Hakushaku to Yousei Vol 11 Chapter 7

After walking into glass greenhouse, the thick and dense greenery had covered Lucinda's line of sight. She headed towards the depths of the greenhouse, loathing the humidity and the plants’ intense fragrances that she was completely unfamiliar with.

Lucinda approached that tall conspicuous plant, then crouched down and rummaged through, trying to find the bottom of the ivy. 

Used to conceal Madame Oughtred’s Regard necklace, it was indeed suitable.

Lucinda confirmed this in many ways, like shaking the case, turning it over and so on, but ultimately, she still couldn’t find the Regard necklace.

Although this was beautiful and considered to be an ornament, it was used as a jewel case and was expensive itself. However, the necklace ought to be more precious, and Lucinda thought that no matter what, she wanted to wear the Regard necklace. 

It didn’t matter despite this being her aunt’s jewel case, as she could say that Annie broke it.

In order to break the jewel case, Lucinda looked around, then saw a flower bed enclosed by a stone wall.

As Lucinda stood up and lifted the case over her head, she heard the sound of leather shoes behind her.

“So this is the jewel case adorned with the Regard necklace.”

When she noticed, she was already surrounded by several unfamiliar men.

“Hey, quickly break it and confirm its contents.”

The fragments burst out in all directions. The crowd of men gathered around the broken case, carefully inspecting the case’s bottom, the inside of the cover, and places with possible small cracks. Finally, a man among them muttered:

“The Regard necklace isn’t anywhere.”

“Was it you who hid it? Hey, where did you hide it?” 

“Don’t….I don’t know…. Save me….”

Annie?

Standing before her was a black-haired woman. After seeing her appearance, she was sure that it was Annie.

“...Annie, why would you…”

“Y--You’re the thief...?”

Afterwards, Annie changed the color of her hair, pretended that she couldn’t speak, and assumed her position as Lucinda’s maid. If she was a guest’s maid, neither the butler nor the head maid would investigate her experiences and cautiously observe her. In addition, Annie always lowered her head, so no one would recall that she resembled the temporarily hired maid. 

The previous Annie, who would only tremble when she was cursed at by Lucinda, now unexpectedly changed into a person who seemed to show disdain for Lucinda, laughing as she poked fun at her.

An impatient man hit Lucinda, who was speechless. 

Lucinda, who fell to ground, dragged her body wanting to escape, but was surrounded by the men.

Annie smiled and laughed as she stepped on Lucinda's skirt.

“How troublesome, do you want to kill her or not?”

"Hey thieves, it ends here!”

Several familiar people appeared at the entrance of the greenhouse.

Furthermore, that slender figure with golden hair was…...

Although the one who said this was a short-haired servant, Lucinda’s eyes only saw one person.

However, although she wanted to stand up, her shoulders were held down by Annie.

“Damn it, so that’s how it is. Everyone, we’ve been deceived by that aristocrat!”

“Saying that the Regard was hidden in that jewel case was a trap.” 

The handsome Earl exposed a shallow smile, and Lucinda gazed at him, her mind full of confusion.

He knew Lucinda hid the jewel case.

He exposed the matter of Annie being able to speak, because he knew that Annie was a member of the group of thieves.

“Bastard! You don’t care what happens to this girl? You should be the ones to drop your weapons!”

Regardless, the servants still held their pistols as they gradually approached closer.

“D-don’t come here! I will be killed! Earl, save me!”

But that smile wasn’t directed towards Lucinda, rather it was towards Annie.

Annie, whose name was called, trembled.

Lucinda also felt afraid.

Now, he clearly told Annie that even if she held a hostage as a shield, it was useless. It meant that no matter how Lucinda was in the end, he wanted to catch Annie and these men. 

“Lieutenant, hurry up and take action.”

“However, the hostage…” 

“.......I understand.” 

Just as everyone thought that a shadow jumped in, the man in front of Lucinda was kicked down. Subsequently, the shadow seized the opportunity to pull Lucinda away from Annie.

Once the gunshots sounded, Lucinda held her head. But she was immediately pulled up by the man who jumped in just now.

