Hakushaku to Yousei

Chapter 4 Spiteful Jealousy

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Chapter 4 Spiteful Jealousy

“Lydia, you knew Earl Ashenbert right?”
While Lydia was about to return to the mansion from the rose garden, Lucinda smirked as she stood in her way. 
“Eh… um, I guess…”
"Then, the residence you previously served at was the Earl"s friend"s household? So you became the Earl"s mistress?" 
Mi--mistress….?  
What on earth is she talking about?, thought Lydia, as her cheeks grew red. However, Lucinda remained indifferent.  
“What a pity, was that why you were fired? How could he fool around with a maid? Although these things happen quite often, it’s why undisciplined maids aren’t welcome in any household wherever they go.” 
"No, it’s not like that.” 
“No need to hide it, you know.  I won’t report this to my aunt. ” 
It seemed that Lucinda hasn’t discovered that Madame Oughtred isn’t in the mansion yet. Lord Constable didn’t want his daughter to worry, which is why he decided not to tell her.  
Since she specifically said that she wouldn’t tell anyone, this meant that Lucinda had a plan. She smiled as she drew closer to Lydia.   
Then, as if to tell a secret, she whispered:
“You see, my father doesn’t approve of my engagement with the Earl. That’s right, it seems that he won’t forgive the Earl as he wrote a letter to him, that I secretly received, saying that he proposed without his permission.”
Then, it wasn’t Edgar.
“So that’s why my father doesn’t want to meet him. He didn’t even want to sit and have a meal on the same table with him. Besides, I can’t depend on my Aunt because she’s ill.”
“I see...” 
“So in saying that, Lydia, can you please explain to my father how much the earl adores me?” 
“What!” 
“It’ll be good if you say something like that. If he listens to someone else, maybe his viewpoint will change. ” 
As a weakness, Lucinda was planning to take advantage of Lydia’s role as a maid. Having a love-rival was a nuisance to Lucinda, so she wanted Lydia to bring Lucinda and Edgar together. By doing this, Lucinda was attempting destroy the relations.h.i.+p between them. Lydia remember that originally, she was only being fooled around by Edgar. 
Lydia fell silent and this time, even she felt unconvinced.  
Despite how she was clearly the one getting married, she was being perceived as someone who was being played with.
Was it because of her current ident.i.ty as a maid?
Just for how long will she need to endure this?
But Madame Oughtred also wasn’t here.
If Lydia resigned as a maid arbitrarily, she won’t be able to earn the Madame’s support and that may disappoint Edgar as well. 
Moreover, she wanted to save Virginia the gardener and was also concerned about Madame Oughtred whose whereabouts were unknown. At any rate, since fairies were related to that situation, she can’t simply leave. 
However, she didn’t want to obey Lucinda.   
“He said that I’m the only one in his heart…” 
Lydia accidentally blurted out.
As Lydia is now, she could only rely on Edgar’s words. Regardless of whether she should believe it, as long as she held onto this, she will not allow Lucinda to do as she pleases. 
Immediately, Lucinda face turned red. Furious, she quickly raised her hand and slapped Lydia’s face.
“You’re just a maid, remember that.” 
Originally, the n.o.ble daughter was a commoner. Lydia was confused as her face was distorted because of hatred. 
Then, Lucinda and the silent maid left.



