Hakushaku to Yousei

Chapter 12

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P. 162
        Inside the rolled bottle, Lydia screamed as she went tumbling. It hit the wall, making the bottle stop, but her back was thrown viciously hard against it.
        “Ow……, ooh, what have you done! You little midget! Baldy! Fatso!”
        She reviled at the bogey beast who was playing around with the bottle, but even if it was criticized, it only held its stomach in laughter.
        However, Lydia wasn’t really in pain. Only her soul was trapped in the bottle, which only felt like her body was shrunken down and put in the bottle, but that was only according to Lydia ’s imagination.
        She only imagined that she was rolling around inside the bottle and that she hit her head.
        Even if she knew that, it still felt like it hurt.
        The bogey beast shriveled its body down to the same size as Lydia and made a little dance outside the bottle.

P. 163
        (What a stupid fairy doctor. It’s because you tried to capture me that you’re in that state!)
        She was aware of the possibility. If you try to capture a fairy, you’re stepping into their world. When she did, Lydia herself would be under the control of the same rules as them.
        She had put herself in danger like the bogey beast of the possibility of being sealed in by just one strand of her hair.
        (Now, what should I do with you. Should I throw you into the river like that?)
        She couldn’t help but be intimidated by its words. If that were to happen, she would end up floating around forever in who knows where of the vast ocean.
        Just then, the bogey beast let out a yell.
        In front of Lydia , it was squashed by some sort of thin and tall thing covered in fur.
        She pushed herself against the bottle wall and looked up to see a giant gray-haired cat pressing down on the bogey beast with its foot and grinning satisfactorily.
        “Nico!”
        “What are you doing, Lydia . Were you tricked by this thing’s magic?”
        Nico stomped down onto the bogey beast several more times and kicked it away, throwing it into the air and smacked against the wall and disappeared in a puff of dust. It had only lost consciousness and was sure to wake up after some time, but it wouldn’t be able to return to normal for a while.

P. 164
        At least that irritating creature was gone and Lydia could finally relax.
        “I came to rescue you.”
        “Nico, I bet you were watching me being bullied around from the window till now.”
        She figured that out by his tail that was dangling down. And yet however much she waited he didn’t come out to do something and she was about to lost her patience with him.
        Nico combed his whiskers for no reason and fixed his necktie. He was thinking of an excuse.
        “Just for your information, I was waiting for the best opportunity.”
        So he judged that since the bogey beast had shrinked down, he would be able to drive it away.
        “Oh, well, then. ...Thank you.”
        Still, Lydia was grateful for him for finding her.
        “How did you find me?”
        “The hobgoblin at the Carlton house was looking out for you as thanks for the biscuits. Since the bogey beast appeared at the house, it was worried and followed after you.”
        “I see, those biscuits of mothers really please the fairies.”
        “So, what happened to your real body. Where is it?”
        “It was carried off somewhere, I don’t know.”

P. 165
        Just moments after Lydia was capped inside the bottle, several number of men opened and came inside the warehouse.
        One of them was Lord Graham and he had apparently came to take away Doris .
        He found Doris who was frantically trying to wake up Lydia , and he looked surprised and puzzled at the sudden appearance of a girl who shouldn’t have been there, but after he made sure there was no one else, he tied up Doris and had her carried out.
He apparently had put them on a small boat on the riverbank just outside as she could hear the sound of the water and the creaking of the wooden boat.
        Lydia had been watching from inside the bottle as Graham peered down at her lifeless body.
        「Is it a corpse?」 asked one of Graham’s men.
        How rude, thought Lydia .
        「No, it looks like she’s only sleeping. But, why, isn’t this girl the fairy doctor that was with the Earl Ashenbert.」
        「What’s a fairy doctor?」
        「I’m not all that sure, but I think they’re something like a psychic or fortune-teller. They apparently have some sort mysterious power.」
        Lydia fought down the urge to say he was wrong and continued to watch what they were doing.
        「I remembered something, Sir, some days ago, didn’t you hire that “dog tamer”? To go kidnap a fairy doctor girl.」

