After resting for around two hours at Connaught clan"s village, Lydia quickly decided to head towards where the clan chief is in the Inner Hebrides.
Of course, just reaching Connaughts’ village did not mean that Lydia will be able to find out about Edgar immediately.
The village headman had sent out a messenger but it was also frustrating to wait for news to come.
In the event that it was the news of death that came, either way Lydia would still have to make her way to the clan chief’s mansion.
As she considered that, Lydia got dressed and quickly made arrangements for a s.h.i.+p to be ready.
Since she was not leaving the Hebrides archipelago, her physical condition should not deteriorate too rapidly. As long as she was not basked in the curative magic at McKeel’s cape, the pain was the same wherever she was. If that was the case, then it would be faster for her to head out instead of waiting for news to come here.
“Miss Carlton, I am afraid there is only a donkey cart that can bring us to the coast.”
“That is more than enough, Kelly.”
Getting up from her seat, Lydia walked out of the building on her own.
Although it was supposed to be in the middle of the night, the surroundings were becoming faintly visible.
I feel fine. With this, I should be able to cross the straits.
Lydia could see the donkey cart on the other side of the hedge.
There, was a man who was in an argument with the villagers.
Lydia could tell from the colour of the cloak that the man was not from the Connaughts. Rather, it was the coloured pattern of the McKeels which she was used to seeing.
The red-haired young man noticed Lydia and immediately tried to run over towards Lydia. Kelly rushed to stand in front of Lydia.
“Lydia, as I thought, you are here.”
“Fergus…”
“I need to talk to you.”
He grabbed Lydia’s hand, but she quickly shook it off.
“Ah…., sorry….”
Fergus sighed as he saw Lydia with her eyes cast downwards.
“You can’t forgive me, huh.”
“You have your own position you need to consider. But for me …., because I am Edgar’s fiancé.”
As she said that, Lydia put strength into her whole being in order to steel herself.
Fergus knows the truth. Yet he does not deny having struck Edgar.
Then this can only mean that Edgar is ….
What should I do? I came to find out for myself but I don’t think that I will be able to come to terms with this.
When she clenched her trembling fingers, Fergus furrowed his brows deeply and looked down towards Lydia.
“That guy, he said that he is dissolving the engagement.”
And then, for some reason, Fergus said that in an exhausted manner.
Confused, Lydia lifted her face slightly.
“He said that you would agree to it. Even though I told him that I will treat it as though he died, he said that’s fine.”
“Treat it as though he died …?”
“Yeah, sorry. That Patrick, he said that it’d be for the best if that were the case and went on ahead to tell you.”
Lydia was so surprised that she forgot to breathe.
“…. Is that true?”
As she spoke, she finally realized her breathlessness and hurriedly took in air. Lydia stared hardly at Fergus as she tried to ascertain his true motive.
“I’m sorry I tried to cheat you. The Earl’s alive and well. At that time, that guy gave up destroying the spring’s rock of his own volition. I ended up like this because I was attacked by that valet.”
When she took a closer look, she saw that there was swelling above Fergus’ eye.
It’s true.
Edgar is alive.
Lydia lost her strength and nearly sat down onto the ground. Fergus quickly stretched out his arm to support her.
Even though she thought that it was improper to be caught in a man’s arms, she didn’t have strength in her legs to stand.
Edgar is alive. Her mind was full of this thought.
She started to tear.
“Great…. Edgar is alive. I would not know what to do otherwise…”
As she became overwhelmed, Lydia cried in Fergus’ arms, not realizing how troubled he was with that.
“I was so afraid…”
Lydia did not want to think that it was Edgar’s fate to lose his life that way. Edgar was someone who had been through painful experiences and survived. He should be living in happiness yet he had shouldered the burden of “Prince’s memories” for Lydia’s sake.
Although she wanted to stay by his side and be his source of tranquility, if that was not possible she could only pray for him. Yet just as she decided upon this, she thought that he had died and she was not even given the chance to pray for his happiness. Just the thought of this was painful for Lydia.
“I’m sorry.”
Fergus caressed Lydia’s head as he said that.
