P. 10

P. 24

He still wasn’t a human, so his heaviness and the touch of his softness and warmth was an illusion. Even if she thought that, he seemed like a read baby.

The fairy baby smiled at her with a?little embarrassment and grabbed ahold of Lydia tightly.

“Mother has such a nice smell. It’s?just like I had dreamed.”

When he told her something like that, then she wasn’t able to bring herself to say he had the wrong person.

“Let’s go, Mother.”

“But, you see....”

“So then, you really don’t want me?”

His big blue eyes became wet and shining with tears, which made Lydia panic.

“No, fine, I’ll go. Let’s go on a picnic!”

“Raven, make the preparations,” said Edgar without giving a pause.

Still holding the basket, Raven had been silently watching how everything was going, but at that, he bolted up to stand.

*

P. 25

It wasn’t like she hated Edgar. Even Lydia acknowledged, for the time being, that he had good traits to him beside his looks.

To Lydia who had only been close to fairies and been seen with looks of strange and odd by the people around her, it was genuinely happy to her to be acknowledged of her power as a fairy doctor.

He was someone who proposed to her for the first time in her life, and when she thought this was going to be the first and last opportunity for such a thing, then it wasn’t like she didn’t feel any beating of her heart.

However, no matter what, she wasn’t able to believe that he had serious feelings for her.

To Edgar who had been juggling and switching many women up till now, love must be something that quickly cools down. She guessed that it wasn’t feelings of love but more that he was using the option that would tie down the fairy doctor who was an important figure to the earl family to this house forever.

Even if he did gain the title of Earl of Ibrazel, Edgar doesn’t have the power to come in contact with fairies. Since he is relying on Lydia in regards to everything when it comes to fairies, it could be that he felt just an employer-worker relationship wasn’t strong enough.

That’s why in order to get married with Lydia, even if Edgar were to declare that he ‘cut his ties with his female “friends”,’ she couldn’t possibly believe him.

Because, just a few days earlier, Lydia heard him having a serious conversation with a certain woman.

P. 26

“So, I was just being fooled around with.”

It was just when she was passing by the doorway of Edgar’s office. Lydia heard those words spoken that she couldn’t possibly ignore, and so she couldn’t help but to stop.

It was the voice of a young girl.

“No, that’s not true. Only that, a flower of love can’t keep blooming on forever. If you were able to spend your time beautifully, then it would be the best for both to search and find a new love before that love loses its color.”

There was no mistake that the voice who she was talking to in that conversation, that sounded like he was soothing and coaxing with his talk, was Edgar.

“It was because I was from the lower birth, wasn’t it? I shouldn’t have believed the words that class didn’t have anything to do with it..”

“Class has nothing to do with it when falling in love. But, because thinking of your sake, it means that ending the relationship is the only option. Making you into a mistress wasn’t the wish is the reason. Could you understand that?”

A m-mistress?

She felt shocked at hearing such a frank word used, but Lydia thought it wasn’t right to be listening to such a thing like this, and so she rush to get away from that spot. However, just when she heard the sound of a door slamming open with a loud force, a girl in a maid uniform went running out with her hands covering her face.

P. 27

The girl realized Lydia was there and rushed to face away, and since it was the first time to see her face for Lydia, she guessed that the girl must be a newly employed housemaid.

Lydia was dumbfounded at how he could fool around even with a servant, but as time went by, gradually she felt anger build up inside her.

Even if he said he was serious and flirted with her, but immediately got tired of her and changed his mind, then that means he was half fooling around, playing a game.

Edgar was showing himself like he had affections for Lydia, but his proposals and everything else must be just a temporary whim of his. If she were to take it seriously, then there was no mistake that she would be put through a terrible experience.

Lydia reminded herself that anew once more, and pledged to herself that she was going to have a more assured, resolute attitude towards Edgar.

And yet.

Because of the appearance of Til, in the end, things were turning out like Edgar wanted.

She wondered why things could have turned out like this, and took a glance over to him beside her with a feeling of resignation.

He must have been watching her the whole time, as their eyes met immediately.