P. 166
        What? ‘Dog tamer’? So the man who appeared at the foggy park on that day….
        「Yes, but that man was killed. The word spread that there’s an excellent guardsman under the earl, so all the hoodlums who accepted the kidnapping jobs up till now are all scared away, so I was just looking for a new man for the job.」
        「She looks like an average girl to me. Can she really be sold for a high price?」
        「If it’s a human with extraordinary powers, that man would pay any price. And this girl has the t.i.tle as the privately hired by the earl family. She’s sure to have some kind of power. She’s the perfect catch for us to get a large sum of money at once.」
        It looks like they are going to sell her off to someone.
        Oh, lord, she panicked, but there was nothing Lydia could do as she was inside a bottle.
        「To just s.h.i.+p stolen or smuggled goods like that man orders is too much risk and not enough profit.
        「Children of the poor won’t sell for a high price. All the humans with extraordinary powers I’ve sold up till now didn’t have that amazing an ability and he wasn’t pleased, so I want to get back his favor around now.」
        「So, if this girl was favorable, then it would be all the more convenient.」
        「Doris was saying something like Rosalie was jealous of this girl and had locked her in. Then as long as we silence Rosalie, it would mean no one who know of the whereabouts of this girl.」
        Oh, no, stop it, don’t touch my body!

P. 167
        Even though Lydia wished that, she could only watch as her body was carried out.

        “Now I understand” mumbled Nico who crossed his arms after he heard her account.
        “So, that Graham guy is trying to sell you off. Who was Graham talking about when he said ‘He”?”
        “How would I know,” replied Lydia , but as she said that, she started to have a bad feeling.
        Eight years ago, Edgar was brought here to be sold off. So, in other words, Graham was linked with the one who made Edgar into a slave. Most likely, Graham prepares white slaves, not only Edgar, to a certain someone.
        What if Lydia was also going to be sold off to this 「Prince.」
        “What’ll I do, Nico…..”
        “Shh.”
        Nico picked up the bottle Lydia was in and hid in shadows. Since there was the noise of the front door opening.
        Someone entered the warehouse along with the thick fog seeping in. Footsteps echoed through the warehouse.
        The light of a lantern was being used to carefully inspect inside and a shadow came to the back of the building.
        “It looks like there’s no one here.”

P. 168
        “We were too late.”
        It was Edgar’s voice. He was with Raven.
        She wondered if they came to look for her.
        But in the state she was in, she couldn’t go out into the open.
        Lydia peeked out of the shadows along with Nico.
        “Do you think Sir Graham had already come.”
        “Raven, there’s a hankerchief.”
        Raven went to pick it up.
        “It has the initials D.W. embroidered into it.”
        “Doris Worpole? ……This warehouse apparently belongs to Graham, but that would mean Lady Doris was also locked up in here?”
        Hold on a moment, thought Lydia. They brought up Graham’s name like it came to no surprise to them. Had they known that Doris was being confined by her uncle?
        Since when? And if they knew, why did they get Lydia involved by even going through the trouble up bringing up the fairy?
        “Then, do you think Miss Carlton was also taken along with the baron daughter?” “There is that possibility.”

P. 169
        Edgar fell silent, he must be thinking of something, as he combed his blond hair up that stood out even in this darkness. He wore an overcoat and leaned this thin by muscular body against an old, dirty pillar and mumbled in a seriously troubled tone.
        “If she’s handed over to Prince, there’s nothing we can do. Before the s.h.i.+p leaves port, we need to get her back at the London docks.”
        Prince?
        Was “He” who Graham was talking about really referring to “Prince?” If Edgar even knew about that, then it means…..
        Now Lydia was seriously having a very, very bad feeling.
        “I shouldn’t have made Lydia a bait.”
        Bait?
        “But Lord Edgar, it was inevitable in this situation. Even if Graham didn’t know that Miss Carlton did have a special ability, if she was here with Lady Doris, then she was bound to be taken away.”
        “You’re right, but if he knew about her, then that would mean they would lock her up securely to make sure they can sell her off to Prince.”
        “What is the meaning of me being a bait! Edgar, are you saying that you were planning on having me be kidnapped by Lord Graham?” shouted Lydia , not able to stop herself.

