, so he had to awaken Luna as soon as possible.

“This rain...... doesn’t seem like it will stop.”

Edgar looked up to the sky as he whispered.

It will be okay as long as the zircon returns to what should be Luna’s existence. If she was a moon fairy reflected in the swamp, then putting the zircon into the swamp is fine.

However, there were no mirrors here, and even if the zircon was thrown into the swamp, it would just be buried by the mud.

In other words, it must be tried regardless of the consequences?

But if the gem is thrown in the swamp, then it can’t be retrieved. Lydia, Raven, Lota and Phyllis won’t be able to return either. Despite Edgar getting caught up in his worries, he already made his decision. There’s no choice but to do it.

At least a little bit is fine, I don’t know whether or not the rain will lessen. He looked at the water with a prayerful-like mood.

“Hey, the swamp has changed.”

Nico suddenly called out.

The surface of the water reflected the flame of the oil lamp that Raven was holding, and their figures were also reflected. Without knowing why, the numerous ripples caused by the rain all disappeared.

However the rain continued falling.

“This is...... what’s going on?” 

Although he wasn’t clear of the situation, now wasn’t the time to hesitate. Perhaps this could be the bogey beast’s trap. This kind of thought flashed through his mind, but he also thought that this could be Lydia’s signal as well.

“Lydia, what I’m thinking is correct, isn’t it?”

The two reunited in the mirror world, and although they couldn’t touch each other, they were able to get close to each other using sincere words.

He felt that what happened that night wouldn’t cause a dent in their relations.h.i.+p and would become an insignificant marital quarrel.

So, he should understand Lydia’s wish now.

“No matter when, my feelings are the same as yours.”

Edgar threw the zircon forcefully. The reason why the gem emitted a golden light was because of the oil lamp’s flame.

The thrown zircon drew an arc and fell into the water that became mirror-like.

Edgar merely watched over attentively.

This strange period of waiting seemed quite long, and yet it seemed fairly short as well. By the time he noticed, the rain had already stopped.

By the time he felt his surroundings was strangely bright, he found a round moon hanging in the sky.

There was no wind, and even a ripple on the surface of the swamp water. The golden moon was clearly reflected on top.

“Edgar.....?”

Lydia spoke softly behind him.

Edgar turned towards her in surprise. He stared at the eyes that was looking up at him, then cautiously reached out.

“You’re...... Lydia, right?”

Can I touch her? Yes, it doesn’t matter anymore, Lydia is back.

He covered Lydia’s cheeks with both of his hands, and the pair of golden green eyes was immediately filled with tears.

Edgar pressed his forehead against hers. His face was against her hair, then he gently embraced her. He embraced her back, confirming the sensations of her whole body, then couldn’t help but hug her tightly.

Whether it was the delicate touch, the comfortable warmth, or her soft hair, everything was so adorable. It made his heart chaotic.

Compared to anything else, the thing that he wished to get back most was her heart.

“Lydia, let me hear your voice again.”

“Edgar, thank you......I believed that things would surely go smoothly.”

He confirmed the chamomile fragrance, and was aware of the slender fingers touching his back.

“You are not afraid of me anymore?”

“That… I was confused.”

Lydia buried her head in his arms, and answered with a nasal voice.

“I made you confused. But at that time, my love for you was the same as before and hadn’t changed.”

“Me too....... it can be immediately understood by doing that, and yet I took a long time.”

Lydia relaxed in his arms, and her whole body leaned against him. Edgar was also very happy at this, to the extent of wanting to push her down, relieved.

“......However, Edgar, there is something that I want to say.”

When she said that, even her ears turned red.

“What it it?”

“......When it’s that time...... please don’t deliberately tease me......”

“Yeah, I’m sorry.”

Even at the best of times, Lydia was nervous every night. It’s expected of her to not appear to be affectionate towards him as she normally would be as Edgar would pull her onto to the bed inconsiderably. 

“Then will you kiss me?”

After worrying for a moment, she finally lifted her tear-dampened eyelashes.

“A kiss to make up?”

“Yes.”

Lydia went on her tiptoes. Edgar knew that she was only trying to kiss him on the cheek, so he took the initiative to bring his lips closer.

Lydia is so cute when she has a surprised look.

But I still have to be patient. Because if the two weren’t alone, Lydia wouldn’t lower her defenses easily.

