Volume 6 - CH 4

P. 116

P. 128

Raven approached her and looked out the window, and with his usual emotionless tone, said ‘Yes, you are right.’

But still, he didn’t take his eyes off from the scenery outside so he must have sensed something.

“Uh, you don’t seem to be break out and enjoy yourself. Do you not like alcohol?”

By talking to Raven,  Lydia tried to push out the feelings in her that she wasn’t able to understand.

“No matter how much I drink, I cannot get drunk. That’s why I don’t particularly have the desire to drink.”

“I see. ….Oh, yes, if I think about it, there really isn’t anybody who wants to drink tea so much they can drown.”

When Lydia made a smile, he stared at her like he was always looking at something unusual. At first, she didn’t have any particular business and just smiled at him, and he would look at her like this.

As he was someone who grew up treated as a tool to kill people, it must have appeared strange and peculiar for Lydia to smile at him or talk to him like she would act to a normal person.

Before, she didn’t know what he was thinking and became tense and nervous just by being near Raven, but lately, Lydia was put at ease at his serious personality.

Unlike Edgar who was a liar and who was hard to understand what his true intentions were, even if she couldn’t read his expression, it was because he was honest, actually much too honest.

P. 129

“Now that I remember, Raven, you should also know about Betty, right. What sort of girl was she?”

Raven snapped his eyes away from her like he jumped in reaction and only said ‘I do not know’ and tried to leave the room.

His guard has gotten tougher.

If it was before, he would have replied, as there was no mistake that he was strictly taught by Edgar not to reveal anything about his women.

Lydia grabbed onto his coat to stop him. 

“Wait listen, it isn’t anything like that. In order for him to ask about her to the fairies, I don’t know any of her characteristics at all.”

“I think he really doesn’t know. The only female characteristic he could have remembered was that she was wearing a skirt. …..Was what I heard from Edgar before.”

It was Lota.

As Raven silently bowed to the female captain of the pirates, it seemed like he was not pleased about that assessment and so opened his mouth to correct her.

“No, when it comes to Lord Edgar’s lovers, it wasn’t that I was unable to remember them, it was just the women kept changing so fast I hardly was given any time to remember each one.”

Lota laughed. Raven didn’t understand why it made her laugh, and as she was slapping his shoulder he looked dubious.

P. 130

"You haven’t changed. More importantly, your master was calling for you downstairs.”

Hearing that, in exchange with Raven who rushed to leave, Lota walked over to the window sill where Lydia was. 

“Sorry for the men making such a commotion.”

“Oh, no, I don’t mind it being lively.”

“You know, I had been thinking that you didn’t know anything about Edgar as you were with him, but I see that’s wrong. You know what happened to him in the past. No wonder you didn’t act so surprised when you came across pirates.”

I did feel surprised, thought Lydia.

But, when she was by Edgar’s side, she learned that things one would think couldn’t possibly happen do in fact happen.”

“In regards to Edgar, it isn’t like I know all that much about him.”

“But, you’re engaged to him.”

“It isn’t a real engagement. There happens to be some circumstances, and besides, I don’t have any intention of marrying him.”

Hmmm, replied Lota, with a look like she was long ago realized that.

“I was having the feeling like the two of you didn’t have the air of engagement with you. Regardless with him, you seemed to be keeping more distance.”

“He’s like that with any kind of woman.”

P. 131

Making a short chuckle, Lota stared over at Lydia.

“With me, I had been watching how Betty fell in love with him and was hurt, so I know it’s none of my business, but I was a little concerned about you.”

Lydia wondered if she meant that if Lydia were to fall in love with Edgar, then she would end up being hurt.

“Betty was hurt?”

"She wasn’t the type of girl to be wounded by one or two broken loves, but with him, it seemed like she was hurt in various meanings. Not long after they jilted, she suddenly said that she was going to leave America and go to where the Grand Duke was. The three of us grew up together and it didn’t matter what our background was, but it was just when we had a talk that we weren’t going to separate from each other.”

“……Why did they jilt? Edgar doesn’t seem like the type to end it from his part, , so it was his cheating that was the reason after all?”

*

In the grassy weeds and thickets where the clan of dobies lived, Nico sipped the thick mushroom alcohol as he was taking part in their banquet. 

(So then, Mister Nico, did the fairy doctor come in regards to the changeling.)

P. 140

(Although I think it’s useless. Even if it was a fairy doctor, there is nothing the doctor could do against a Wyrm that was revived by the Blue Knight Earl.)

“That Blue Knight Earl, what kind of man is he?”

Nico licked off the trickle that was clinging on to his whisker. 

(I don’t know.)

(I was able to get a quick glance. When he was brought the Wyrm’s bride.)

“Bride?”