Compared to Lydia’s hair which was described as dirty, rusted-iron, his bright blond hair, which she envied so?much, floated in front of her eyes by a breeze.

P. 28

Edgar gave her a gentle happy smile, and it gave the impression like he was feeling pure joy at just being able to gaze at Lydia, but she couldn’t imagine where it was about her, that was so apparently head-strong, unattractive appearance of her, that he could look at.

“It’s quite the pleasant sunshine we’re having. Even the singing of the birds sound like they are congratulating us,” he whispered to Lydia in a quite personal close distance as they sat themselves down on a blanket that was laid out in the shadow of a tree.

Before she had realized it, he was holding her hand.

“Um, Edgar, shouldn’t we stop in trying to use that little boy? We don’t have any sure idea of what lies ahead, and it’s questionable if I’m really going to become a mother anyway. And?besides, he still isn’t a human, so he should return to where it is he?belongs.”

“If we show him how close we are to each other, then Til would feel relieved and want to go home, I’m sure.”

Lydia wasn’t able to escape from the deceitful crook that snuggled up to her. That was because she couldn’t allow herself to push Edgar away as usual while they were in front of Til.

“For his sake as well, couldn’t you try to feel like you are enjoying being together with me?”

I guess I have no choice, but if she let herself give in like that just a little, he would take advantage of that opportunity.

She was well aware of that, and yet when the gentle sunbeams that were streaming through the leaves would wave and rustle, the color of the ash mauve eyes that gaze at her would slightly change, making Lydia shaken and confused.

If it were a real couple in love then this area near this small lake that was located beyond the forest out of the city, then they would be able to submit themselves to a romantic mood.

P. 29

Mingling among the hill berries bushes, there was a haze of small light yellow flowers that was a nice sight to the eyes. The dark green-colored lake was surrounded by thickets and groves of small trees and the tree leaves and plants and flowers reflected in the water surface and gave a decorative, magical atmosphere that isn’t seen in the city parks.

It was a perfect place for a small picnic that was near enough to London.

Have you brought a woman to this place in the past? was the kind of mean question that came up to her mind, but Lydia somehow managed to hide it in the back of her mind.

Till was enjoying himself by chasing after a butterfly and running around. If she were to start a fight with?Edgar here then he wouldn’t want to go home at all.

However, when Lydia was going to be?quiet, then it was natural for Edgar to want to get ahead of himself.

“Lately, we haven’t had that much time to spend together.”

“We’ve been seeing each other’s faces every day.”

“Going out together has been a long while. I’ve been having small affairs and didn’t have any time. But you know, please don’t think that I’ve been ignoring or forgetting about you.”

“No big deal, it’s nothing.”

“I’ll make sure to compensate for everything, so you can cuddle up to me all you want.”

I could never do such a dangerous thing.

P. 30

However, like he aimed for the timing when Till was looking towards their direction, he removed Lydia’s bonnet?and placed a kiss on her head.

“Till, come over here now. Let’s have lunch.”

His attitude was if a light kiss was a daily part of their lives in such a natural way, as he called for little?Till.

“Yees, Father.”

Till, who came running over to them, held out a white flower to Lydia.

“This was growing over there by the bushes. I thought Mother was sure to like it.”

It was an adorable lily flower. It was an early bloomer, but that could be Till using fairy magic to make it bloom. Of course, she didn’t dislike it at all, but it must be a flower that Till like instead. As Lydia was thinking that, she quickly changed her expression that was made sour because of Edgar into a smile.

In a place lit bright by the sun, Raven was setting out a simple table and chairs. On the table that was covered by a tablecloth, there were white plates and glasses that were taken out from the picnic basket and grape wine was being poured into them.

Edgar took Lydia’s hand and helped her up and in a mastered natural movement, he escorted her to the table.

For little Till’s sake, there were a number of cushions that were put one on top of each other on a chair, and then Raven gently picked him up and sat him down in it.

There was cold meat, herbed sausage and cheese, pickles and oiled herring and colorful gooseberry gam and honey.

