Hakushaku to Yousei Vol 13 Chapter 1

“It’s that carriage, Fergus.” 

From the hotel room, the hat shop entrance across the street could be seen clearly. There were two girls that just happened to get off from the halted carriage. 

Fergus did not possess the pertinent knowledge, not knowing how to distinguish the coat of arms decorated on the box on both ends of the carriage, but since the companion beside him said so, then there was no mistake.

“....So Patrick, which one were you speaking of?” 

If possible, Fergus wanted to take a look at her first before speaking to her directly. As he thought that, the girl before his eyes.

“Unfortunately, I also don’t know which one is Miss Lydia Carlton.”

“If that’s the case, I heard that Earl Ashenbert is blonde.”

“But Fergus, don’t you want to know what kind of man he is?” 

This man, Earl Ashenbert, was Miss Carlton’s fiancée, so it was only natural that Fergus was curious.

“No need to say it aloud. I’ve read those articles countless times.”

However they haven’t been in London for long, thus they haven’t seen the Earl himself yet.

It’s not about a man’s looks, it’s sincerity! Fergus thought.

“In reality, the more the rumors are spoken, the more the person himself certainly won’t be some amazing guy.”

Patrick calmly agreed.

Both girls were dressed neatly. Despite being unable to see their features clearly from a distance, Fergus imagined that she must be a beautiful woman.

“If you’re beginning to have expectations prior to meeting, you’ll ultimately be disappointed.”

“You really are a cool-headed man.”

This wasn’t a compliment. 

Previously, there was a woman who left the village and eloped with a stranger. If she had a child, then that child will have the same clan’s bloodline as Fergus.

After discussing this thought, Fergus inquired about the news half a year ago, and found that she seemed to be in London.

It was concerning the news of Earl Ashenbert announcing his engagement. The bride was named Lydia Carlton, the eldest daughter of Frederick Carlton --- holding both the position of a Professor at the University of London and a member as a mineralogist of the Royal academia.

Fergus needed to bring back the girl who inherited the clan’s special blood.

* * *

Lydia and her good friend Lota went out together, and when they returned home, it was already dusk. Father had also returned to the house early, which was rare.

“Lota, will you be staying for dinner?”

“It seems the guests unexpectedly paid a visit, and should be leaving very soon. Besides, I also dragged you everywhere with me to go shopping.”

Lota entered Lydia’s room, took off her hat, she relaxed and stretched.

“Ah, do you need to contact your house? We can ask someone to help you send a letter.”

Lota was the granddaughter of the exiled aristocrat, the Grand Duke of Cremona. Because she was brought up by pirates, she was incapable of resembling the usual quiet, ordinary young lady, but the Grand Duke had also been turning a blind eye. 

For Lydia, Lota was a precious human friend. 

“Fortunately, the hat was made according to your wishes.”

Lydia recalled this and sighed at the same time. 

“Choosing a gift for men is really difficult. Father is someone who would be happy no matter what he received, so I didn’t think it mattered, but Edgar only uses things that he likes.”

Is that right? Lydia recalled Edgar in his everyday life. Not only was he dressed in high-quality goods, all his tastes were also outstanding. If Lydia chose a gift within her affordable range, would he feel happy?

All in all, accepting the proposal and waiting until now to give a gift, wouldn’t the lapse in time be too great?

Lydia remembered it after engagement had been publicly announced.

“Really, in spite of everything, I can’t even think of one gift that would make Edgar happy, I should be a failure of a fiancée, right?”

“I--is that so?” 

Although Lota was very reliable, she was a little too extreme. Despite her never showing the disposition of a lord’s daughter, Lydia liked her carefree personality and sincerely considered her as a close friend.

“Is the tea still not ready? I’ll go and take a look.” 

Just when she wanted to go down the stairs, Nico suddenly appeared and said: 

This fairy, whose appearance turned into that of a hairy grey cat with a stance of standing on two feet, looked up at Lydia. 

“Troublesome guys have come.”

“In short, it’s best that you don’t show your face. ” 

“Hey, who are they?”

“Please leave.”

“Could you please let me have a chat with your daughter directly?”

“That is not necessary.” 

An approximately twenty-year old red-headed youth, was by the door with Father, neither refusing to give in. He was wearing a Tartan kilt, the traditional Scotland clothing.

“Now is not the case, Mr. Carlton, many people have died in your wife’s home village.”

