Hakushaku to Yousei Vol 3 Chapter 3

P. 86

In the letter that was written with that message, of course there was no signature, only a mark of a crescent moon was drawn with red ink on the envelope.

Edgar tossed that to his side and reached out to his teacup.

The ball last night continued on till midnight and he finally went to sleep in the first hours of morning and when he woke up, it was already forenoon, but this was the lifestyle of a noble who would spend day in, day out in evening balls. 

“My lord, what shall we do. Shall I notify the police?”

There was no mistake that the one who alleged that Edgar was an earl imposter and ordered him to fork over the sword was connected to the man who targeted Raven yesterday and called him a ‘dog of Prince.’

“That will be easily done.”

The butler replied “Understood” and didn’t press on about what he was going to do with the mysterious group of unverified origin. Even if he sensed Edgar had an acquaintance with a not-so-peaceful organization in the past, he never questioned him. 

Tomkins was from one of those clans. He displayed unbendable loyalty to the earl family.

He obtained the title of earl, of course, because it was useful. But he had no intention of dirtying this name.

P. 88

He couldn’t be daunted each time at this kind of threat.

“Are you worrying for me?”

Since the family head was absent for hundred of years, the successor’s condition remained unknown, so the earl family name was not eliminated and left remained. However, if something were to happen to Edgar, then it may be decided that the bloodline had ended.

“Everything is well, my lord, there are plenty of husbands who are hated by their wives.”

The butler placed the newspaper, that had all of its wrinkles pressed out flat, in front of Edgar who made a sour smile and left the room. As he left, Raven came into the room. 

“Yes. They are not officially going by that name, but they are a robbery gang that donates their profits. They are quite famous within the lower parts of town and there is rumor that the golden coins that were scattered out onto St. Giles Street and Southwark was their doing, and sure enough there was money thrown into the houses at the East End. On a portion of the coins, a moon was drawn on by red ink.”

“It seems like they don’t go by the Scarlet Moon name when they steal so there is no definite. But there are wealthy families and individuals who claim that the golden coins that were scattered around had been stolen from their place.”

There were some names that sounded familiar to Edgar.

“Yes.”

That may be connected with the attack against Edgar this time.

“There are no incidents that were big enough to be reported in the papers.”

And yet, from the sudden attack the other day and from reading this threatening letter, they seem brimming to kill him. On top of that, they are ordering him to hand over the earl family sword.

Like they didn’t want Edgar, an imposter and the henchman of Prince as they saw him to continue going on under the name of the earl.

Moon.

The promise that the Blue Knight Earl made with the fairy queen.

Now that he thought about it, last night, Marygold was making a commotion about a moon ring or something.

Marygold, last night, I thought I saw small, transparent wings on that little girl’s back…..

Nico, yes, that darn cat talked at him with his paws on his sides like he was giving him a lecture.

I hadn’t done anything to Lydia.

No, didn’t he seem like he understood what people were saying from time to time?

“Not yet.”

“Mr. Nico was drinking tea in her office as usual, so I believe she may be arriving soon.”

“By the way, Raven, I was always wondering about it, but why do you call a cat Mister?”

He returned a question like he was confused.

“Since Lord Edgar would periodically talk to him, I thought he was different.”

“For some reason or other, I have a feeling like a conversation is going on between us. First of all, I can’t think that he could do such a trick of picking up a tea cup and drinking from it…”

P. 92

Ever since he came to know Lydia, her magical and mysterious reality was sinking into him.

Yes, that fairy, he was the fairy that proposed to Lydia.

“One more thing, Lord Edgar, Mister Paul Foreman is here to see you.”

“He says he will wait for how ever many hours. It’s been two hours already.”

“Then, he’ll be able to wait some more.”

She didn’t know what kind of face she should put on to meet Edgar so she decided she was going to stay-put in this room for today. 

P. 93

She was in such a despair that she chugged down three glasses of punch, but after that, she didn’t care about it much.

That’s why, even if Lydia was drunk, it wasn’t so much that she stood out, but her father had apparently token her home before she made a fool of herself.

However, it wasn’t a situation where she could concentrate on work. Marygold, in the form of a little human girl came bursting into her office.

“……What is the matter?”

