Little Dove

The Visitor

The entire household was preparing for mine and Ciel's visitor. It was a man named Damiano, head of our family's factory in East India. My brother and I were both dreading his visit; Ciel dreaded it because he thought it would be boring, but I wasn't looking forward to it because I had a bad feeling about it. Not just because I thought it wouldn't go well but because it would end in misery for someone. Sebastian was sweet and reassured me that everything would be alright. It was beautiful to see his sweet side, and it made me even happier to know that I brought out that side of him.

"Everything will be alright, and I will ensure it." Sebastian stroked my face. "I believe you; I just know how unpredictable Damiano can be. Something bad always happens when he visits." I hugged Sebastian, desperate for consolation. "Trust me, Clara. I will make sure this evening will be perfect." he returned the hug and kissed my forehead. "I trust you, darling." I smiled, still in his arms. "I love you, sweetheart." Sebastian kissed me softly and nuzzled my neck. "I love you too, my sweet." I giggled and kissed him back. Our relationship was so romantic, and we constantly reminded each other of our love.

Finny and Bardroy were walking by while Sebastian and I were still kissing. "Sebastian and Lady Clara?" Finny whispered loudly. He was always blissfully unaware of things and hadn't known about my and Sebastian's relationship. "Don't interrupt them," Bardroy whispered sharply. "We can hear you," Sebastian stopped kissing me to scold them. "Sorry, Sebastian." Finny apologized profusely. "We were just wondering if you could help us with something," Bardroy said. "Yes, what is it?" he asked, still holding me. "Just come see," Finny said, his face red with embarrassment. "Alright," he said. "I can help with whatever's needed," I offered, taking Sebastian's hand. He smiled gratefully at me, "You're such a kind young woman."

Sebastian and I held hands as Finny and Bardroy led us to the kitchen with evident nerves on their faces.

"How exactly did this happen?" Sebastian asked with a frustrated expression.

Finny had used the extra-strength weed killer on the garden and ended up killing all the plants, Mey-Rin tripped and dropped all the china from the cabinet, and Bardroy used his flame-thrower to cook all the meat faster. Our house steward, Tanaka, stood there with a cup of hot water and chuckled.

"We're so sorry, Lady Phantomhive! Please forgive us," the servants begged and pleaded. I chuckled, "No harm, no foul. Accidents happen." "Oh, thank you, mistress! You're so kind!" Mey-Rin expressed her gratitude. "Your forgiveness is greatly appreciated." Finny bowed to me. "Alright, stop groveling, the mistress." Sebastian scolded, narrowing his red eyes. He looked at his pocket watch to see how much time we had left until Mr. Damiano arrived. "Leave everything to me," Sebastian told the servants. "My offer still stands," I told Sebastian playfully. He smiled sweetly at me, "You need to make yourself even more beautiful than you already are for your guest this evening, but I do appreciate your help, darling." he kissed my forehead and then my lips. "You know how to make a woman feel special, sweetheart." I kissed him on the cheek and then his lips.

I walked up to my room to prepare for dinner that evening. Ciel was in his study doing some work, and I decided to continue walking to my room so as not to bother him.

First, I changed into my lovely pale pink gown with a corset. Wearing my mother's hairpins and my Phantomhive family crest on a necklace that I had was something I made vital to my ensemble.

Soon, Mr. Damiano arrived, and we were all in Ciel's study, playing a board game and discussing business matters. "The progress we've been making with the East India Company has been astonishing; we have the beginnings of a top-notch staff." Mr. Damiano told us. "That's quite wonderful; what can we do to help further the progress?" I took my turn for the game as I responded. Ciel was bored out of his mind. "Your turn," he told Mr. Damiano. "Alright, so I just spin this..." he took his turn. "We were asking if you could contribute a few thousand pounds..." our visitor was interrupted by my little brother, "What a shame, you lost a leg." "Is there no way for me to restore my leg?" Mr. Damiano didn't know what to think of the situation. Ciel wasn't having any of it; he especially didn't like Damiano dared to ask for more money from us.

"Pardon my intrusion, but dinner is served," Sebastian told us. "Of course," I smiled at him. He held his arm to me to escort me outside to where we would eat. Ciel and Damiano followed us. We were served a wonderful Japanese dish, donburi. While we were eating, Mey-Rin accidentally spilled wine all over the tablecloth. Luckily, Sebastian pulled the tablecloth away just in time before Damiano could notice.

"Where did the tablecloth go?" he asked with confusion. "There was an unsightly speck of dirt on the cloth, so I had Sebastian remove it," Ciel replied. "I must apologize for the inconvenience; please, enjoy the rest of the meal at your leisure." Sebastian bowed and walked away with the cloth. Before he left, he lovingly caressed my face and smiled handsomely. I smiled sweetly as he walked away.

I was excited that this evening had turned out well, but Damiano had gotten into a bit of bad luck. His fate in the board game happened in reality.
Ciel and I heard him screaming in the distance. I didn't know how to react, but Ciel chuckled, "He has the most unattractive scream. He sounds almost like a pig off to the slaughter. What presumption." "And he sells our East Indian factory without telling us, and then he dared to ask us for more money," I replied. "Did he even think to retain our trust?" my brother said. I chuckled to myself, "They think they can take advantage of us just because we're young," I looked at my brother and smiled hopefully, "But at least Mother and Father taught us how to survive." "Indeed," he replied monotonously. He looked at the board game on the coffee table and tipped over Damiano's game piece with one finger, "I'm afraid once something is truly lost, one can never get it back again." "You'd be correct, dear brother," I sat in the chair across from him. I put the game piece back in the box as if burying it in a grave. 

We had a lot of responsibility, being as young as we were. We were over the Phantomhive house, and ensuring it stood in its rightful place was our job.
It had been a trying day for everyone at Phantomhive Manor.