P. 31

It must have been a rare sight, as?Till looked as he was having fun watching everything on top of the table.

“Oh, Mother, what is this?”

It was indeed a peculiar feeling to be called mother, but when Till made a carefree smile to her, Lydia made a smile somehow again.

That’s right, if this boy can feel relieved, then he is sure to return back to his friends. Even if she really was or wasn’t his mother, that was the only thing that Lydia could do right now.

“It’s a baked apple. Do you want a bite?”

“Oh, no, I’m still not a human yet, so I’ll just have milk.”

With both of his hands, he grabbed ahold of his glass, and put his lips to it with a delicious face.

“I want to hurry up and get born so that I can eat the same foods as Father and Mother.”

“That would be nice. If you were to be born, then the three of us should come back here again. Right,?Lydia.”

“Eh? Oh, yes...”

“Really? I can’t wait. It’s a pity that I won’t be able to remember about today.”

Just for an instant, Till made a sad, lonely expression. Perhaps he couldn’t fight back the fear that that kind of time might never come.

“.....We’ll remember it.”

P. 32

Lydia said that so that she could relieve him.

And then, it was Edgar who looked happed as he agreed. Somehow or other, she still had the feeling like she was trapped in his scheme.

“And so, Lydia, when do you want to have our wedding?”

“Huh?”

“Oh, you know, we still are only engaged and still haven’t made anything specific, but I’m starting to feel like I want to hurry up and get married. Since we have this opportunity, wouldn’t it nice if we decided on the date in front of Till here?”

“That, that is...”

Since Till would look up to Lydia with eyes filled with expectations, so even as she was made irritated at Edgar’s doings, she could only make a stiff smile.

“Edgar, let’s first enjoy our meal!”

I’ll get even with you once Till goes home.

As she secretly glared at Edgar, Lydia brought her glass to her lips.

When she looked up, she saw there were hazy clouds passing by in the blue sky. If she were to exclude Edgar’s?plot, it was quite the peaceful picnic.

As long as she didn’t put Edgar in her eye of vision, then any day would be?peaceful....

Even if she were to think that, she wasn’t able to take her eyes off of Edgar all this time.

P. 33

As for that reason, she had a feeling like she knew why, but she didn’t want to acknowledge it.

A breeze passed by the tops of the trees. As she watched the apricot flower petals dance dancing around, but then suddenly a trickster gust blasted through and blown off Lydia’s bonnet.

It flew up in a swirl and the pansy-colored ribbon got caught on a tree branch.

“Oh, no, in such a high?place.”

It was Raven who immediately tried to go and retrieve it, but Edgar stopped him and spoke.

“It’s all right, we’ll go and get it.”

“Huh, what do you mean we?”

“Till, will you give me a hand for your Mother’s sake?”

Till energetically made a nod, and Edgar effortlessly picked him up.

He carried the infant on one arm?like he was a feather, and that made him appear unusually masculine.

He had a slender build, and gave a strong impression of elegance and that of a nobleman. With one spoken word, he could move and make people submissive, and she was impressed at his traits of a ruler, but she had the feeling like he had nothing to do with a closer, simpler masculinity.

His treatment of her as a lover and his sweet words always made Lydia nervous. It could have been the first time that she felt such a relaxing, comforting masculinity from him like this.

Was he a person who could properly protect and help grow small, fragile little ones?

What on earth was he thinking, thought Lydia as she hastily took a deep breath.

P. 34

Edgar walked over to where it was right under the branch where the bonnet was caught and stopped. And then, he set Till on top of his shoulders.

“How is it? Can you reach your hands to it?”

“Ummm, just a little more.”

Till stood up on his shoulders. It would be a disaster if his feet were to slip.

Lydia forgot that he was a fairy and watched in suspense.

“You know, it’s all right. Edgar, make him stop.”

“Don’t stop now, Till.”

“Oh, I think I can reach?it.”

It was just when his tiny hand grabbed the end of the ribbon. His body wobbled to the side.

“Ahhh, watch out!”