Lydia was only slightly conscious of that because Fergus was after all, a relative on her mother’s side. She was still unable to stand on her own.
Fergus led Lydia, who was still crying, towards the bench under the overhang of the roof and sat her down.
Kelly went into the house to fetch for some water.
As she calmed down gradually, Lydia started to become conscious of what Edgar said about dissolving their engagement bit by bit.
Edgar had probably decided not to destroy the Master’s Dream because he did not want to come into contact with Prince’s memories any further.
Lydia did not mind falling into darkness together with Edgar. But Lydia’s dearest wish was for Edgar to be happy. So long as this wish can be granted, she was fine if she cannot be together with Edgar.
If Edgar lives on as the Blue Knight Earl and not Prince, Lydia will be fine with it.
“I will return. I need to focus on my treatment.”
Lydia muttered that as she wiped away her tears.
Fergus stared at Lydia as he was surprised at how quickly Lydia completely changed her feelings.
“In order for you to return to his side quickly?”
That promise no longer exists.
“Edgar said that the engagement is dissolved isn’t it? I will do as he says.”
Lydia was surprised at herself for not doubting Edgar’s feelings a single bit. She thought that it was a decision made precisely because of his love for her.
“Lydia, if that’s the case, can’t I become your source of strength? I said it before, I quite, no, I am serious about you.”
To have someone say something like that with seriousness in his eyes, was something which until now was unthinkable for Lydia. So Lydia was honestly glad.
“… Thank you, Fergus.”
But, it was because Edgar fell in love with her that Lydia was able to have a little self-confidence.
To Lydia, the one who will be the dearest person in her heart will always be Edgar.
“I am sorry for clinging onto you …. For behaving in an improper manner.”
“I don’t mind.”
Fergus was one of the few rare human men who Lydia is able to feel at ease with. If she never knew Edgar, Fergus might become someone she likes the most.
“I will return to my own home once my wound has healed. Nico came back to me and there is also Kelpie; I would think that living together quietly with fairies is more suitable for me than to become the wife of Clan McKeel’s chief.”
“Do you not intend to marry anyone?”
“I won’t. Because even after now I will always remain as Edgar’s fiancé.”
Fergus sighed as he looked up upon the faintly dark skies with a bitter smile while combing up his hair.
Just as she thought that Fergus was silent in deep thoughts, he suddenly grabbed Lydia’s arm and stood up.
“Let’s go.”
“Erm, where to?”
Fergus dragged Lydia along forcibly and seated her on top of a horse.
“Miss Carlton! Hey, where do you think you are bringing Miss Carlton to!?”
Kelly noticed what happened as she came out of the house and ran towards them.
“Don’t worry. I won’t do anything.”
Fergus rode away on the horse, ignoring Kelly’s calls to stop.
***
As the nights are short on the northern islands, even without the moon one can see the surroundings vaguely. In the midst of such a night, walking from the mansion of Clan Connaught chief towards the port, one can easily see the eye-catching outline of a battles.h.i.+p so incompatible with the small port anch.o.r.ed there.
It’s Lota’s s.h.i.+p.
On the s.h.i.+p stuffed with large cannons sticking out, the sailors are busy working as they are pressed to prepare for departure.
Lota had already made up her mind to visit the McKeels in the Outer Hebrides. Apparently, Lota had decided to stay for some time in order to keep Lydia company.
Lydia will probably be able to feel at ease if she had a close friend by her side.
As he thought of that, Edgar felt a little comforted even though he will never be able to meet Lydia again.
“My Lord, are you on a stroll?”
Paul appeared from the other end of the path.
“Perhaps because I had been inside a dream for some time, I don’t feel like sleeping.”
Paul, who asked that, will be returning to London together with Edgar.
Even though he was shouldering Prince’s memories, Paul had still shown him the same friends.h.i.+p. Although Edgar was not able to attain the droplet from the Master’s Spring, this made Edgar feel that it was for the best.
“I came to see how Lota’s preparation for departure is progressing. Are you here for the same reason as well?”
“Yes, she, really likes s.h.i.+ps. She is knowledgeable and is leading the sailors perfectly.”
