Hakushaku to Yousei Vol 11 Chapter 3

Lord Constable was also going to be at the table of the evening banquet. Edgar, of course, knew that. 

That being said, there was no reason to shy away from it. Although Edgar was unhappy to see his face, he needed to wait for Madame Oughtred before the appearance of another important guest.

“Earl  Ashenbert, how unexpected it is to see you here. Have you changed your mind? If you plan to grovel to me, so that my elder sister and I could reconcile, you may as well speak your words.” 

“Speaking of which, you and Madame Oughtred are siblings. However, this was allegedly detested and ignored by the late Mr. Oughtred.” 

“It was only my sister who became estranged from me.” 

"Did you just insult me?" 

“For what reason did you approach my sister? I heard that in this world, there are unscrupulous people who will seduce middle-aged widows for fame and fortune.” 

Even though Constable heard rumors of a fiancee, when it was uttered as a fact by Edgar himself, Constable went silent. He was probably shocked that the rumors were true. 

“So unexpectedly shameless!” 

“Having a fiancee on one side while calmly flirting with my daughter--” 

“If nothing had happened, such as promiscuous matters, she would not have imagined it.” 

Lord Constable’s cheeks flushed red. At that moment, he stood up. 

Abandoning his speech, Constable suddenly stopped eating his meal to leave. 

All in all, regarding this matter, Edgar was purely innocent. And even if he wasn’t, for Edgar, it wasn’t difficult for him to remain on the proper side anyway.  

It was only because he didn’t want the event to spread to Lydia’s ears. 

However, there was still a few days before Lydia would arrive 

“I can finally enjoy the meal.” 

“Yes, this is fine wine. Worthy of Madame Oughtred’s mansion.” 

“The dishes are also very good. However, since the widow withdrew from society, the banquet was not even held. Ah, what a pity. The skill of the chef and the hospitality of the servants, all of it cannot easily compare with other mansions!” 

The butler, though modest, expressed a face of joy.  

Furthermore, Edgar calculated that, if their impression of him was good, he could insist on Constable being arrogant as well. 

Servants are not to be belittled. Opinions of the senior servants working for years could even influence the masters’ thoughts. Even if the content of Lucinda’s letters became a problem, he also wanted Madame Oughtred to feel that Edgar’s words were genuine. 

The butler picked up the glass vessel and at the server, who stood blankly in a daze, he winked at him. However, the server did not immediately notice. 

The server beside him cried out under his breath, surprised as he regained his senses. 

The server finally came to the side. With the stiff movement of his hand gestures, the server’s spooning was also quite clumsy. 

Those hands, not matched for servants, was a hand that was clearly used to handling weapons.

For Annie who was combing Lucinda’s hair, her sincere hand gestures carefully grasped the hairbrush. 

The young maid jumped in fright, slightly bowing her head. 

“Help me hang more beautiful hair curls. I want to see Earl Ashenbert.” 

Of course, because people pay attention to any notable affairs of the Earl Ashenbert, they could actually go inquire about ‘who were those he became intimate with’ or also ‘where servants go for exchanges, which were growing more and more complex’. 

She hurriedly changed her travel schedule, all in order to run into the earl. 

Annie searched nervously for the coral hair accessories. 

“Indecisive” Annie was not so bad. The best thing was, this girl was not too talkative. 

With such a secret, Annie would not expose it. 

Lucinda faced toward the mirror with a smile. 

“Annie, though for you, you won’t have any luck, marriage is a competition. It’s a victory to marry a girl who makes everyone else jealous. If the husband is outstanding, only then can you gain the respect of others in society.”

“Of course, not only status, but having good looks is also important. If so, Earl Ashenbert is impeccable. He is secretly admired by many women.” 

“However, to wait will make it impossible for us to get acquainted. Especially with the Earl of Ashenbert, all the women he spoke to, one after another, he had only spoken a few words to them. Therefore, just relying on this brings me ahead of them by several steps.” 

For the people who thought that those with mothers of inferior status would never have a good marriage, Lucinda was going to make them regret it. 

Anyway, it was too late for her to escape from this. In any event, she could only try to make this dream into reality. 