“Hurry up and get out!”

Even if she wasn’t abandoned by the Earl, she was unable to think it would be like this.

Because of that valet’s rough actions, it made Annie’s knife graze her neck.

As Lucinda was slandered by humiliating gossip about her mother, the Earl clearly shielded her.

Lucinda thought to herself, compared to a common girl, an aristocrat such as herself was more suitable for him. 

It was surely no problem, because she had already fled to a very distant area.

As she adjusted her chaotic breathing, she looked around, wanting to know where this was.

Moonlight illuminated the garden, which had begun to darken. Lucinda, who lightly touched the hedges, retracted her hand due to the pain she felt.

The rose garden.

A burst of wind blew past. Countless thorny branches shook as if they were laughing.

However, Earl Ashenbert was tempted by a common girl. She couldn’t understand why she would lose to her.

You’re not a flower, you’re not a noble rose, so hurry up and get out! They used their thorns in this way to threaten Lucinda.

“...Annie...”

Lucinda bolted out. Annie chased after her.

Lucinda struggled as she twisted into a ball with Annie.

Lucinda lost her balance with Annie, grabbing each other as they fell into a pit.

“Where... is this place...?”

The mud walls on both sides were covered by grass, and the top of the cave also had vegetation growing all over, layer upon layer. It was a completely green cave.

“Hiding in here doesn’t seem too bad. Listen well! If the Earl and that group of people discover us, don’t think you’ll survive. If I’ll be killed no matter what, then I’m also going to take you to the grave with me.”

Billy and Raven beat the members until they were unable to stand, then bound them afterwards.

“Lieutenant, a woman escaped.”

“But she was the terrible person who attacked Madame Oughtred by herself.”

Nico called out to Edgar, looking from the other side of the broken glass.

“What did you say? Nico, where is that passage?”

“Excuse me, Earl Ashenbert, you can communicate with cats?”

“Her Majesty the Queen and Madame Oughtred are in danger. It seems that Annie is heading towards them.”

He looked at Billy who was dubious and bewildered at the situation.

“...The Lord of Ibrazel…”

Billy still had an expression of not seeming to understand.

Once Edgar turned around, Nico ran on his two hind legs in order to guide them.

Lydia and the two ladies gazed at the roses, entranced.

Then, the flower buds gently shook, as if they were surrounded by happiness.

In this short while, the fairy realm’s roses bloomed, and were proudly looking up at them.

“Thank you, Virginia. ”

Virginia once said that bringing the roses out will cause them to wither. This should be because the fairies won’t allow her to take the roses out. But, if the roses were able to be taken out...

Was the garland-shaped Regard necklace made of jewels? But now, it didn’t look anything like that, but like a soft swaying garland of fresh flowers. 

"Truly an inconceivable color, practically like a turquoise blue.” 

Where was the Danish fairies’ treasure’s secret hiding spot?

Or could it be…?

“That sound just now, what was that?”

Lydia had a foreboding feeling as she said that.

Madame Oughtred pointed to a corner of the garden that could be overlooked from the hill. The bed of roses which should have been there disappeared, as it was surrounded by complete darkness. 

The fairies said that they were going to bury this place, but they should be waiting until dawn, could they not wait?

After waiting for a while, a voice answered from an unknown location. 

They don’t begin at dawn?

“Then do it as slowly as possible.”

(Our comrade who switched positions with Virginia was assassinated by that woman.)

“How is that possible, why could the thief discover the entrance?”

(Although the path can only opened by a person of this household, the person with the blood relationship was mistakenly brought in.)

Astonished, Lydia looked back at Virginia. 

The Madame’s expression also changed.

(Fairy doctor, we’re going to stop those to people, can we?)

But even if it was only towards the thief, it’s possible that Lucinda will also answer the fairies’ question, then she would surely encounter not so trivial matters due to the fairies’ magic.

The fairies didn’t reply, as they had probably already left for the entrance where the thief appeared.

"Both of you, please stay here. If that thief brought weapons, then it will be dangerous.”

