Volume 13 - CH 2

Lydia presently knew nothing; she only heard that Edgar’s old enemy whom he fought for a long time --- Prince, had already died. 

But she felt that Edgar hadn’t felt settled since the war ended.

The organization fighting together with Edgar until now, “Scarlet Moon”, was also the same.

The fairy painter Paul, Edgar’s friend, who was also a member of the organization, spoke to Lydia, who was visiting the Earl’s mansion.

“The Earl is still requesting that Scarlet Moon scout out Prince’s surviving subordinates.” 

When Lydia was waiting for Edgar in the residence’s living room, she met Paul, who had just come. Both people hadn’t seen each other in quite a while. 

She asked Paul, who was just about to leave, to stay. He was still the same, and frankly acted as Lydia’s companion, as someone to talk to. 

“In other words, although the Prince’s organization lost their important leader, they retained their strength as before?”

“Yes. They seemed to have not lost any unifying force due to the Prince’s death. ” 

“Ulysses is also still alive, right.” 

Ulysses is Prince's trusted aide, and is a person who directly conflicted with Edgar every time. 

“Yes, although his location isn’t clearly determined, he seems to have gone into hiding with the organization….. After all, he controls the fairies. Raven seemed to see two hooded crows often, I heard that the fairies that had set a contract with Prince were of that shape...

Those were the reincarnations of the war goddesses. Although the goddesses were originally a trinity, the Prince only obtained two. Currently there was no need to be afraid, but perhaps they were monitoring the activities of Edgar’s faction.

“So, Edgar’s still taking precautions?”

If it’s concerning fairy matters, then he could have discussed this with me. Lydia thought this and knitted her brows. Paul saw this and quickly said cheerfully: 

“But you don’t need to be so worried. Probably… well you see, I think it’s because right now the Earl has to prepare for the wedding, an important event, so he will be cautious in all aspects as he doesn’t want to disturb you.” 

Paul probably believed that he mustn't say any words that would make Lydia upset while this important period of marriage preparations was in progress.

“Ah~~ yes, Miss Lydia, I sketched several new paintings to congratulate the both of you on your marriage, and now I’ll be in the process of confirming the room’s dimensions. It seems that the paintings will also be decorated in your room, so I will definitely complete a fine work of art.” 

Lydia clearly knew Paul was being sensitive towards her, so she replied with a smile.  

“Oh my, I really look forward to it.” 

Recently, regardless of who she came across, her surroundings were all brimming with a congratulatory atmosphere. Regarding this, it was only natural that Lydia felt very grateful, but compared to her mind filled with thoughts of getting married, she was concerned about many other matters even more.

Although she had planned not to interfere with matters relating to Prince until Edgar confessed, completely knowing nothing made her feel uneasy. 

Moreover, she was also worried about the two people who appeared at her home yesterday, and whether or not it would cast a shadow on her and Edgar’s marriage.

Despite making a firm resolution to not have any sort of relations with them, something was happening in the fairy world. This also made her extremely worried, and she felt that she seemed unable to not get involved.

Was it necessary to ask Edgar to discuss more on these sorts of things with her?

Even if she intended to understand Edgar, there were still many matters she did not know about between them. 

“Mr. Paul, do you have someone that you like?”

This abrupt question made Paul open his eyes wide. 

“Ah, no, um, I’m very unfamiliar those sorts of things.”

“Then, I ask that you imagine your ideal woman.”

Because Lydia earnestly asked, he was helplessly forced to close his eyes. Painfully wrinkling his brows, he was probably trying hard to imagine. 

“Can I ask you to imagine a scene of that woman giving you a present?”

“...Yes.”

“After opening it, what’s inside?”

“Umm... a hedgehog or something…”

“What?”

“Ah, um, uh... I only carelessly thought this up… Ahh I don’t know why I said that, I’m sorry.”

Paul went into an awful panic, as it looked as if he surprised himself.

“B-but you know, Miss Lydia, is this not an unexpected delight? I would think that sending me a gift that would make me laugh, seeing my startled appearance and a laughing woman also isn’t bad.”

“Yes…. I guess that it really isn’t bad.”

If our hearts were connected and we understood each other's feelings, will I be able to come up with a wonderful gift? Perhaps, I don’t have to think too strictly.

Lydia’s felt somewhat relaxed, and exchanged a smile with Paul.

“You seem quite happy.” 

Lydia, wearing a frank smile, turned towards Edgar, who suddenly appeared in the living room. After he saw Lydia, he narrowed his eyes as if he saw something radiant.

“I was just asking Mr. Paul what his ideal woman was like. ” 

“Ohh? He’ll dodge this kind of question every time, did you get anything out?”

“I heard more interesting things.”

Lydia took Edgar’s extended hand her and got up, and Paul stood up immediately afterwards.