“Are you alright, Miss Lydia?” 
Just as Lydia began to walk, a voice came from the top of the stairs.  A young man with brown skin was looking down at her from above.
“…. Raven, you’ve been watching?” 
“I was just pa.s.sing by from here.”  
Since he said that, it must be true. Besides, he must have seen her getting slapped.
“Lord Edgar wants to talk to you, so I was searching for you. ”
“I will not return.”
Lydia walked out and Raven followed her from behind.  
“The dangerous person could perhaps still be inside the mansion. We don’t know if someone, who pretends that there is nothing against you, may unknowingly attack you. ” 
“If it was an intruder coming from outside, they would have fled already, furthermore there’s no suspicious woman with black hair who entered this residence. ” 
“Miss Lucinda also has black hair. ” 
“How is that possible? A niece wouldn’t attack her own aunt. ” 
Even though Lydia remembered her saying she wanted to borrow the Regard necklace or something, there is no reason for her to steal it.
“As relatives, they don’t get along with each other since originally they were on bad terms and as outsiders we do not know what kind of conflict they had with each other.”
“If that’s what makes him so afraid, it’s alright for both of you to return. ” 
“Lord Edgar is only afraid that Miss Lydia might face danger. ” 
Raven thought this sincerely.  Edgar… if he felt that way, then Lydia was very happy despite the stinging pain that lingered from Lucinda’s slap. 
Although Edgar was not at fault, she was not at ease. Lucinda looked down on Lydia and believed that Lydia would never be as n.o.ble as she is. 
Even if she wasn’t a maid, entering n.o.ble society will surely be difficult the way Lydia is now.
“…. I can’t return. ” 
“Then, please at least quit your job as a maid and reveal yourself as Lord Edgar’s fiancée. ” 
If she made it clear, will Lucinda give up? But by revealing her ident.i.ty, she will be denied of Oughtred’s education.  
Lydia believed that as long as she was silently diligent, despite how she was unfamiliar with the work of a maid, she would will be able to overcome obstacles once she entered the unfamiliar n.o.ble society.
Perhaps Madame Oughtred wants to ascertain this.  
“The Madame isn’t here. I can’t just quit my job as a maid.” 
“Please do not be so stubborn. If you are not close by Lord Edgar’s side, I cannot always keep an eye on you.”
Furious, Lydia stopped in her tracks.
What do you mean stubborn?!
“This is what Edgar wanted, as long as I accept Madame Oughtred’s education to behave as a lady, will he be satisfied? Now he wants me to stop this, what does even that mean!” 
Lydia started to walk quickly again but Raven didn’t give up. He caught up with her and caught her arm.
“Let go of me. ” 
“No, please come with me. ” 
“I’m very busy.” 
“Hey, what are you doing?” 
The person who appeared from the courtyard was Billy. 
Raven turned to Billy, still not letting go of Lydia’s arm.   
“Who are you? You’re not a servant here, are you?”
“I am Lord Ashenbert’s valet. ”
“So that’s how it is. The Earl who has a reputation for being a womanizer, even his servant is a playboy, unexpectedly pursuing the household’s maid.”
“He’s not like that, Billy... I know him. ”
“Let’s go. ”
Raven planned to take Lydia with him to leave.
Billy casually seized Raven’s shoulder. 
Raven immediately turned around, which resulted in Billy losing his grip and tightly grabbed onto Billy’s arm.
“Raven, stop!”
Lydia screamed, as she was worried that the chief waiter’s arm will instantly break. 
But Billy lifted his knee to kick as a counterattack.
Raven swung around, dodging the kick against his back, Billy hurriedly turned around and they silently glared at each other. 
The tension between them was relieved at last since the housekeeper appeared. 
“Lydia, what are you doing? I was looking for you just then. You don’t have time to rest!”
“Ah… I’m sorry, Mrs. Boyle. ”
Lydia glanced at Raven.
“Please Raven, don’t report this matter to Edgar. ” Lydia whispered and quickly left with the housemaid, so Raven no longer pursued her again.   

                                
                                *


“Remember that!” Lucinda had said that, not as a mere parting shot. 
From that day on, Lydia was being ignored by other maids, as there had been backstabbing gossip spreading around. 
It seems that the rumour was, “She was fired because she had licentious relations.h.i.+ps with men.”   
Lydia was immediately questioned by the housekeeper.  Although she denied it, it seemed the housekeeper didn’t believe her.
“Since I have no authority to fire a maid, I’d have to keep you hired you until the Madame comes back. But I will not allow you to dishonour the dignity of this household.”
She had said it in such a  firm tone, clearly indicating that if she had the authority, she would’ve fired Lydia herself.
Lydia only nodded. 
Mrs. Boyle had only heard from Madame Oughtred that there would be a new maid coming and wasn’t informed about Lydia. Therefore, it can’t be helped since she thought Lydia was the maid. This was humiliating. However, as long as Lydia was not driven out, she should be able to find Madame Oughtred and clear the misunderstanding.
It will eventually come to end if she ignored the rumours. 
“I heard that at the previous residence, she was seducing the Madame’s guest or something like that.”
However, that wasn’t always true since the rumours were being spoken behind her back. Several maids would gather together and as long as Lydia was nearby, they would openly gossip about it.
“No way, how shameless of her.”
“Will she behave the same way here?”
“Perhaps it’s already been done.”
“Is she seducing the Madame’s younger brother?”
“It’s that young n.o.ble. The man inquired me about the matters relating to that girl.”
Edgar, don’t you dare interfere!
“But I heard that man is Miss Lucinda’s fiancee.”
“What! And yet, she’s seducing him. What is Miss Lucinda going to do?”
Even being summoned for work at this time, Lydia felt relieved.
But the work actually involved serving Lucinda. Lydia’s mood turned melancholic again. 
For some reason, Lydia was to be a.s.signed to obey Lucinda’s orders.  
It was because her work as a maid was too little, since the Madame was missing. 
As she was being called to Lucinda’s room, she felt drops of water on her hair while crossing the courtyard. 
Was it raining?
But from looking above, the light blue sky was clear. 
Immediately, Lydia smelt a pungent scent of perfume and frowned. Someone seemed to have sprinkled perfume down from the window. 
Although it felt unpleasant, there was no time for her to wash it off.
As soon as she walked into Lucinda’s room, Mrs. Boyle was there, glaring at her. 
“Lydia, were you the one who prepared the Lady’s bed?” 
“Yes. ” 
“What is the meaning of this?” 
Mud was spread all over the sheets. 
“I.... do not know. ” 
“Other than you, no one else had entered this room. ” 
Then, it must have been Lucinda. She thought that as she looked at the girls’ direction. But of course, she feigned ignorance. 
“Lydia, tell the truth!” 
“Mrs. Boyle, you shouldn’t scold her too much. It’s inevitable that she’s a little jealous, since I am the Earl Ashenbert’s fiancée. She likes the Earl, although she’s a maid.”
This girl... 
“I did not do it.” 
Lydia had to endure even if she was being provoked by that girl because it would mean that she would be acting as Lucinda had wanted of her. However, Lucinda grinned as she drew closer to her. 
"Oh? The smell of perfume? This is ...my perfume. ” 
What?
“Oh! Lydia, you’ve been casually using the Lady’s possession?” 
“No, I did not.”
“Even to go as far as wanting to dress up like me?” 
Don’t be ridiculous.
Lydia was shocked as she took a deep breath.Then, she briefly glanced at Lucinda’s maid who averted her eyes, which Lydia thought was very suspicious. 
s.h.i.+fting her line of sight, Lydia discovered mud remains in her nails. 
This was the maid’s doing. 
Realizing this, Lydia didn’t intend to refute. 
If she pointed out the mud in Annie"s nails, Lucinda will put all the blame on Annie. Annie who can’t speak, will have no opportunity to provide an explanation.
“Oh, forget it! Mrs. Boyle, get someone else fix up my bed.” 
Because she noticed Lydia staring at Annie’s nails, Lucinda quickly ended the conversation. 