She thought he was going to fall.

Lydia kicked herself off the chair to stand up. However, Edgar’s hand had grabbed a tight hold on Till’s body that appeared like he was going to fall.

Still with his grip on him, he twirled the youngster around in circles. Till was circled around in the air and was letting bursts of laughter. He was grabbed onto as he was twirled around in the air like he was flying through the air, and instead of becoming afraid, he?was enjoying it.

Even when he was hung upside-down, he was enjoying himself. He had complete trust that Edgar wouldn’t drop him.

P. 35

P. 36

Then Till was finally set down on the ground and he flapped his delicate wings which were useless to fly as he was still laughing with pure delight.

“Edgar...., what were you doing? What were you going to do if he got hurt!”

“It’s all right. I had a good grip on him.”

“But he nearly fell!”

*

“What is this thing. He’s standing up and walking.”

When Lydia came to work the next day, Till came into her work office immediately.

It seemed like he couldn’t bring himself to go home yet, so he had spent the night at the earl house. She heard that Edgar wasn’t here on some business, so he must be bored.

The one who spoke up in a puzzled voice after seeing Till was Lydia’s partner, a fairy cat who could walk on his hind feet.

“Wow, a cat talked!”

“Whoa, a baby talked!”

The two of them who were the same height, both stood standing up straight as they looked in surprise at each?other. In the work office in the earl house, Lydia stopped what she was?writing, and thought it was sure a strange sight as she watched them.

P. 38

“Uh, just to let you know, Nico, he is a sprite of a stork. He isn’t a human baby yet.”

Nico curved his head around to take a look at Till’s back.

“You’re right, so he’s a stork?fairy baby. Why is he here?”

“Mother, this cat is wearing a necktie.”

“Mother, you mean Lydia?”

“Things are a little complicated. Oh, Nico, I’m in the middle of work right now but would you play with Till for a little while?”

Because she was made to accompany?Edgar yesterday, she wasn’t able to finish her work at all.

“Whaat, I have to babysit.”

“Mother, I can play with this cat.”

He was much more understanding than Nico.

“I am not a cat! Be careful about that, Stork.”

“I’m not a stork either! Because I’m going to become a human soon.”

“Huh? A fairy becoming a human? I never heard of such a thing.”

“A cat wouldn’t know that.”

“So you’re a runt fairy who just?got born. If you can keep up with me then I’ll play with you.”

Nico slipped out through the door with his slim body. Till went dashing after him as well.

P. 39

“Be nice to each other!”

As Lydia shouted out to them, she sat down to her desk again.

In their place, a maid came into the room. She placed a new letter asking for the help of a fairy doctor on the corner of the desk.

“Thank you.”

As Lydia said that and looked up, she realized that the young maid was the girl who was in Edgar’s office yesterday.

The girl kept her face down as she made a little bow. She looked like she wasn’t in good spirits, and Lydia guessed that might be because of Edgar’s cold harsh treatment.

And then, as the girl was about to leave the room, she suddenly stumbled and crouched down on the floor like she was going to fall.

“Oh, you! Are you all right? Shall I go call for someone...”

However, she grabbed ahold of Lydia’s arm as if to stop her.

“I’m fine. I’ll get better in no time...”

Lydia figured that if the head maid were to find out the girl would be yelled at, so she decided that the girl should rest here for now.

Just when Lydia was going to lend the girl her should and help her up, someone else gave out their hand. The one who picked up the maid girl was Raven.

P. 40

“Where shall I set her?down?”

He was just his usual self like he was talking about some piece of luggage.

“Oh, could you lay her down on that sofa.”

He promptly did as he was told.

“Thank you, Raven. Um, I’m going to have her rest here for a bit.”

“I think it’s best for her to have something to eat. Lately, Connie hasn’t been eating anything.”

“What? Is that true?”

Lydia thought that the girl might not be able to let food down her throat from the shock of her lost love, but then, in the next moment, there was something that got stuck in her mind. He was someone who was nearly indifferent to anyone else than Edgar, so why would he notice something like a maid not taking her meals.