Oh, yes, she had forgotten about that. Kelpie had stolen it from Marygold and tried to give it to Lydia, but it was mistakenly accepted by Paul.

If the fairy queen decided she wanted him as replacement to the earl, then as long as he had the ring, it would be difficult to stop him from being taken to the land of the fairies. 

“Well, wait, Marygold. You just need the ring to come off, right?”

He just didn’t have to accept it. She didn’t have the strength like Kelpie to force it on him.

She was trying to think up of something, so when there was a knock on the door, she didn’t think and answered “Come in.”

As soon as she saw Edgar’s face, Lydia felt her face turn hotter and quickly faced down. 

P. 95

“….What is it? I’m a little busy right now.”

He swiped the letter from her hands that was panic-stricken and looked down at her from above.

It was rare for him to suddenly get to the main topic without any of his usual tiresomely-long flattery and back-scratching.

She was nervous if he would bring up what happened last night as she didn’t know what kind of reaction she would make.

“Oh, i-is that so. I was just talking with Marygold about him.”

“Eh, by who?”

Ahh, that kelpie, how persistent!

“It isn’t a dream, most likely.”

“Yes, of course. It’s my responsibility for getting him involved.”

After some while, Paul Foreman was led in by Raven, but he looked completely exhausted.

“I’m terribly sorry, Paul. You had saved me yesterday and yet you’re in such a troubled situation.”

It seems like the fairy painter couldn’t believe it so easily that he had come in contact with a fairy. 

Lydia also sat down, but first had him show her the ring. 

“It’s a moonstone.”

“Marygold, are you saying that this moonstone waxes and wanes just like the real moon?”

After she said that, she shook her sunny-yellow wings and corrected herself.

She was in a little human girl’s form and yet she forgot to hide her wings.

“You sure wouldn’t get bored if you looked at it everyday. Paul, in a way, you can see yourself as lucky.”

“You have to be kidding me, that’s impossible.”

“It’s because Kelpie forced it onto his finger. A part of the ring is bent and digging into his finger,” replied Lydia.

P. 98

“Um, Kain is the aquatic horse, kelpie.”

“He-he was a kelpie! The ones that are said to eat humans….?”

“So he’s a man-eating horse.”

“What a wasteful taste. Foie Gras are the best thing there is.”

Paul desperately tried to refocus the topic that was slowly being turned off-course.

“I tried several options but it was impossible. Soap and oil didn’t work.”

“You mustn’t! If there was any damage harmed to Our Majesty’s ring, then, I will never be able to go home.”

“Oh, that would be terrible. Let’s think of something else,” said Edgar.

P. 99

P. 100

“Is there another option?” asked Lydia.

He says to lost weight, but it wasn’t like Paul was fat.

“Fo,…….for a week?”

“I’ll die.”

“It’s all right, one can still live even if they were skin and bone.”

“I will talk it over with kelpie. Although it isn’t full-proof, I think you should carry a Bible and cross just in case,” reassured Lydia.

Just when they thought everything had calmed down, Nico appeared on the windowsill. 

She thought she saw a pair of thin wings behind Nico, then a small girl glided down to land on the windowsill.

“Marygold, I was wondering what was taking you so long, what are you doing? I can’t believe you are not even able to fulfill the duty that was entrusted to you by Our Majesty.”

The fairy that was called Sweetpea was indeed wearing a faint pink dress. She apparently had a higher title than Marygold but both of them looked like the same-aged little girls, so the sight of the both of them talking was a strange one.

Sweetpea fell back like she went dizzy and Marygold rushed to straighten her.

“Why did you have to bring such a troublesome fairy.”

“Why are you always asked for directions?”

He must have been leaning on his elbow as a pillow and crossing his legs, not acting like the average cat and pretentiously acting dignified. 

P. 102

“Oh, well, it can’t be helped. We will just have this man marry Her Highness.”

This was what Lydia was fearing.

“All of us are tired of waiting for Her Majesty’s marriage. She won’t take anymore other than the earl and we went through so much trouble to get our hands on the ‘moon.’ We cannot wait any further. For the sake of our fairy clan’s prosperity, we need her to quickly get married. So, we will take this man back and go with him as the earl.”

But it looked like Sweetpea was serious.

“Lord Earl, please forgive my sudden intrusion. My name is Sweetpea and I am one of the maids of Our Majesty the Queen.”

