The Hunt for Jack the Ripper (The Phantomhive Diaries #1)

46. Ciel Phantomhive

Now that the chapter is finalizing, I might take a small break from posting to give myself time writing future chapters of the fanfiction. I already finished drafting Chapter 4 and I'll be drafting Chapter 5, 6 and 7. I still hope you all stick around. Thanks so much. 

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Seated in his office chair, Ciel released a heavy sigh. The day had been arduous and unpleasant, leaving his body weary and drained from the relentless thrashing inflicted by Vanel. Despite his aunt's insistence on rest, Ciel felt compelled to finish packing the case files. Azzurro Vanel, that wretched bastard, had callously scattered them about in his relentless pursuit of the accursed key that had disrupted the young lad's tranquility. Sebastian had tidied up most of the chaos, but there remained much work for him to attend to. He couldn't bear to leave the task unfinished. Once the files were in order, he would entrust them to Randall.

Fatigued as he may be, the spiced carrot and lentil soup did provide some relief. Despite his indifference towards spices, his weary body yearned for it. It was precisely what he required. A steaming cup of hot chocolate was all that remained to satiate him. Alas, Sebastian mistakenly served him ginger tea, causing great vexation. Curse him. Ciel would protest if he weren't so drained.

He looked over one of the case files. "Alois Trancy..." Ciel wasn't entirely familiar with the case, as he wasn't born when the incident happened. All he knew was that he was the missing son of a lord and that Ciel's father took the case after the devastated mother committed suicide. If the boy were still alive, he would have been of a similar age to Ciel. Yet, the truth remained elusive, buried deep within the shadows of the unsolved mysteries that lingered in that ominous box.

As the door ominously creaked open, Ciel's gaze lifted to meet Sebastian's. With a heavy sigh, the boy closed the file before him.

"Young master," Sebastian said. "Shouldn't you be resting?"

"I need to finish organizing these files," Ciel said.

"You shouldn't even be awake at these late hours."

The boy raised an eyebrow at his butler. "Worried about me now? Or are you worried about your meal being damaged?"

Sebastian let out a soft chuckle. "No, not really. I'm simply concerned that your aunt will be displeased yet again if she finds out I'm letting you work while you're still recovering."

"Well, I'm fine," Ciel said as he placed the last file back in the box. "I'll be heading back shortly after this. So, there's no need to worry about my aunt firing you. She has no jurisdiction. I'm the earl. So, I decide whether or not I can fire you. And even though I despise your presence, I can't fire you."

"Indeed, we are bound by a contract, if I recall."

Ciel nodded. "And whether I like it or not, I'm stuck with you until the contract is complete." The rest he didn't need to mention. "So, Madam Red can't do anything about it even if she wanted to."

The lad observed a subtle shift in Sebastian's behavior. A faint hint of contempt instead of his usual affable demeanor. Ciel knew that his butler disapproved of his words. The mere thought of someone disrupting their contract sufficed to vex Sebastian. Ciel wouldn't say enraged. In all honesty, he had never witnessed Sebastian display any signs of wrath. And he prayed he would never have to. Ciel shuddered at the mere thought of a wrathful Sebastian.

"Let's hope it stays that way, my lord." That was the only thing Sebastian could say on the matter. "Would you like for me to deliver the box to Scotland Yard tonight?"

Ciel shook his head. "Tomorrow in the morning. It's been a long day." After letting out a heavy yawn, he got up from his chair. "Is the key safe?"

"Indeed, it is. Although, I still question whether leaving the key with Tanaka was a good idea or not."

"I trusted Tanaka the most. Besides, Vanel didn't have enough brains to search through a cripple's room. So, I knew the key would be safe."

"And if he found out?"

"If he had and went to attack Tanaka, no doubt I'd have you deal with the problem," Ciel said. "Now...are we done?"

Sebastian nodded. "Yes, my lord."

"Good, because I want to get some sleep."

As Ciel attempted to walk around his desk, a searing agony pierced his left ribcage, rendering his legs feeble and unsteady. His fall was abrupt, his grasp futile as a cascade of case files tumbled to the ground. Upon his knees, he knelt, clutching his side in anguish.

Sebastian's eyes widened. "My lord..."

He rushed to Ciel's side but the boy held up his hand, stopping Sebastian from helping him.

"Stop!" Ciel snapped. "Don't touch me. I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Sebastian asked.

Ciel nodded. "Yes, I'm sure." After taking a few deep breaths, he looked over at the mess he made. All the case files were scattered on the floor once again. "Damn it."

Sebastian placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "My lord, let me help. That's what I'm here for, remember?"

Ciel sighed. "Fine."

With Sebastian's assistance, Ciel recovered the files from the floor one by one and placed them back in the box.

However, Ciel's keen eye caught sight of a photograph that had slipped from the stack of files. It was the family portrait from the Dai Family Case. Ciel released a deep sigh before retrieving the fallen image.

As he gazed upon the image, a wave of dread and disbelief overcame him, and his eyes widened in terror. His complexion grew pale, and his heart raced with fear. Ciel came to the chilling realization that Mr. Shoi-Ming Dai's daughter bore an uncanny resemblance to Jan. Every detail, from the eyes to the auburn red hair, seemed to mirror Jan's features. It was as though Mey-Rin Dai and Jan were the same.

Could it be...? Ciel thought. No, it can't be. Scotland Yard confirmed Mey-Rin Dai dead. They simply couldn't find the body. Even my father couldn't find her. Or her body, in this case. She can't be alive. Not after all these years.

Although, Ciel remembered something when he met Jan.

"...Jan. My name is Jan."

Jan faltered when he uttered his name. Ciel sensed the deception in his words. However, such trivial matters were of little concern to him back then. He was too overfocused by the looming threat of Vanel's fury.

But it couldn't be right. Mey-Rin was a girl. Jan was a boy. Or at least, that's what Ciel thought.

"If I help you, my boss will kill me..."

If it were true, and Jan was the same person in the photograph, that meant that the missing girl was still alive, and had been right in front of Ciel's face the entire time.

The more he thought of it, the more he realized he made a grave mistake in letting her go free.

"Master?" Sebastian spoke up as Ciel remained frozen and unresponsive; his face drained from all colour.

The photograph quivered loudly as Ciel's hand shook and fear started to consume him.

"Oh my god," he said, his breath shallow. "I don't believe it."

"What is it?"

"We made a mistake, Sebastian," Ciel said before glancing at him, his eye still wide. "And this time, it was my fault."

"I don't understand -."

"It's Jan."

Sebastian frowned in confusion.

Ciel showed him the photograph. "The Chinese boy. He told me his name was Jan, remember? I knew she was lying this entire time. But I never put the pieces together until now."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "She, my lord?"

"The Chinese boy was no boy. She's a girl. And now with the photograph, I know who she is."

That's when the butler's eyes widened in surprise. "You don't mean..."

Ciel gave him an assuring nod. "Her real name is not Jan. It's Mey-Rin Dai. She's Shoi-Ming Dai's daughter...She lives."

END OF CHAPTER 3