With the housekeeper motioning to leave, Lydia silently left the room. 
Once she arrived at the fountain next to the garden,  Lydia sat on the the stone wall and untied her braid.
She washed off the stifling perfume from her nose and using the running water, she washed the tips of her hair. 
Mixing with the sounds of the water, giggling sounds heard and fluttering about between the foliage were fairies.
Catching sight of fairies in the garden wasn’t rare. However, it wasn’t easy to find the Danish fairies.
Trying to get information on their secret, Lydia eavesdropped on their conversation but, of course, it was to no avail.
Taking a break from work by strolling around the garden, even if she seemed to catch a glimpse of the Danish fairies,  they would immediately hide as they are wary of her. “Nevertheless, I’m hungry.”
A grumble along with a sigh.
Some bugs crawled into the oatmeal dish that day.  It must’ve been someone playing dirty tricks, however she failed to have the meal replaced. 
She examined the trees in her surroundings. However, the fruits were not yet in season. 
Instead, what happened to enter her vision was Nico walking towards her.  
"Hey Lydia, as I thought, it’s impossible! What would you even know about the Danish fairies’ secret?” 
Nico trudged towards Lydia with his two hind feet. 
“They don’t even let other fairy clans come near them. It’s because for generations, they’re determined in preventing their treasure from being stolen.” 
Lydia was stalling for time through her bluff on the Danish fairies and within that period of time, Nico was also helping Lydia in prying on their secret but this seemed to be of no avail. 
“You need to hurry up and leave. The gardener thinks that it’s not so bad to be buried in the rose garden and besides, didn’t she already tell you not to come here again? The matters with the Madame have nothing to do with you.” 
Lydia was silent as she looked up at the sky. 
“Anyway, did you just shove your head into the fountain?”
“ ...No. ” 
“You really are stupid, the Danish fairies aren’t in the water. ” 
She laughed at Nico who didn’t understand the feelings of others. 
“Hey, it’s the Earl.” 
“What!” 
Startled, by the time Lydia turned her gaze around, Edgar was already in front of her.
She stood up, fl.u.s.tered as Edgar’s face drew closer to her. Even if she wanted to step back, the fountain was behind her.
Edgar caught her as Lydia nearly fell back. 
“Finally, we’re alone together.”
“You aren’t alone together!”
Nico rested his chin in his hands in disgust.
“Nico, can you leave us alone?” 
Edgar seemed irritated as he was deliberately getting rid of Nico.
“Alright, get along with each other. ” 
Although Nico was cold, he left.
Lydia was suddenly pulled towards Edgar as his ash-mauve eyes gazed straight at her.  
“Why are you avoiding me?” 
“It"s nothing in particular, I’m busy...” 
She was clearly avoiding him, but Lydia still said that.
“Lydia, I want you to tell me the truth. ” 
It seemed that Raven didn’t report to him so Lydia felt relieved, even she can’t say anything. 
Whether she was harmed by the scandals, or facing Lucinda"s contempt and hara.s.sment, as long as she reminded herself that these were the cause of her own cowardness, the more she wishes that Edgar would not find out.
She had always been interacting with fairies, therefore she was bad at relations.h.i.+ps with with humans. However, if she married Edgar, she has no choice but to be in contact with humans. She had to remain in n.o.ble society, therefore she doesn’t want others to think that she can’t interact with humans as they expected.  but she didn’t want to people to think she wasn’t able to get along with others. 
“....Really, I was only busy. ” 
Lydia struggled and finally separated herself from Edgar. 
Honestly, if somebody were to see them here, she would be in trouble because the maids  believed Edgar was Lucinda’s fiancee. 
“If you won’t return no matter what, I intend to stay and protect you. But if you avoid me, I won’t be able to do anything.”
“It’s alright....someone is targeting the Madame’s jewels, not a maid. ” 
“That is a concern, but I’m more afraid you’ll do work that you’re not familiar with. If you ever feel distressed or anxious, or anything else, I want you to talk to me about it.”
“Like I said, nothing happened.” 
“Lydia, I want you to come here, but I don’t want create a misunderstanding about us here.” 
“Edgar, someone’s coming. ” 
Lydia hurried to maintain the distance with him, hearing footsteps coming from the other side of the shrubbery. That person turned out to be Billy. 
Why do we meet up so frequently? 
“Huh, we often see each other, don’t we?” 
Edgar said what Lydia was thinking but in an extremely cold voice. 
“h.e.l.lo. ” 
Billy also responded coldly, probably from feeling Edgar’s hostility. 
“The waiter seems to be idling about.”
“I was looking for Lydia. ” 
Billy looked at Lydia and smiled, holding up a small paper package. 
“The head chef gave me slightly burned biscuits, but I don"t like sweets that much. ” 
“Oh, then can I have it?” 
That was what Lydia’s hungry stomach wanted the most. 
However, as Billy approached to hand over the biscuits to her, Edgar stretched out his leg. 
“Whoa!” 
Billy tripped over and fell into the shrubbery, along with the biscuits. The package opened up, and the contents scattered onto the ground.
“Wha--what are you doing!” 
“Oh my. I didn’t think you were careless.” 
“Ha ... resembling the reflexes of your valet, no ordinary servant needs that.”
Billy angrily retorted while brus.h.i.+ng off the leaves on his coat.
“Still, it seems that you don’t have the skills of a waiter, don’t you? Oh, I know, when I invite the guests I find unpleasant to have dinner with me, I will hire you to serve the meals.”
“It’d be better to not have to invite those guests.” 
“I’m referring to the people I want to poison.”
“I refuse. ” 
Lydia did not pay attention the confrontation between the two and picked up the wrapper caught in the thicket. However, not even one biscuit remained.
Unable to eat, her feeling of hunger suddenly grew. 
Lydia became angry.
This was Edgar’s fault.
Lydia thought that as she angrily approached Edgar. 
“That"s enough, why couldn’t you let me have these! The biscuits are wasted! They were precious biscuits…. Ugh, you always have to be one-sided, you don’t understand my feelings at all! Moreover, you’re always initiating meaningless quarrels against other kind men! Please don’t do that again! You’re the worst!”
Halfway through, Lydia was crying. She turned and ran, leaving behind the dumbfounded Edgar and Billy.  


