Disclaimer: I do not, by any means, own Hakushaku to Yousei (Earl and Fairy).

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Chapter 1: Variegated Tulips

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Lydia Carlton rushed to the door to see who had rung the door bell. She could think of only two people who rang the door bell. It was either 1) the delivery person for flowers, or 2) none other than Edgar Ashenbert, the Blue Knight Earl. She opened the door: it was one of the flower delivery people.

"Thank you," Lydia said with a smile and signed the delivery boy's paper, proving that she received the flowers. She closed the door behind her softly and stared at the bouquet of flowers in her hands.

"Tulips this time, huh," she said to herself as she threw out the week-old flowers in a vase and refilled it with new water. This has been going on for almost two months now. She's been receiving flowers from some anonymous person every week. Sometimes the flowers were the same kind as the before, but other times she received a different type of flower. But she didn't mind receiving flowers from an anonymous person; she thought it was sweet. It was better than Edgar and his flirtatiousness.

The first thing that she received was a book about flowers, which she found peculiar. She thought, what was she supposed to do with it and why would someone send her a book about flowers? She found out the following week, when she received a bunch of dandelions, which was rather... Odd, since she thought that dandelions were just weeds. She remembered the book about flowers that she received last week and thought, Perfect. She looked at the table of contents and went to the page about dandelions and let out an "Aaaw," after reading the page. It turns out that dandelions meant "Faithfulness" or "Happiness."

Some other flowers that she received were white heathers which meant "Protection" or "Wishes Will Come True," irises which meant a couple of things but she decided that it meant "Your Friendship Means So Much To Me" and "Faith," and some others.

She placed the purple tulips which had white spots carefully in the vase and opened the book about flowers, looking up tulips. She guessed that the tulips were meant to be variegated tulips because of the spots. It meant "Beautiful Eyes," which had Lydia taken aback. She smiled, thinking that these flowers had been the best so far, since people always thought of her as a freak because of her green eyes. Only Raven thinks that my eyes don't make me a freak at all, she thought.

Then a thought came across her mind. Was it Raven who had been sending her these flowers? She shook her head, her russet hair following in the same motion. It can't be, she thought. She forced herself to believe that he probably only said that because he had green eyes as well--even if they were a different shade from hers and because he wasn't supposed to say anything bad to her because his "master" fancied her.

She sighed heavily. If only it really was Raven...

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Lydia jumped out of the carriage upon arriving at the Ashenbert estate. She tucked loose strands of hair behind her ear and went inside.

"Ah, Lydia!" Edgar exclaimed and immediately approached her. He took her hand and kissed it. "How are you today, my caramel-haired maiden?"

"Edgar," Lydia said, slightly blushing and pulling her hand away. "Please refrain from doing such things." From the corner of her eye, she saw a figure standing not so far away and turned her head to see who it was. "Raven," she breathed out. "Good morning," she said in an utmost cheerful way and smiled sweetly.

"Good morning, Miss Lydia."

She rushed to his side and looked up at him, marveling at how much he's grown in just one year. He was nineteen now, and she was eighteen. "Raven! How many times do I have to tell you to call me by my name? It's Ly-di-a," she said with emphasis and shook her head. "If it's not Miss Carlton it's Miss Lydia."

"But I have to show you some respect. Master Edgar does after all-" He stopped what he was seeing mid-sentence, seeing that Lydia formed a sad expression on her face. Don't put on that face, he thought. You know that I can't resist it... "Lydia it is then," he murmured quietly.

She smiled widely. "Thanks Raven," she said happily. She felt someone place a hand on her shoulder and looked behind her to see who it was.

"It seems that you too have forgotten my presence," Edgar said, obviously feigning sadness. He snaked his arm around Lydia's waist and pulled her closer to him, causing Lydia to blush once again. "Edgar!" She yelled out again, but he ignored her. He looked at Raven intensely with his mauve eyes. Raven saw the look on his master's face and knew that he wasn't the least bit happy. It seems that he was jealous of Raven.

"It seems that I have some work to do... In the garden," Raven lied, knowing that his master just wanted him away for the moment. "I'll see you later, Lydia," he whispered and disappeared in a flash.

Once Lydia was done with her work for Edgar, she immediately left the room of a vast amount of books. She rushed to the garden, near the the huge fountain. "Raven!" She called out, and he instantly appeared. "Yes, Lydia?" His masculine voice came. They've been meeting each other in the garden almost everyday that she was there. She's been talking to Raven about a lot of things, including the flowers that she's been receiving. The fact that they've been meeting each other wasn't a secret or anything, but they didn't think that Edgar knew. Not that it mattered, since they really weren't doing anything to offend the Blue Knight Earl.

She smiled at the sight of him. "Guess what kind of flowers I got today." She ran to a nearby bench and sat down, her long, russet hair following her.

Raven shrugged, "I don't know. What was it?"

"Tulips. Purple with white spots. So I'm guessing it was supposed to be variegated tulips. Guess what variegated tulips stand for," she said, trying to keep her excitement in.

Raven shrugged again.

"It means 'Beautiful Eyes.' So far, that bunch of flowers have made me the happiest so far," she commented. Raven remained quiet and just listened to her. He never said much, but he always gave her advice on petty things like eating habits, or more important things like friends, family. ...And Edgar. "Can you believe it, Raven?" She really looked happy, and he smiled unconsciously. She continued, "Someone who doesn't think of me as a freak because of my green eyes, but thinks they're beautiful instead."

She turned to Raven. "Yes, they're beautiful indeed." He agreed, the smile still on his face.

Lydia averted her gaze, feeling her cheeks become hot. She wondered when Raven had become so good-looking and how much better he looks when he smiles. Come to think of it, she thought. Raven has just been listening to me, and hasn't told me much about himself much... Her jade green eyes lingered on his figure. He's still a mystery to me...

"Hey Raven," she started. "Tell me about yourself. I'm always going on and on here about myself, so it's your turn."

"I don't know," he simply said.

"Hm, what is your favorite color?"

"Green, I guess..."

"Do you like... Caramel?" She looked at the clouds, as if thinking of something else.

Caramel? As in the sweet caramel? Or... He stole a glance at Lydia. Or does she mean... Herself as caramel? "I don't know."

"Oh..." She seemed rather disappointed. "Then... What do you think of Edgar?"

"He's my master."

"That's a pretty vague answer. Have you ever... Liked or loved someone? That is, that isn't related to you..."

His snapped his head up immediately when he heard the question and looked at Lydia. His eyes widened for a while, but he regained his calm and collected self. It seemed as though he was hiding something. He looked at her with such an expression in his eyes and said, "I..."

Author's Note: Cliff hanger! Hehe, Sorry. First fan fiction of Earl and Fairy! Hope you guys enjoyed this short chapter. :)

-Aimee