“The remaining problem now is his fiancee.” 

“But against a low-class woman, that is no competition.” 

A powerful person. 

*

Although it was used as a dressing room for meetings, this was still without a doubt a gentleman’s private quarter. Even with a maid, most daughters would not stay in this place. 

“Excuse me, Earl Ashenbert, to disturb you at this time.” 

Leaving the door open, Edgar stopped at the door.   

It’s impossible to have that kind of God! Edgar thought.  

“Thank you for your love, but I do not deserve it.” 

“Even though the one you exchanged letters with, the one you fell in love with, it’s not me?”

“I'm sorry, but I already have a fiancee.” 

“I heard that Earl Ashenbert had many relationships. Aren’t there many kinds of lovers in the world? Even though some are married, many men still have a lover out there. But you gradually stopped writing to me. Was it because  your fiancee did not allow it?”

“If it was me, how many other people will forgive you?” 

“It's because you do not like me.” 

Lucinda quietly approached closer to Edgar. Immediately at his side, without her eyes facing him, she whispered.  

“Who would’ve thought you were such a bold girl.” 

To say that with just one kiss, she’d understand. But that was only an excuse to request for a kiss. However, Edgar was troubled. Even if it was at an excuse to be asked, he didn’t feel disgusted. 

If they became real lovers, no matter when they’ve met or if they kissed together, which were all things that were required, there was no reason to hesitate. 

Even if it was a cute excuse, if it was Lydia who requested it, Edgar would be very happy to do so. 

Perhaps, instead of saying that she was in love, it would be better to say that Lydia, who knew Edgar’s weaknesses and pain, had strong feelings of concern and compassion for him.(或许，与其说是恋爱，不如说知道爱德格弱点和苦恼的莉迪雅，对自己关爱的感情比较重。)*

With a dignified voice, Raven suddenly spoke. Was he worried that Edgar would carelessly be kissed? 

He inadvertently caught Lucinda who naturally came to lean on him. When Edgar turned his head back, he realized that at the doorway was a maid wearing an apron.  

Her eyes widened in shock and currently standing frozen before him was Lydia.  

She bowed her head and anxiously ran away.  

Although bewildered, he didn’t want to know except that he must catch up to her.  

Edgar pushed Lucinda away as he chased behind Lydia.

Confused, as Lydia ran, she remembered the scene where Lucinda and Edgar were about to kiss.  

It wasn’t impossible. In fact, Edgar, who had affairs with any woman, possibly could’ve exchanged contact with Lucinda through flirtatious talk. 

Was it because Lucinda was so desperate that he did not break up with her? 

At first, Lydia thought that Lucinda was not different from her because of their ages. But the girl had already been conscious of her identity as a fair maiden, being able to elegantly show her appearance and mentally prepared herself for marriage.

Lucinda certainly knew how to socialize with men better than Lydia. 

After running into a dark hall, with no one else around, Lydia gradually let out a sigh. 

It would be better to speak with a complete lack of sense already, perhaps this would be more honest.

Moreover, even if it wasn’t that perfect woman who was in pursuit, Edgar’s heart would’ve probably been moved. 

Even as she thought all of that, Lydia was exhausted. She was depressed, and there was no way for that to disappear. 

“...Right. As Edgar always says sarcastically, nothing to marriage can be prepared, it is better to give up.” 

That was Edgar’s voice. 

Edgar walked into the hall and stood face-to-face with her, forcing Lydia to retreat near the window. 

Not only was it dark, they were the only two people there. She always felt that was dangerous. 

“I was startled, Lydia. I thought you were coming next week.” 

Without knowing she was present, Edgar felt regret and nervous after meeting with Lucinda. Even so, although he was unhappy, Edgar miraculously  shifted the mood of blame, which made Lydia slightly uncomfortable. So unconsciously, Lydia put it in the past. (所以不知不觉，莉迪雅背了过去。)* 

“Oh.” He finished saying, as Edgar placed his hands on Lydia’s shoulders. 

“Well, it seems that she likes you very much!”

Isn’t that you? She swallowed the words she wanted to say. 

Well said, very close! 