                                *

Later that night, the moonlight’s reflection was s.h.i.+ning on the roof while Nico walked. From the edge of the building, he then slipped into the attic from the skylight. 
The room Lydia was lodged in was not only too narrow, it didn’t even have a sofa or cus.h.i.+ons on top of the bed. Although Nico was dissatisfied, he still temporarily returned in order to sleep.
Lydia was curled up and sleeping on the bed.
Nico pulled up a blanket after settling himself at a corner of the bed. 
When Lydia was a child, they used to sleep on the same bed. But because of Lydia’s terrible sleeping position, Nico was repeatedly kicked off the bed as she grew older. He intended to never sleep together with her again. 
But tonight, Nico was worried about her because she seemed to be a little tired. It was surely laborious investigating the fairy’s secret while working.  
Because whenever Lydia overworked herself, Nico was very anxious. 
Nico should be free from the task of watching over her because she was engaged. But Lydia was still the same, always wanting to struggle alone. 
Clearly she loved the Earl, but seems like she can"t open her heart to him simply because they are engaged.
“Hey Lydia, are you crying?” 
He initially thought she was asleep but noticed her shoulders were s.h.i.+vering, so Nico decided to ask. 
However, she did not respond and was motionless. 
Did she really fall asleep? 
Nico wanted to steal a glance of her face, but Lydia had her entire head wrapped around by the blanket, so he was unable to grasp the situation. 
He picked up the red-brown hair scattered on the bed sheets. No matter how much he pulled, Lydia did not respond. 
However, her hair was damp. 
She can’t have shoved her head into the water again.
Nico was helpless. 
Even if Nico comforted her, Lydia wouldn’t stop crying. 
Nico understood this well, because her mother was once like this. 
In the future, only one person can lift the dark haze in Lydia"s heart.



