Volume 11 - CH 6

“Lord Edgar, the preparations are complete.” 

Raven whispered, as he entered the room and carefully closed the door.  

Lydia drifted off to sleep next door. 

Although she was out of earshot, Raven still made sure, probably because Edgar did not want Lydia to hear.

For Lydia’s matters to be considered, hasn’t Raven grown considerably? 

Little by little, he was obtaining human-like emotions and adapting to his peaceful life. 

This was why Edgar felt guilty when ordering him to assist in the preparation of such cruel matters. 

However, Edgar had not yet been liberated from his battle of life and death, and Raven was his soldier. He understood that Raven intended follow him no matter where he went. 

Edgar believed in his bond with Raven, for that his orders were absolute as his master. Edgar spoke.

“Has Annie shown fear?” 

She is not very scared. Rather, she appeared firm and resolute, and continued to pretend that she cannot speak.” 

“In that case, let me threaten her a little.” 

Surely, this was a method that Lydia hated. But to Edgar, only such method was possible.  

In order to protect his comrades and defeat his enemies, the most reliable method should be selected. So far, he had always done this and will always do this in future. 

Even if they were only just a group of thieves, he planned to eliminate them completely. 

“In addition to that, Lord Edgar, this--” 

Raven held up to show Edgar red hair. It seemed to belong to Annie.  

“Did you strip it off from the scalp of her head?” 

“....It’s a wig.” 

As one would expect, it seemed that he still cannot comprehend jokes. 

“So that would mean Annie is...” 

“Black haired.” 

Finally, all matters came to light. Annie was the one who intruded into Madame Oughtred’s room. Lucinda hid the jewelry box in order to put the blame on Lydia again.

“Raven, you did well noticing it. This determines the plan.” 

Raven paused awaiting Edgar’s orders on what was planned. 

But Edgar suddenly murmured something else. 

“Raven, has Lydia grown to love me more than I expected?” 

Raven seemed tired of responding as he silently looked at Edgar.  Although he was partly talking to himself, it seemed that in order to find excuses, Edgar continued.  

“Lydia is doing her best for me right now by staying here. She did not give up and despite going through so much hardship, she is still trying to become the fiancée I’ve been hoping for.”

Of course as a fairy doctor, she was perhaps very worried about Madame Oughtred who had been kidnapped by fairies, but she definitely continued to be a maid for Edgar.  

Thinking of himself as someone who gradually became precious to Lydia, he shouldn’t be conceited.  

Lydia said that she was unable to be accustomed to being his fiancée and had always thought that Edgar wanted her be more pure. It seems that Edgar was too impatient. Understanding these passionate emotions still needed more time but such frustration made one feel attracted to it. 

“The theories of love are really unreliable. Who said that the one who loves more, loses? Lydia would certainly love me as much as I love her.”

As long as it was to protect Lydia, anything will be done. Despite his arrogant desires descending onto himself, who received the curse, only this feeling could dispel that desire.

Whether it was for the sake of lovers, family, comrades or for whomever to fight for, he wanted to believe that he will not stray from that path.  

“Well then, shall we begin?” 

Edgar stood up. 

As they approached Lucinda's room, they could hear her shouting as it resounded throughout the corridor. 

“What on earth is the matter? Where’s Annie? Father, can you please ask the butler to hurry up and find her?”

“She will be back soon.” 

“But she just went to change the water in the vase and hasn’t come back. Although she has a habit of slacking off sometimes, it will soon be noon. I can’t take it anymore.” 

Just then, Lucinda cried to Edgar because she was terribly worried that the maid hadn’t come back, but in reality, even when the maid wasn’t here, she did not seem to be the type of person who would cry. 

“Although she didn’t speak of it, I was very good to her! But she certainly made a fool out of me!” 

Edgar stood before the door. Without knocking, the door opened. 

Lucinda ran out and was stopped when she bumped onto Edgar. 

“Earl Ashenbert... what can I do for you?” 

Just then, she quickly turned away. She probably just remembered how she was expelled out of the room.  However on the other hand, thinking that Edgar might chase after her, she glanced imperceptibly towards him, with expectation. 

“You were quite disrespectful before, Lady Lucinda.” 

Having heard this, she suppressed a smile and then frowned.   

“Yes, it’s the first time I received such an insult. The Earl actually stood up for a maid.” 

This lady liked to act no matter where she went. Edgar also suppressed a smile and said mysteriously… 

“In order to express my apologies, I’ve helped you find your maid. But it was quite troublesome.” 

“…… Annie? What was that girl doing?” 

“She took your jewelry box containing your jewels. But she didn’t have the jewelry box with her, so perhaps she hid it somewhere else. On where it might be hidden, it’s currently being investigated.” 

“Lucinda, Annie wanted to run away with your jewels?” 

Lord Constable, who was surprised, drew closer to her. 

“Yes...umm.”  

As Annie was almost being treated like a thief, Lucinda seemed to be unexpectedly impatient.

“If that’s the case, then we need to ask Annie about it.” 

“Earl Ashenbert, my daughter has given you trouble. Where is Annie?” 

Up until now, Lord Constable had never shown a modest attitude like that before. Perhaps it was because he believed that Edgar had tracked down Annie for Lucinda. 

“This way. I will not let her escape so I’ve sent someone to guard her. Will you come with me?”

Then Edgar brought the two of them to the most secluded room of the mansion. 

Almost no one would come here. Therefore, even if there was a little disturbance, it would be as if nothing happened.   

Edgar casually opened the door for them to enter and waiting beside the fireplace was Raven, who had started the fire.  

“Annie...” 

It’s no wonder Lucinda’s complexion went pale.  Annie was tied to a chair and was looking down with a pale complexion.  

