𝐇𝐀𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 | 𝐔.

𝐈|𝐎𝐍𝐄

"At least in this life time, We're sticking together."
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[Name] let out a small hum of satisfaction, taking a sip of her tea, crossing her legs underneath the frills of her petticoats.

She sighed, setting her cup of tea down—as if something was bugging her thoughts. She listened to the chirps and cheeps of birds while she sat out underneath her marble gazebo, looking out at the large lake right beside it.

"Why the frown, my dear [name]?" Asked a rather deep raspy voice, the feelings of nails grazing on her skin, right beside the corner of her lip.

[Name] stayed silent for a moment, the corner of her lip twitching downwards at the unwelcomed voice, her brow creasing gently.

"It's nothing." She sighed out, gently swatting the hand away. The voice chuckled, pulling its hand back before resting it on her shoulder. "You know, such an expression shouldn't easily evince the thoughts you keep hidden in that pretty little head of yours. You're always so stoic, always hiding your troubles with that blank face." The voice remarked with a deep chuckle, relentlessly prodding on [Name]'s cheek with its nail.

She scoffed, swatting the hand away once more. "You're one to talk." She muttered, standing up from her chair, walking to the railing of the marble gazebo. "I'd like to be alone." She said, not even sparing a glance to the voice's owner.

"Quite the stinger today, aren't you, my lady?" The voice inquired in a mocking tone, a small giggle emitting from behind.

The voice gave her a small hum, "Well, alright. I'll visit another time then. Cheerio, darling!" The voice bid, the sounds of humming and thick heels clicking on the marble pathway, that led from the gazebo and back to the estate, fading into nothingness.

[Name] sighed, placing her hand on the marble railing, grazing her fingertips on the engravings done. "Out of all days, he had to come today." She whispered to herself, her eyes flickering from the lake to her hand.

She took a deep breath, standing up straight—her chin up, her air poised and elegant as she walked away from the railing and down the two steps of the entrance of the gazebo, her butler following after her as her maids picked up the table.

"Write to the Earl Phantomhive. Inform him I'll have to sadly refuse his invitation to his 'tea' party." She said to her butler, waving him off as she walked up the steps of the terrace, walking through the opened door of the estate.

"Of course, my.. lady.." Her butler trailed off as he stopped at the steps that led up to the estate, watching [Name] walk in and leaving him behind. He pressed his lips in a thin line, sighing through his nose.

[Name] walked up the imperial staircase, holding up her dress with her hands. She muttered to herself, the corners of her lips quirked downwards into a frown when she reached the hallway leading to her room.

"Out of all days..." She repeated under her breath, opening the doors to her room, walking inside. Her handmaiden jumped up, startled, "My lady!" She yelped out, almost dropping an accessory.

Her handmaiden, Myra, glanced at [Name]'s expression and pursed her lips. "My lady? May I inquire what's troubling you?" Myra asked in her soft spoken voice, walking behind her after the door closed, and undoing the dress lace.

"It's just about today, Myra. Don't worry about me." [Name] answered, letting the dress get pulled over her head. She kept her arms raised, letting Myra slip on her black dress, keeping her gaze downcast.

Myra gave her a simple hum of understanding, pulling on the strings of the black dress to fit [Name]'s figure. [Name] grunts softly, holding onto the post of the bed, sucking in her stomach so the dress could fit snugly.