                                *


“And including Billy, altogether, it’s a total of four servants that were hired at the same time as him.  As for the other newly employed servants, there were several garden tree transplantation staff, but they live in a remote cabin and it seems that they had never entered the mansion. ” 
While Edgar was listening to Raven’s report, he had been constantly worrying over as to why Lydia was so angry yesterday, since this morning. 
Why had she wanted to eat the chef’s burnt biscuits so badly? Was it a matter serious enough for the need to yell out “You’re the worst”?
“The three people with the exception of Billy are janitors, but the four of them seem to be acquaintanced from the beginning. They also knew that Madame Oughtred had disappeared since that evening, as they have been frequently contacting each other. ” 
Moreover, when Lydia had asked him to give her the biscuits she looked very happy. 
“They wanted to inquire the maid who had worked for years, many questions regarding the Regard necklace. It is not clear whether they were simply acting as detectives as a pretension or not.” 
Even before when Edgar wanted to give her gifts, he had never seen her look so delighted. 
He really wanted to kill that man.
“Lord Edgar. ” 
“What? Ah, the Madame’s Regard necklace is missing? I heard it’s a the key to unlock the her jewels.” 
When Madame Oughtred wore the necklace and made her debut in society, it was known at the time that she possessed jewels. As it was heard that many jewels were on the other side of the leafed door, then those eyeing them will steal the Regard necklace first.  
“The possibility that Billy is part of the group of thieves, nor whether or not there is more than four in the group of thieves cannot be dismissed as there is no such evidence to demonstrate this.”
“Billy was within the vicinity of the Madame’s room that night and it was not usual to have a waiter attend a dinner.  If we a.s.sume he was the criminal, he would have escaped from the window onto the roof, then entered through the window of the other room which would make sense. Or perhaps he was responsible for helping his other comrades… acting on the lookout for the black-haired woman.”
If this was the case, Lydia wandering around should’ve also had a purpose. 
Despite being new, Lydia held the position as Madame Oughtred’s maid, therefore would it not give the impression that she may know something about the jewels? 
“Raven, can you temporarily watch over Lydia and keep her from danger?” 
“Yes. At this time, she should be working with Mrs. Boyle, so when she’s alone, my eyes will not leave her. ” 
“Good, I’m counting on you. ” 
Just from seeing the figure of Edgar, Lydia would run away, so there was no other way.
It seems that she did not want to be seen working as a maid. Moreover, after the matters with Lucinda were revealed, perhaps she suspected Edgar. 
This was why she was avoiding Edgar and furthermore, she was not jealous of her.
She said that she believed in Edgar, but if her feelings had faded from that, then it was painful for Edgar to bear.
“Hey Earl, it’s terrible! Hurry up and do something about it!” 
While Edgar was depressed, Nico had yelled out and ran here.
Edgar raised his hand to signal to wait until later to drive him away but...
“Lydia was crying all night. Why is she being like this!” 
“What did you say?” 
“She hasn’t been in a good mood since coming here, I think something must have happened. Even if her fairy doctor work was laborious, she never cried. She also urged me to look for clues regarding the Madame, to find out about her whereabouts. Hey Earl, have you done anything to cause her pain?”
“Uh well....”
“Then, go apologize. Hurry and apologize to Lydia, tell her that you will never be fickle again.” 
“Fickle? Don’t talk nonsense. ” 
“Then, what else could have happened?”
“Umm…”
Raven interrupted timidly, which was unexpected.
“Lord Edgar, I am very sorry. It was because Miss Lydia had asked me not to speak of it, therefore…”
Raven revealed that Lucinda was jealous of Lydia, hara.s.sed her and had been subjected to the backstabbing gossip.
“Moreover, the maids who were a.s.signed to arranged the meals detested her, so they discarded her bread.”
Startled, Edgar stood up.
“So, Lydia hasn’t had a proper meal yet?”
“I happened to see only at breakfast time...” 
“Raven, these matters should have been said earlier. ” 
“...I am sorry. I did not know what to do. ” 
Although he didn’t know what to do, Raven was keeping silent in accordance to Lydia’s request.
Until now, Raven had always simply obeyed Edgar’s commands, but now he also wanted to respect Lydia. 
Raven had never thought of people other than his master, so this was a great improvement.  
“No, you are not the one to blame.” 
The one who made a mistake was Edgar. 
He was only worried of the danger that will fall upon Lydia. Now, however, rather than being harmed by jewel thieves, she was in a position to even be hurt from small, malicious hara.s.sments. 
Lydia was only experiencing the work of a maid because she was considerate of Madame Oughtred. However, if the Madame who knew of the truth was not here, then no one can support Lydia’s real status.
Besides Edgar, no one else knew that Lydia had no reason to suffer such ill treatment. 
“Well, Nico, it really was my fault. I made Billy’s biscuits, which were meant be to given to her, fall before her. It was because I was angry that she was so delighted to receive sweets from the hands of another man.” 
“What! Lydia must have wanted to eat them, then...” 
“Well, she went in a rage, then left.” 
“Ah, what to do? Earl, resentment because of food is very terrifying! 
“That... Nico, don’t just put yourself in others’ shoes...” 
“Lydia is also like this!”  
“Raven, what about you? How would you feel?”
“If it was me, I would never forget it.” 
With his honest opinion, Raven’s words had depressed Edgar deeply. 
However, now was not the time to be depressed. 
Edgar left the room and decided to have Lydia immediately resign from her work as a maid.   
But unfortunately, just as Edgar was stepping out of the room, he saw the stature of a corpulent man coming from the other end of the corridor.  
It was Lord Constable. He said that he would take Lucinda back but had never actually left. Although Lucinda, of course, did not want to return, he was full of anger towards Edgar. Perhaps it was because he also intended to remain here.
It"s already widely known across the n.o.bility that Lucinda is the daughter of a governess. n.o.bles wouldn’t hesitate in proposing to her if they were to aiming promote their status.
Constable firmly believed that Earl Ashenbert was currently making advances to his daughter and didn’t think it was a bad thing. 
This is why that, although he felt insulted by Edgar, he still thought that Edgar must take responsibility. 
With that in mind, Lord Constable stopped in front of him which meant terrible news for Edgar. 
“Earl Ashenbert, you and my elder sister’s maid seem to be acquainted.” 
Was he talking about Lydia? 
“She really is a horrible woman. To steal Lucinda’s brooch is truly outrageous!” 
“She would never do such a thing. ” 
"She insisted that she doesn’t know, but since you know her, could you please tell her to return the brooch?" 
“Why has your daughter made such an unjust accusation?"
“An unjust accusation? The maid should know that Lucinda’s ivory jewelry box is under her bed. ” 
Just because of that?
Edgar was stunned, as Lord Constable kept on angrily talking non-stop.  
“Anyway maid’s room is being searched. I want you to attend as a witness.”
Therefore, he came in order to call for Edgar in this matter. 
Lucinda intended to disgrace Lydia in front of Edgar. Edgar realised this and immediately called for Raven. Edgar briefly whispered and explained the matter to him, then walked out with Lord Constable. Of course, he will not allow this to happen.
To even go as far to search her room without any evidence, they had to be joking. Had Madame Oughtred been present, she would’ve prevented this from happening as Lydia’s guardian. But as long as the Madame was absent, the housekeeper was in charge. 
Edgar entrusted Lydia to Madame Oughtred to take care of her, not the housekeeper. And yet, it was already too late when he noticed that Lydia was placed in such a situation, despite that it was unexpected from the beginning. 
Needless to say, Edgar intended to stop the search in her room. Due to the Madame’s absence, Lydia’s guardian would be himself. It was impossible to keep silent while his fiancee was being insulted. 
On the staircase exclusively used by the maids, the people concerned had gathered and waited together. 
There was Lucinda and Lydia, the butler and the housekeeper. 
“Father...” 
Lucinda wiped off tears in her eyes while clinging to her father. 
“It was given to me as a souvenir from Venice by father, my most precious brooch and yet... ” 
“Rest a.s.sured, it will be found immediately. ” 
Although Lydia’s face was pale, her att.i.tude was still resolute as she stood tall.
However, she did not look in Edgar’s direction. He was expecting her to reveal an expression as a plea for help, however Edgar felt a sharp pain from her indifferent att.i.tude. Such att.i.tude to others made Edgar feel sad. 
I will not rely on you, Lydia seemed to say wordlessly. 
Edgar was the one who called Lydia to the Oughtred residence. He thought it was his fault that he provoked Lucinda’s jealousy towards her. Perhaps there was still resentment due to the biscuits. 
In short, he was refused by Lydia.  Although he strongly sensed that, Edgar still came to be by her side.
“Please stop this at once. What evidence is there that induces the need to search her room? You should not do such thing to innocent people. ” 
“Whether she is innocent or not, it will be clear after we search. Usually when a maid has a bad habit of stealing a substantial number of times, it’s best to investigate as soon as possible.” 
“Lord Constable, you can say more, but I cannot allow it. She is...” 
“It’s fine. ” 
Lydia’s sharp voice interrupted Edgar.
“Please hurry and investigate. Even if the Earl Ashenbert defends me, this is unable to clear up suspicions. ” 
Neatly turning down Edgar, there was only silence. 
Earl of Ashenbert? After they met, this was the first time Lydia had addressed him in such a manner that strangers did.
It filled his heart with feelings of despair and disappointment, but at the same time, Edgar tried to suppress the feeling of wanting to forcibly take Lydia away from that situation.