After Edgar let go of Lydia, he walked over to Raven, who wasn’t looking in their direction, then quietly hugged him.

“I made you worry.”

Raven softly said these words.

In the corner of Edgar’s eye, Nico and Lydia were surprisingly hugging each other as well.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

                                                                                                                                                  *

Under the moonlight’s purification, the Unseelie Courts’ magic waned. The monster that was Coen’s incarnation disappeared, and the red-eared bogey beast probably fled back to its underground lair.

Luna returned to the mirror world, and the moon returned for the first time in six years to this land surrounding the swamp. 

Lydia opened the locket under the moonlight, and the text appeared on top of the ivory.

Originally, it was said to be a map, but they didn’t expect that there would be text. Despite the surprise, it established the use of the pendant.

As long as the locket is opened facing the moonlight, the moonlight will penetrate the zircon embedded in the lid, making text appear in the ivory.

They could only see the magic map under the intertwined moonlight and light from the reflection of the moon. Under the sunlight or the light of an oil lamp, it would be invisible.

The text was in a language that Lydia and Edgar couldn’t read, but as long as they investigated carefully, they should be able to know the contents.

The next morning, Phyllis and the Wood couple, who worked for the Darnley family year-round, came together to send Lydia and the others off.

The Wood couple mentioned that they recently buried Luna’s zircon beside Mr. Darnley’s cemetery.

The zircon was something that Mr. Darnley picked up by the door on the day Phyllis disappeared into the mirror. Because he thought that it might have been related to what happened to Phyllis, so he carefully stored it away until now.

After Mr. Darnley pa.s.sed away, the zircon was safeguarded by the Wood couple, who were the only ones that knew about what happened to Phyllis, but they found out that Chambers had intended on selling off everything in the mansion, so they hastily hid the zircon.

“As long as it was a perfect ending, then everything isn’t a problem, right?”

Phyllis revealed a bashful smile, this time dressed in men’s clothes.

He tied his long hair back into a bun, and his orange tie suited him very well; he really did look like a boy.

“Wow... you really are a man. Yeah, you’re handsome, Phyllis.” 

After Lota said that, he lowered his head in embarra.s.sment.

“I am extremely grateful, thank you, everyone. Thanks to everyone I… uh, was able to come back.”

“No, Phyllis, you also did your best, this was all accomplished by relying on everyone’s strength. ”

“The one who gave me strength was you, Lydia...... ah.”

Phyllis accidentally spoke in his female voice and quickly covered his mouth with his hands.

“The tone will change later on. You have already spent six years in the mirror, there are still lots of things that you have to learn afterwards.”

Edgar put his hand on Phyllis’ shoulder.

“I will find a guardian for you. Regarding the issue of Mr. Darnley’s will and inheritance, as well as negotiating with the property manager, can you leave it to me?”

“Yes, Earl, please treat me well.”

Phyllis deeply lowered his head.

“Coen has already pa.s.sed away, so you are free now, henceforth you are Mr. Darnley’s grandson, whom he cared for more than anyone else.”

Edgar’s words made Phyllis’ expression grow solemn.

Lydia deeply understood that Edgar wasn’t just a philanderer at these times. He would make people admire him greatly, regardless of their gender.

Perhaps this was because even if she didn’t know that Edgar was a person who went through so much, she could feel that his words weren’t superficial.

“In order to pay back Luna and Owl, I’m going to protect this mansion and land too.”

Phyllis said that strongly and vigorously.

“Well then, let’s go back, Paul.”

Lota pulled Paul’s hand.

“What? Just the two of us?”

“Do you have the courage to sit in the couple’s carriage?”

Paul realized the the combination of people for the return trip was different than when they came, and therefore he panicked. At that moment, Edgar interrupted and said:

“Paul, if you feel that being alone with Lota is dangerous, then you can take this carriage.”

“Dangerous? What are you saying that I will do?!”

“Would you like me to tell you what you did while you were unconscious? You were pressed against Paul’s body......”

“E-Earl, what are you saying! No, Lota, that was an accidental fall!”

Lota stared at Paul’s alarmed face.

“I see. So that’s what I did. I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize......”

“Yes, but I might do that again.....”

“I don’t mind.”

“Great. Then we’ll return together.”