It was as if his preemptive excuse was getting more and more suspicious. 

“...I know.” 

“You’re not angry?” 

Edgar tentatively gazed at her in place. 

She couldn’t close her eyes and wait like Lucinda. Not knowing what to do, her anxiety grew. 

She couldn’t bury away her panicked feelings. Her feeling of wanting to escape was probably very explicit as well. 

She was only afraid. But because she was too surprised and confused that Edgar did not kiss her, she took a peep at his face. 

“Why are you not angry? That kind of situation, you can be suspicious of me.” 

“That’s not a place to only say an apology and then leave. If a woman were to appear in a lover’s room, it’s common sense to beat hard at the man and chase away the lover.” 

“If you’re angry, I will apologize until you forgive me. Then, we can make up (be reunited) again.  Shouldn't it be like this?” 

“You’re not jealous?” 

“Because... it’s so strange for a servant to do so.” 

“Yes, why is your appearance like this? Through Duchess Masefield’s introduction, you should be coming here as guest?”

“Madame? Did she ask of you to do maid work?”

Edgar sighed, placing Lydia’s braids in his hand. 

“No, oh no, Edgar. I cannot return without permission.” 

“But even if I do not understand the Madame’s intentions, I can’t be disrespectful. This may make her think I am a girl who cannot learn manners.” 

“But your hand is wounded.” 

“It’s all right. These are only minor injuries.” 

Perhaps it was hesitation on the gap between the dazzling Miss Lucinda and Lydia. (或许是犹豫於莉迪雅和耀眼的露辛达小姐的差距吧。) *Yes. Even her fiancé was not in the mood. 

Gradually wanting to leave this place as soon as possible, Lydia intended to go back. 

At this time from the upper floor, like a rusty wheel grating, a hoarse calling of grief resounded.

When Edgar and Lydia hurried to the scene, Lord Constable came, too. Most likely it was because his guest room was near Madame Oughtred’s room. 

“Sir Constable, what happened?” 

“I don’t know! I came immediately and called out to her, but there was no response. No sound.” 

The man who appeared was Billy who was handling the tea. It seemed that he had also heard the sound, but right now, it was almost the time for all servants to gather in the lower quarters. Perhaps he was trying to wander off, too lazy to work. Lydia was surprised.

Will he not be fired? 

“Call the butler.” 

The butler came right away. 

The chairs and tables were turned over, carpets torn apart. Clocks, vases, cosmetic case, slippers, everything was scattered all over the floor. 

Lord Constable, whose expression was unexpectedly calm, went towards the end of the room and opened the bedroom door, saying. 

Even though they were brother and sister, he actually spoke with the etiquette of an outsider. The reason was because they had become so estranged. 

Edgar headed for the edge of the bed, looking down at something unbelievable. Lydia looked as well, a rabbit corpse with a knife laid on the bed. 

Although Edgar joked, no one laughed. 

“The Madame couldn’t have left the room. The door was locked from the inside.” 

Billy looked outside the open window. 

“Then, she escaped from the window.” 

“Escape? My sister killed a rabbit, why is it necessary to escape?” 

“I’m not saying that Madame escaped.” 

“The knife is the Madame’s?” 

The butler answered. 

“I don’t get it! Then, who sent out the sad cry?” 

Lydia unwittingly opened her mouth. 

“I think it was probably a fairy pretending to be Madame Oughtred. It had been living in this house. These passing days, the Madame was different than usual, right?  Closed in the room. Responding, eating the food  and tea is the fairy.” 

Only Edgar had listened carefully. However, she still had to convey what she knew to everyone. 

“Well, it was because someone entered in here. Perhaps, the assumption that ‘only the black-haired woman remains’ is a fabrication set up by the thief. Nevertheless, even the guests were having their doubts. Therefore, the fairy made that kind of sad song. Because it became the model of the Madame, the fairy tried to cause trouble by messing up the room. The offender was so startled and thus fleed.” 

Lord Constable angrily glared at Lydia and then the butler before walking out of the room.  

Billy seemed excessively startled, which was a bit unusual. 

“What about the Madame?” 

“It is not clear. But in general, with a fairy circle exchange, perhaps she is in the fairy world.” 