In the end, Lucinda’s brooch was not found. 
Lydia was relieved but Edgar felt that everyone did not believe what she said. 
Lucinda said that it was impossible for it to not be found and blamed the butler and the housekeeper for their searching methods. Even though, Lord Constable was comforting Lucinda at the time, there was not even the slightest consideration to apologize to Lydia.  
Lydia never looked in Edgar’s direction and did not give him the chance to speak with her. 
As she was about to follow the housekeeper out of the room, Edgar immediately caught her arm. 
Rather than being angry, Lydia seemed frightened as she slightly turned her head back.
It was as if she considered Edgar as someone who wanted to expose her crimes to others therefore, Edgar felt impatient at the thought of that.
From the beginning, they both had small misunderstandings. Even then, Lydia was distant from him before he realized it. 
“Please talk to me.”
Edgar was at a loss on what to do.
“...later.”
“When? You must promise me. Otherwise, I will think of something.” 
Knowing Edgar, Lydia probably thought that he was going to commit a crime. Lydia considered this and informed him of the time she finished work.  
He really wanted to say that he did not want to let go of her. However, it couldn’t be helped as the housekeeper called for her from above the stairs and reluctantly let her go.
After Edgar exited the room, Raven called out to him. 
He approached him and opened his hand in front of Edgar.
There was a brick red cameo brooch on his palm. 
“This was in the attic of Lydia’s room. ” 
“Yes, I’m glad you found it on time. ” 
“I saw Miss Lucinda"s maid secretly walking out the room. ” 
“As I expected.” 
“One more thing, Lord Edgar please follow me.” 
After motioning to beckon, he was led by Raven to the end of the corridor. 
Raven hid behind the pillar and pointed to the other end of the courtyard where the foliage gathered.
A voice was heard. 
A glimpse of a gaudy dress from the shadow of the foliage was seen. It was Lucinda and her maid.
“What is the meaning of this, Annie? Did you truly place the brooch in Lydia’s room?”  
The maid seemed to nod.
“It wasn’t there. You’re hiding it. Hurry up and return it to me….or do you intend to say that you don’t care?”
The maid desperately shook her head. 
Then, for a while, only Lucinda’s scolding of her maid was heard. However, a slap on the cheek noise resounded, and she left. 
The maid stood there motionless, as if waiting for Lucinda to disappear from sight. 
Then, it looked like she was unable to endure as she opened her mouth. 
“Hmph, stupid woman. Soon, I’m going to make you regret taking me for a fool.” 
Supposedly a mute maid, those words were indeed muttered from her.