Madame Oughtred bravely carried a huge shovel on her shoulder.

Lydia immediately turned around, and after she ran down the blue rose hill, she hurried to entrance of the rose garden. 

If she didn’t hurry, then there wouldn’t even be enough time to bring the Duchess out.

At the time time, she saw two figures in front of the tunnel.

“Annie...?”

After she saw Lydia, who emerged from the other side of the shrubbery, she immediately assumed a defensive position, pulling Lucinda over.

Annie, who shouldn’t be able to speak, unexpectedly began to talk. This made Lydia a little surprised, but another thing was making her genuinely surprised.

Annie clicked her tongue. 

Lucinda uttered weakly, and Annie deliberately spoke mockingly:

Sure enough, it was Lucinda... Although Lydia thought this, she wasn’t able to have the thought of getting angry at Lucinda now.

“I’m not going to, because someone’s chasing after me.”

Annie stared at Lydia with an unconvinced face, then raised her lips to smile and said:

“...Y-Yes, Lydia, if it’s you, you won’t be killed, so...”

At any rate, there was no time. She had to quickly get Annie out, then stop the fairies from destroying the whole rose garden.

When she started to say this, the ground shook again.

A very deep ditch had appeared ahead, separating Lydia from Annie and Lucinda.

When Lydia noticed, the Danish fairies had already surrounded her and Annie in large numbers. 

Lucinda and Annie could also see the fairies here. Just seeing them amazed them to the point of being unable to make a sound.

(Humans, listen well. I will grant you guys a wish, so leave here immediately!)

They could only use their magic towards those who responded, therefore only then would they suggest a deal.

Lucinda raised her head and murmured, seeming as if she would cry for help now. This was bad. Lydia was anxious.

“That’s right, only one wish can be granted, so you need to think clearly.”

Raven and Nico also appeared together from the path on the other end of the ditch.

“Annie, what are you planning to do? If you don't say it then shall I say it for you?”

Just as Lydia was going to speak, Duchess Brightbery grabbed her shoulder, as if to stop her.

“Hey fairies, I also have the right to make a wish, right?”

Lucinda seemed to want to say something, but because her mouth was covered, she could only make a groaning sound from her mouth. 

“The jewels are mine!” 

“All of them belong to me! These animals are fairies? If any wish can be fulfilled, then give me all of the jewels! You will decorate my entire body in jewels!”

Because it was too dazzling, everyone could only close their eyes.

“Annie...”

(Jewels that are completely worn all over the body, you’re satisfied like this, right?)

(Humans are truly greedy creatures. As long as they hear that a wish can be granted, they’re unable to shut their mouths.)

The fairies were clearly unable to keep silent on important matters. While Lydia thought this, she felt that it was quite ironic.

But Lucinda was saved as a result. After she was released, she crouched down at the scene.

As Lydia powerlessly sat on the ground, someone grabbed her arm, so she looked up, confused.

“Lydia, you thought little of me.”

“To go as far as to replace another person as a hostage, even if you have a good heart, there should be limits. By any chance, if something happened to you, how do you expect me to survive by myself?” 

Duchess Brightbery saw this scene and giggled. Regardless of onlookers, Edgar expressed his love, making Lydia blush with embarrassment.

“Danish fairies, the thief is already gone! Don’t destroy the rose garden!”

(Fairy doctor, if you know our secret, then hurry and say your wish!)

“Duchess, my deepest apologies, I asked that you immediately jump across to the opposite side, otherwise you won’t be able to return.”

“My valet will aid you.”

“Let’s go.” 

They quickly withdrew as the crevices increasingly got bigger so if they were to jump over, it would be more difficult. 

“Edgar it’s too late, the rose garden is slowly collapsing. It’s already too late... I’m going to make a deal with the Danish fairies.”

“Lydia, can you handle it?”

“Being able to share my destiny with you, it’s exactly what I’ve been looking for.”

Even if she was unable to accomplish something by herself, she felt that as long as she was with Edgar, then she could do it.

Lydia called out towards the surroundings.

(Do you really know our secret?)

