Happily Ever After

Chapter 28

(Y/N) POV

Minutes turned into hours, hours turned into days. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months.

There was not much progress with Alois. He had only retrieved a few fragments these past several months, but it was better than nothing.

To be honest, I am starting to get tired and exhausted. I am starting to lose hope by the minute. We have tried anything and everything we could possibly think of, but the results — almost none. Perhaps this was harder than I thought.

Alois was never the same. He has been a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode any minute, since he came back. Piss him off or annoy him once and there goes his pleasant behaviour.

"You never do anything right, you tart!" Alois landed a slap on Hannah's cheek. "Claude, get her out of my sight."

"Yes, your highness," Claude replied and proceeded to usher Hannah, the maid, out of the room.

"There you are (Y/N)! Sorry for the delay. Come, have some tea with me." Alois smiled as if nothing happened. He went from mad to glad in a blink of an eye.

"(Y/N)? Are you even listening?" He snapped me out of my thoughts. "Do you want to have tea or not?" He asked in an annoyed tone.

"O-oh yes. Yes please." I replied.

- ○-

"Catch me if you can!"

"(Y/N), give it back! I need to finish this before the weekend."

"No, you're working too much. If you want this file back, then take a break. You're working harder than a horse."

Alois chased me along the hallways of his manor. I tried to convince him to take a break, but he was just too stubborn.

"At least I'm working, unlike someone."

"For your information, I finished mine before coming here."

"Just hand me the paperwork. I'll give you a kiss if you do."

"Wait wha-?" His statement made my brain stop working for a second, giving him a chance to steal it from me. He grabbed the paper from my hand, but I was holding onto it tight. I lost my footing, making me trip and causing it to rip into two. 'Uh oh...'

I immediately apologised, but he did not accept it. Instead, he looked down at me with rage and started yelling.

"You clumsy *_______*! Now look at what you've done. If only you had handed it over in the first place." He harshly retrieved the torn piece from my grasp. "Thanks to you, I have to do twice as much work. How great!" He said in a sarcastic tone. "Leave and let me be. I don't wish to see you right now." He said coldly.

"But I can help-"

"I said leave. I don't need your 'help'. You only make things worse. Get your arse off my property."

I stood up on my feet and spared him once last glance before turning around  to leave. From what I have heard, he locked himself all day inside his study to finish the rest of the paperwork after.

He was like a light switch, going from sad to mad to glad in the blink of an eye. He would go from showering you with compliments to pouring down countless insults onto you.

He used to be polite and kind to others, even to the lowliest of servants. Yes, he would be angry and shoot you with one or two insults if you make him mad, but it was never as bad like this. I wonder what he went through during those two long years that made him change in such a way.

Speaking of servants, the staff of the Trancy manor seemed a bit odd to me. I don't know if it is just me or if other people notice this as well, but they were simply... out of this world.

Alois and I were visiting the Phantomhive manor for Lizzy and Ciel had invited us both for dinner. While we were patiently waiting for our meal, we heard Meyrin scream, "Look out!".

A tower of ceramic plates came crashing down on us. I braced myself for the impact, but it never came. Instead, Claude caught them all mid-air with an inhumane speed and precision. No ordinary person could ever do that. It was so amazing to see. Too amazing that I could not believe my eyes.

-○-

I was making my way to Alois's study to discuss some important business with him. I arrived ten minutes earlier than the appointed time for I hated being late. As I approached the wooden doors, Hannah came out of the room with a bloody hand upon her eye.

"Hannah, what happened? Who did this to you?" I asked with concern.

"I did," said a familiar voice. I looked behind Hannah and saw Alois standing with his arms crossed.

"Why did you-?"

"Because she deserved it. Now come along. We have important things to discuss."

"No. She needs help."

"She doesn't. She'll be fine by herself." He tried to reassure me with a smile, but it was not helping at all. "Now, come inside or I won't let you in later," he threatened.

Not wanting to leave the poor maid alone, I dragged my heavy feet towards the study, sparing Hannah one last glance.

After the meeting, I left the room and searched for Hannah, hoping that she was alright. I expected to see her recovering in bed, but to my surprise, she was completing her chores as if nothing ever happened. Not only that, she was doing them excellently despite having one eye covered. The whole manor was sparkling, and not a single speck of dust was in sight.

The Trancy servants were indeed the finest. It was impossible to find flaws in them. The food — exquisite. The manor — squeaky clean. The service — excellent. The hospitality — very heart-warming. Not an injury nor illness could prevent them from doing their best. I reckon they could even do these things with their eyes closed! They have proven themselves to be the perfect servants time and time again.

Perhaps, a bit too perfect...