P. 170
        “Lydia ?”
        “Impossible, there’s no s.p.a.ce where a person could hide….”
        Just as Raven said, Edgar peered into the crack that no human could possibly squeeze into and saw there was a gray-haired cat who was holding a gla.s.s bottle.
        “Nico? That voice….couldn’t have been you.”
        “What are you going to do, Lydia ,” whispered Nico, and started to walk out.
        “It’s useless to hide now, so I’ll just explain. Besides, it looks like they can hear me.”
        I wonder if they’ll believe you, said Nico irresponsibly, as he walked out into the open on his two back legs to stand in front of Edgar and held up the bottle over his head.
        “First of all, Edgar, I’m going to have you explain yourself! What’s the meaning of bait!”
        He looked down at the bottle that was the source of Lydia ’s voice, and frowned as he winked over and over again.
        “Raven, can you see something?” he asked and turned towards Raven.
        “Yes.”
        “Why are you surprised when you can see?”
        “I’ve seen extraordinary things in the past periodically.”

P. 171
        “Excuse me, but I’m not extraordinary.”
        “If you would permit me, Lord Edgar, I can explain what is inside the bottle.”
        “Then tell me. Only a tiny figure of Lydia appears in my eyes?”
        “I believe that you are more or less not mistaken.”
        “What do you mean more or less! Stop doing a short comedy together!”
        “Lydia , how in the world did you get in that state?”
        Edgar picked up the bottle with his hand and looked completely amazed as he was about to pop open the cork.
        “Ahh, don’t, stop! If you open the cork I’ll die!”
        “Huh? Why?”
        “Because my body isn’t here. Lord Graham took it away. If you release my soul when my body isn’t near, then my soul wouldn’t have anything to return to and disappear.”
        He threw his hand off the lid.
        “Which means, we’ll need to get back your body and return your soul that’s in this bottle back to your body.”
        Lydia nodded.
        “Lord Edgar. If that’s the case, then it’s best to get into action immediately.”
        “You’re right. Raven, go back to the hotel and keep an eye on Graham. The news about his a.s.sets being claimed would reach his ears soon. When he finds Rosalie in that room, he’s sure to put her on the same s.h.i.+p and Doris and Lydia . We’ll determine which boat it is he’s using for human trafficking from that.”

P. 172
        “Yes, my lord.”
        “Rosalie…., what happened to her? Hey, did you do something to her?”
        But Edgar continued to ignore Lydia ’s voice.
        “And use every possible means to put pressure on all the s.h.i.+ps he owns so they won’t leave port.”

        At the earl residence, on top of a table lit by a lamp, Lydia sat in a sour silent.
        “Are you mad?”
        Edgar was sitting on a beautiful ebony chair and was looking at her with a trouble and embarra.s.sed look but Lydia remained sitting down holding onto her knees and looking the other way.
        How could she not be angry after she was told the truth.
        Edgar was using Lydia from the beginning for his revenge against the man who handed him over to Prince.
        He was aware that Graham was the cause of Lady Doris’ disappearance and the possibility that Lydia might be targeted, and yet he made it so that Lydia would purposefully get the attention of Graham.

P. 173
        He says that he knew that Graham had his hand in selling stolen goods and human trafficking, but if he was the one who was trading with Prince then he antic.i.p.ated that Graham would think that the special ability of a fairy doctor could be sold for a handsome price.
        Having her meet Graham at Cremorne Gardens was also part of his calculations.
        And Rosalie’s affections towards him would be handy so he used that for his revenge as well.
        The reason Edgar came to that warehouse was apparently because he was told by Rosalie of Lydia’s location. But it didn’t seem like Rosalie would tell him that honestly as Edgar was keeping that part quite vague.
        She could only judge from fragments of his confession that he antic.i.p.ated that Graham was going to sell Rosalie off as well, and Lydia could only imagine that he abandoned her in a dangerous location, but even that was quite heartless and cruel.
        To act that kind and fond of her, only to turn out that he was using her. What does he think of people? He really is the worst kind of person.
        Even though he says that he isn’t lying or he isn’t hiding anything, he’s really deceiving people. The reason he tricks others with his sweet talk is so that he can deceive then like he pleases.
        This wasn’t like it was her first time being tricked, but that made it all the more made Lydia feel miserable about letting her soft self go and believe in him just a little.