Raven’s “light” threats seemed to be effective.  

To only give direct pain, wasn’t torture interrogation. Rather than the reality of pain, people imagining the endless horror feared experiencing it instead.

That’s why things such as torture equipment deliberately looked extravagant without much of a threat. 

If someone were to explain to you so you could imagine vividly when you are disobedient, he could still harm you even without lifting a finger. 

“So, Annie your master is here to see you. Would you like to beg her to save you?”

Lucinda and Lord Constable were silent at this anomalous situation. 

Her head was caught, and she was unable to move as she looked into Edgar’s eyes. With horrified eyes wide open, what did she see? Edgar did not know.

Was it a demon?

He understood because he had encountered this kind of situation several times. 

At this moment, the outcome was clear. 

“No... please stop! Save me!” 

The burning iron rod hadn’t even touched her face and she cried out.

“I--I didn’t do it! I don’t know where her jewels are! In any case, it’s all fake!”  

Once she began to talk, she believed that she would be given mercy, so she continued to speak. 

“Anyway, it was all surely hidden by her! Ah, and it was also a lie when she said the brooch was stolen the other day!”

Lucinda deliberately spread bad rumours about Lydia. Annie, following Lucinda’s command, had placed the brooch in Lydia’s room. The various kinds of Lucinda’s hidden plots, Annie spoke of it gleefully.  

In addition, the initials on the letters that were the same as Edgar’s and the events of Lucinda meeting the man in the evening written in her diary, were all fabricated to deliberately allow her father to discover it. Annie had exposed them all. 

“Stop... shut up, Annie! Don’t speak of such groundless lies!” 

“It’s true! After all, you were looking for someone who couldn’t speak because you didn’t want to let others around you to discover what you were doing, right? "Didn't you often say that every time a maid was about to reveal your schemes, turning her into the villain and chasing her out was becoming troublesome?"

Lord Constable tightly grabbed onto Lucinda’s shoulders who turned pale.  

“Lucinda, is that right? The fact that you and Earl Ashenbert have been in contact is...” 

“Umm...Father...” 

“Come with me!” 

Feeling embarrassed after having understood the situation, Lord Constable wanted to Lucinda away as if to escape. 

“Lord Constable, what will you do with Annie?” 

“That woman is fired. Do whatever you want.” 

He had returned to his normal behaviour.

“She has not yet spoken on whereabouts of Miss Lucinda’s jewels.” 

“Anyway these are cheap goods.” 

After confirming that it was fake, Edgar was surprised. 

But such things are not important. Edgar continued to interrogate Annie...

“In that case Annie, the jewels of Miss Lucinda do not concern me. I want to inquire about the ivory jewelry box. The Regard necklace was hidden in there by Madame Oughtred. Was it because she realized that it will be stolen?” 

Annie and Lucinda suddenly looked surprised and Edgar pretended that he didn’t notice it.

As Lord Constable was mad, it seemed like he didn’t hear those words just then. Lucinda was immediately dragged by her father and left the room.  

But with this, they had both set foot into the trap that Edgar had set up. Lucinda will certainly go and take out the jewelry box that she hid.

Annie and her comrades will aim for that time. 

Of course, it was fabricated that the Regard necklace was intentionally hidden, but it seemed that they believed it. 

Using this approach, Edgar planned to round up all the thieves and catch them in one swoop.

​

*

By the time it was evening, Lydia who began to get up, had somewhat regained some energy. 

Oatmeal was immediately brought by a maid exclusive to attending to guest rooms. This maid did not maliciously spread gossip as it was an older woman. Mrs. Boyle had probably selected maids that had not been in contact with Lydia. 

Lydia stirred the oatmeal just in case to check for any foreign substances. After confirming that there were none, she finally place it in her mouth, relieved.  

As her fatigue alleviated, she was able to think clearly and so she began to concern over the matters in relation to Madame Oughtred. 

Tonight was a full moon. Something needed to be done by dawn, but Edgar said to wait until all the thieves were eliminated.  

Anyway, Lydia still had not yet figured out the most important matter which was the Danish fairies’ secret. 

She was just feeling absentminded until she saw light.

If Madame Oughtred’s Regard necklace, which was the symbol of their gratitude, was permitted into the Danish fairies’ rose garden, then the necklace were jewels of the Danish fairies. 

Lydia thought it was the Danish fairies’ gift to Madame Oughtred as a way to express their trust. 

Moreover, the extremely-hated mankind had entered the Danish fairies’ rose garden. The fairy that Lydia encountered felt angry as it thought that she wanted to steal something.

In that case, this could be interpreted to mean that their treasure was hidden in the rose garden. 

But where exactly would their treasure be hidden in the rose garden? By digging up the grounds, would the jewels come out one by one? 

There was only one opportunity to trade with the fairies. A mistake cannot be made. 

Lydia’s thoughts eventually reached a dead end. 

As expected, Madame Oughtred can’t be rescued as it may be impossible to trade with the Danish fairies. 

Feeling a loss of confidence, Lydia’s feelings of giving up slowly grew within her.  

Nevertheless, she wanted to do as much as she could as a fairy doctor. 

There should still be something she could do even if she couldn’t save Madame Oughtred. 

As Lydia thought that, she recalled the matter with the blue roses. 

Madame Oughtred said that the blue roses will bloom when the moon rises tonight. 

Come to think of it, a guest will be arriving at the mansion today. It must be Madame Oughtred’s friend, whom she made a promise with to see the blue roses. She read the letter that informed her that the blue roses will bloom and came over on this day. 

The Madame told Lydia that if she were to ever meet her, she wanted her to tell her friend that the blue roses have bloomed.  

But perhaps it was still possible for that her friend to see the blue roses now.