Volume 13 - CH 1

“It’s that carriage, Fergus.” 

Having heard this, Fergus leaned out of the window. 

From the hotel room, the hat shop entrance across the street could be seen clearly. There were two girls that just happened to get off from the halted carriage. 

“It’s Earl Ashenbert’s family carriage.” 

Fergus did not possess the pertinent knowledge, not knowing how to distinguish the coat of arms decorated on the box on both ends of the carriage, but since the companion beside him said so, then there was no mistake.

Although this man was his father’s subordinate, Fergus believed that he would be able to come in handy, and let him accompany him on this trip.

“....So Patrick, which one were you speaking of?” 

Fergus’s aim was only one girl. He had investigated that she should be riding in the Earl family’s carriage and coming to this hat store to receive an ordered item.

If possible, Fergus wanted to take a look at her first before speaking to her directly. As he thought that, the girl before his eyes.

However, he did not anticipate that two similar aged girls took the carriage.

“Unfortunately, I also don’t know which one is Miss Lydia Carlton.”

“I like blondes, but those two are different.”

“If that’s the case, I heard that Earl Ashenbert is blonde.”

“Oh? ….is that so? No, that’s not it! I have no interest in blonde men!”

“But Fergus, don’t you want to know what kind of man he is?” 

“Uh, well... I guess I want to know. ”

This man, Earl Ashenbert, was Miss Carlton’s fiancée, so it was only natural that Fergus was curious.

“According to the newspapers’ descriptions, they say he has conspicuously good looks, and became society’s favorite once he returned to England. Moreover, although he was young, he was savvy, he’s a person that aristocracy can’t ignore. Despite him having scandals with many women in the past, receiving attention by the general masses, he suddenly issued an engagement shortly after, surprising London…”

“No need to say it aloud. I’ve read those articles countless times.”

Over the past few days, they collected articles regarding Earl Ashenbert. It piled up like a small mountain on the table in the middle of the room.

However they haven’t been in London for long, thus they haven’t seen the Earl himself yet.

The Earl was so well known to be a philanderer that even the articles gave frank advice on the Earl’s marriage as they seemed to raise issues and serious warnings. They seemed to be full of adjectives other than “handsome”, making Fergus somewhat angry without knowing why.

It’s not about a man’s looks, it’s sincerity! Fergus thought.

In any case, because these articles were concerning Miss Carlton’s fiancé’s reputation, he felt displeased. No, feeling displeased was inevitable. Because to Fergus, this man was his rival. 

“In reality, the more the rumors are spoken, the more the person himself certainly won’t be some amazing guy.”

“That’s true.”

Patrick calmly agreed.

Although Fergus once again turned his head towards the window, the girls’ figures had already disappeared into the store. 

Both girls were dressed neatly. Despite being unable to see their features clearly from a distance, Fergus imagined that she must be a beautiful woman.

After all, she wanted to marry the publicly known playboy, therefore she ought to be beautiful.

“If you’re beginning to have expectations prior to meeting, you’ll ultimately be disappointed.”

Patrick splashed Fergus’ fantasies with cold water.

“You really are a cool-headed man.”

“Thank you very much. ” 

This wasn’t a compliment. 

“However, it’s inevitable to look forward to this, I want to see the woman who originally should have become my fiancée.”

Previously, there was a woman who left the village and eloped with a stranger. If she had a child, then that child will have the same clan’s bloodline as Fergus.

Suppose that child is a girl, perhaps the entire clan can be saved. 

After discussing this thought, Fergus inquired about the news half a year ago, and found that she seemed to be in London.

Fergus came here from distant lands. In fact, he roughly knew the man’s name and occupation, who took away the clan’s girl twenty years ago, fortunately he found that name in the newspapers. 

It was concerning the news of Earl Ashenbert announcing his engagement. The bride was named Lydia Carlton, the eldest daughter of Frederick Carlton --- holding both the position of a Professor at the University of London and a member as a mineralogist of the Royal academia.

There was no mistake.

Fergus needed to bring back the girl who inherited the clan’s special blood.

* * *

Lydia and her good friend Lota went out together, and when they returned home, it was already dusk. Father had also returned to the house early, which was rare.

Apparently there were guests that came to visit Father. The housekeeper said that they were talking in the living room, so Lydia asked to housekeeper to bring tea to her room on the second floor afterwards, and then went up the stairs with Lota.

“Lota, will you be staying for dinner?”

“Is that okay? There are guests here.”

“It seems the guests unexpectedly paid a visit, and should be leaving very soon. Besides, I also dragged you everywhere with me to go shopping.”

“I had a good time. Luckily Edgar lent us the carriage, it made our trip smooth.” 

Lota entered Lydia’s room, took off her hat, she relaxed and stretched.

“Well, I went through all the trouble to come here, so I’ll treat myself with a meal.”

“Ah, do you need to contact your house? We can ask someone to help you send a letter.”

“It’s all right, I already spoke to Grandfather. He said that even if I haven’t returned in two weeks, he doesn’t mind.”

Lota was the granddaughter of the exiled aristocrat, the Grand Duke of Cremona. Because she was brought up by pirates, she was incapable of resembling the usual quiet, ordinary young lady, but the Grand Duke had also been turning a blind eye. 

Because Lota’s personality was straightforward, even if Lydia was a different kind of girl who was very close to fairies, Lota still wanted to be her friend.

For Lydia, Lota was a precious human friend. 

While she sat, she and Lota looked at each other and laughed.

“Fortunately, the hat was made according to your wishes.”

“Yes, but I didn’t buy the other thing that I wanted.”

Lydia recalled this and sighed at the same time. 

In fact, today she went out in order to select a gift for her fiancé.

“Choosing a gift for men is really difficult. Father is someone who would be happy no matter what he received, so I didn’t think it mattered, but Edgar only uses things that he likes.”

“Actually, I feel that as long as you choose it, he’ll be happy regardless of what it is.”

Is that right? Lydia recalled Edgar in his everyday life. Not only was he dressed in high-quality goods, all his tastes were also outstanding. If Lydia chose a gift within her affordable range, would he feel happy?

Because of this, Lydia once considered wanting to buy an item that wouldn’t be used frequently in front of people, yet even if she tried to think, she couldn’t understand what men would want. 

All in all, accepting the proposal and waiting until now to give a gift, wouldn’t the lapse in time be too great?

Although Lydia also knew that a woman who had received an engagement ring would give some sort of commemorative gift to the man, but because her ring was the fairies’ special Moonstone ring, rather than saying it was given by Edgar, it would be better to say that it was received due to a fantastic opportunity. Thus, she accidentally forgot about the human traditions.

Lydia remembered it after engagement had been publicly announced.

She had received a gift from Edgar before, it was a necklace that used the English initials of the jewel names to spell out “Dearest”. At the same time, she received compliments from everyone, also noticing that the necklace represented Edgar unable to pour his feelings into the ring; that was purely due to him giving this item as evidence of the engagement.

“Really, in spite of everything, I can’t even think of one gift that would make Edgar happy, I should be a failure of a fiancée, right?”

“Don’t worry too much about it. That guy is gaining a lot just from you having agreed to marry him. It’ll be fine as long as you smile sweetly after receiving many gifts.” 

“I--is that so?” 

“Let me know if he complains, I’ll ruthlessly punch him.”