Paul, who has no reason to know that Lota used to be a pirate, was sincerely filled with admiration.
Paul’s character of not doubting others a single bit is truly pleasant.
Edgar swore in his heart not to be swayed by Princes’ memories inside him, so as to properly reciprocate Paul’s trust and Lydia’s feelings.
“That’s right. Have you seen Raven?”
“Ah…. Erm… If I am not wrong, he was over there …”
As Paul answered, he appeared fl.u.s.tered and his eyes moved around s.h.i.+ftily.
Wondering what that was about and moving towards the path Paul pointed at, a few brawny men came running towards Edgar and suddenly, he was being surrounded.
Although he became guarded, when Edgar realized Lota was amongst the men, he ended up letting down his guard.
“Lota, and … aren’t you all Lota’s sailors?”
“Alright, grab him!”
Lota ordered. In an instant, all of them went for Edgar.
“Wh- what is this about, Lota!?”
Confused as to what was going on, Edgar had his arms bound behind him.
And on top of that, he was blindfolded and forcibly boarded onto a s.h.i.+p.
Edgar was brought into a room on the s.h.i.+p and tied to a chair.
Thinking that this must be some kind of a joke, Edgar hesitated to put up a fight seriously, but it seems that the other party is serious about robbing him of his freedom.
Although he knew that the room was locked, by the time Edgar regained his freedom by cutting against the rope using the blade he hid within his cuffs, the s.h.i.+p had already set sail.
He could see the vague outline of the islands of the Inner Hebrides outside the window.
While he looked on, Edgar vaguely realized what Lota was up to.
I have to make the s.h.i.+p turn back immediately. Although Edgar had that thought, he was unable to act upon it, as he stood still by the window side until he could no longer see the outlines of the islands through the window.
I am being confined.
With that as an excuse, somewhere in his heart, Edgar thought that he may be able to meet Lydia one more time.
No, I can’t. If I meet her, I do not know what I might do.
Finally hardening his resolve, Edgar sat back onto the chair. Pretending that he was still tied up, he raised his voice.
“Oi, Lota! What is the meaning of this?! If you don’t explain to me right now, I will turn your precious s.h.i.+p into a pile of firewood!”
Soon, the door opened and Lota entered the room.
“Anything but that. I know that someone like you will really do that.”
“If so, release me.”
“Not yet. You will have to stay that way until we arrive at where Lydia is.”
Standing in front of Edgar, Lota crossed her arms.
Edgar lowered his eyes as he thought, as I expected.
“…. I will not meet Lydia. It will only worsen her injuries and, this is something both of us have already agreed to.”
Hearing that, Lota raised her eyebrows unhappily.
“Agreed? Obviously not! An engagement may be a frivolous word to you, but to Lydia, it is a resolve she makes only once in her life. As if it can be dissolved so easily!”
“It is not frivolous. To begin with, Lydia was the one who said she wanted to break up. I also came to realize that it was for the best.”
“You won’t know for sure unless both of you meet isn’t it? Not in the dreams but look at Lydia in reality. Hear her voice and feel her presence right beside you. Then think clearly about whether Lydia has really accepted it and what it is that you want to do!”
Lota pointed her index finger arrogantly at Edgar. Irritated, Edgar grabbed Lota’s finger and stood up from the chair suddenly.
Edgar then said to Lota, who was caught by surprise, right by her ear.
“I do not take instructions from you.”
As Edgar then deliberately blew air into her ears, Lota let out a howl and backed away anxiously.
“Tsk, as expected, I cannot let my guard down around you.”
“Let’s have you return this s.h.i.+p to the port.”
But Lota also wasn’t one who would do as others say easily.
“I don’t want to. I’ll have you know that we have a hostage here as well.”
When Lota snapped her fingers, Paul opened the door timidly.
“Paul, are you the hostage?”
“No, erm ….”
“My apologies, Lord Edgar.”
Raven, with both his hands bound, appeared as he was brought over by Paul.
That kind of rope won’t even last three seconds with Raven. To begin with, even if the whole lot of Lota’s sailors went after Raven at once, there is no way they would be able to restrain Raven.
Exhausted, Edgar looked at Raven.