                                *


After finis.h.i.+ng work, she promised to meet up with Edgar. However, the work may not be completed as scheduled.  Despite this, Edgar appeared before Lydia just at the appointed time. 
Right when Lydia was a.s.signed a job, it was was.h.i.+ng dishes from the back of the kitchen near the well.
“I can’t wait any longer.”
“I’m sorry, but you must wait again. I have to finish was.h.i.+ng all this.”
Several giant barrels and pots were piled against each other beside the water well. 
The kitchen lights were dim and the maids have returned to their rooms to rest. Lydia slightly pushed the side of the illuminating oil lamp away from her, as if to hide from Edgar and sat down.
“Isn’t this a servant’s job?” 
Although he was right, this punishment was in result of the morning’s disturbance. Lydia wasn’t the person who stole the brooch, but it turned out like this because Lucinda expected Lydia to be punished. 
Because someone had indeed stolen the brooch, it seems that she ordered a thorough search of all the maids. However, because she believed that Lydia was the criminal, she told Mrs. Boyle that if Lydia were to be punished, she will forget this matter. 
“Someone needs to do the work. ” 
In order to discipline the maid who has a habit of stealing, her hands were whipped, leaving many scars. Lydia tried to avoid Edgar’s attentive observations of her hands as she stood up and moved toward the well to prepare water. She just didn’t want to be seen by Edgar in this residence. Even this morning as usual, she did not want him to see her being regarded as a thief. 
Although Edgar intended to protect Lydia, she thought that she cannot attract attention and  involve Edgar in a situation where everyone suspected this wretched girl was his fiancee.
Therefore, Lydia didn’t even once look at Edgar’s face. Because if they had made eye contact, all that she suppressed in her heart couldn’t endure any more and she would cling onto him.
Even now, Lydia was suppressing these feelings from him as she was unable to look in Edgar’s direction.
This made her feel exhausted. 
Lydia staggered and was caught from behind. 
His arms tightened around her. Feeling his body temperature, Lydia’s heart beat increased and she couldn’t move. 
“Please, don’t force yourself. ”  
“N--no, it’s not a problem. I am not force...” 
Edgar’s strength was different than usual as a hot kiss pressed against the nape of her neck. Lydia with her hoa.r.s.e voice told him to stop, but he refused in a whisper.
“... Is it because you are a maid, you will do anything?”
Edgar relaxed his strength and sighed.
“You’re not a maid. ” 
“My current ident.i.ty is a maid here. ” 
“....At least first, why don’t you take a break? Aren’t you tired?”
After Edgar said that, this time with very gentlemanly movement, he helped Lydia sit on top of the barrel. 
He took the pot-was.h.i.+ng brushes from Lydia’s hands and replaced it with a handkerchief-wrapped bundle in her palm.
It was exuding an aroma of b.u.t.ter cookies. 
“Lydia, are you still disappointed in me?” 
“If you mean the matter with the biscuit yesterday.... I wasn’t myself.” 
“You were fine, I want you to look into my eyes. ” 
Although Edgar squat down in front of Lydia, she was still looking slightly away from him. 
“Aren’t you the one disappointed in me?” 
She was always feeling anxious about that.
“I--I am nothing.  If I am not your fiancée, I am nothing. After coming here, I clearly understand it now. ” 
No one would have doubted that she was a maid because Lydia was originally a commoner. Lucinda was falsely claiming to be Edgar’s fiancee and everyone believed it. However, if it was Lydia, no one would believe that she was his fiancee.  
It seems that she can’t become the bride Edgar was hoping for, to enter n.o.ble society. 
“Even I am utterly lacking, apart from being your fiance. My name and my Earl t.i.tle, are lies. However, I believe you are an irreplaceable person to me because only you wish to support me, who is utterly lacking.”
She was clearly happy, but why couldn’t she express it honestly?
Perhaps it was because Lydia felt disappointed in herself more than anyone else.  She wanted to work hard, but she was only disappointing everyone as her efforts were fruitless.    
Edgar stood up. No matter what, Lydia will not look into his eyes. Though her eyes were gingerly following after Edgar, afraid that he would leave. 
However, Edgar took off his coat and hung it on a nearby tree branch. He then started cleaning the barrel using the brush he took from Lydia. 
“No, Edgar, don’t do this. ” 
“Isn’t this great? You rest until I finish the work. ” 
“But... ” 
“Perhaps, I’ll do it even better than you. ” 
Edgar smiled as he said that. He then effortlessly lifted up the cauldron that was difficult for Lydia to move.
He boldly poured water into the pot, paying no heed to his spotless s.h.i.+rt and polished shoes that got wet. 
“This is how I earned some coins in the past.”
Was he skillful in this because of his experiences of distress? 
Edgar was clearly born within n.o.bility, but his parents were murdered. He was kidnapped and sent to America and was able to escape through his own strength, to the slums where he survived. 
In those days, his experiences were certainly far more difficult compared to the matters that Lydia was experiencing now.
“As long as I’m with you, even if I was a farmer who worked all day, perhaps it’s not so bad.” 
Edgar’s tall and slender appearance always gave an aristocratic impression but besides that, he unexpectedly had a broad back, strong shoulders and supple muscles in his arm. This gave others a masculine feel to him as Lydia stared, captivated. 
If Edgar was not an aristocrat, perhaps she could’ve felt him more personally as her fiance.