“Why do you know something like that?”

“I was ordered to keep an eye on her.”

In other words, by Edgar?

Lydia became irritated, and she left the maid named Connie by herself and pulled Raven out of the room. In the hallway, she lowered her voice to talk to him.

“What is that, what do you mean? It’s distasteful to monitor the woman he casted off.”

Raven seemed like he didn’t?understand her meaning, as he tilted his head to the side.

P. 41

“I happened to hear it. Just when Edgar was bringing up ending their relationship to her. To go and put his hands on a servant, and then cast her aside, it isn’t something a gentleman would do!”

“That is not true.”

“What is not true! He said that his feelings for her died down to her face!”

Raven didn’t move one inch keeping a face like he was upset. He was a young man, who had a small build and of Asian descent, but before this job, he was an exceptionally skilled bodyguard. When she was glared by him, it made Lydia a little nervous and she eased her body back.

However, he must of just been thinking about something in his head.

It seemed like he was thinking things over in his mind for quite some time as he remained silent, but?eventually, he opened his mouth.

“He was talking about me.”

“Huh?”

“Lord Edgar had been talking to her in my place.”

“Y....You were with Connie?”

That’s impossible. She could only think that it was a statement to cover for Edgar. In the first place, Raven wouldn’t talk to anyone unless that was something necessary for his job working under Edgar. Lydia wondered what kind of conversation he would have with a lower ranking maid.

And besides, she had clearly stated that there was a class difference between them.

P. 42

Lydia tried to calm her fuming rage somehow and took in a deep breath. Even if she took out her anger on Raven, it was meaningless. Because the one who was to blame was Edgar.

“Anyhow, would you mind bringing her some warm milk?”

Making a nod, Raven walked off, and Lydia turned her heels to return back to her office. Connie slowly lifted herself back up and looked over at Lydia.

“I’m terribly sorry, Miss.”

“It’s all right. But it’s not good for you to not take your meals. I can understand that you are feeling bad after a romantic breakup....”

“Why do know about that?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I just happened to hear when you were talking.”

"....I see.”

“Um, try to feel better.”

Was the only banal thing she could say. Connie drooped her head and dabbed the corner of her eyes with a?handkerchief.

“I believed in him.., I think I can’t fall in love with a man anymore...”

Lydia’s eyes were completely locked onto the girl’s handkerchief.

The silk that had lace in it, was a high rate one that a gentlewoman would use. One would think that it wasn’t something a maid girl could buy, but then it could have been given to her by Edgar.

More than getting upset at Edgar, Lydia felt an unrecognizable pain in her chest and then her eyes fell to the embroidery on the handkerchief.

P. 43

A pure white lily flower.

It was the flower that Till gave to Lydia. He said that he thought Lydia would like it.

What if, it was the flower that this maid liked?

A girl who distrusted men. Who lived and worked in the earl manor. The conditions were met.

Perhaps, Till’s future mother is....

“Here is the milk.”

When Raven appeared, Lydia vigorously stood up.

“Raven, Edgar has come back hasn’t he?”

“Yes.”

Just as she heard that, she went rushing out of the room.

The place where she went running into, was Edgar’s office. If it was his private time during the day, then he was sure to be spending it here.

Lydia just barely made a knock on the door before opening it, but then Edgar just made an unaffected, pleasant smile as usual and stood up to greet her.

P. 44

“Hello, Lydia, good timing. I need to find a nanny for Till, so I was thinking about asking for your opinion. Because don’t you think it needs to be someone who can get along with you, right?”

Huh? A nanny?

“I don’t care about something like that!”

“You don’t need a nanny?? But you will have the duty as a?countess, so you aren’t going to be able to spend all of your time with our?baby.”

“That’s not what I mean, I’m not Till’s mother. It’s Connie, the maid.”

“Connie? The newly employed?maid?”

“That’s why, Edgar, marry?her.”

“Lydia, what on earth are you talking about?”

“It seems after she was rejected by you, she can’t trust men. At this rate, Till won’t be able to be born. Everything is your fault, so you should take responsibility. Since, she still has feelings for you.”