“You also agree with Lota…?”
“No, I … I will follow Lord Edgar.”
If he ordered, Raven would open up one or two holes in this s.h.i.+p, or be able to make this s.h.i.+p return to port. But it was probably because he did not want to stop Lota’s plan of forcibly bringing Edgar out that he chose to be restrained.
“So this was something all of you planned together.”
Raven, Paul and Lota, are all trying to make Edgar meet Lydia. They think that Edgar and Lydia should meet properly and discuss about the future.
Sitting back onto the chair, Edgar sighed. Tired, he looked at his friends.
“In any case, release Raven’s rope won’t you? With that kind of rope, it makes no difference whether it’s there or not isn’t it?”
At the same time as Paul nodded, Raven withdrew his hands from the rope.
“Captain, could you please come over?”
At that time, one of the sailors came over and called Lota.
“What’s the matter?”
“We have a signal from the island of our destination, but the location is different.”
“A signal?”
When Edgar asked, Lota motioned for him to follow her.
Everyone headed towards the deck.
Peering through the binoculars, Lota looked towards the west where it was still too dark to see clearly.
“I see. Let’s confirm after we get a little closer.”
Taking a look for himself using the binoculars Lota handed him, Edgar could see the dim outline of an island under the dark skies. The flickering lights at one corner of the island was probably that of a bonfire. He could see three lights s.h.i.+ning like red dots.
“What signal is it for?”
“Fergus should have brought Lydia to a coast that’s away from people’s eyes. But that spot is quite further north away from the cape that Lydia is supposed to be.”
“That area is not land that belongs to the McKeels. There should be a village of the Connaughts.”
Raven said that as he checked against the map and the direction.
What does that mean? Edgar fell into his thoughts. If Lydia is there, that would mean that she left the cape while bearing with the pain of her injury?
If she was on land belonging to the Connaughts, wasn’t it to meet him?
It can’t be, that because she had heard from Fergus that he died….?
“Verify that quickly. If Lydia is away from the cape, her condition will deteriorate.”
Uneasy, Edgar anxiously leaned out against the side of the s.h.i.+p.
After he stopped the horse at the coast and lowered Lydia onto the ground, Fergus started work silently on the faintly dark beach.
Using the peat and straw he obtained from the houses they came across on their way here, Fergus built three small mounds on the beach.
Although her wound’s pain had faded slightly, her temperature seems to have risen, so Lydia covered herself with the quilt tightly as she felt cold.
“Are you feeling cold? I’ll light up the fire.”
Fergus said that and lit the peat.
As he sat Lydia down near the fire, he focused his eyes and looked towards the sea.
“Hey, what is this?”
“…. You will find out soon.”
Fergus, who replied brusquely, did not appear to want to explain further.
Lydia did not understand what was happening. But since Fergus was looking towards the sea so intently, she thought vaguely that it could be a signal for a s.h.i.+p.
The eastern skies started to bring about the sense of dawn.
Is a s.h.i.+p … coming?
Lydia, who was warmed by the bonfire, felt sleepy.
She thought as she fell into a doze.
That’s right, I wonder if Lota is coming.
Or, could it be, Edgar…?
No, he won’t come. He should understand that it would be better that way.
Because, if we meet …
I feel like I would say something willful, even though we finally managed to make our resolve.
“Lydia, they’re here.”
Taken aback by Fergus’ voice, Lydia opened her eyes.
Under the skies which brightened up further, Lydia saw a boat which landed on the beach. Off the sh.o.r.e, there was a large s.h.i.+p anch.o.r.ed.
There were two silhouettes on the boat. One of them jumped off onto the shoal, walked towards the beach and stopped.
“Edgar …”
Lydia, who stood up, unconsciously felt the urge to run over towards him.
“Lydia, I came to bid farewell to you.”
Lydia held herself back as she heard those words.
On the other hand, Edgar’s voice stirred up feelings within Lydia’s chest uncontrollably.
It’s not a dream, he is really there. His voice had reached Lydia’s ears in reality, his blonde hair swaying in the wind and his slender silhouette were all not illusions; his ash mauve eyes were truly looking at Lydia.
