【𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬】➛𝓑𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓑𝓾𝓽𝓵𝓮𝓻

4

Rewritten 01/08/2023

"Now may I ask what are you all doing on the floor?" A deep yet elegant voice questioned the three people on the floor, seemingly frantically searching for something, 

"Oh, Sebastian!!" A feminine voice cried "I was counting the cutlery and china yes I was! And there's a missing cup and teaspoon!!" the woman in a maid's dress cried, 

The man stood before her and sighed, "Mey-rin...are you sure it's not your glasses again?"

A younger boy's voice perked up, "No!! Me an' Baldroy counted em' as well!! There's a missing cup and teaspoon, Sebastian!!" a blond boy exclaimed, still on the floor,

"Well, Finny...how peculiar," Sebastian put a hand on his chin, "I'll make sure to go out later in the day to buy some from the original dealers, but perhaps you can get Agni to help look with you all while he is still here" he heaved a sigh as he reached into his pocket to pull out his pocket watch, only for it not to be there. He froze momentarily before patting himself down entirely, the three paused their searching to look at Sebastian, they had never seen him this confused before.

"Sebastian? Everythin' alright?" Baldroy asked, scratching the back of his head.

"My pocket watch..." Sebastian's face held a perplexed expression. He rushed out of the kitchen, towards his quarters.

"What's up with him?" Baldroy asked again, taking the cigarette out from his lips, Mey-rin and Finny shrugged, just as confused as he was but eventually continued with their search.

The man trashed his entire room out, where on earth could that pocket watch be? The butler distinctly remembers having it just a few hours ago. He sighed, rubbing his temples, he was supposed to be the perfect butler, how could he lose a pocket watch?

 "What a pain...I shall have to make another appointment to get a new pocket watch..." He fixed his suit before walking out and towards his master's study, all while thinking about where it could be, however, no other location came into mind. Once arrived at the door to his master's study, he knocked. 

On the other side came the stern voice of a boy, "Come in..." Sebastian walked in, still not in his full state of mind. "You're late." the boy stated firmly from his seat, irritated.

"I apologise, my lord. It appears that I have lost my pocket watch..." Sebastian bowed, and the boy raised a brow,

"You? lost something? Well...that's quite a concern, of all people in this manor you're not even on the list of forgetful people..." The boy sipped his tea, Sebastian shook his head, 

"Yes...a cup and a teaspoon have also gone missing, I wouldn't have thought anything about it until my pocket watch...it's as if they had just...disappeared, gone in an instant..." The butler sighed, and the boy, Ciel, leaned back in his chair.

"You really think it could be something that serious? I'll admit I'd expect those lot to lose things but...you, it is quite a surprise..." He sighed, "However until something more...major, actually disappears...just ignore it, I don't want unnecessary distress in the manor over lost items that we can easily replace," Ciel waved his hands before signalling Sebastian to come closer, "Make sure Agni and Soma aren't seen by our guests tonight, you can do that, can't you?"

Sebastian bowed with a neutral expression, "Yes, Young master...." After he did that he bowed and walked out, getting prepared to set the table for the guests...

"Eh? What did you just..." Agni turned to Sebastian, quite shocked. 

The butler himself, however, continued to set out the table as the man beside him paused, "When the guests are here, would you please leave the manor?"

"W-why?" Agni seemed distressed almost, worried that it was something serious,

"Today's guest is the commissioner of Scotland Yard, Lord Randall. He is the lead investigator in the suspended Anglo-Indian incidents." 

"Could it be he's here to capture me?!" 

"Of course not." He continued to set the table, grabbing plates and cutlery from the utility trolley from behind him as he spoke "No one knows the identity of the culprit behind those incidents. Please calm yourself"

Agni tightened his fist "But even though I was acting on orders, those were entirely my fault. Shouldn't I be punished properly to make up for my sins?"

Sebastian stayed silent, but an annoyed expression settled on his face "If you were not here, what would happen to Prince Soma?" That seemed to silence Agni "Will you break your promise to stay by Prince Soma's side?"

"B-But--"

"Everything is over. And the incidents will not occur again." Sebastian turned "Leave the rest to us. Stay in your room. Is that all right?"

....

"Now- hm?" Sebastian paused. As turned the trolley that he was going to bring back to the kitchen was gone. Luckily he had already set the table meaning that no other items were lost as well... But for a whole utility trolley to just disappear.

"Agni? Did you take the trolley?"

Agni snapped out of his trance and looked over to Sebastian, "Ah- But..it was just right there!" even Agni seemed surprised.

"Yes...yes it was right here..."

.

.

.

.

.

I got my makeup and hair done, it was now 18:50, and he should be here any moment, I exited my bedroom, giddy, going to get my shoes on. 

"Ah- I forgot my bag," I said to myself as I realised this last minute, I must've left it in my bedroom, I quickly rushed to the bedroom where I found my bag, swinging it over my shoulder, I rushed back out, As I turned into the hallway I jumped in surprise to find...a utility trolley in my hallway.

"What the actual fuck." I stared at it for a few moments before the ringing of my doorbell snapped me out of my thoughts, I was instantly distracted and quickly ran towards the door...However, as I didn't clean my house since I left a mess out of it, it appeared that I tripped over something...a cord? a box? something.

Where am I?