The Butterfly Caught in the Spider's Web (Alois Trancy x OC)

Do You Not?

December 25, 1887 

A moment that seemed to stretch on for thousands of years passed when Alois' and Arabella's eyes met. His lips pressed up against the cup as he tilted it back. For a moment, his eyes widened slightly.  Arabella's heart dropped as she watched Alois quickly pull the cup away from his mouth and set it back on the table. He moved to grab a napkin and furiously wiped it against his mouth, letting out erratic coughs. When he looked back up, he noticed that everyone had now turned to peer at him.

"I spilled the drink. How silly of me!" he said as he let out a giggle.

Mason, seemingly haven gotten used to the Earl's strange behavior, merely shook his head in disapproval and turned back to his meal.

"We have all had moments like that," Emilia kindly offered to the conversation as she lowered her eyes to the rich red tablecloth that covered the dining table.

"Does your daughter have moments like this as well?" Alois asked, his blue eyes glancing up to stare at Arabella.

"It is only natural, Trancy..." Arabella murmured, avoiding his eye. Beneath the table, her hands nervously wrung together.

"Hannah!" Alois petulantly called out, his volume causing the other to cringe slightly. The maid silently walked forward, her eyes set on the polished floors. "I want to try that new drink that the merchant brought over! Throw this old drink away!"

"Yes, Your Highness," Hannah mechanically replied as she reached to take the goblet from the Earl's outstretched hand.

Alois' eyes flicked over to watch Hannah, cupping his cheek in his palm. "Now, why would we let the beverage go to waste, though? Why don't you drink it, Hannah?"

Hannah's eyes hesitantly glanced up at the blond boy through her light purple bangs. Her fingers wrapped around the neck of the goblet, and she slowly lifted it to her lips. Arabella anxiously held her breath as she watched the maid tilt the goblet back a bit. Hannah took a small sip of the poisoned wine before quickly placing it back down on the tray and scurrying away from the dining hall. Arabella watched her leave as her heart rose to her throat. 

"If I were you, I would not be letting my servants drink from my cup. They will start to think that they are equal," Mason commented as Alois glanced up from his plate to lock eyes with the black-haired man. 

"Oh, my servants are well aware that they are not on the same level as me. I make sure to teach them. Besides, I hardly think that a measly sip from my glass is going to sway the knowledge that they hold of their much lower status," Alois responded, moving to cut a small piece of his steak and placing it in his mouth. As the blond boy slowly chewed, he watched Mason's reaction. 

"The servants hardly deserve rewards for completing the tasks that are expected of them," Mason said as his posture stiffened. His dark brown eyes slit as he studied the young boy. 

"That may be true, but there was no use in wasting the beverage. Don't you agree?"

"Hogwash. You have more than enough money to waste on different tasteful drinks," Mason responded with a forced smile.

Alois' face lip with a smile as he giggled. "That is a sentiment that we do not share~"

"Why, you-" Mason mumbled as he started to rise out of the chair. However, Emilia swiftly reached to her right to pull on his arm.

"Now, now... My darling, I am more than certain that the Earl Trancy did not mean any offense by his remark," Emilia soothingly said, making eye contact with a seething Mason. "There is no use in being a fool in front of our future son-in-law."