P. 174
        “I had no intention of getting you in danger. I had planned on not allowing any of his men lay a finger on you.”
        “I don’t want to hear excuses.”
        She shot back harshly, which made him go quiet.
        Lydia felt starved and that made her feel even more depressed.
        Of course, since her body that was still asleep hadn’t even eaten dinner.
        “Are you cold?”
        Lydia realized that she was rubbing her shoulders like she was cradling herself.
        “Maybe….. I should have at least put on a shawl.”
        “Do you want to go near the hearth?”
        “I think that’s pointless.”
        “Yes, I guess so.”
        Giving it a little thought, Edgar softly picked up the bottle with Lydia with both hands.
        “I wonder if all human souls are miniature form of themselves.”
        “Who knows. But this appearance is only because I can imagine myself like this. I wish I could have appeared more attractive.”
        “You’re beautiful enough, Lydia .”
        “Even if you try to coax me, I’m still angry at you. ……Hey, what are you doing.”

P. 175
        He wrapped his arms like an embrace around the bottle with Lydia in it.
        “I thought you would feel warm this way.”
        “Didn’t I say it’s pointless? My body is probably lying somewhere cold and dark.”
        As she said that, Lydia realized that Edgar went through that kind of frightening experience.
        At least she wasn’t experiencing solitude, or fear, or despair, but it was still horrifying to imagine that she was still being trapped in some dark storehouse or somewhere unknown.
        Even in the short period of time she was locked up by Rosalie, she was desperate in trying to calm herself down, but she really was extremely scared that she wanted to cry out loud.
        “It’s just a little while longer. You’re going to be saved no matter what.”
        She wasn’t able to look up at his expression, but his voice sounded serious. His voice sounded like he was holding down his emotions and spoke the words like he was swearing an oath, and that must have been similar with his swear for revenge.
        She watched his slender fingers stroke the gla.s.s and that gave Lydia the sensation like she was being directly stroked.
        She should have been resenting Edgar, but she was imagining herself relax from her head being padded like a child.

P. 176
        She felt sure that he was doing his best to rescue Lydia .
        He was a man who was merciless against his enemies and used others with his glibly smart talk. But he was a man who would protect his allies even at the cost of himself.
        However, Lydia was in a fairly indefinite position.
        She was unrelated to him enough to be used, but an ally enough to be protected.
        But she guessed that couldn’t be helped. The comrades he considered his family were the ones who went through the same suffering trials as him and the ones who experienced the same world where there was no justice or beauty.
        And now there was only Raven left.
        When she looked back, she remembered how it didn’t hurt to know that she was used as bait but it was more tearful when she learned of Edgar’s state of mind.
        “Hey, for your revenge, what were you planning to do with Lord Graham?”
        He replied “Let’s see, I don’t know” and evaded her question probably because he was thinking of something that was a little too beyond her imagination.
        “Is revenge the only way? Do you believe that’s the only thing you could do for your friends that had all died?”
        “What else is there that I can do?”
        “You asked me to help save the boy who was taken and disappeared into the fog.”
        “That was…., I was being too sentimental. Even a fairy doctor wouldn’t be able to save the dead, right?”

P. 177

P. 178
        “Yes. But you are alive. That story wasn’t just about one boy, was it? I heard from Raven that there were many other boys who went through the same thing. You were also talking about yourself, weren’t you?”
        “Well, I’m not sure.”
        She could sense in his careless response, there was a hint of irritation. It was like he felt hatred towards himself for being the only one to survive.
        “Isn"t it you that really needs to be saved?”
        He didn’t answer.
        “You yourself are still trapped in the fog. That’s why you’re not able to accept the fact that your friends were sacrificed… But, even if you paid your revenge against Lord Graham, I don’t think that will make you relieved from your grief.”
        Lydia felt the small breath from Edgar’s sigh. Although she didn’t know what sort of meaning there was behind it.
        “It isn’t bad having you this small. I can always keep you near me.”
        “What, I don’t want to stay like this! I’m hungry and it’s cold, and what should I do when I get sick!”
        She couldn’t say that Edgar wouldn’t keep Lydia like this as a pet. So Lydia seriously denied his idea.

P. 179
        “I’m just kidding. I’d rather prefer to embrace your warm real body instead of a cold gla.s.s bottle. I want to touch you so I can make sure of your warmth. But if I were to do that, I was just thinking that you in your real body would sure to slap me and run off.”
        Of course I would.
        But Lydia was feeling just a little that it would better that she was a small version of herself in a bottle for now.
        Then she wouldn’t have been able to be beside Edgar after finding out about the lie that she was used as a lure.
        There wouldn’t have been an opportunity to touch the despair or lament that he was carrying like this.
        Lydia had a feeling like Edgar might be shedding tears as he was holding the gla.s.s bottle for a while.
        He was grieving quietly in his heart of how he could only exact revenge for his dead comrades.
        She thought of him as the arrogant and overconfident and the type who would die than show the weak side of himself. Even if he looked sad or depressed, he was the type of person who even calculated that and threw Lydia around.
        Even now, she didn’t know what he was really thinking. And yet, she felt glad that she was at a close enough to exchange words with him who maybe wanted to cry.
        Perhaps what Raven had told her was stuck in her mind.