(Then we agree to your deal. Fairy doctor, you must forget our secret, and the conditions of exchange is that we will let everyone leave.)

Just now, she focused her consciousness, and was able to arrange her train of thought.

Since the beginning, they had a very close relationship with the master of this household, and as long as Madame Oughtred’s Regard necklace was worn, then the passage leading to the rose garden could be opened.

Yes, speaking of that, where did that bronze gate lead to in the end?

If the opposite side of the gate was the fairy rose garden……

“Danish fairies, you aren’t hiding gems, rather you are cultivating them, and making jewels blossom. The roses blooming here are jewels, correct? Although every flower in your country will bloom or wither, all of them can be made into genuine jewels!”

Was her conclusion wrong?

Subsequently, the Danish fairies suddenly became chaotic. 

(Who? The talkative bunch, that’s who!)

(Hey, retreat, leave at once!)

Then, a gust of wind blew.

Leaves covered the sky by swirls of wind, and after the moonlight was covered, the surroundings were left in darkness.

As soon as the wind and sounds stopped, and the tranquil moonlit night resumed, everyone who was originally in that wonderful garden stood in Madame’s Oughtred’s rose garden, which had sculptures of Maria on the water fountain.

It was a blue rose.

“Its color is similar to the rose that Virginia cultivated.”

“This must be the fairies’ gift.”

Madame Oughtred made countless roses bloom, making the fairies very happy, thus in order to express their thanks, they allowed her to take one blue rose that she did her utmost to grow.

* * *

That night, Lydia had a dream.

Just as Lydia was entranced, there was a noblewoman standing beside Lydia.

Lydia merely gazed at the turquoise rose accessory worn on her chest.

Furthermore, Lydia felt that the surrounding gazes were especially focused on her.

Ah that’s right, I’m dressed in ordinary clothes.

The noblewoman wearing the blue rose spoke a few words to Lydia.

At first, she believed that he was going to approach her, but she didn’t expect him to suddenly kneel down, surprising Lydia.

“Miss Carlton, would you like to dance with me? Together with your fiancé?”

He was able to make Lydia become a more special girl compared to any gorgeous jewel.

Lydia.

The things you aren’t good at, as long as you entrust it to me, then it will be alright.

She felt a pair of hands touch her cheek.

He narrowed his ash mauve eyes, revealing a smile. After he drew back his hand, the clattering sound of metal colliding came through.

Opening her eyes slightly, she saw the bedroom door just about to softly close.

Lydia went ahead and thought that because she fainted yesterday, Edgar came to take a look at her as he was worried.

She turned her head, and the clattering sounds were heard once more.

Lydia managed to wake up, and after sitting up, she held up the hand mirror that was on the bedside table.

The six jewels, individually, were diamond, emerald, amethyst, ruby, sapphire and topaz. Taking the first letter of each jewel’s English names and connecting them, it spelt “Dearest"*(beloved one); a word of the Regard necklace. 

Lydia smiled while she touched the Regard necklace with her fingers.

I hope that I won’t be embarrassed, and genuinely convey my happiness to him.

Not only was it like this, everyone had the vague impression of everything seemingly happening in a dream.

Of course, Madame Oughtred had never doubted the fact that she had been living with fairies before. 

The flowers had a three-dimensional feeling, thus the petals were formed with innumerable fine jewels embedded.

Upon closer look, one would find that the gate and wall completely had no cracks in between, and was merely an ornament embed in the wall. The Madame said that even she felt as if it was a dream, regarding whether or not she truly opened this gate.

It was said that all the kinds of jeweled accessories that the Madame wore in the past were brought over from the gate by her late husband, which were then given back to the other side of the gate. Those items were probably borrowed from the Danish fairies.

Although Madame Oughtred was a little lonely after losing the rose garden, but she exposed a relaxed smile, almost free of worry, towards Lydia.

“I apologize, Lydia, for bringing you such inconveniences.”