(That’s right. The Blue Knight Earl not only awoken the Wyrm but also gave it a bride.)

“That would be a human, young girl wasn’t it.”

(Of course. Dragons from the old days prefer young women, and like it more if they are a noble princess.)

So the granddaughter of the Grand Duke of Cremona who was said to disappear wasn’t made into the bride of the fake Blue Knight Earl but was made to be the bride of the Wyrm. 

Well, that sure is misfortunate, thought Nico. But if it was a girl who that Earl lost interest in, then there’s the possibility that the Wyrm, who wouldn’t cheat at all, must appear like a better male to her eyes…….or possibly not. 

“So, what kind of man was the Blue Knight Earl?”

(He was wearing black clothes.)

“……That’s all you know.”

P. 141

(Like I said, I only got one quick glance. But, if it was the Wyrm’s bride, then she might know.)

“But the bride is near the Wyrm, isn’t she. How am I supposed to ask her.”

(She comes out of its caves sometimes. Since she wants to eat human food. She seemed like such a poor little thing, so we sometimes bring her food sometimes.)

“So, that would be the time when we could meet her.”

(Yes, that’s right, we’ll be taking food to her just around daybreak. Since it’s the day of the spring tide. It’s when the Wyrm’s power weakens. And so, the princess is able to get near the border of the cave.)

When Nico heard that, he rushed to stand up.

“Daydreak. Wait. I’ll bring the fairy doctor.”

Lydia was going to stay awake and wait, but as she passed the time on the sofa she had apparently fallen asleep.

It was still dark, but when the tip of a furry tail swatted the tip of her nose, she sneezed and rubbed her eyes.

“…..Nico? Oh, no, was I asleep?”

“More importantly, Lydia, I found out the location of the princess!”

“Princess……?”

P. 142

“Betty, was what I think her name was? The princess who was said to be kidnapped by the Blue Knight Earl. It seems like she was made into the bride of the Wyrm.”

Lydia stood up like a spring.

"Is-is that true?”

“It seems like once a month, there’s a day when she comes out of the Wyrm’s cave. If we don’t hurry, we’re not going to make it.”

“All right, I’ll go immediately. Ohh, but, hold on a moment, I need to go to my room and get my coat.”

Morning outside could get quite frosty. Even if Lydia was in a room with a hearth, it was quite chilly for her as she was sleeping.

“I’ll be waiting in the hall.”

She rushed up the stairs and ran into her bed chamber. As Lydia swung open the closet, she thought that the dress she was in would be hard to move around.

It was a dress to make her appear when one was on an elegant vacation trip, but Edgar’s true character was revealed so quickly, and when she thought about it hard, there was no necessity to be finely dressed.

A place like the Wyrm’s cave was sure to make any dress become dirty in a matter of time. 

When Lydia decided to change out of her current dress, she pulled out her normal wear from her trunk and pulled off the fluttering, soft dress. 

Once she got off the crinoline, she stepped into a skirt over her one petticoat.

P. 143

When she tried to button the top of the dress, there was a sound by the window. 

“Nico, would you wait just a few more….”

She thought that Nico was urging her faster. However, at the end of Lydia’s view when she turned around, she saw that kelpie grinning back at her.

“Hey, Lydia. You disappeared suddenly so I was looking for you.”

“Wait, Kelpie! Don’t come in without asking, I’m changing!”

“It’s not like I’m interfering you getting changed.”

“Don’t you have any common sense?”

“Common sense?”

He was a horse, on top of that a fairy, so there was no way he would.

Instead of explaining, Lydia decided it was best for her to get quickly changed. Since to Kelpie, there wasn’t any difference in undergarments and clothing. 

“I can sense the smell of smoke. Something’s burning somewhere,” murmured Kelpie.

At Kelpie’s words, Lydia rushed over to the window as she buttoned up her dress. 

But it was too dark and she couldn’t see a thing.

At that same time, she heard the blast of gunfire.

P. 144

Ohh, no. I wonder if Edgar and everybody are all right.

But, there wasn’t any time to wait for their return.

I need to let someone know that I’m going to go search for Betty.

Lydia attempted to leave the room.

“Hey, is going outside as you’re changing a part of human’s common sense?”

Ohh, geesh. At times like this, being a woman is so bothersome. Not being allowed to go outside dressed improperly.

On top of that, women’s clothing tended to come with a number of buttons more than one could bear.

As Lydia was in a hurry, she called for Kelpie. 

“Would you help button up my back.”

“Huhh?”

Lydia was in a rush in buttoning her sleeve.

“Hurry, please give me a hand.”

In a somewhat tiresome manner, Kelpie came up to her.

“What is this, what am I suppose to do?”

“Put them through the holes.

“That’s just too  tiresome….”

P. 145