Volume 3 - CH 3

P. 86

P. 100

Edgar was quick to take her side.

“Is there another option?” asked Lydia.

“Wouldn’t it easily slip off if his finger got thinner? We just have to have Paul lose weight.”

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

“I’d say it would come off if he didn’t eat for a week, don’t you think?”

“Fo,…….for a week?”

“If it doesn’t come off, then another week.”

“I’ll die.”

Paul was on the verge of tears.

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

Since Edgar said he wasn’t saying a joke but an actual fact, Paul slumped his shoulders like he was a prisoner who was given his death sentence.

“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.

“Thank you, Lydia……” said Paul.

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

“Oi, Lydia, we have another visitor.”

P. 101

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

“Lady Sweetpea!” cried Marygold and flew out to her.

“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.”

“I-I’m terribly sorry, but, actually…..”

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.

“What?” Her Highness’ ring went into the hands of another man other than the earl?”

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

Lydia secretly glared at Nico.

*

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

The two little girls promised to wait patiently until the ring came off.

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.

The field fairies were fine since they were good-natured, but as with the kelpie, there was no assurance that he wouldn’t do something rotten to Edgar even as he waited.

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

The earl house which had the merrow’s sword was in one way the territory of the merrows. It was a ground where an aquatic horse couldn’t do as he pleased.

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

“Paul, you shouldn’t go that way. It would be a bad idea to go near the river.”

P. 106

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

“Then, let’s go on that hill.”

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.

The reason Paul came out to the outskirts of London to sketch was to work on sketching a drawing of the painting he was asked by Edgar.

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

And the reason that Lydia came along with him on his sketch expedition was, unlike in the city, the wild fields was much more closer to the fairy’s domain.

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

[I’m jealous that he gets to be protected by you]

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

On the night of the ball, he was persistently making a fuss about her getting too friendly with Paul, but for him to say she should go along with him, was surprising and unexpected for Lydia.

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

Oh, did he perhaps, notice that I was crying?

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

If he had realized, there was no way he wouldn’t use that as a topic to tease her with.

Then he must have finally grew tired of me.

Edgar was going to parties here and there as usual, and if he was able to go about to all the ladies to court them as he pleased, then he wouldn’t have any time to be wasting on Lydia.

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

Once they decided on a spot on the hill, Paul immediately got to work concentrating on his sketching. Lydia spent her time taking a walk around the area and taking a peek at his sketches once in a while.

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.

“Are you bored at all?”

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

“Not at all. Not too long ago, I was living in the countryside, so there were always times when I was watching the clouds go by under a tree the whole day.”

P. 108

“What a wonderful way to spend the day.”

Being told like that, Lydia felt all warm inside and smiled.

“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.”

He leaned his head in a somewhat embarrassed manner.

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

“I’m sure you will be recognized. Edgar seems like he will also help you.”

“I hope so.”

After mulling it over, he said once again.

“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.”

“Impossible, Edgar doesn’t see me as that special a person.”

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

“Oh, Paul, you can tell by observing him for five minutes how much of a flirt he is, can’t you?”

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

“Well, yes, I guess…., but I just have a feeling, like he saw you differently.”

P. 109

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.