Even if Nico constantly pestered her, Lydia was rooted in place.

But that young man seemed to understand everything. He probably came from Mother’s homeland. 

The other person standing behind the red-headed young man raised his eyes. He wasn’t in traditional clothing, but rather he was in a brown frock coat. 

Lydia seemed to be fixed to the floor by his gaze and unable to move, and at that time, the red-haired man also discovered her.

“You are Lydia?” 

“I am Fergus McKeel, and was born from the same clan as your mother. I am the McKeel clan head’s son.”

The young man named Fergus had somewhat curious eyes, which had remnants of innocence, and looked at Lydia. He then said to his male companion: 

“That’s too impolite, Fergus.”

Lydia was about to act in accordance to her father’s words, but the young man called Fergus grabbed her arm and stopped her.

“What?” 

“Hey, you asshole, don’t joke around!” 

“Lydia already has a decent fiancé... No, he isn’t considered very decent, at any rate she has a fiancé!”

“The engagement is not in accordance with sequential orders, rather it depends on each sides’ feelings to be concluded and I wonder if you weren’t even aware of this point?”

The flustered housekeeper stepped back. He entered the house from the main entrance afterwards, glaring at Fergus from below the staircase.　　　　　　

“Don’t touch my fiancee with your hand so casually, boy.” 

“Calling me a boy? We are around the same age.” 

“I’m not putting on airs! If the engagement isn’t using an order to be decided, that means starting from now, I have an equal chance.” 

Edgar sneered, then grabbed Fergus’ shoulder, and catching him off guard, he pushed him down the stairs. 

Even though both people fell to the floor one after another, from looking at their condition of being able to stand up immediately, they shouldn’t have sustained injuries.

Does he normally push other people down the stairs suddenly? Even if he knew that the other male companion was below, he went too far. 

“The Earl himself is different from the rumors. Fergus, you originally guessed that the person himself wasn’t anything special, but apparently this time your expectations fell short.”

“The first to insult someone was you. To go as far as to want to pursue other people’s fiancée, if you were an aristocrat, I could’ve requested a duel.”

Patrick sincerely began to talk before Fergus got angry, as if he intended to ease the tense atmosphere.

This person….. Is a fairy doctor.

He came from Mother’s homeland, and was a fairy doctor like Mother. 

“There’s no need to listen. Professor Carlton also hopes for you to leave, if you don’t leave quickly, I’ll get rid of you.” 

However, the other person was also quite tenacious.

These words were already enough to infuriate Edgar.

He wasn’t proficient in fairy magic at all, so he had no choice but to depend on Lydia. 

“How could a fairy doctor from a remote area understand the Earl’s matters?” 

“With all due respect, I doubt whether or not the Earl of Ibrazel’s family still retains power now. According to rumors, for the first time after three hundred years, you appear....”

Lydia could not help but interrupt. 

Patrick went on calmly. 

“So, what? You want to say that I only have the name but no power, so you want me to hand over Lydia for the purposes of the clan’s crisis? 

Even if they pointed out Edgar’s lack of strength and claiming that this was the United Kingdom’s crisis, if they wanted to thwart the marriage between him and Lydia, Edgar becoming enraged will sooner or later be a problem. 

This was a very clear threat. 

“Fergus, first let’s return for today.” 

“That’s not a threat, he’s serious.”

Patrick bowed his head to Lydia’s father and said:

He left behind these words and departed, this probably wasn’t simply a threat.

“Before my wife, Aurora, eloped with me, she also had a fiancé.” 

"Her hometown apparently has a very close blood relationship with the fairies, and shouldered some responsibilities in the McKeel clan. Her fiancé was the prophet, who lies dormant all year round in the fairy clan’s sacred land. According to legends, the prophet will one day awaken and save the clan from disaster.”

Father nodded and then closed his eyes, as if to search for the old memories.

“Professor, the clan’s tradition has something to do with the matter of the two people visiting here right?”

“I heard that their land is faced with an unprecedented crisis. Diseases are spreading, land is deserted by storms even quite a few villagers have been left homeless.”

Edgar anxiously looked at Lydia, who was somewhat expressing sympathy. 

Lota looked solemn and crossed her arms on her chest.

“Their purpose.... Is wanting to make Lydia that man’s fiancée?” 

“But Professor, so long as Lydia becomes the prophet’s fiancée, then she’ll be able to make that person, who hasn’t woken up to this day, regain consciousness?”