However, in spite of what he was doing or whether he was working in silence, he made people think he was pondering other matters. But the matters he thought about were how to promote his own status, definitely wanting to make a huge profit. 
In fact, in order to continue being wealthy, he even boldly took the t.i.tle at hand. 
“Edgar, even if you plow the fields, you don’t even look like a farmer.”
It was precisely because he was such a person that he had been able to return to n.o.ble society. Looking at Edgar, Lydia thought that everyone had their own place in society that suited them.
“It’s like no one would even notice that I’m your fiance.”
Edgar’s hand came to a stop and he looked at her in surprise. 
“We’re going to get married. Regardless whether others believe it or not, is it not real to us?” 
“Real... sometimes, I would think, is this really happening to me? The matter of marriage, I have little understanding of it.”
Lydia was only here because Edgar wanted her to stay by his side. Therefore, she wanted to respond to it with the att.i.tude of accepting his marriage proposal, but her awareness and feelings in becoming a countess were too weak.
Lydia stood up. 
She thought about how she couldn’t just let Edgar do all the was.h.i.+ng and wanted to at least lend a hand. Therefore, Lydia dragged away the cauldron that he was was.h.i.+ng. 
“You don’t need to do this, you should sit down.”
“I’ve had enough rest.”
“Watch out over there. ” 
“Ah!” 
Not noticing the ground-level difference, Lydia tripped over and fell. 
Ah, what are you doing! You can’t even do the a.s.signed work. 
Lydia was unable to immediately stand up. It wasn’t because of the pain in her foot, but it was because her limbs gave out from exhaustion. However, Edgar who was frightened, quickly ran to carry Lydia and sat her down on the stone wall near the trees.
“Is it a sprained ankle?”
“I--I’m fine..” 
“It’s a little grazed isn’t it?” 
Edgar knelt in front of Lydia. Because his hands were touching her ankle, she became anxious. 
But compared to that, Lydia was suddenly frightened when he looked up and caught her eyes which expressed a hint of resentment.
He was perhaps still angry at Lydia’s excessively weak att.i.tude. 
“I’m sorry....”
“Why are you apologizing?” 
“It’s impossible for me to enter the n.o.bility.  Therefore... there is still some time to annul the engagement...” 
Lydia got scared halfway.
She was afraid of reactions such as disappointing him, disgusting him, truly cancelling the engagement and after feeling regret from speaking of it, her body became tense.
Although he did not reveal the kind of responses Lydia feared, he still stared at her in anger. 
Suddenly, the hand touching her ankle slid upward.
The skirt hem lifted, exposing her fair legs that should not be seen in public. Lydia gasped. 
Edgar’s warm hand wrapped around her knee and stopped. 
A man’s hand moving up from a woman’s ankle to her drawers was a serious matter. It was so unexpected that Lydia was frozen and couldn’t speak. 
He stared at Lydia. 
“What are you thinking about now? Are you thinking of running away from me? Don’t you need me?  So when you are enduring hards.h.i.+p, am I useless?”
Edgar lowered his head, laying a kiss on Lydia’s knee across the fabric. Then, he painfully whispered, “Do these hands only bring you unhappiness? No matter how many times we’ve kissed and touched, I don’t understand how you feel. Although I hope to have more of you, you would not think so, right?” 
Regardless, his words, hands, and once again his gaze toward Lydia all felt pa.s.sionate. 
Lydia was still unable to withstand the same pa.s.sion that burned inside her, even if she breathed with all her strength. 
“…No, even if you don’t need me, it doesn’t matter. It’s just that I don’t want to lose you.”
He gently withdrew his hands.
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