I’m sorry, Lydia.
She felt as though she heard Edgar’s voice.
You’re someone who’s supposed to be happy. As a fairy doctor who is loved by the fairies, you mustn’t fall together with me. That’s why…
No…, Edgar, don’t leave me behind!
As Lydia tried to shout out, her eyes snapped open.
A mortar ceiling entered her vision. There was a small window which was shut and light from the outside which shone through the curtains lit her bed up dimly.
On top of the oak table were multiple volumes of half-read books which served to kill time.
This was the McKeels’ mansion which she was used to seeing.
Lydia who woke up from the dream, wiped the perspiration off her forehead with her hand and muttered the name of the person she did not want to part with.
“Yo, so you woke up.”
The curtains by the window swayed. Although the windows were still shut, Kelpie sat on the edge of the bed while resting his chin in his hands.
“If you stayed any longer in the dream, your body won’t be able to wake up.”
Lydia remembered that Edgar and Fergus were fighting each other in the dream.
Edgar had tried to shatter the spring which had transformed into the prase bedrock, while Fergus tried to stop him.
After that…
Lydia did not see what happened subsequently. Because Kelpie had forcibly taken Lydia away.
“Sleep. Isn’t it still difficult for you to move? Although half a day has pa.s.sed since we returned, you were only finally able to regain your consciousness.”
Lydia, who tried to get up, found that she wasn’t able to move as she wanted to, just like Kelpie had said.
It appeared that her consciousness which slipped out into the dream still wasn’t accustomed to her body.
“Kelpie, what happened to Edgar?”
Even so Lydia sat half her body up and bent forward towards Kelpie.
“Beats me. Since I brought you back and returned in a hurry, I don’t know either.”
Kelpie probably took Lydia away from the scene hurriedly because he did not want to show Lydia what was going to happen to Edgar.
Lydia thought so because at that time, Edgar did not seem to try to evade or resist what was coming.
Even though Fergus was acting with such force that he would stop Edgar no matter what.
The more she thought about it the more frightened she became, and Lydia held her shoulders with both arms.
“Urgh, here comes something troublesome. See you later Lydia.”
Kelpie vanished immediately. At the same time, the one who knocked at her room door was Patrick, and Lydia hurriedly placed the gown on the bedside over herself.
“Mr Patrick, if you wish to see the young miss, please wait a little…”
Although Kelly ran in after him, Patrick came right to Lydia’s side unfazed.
“I apologise for my manner, but it was because I thought this was news that’s important to you Miss Lydia.”
“… What is it?”
“I heard that the Earl of Ashenbert is dead.”
The sense of Kelly swallowing her breath reached Lydia. Lydia froze and was unable to utter a single sound.
“Who… said such a thing?”
After some time, she was finally able to speak out in a feeble voice.
“Fergus returned to the clan chief’s mansion a while back. Although I heard that Fergus had proceeded to the straits on his own judgement in order to stop Lord Ashenbert from destroying the Master’s dream, it seems like many things happened on that small island in the straits. In any case, the dream of the “Master of the Islands” has been protected.”
It was what Lydia had seen while she took the form of a dream. If that’s the case, there could only be one conclusion.
“Was Fergus the one who… Edgar?”
She felt fearful as she put it into words.
If Edgar had received Fergus’ sword in that defenceless manner. As Lydia imagined that scene, she trembled.
“He had fought for the islands as the next clan chief of the McKeels. That’s all there is to it.”
“I don’t… want to hear such things.”
“If it had been Fergus who died, would you be able handle this without feeling sad?”
“… You say terrible things.”
She did not wish for them to fight. It was precisely because Lydia couldn’t wish for Fergus’ death or hate him that she desperately tried to stop them.
But Lydia, who was nothing more than a figure in the dream, was unable to interfere with Fergus.
Even though she was able to touch Edgar.
It must be because Edgar was the only one whom Lydia was able to touch with her soul.
Unconsciously, Lydia touched her neck with her hand.
Fergus said that he lied.
This was a mark left by Edgar in that dream then.
Strangely, Lydia was able to accept it easily. She understood why she became fraught with emotions when she thought about this.
To Lydia, it was always only Edgar. Until now, and from now on.
Yet, Edgar is…
“… I don’t believe you.”
Lydia muttered.
“Mr Patrick, you intend to deceive me again don’t you?”