“However that person named Fergus wanted me to marry him.”

“That is... Lydia, your mother still had another fiancé to marry, under the circumstances that the prophet hasn’t awoken after she surpassed twenty years of age. I think that this time’s state of affairs is the same. According to their statements, after the prophet finishes his mission, that man named Fergus will… um, will take Lydia as his wife, so there’s no need to worry.”

“In short, Earl, these matters are already unrelated with Lydia. My wife should have already severed off all relationships with her homeland, so I ask that you don’t worry.” 

“Lydia, you are already officially engaged. So you cannot be like before, making arbitrary decisions just because you are a fairy doctor, understand?” 

“Yes, Father.”

Probably feeling relieved at Lydia’s answer, the corners of Edgar’s mouth relaxed.

Despite no one mentioning it, Patrick had previously mentioned that something dangerous will also happen to Lydia.

“It will be alright, Lydia, because no matter what happens, you have me to protect you.”

“I apologize for the sudden visit, Professor, I still have appointments with other people.”

“Edgar, you have me by Lydia’s side, so you don’t have to worry.”

When they walked up to the side of the carriage, which had stopped by the curbside waiting, he turned towards Lydia. Not knowing whether or not it was because they became alone, he suddenly didn’t want to separate, seemingly gazing at Lydia. Not knowing whether or not it was because they became alone, or that it suddenly became hard to leave, he gazed at Lydia. 

“...You really love to worry.” 

Doesn’t the distance between the both of them seem too close? 

Do the earth’s lovers snuggle up to each other completely without reason?

“Having a cute fiancée, it’s only natural that there will be many things to worry about.”

“You’re both unaware and not vigilant, it’s truly vexing.” 

Lydia liked this kind of tender touch, making her feel at ease. She wouldn’t be tense and as a result, felt Edgar’s tenderness.

“It's truly amazing. As long as I do this, even if I’m closing my eyes, I very well know that the person I am embracing is you. I seem to have unconsciously remembered the feeling of this embrace. ” 

“What about you? Will you know that it’s me?” 

Lydia still couldn’t keep her composure, thus she could only feel shy when asked. He seemingly found this this kind of reaction amusing and laughed, loosened her arms and changed the subject. 

The distance between both of them increased slightly, Lydia was finally able to raise her head and smile.

“She... well, although she has many problems, she’s a girl who makes you feel at ease as long as she’s by your side. I think you had better not go out alone for the time being. ” 

She might as well ask the person himself. 

“There is. ” 

“What is it?” 

“Th--that’s not what I meant….” 

Come to think of it, I seem to have never said it before.

Suddenly asking me to say it, I can’t say it out loud.

Lydia became flushed, her mind in disorder. Edgar was always capable of naturally speaking out, and would say it several times regardless. But Lydia absolutely didn’t expect him to want her to say these words. 

Compared with kissing, she now felt more shy when by saying these words. Because Lydia discovered this point, she was endlessly astonished.

Although she tried to speak….

Ah, it’s impossible.

“Well, you know, Edgar, I still haven’t given you an engagement gift, right? I wanted to buy something that can be regarded as commemorative, but I didn’t know what would be good.” 

“Anything else?”

He shrugged his shoulders slightly, then showed a mischievous sort of smile.

Perhaps I shouldn’t have asked, isn’t it even more difficult to choose this time?

“Can you come over tomorrow? I have something I want to show you.”

“I’ll be waiting for you. I love you, my fairy.” 

Not only was she incapable smoothly conveying her feelings, she was also unable to put her feelings into words. When they were alone, their behaviour would merely be childlike. Moreover she couldn’t even think of anything he would want. 

While Lydia sighed, she watched the carriage leave. 

*

Countless bodies lied flat in the wilderness.

Despite him noticing that he was in the same dream again, he was still unable to escape.

The torn battle flag seemed to be the same as the soldiers, who were no longer moving, illustrating a tragic appearance.

The Battle of Culloden was here. The grandson of James II who was exiled from the United Kingdom, Prince Charles Edward, attempted to reclaim the throne and ultimately suffered defeat to the very end.

Nothing was alive. However, there were two birds fluttering in the red sky. They were hooded crows. 

After that, the setting suddenly changed.

Surrounding the baby’s body were either departed spirits or monstrous ghosts, sinister creatures which dwelled in the gloomy darkness.

