Disclaimer: I don't own Hakushaku to Yosei… I'm just a fan…
Previously:
"Greetings Fairy Doctor Lydia"
CHAPTER 2
THE SIGHT
Edgar knew that there is another fairy in the room. Although he could not see it, the fairy doctor had already acknowledged its presence.
"I trust that Nico have already told you about everything?" Lydia inquired; her face is a look of seriousness and full attention.
"Actually No", the creature gruffly responded, "but he said that the fairy doctor needed my assistance as soon as possible", his voice, sarcastic.
With this, Edgar's brow rose up… curious of what the invisible being inside the room is talking about.
Lydia looked at Nico for a moment, then looked back at Edgar, motioning her hands as if showing someone,
"Edgar, I want you to meet Gul. He's my friend, a hobgoblin. Likewise, Gul, this is Lord Edgar, the Blue Knight Earl"
An audible gasp was heard from the invisible creature after hearing the Earl's name. It is clear that Nico did not explain to Gul his purpose at the Earl's residence or who will he be meeting.
"Although I could not see you Gul, I would like to welcome you to my humble abode" greeted the Earl, looking somewhere on Lydia's side where the gruff voice had come from, acting as a perfect host.
Edgar felt suddenly reluctant to how to interact with the creature seeing that he can't see him. However, upon hearing the word 'hobgoblin' Edgar became wary noting that goblins are mischievous creatures of lore. Wondering what his caramel haired maiden is planning, Edgar looked at her.
"Well that is new… A lord who can't see his people…" The goblin looked at the Earl, scrutinizing him from head to toe, "Now, I am certain what I am here for" he stated in a curious voice. Lydia looked at the invisible creature looking perplexed.
"Yes… As you know, the Blue Knight Earl is the official representative of the fairy world. Lord Edgar is the rightful heir of the Blue Knight Earl and is already recognized by the Merrows", she paused, then looked at the Earl who looked like he's contemplating on what the goblin said.
"However, to better serve all the creatures of fairy world, it is only befitting that he could see those who he has sworn to protect"
"And that is where I come in, isn't that right Fairy Doctor Lydia?", the little creature interjected. Gul stood up from the table he has been sitting in front of Lydia and the Earl. He slowly walked towards the Earl, and around Edgar's chair as if thinking of something… looking at the Earl every now and then as if sizing him up.
As if the hobgoblin has come to a decision, he nodded and stopped in front of the rust-haired fairy doctor.
"Aye, I may be able to do something in giving him 'the sight', however, as you know Fairy Doctor, I have no reason to bestow such favor to this human, even if he is our so-called Earl, for he has done nothing for me!" Gul said as if only the mere thinking of giving the said item to the Earl is inexcusable.
"Excuse me, both of you", Edgar interjected, "Sorry for the interrupting your conversation, but what exactly are you both talking about?" he asked looking uneasy for he is the main topic of their conversation yet he does not know anything that is happening even though he is right there.
Looking rather cornered, Lydia looked at the Earl in the eyes and spoke quietly, "Sorry for not explaining anything to you. But please put your faith in me. I'll never do anything that will harm you"
Edgar, fixed his eyes on Lydia, searching for something but sighed after sometime.
"Ok. You have my trust", he spoke. Short but every syllable spoken was meant. Lydia has a strong suspicion that Edgar already knows the gist of it.
"You are forgetting something Fairy Doctor," the hobgoblin cut-in, "I could never do anything like that to him", he paused pointing out the thing that he is supposed to do, looking at the unsuspecting Earl he said rather viscously, "I do not hold any favors for him!" he hissed, pointing at the Earl.
"Yes that is so", said Lydia, frighteningly calm. "But you owe me one have you not?", Lydia said choosing a demanding but light hearted tone at the same time so as not to offend the little creature.
"So this is what you wanted Fairy Doctor!" Gul grumbled, spewing incomprehensible curses in low tone with his audience only hearing something like, 'Lydia saving his life' and 'the doctor helping his kind'. After some silent deliberation, the hobgoblin conceded his defeat.
"Okay Fairy Doctor, you want to give him 'The Sight' then you get it" he grumbled, and again slowly walked near Edgar's chair sputtering incomprehensible things as he grew closer to the Earl.
~oOo~
Hearing the Hobgoblins approval, Lydia hid a sigh of relief. She motioned the Earl to sit back and relax. With the help of Nico, they make sure that no other being aside from themselves is present in the room. Even Raven is forbidden to go inside.
After making sure that everyone is relaxed, Lydia started her speech "Lord Edgar", Lydia spoke, slipping into her formal tone once again. "You must have be wondering why Gul is here", she paused looking at all three, the Earl is looking curious and Nico on the other hand is sporting a serious look on his face.
Lydia looked pointedly at Edgar. Closing her eyes, she let out a breath that she is holding. "Earl Edgar J.C. Ashenbert, Blue Knight Earl representing all of Fairy World", she started, using the title of the Earl to express the utmost seriousness of the situation, "I would like to ask of you that whatever happens in this room will be strictly confidential and that no other soul except the beings inside will know what will happen", Lydia paused and looked straightly at the Handsome Earl, her green eyes looking straight into his.