P. 180
        That Edgar was a person who didn’t lean against anyone and stood alone. Because Lydia had no ties, she was probably able to peek into Edgar’s whimpers and sorrows that he had to lock up in order to fight, but Raven must have really wanted to say to please not hate the weak part of him.
        She must have really have a soft-heart to not hate him even when she was in a dangerous situation. But.
        Edgar needed her even though Lydia made the foolish mistake as a fairy doctor by being bottled up by a bogey beast, but Edgar still needed her, and if there was any salvation by being by his side like this, then she was honestly happy.
        Through the gla.s.s, she pressed her cheek against his s.h.i.+rt. It was something she couldn’t never do in her real body.
        Amazingly, she felt like she could feel his warmth seep through to her.

        Who knew that you would get sleepy even as just a soul.
        When she woke up, Lydia was inside the bottle as the morning sun came s.h.i.+ning down.
        For some strange reason, the bottle Lydia was in was wrapped around with cus.h.i.+ons and sheets. He should know that it’s useless, and yet he went through the trouble for such a meaningless thing.

P. 181
        Lydia felt it was absurd and yet dimly heartwarming and as she had been laying on her side at the bottom of the bottle and was about to wake up, but then, she realized that something was wrong.
        Her body was heavy as a rock and couldn’t move.
        Of course it wasn’t her real body, but it felt like it was made out of lead, and she was barely able to lift up her upper body. Lydia leaned up against the gla.s.s wall and fought back the pounding pain in her had and the whirl of her brain.
        She was filled with the fear of unexpectedly vanis.h.i.+ng. Since it was a very delicate condition for a human to remain as just a soul, there must have been something happening to herself.
        She looked around to search the room, but there was no one in Lydia’s field of vision.
        “Edgar, …..where are you?”
        “Oi, now, what happened? You sure are relying him.”
        A gray-haired cat snooped down in front of her.
        “Nico.”
        Last night, Nico had returned to her house. To explain to her father and camouflage that Lydia had been forced to go to the party of an acquaintance and had gotten drunk and took the offer to stay at the residence. She didn’t want to cause her father to worry, and she definitely couldn’t show herself in this state.
        “Even if it was the great earl, there was no way he could fool around with you when you have no body.”
        “Stop saying nonsense. ….I just felt a little sick and didn’t know what to do….”

P. 182
        “Sick? Lydia, that’s a major problem.”
        Nico crossed his front arms in a serious manner.
        “What’s a problem?”
        The one who entered the room was Edgar. He noticed Lydia who was sitting slumped down at the bottom of the bottle and peered down at her with a worried look.
        “What is the matter, Lydia?”
        Nico answered in her place as she had no idea.
        “Humans can’t live as just their souls. If they are separated with their bodies for a long period of time and even though they are sealed in the bottle by the fairy’s magic, they slowly lose their life energy.”
        “What? Then we need to hurry.”
        Perhaps to do being in a frantic state, Edgar hadn’t realized that he was having a conversation with Nico.
        “So, did you find out where that Graham guy is holding Lydia captive?”
        “It isn’t like Lydia’s body was seen carried onto it, but I have a rough idea of which s.h.i.+p. The only problem is that since his s.h.i.+pping business is half financed by the Baron Worpole family, I won’t be able to seize it….”
        “Ahhh, sorry but we have no time for discussing the mechanics of human affairs. Just say it in a nutsh.e.l.l.”
        “In other words, it would be difficult to forcedly stop the s.h.i.+p or inspect inside.”