Lydia herself did not know whether she felt breathless because of the blade of the Fir Chlis or because Edgar was right there in front of her eyes.
“… You will be returning right? To London.”
With great difficulty, Lydia managed to say that.
“Thank you, because of your love, I was able to not stray from the path.”
“I have always given you trouble. Yet, I did not know anything.”
Edgar shook his head as he smiled painfully.
“Let me just say one last thing. I will definitely only love you alone for the rest of my life.”
“No… you can’t do that! You are a n.o.ble.”
Because Edgar’s happiness should lie with the future of the Earl family, Lydia wanted Edgar to protect the family properly.
“You idiot, did you come just to say that?”
All of a sudden, Fergus raised his voice angrily.
“Listen up Earl, when Lydia heard that you died, she left the cape in order to verify for herself. Because she is your fiancé, she intended to do so as your only next of kin. Even when you said you will dissolve the engagement, she said that she will stay as your fiancé for the rest of her life …”
“Fergus, it’s fine. Edgar understands my feelings.”
“Lydia, is it alright for me to get closer? I want to take a look at your face clearly.”
After she nodded, Edgar started to walk towards her slowly. Lydia also started to move her legs as she walked closer towards Edgar.
But as both of them do so and move closer towards each other, halfway through, they were unable to stop.
At some point in time, Lydia started to break into a half run and it was probably the same for Edgar as well.
By the time she realized it, she had leaped into his arms.
When she was embraced tightly, Lydia also returned the embrace. But he soon loosened his arms, as if he just came to his senses.
“I’m sorry, that aggravated your wound didn’t it?”
“No, I’m fine.”
The moment she was touched by Edgar, her wound started to hurt. Even so if they were to let go, they would not be able to touch each other ever again. That was much more painful.
As Lydia continued to cling onto Edgar, this time round, Edgar embraced her gently.
The embrace in the dream was incomparable to their embrace now. His warmth and his lean muscles that she felt through the clothes, the strength in his arms which she felt directly, Lydia accepted the joy of their reunion with every fibre of her being.
He rested his cheeks against her hair. He murmured her name as if there was something more he wanted to say, but simply kept silent beyond that.
Lydia desperately endured the urge to say wilful things like “please wait for me until my wounds heal”.
If she were to do that, then it would be the same as what happened before. Edgar may end up coming into contact with Prince’s memories again for Lydia’s sake. As long as Lydia is bonded to the Prophet, Edgar would have to face the side of him in which Prince’s memories resides.
“… Thank you, Edgar.”
Finally, Lydia let go of her arms and wiped the tears off her cheeks.
The pain had worsened to the extent that it was even difficult to breathe. Lydia thought that she should bid her farewells while she can appear composed. If she were to collapse here, Edgar was sure to be worried.
“Farewell…”
Although Edgar looked as though he kept silent because he did not want to say those words, with great difficulty Lydia managed to turn her back against him.
“Earl--!”
Then, she heard Nico’s voice.
There was a black horse running along the coast. A grey-coloured cat was being flung around as it was hung from the mane.
Nico and Kelpie?
“Eei, I can’t figure it out no matter how much I think about it! That’s why I’m going to trust you!”
Nico looked like he threw something. Edgar probably caught it.
Because she would not be able to leave if she were to turn back, Lydia walked on without verifying what it was.
“Wait, Lydia!”
All of a sudden, as if he could no longer bear with it, Edgar said that.
Lydia’s arm was grabbed. Before she could turn around, she was pulled towards him in a jerk.
Surprised, she looked up, and she was suddenly kissed.
He was unusually pushy, trying to force his way through her lips. As she panicked, Lydia felt something small and hard in her mouth, but because Edgar would not let her go, there was nothing she could do except to swallow it.
“… Ed-…, what did you …”
When she could finally speak, she was gasping for air.
It was a kiss with someone she has to part with. Yet it was a kiss which confused Lydia, flushed her cheeks and made her go weak even more so than the first kiss.
On the other hand, she also felt that the pain from the wound receded entirely at once.
Her fever and the feeling like her whole body was as heavy as lead were also gone.