The two were talking about a confusing topic, then got into the carriage.

Edgar also tilted his head.

“Did Paul feel indifferent after being snuck up on and attacked? Does this mean he’s grown somewhat?”

“I don’t know either, because Lota’s hugs are playful.”

“Never mind, we’ll go back too.”

Edgar naturally took Lydia’s waist, and Phyllis stared at him the whole time.

“Ah, that’s right, Phyllis. I have acknowledged you as a man. However, if you want to be my rival, then you’ll need the ability to swim in the Thames river.”

What Edgar meant was that he was going to throw him in the river, but he cleverly used a roundabout way of expressing it while revealing a refined smile. Phyllis found this suspicious and tilted his head.

Although he was like that now, there will be a day where he will understand the so-called gentleman’s humour.

                                                                                                                                                ***

London’s moon was exactly the same as the moon that didn’t appear in the Hamps.h.i.+re wetland region for six years.

Although this matter was to be expected, Edgar still found it unbelievable.

As long as he was with Lydia, he was increasingly able to feel that various things in nature had souls, and therefore he continued to think about what kind of person the Blue Knight Earl was in the end.

This was a special family; they knew about the trends of the world invisible to the eye for the purpose of the human world, and in some sense, they have been working for Britain for a long time. Could he inherit the real sense of the t.i.tle?

The glistening moonlight shone through the window near him. Compared to the warmth of the room made by the fireplace, he felt that the translucent feeling of the moonlight was more dazzling.

He sat on the armchair, skimming over a half-read letter under the moonlight.

For London, this was a really quiet night. Just as he was thinking about this, the door was opened forcefully.

“Master!”

Kelly burst into the room in a panic.

“Ah, Kelly, has Lydia finished with her bath?”

Kelly took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

“Yes, she’s already finished, but the Madam, she...... because she’s in great shock, she hid in her study!”

“Shock? What do you mean?”

Kelly frowned, and seemed to be glaring at the completely oblivious Edgar, then said in one breath:

“Madam has kiss marks all over her body! Although her dress is able to cover it without doubt, it’s inevitable that a lady would feel ashamed. In this situation, I can only ask you to cancel all the upcoming outings!”

“I understand...... I will cancel it.”

Edgar quickly replied, while thinking that he had no recollection of it.

Of course, he knew that apart from him, no one could touch Lydia’s skin; it definitely happened when his consciousness entered the mirror.

That being said, Lydia ran away from him, who basically couldn’t remember what he did, and besides, he felt that it was truly a pity to actually have no memory of such a joyous matter. 

“But, Kelly, there isn’t a need to be this shocked. Aren’t they there usually?”

Of course, Lydia was downcast for this reason once in the past, because she couldn’t wear the dress that she picked out in advance, but it shouldn’t be to this degree of shock.

“It’s different than before! Because she found one on her calf too.”

That’s basically a hidden area. Although Edgar thought so, perhaps not saying it aloud was the right choice.

For ladies, the legs were an area that had to be concealed more than the shoulders or chest, so Lydia was shocked, and Kelly was outraged as well.

Edgar was even more remorseful at how he had no memory of it. 

Did Lydia, who had no self-awareness, willingly let him do it? Normally  it would be absolutely impossible.

“I understand, I will climb the balcony of the study.”

Kelly nodded, which meant that this was the only way.

“Master, Madam Lydia is the mistress of the Earl’s family and must remain elegant in public, in short, please don’t leave marks like that on Madam.”

She left after giving clear words of advice.

“Good grief...... aristocracy really is troublesome.”

After Kelly left, a damp breeze came in. The windows were opened and the curtains were slightly pulled.

When he realized it, a dark haired man was standing on the balcony; it was Kelpie, who had turned into a young man.

“Are you finding Lydia troublesome?”

Kelpie looked at him in displeasure.

“Don’t get your hopes up.”

The sudden appearance of Kelpie made Edgar a little restless, because he didn’t want to see him for the last few days.

When Lydia was in the mirror, the one who stayed by her side and supported her was Kelpie.

Edgar was powerless at that time, so there wasn’t any other way. However, Lydia was surely worried, being alone in a place where even her companion, Nico, wasn’t there. At the time, the one who was protecting Lydia was in fact, Kelpie.