Losing the war a century ago, people who were identified as rebels were persecuted and cursed the British royal family, and prince’s existence, called the Prince of Calamity, was born among that reason.

In order to replace the prince who was defeated in the war, they depended on the Stuart royal family’s weak bloodline, which should have been severed earlier, wanting to start a war again.

The dark organization abducted Edgar, the Duke’s eldest son, attempting to reincarnate him as the new “Prince”, and snatched away Edgar’s family, original status, as well as everything he had. 

He originally thought that as long as Prince was dead, he would be able to obtain freedom.

Within the darkness, countless spirits and the unseelie court unwittingly surrounded Edgar. Even if he tried to escape, they would follow him no matter where he went.

Although the man who tortured Edgar before was dead, the one called “Prince” with his memories of unknown existence, entered into his mind. 

I am the Blue Knight Earl. The heir of the Earl family, who incessantly struggled in order to bury Prince. 

He waved the sword, in order to drive away the unseelie court. 

The evil creatures simultaneously retreated backward, as they were unable to approach the sword.

This sword possessed fairy powers yet it was unable to kill fairies. The reason was with Edgar and not having the ability to communicate with fairies.

Ah~~ it would be good if I can even use the sword’s true powers... 

Who is it? When the fairies were fleeing simultaneously, he gazed at his surroundings.

It was dusky all over, making Edgar unable to see their face clearly, but he noticed and gazed at the person’s figure holding the sword.

A scarlet gem was decorated on the sword.

In the instant that the figure picked up the sword again, he could see a brilliant radiance from within the gem. It was the Star Ruby. 

The unknown man turned to Edgar, silently raising his red sword. 

The moment the edge of the blade approached his eyes, the setting changed once more.

Even so, he knew he was still in a dream. His body was unable to move, as if he were paralyzed, moreover he closed his eyes, but he was able to grasp the condition of every corner of the room, thus it was surely a dream.

He didn’t know where the sound came from.

(I am your servant, my lord.)

That figure had the appearance of a small young boy, reminiscent of Cupid; his short hair, skin as well as the clothes on his body, all appeared bluish silver. Edgar had already seen a similar existence of his, it’s just only at that time, he had the appearance of an adult.

He dwelled within the sword, that is, in the starlight of the Star Sapphire. After Edgar mumbled this fairy’s name, the boy nodded.

(Because you called for me.) 

“Anyway, if you came to help me, why didn’t you kill those group of guys by tearing apart?”

“Without Bow, it useless? In other words….Although you possess the figure of the sword, you’re only an arrow.”

Having a childish appearance yet speaking pretentious words, Edgar couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

(Let’s hope that is the case, because if it’s like this, even now I can protect you sufficiently.)

And so, Edgar slowly opened his eyes and saw the Merrow’s sword, which should have been hidden in the other room, emitting a faint light.

The unpleasant presence in the dream dissipated, whether or not it was because of this, Edgar regained his calm.

Or, was it something causing a disturbance within his body?

Edgar slightly expected Arrow to be able to prevent “Prince” whose memories dwelled inside him, from awakening. He hoped to not know what would happen if the memories awakened, what he would become afterwards. 

A voice came from outside the door. It was Raven. 

“There was a voice inside the room, so I came to take a look.”

Although Edgar was poking fun at him, he understood that Raven was concerned as he would frequently have nightmares. 

“Yes. ”

Edgar picked up the sword that was beside the bedside table, approaching the flame.

Arrow said, the direction of his fate will be seen depending on what kind of power guides the sword. 

But the more he thought, the more he felt that killing himself was the only way.

Edgar he couldn’t do it no matter what, taking the initiative to separate himself from Lydia. 

Edgar believed that as long as she was by his side, then he would have hope.

“Raven, if Lydia knew what was happening in my body, what would she think?” 

“Then how about you? How would you feel towards this hateful enemy living within your Master’s body?” 

“I will only follow Lord Edgar. ” 

It was obvious as to why there would be that kind of answer, because they had a inseparable soul bond between them. 

Edgar knew that she tried strenuously to display the appearance of a fiancée. Although she was innocent and sweet, if it seemed that Edgar will act too intimately, she will prepare to run away. 

“I’m afraid. Although I encountered various kinds of crises with you, up till now, this is the first time I’ve felt this afraid.” 

The candle’s flame flickered. The blue star-sapphire reflected the burning flame, making him think of the flickering red light of the ruby that he seemed to have seen in his dream.

Chapter end