“.....If a fairy is living in the house because the Madame agreed, then to disturb the fairy, you would assume the contract had been destroyed. Destroy the contract. Those were words fairies do not forgive easily. Also, there is a possibility they will harm the Madame.” 

“Then this is how the fairy tale will end. Precisely because someone, with the purpose of using a knife, walked in here.” Billy said. 

Edgar asked, and the butler made a slight tour of the room, opening the side drawer of the bed. 

“Is it possible that the Madame is wearing it?” 

“Then, there is the possibility of the goal was aimed at the lesser expensive things. To confirm, let’s see whether the other gems are still fine.” 

In the corner of the bedroom, there is a rose sculpture. One could also see that the door was made of bronze relief. For adults, they must buckle their body in order to pass through the small door. 

Edgar seemed to turn the door handle, but it didn’t turn. 

“I see. So, they needed to steal the Regard necklace. Although there is no other way to open this here, is it not a problem to tell the other guests of this information?”

Edgar once again gazed over the bed and then headed towards the window, putting his hand to the window clasp. 

The butler obediently nodded. 

“Yes, Sir.” 

“I will also go. There’s a thief. With a woman wandering around, I will worry. Also, call the police as soon as possible.” 

“The knife holder is indeed likely to wander around. Isn’t it better to call the police? Whether the Madame is somewhere in the house or was kidnapped, it is necessary to investigate either way.” 

“No, Earl Ashenbert, this degree of matter is foreign outside... Can you allow us to conceal it for a while? Of course, the Government would investigate. However, the Madame usually had said to us, when by chance she should suddenly go missing, she wanted us to keep quiet for at least a month. Because otherwise, there is a possibility she may be unable to come back.” 

“Although with the Madame, this was the first time, the Oughtred family ancestors and previous late owner had many [disappearances].” 

And with fairy exchanges, even if one thought that it was only about an hour, at home they were actually gone for a few days. 

“Let it go, Billy, this is what the Earl Oughtred’s tribe has been protecting for generations. If we don’t deal with it calmly, things will go bad.” 

If she was taken away by fairies, it was indeed not appropriate to make a scene. This mansion, all of its land and fields used to be the place where the [tribe] would play; if a great number of people were to carelessly enter, it would be as if the place was intruded upon.

“Then, I will thoroughly investigate it. Let me catch this petty thief. Perhaps the clue ‘only black-haired women’ is concluded to be the criminal’s disguise. ” 

Billy was about to lead Lydia out. 

Edgar gave a faint smile, clearly unsatisfied with Billy’s attitude. What was following

“If the criminal is not a female, you are one of the suspects.” 

(PS: each time the "デーン" translated into Denmark, felt strange, who is interested please check it for me, I'd be grateful. ) **original note from chinese raw, the t/n

Who was the black-haired woman? It was still a mystery. Although there were several maids with black hair, they were all confirmed to be in the worker’s lower-level housing at that time. Moreover, it was not even a suspicious place. 

Even if the whole house was searched, the whereabouts of that woman would be impossible to determine.

“Hey, Lydia, I finally found you. What are you doing in here?” 

The gray fairy cat slipped in from the window. Putting his hand on its waist, he stood before Lydia with a grand attitude. 

“What do you mean ‘what’? I was afraid that you would be lonely.” 

“Why do you want to dress like a maid? Is this how a bride studies?” 

“But this room, it’s filled with fairy footprints! The ceilings and walls have trails of something walking up and down.” 

“Oh, Nico, you know fairy traces better than I do. The Madame may have been kidnapped by the Denmark tribe. I would like to talk to them. You have a solution?” 

Nico stroked his whiskers, squinting with difficulty, as he pondered over the situation. 

“However, the fairy was in the Madame’s room. They must’ve have spoken with Madame Oughtred.” 

“Secrets?” 

“But, what if by chance someone overheard them talking?” 

From this, if the secret wasn’t leaked, would she be able to obtain their trust? 

Lydia then overlooked the scenery outside the window. There was a rose garden in front of the path. 