Even though Edgar’s hands touched the wound by covering it, she did not feel anything.
What, did I consume?
“Aaah… If we met, I would definitely not be able to let go of you.”
Saying that, Edgar gently caressed Lydia’s hair.
He furrowed his brows painfully.
“I’m sorry Lydia, but I really can’t give up on you. Please forgive my willfulness.”
She suddenly felt her body float up, because Edgar had suddenly held her up in his arms. With that, he walked towards the boat.
“Eh… Edgar?”
“Fergus, you have my thanks!”
When Edgar said that without even turning back,
“I’m not doing this for you!”
Fergus said this regretfully, but with a smile on his face.
“Hey, Edgar! Put me down, I am …”
As if he will not lend an ear to Lydia, Edgar continued walking along the shoals while holding Lydia in his arms.
“If we stay together, someday you may need to make painful decisions again…”
Even though she pounded his back, he would not put her down.
“Miss Carlton!”
As she was being boarded onto the boat, she heard Kelly’s voice.
Kelly, who ran over because she was worried, probably realized that it was Edgar beside her. She then sent Lydia off by waving her hands.
“… All the best, Miss Carlton! May you find happiness with the Earl …!”
“N-no, Kelly, stop Edgar!”
But Kelly only continued to wave her hands with a smile at where she was.
As Raven rowed the boat towards the open sea where the s.h.i.+p was, the figures of Kelly and Fergus became further and smaller, and eventually, their voices can no longer be heard.
***
With the white sails spread open, the s.h.i.+p progressed by cutting through the waves. Nico sat on the bar of the mast and looked towards the islands that were getting further away.
The islands which he had left in the past together with Aurora and Professor Carlton, this time round, he was leaving together with Lydia and the Earl.
Because he wanted to spend as much time as he can with Lydia and Raven, he thought that he was fine with leaving the islands, he intended to go on a journey to a place other than the islands.
The islands were gently sending Nico off. He narrowed his eyes as he felt that.
“So you are leaving, Aurora’s partner.”
A young man floated in front of him. He is the one who is part of the Master’s Dream.
“I am Lydia’s partner now.”
“That’s nice, being free.”
“Free huh …. I guess so. But I wonder if this is alright. Neither Lydia nor the Earl knows what that is.”
“Since Aurora had entrusted you with that, you should do as you wish.”
Aurora wished for Lydia’s happiness. Because she knew that someday when Lydia gets married she would not be by Lydia’s side, Aurora prayed for Lydia to be with someone she truly loves.
If so, Aurora should be happy.
“I wonder where the Prophet is.”
“Beats me. But so long as the Prophet does not encounter the bloodstone, he may live his life without realizing his own destiny.”
“Someone blood-related huh… If we leave the McKeels’ lands, chances of encountering him would become lower.”
“Or, perhaps the destinies have already changed. That Earl, he did not wake the Master.”
“Is that how it is?”
“Yeah, the future is something like that. Even if you came to know about something, the future will just keep changing.”
The future is probably moving further away from the future which the Prophet of the past saw…
Leaving that voice, the young man’s figure disappeared.
He probably returned to the Master’s Dream.
As sunrise approaches, the colour of the sea changes. Far off in the distance, the island that looks like a speck, is the island that is the “Master of the Islands.”
The sailors gathered at the s.h.i.+p’s bow carrying barrels. They then poured the beer made from the islands into the sea.
The beer was the offering to the Master, as was practiced in many places in the islands in the past.
Hearing the story about the “Master of the Islands” from Edgar, the Connaughts promised to present offerings like how it was done in the past. It appears that they had also called on the other clans to do the same.
If the cracks in the Master’s Dream get restored, the power of the Unseelie Courts overflowing into the human world would weaken.
Although nothing will probably change in the short term, someday, things should improve for the better.
In the hundred over years when the Master’s Dream became unstable, the Prince of Calamity appeared. If the maledictory powers surrounding Prince were to weaken even a little, Edgar may be able to stay as he is while keeping those memories sealed.
Nico moved his line of sight and without him noticing, Kelpie, in the form of a grown man, was sitting beside him on the same bar of the mast.