Patrick, while still looking quiet and keeping his emotions hidden, spoke again.
“The Earl has given up, be it to obtain the medicine or to bring you back. In doing so, he had probably decided to bury Prince together with himself. With his pride as the Blue Knight Earl.”
That was probably why he had said sorry to Lydia. At that time, Edgar did appear to be resigned.
Even so, I don’t want to believe it.
“Fergus he… what is he doing?”
“He feels that he is unable to meet you now.”
That was probably why Patrick had come to inform her.
Lydia fell silent while keeping her head down.
When Patrick left, Lydia went out of the mansion alone. As she walked along the cape absent-mindedly, she thought only about Edgar.
“You mustn’t fall together with me…”
At the last moment, Edgar gave up on using the magic of the Unseelie Courts. He, who tried to fulfil his promise with Lydia even if he had to use Prince’s memories, for the sake of his vow to protect Lydia, a vow which was more important than that promise, Edgar was resigned to a farewell.
Perhaps he had decided not to drag Lydia into what he had ended up shouldering.
It was always Edgar, not Lydia, who was truly bearing with painful feelings.
Lydia couldn’t do anything in the end.
She wasn’t able to part from him. Even her decision to stay by his side was not one that would protect him. She still wasn’t able to reciprocate the love he had given her either.
While receiving the sea breeze with her being, Lydia found it unbelievable that she wasn’t shedding tears.
I wonder if it’s true that even after my wounds have healed, I won’t be able to meet Edgar anymore.
I still can’t believe it in the least bit.
If so, I must verify it with my own eyes.
Lydia was still Edgar’s fiancée. Even if they were not married, she should still be in the position to verify his fate, since he did not have any blood relations.
Once she thought that, she turned around abruptly and ran off.
*
When he glanced towards the top of the carnelian rock, Edgar met Kelpie’s eyes.
As though he sensed Edgar’s intention, Kelpie forcefully took Lydia away and disappeared. At the same time, Edgar lowered his arm which held the sword.
He simply watched Fergus as Fergus raised his sword and came at him.
It was not as though he wanted to die. It was only that, when he thought about how there was no longer anything left he could do for Lydia’s sake, Edgar could not even gather the will to avoid the sword.
At that moment, a black figure jumped in before his eyes.
In the next moment, Fergus sword was parried off and flew up into the air.
“Raven…”
The brown-skinned youth, unfazed by the blood that flowed from his arms which was seemingly grazed by the tip of the blade, stepped forward swiftly towards Fergus who had lost his weapon.
As Raven beat up Fergus’ shocked face, Fergus, who was more well-built than Raven, fumbled and fell to the ground on his behind.
“Raven, that’s enough!”
Although Edgar hurriedly stopped Raven, surprisingly, Raven backed off calmly with a “Yes.”
Somehow it seemed like Raven had no intention of beating Fergus up any more than that. Lately, Raven had come to understand what it means to go easy on someone.
“Lord Edgar, apologies for my late arrival.”
After checking that Fergus was not going to stand up, Raven turned towards Edgar.
“How did you come here?”
“Mr. Nico brought me.”
In the shadows behind, Nico swayed his tail.
Edgar undid his necktie and tied it around Raven’s arm which was covered in blood.
“Sorry, if only I had tried to avoid even a little.”
If it was Raven, he would not have suffered such a wound and would certainly be able to stop Fergus’ sword.
“No, it’s only a graze.”
Paul lent his hand to Fergus as he tried to help Fergus up.
Glancing at that, Lota spoke out.
“Both Raven and Nico had soon entered the dreams just now so what’s up with you two being later than me?”
“We got a little lost. But it was thanks to Mr Nico and the bloodstone that we were able to come here.”
“Raven, did you go to consult Nico? After Paul and I were taken away by the Blue Men…”
Raven nodded quietly.
“Yes. I couldn’t think of any other way.”
“Earl, it’s thanks to me that you’re saved you know.”
Perhaps it was because Nico was relieved that there would be no further fighting, that he came out from the shadows of the rocks and puffed his chest out proudly.
“I thought of the fact that it must be this island, which had a history since olden times, that is connected to the dwelling of the Blue Men and the dream of the ‘Master of the Islands.’”
“But you know, Nico, that knowledge of yours must have been overheard by this boy from the McKeels.”