He looked like he didn’t know exactly what was going on, but he still gave the highest-quality of a smile.

P. 103

“I don’t mind at all.”

“Once again?”

“Oh, I see. By that time, the earl wouldn’t be me, though. More than that, the problem at stake right now, is that he is a painter that I have a favor in. It would be quite troublesome for me if he is gone.”

Lydia was a little surprised at that. Edgar wasn’t a soft-hearted person. Even if he saw the gift of painting in him, she thought that he was the kind of person who would think twice about turning his back on him if that would mean the fairies would go away.

So he must really like his personality.

“No, no trade!”

P. 104

“Then, you have no right to stop us. We will take him.”

“Don’t talk stupid. That ‘moon’ belongs to me. I plan to giving it to Lydia, so don’t act like you’re in charge.”

She suddenly felt so tired as she turned around to see that a black wavy-haired young man was entering the room through the window.

Ahhhh, cried Sweetpea and Marygold and both of them clinged onto to both sides of Paul.

Even as she shivered from fear of Kelpie, she desperately tried to persuade Paul.

Things were getting out of control. Lydia lost her patience and screamed out:

She was breathing with her shoulders as everyone finally calmed down to silence.

Even if she was an inexperienced fairy doctor, there must have been some effect of her intimidating bluster.

With Kelpie, he didn’t fear Lydia one little bit, but if the field fairies were not going to interfere, then he said he wouldn’t mind waiting until the ring got itself off.

Lydia consulted with Edgar about letting Paul stay at the earl residence until the ring would come off.

Edgar agreed readily and just while they were at it, offered Paul the job of painting a painting to hang in the house.

Carrying a sketchbook in one arm, he was about to go off the path in the bushes, but rushed to come back.

The kelpie’s magic growed stronger near the river. It would be best to take precautions. Lydia thought that the hill will do better and followed after him.

As he refrained from his meals in order to remove the ring, he was eager to get started on the job he was offered.

Lydia was worried about him going to an area that had strong fairy magic, and the one who suggested she accompany him was Edgar.

He said it in his usual light, frivolous way of talking but he was awfully quick to let her go.

Now that she thought about it, since the night of the ball, he didn’t flirt or act like he was courting like always.

P. 107

Just remembering how she acted, made Lydia panic-stricken but she managed to calm herself down.

Then he must have finally grew tired of me.

More like if he would remain calmed down like this, she would be able to work harmoniously as the earl family’s fairy doctor.

The maid that accompanied them also conversed with her, but to be able to come to a spot surrounded with greenery and feeling the wind brush against the frill of her bonnet and spending time without doing anything was peaceful and relaxing in itself.

Paul had completed most of his work and spoke up to Lydia who was gazing at the scenery near him.

“What a wonderful way to spend the day.”

“I had lived in the loud and busy city all my life so my dream is to buy a house someplace where the sky is clear and beautiful and live my days drawing wild flowers.”

“Even if I say that, I couldn’t possibly live that kind of luxury unless my work is recognized by society.”

“I hope so.”

“I think the reason the earl is regarding me kindly is because of you. I have a feeling like his eyes caught my fairy painting so that he could make you happy. It seems like he wasn’t that interested in fairy paintings himself.”

“Is that so? Aren’t you his main love?”

With a troubled, sour smile, Paul scratched his head.

What part? She wanted to ask him that, but she thought it over, thinking it was ridiculously stupid. However it appeared to Paul, there was no mistake that Edgar was a skirt-chasing flirt.

That’s right. He didn’t have any choice in regards to women, but with men, he definitely separated how he acted according to whom. He wasn’t just enjoying his time and fooling around in the ton, as he was putting his eyes on who had power in politics and wealth and getting familiar with them.

Every day, there were more and more prominent figures who visited the earl house.

And to increase his number of acquaintances and become famous himself and another measure to protect himself. If something were to happen to him and all of England would make a commotion about it, then it would make his enemies hesitant in making a move on him.

“How would you say it, he is liked by anyone.”

“Maybe when people meet him, he becomes more mysterious the more you talk to him, and yet that increases your interest and you want to know more about him. What kind of person is the earl, really? Lydia, you seem to know the earl more than anyone.”