“Earl, excuse me, I must leave first.”

“Yes, I’m counting on you to paint beautiful works of art.”

After seeing Paul off, Edgar left the living room together with Lydia. 

“Because you will be here in the future, I had the room slightly remodeled, today I wanted to let you have a look.”

Lydia nodded, but she couldn’t help but feel that it was odd, because Edgar walked towards a corridor that was different from his usual direction. 

“Um, my study is over here.”

He halted and stood still, gazing at Lydia with a perplexed expression.

“....I’m not talking about your study, it’s the place where you’ll live in the future. Up until now, I was alone, so the biggest bedchambers suite in the mansion was not used, but I’m going to decorate that place into our private room afterwards.”

“Eh, i-is that so.”

Come to think of it, it would be obvious that she was going to live in this mansion after marriage. Yet she practically hadn’t thought about and considered this. Lydia couldn’t help but feel astonished and slight self-loathing.

Edgar continued walking as if he already pulled himself together. 

After ascending the private staircase at the end of the corridor, Lydia arrived at an area where she had never set foot in before. 

Edgar lead her into a dressing room which had just been finished decorating. 

This tone was a light blue, a very well decorated elegant room.  The wallpaper had a clear design and the identical-colored sofa gave the same kind of invigorating impression.

Although the room’s colors were bright, perhaps it was due to the effectiveness of the detail in the wooden accent texture of the decorations and furnishings that could make people feel calm.

Looking up, the ceiling’s relief paintings were just as magnificent, Lydia couldn’t help but gasp.

“Do you like it?” 

“Yes....” 

Lydia looked utterly entranced, so much to the point that she was unable to speak a line of her thoughts. Edgar held her shoulders, dropping a kiss on her forehead.

“Whether it’s the curtains, tablecloths and so on, as long as you ask, don’t hesitate to speak to me. After all, this is your room.”

“My room? In every case, thinking of luxury makes me feel that it isn’t real.” 

Edgar shrugged his shoulders slightly. 

“I want you to soon feel that you are actually getting married.”

“I have.”

“However, Lydia, you haven’t asked me anything. For example, speaking of the room’s decorations, don’t tell me that after you become this house’s Countess, that you plan to sleep in the study? Also, the church formalities, what to do on our honeymoon and so on, you don’t care?”

Indeed, Lydia had not thought of any matter that Edgar spoke of. However, hasn’t Edgar also not briefly mentioned of this? She currently just found out that the room was being remodelled.  

Moreover, she was also actively trying hard in moving towards the path of marriage.  

The dowry and dress had already been chosen. As she used the status as Edgar’s fiancée to participate in aristocratic social gatherings, she also would find time to be taught etiquette by the Duchess.

What truly needs to be said was that Edgar prepared everything earlier, and Lydia merely conducted herself according to his wishes. 

“I did ask for something didn’t I? Yesterday, I asked if there was anything you wanted.” 

“...In other words, you’re still in the stage of worrying about the engagement gift?” 

Edgar, as if he was shocked sat down heavily on a nearby chair. 

“Therefore, I noticed that we need to discuss this more.”

“I see. Perhaps it really is necessary. Then, let’s talk. I think it’s about time we establish a marriage date.”

“Although that is also very important, I’m more concerned about the matter with Prince. ” 

Edgar frowned a little. Lydia sat by the window side and gazed outside. 

“I heard that the goddess’ reincarnation of a hooded crow may have been watching you closely, even I didn’t know about this matter.”

“If your mind is full of fairy matters, surely you will ignore the marriage matters to worry over them instead, right?” 

“Was this why you didn’t say anything to me?”

Lydia couldn’t help but feel surprised, she turned to Edgar and said:

“If something happened to you, wouldn’t marriage be the last thing on our minds?”

“They absolutely can’t do anything, but merely loiter around, nothing more.”

“Surely you don’t know that!” 

“In any case, you don’t need to think about so unnecessary things.”

“Unnecessary things? I am clearly a fairy doctor, yet you want me to just think about the marriage?”

“Lydia, if possible, I want you to do according to what I say at this current time.” 

Edgar’s words seemed to dissuade her from acting willfully and this somehow made Lydia feel uneasy. 

So far, Edgar greatly respected Lydia as a fairy doctor. Moreover, he clearly didn’t understand fairy matters, so if there was anything fairy related, he would discuss it with Lydia. 

But why did he speak with that tone of voice?

“Edgar, you’re still hiding something from me, aren’t you?” 

Ever since after the Prince died, Lydia felt that he somewhat seemed preoccupied. She told herself to wait until the day that Edgar takes the initiate to talk to her about it. However, the reason why he even hid the appearance of the hooded crow from her, was it related to the matter of him not speaking out?

“I’m not hiding anything from you.”