P. 183
        “Huh? Aren’t you a former criminal? Just use a b.l.o.o.d.y weapons and attack it and hijack it.”
        “It seems like you have the misconception, but I don’t use those sort of vulgar methods.”
        “There isn’t any vulgarity or propriety in being a thief!”
        “Umm….., if we explained to the police about Lord Graham’s crimes….”
        Lydia gave a proposal, but that would take too much time, said Edgar.
        She didn’t know how long she could last, but she had the feeling like she couldn’t make it through the day. If they went against someone respectable like Lord Graham who had a high social standing, then they would need to collect reliable evidence and even the police wouldn’t go straight into action.
        “Then, lord earl, think of some way that wouldn’t take time.”
        The time Edgar was thinking of something was just a short while.
        “AlL right, I’ll use the last resort.”
        “If you had that kind of resort then you shouldn’t have kept it stored.”
        “I’ll have to think as I go in order to know if we can really use it, though.”
        He called for his butler and announced his departure. He scribbled something on a memo and handed it to the servant.
        “And, Tomkins, send a word out to Raven to come to this place.”
        Lydia witnessed Edgar hiding a pistol in the inside of his frockcoat, and she took a strenuous long breathe.

P. 184
        The deep breath she drawed was from the suffocation she was feeling and Edgar’s dawning decision that came from that.
        She wondered if he always had to take the responsibility and make the decisions like this.
        He might have made the decision that decided someone’s life or death alone and had to make things turn to the most best outcome.
        “Lydia, hang on. I’ll definitely save you.”
        The side of his face that showed through the gla.s.s bottle looked like a knight that was heading out to the battle field and she saw the light of fire that was s.h.i.+ning in his ash mauve eyes.
        There was no guarantee that it could end with the best outcome. In reality he had lost many of his comrades.
        There must have been so many times when it didn’t end like he said. And yet, the part of him that had the determination to take the lead was making him say that.
        He had the determination and resolve to confidently say a promise that might be a lie.
        Beautiful eye colors, and a beautiful person.
        It was a different attractiveness that would capture the hearts of the ladies, and different from a superficial carefulness or cajolement; she thought see saw the strength that grabbed the depths of people’s heart in him in just a flash of a moment.
        A n.o.bleman from his core. A merciless criminal. A frivolous lady’s man. A charismatic leader.

P. 185
        Who are you really?
        Which is the real Edgar?
        I don’t know anything about the real you. Why are you being so desperate for someone like me?
        “I want to ask….., is there a chance for this to succeed?” asked Lydia as she fought against her suffocation in the carriage.
        “Of course,” replied Edgar immediately.
        “…..You’re lying.”
        “You don’t have to worry, leave everything to me.”
        That’s a lie too. You don’t have any certainty and yet you don’t say anything that would make the ones following you nervous.
        “Even if you say something like that, there’s still times that you’d fail, right?”
        “Lydia, you’re losing your courage.”
        “I…., don’t trust you enough to leave it in your hands confidently. Even if I do come out alive, I’m not going to give you your thanks. …Because it is your fault for turning out this way.”
        “Do you think me as a criminal who would leave you to die after you say that of me?”
        “….I wouldn’t know. I don’t know anything about you. …Because I’m not a part of your team, aren’t you thinking of abandoning men when it turns to the worst? It’s fine to abandon me. The thing I don’t want the most…., the thing I’m unwilling to accept is after you fail, for you to feel regret and suffer because of it. I don’t want to be half-heartingly pitied by you when you were the one who exploited me. I don’t want to become one of your scars. I refuse to be that kind of luggage.”

P. 186
        For a brief moment, Edgar t.i.tled his head to the side but then burst out in a chuckling laughter like he was delightfully amused.
        “Thank you, Lydia. I feel a little easier now.”
        “……No, you’re wrong, I really, meant when I said I hate you….!”
        That was a lie.
        I don’t want you to shoulder everything by yourself.
        It looked like Edgar understood what she really wanted to say and that she couldn’t say what she meant.
        “But, you know, I can’t let you go free. Don’t you feel like by partnering up together we would have the fairy’s luck would be on our side?”
        I wouldn’t know. I’m just put through so much unlucky things because of you.
        And yet, perhaps she was fortunate to have someone who understood the duty of a fairy doctor appear before her.
        “So, Lydia, please don’t give up your hope in me. Don’t give up and let’s fight together.”