P. 110

But, even Lydia was fully aware about all the details.

“When I see him, I remember about my past. To the first time I visited the estate of a noble when I was taken by my father who was a painter. It was an enormous palace, and it appeared like it was a world from out of a children’s book. So much that I believed the noble people who lived there were the descendants of the heroes who were sung in ballads. Especially the young son, he had bright, golden-blond hair and I think he was about twelve or thirteen, but he was a boy who was reminiscing Adonis.”

“Did he look alike? ……..To Edgar.”

She was a little hesitant if she should ask or not. But, in the end, Lydia questioned him.

“Oh, it was a family of a duke. He was the young son of the Duke of Silvainford.”

“At that age, it would be normal for him to be attending a public school. But he apparently had a weak health and had a number of tutors as he stayed in the family manor house.”

“My father was hired by the Duke and painting the castle and garden and family members. I was sixteen at the time and I didn’t have any wish to become a painter but I was made to go along with my father as his assistant and prepared his paint and made his canvases…. The young son would come and watch as I did that.”

“Yes, it was just for a few months, though, the young son didn’t have anyone to play with so I must have been the ideal catch. He saw my sorry excuses of a drawing even though I wasn’t interested in becoming an artist and claimed that I had talent. If he were to succeed as duke, he said that he’ll look after me as well. Even though he was a child, since he was surrounded with magnificent and sophisticated pieces of art, I was slightly put in high-spirits. I was young so I easily promised him that I’ll become a painter but I had no talent what-so-ever and went through pain-staking work after that. But thanks to that, I realized that the painting that my father had criticized and I had kept away from was actually what I loved doing the most. He truly was a fair and warm-hearted young boy who really made you realize what good breeding was.”

P. 112

“That’s why, when I heard that he and the duke family members had all died, I was shocked.”

Edgar had said that he was a man who was supposed to be dead. That he was robed of everything, his parents, his house and his name. 

“I heard it was a fire. It was hard for me to imagine that the people, and that beautiful castle, the garden, all no longer exist. I was hoping that I could show my art to the young son more than anyone else once I became a recognized painter.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I brought up such a strange thing to say.”

“Oh, but the only part that the son and the earl resembled each other, was their hair and eye colors.”

I wonder if his two-faced personality was severe from when he was young.

He gave Lydia a puzzled look. It was a strange question to ask when he said the boy was dead.

“I would be very happy if he did remember.”

That’s why he was offering Paul a chance to get his name out.

He protected Paul from the fairies and is allowing Lydia to put aside her work for the earl family and accompanying him. 

He would become cruel only for the sake of his comrades who supported each other and survived through the most desperate and dangerous situations.

“Lydia, I’m thrilled to be gazed by you this much, but could you at least not make a frown while you do it.”

“Eh, ah, oh, I was just thinking….”

P. 114

Lydia had been taking lunch with Edgar who was unusually at his own home near noon-time.

Even when they offered him to join them for meals, he would reply yes but never show up.

“Did you used to have bad health?”

“Uh-hm,” replied Edgar without a hesitation.

“That’s why there is no one who knows you from then in the ton.”

That one was Paul. He must have realized that Paul had said something to her that made Lydia suddenly bring this up.

P. 115

“My tutors and the upper staff were closely acquainted with my family, so they are all dead. The servants that survived must not even know my face.”

“Even if there was people who remembered that boy, they wouldn’t think that I was him. He has a grave. There’s a body in it. I don’t know who it is. Well, it isn’t like I opened up the coffin and made sure, but there is an unidentifiable gendered, burnt to a black crisp body of a child.”

She immediately lost her appetite and placed her knife and fork down but Lydia thought for some reason that she didn’t want to lose.

He brought up a glass to his eyes to gaze up at the reflection of himself in it.

He suddenly had his family murdered and taken away to a foreign country. A man named Prince got possession of Edgar for some unknown reason and Lydia had no idea of how he was treated, but he was a slave there, who had no freedom and robed of his will. 

Even after they escaped, they had to hide in the undergrounds of society to evade the pursuits of their enemies and fought and maneuvered through battles in order to steady their grounds….in a battleground that was right next to death.

Since there was no one who helped him, he changed himself in order to survive and fights to protect Raven.

“…..You really are….”

Then, he gave her a soft smile.