"I understand" said the Earl, sitting straight into his grand chair, taking the fairy doctor's cue, "I vow that no one aside from the four of us would know whatever will happen", saying a formal oath of secrecy.
After the declaration, the Fairy Doctor looked at the invisible hobgoblin. "Gul, I trust that you know what to do now"
"If not for him being the Earl of our people and after all that you have done for my kin, you know well that I would not allow this to happen" said the gruff voice, full of unspoken resignation
"Yes Gul" Lydia replied, on which the Earl's ear picked up the girl's tender voice, "I would like to thank you for this favor"
"Non-sense Fairy Doctor… Tis just a very small favor compared to what you did back then to my family on our forest" he said dismissively "Now now, I would like you to close your eyes, Blue Knight Earl" Gul said, directing his attention to the Earl who has been silent.
Edgar looked at Lydia apprehensively. Although he doesn't exactly know what is happening, he place his trust is the Caramel haired maiden. "Okay… I put my whole trust in you Lydia", he said, closing his eyes in the process.
Edgar felt something came over in his chair as the cushion shifted. He felt his heart starting to beat a little bit faster as he know that something important will happen in the next few moments.
"Here it goes", said Gul preparing the handsome man for whatever it is that will happen. Squeezing his eyes a little tighter the Earl readied himself. He heard Gul taking in his breath, and heard a rumbling noise and accumulating on one area. A moment after he felt something wet and sticky pasted all over his eyes.
Edgar panicked for he knows not of what is happening. He wanted to take the sticky paste off his face as it started to fall on his cheeks not to mention the said paste smells like a mixture of saliva and something akin to digested food, rotten insects and some kind of plants he does not recognize. He instinctively thought of wiping them off, but quickly decided against it.
He felt his eyes getting a little warmer and a stinging sensation could be felt on his eyelids. The earl wrinkled his nose already feeling the quick need to wipe the slimy paste off his face. He have to put up with the putrid smell but,
"Ano… Lydia, there is something sticky on my face, could I wipe them off? It is stinging a little bit and it is making me rather uncomfortable" the earl asked, unsure.
The earl heard rustling of clothes then hurried footsteps towards him after his inquiry. Then he felt someone dabbing his eyes with a soft wet cloth, trying to wipe away the sticky paste. Then a dry cloth afterwards.
When he felt like the goo over his eyes are removed, he hold out his hand and grasp the wrist of the person who helped before it moved away. He heard her breath hitch, while another at the far end guffawed.
"Could I open my eyes now?", he ask softly, still having a firm grip on her hands.
"Yes"
Slowly he opened his eyes, not sure at first for the first thing he saw is white. The Earl panicked inside for a moment. Shocked that he could not see anything but calmed himself a little then, he started to saw a silhouette.
"Lydia" he whispered, as he saw the outline gradually getting clearer. After several blinks, he got his sense of sight back.
"Could you see clearly now Edgar?" Lydia asked leveling her head down to his face, with a little worry crease on her face.
Instead of answering, Edgar traced Lydia's face longingly while the other hand is still holding her wrist.
"I panicked" he said, looking at her face as if it is all that has mattered, his face getting closer to hers, "I thought that I would never see your face again"
Lydia could once again feel the blood rush into her cheeks. Edgar must have been one of the best flirts around. And although she has been with him all this time, she still has never learned how to properly put up her defenses against his attacks.
As if all things are basically normal, the Earl slided his hands from her wrists to her hand and hold it little tighter, making sure that she can't let go, and gingerly place gentle kisses on it. He moved slowly… and almost painfully, as if he was holding something back, and it is hurting him but is relieved all the same.
The lady on the other hand was surprised by his actions and panicked. She hastily shakes her hand after feeling the little kisses and freed it from his grasp. Red in the face and holding the hand as if it is burned, she saw Nico having the "knowing" look and Gul with a sloppy grin on his face he's trying to hide but failing miserably. Embarrassment filled her system.
She wanted at that instant for the ground to swallow her whole.
Lydia heard a sigh, hearing this and still looking flushed she shyly looked back at the Earl who is looking at her with an intensity she couldn't decipher.
"You don't really know of your charms Lydia", he whispered hastily, one hand balled into a fist, as if angry with himself, but was heard clearly by their spectators.
"Huh?", she responded, puzzled.
Hearing that, Edgar seemed to have lost his patience, not even considering that there are other creatures inside the room, he took several steps to reach her and encircled her waist with his arm a little bit roughly and looked at her eyes with an intensity that made her hold back her breath, strangely enough, she could not look away from his eyes, as if his eyes put her in a spell that kept her captivated, locking his green peridot ones to his ash mauve ones that seems to be getting several shades darker. Lydia could not help but to look back and wonder.
"Hold yer horses young Lord" cut a gruffly voice, successfully making Edgar stop his other hand mid-air. As if going back to reality, the Earl loosened his hold on the Fairy Doctor and looked back to where the voice came from only to be surprised by what he saw.
Author's Note:
Sorry that it has been a long well, VERY LONG time since I've updated. I'm too busy with life these days but nevertheless, when I see reviews for my stories, it really makes my day. So thank you guys for the reviews!
I've decided to hold the story 'Loving from Afar' and concentrate on this one. Good thing that the next few days will be a holiday so I'll be able to continue with the other chapter. Please review!