That was probably the case, because Fergus clicked his tongue.
“I’m sorry, Lord Edgar. I did sense the presence of someone eavesdropping.”
Raven hung his head low apologetically.
“No Raven, it’s fine things turned out this way.”
Edgar had given up on destroying the Master’s dream because Fergus came.
Furthermore, it was Lota who brought Paul and Fergus, who should have been stopped at the dream’s entrance.
Rather, Edgar thought, putting Nico and Raven aside, the fact that the 3 of them who had no connection to magic had entered, was the will of the Master.
In order to stop Edgar, the Master may have invited Fergus in. And in doing so, led to the current conclusion.
“In any case, there’s already nothing more we can do by staying here. Let’s leave.”
As Edgar left the prase pond and exited the chalcedony cave which was covered with eggsh.e.l.l-like rocks, there were standing stones before him, unlike what he saw when he entered.
The moment they pa.s.sed through the side of those standing stones, the scenery of an endless field transformed completely.
Just as they thought that it had turned to night suddenly, 5 people and a cat stood stock still on the narrow sh.o.r.es of the small island, as if they were thrown out into reality.
Even when they turned back, naturally that enormous egg which was packed with chalcedony was nowhere to be found.
The sea which extended before their eyes was lit by the moon.
(Sir, were you able to find your way to the spring?)
A bluish white object floated on the excessively quiet waves.
Perhaps the magic of the Blue Men would weaken in seas with calm winds, because they were small and merely floating about like jellyfish.
(It seems like the Master did not awaken. But you were able to enter the source of the dreams right?)
(Share some of the magic from the spring with us. We’ll somehow make things work if we have magic.)
(We’ll be released from the depths of the dark seas.)
The Blue Men demanded unanimously.
“The spring no longer exists. Everything has turned to stone.”
At once, they started to cause a commotion.
(Sir, didn’t you know? The Master’s spring is a spring of rocks. What gushes forth are special gemstones. The magic of the heavens and earth are blended with each other and crystallizes bit by bit. Finally, once in every millennium, a droplet will gush out to the bottom of the pond.)
A spring of, rocks?
“By pond, do you mean the prase bedrock? Don’t tell me, that’s the spring’s water?”
(No sir, it gushes out from the depths of the rock; it is round like the moon, of a deep green like it is wet and has a powerful red hidden – a bloodstone.)
A bloodstone. It’s true that is also chalcedony.
The source of the Master’s dream is a spring of chalcedony. And so, the droplet that gushes forth from the spring, is not water but a bloodstone.
Round and s.h.i.+ning glossily like …
Edgar felt a sense of déjà vu with regards to that gemstone.
I have seen it before. As he thought that, Edgar looked at Raven hurriedly. Raven who received Edgar’s glance, then turned his eyes towards Nico. Nico, appearing to be taken aback, stared at the thing which was clutched tightly between his open paws.
(That’s it. Give it to us!)
The Blue Men floated out of the seas unexpectedly. They went after Nico by jumping at him simultaneously.
“Waah, not this, I won’t give it up!”
Nico panicked and tried to hide behind Raven’s leg, but even Raven couldn’t do anything against ghosts which were already dead.
When the Blue Men raged, the waves and the winds a.s.saulted them together.
Everyone clung onto a boulder nearby.
In order to protect Raven, Edgar grabbed Nico with all his strength and held Nico up.
“I get it, I’ll give it to you so disappear quickly!”
“Gyaah, EEarl! Do you intend to throw even me?”
As he held Nico in his arms, Edgar secretly picked up a pebble and threw it towards the sea.
Appearing to believe that that was the bloodstone from the spring, the Blue Men went after the pebble all at once and disappeared into the sea.
Nico, who heaved a sigh of relief, was clinging on to Edgar’s arm.
Even Raven, who appeared to have panicked over having his only friend thrown away into the sea, froze as he continued to hold on to Edgar’s coat somewhat reservedly.
“Well, let’s escape while we can now.”
“My s.h.i.+p is this way.”
Lota pointed the way and everyone ran off together.
Crossing the hill on the small island, they hurried to the sh.o.r.e on the opposite side. Soon, Lota’s s.h.i.+p came into view.
However, by the time they boarded Lota’s s.h.i.+p, Nico had vanished.