He may have changed, but there must be parts of him that remained the same.

P. 117

That’s why she couldn’t think of Edgar as just a criminal and wanted to help him win back his peaceful life.

“What are humans thinking to burn their meat.”

“Raw is so much better.”

“To see you. How is it? Did the ring come off of his finger?”

Kelpie passed a glance over to Edgar who said that.

“If you want to be by her side that much, then I can hire you as well. You can at least pull a carriage, can’t you?”

P. 118

“I am not a horse. I’m the great and noble Waterhorse!”

He must not know of the ferocity of kelpies, as the seductive fairy’s eyes corrupted people’s hearts and desires.

“What is the matter, Earl, if you’re scared, shouldn’t you call that servant of yours?”

“If it’s Raven, he isn’t here.”

“Hmm, then if I wanted to snap that neck of yours, there is no one here to stop me.”

Lydia held out the charm that warded off evil in front of Kelpie. It was a rolled-up ball of papers ripped out of the Bible.

And yet, he must not being seriously considering to attack him, as he stepped back.

“It’s tremblingly thrilling to have Lydia drive off men who come after her for my sake.”

“Lydia, where is the good in this kind of weakling with a big mouth? However you think about it, I’m the better choice.”

“I told you I am not a horse! Oi, Lydia, make it clear. Me or him, which do you choose.”

“Ohhh, both of you are like that!”

“Wha-what are you saying.”

“That was, the way things went.”

Since it was an easy thing to do, if he asked her to do it again, there wasn’t any particular reason to refuse.

P. 120

“Mister Kain, that’s why I am not the one you should be worried about.”

Stole? More like you forced it on him.

“If you have feelings for him, then I will be a man and withdraw. At least I don’t want to be hated.”

If she strongly said he was wrong, then it would seem like she was desperately trying to clear up Edgar’s misunderstanding between her and Paul.

That’s right. Paul was a good man, and there is no guarantee that I wouldn’t grow feelings for him.

It felt a little unsatisfying to not be able to hear Edgar’s flirting attacks towards her…

She panicked and come up with an excuse, but Lydia came to realize something.

He had no serious intention of fighting over Lydia, so there should be no point to displease Paul.

Well, that figures.

“Oh, great, so it isn’t like you are serious about Lydia.”

As he watched Kelpie grab a hand-full of bread, Edgar slid one of his plates that he hadn’t touched to his direction.

Even as he said it tasted bad, the greedy kelpie swallowed the elegantly set meal in one gulp.

“Wh-what is this…. What did you give me!”

Liver. …….Organs. What a kelpie never eats.

P. 122

He had no idea what would happen if you seriously anger a kelpie. Even if this place was the earl estate grounds where magic was difficult to conduct, if a savage waterhorse were to go on the loose….

On the back of the kelpie, who was trembling from rage, his mane and tail grew out. His form of a horse was starting to seep out.

“You know, it’s dangerous to put something in your mouth that was offered by someone you can’t trust.”

Kelpie leaped off the terrace like a gust of wind.

Lydia felt relieved from the bottom of her heart, but at the same time, she wanted to plant her head in her hands.

“He was the one who wasn’t taking me seriously.”

He wasn’t oblivious to danger, he just wasn’t scared.

“Pardon me, my lord.”

“Paul, I’m afraid your meal was just eaten by Mister Kain. I’ll have a new dish prepared for you at once.”

“What is it?”

“May I take a look at the sword of Lord Blue Knight?”

The reason Edgar, who was unrelated to the Ashenbert family, was accepted as the Earl of Ibrazel was because he obtained the sword.

“In regards to the painting you ordered, I wanted to create a fairy painting based on the story of Lord Blue Knight. And if so, then I thought I should paint the legendary sword in it as well.”

P. 124

“Oh, uh, I wouldn’t do anything like touching or dirtying it. Just seeing it would be enough. As long as I can burn the image of it in my head. I was thinking that if it was just a normal fairy painting, then it wouldn’t be fit to hang in this great house, and so I was mulling it over in my mind, and I just came up with this idea.”

But he answered like nothing was wrong.

Paul relaxed the muscles around his lips like he was released from his build-up tension and lowered his head, but for some reason, Edgar didn’t make a smile at all.

Chapter end