“Hold on just a moment, I have nothing to do with her.”

“It’s useless to try and act as if you don’t know. You were talking with Connie here about ending your?relationship.”

Ohh, he said as he made a sigh like he felt exhausted, which made Lydia feel like something was tearing in the center of her chest.

P. 45

You are the worst kind of rake. She should have known that, but why, out of all the times, does she have to get the feeling?like she was hurt.

“If it’s about that, then you’re?mistaken. Lydia, I’m not the one who was in a romantic relationship with her,?but it seemed like their breakup was getting complicated and tangled up, so I?served as the go-between ...”

“I-it was you? It was you who made Raven say such a thing! You must be out of your mind to make Raven say an easily seen through lie like he was in a romantic relationship with a maid.”

“Raven said that? He said that he was the one who was her lover?”

“He was doing his best for your sake.”

“So, it was because I told him to keep quiet. ...Well, well, he sure has come quite a ways to be able to think up something so daring as that.”

Even though he says he told his servant to keep quiet, he didn’t show any signs of guilt of conscience.

And furthermore, it isn’t the sort of time to be pleasantly surprised.

“Anyhow, you were the one who made Till acknowledge that you are his father, so even if Connie is from a?lower-class birth, you have to make it work out somehow and officially marry?her, you know? Don’t you understand that? Aren’t you good at doing something?like covering up and disguising her identity?”

Lydia was even more irritated at Edgar’s nonchalant attitude, and couldn’t help but speak in a harsh, threatening tone.

And then, Edgar must have become offended, as he knitted his brows like he was in a bad mood uncharacteristically.

P. 46

“Do you seriously think?that?”

“......If she remained hurt, then it isn’t fair for poor Till.”

“So you believe that I’m that kind of man? You couldn’t think that it was some kind of mistake?”

But, it’s Edgar we’re talking about. He was someone who was good at lying and deceiving people.

She was backed up against the wall by Edgar who came walking over to her. If she was approached by him in this situation, it was dangerous. Lydia instantly thought that she needed to run and she tried to step backwards, but Edgar grabbed her arm with a tight grip.

That grip was unusually strong and painful. She became afraid, but it appeared like he was the one who was feeling pain, so Lydia didn’t have any idea of what she should do and remained being pierced by his glare.

“If I did as you said, then would that make you satisfied? I have been saying that I attracted to you, and yet you?say that I should marry a different woman? Does that mean you don’t care about my feelings?”

Feelings.

“You are the one who isn’t thinking about my feelings at all. I’ve been refusing so many times, but you went ahead and said I am your fiancée and pulled Till into this... But, that does mean that you were in a relationship as you were putting on a good face to me, right?”

If she said something like this, then it would anger him all the more. Even if she thought that, there was?distrust towards womanizers inside Lydia so big that she couldn’t anything?about, and so she thought it was unreasonable that Edgar would get offended.

P. 47

“You just want to make a girl who happened to catch your attention to do as you want. You are sure to become tired of me in a matter of time. If we were to get married, you know that it won’t be easy to separate, right? Even if your feelings die out, do you think that there wouldn’t any harm since you could tie down a fairy doctor? And besides, are you saying that you want me you quietly watch as you go around and fool around with other women?”

Lydia couldn’t stop herself before she finished what she said.

Suddenly, he let go of her hand like he became exhausted.

“...All right. Then, I’ll go and propose to her or whatever. You can go and tell her yourself.”

Those words of his that sounded so cold, brought a sharp pain to Lydia more than her arm that was just gripped very tightly.

Rather, she felt suffocated and went running out of the office.

“If that’s what you really?want!”

Edgar’s voice which was thrown at her, still ringed in her ears even after she returned to her office.

Connie was nowhere on the sofa, and so Lydia slumped down to sit on the sofa by herself.

Edgar said that he was going to propose to her.

This way Connie won’t remain hurt, and eventually Till will be born as the child of the earl family.

P. 48

It was just that the setting at-->>

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