Also, a girl dressed in a red skirt came running by the houses. She called Edgar to catch up with him, and it seemed that they were talking happily.  Then, in this way, the two people were walking side-by-side. 

Yesterday, Edgar said that Lucinda mistook him for someone else in a letter. Was that true? 

Edgar was probably very proud. Both walked together, smiling at each other. But, Lydia felt something different, it was not unpleasant feelings. She didn’t understand why, but each time Lucinda was in his room, she would angrily force them out.

However, different from the unpleasant feelings, her overall feeling was just depressed. Because the women generally close to Edgar were self-confident and dazzling, Lydia seemed to not be like this. 

Nico seemed to stick his head out the window to take note of Edgar. 

“Eh, no way! It seems such girls like Lucinda had already completed their education early on, leaving them to cross the final bridge into society, only appearing in social circles.” “Right! Nico, you help me. Hurry up and get the work done, I have a place to go.” 

“I want to borrow a cat’s hand! (original T/N: Japan proverbs "cat の も borrowed りたい" busy as a bee.)” 

Lydia, after finishing the Madame’s room, went to see the gardener, Virginia. So, with Nico, she walked toward the rose garden. 

Because she couldn’t see the figure, Lydia stepped toward the log cabin.

After the greeting, the door opened. 

“I’m not a cat. I’m a fairy.” 

Nico, who was being softly caressed on the head began to feel his anger dissipate from Virginia’s tone. 

“Come in and let’s talk about it. It’s going to rain.” 

Nico sat down in a chair, re-grooming the knots of his hair.  It was only when Lydia watched Virginia brew the rose tea did she begin to talk. 

Virginia tilted her head to the side, vexed. 

“Then, situations like asking them to come out and asking for information won’t do?”

The gardener placed the rose tea on the table and pointed to the window of the potted plants. 

The golden-yellow roses looked like a piece of art carved from crystalline amber. If you touched one of the soft petals, it would immediately bounce back against your fingertip. 

“Thank you.” 

“Incident?” 

The gardener pondered over the situation with a pained expression. 

“That’s right. Someone seemed to want to take the Madame’s life, or the Madame’s precious stones and invaded the room.” 

Why did the gardener know that the gem was the Regard necklace? Lydia’s mind vaguely flickered some doubts but that vanished immediately because she then heard the voice of a fairy. 

Startled, the gardener and Lydia were silent. 

(Breaking the contract, they took us from the room in a rush.)  

“... Oh, wow.” 

However, Lydia is a fairy doctor. Even if it was difficult for humans and the fairies to bargain, it was still part of her work. 

(Thief? Don’t joke around. If it were this, it is more critical. If you don’t leave, the rose garden will be taken away.) 

Lydia’s anxiety impatiently burned as she tried to think of a way. She then spoke to the Danish fairy. 

(The contract was destroyed last night. Virginia cannot leave. )  

That’s not possible. We must be sure to save her. 

Determined, Lydia turned to face the direction where the sound came from. 

“Hey, Lydia!”  

(Say what? Really?) 

(.... There is no way. You can say a wish. You know, we are a family of secret exchanges, we can make your wish come true. )  

In short, it was to buy time. 

(......Five days after, before the dawn of the full moon.  After that, I will not wait. )  

The agreement was established. As if running into the ceiling, the fairy left behind faint footsteps which gradually disappeared.

“Lydia, what did you say! If your lies get exposed, this could be a big blow!” 

“That’s impossible to know!" 

“You are really reckless! You must think clearly!" 

Then, Lydia smiled to Virginia. 

“Lydia, you don’t have to worry about me anymore. Because I clearly know that associating with fairies is very dangerous, but I still frequently pass in and out here. Unfortunately, I was unable to meet with my friend.” 

With nostalgic eyes, Virginia narrowed her eyes and stared off into the distance. 

Blue Roses. 

“Have the blue roses been in full bloom before?”

The rain had stopped. 

“Five days later, on the night of the full moon, it will rise up along with the moon and bloom.”

Perhaps it was because only in here could she make blue roses go in full bloom.

In order to realize the agreement with her friend, even if it was dangerous, she continued to come here repeatedly. 

The women said decidedly. 

Chapter end