He was probably afraid of having his bloodstone taken away by Edgar.
Unexpectedly, that stone was also a medicine for Lydia.
Edgar vaguely felt that that was precisely why Nico vanished.
Nico must also have realized that Lydia would be able to become happy if Edgar himself did not exist.
In the quiet seas of a moonlit night, a sailing s.h.i.+p progressed while flying the family flag of the Archduke of Cremona.
The s.h.i.+p was on a course towards the Inner Hebrides where the Connaughts were based.
Edgar stood on the deck looking at the sea. Then, Raven approached him and spoke.
“Lord Edgar, please give me the order. I’ll persuade Mr Nico.”
Raven probably meant that he will persuade Nico to yield the bloodstone to them. If Nico agrees, Edgar would be able to bring Lydia back immediately.
“Raven, the truth is that you do not wish to do so isn’t it?”
Nico had vanished because he feared that would happen. Although Edgar did not know what the bloodstone meant to Nico, but be it because the bloodstone was something important to Nico or because it was for Lydia’s sake, Nico would only be troubled by Raven pleading with him.
“But, Lord Edgar.”
“It’s fine. It was my mistake to try and obtain the medicine.”
Although he wanted to think that it was for Lydia’s sake to bring her back, it was nothing more than for his own self-satisfaction.
Even for the matter concerning Prince, though he had told himself that if he was with Lydia he would be able to overcome it, he was probably averting his eyes from the possibility of dragging her down with him.
There’s no point if he was causing her to be prepared for the worst case scenario.
Edgar himself needed to have the resolve not to stray from the right path no matter what happens.
Even though what was more important was for him to have that resolution, rather than the temptation to recover Lydia immediately, he lost sight of it.
Even without such a fiancé, Lydia would probably be able to find a new happiness on these islands which were also her mother’s hometown.
If giving up on her was the definite form of love Edgar was able to give her, he thought that he would do so.
“The winds are great so it seems like we’ll arrive on the island soon.”
Lota who held the helm, was smoking a cigarette. Paul, who appeared to be exhausted, leaned against a barrel and dozed.
“Hey, let me down at a nearby port.”
Fergus, who had cooped himself up in the cabin until now, came out onto the deck and spoke to Lota. With a swollen left eye, he looked terribly displeased.
“Sure, but are you fine already?”
“Yeah. …In any case, I’m someone uninvited to you guys here. I feel ill at ease and I want to return to the McKeels’ islands quickly.”
Edgar heard it as Fergus wanting to return to Lydia’s side quickly. So much so that if possible, he wanted to swell up Fergus’ right eye as well.
Yet, Fergus approached Edgar without noticing the danger.
“Earl, I guess I’ll still thank you for saving me.”
“… What are you talking about?”
“I can’t understand anything about you. Yet, you are trusted by a decent person like Paul. That’s why, I probably … No, it’s nothing. In the end, things ended without having me turned into a slave for the Blue Men.”
Fergus was indeed an earnest young man. Although Edgar was a young man himself, he knew perfectly well that he could not be so earnest like Fergus.
It was not hard to imagine that such a man would be the kind who Lydia would find it easy to trust from the bottom of her heart.
“That’s good to hear.”
Although Edgar deliberately answered indifferently, Fergus persistently questioned Edgar in a serious manner.
“So, what will you do?”
“About what?”
“About Lydia.”
When Edgar fell silent, Fergus leaned against the railings and looked up towards the moon.
“The same as before huh. If it’s going to take thrree years, I have no intention of keeping quiet and watching it go by in the meantime.”
“It’s not the same. I no longer… I’ll dissolve the engagement.”
Edgar probably wouldn’t be able to forget Lydia. But he was placing her happiness before everything else. Edgar had just arrived at this decision.
Fergus looked at Edgar, surprised. It was not only Fergus; Lota nearly dropped her cigarette as well.
“Edgar, are you serious?”
“Yeah.”
“Wait a moment, you went so far to court Lydia yet…”
Saying that, Lota tried to grab Edgar. But before she could do so, Fergus had already stretched his hand out and grabbed Edgar by his collar.
“That’s just being one-sided isn’t it!? There’s no way Lydia would agree to it. She wanted to save you so much that she went after you as a dream!”
While he held Raven back with a glance, Edgar pried away Fergus’ hands.