“Hey, is a human capable of waking up the “Master of the Islands” to begin with?”
Kelpie muttered in a way that did not seem like he was asking Nico. It sounded more like he was asking himself.
“Even if one had the treasured sword of the Blue Knight Earl, it is difficult to think that magic of the level that humans can wield is able to break that much of crystallized dreams isn’t it?”
“… Let me see. If the Earl did not desist from his plan to break the crystal, he might have lost his life.”
Even if that were not the case, it was surprising enough that the Earl, who tried to get close to the Master, was able to break through the Dream’s entrance unscathed.
That’s why Ermine asked Kelpie to stop the Earl. On the other hand, she gave the hint that led to the Earl getting closer to the “Master of the Islands.”
I wonder what that woman wanted to do. Kelpie was bothered by that.
To Ulysses, the Earl was “Prince”. The Earl was an essential existence in order for them to fulfil their objectives, so it was difficult to think that they would risk placing the Earl in a danger where he could die.
If so, wouldn’t that mean that the one who is moving Ermine and leading the Earl, isn’t Ulysses?
Kelpie thought that she, and that someone, could ultimately be testing the Earl.
Testing the Earl’s true nature.
Testing whether there was a chance that he would be consumed by Prince’s memories.
In the event that the Earl gets stirred up by the Unseelie Courts’ magic and loses control of himself, then they would just drive him to his death together with Prince’s memories. This was the only way Kelpie could think about it.
Kelpie wondered if Ermine, who admired and tried to protect the Earl, would be complicit in such a dangerous bet.
She may have made used of Kelpie in order to move Lydia into action. If it were Lydia, she would be able to keep the Earl’s heart as the Blue Knight Earl.
“What exactly is going on, that woman…”
“That woman?”
Nico looked at Kelpie questioningly.
“Nothing.”
Kelpie replied as he intended to keep matters concerning Ermine to himself.
This was a time when Lydia was going achieve happiness. He should keep any uneasy elements to himself.
Looking downwards, he saw Lydia’s figure. The Earl was pulling her hand, and it looked as though he had brought her out from the s.h.i.+p’s room to the deck.
“Ahh, in any case what a pity. If that guy died, I would be able to live with Lydia like we did in the past.”
Kelpie muttered that with a bitter smile.
“Edgar…, please don’t hold on to my hand that strongly.”
As she walked as though she was being dragged along, Lydia voiced out perplexedly.
“But if I loosen my grip, you are going to escape into the room and lock the door right?”
Edgar really seemed to think that Lydia will run away the moment he lets go.
“I wasn’t able to unlock the door just now because Lota was in the midst of checking the wound on my back for me.”
Although it was because she couldn’t open the door without being properly dressed, as a result of Lota messing around with Edgar by telling him “She said that she doesn’t want to see you now”, Edgar waited by the door while troubling over this.
Once she was properly dressed, the moment Lota opened the door to leave, Edgar forcibly entered and brought Lydia out of the room after telling her “I have something to say.”
With that, the both of them had just come out onto the deck.
“How’s your wound?”
“Yes… the pain has completely disappeared and Lota told me that no scar was left.”
It could be that Edgar was finally relieved, as he relaxed his grip, looked at Lydia and smiled softly.
“Is that so. … That’s good to hear. This means that the magic from the Fir Chlis has completely disappeared right?”
Lydia nodded.
“I didn’t expect that the bloodstone that Nico had was the droplet from the Master’s Spring.”
I wonder how Mother obtained that.
Since she was working as a fairy doctor in the Hebrides archipelago, it may not be that strange if she happened to have it.
“Then, it doesn’t mean that you want to avoid me?”
Having come towards the railings and stopping there, Edgar turned his entire body towards Lydia and asked her while peering into her eyes.
It’s not that she wanted to avoid him. But Lydia was still feeling a little confused.
Since they had decided to part, she wondered if it was alright for them to simply go with the flow like this.
The eastern skies were gradually being dyed a pale orange. One can feel the presence of the sun right beneath the horizon.