“I wasn’t hoping for anything. But if you say things like that, I’ll eat you until only your liver is left.”

Edgar laughed at himself.

“If you were human, you could have probably found an opportunity to obtain Lydia. At that time, she could only rely on you.”

Kelpie raised the corners of his mouth.

“Yes, she was completely relieved when she saw me. Even though it’s part of the fairy realm, the mirror world is also considered an unusual place, it’s quite hard to say whether or not Lydia’s knowledge is useful, and on top of that, there was a lot of Unseelie Court magic acc.u.mulated there, I think she must have been very afraid.”

He was really unwilling, but that was the limit to his abilities. Edgar listened calmly.

“In other words, it’s not like you didn’t not pursue her.”

Kelpie’s hair swayed in the wind, Edgar felt a magic presence silently bringing about anger. Why? Kelpie should be at an advantage.

“Honestly, you really make people angry. Lydia didn’t intend on relying on me at all, she was only using my abilities as a fairy doctor.”

“This doesn’t count as depending on you?”

Kelpie’s magic presence suddenly relaxed, then he laughed, seemingly finding it amusing.

“I thought so originally, but it wasn’t the case. After I saw the moon appear and Lydia return to your side, I understood. When Lydia was in the mirror, it wasn’t me that she was dependent and supported by, even if that girl was relieved at seeing my face, she won’t cry. But there was only one person that saw her in tears.”

Edgar was shocked. Since when did Lydia start crying in front of him straightforwardly?

“It doesn’t matter, I have already given my Kelpie abilities to Lydia, she can use them as she pleases.”

After Kelpie said that, he disappeared.

Even if it happened between husband and wife and Lydia who was in shock after the kisses, she had entrusted her heart to Edgar long ago.

As a human, Edgar always had his boundaries, and he didn’t have the power of the former Blue Knight Earl either, but even if he wasn’t perfect, he should be able to maintain his pure self as long as Lydia loved him. 

“Raven, I will bring Lydia over, please light the fireplace in the bedroom first.”

Raven appeared and blinked, seemingly worried.

“Lord Edgar, perhaps forcing it is not a good idea.”

“I won’t do it again. I hope that this is the last time that I will be climbing up the balcony.”

Lydia was shocked by the sound of the balcony gla.s.s shattering, and looked up in surprise.

Edgar opened the window lock from the inside using proficient skills of what seemed to be of a thief and then pulled open the gla.s.s door. He moved towards her without any explanation.

“Lydia, no matter how many times you lock yourself up, it’s useless.”

“Wh--what are you doing! Isn’t repairing the doors and windows troublesome?!”

Lydia called out in surprise.

“This is my house. I will destroy anything if needed, be it the windows or walls.”

“Well, it would have been fine if you came in through the door.”

Edgar had a look of amazement as he looked towards the direction of the door. He saw that nothing was blocking the door, thus he stared at Lydia in surprise.

“Weren’t you in shock because of the kiss marks and locked yourself in here?”

Lydia blushed.

She really was shocked to the point of feeling humiliated, as her mind was in chaos. Last night and this morning, she changed clothes in a room without mirrors, so she didn’t notice. But she wasn’t trying to refuse Edgar or make him perplexed, nor was she trying to hide in here like before.

“Would it be Kelly......?”

“Yes, I was scolded.”

There was no other way, because not long after Lydia was shocked, she silently ran out of the dressing room into the study.

“Um...... that wasn’t my intent...... I only came because I remembered that there was medicine here.”

“Medicine? Are you unwell?”

Edgar exposed a look of worry and she quickly shook her head.

“Er, well......you see, this is quite effective in treating marks from fairy pinches.”

Lydia picked a small bottle filled with ointment for Edgar to see, and he said in confusion:

“But, I think the marks on your body probably aren’t fairy pinches.”

He answered with a kind of explanation, making Lydia blush again.

“I know that! However, it might be effective!”

Edgar put the bottle close to his nose, then frowned and put the bottle away.

“The smell is unpleasant, don’t use it.”

He gently went by Lydia’s side with an agile dance-like movement and helped her sit on the sofa. 

Then he boldly reached inside the collar of her loose dressing gown. 

He was stroking her neck at first, but he immediately drew his hand back, this time confirming her arms.

“How terrible. It’s too immoral to not let me do anything beyond kissing.”