P. 187
        What a strange man. He has no idea how much I am disappointed in your ways.
        But although Lydia did feel the anger of being used as bait, she hadn’t felt pain or was scared because of it.
        Eventually, the carriage approached the road that Lord Graham’s office resided.
        Edgar had the carriage stopped just a few buildings away from it and waited for Raven to arrive, and Lydia watched as the two of them were discussing something together, and after he came back in, he picked up the bottle that Lydia was in and got off the carriage.
        Nico followed after them.
        He entered the office, and before Edgar, who asked to see the one in charge, a man who claimed to be president appeared.
        “You’re out of the question. Bring me Lord Graham.”
        “Pardon me, but I am the one in charge of here. If you have any business, I would be glad to hear it.
        “Are you making light of me because you think me as an amateur?”
        Edgar stared back at the plump middle-aged man who was giving him the att.i.tude like he was taking care of a troublesome peer with a condescending glare that completely intimidated the man.
        “Oh, not so ever. It’s just the owner hardly ever comes to this place. I’m sorry, but sir…..”

P. 188
        “Tell him Earl Ashenbert is here.”
        “Pardon me, my lord.”
        “If he doesn’t come quickly, he’s surely going to regret it.”
        “….And you mean by?”
        “I’m saying that I’m aware of what the packages are you people are delivering.”
        The man escorted Edgar into a different room in a completely panicked state.
        Seeing how Lord Graham had arrived in such a short time, it was easy to guess that it was a lie that he wasn’t here.
        The bonds of the banks and casinos that Graham had debts to were all completely bought by Edgar. Because of Edgar who immediately collected those places whose payment returns were left unpaid, Graham was trying to get back his fortunes.
        But because Edgar had many different alias, Graham wasn’t able to immediately determine who it was that was trying to corner him on a cliff and for what purpose.
        Still, of course, Graham was sure to be struggling to stop even just a little from being completely robed, and Edgar must have foreseen that he would use this s.h.i.+pping company as his hideout, and paid a visit expecting that he would be here.
        “Why, if it isn’t my lord, I was told you needed to see me, what can I do for you.”

P. 189
        Graham came into the reception room, and had a look like nothing was the matter, but one could tell at one glance that he was completely exhausted.
        “There is actually a lot that I would like to say, but since I’m in quite a hurry, I’ll go ahead at the risk of being rude and ask you. I’d like the return of my fairy doctor.”
        It was quite the direct approach. Lydia watched as she worried if everything would be alright, and made caution to their conversation, but her listlessness was only growing. She was barely able to grasp the situation, and didn’t have the strength to give her opinion, but either way, she was left to leave everything up to Edgar.
        “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Did my niece take the liberty and did something to displease you for me to be thrown accusations about s.h.i.+pping ‘certain things’?”
        “I’m here to talk business. Are you not interested?”
        Edgar had his arms crossed with an att.i.tude of arrogant superiority. The reason Graham hadn’t sat down was obviously because he wanted to hurry up and kick his guest out the door and Edgar kept going on regardless.
        “I’m saying that I will buy from you.”
        “And what would that be?”
        “Of course, my fairy doctor.”
        “Like I had mentioned, I don’t know what you’re talking about. In the first place, my lord, if this is about the young lady who is hired as your private fairy doctor, then it would be absurd to talk about selling and buying. If I were to sell such a thing, it would be a crime.”

P. 190
        “Like I had already said, I am in a hurry. This is the most important reason why I am bargaining with you. Under these circ.u.mstances, I don’t care about this being absurd or being a crime. Even if someone had stolen my jewel and was making a profit off of that by selling it, I plan to pay a suitable price to get back my jewel.”
        “What you’re saying is quite interesting. However, unfortunately, I don’t have any idea in regards to where such a jewel might be….”
        Most likely, Graham needed to get his hands on a large sum of money as soon as possible, and although he was being cautious, he didn’t look like he was going to slap away Edgar’s offer. He only replied with vague responses.
        “So that means, you don’t have my jewel with you. However, Lord Graham, you must have many connections in the jewelry business. I would appreciate it if you would introduce me to anyone.”
        “Hmm, well. …….Let’s see.”
        He was still hiding and started to show signs like he was thinking about it.
        “There are periodically cases where one would arrange rare things of great value for something they are familiar with. But it isn’t an easy task, and there are times when one must cross a dangerous bridge, and even if you are lucky to find the thing you are looking for, you would have to cross an unlawful path,” said Graham.
        “I see,” said Edgar unconcerned and pressed Graham to continue on.