“Nico, he believed that I would not become Prince and that I would bring you happiness, that’s why he yielded that bloodstone to me. When I held onto the bloodstone, I felt that I could no longer let go of you no matter what arguments there were laid before me. That’s why …”
Edgar left his words hanging, and looked at Lydia uneasily.
“But, are you angry? Do you think that our marriage is a mistake?”
“I don’t know. … I was forcibly brought onto this s.h.i.+p without being given any time to think about it.”
Lydia lowered her gaze.
“You can’t come to terms with this, huh.”
Lydia was a little angry. Even though she had thought, troubled over it before coming to a decision, Edgar had decided based on his intuition rather than through careful consideration. He easily overturned what Lydia had desperately thought over.
“You, always did as you pleased. When I told you that I wanted to stay by your side, you left me behind; even though I told you that I did not want the medicine you still went ahead and risked danger; I troubled over it and the moment I decided to stay by your side no matter what happened, you easily threw your life away …”
As she listed the points, she became angrier.
“And then what’s this? You came to bid farewell, but suddenly changed your mind and brought me onto this s.h.i.+p. Do you think this returns everything to how it was before? Do you think that I can change my feelings immediately?”
As one would expect, even Edgar appeared to realize how unreasonable he had acted. Appearing to be fl.u.s.tered, he withdrew his hand which was stretched out towards Lydia.
And then, he sighed.
“When it comes to you, I can’t seem to be able to stay calm. I end up making self-satisfying decisions.”
Yet immediately, he became firm.
“But you know, I do not think the fact that both of us being here now is a mistake. I may have made many wrong decisions, but I believe that this is not self-satisfying … I believe that even you did not want us to part that way … Am I wrong?”
The part of him which leads Lydia around and yet be so confident about it is the same as always.
No, he probably isn’t as confident. He is looking towards Lydia, who is still looking downwards, uneasily.
“As I thought, do you want to break up?”
He asked timidly.
No, the fact that he is able to ask is precisely because he is confident. Because he wanted to draw out from Lydia the words of her not wanting to break up.
As expected, Lydia got angry.
“Are you asking me something like that?”
Isn’t the answer obvious? Yet that’s unfair.
As she thought that, tears started to well up in her eyes.
“If I said that I wanted to break up, will you send me back?”
As her voice trembled, she knew that he was at a loss for words because he panicked.
“I’m sorry, I can’t do that. I beg you, please don’t cry…. It’s alright if we can’t be like how we were immediately. So long as you are willing to stay as my fiancé …”
I wonder if he is truly panicking. As she felt surprised, her anger gradually receded.
Even so, somehow her tears just wouldn’t stop. It was not as if she felt sad, it was also different from being happy. She may have just been relieved but because too many things had happened, she was too confused to be honest about it.
Edgar’s hand touched her cheeks and wiped away her tears. It was unusually reserved and he did not try to touch her unnecessarily.
“If you are willing, I swear that I will not make you regret this day.”
That was a serious and unwavering tone.
Lydia was finally able to lift her face up a little.
“I will not lose myself as the Blue Knight Earl. I will not be swayed by Ulysses or anyone. I will fulfill my duties.”
“But, if the Prophet appears ….”
“We are not the ones who will fight with “Prince’s” enemies.”
Hearing that, Lydia felt her uneasiness melt away.
Edgar may have changed a little. During that time at the spring in the Master’s Dream, he could have felt that in order to truly protect what he should be protecting, he can’t be fighting recklessly.
He may no longer end up getting closer to Prince because of Lydia.
“Lydia, you will marry me right?”
As he said that, Edgar searched around his pocket and took out something s.h.i.+ning.
It’s the moonstone engagement ring.
The light from the sun which is just starting to rise, extended towards the s.h.i.+p and reflected off the moonstone.
The moon from the early morning is majestically white, s.h.i.+ning reservedly like a bashful innocent bride.
As she finally stopped crying, Lydia nodded quietly. Edgar then took her hand and gently slid the ring onto her ring finger.
Gazing upon it satisfyingly, Edgar narrowed his eyes from the brightness.
“Dawn has finally come.”
The long nights that they spent separated was gradually turning into daylight, as it was enveloped by the soft light.