“It’s not someone else’s problem.”

“Yes, even if it was without consciousness, I can’t do things that I’m not wanting to do. That’s why it’s not like you also felt uncomfortable with it.”

He smiled happily. Every time he teased Lydia he was always having fun. Even though Lydia knew, she couldn’t help but blush in confusion.

“That, that sort of thing....I don’t know! I was in the mirror after all.”

Edgar should have been like this as well.

“However, Lydia you walked into my room and even planned on taking off your dress.”

“Liar!”

Lydia immediately straightened her body out, and he brought his face closer, saying:

“That’s why I want to kiss your legs again.”

“Wh--what are you saying!”

Fl.u.s.tered, she pushed Edgar back.

Despite Lydia tidying the collar of her dressing gown while blus.h.i.+ng deep red and sitting upright, she still sat on the sofa where Edgar could reach. Perhaps she felt that she couldn’t run away just because of Edgar’s mean joke.

It was probably in order to be considerate of Lydia, who was like this, that Edgar stopped joking and changed the subject.

“It seems that Francis is going to come. He sent a letter. Good grief, we unlocked the secrets of the map after much difficulty, should it really be said that he’s quite clever?”

“Is he coming to London for a trip?”

Lydia regained her composure and faced him.

“No, the letter says that he’s going to open a practice as a doctor here.”

“Then we need to help him find a suitable house to rent.”

“You don’t have to consider so much for him, he is the type of person that achieve results with random actions.”

Lydia thought that truly seemed to be the case and then burst out laughing.

“I look forward to it. but I don’t know whether or not we can decipher the map with the help of his knowledge.”

Lydia felt that there was no need to be nervous about chatting about some things here and there with Edgar like this, and sincerely felt really happy. Moreover, Francis was different from Edgar’s other n.o.ble friends, he was a common friend as a married couple, so Lydia was close with him.

It would be nice if these kinds of people increased in the societies of London.

“Let’s not look forward to it too much first.”

Edgar grinned, then whispered with a solemn expression:

“It won’t be the McKeel clan heading for Ibrazel, but us.”

Someone from the McKeel clan knew that the Blue Knight Earl’s map was created in that land, so they appeared in front of Owl.

Although it was unexpected that they sought the fairy map, the Highlanders lived in misery due to the expansion of the Unseelie Court magic. Edgar established the wool industry on behalf of the Connaught clan, but there was no way for the entire group of islands to benefit from it.

The McKeel clan believed that it was good as long as the Prince disappeared, so they currently still see Edgar as an enemy.

“Would it be Mr. Patrick who visited Owl?”

It was possible that the other person called themselves someone from the McKeel clan, when in reality it was the Prophet. However, Lydia didn’t say this thought out loud.

“I don’t know. But regardless of who that person was, the McKeel clan ought to be quite afraid that I came into contact with the Blue Knight Earl’s essence.”

Because this meant that the Prince could obtain the fairy realm.

But, Edgar wasn’t the Prince.

“Edgar, it’ll be alright.”

After Lydia spoke with a firm tone, Edgar suddenly looked at her sorrowfully.

“I will be very gentle tonight, is that okay?”

“What!”

Being seriously asked that, her pulse sped up, and she tensed up again. 

But he, who rarely asked this kind of question, didn’t immediately put his thoughts into actions, which was quite strange, and simply waited for Lydia’s response.

Upon carefully thinking about it, yesterday he asked Lydia whether or not she was worn out, and then let her rest by herself after she nodded honestly.

Although most of the time, Edgar acted selfishly and in a forceful manner he honestly did care for Lydia’s feelings.

As Edgar’s approach confused Lydia many times, she made a fearful expression last time, which probably hurt him.

A person’s mood will swing up and down depending on the manner in which their lover speaks in and they may become uneasy. This sort of reaction only happens when they are in love, and this continue on, without stopping. Even in marriage, their feelings will never settle, rather it will fluctuate everyday. 

Nevertheless, as long as they didn’t let go of their tightly grasped hands, the two of them would be able to continue moving forward without changing.

Lydia’s favourite time was when they were chatting together. She also felt quite happy from the bottom of her heart when she was able to bond with him every night.

“You’re really gentle every night.”

After she did her best in saying these words, Edgar revealed a relieved smile, dropping a kiss on her cheek softly.