P. 191
        “First of all, since you would be trading with those who broke the law, one of the conditions would be to keep it strictly confidential.”
        Uh-huh, right, when you’re the one breaking the law.
        “Of course I understand. They are bound to be in a collusive relations.h.i.+p with those in power. And even if you were to file an suit against them, and I am aware of the fact that there wouldn’t be anything good to come out of that, and so I am asking to bargain with you,” said Edgar.
        “Then, just one more thing. Forgive me for asking, my lord, but will you mind covering the expenses?”
        He was the kidnapper and yet he has the nerve to ask for a large amount of money. Lydia was so furious that she nearly forgot her ill state, but unfortunately she didn’t have the energy to deliver a protest.
        “What is your request?” asked Edgar.
        The price Graham asked for was an unreasonably high price. At least, Lydia couldn’t imagine what a person could buy in their lifetime to use up that much money.
        “I will pay as long as you escort me to where Lydia is being kept.”
        Eh? Edgar….., I can’t believe you are willing to pay such a price in my exchange. It would take longer than her lifetime to repay such money.
        “That….would be difficult. I would have to ask you to wait here.”
        “I have no time to spare. In the cast I wait here, and it turns out to be too late, then I will not pay a cent.”

P. 192
        “Too late?”
        “Lydia has an illness. She should be asleep and unable to wake up, so if we leave her in that state, it will be too late.”
        “…..I see, so that’s why you’re in a hurry. Which will be a problem. If in the case I escort you and it turns out to be too late?”
        Aside from Lydia’s panic, the trade was strangely being continued in a calm manner.
        “In that case, then it wouldn’t be at your fault. I will pay.”
        The reason Edgar said that was because they needed to return Lydia’s soul that was in the bottle to her body as soon as possible.
        But to escort Edgar to the location where he hid the girl he slayed would be lowering his self defenses and he wouldn’t want that to happen. However, in order to make this trade final, he had to do it.
        At any rate, Graham weighed the fact that he desperately needed a large amount of money and the risk to get that against each other, and in the end, he chose the money.
        Lydia listened to the sound of the feather pen Edgar held as he signed the contract and grew tears of lament were building up in her.
        Why, would he do such much for me, I don’t understand.
        Even if Lydia was gone, if he were to search all of England then there still were a number of fairy doctors left.

P. 193
        Using his money for that would be much more economical and have no danger.
        And it was questionable if there really was a need for a fairy doctor for the earl.
        “My lord, the only one I can escort can be you alone. I would like to ask for your valet to wait here.”
        Oh, no, we can’t take Raven. More than Lydia imagined, it looked like Edgar had put himself in a dangerous trade and she panicked.
        For Edgar to go alone to the place that Lydia’s body was being confided and Graham planned to do something with Edgar, than it would be an easy task.
        “Fine. I don’t have any time to waste.”
        And yet, Edgar held Lydia in the bottle with so much gentleness and going along with what Graham was saying.
        “Please leave your weapon here as well.”
        Edgar obediently took out the pistol from inside his frock coat and placed it on the table.
        “By the way, what is that bottle?”
        “It’s just an empty bottle.”
        Edgar only said that reply with a thin smile on his face. Graham apparently couldn’t see Lydia and made a puzzled face but he must have felt there was no necessity to press any further.
        Edgar was such an odd man. He wasn’t able to see fairies and had a very realistic and pragmatical view of the world, and accepted the spirit inside Raven and didn’t have any doubt in Lydia and her ability.

P. 194
        He didn’t think that Nico could talk, and yet he understood what Nico said.
        Even to Lydia, he would do inconsiderate things like he was unconcerned, by at times, more than anyone else, he would understand her.
        Just like Lydia, who was determined not to die like this, he too, was frantically trying to prevent her death.
        For the present time, he was a gentleman who was kind to the ladies. His kindness could just be an extra act to that. And yet, for her who was being used as bait, she would have the misconception of being treated with great care by him like a princess.
        Even if it was just her imagination, Lydia desperately struggled to stay awake for Edgar’s sake, because she felt that if she loses consciousness her soul would fade away.
        If that happened, she had the silly high opinion that Edgar would have to carry another scar.
        Seen off by Raven, Edgar got onto the carriage with Graham. Lydia felt the presence of Nico, who was following them with his body remaining invisible, and heard ‘it’s just a little longer, hold on’ said by Edgar who had encouraged her in a whisper.

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