“Isn’t this good news to you? Also, Lydia will agree to it.”
When Lydia broached the topic of breaking up, she had thought that it was for Edgar’s sake.
Now he understood. Lydia had said that she was attracted to Fergus, but if so, there’s no way Lydia would change her resolution of being together with Edgar no matter where he went, even if it meant that she would fall with him.
It was precisely because Edgar clearly understood the seriousness of Lydia’s feelings towards him that he gave up on destroying the Master’s dream.
Lydia would surely understand Edgar’s feelings behind his decision to break up.
“If so, I’ll tell Lydia that you died. Since that means that it won’t matter to you what kind of means I use.”
Even though he had intended to tell Edgar that flatly by pointing his index finger at Edgar, Fergus just wasn’t able to pull it off with his eye swollen.
And thanks to that, Edgar was able to hold back his sarcasm of telling Fergus “Someone like you won’t be able to win Lydia’s heart.”
“Lota, if you are also going to Lydia’s, treat it as such.”
Lota looked mad as she raised her brows tightly, but she turned her back against Edgar without saying a word and returned to steer the s.h.i.+p.
*
When Fergus finally returned and arrived at the McKeels’ main mansion, he answered Patrick’s questioning while becoming absent-minded halfway through. During the time while he rested as though he had collapsed, Patrick visited the mansion on the cape where Lydia was at.
Unlike Fergus who had no serious intention of telling Lydia such things as Edgar being dead, Patrick saw it as a quick and easy method and so went ahead to execute it promptly.
When Fergus found out about that, he ended up burying his head in his hands, even though he was supposed to be refreshed from having just woken up.
“Wh… why did you do that!?”
“The Earl said it was fine to do so right?”
“But, if she found out that it’s a lie, this will only have the opposite effect isn’t it!?”
“Then we’ll just have to make sure she doesn’t find out.”
Patrick said that simply.
Then, Patrick bent forward towards Fergus who was resting his chin in his hand with a sullen look. Just as how Patrick had always done to Fergus who was his junior since the past, Patrick spoke slowly in order to make Fergus come round to him.
“Fergus, do you understand? One day, we may have to fight Prince. If that’s the case, then the possibility of you killing the Earl will not be low.”
“…All the more so, Lydia will not open her heart to a man who killed her fiancé.”
“You will become the chief of the McKeels. If you intend to obtain Lydia, you have no choice but to have her accept even the fact that you and the Earl are against each other. Now, even if she hates you for the time being, she can’t leave the McKeels. You have plenty of time to make up to her and earn her forgiveness.”
What Patrick said was right. Even though Fergus always felt the urge to oppose Patrick, he wasn’t able to refute Patrick.
“Or, is she not a woman who is worth the effort for you to go so far?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. …While it’s true that in the beginning I looked at her out of curiosity, she really is a fine girl.”
Satisfied, Patrick nodded. In the end, Fergus was always persuaded to act as Patrick wanted.
“In order to make her a member of the McKeels, you will have to become an existence greater than the Earl. Otherwise, even if the Earl becomes Prince, when he appears before her, she’ll probably run after him.”
It’s exactly as Patrick said.
But when it comes to Lydia, Fergus couldn’t think that it was right to do as Patrick said.
It may be because somewhere, Fergus felt that love is something that betrays one’s expectations.
To begin with, it’s like the fact that Aurora had eloped with Professor Carlton. The fact that Lydia who is supposed to be Fergus’ betrothed is engaged to the Earl of Ashenbert. The fact that that Earl is the successor to the “Prince of Calamity” and Lydia is the woman capable of awakening the Prophet, who is the only existence which can defeat Prince.
Isn’t everything betraying even what the Prophet had prophesized?
And also the fact that Fergus had seriously fallen for Lydia so much that he was unable to be like Patrick and make calculated moves.
“Excuse me.”
At that moment, a servant entered Fergus’ room. It was a man who was working at the mansion on the cape where Lydia was.
When he heard the man’s report, Fergus couldn’t help but jump up.
“Lydia’s gone?”
“Aah, just as I thought, it seems that things aren’t going to be that simple.”
Patrick said that without changing his expression.
“Isn’t it because you said unnecessary things? Don’t tell me, that she is thinking of …”
There was a possibility of her thinking of going after the Earl. Fergus panicked and took his cloak.
