Volume 6 - CH 1

P. 8

***

“Lord Edgar, Miss Carlton has arrived.”

“Is it that time of day already?”

P. 13

Edgar returned home at daybreak and had just woken up now and took a bath.

The spirits he had been drinking since midnight had finally gone out of him and his head was starting to clear up.

He tried to remember what his plans were for today.

“Raven, how was Lydia’s mood?”

“Normal, sir” replied Raven as he tied Edgar’s necktie who was getting dressed.

This dark-skinned young man was the Ashenbert’s valet and a loyal servant of Edgar ever since they were in America, and although he was asked everyday about Lydia’s temper when she came to work in the morning but he didn’t make an annoyed expression.

First of all, he had never shown a displeased face to Edgar, as he was the type to silently obey any kind of absurd command that he was ordered.

“Only she asked if you were late coming home last night.”

“Why did that conversation come up?”

“Because she had just passed by me when I was carrying your change of clothes.”

Edgar slightly knitted his brows.

If he woke up late, then it could mean he came back home late.

It was almost like she suspected he had gone out to play for the night.

“I guess it could mean she wanted to see me as soon as possible.”

P. 14

He said that in order to deny the bad feeling in him.

“I have a feeling that might not be so,” remarked Raven with no ill-will.

Edgar knew Raven wasn’t able to understand the delicate works of the human heart that had the characteristic of running from the bad and painful, but regardless if he was childish, Edgar felt a little offended and responded with retaliation.

“It is so. Lately, it has been wonderful with Lydia. When I invite her out, she doesn’t show dislike anymore, and even when I hold her hand, she doesn’t get angry, and she even looks like she’s enjoying herself when she’s with me, so I think we’ve become like lovers a little more.”

“That is quite different from your previous lovers.”

Raven pointed out that part sharply, however, Edgar let his comment pass.

“Just last Sunday, the two of us went to church together. I went to a church. I patiently listened to the service and spent tea time at her house after that. I’m doing nicely with her father, and well, I still haven’t brought up the topic of our engagement, but I think I have succeeded in showing my sincerity. Isn’t that quite a pure and proper courting? If things keep going like this, I’m sure that Lydia would come to accept our marriage.”

“Uh-huh.”

Raven made a half-hearted reply, as he looked like he didn’t think it would be that easy.

But then, Edgar suddenly realized that Raven would answer anything close to the truth that Lydia might ask him.

P. 15

Edgar thought a reminder would be a good idea and turned to face his valet.

“Raven, it just happens that last night I was playing seven bridges at Slade’s club until daybreak…”

“Don’t you think it shouldn’t be Raven who you should be making excuses to?”

P. 34

With a dubious expression, Edgar looked over to the elder gentleman.

“What has happened about the marriage between you and my granddaughter?”asked the man.

Blood boiled in Lydia’s head again.

“Edgar! Y-you of all people…”

“Wait just a moment; I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Exactly how many have you proposed to?” grumbled Lydia.

“You’re mistaken. Besides, may I ask who you are exactly,” asked Edgar after he turned to the man.

When the elder gentleman introduced himself, Edgar straightened himself like he was a little surprised.

“His Excellency the Grand Duke of Cremona? Weren’t you in exile in the Netherlands?”

The Principality of Cremona was a country name that even Lydia had heard of when she studied history, but she could only remember that it was a small country in the south of Europe.

If he was in exile then that meant there could have been a revolution in his country or something. Or perhaps, they could have lost in a war. Recently, there was said to be some noticeable political movements in the European countries, and she has heard that there are quite some number of nobles who fled to England from the continent.

“You are well informed. Did you hear that from my grandchild?”

“I don’t know your grandchild. When you’re in society, your name will eventually come up.”

P. 35

“Young Earl, I don’t believe that the London society would still be talking about Cremona that disappeared seventeen years ago. I have been living quietly in the Netherlands till now. What did you do with Charlotte? After you sent me that ridiculous letter claiming that you’ll be marrying her, I didn’t hear anything from you. And after I came all the way here to England, you’re escorting a different lady as your fiancée.”

The elderly man’s voice was calm, but his tone of voice didn’t hide his anger towards Edgar.

“Letter? Are you saying that it was a letter from me?”

“When we were able to flee with just our lives, Charlotte was only three years old. She should have headed to America with my daughter and her husband, but their ship went shipwreck and I had thought everyone had died. However, it had said in the letter that only Charlotte had survived, and you were going to take her back as your bride to your country.”

Edgar suddenly made an intensely stern face. 

Did he have something that came to mind?

“In other words, you didn’t know that she was alive until you read that letter….?”

“I would have no way of knowing.”

Edgar thought for a moment and then spoke again.

“Then, why did you believe just by reading a letter that your granddaughter would be alive?”

“There was stamp pressed on it with a crest ring that only my grandchild should have had. What was the meaning behind sending along a wooden doll that was wearing a wedding gown?”

P. 36

It’s a changeling, whispered Lydia.

“Changeling?”

The Grand Duke looked over towards Lydia.

“Uh, it is a fairytale well-known in Britain. A fairy would steal a human baby; in exchange they would leave a wooden doll. Even in cases when they take adults, there are times when they would leave behind similar replacements, so I think it’s the same case with your granddaughter…..”

Because when it was fairy magic, leaving behind a replacement in the human realm enabled the fairies to keep their human in the fairy realm.

Suddenly having fairies come up in the conversation only made the Grand Duke make a puzzled face.

“The work of a fairy, you say. This must be one of your jokes as the Blue Knight Earl. So you’ve stolen my granddaughter and made it appear like she was taken to the fairy world. When I investigated this, there truly was a young girl named Charlotte in America, and evidence she was kidnapped by somebody. Lord Ashenbert, your family apparently is described by the London society as one with ties with fairies. It had taken me time to uncover that the name of Blue Knight Earl in the letter was a noble Lord Ashenbert in England, but do you it is rude of you to not go by your real name?”