“Furthermore, my niece’s matters were also……”

“Lucinda’s mother was a governess born in the upper middle class. My younger brother, although he married her, when the heir of the family suddenly passed away and the right of inheritance was given to him, he drove his wife and child away…...Before cutting off ties with my younger brother, I should have thought of Lucinda more, as she was two years old at the time.”

“Although it’s a tad late, I’m going to re-educate Lucinda. The matter of her debut in society will have to wait until she becomes a genuine lady.

Lydia nodded in agreement.

“Oh my, you can’t be so weak. From now on, you must drive away all the women who approach your fiancé.”

Although Edgar said that, full of confidence…...

Madame Oughtred chuckled, thinking the same thing as Lydia, who had a taut face.

Lydia originally came here for this purpose. Since Madame Oughtred returned safe and sound, she braced herself as thought of accepting the genuine bridal course that was going to begin, but Edgar interrupted...

“Eh, but...”

“It’s all right Edgar, I won’t act recklessly anymore.” 

Then, he turned towards Madame Oughtred and said…

Lydia felt as if she heard these words in a dream. Or, was Edgar beside her saying this while she was half asleep?

“Yes, furthermore, Lydia, I also feel that I have nothing in particular to teach you, because indeed, you already have the heart to consider other people. Compared to the rules of etiquette of paying attention to outer appearances or whatsoever, a considerate heart is the most important, and this point is all I teach to those young ladies waiting to enter society.”

“This was written by Alexandrina. Because she had to depart early this morning, she left this here in my care.”

“She said that there was no need to force you, who was unwell and overworked, while properly resting, to get up.”

“But you can still see her in London. In order to express her gratitude to you, she invited you to a ball.”

The handwritten signature on top was Victoria R.

What? Her Majesty?!
“That time she was going incognito when she came to visit Madame Oughtred.”

“Excuse me, isn’t the Madame’s name Alexandrina?”

“Whaat!? T-the Duchess is…!”

That’s can’t be, I carelessly spoke a bunch, as if I threw up grievances...

“This way, I have already introduced my fiancée, and Her Majesty has seen you. Next, as long as you grandly take this special invitation card, then entering the court will be easy.”

“As long as you know the basics that will be fine. As soon as Madame Maysfield returns, she will teach you without delay again. Furthermore Lydia, the one whose manners are receiving attention shouldn’t be you, but rather me. After all, I must invite the lady which Her Majesty the Queen had noticed to dance.”

That dream… was a dream that matched reality?

“If you can’t do it, it’s okay to let him deal with it for you. Aren’t the two of you getting married?”

“In short, this time you can now announce your engagement to the public, but Lucinda will be quite remorseful.”

What, liking outward appearances, didn’t he feel quite strange saying these words himself? In other words, Edgar deliberately ruined Lucinda’s dreams with regards to appearances?

“What is it?

In any case, she could not ask him what he did to Lucinda and Annie in front of Madame Oughtred.

“You wanted to be alone with me sooner?”

“But I hoped that I would be alone with you sooner.”

“Hey, why did Annie take Lucinda hostage? Furthermore, she was afraid and said that she would be killed with Lucinda by you.”

“Because of a little accident.” 

As coercing Annie into making a dangerous promise was the same, he in no way would show his enemies mercy. Edgar, who was unable to abandon his callous side, always maintained this state of being able to immediately fight when something suddenly happens. Even now, his body and mind still hadn’t settled into the peaceful daily life.

So to say… could it be that...

“How could I have known?” 

That’s absolutely a lie.

This, on all kinds of levels, made Lydia dizzy.

Indeed, he still gets carried away.

His old enemy had already undoubtedly died, but he threw himself into battle. Although Lydia still didn’t know the reason, she hoped that she would be able to understand and support him without the slightest hesitation in that moment.

And because of this, despite Lydia lowering her head, unable to convey her happiness and gratitude for receiving the Regard necklace, she still felt that being needed by Edgar was her own wish, thus as always, she nervously used her hand to grasp his in response.

 [1] Japanese T/N: Following the Japanese spelling of Dearest, ディアレスト (Di-ah-re-su-to). Which is why there is no jewel starting with an E included. 

Chapter end