“She’s the daughter of Aurora so she’s not that weak a woman. Most likely, she had gone to the Connaughts’ lands together with Kelly.
“That, so Patrick, you knew? About Kelly’s origin…”
“I had her investigated.”
While he thought that Patrick was a cautious man, Fergus considered the reasons behind why Lydia had left.
If she’s headed towards the Connaughts, it’s probably to verify the Earl’s death.
But if Lydia were to leave that cape she would be tormented by the pain brought about by the wound caused by the Fir Chlis.
As Fergus thought that in any case he couldn’t stay still, he ran out of the mansion.
As he hurried the horse, he remembered about what he did not tell Patrick.
About what Lota had said when he disembarked from the s.h.i.+p.
“You, are you seriously in love with Lydia?”
It was a tone that contained pity somewhere.
“Can’t I?”
He thought that Lota was also an honest person. As far as Fergus was concerned, he felt that she was the type who he felt that he could trust. And she also sides with Edgar who Fergus can’t understand.
“I’ll bring Edgar to Lydia. The two of them just can’t part like this. Because I think that they should meet and talk to each other about the future.”
It was only that Fergus had vaguely felt it. That Edgar was an unbelievable guy. Going beyond what’s good and evil, he had gone through many things that would make people accept him no matter what he did.
If what Paul said about him being a victim of Prince was true, then the fact that he had become the “Prince of Calamity” was also one which the people close to him can accept.
Naturally, Lydia was also likely to be the same.
If that’s the case, then this was most likely something unexpected to Prince’s organization thus far.
Different from the “Prince of Calamity” which was born out of evil magic a hundred years ago, Edgar was probably something new.
“Lydia’s injury is something that worsens if she gets close to the magic that the Earl holds. She can’t even meet him until she has fully healed.”
When Fergus said that, Lota tilted her head to the side as if she did not quite understand, but she probably thought that the details did not matter. She went on quickly to put forth her main point.
“That black-haired guy… Patrick was it? Bring Lydia out without that guy knowing. If you light up 3 fires as a signal to me, I’ll head to the coast.”
“Do you think I’ll do such a thing?”
And then Lota peered into Fergus’ eyes and grinned.
“I didn’t say you have to.”
Don’t joke with me.
As he hurried his horse, Fergus muttered.
The further the carriage was away from the cape, the more Lydia bore with the pain that she felt from her back wound, as if it was ailing.
Her body felt languid and she also felt feverish.
“Miss, are you alright?”
Kelly peered into Lydia’s eyes worryingly.
“Yes, it’s nothing serious.”
It’s still not so bad that I can’t bear with it. When I think about whether it’s true that Edgar had died, that’s more painful that any physical pain.
And then Lydia thought calmly.
If anything had happened to Edgar, Raven should be hiding at the Connaughts. In order to oppose the McKeels in this Hebridean Archipelago, Edgar had brought the Connaughts, who were another powerful clan, over to his side. The Connaught clan chief was giving Edgar his full support, and that was also why Kelly worked for Lydia.
If she went to the Connaughts’ lands, she should be able to find out accurately what happened to Edgar. Depending on the situation, Lydia intended to verify with her own eyes even if it were his remains.
“We’ll be arriving soon, once we cross that hill.”
Kelly tried to cheer Lydia up, but that hill was still far away and looked to be blurred in greyness.
Each time the carriage swayed, it affected her unhealed wound.
It was a carriage they ordered under the pretext that Kelly had to return to her parent’s home due to an emergency. On the carriage which was topless and simple, Lydia, who had used most of the kilt as a shawl to cover herself, appeared to be a maid like Kelly to the driver.
Although it was rather constrained with 2 people riding in it, they had no choice as they had secretly sneaked out.
“Miss, please lean against me. You’ll definitely be more comfortable that way.”
“Thank you, Kelly.”
As she got used to her wound’s pain, she was a.s.saulted by drowsiness. Her body which was resisting against the Fir Chlis’ poison, was trying to conserve as much strength as it could.
If she leaned against Kelly, the sway of the rigid carriage was somewhat cus.h.i.+oned. Lydia fell into a light sleep.
Before she knew it, she had lost sense of time.
Although she remembered being conscious of the surroundings turning rather dark, when she woke up after that, she was on top of a simple bed.
Kelly who was beside her, told her that they were at the Connaughts’ mansion.
*
Seated alone in the fields, Nico rolled the bloodstone about his paws and looked at it.
Strong winds blew and rubbed Nico’s long fur the wrong way. As it mowed down the short gra.s.ses one after another, the winds ran up the hill.
The bloodstone emitted a soft and comfortable light while being enshrined on the paws of Nico, who did not stir an inch in the winds.
As if it was saying that it liked being where it was.
“I wonder what I should do. … Tell me, Aurora.”
This was the droplet from the Master’s spring. If he let Lydia consume it, then the wounds she sustained from the Fir Chlis’ blade should heal at once.
The bloodstone that’s said to be the crystallization of aurora. The lights from the heavens which fell onto the islands, were enveloped by the chalcedony deep beneath the earth, and became a single droplet that gushed forth from the spring in the Master’s dream.
On these islands, even now there was still fraternization between the magic of the heavens and earth. The beings and power of the underworld, were living in a p.r.o.nounced manner. That’s why the existence known as the “Prince of Calamity” was even born and that the Prophet was also supposed to be somewhere.
And it’s said that this bloodstone was the clue to knowing the Prophet.
If the Prophet were to get his hands on this, its colour will change. That individual will then save the islands using the magic that is hidden in here.
I wonder if it will be alright to let Lydia consume such a thing. That was what Nico was first troubled over.
If this bloodstone is taken in by Lydia’s body, doesn’t that mean that the Prophet will come to need Lydia herself?
Lydia will then have no way to escape and be made to support the Prophet, who is supposed to defeat Prince. If she herself ends up being the one to drive Edgar to a corner, she would definitely be unable to bear with it.
If Lydia were to obtain the medicine and go on to marry Edgar, they may be forced to be on opposing sides to each other even though they are husband and wife.
If that’s the case, they can just take it that there was no medicine and have Lydia take time to cure her wounds. Nico can make sure that this bloodstone doesn’t fall into anyone’s hands.
But without the medicine, the two of them will probably end up breaking up. Lydia had intended to do so, while Edgar had come to realise that his strong feelings may cause Lydia to become unfortunate.
That’s why he gave up obtaining the medicine and even felt that it was fine for him to be killed.
Isn’t it fine if they broke up? That way would be better for Lydia’s sake.
Nico told himself that and grasped the bloodstone.
It’ll be alright if I hide this.
Getting up, Nico started to walk in order to return to the mansion on the cape where Lydia was. But immediately, he stood still.
Is that so? Will Lydia truly be happy if she parted with the Earl?
Aurora became happy because she eloped with the Professor. If she had given up, she probably wouldn’t had been that radiant.
Even when she was nearing her death, she was smiling. She was satisfied being with her husband and daughter.
“Urgh, I can’t figure this out, Aurora…”
Nico ruffled the fur on his head.
“Oi, Puny Cat! What are you doing not returning quickly!?”
“I’m not a cat!”
As Nico retorted out of reflex to the sudden voice, he turned back.
A black horse closed in on him from above. Nico panicked and bent down towards the ground.
Although he trembled as he thought that he wouldn’t last a second if he were kicked, Kelpie jumped over Nico and stopped.
“Wh-… What are you doing? That’s dangerous isn’t it!?”
“Lydia’s gone, what are you going to do for me?!”
Gone? Kelpie pressed his snout close to Nico, who was unable to grasp the situation.
“You say she’s gone but Lydia can’t be away from that cape!”
“Even so it seems like she left. After that guy Patrick visited Lydia’s room. Something must have happened. Come, let’s go!”
All of a sudden, Kelpie opened his mouth wide enough to bite Nico.
I’m going to be eaten…! Soon after he closed his eyes, Nico’s necktie was hung over Kelpie’s teeth.
And like that, Kelpie shook his head in a wide arc and threw Nico up.
“Uwaaa!”
Nico who flew into the air, barely caught on to Kelpie’s mane; but he then desperately clung on to the mane in order not to be dropped by a Kelpie who had already started to ran off like the wind.
“Where are you going!?”
“Of course, I’m going to bring Lydia back. If she leaves the cape her condition will deteriorate right? If I don’t find her quickly, it might become matter of life and death!”
“But, do you know where she is?”
“When Lydia does something outrageous, the Earl’s definitely involved!”