【𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬】➛𝓑𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓑𝓾𝓽𝓵𝓮𝓻

24

The atmosphere was pretty warm, with everyone in the manor all in one place along with three extra guests. To any other nobleman it must've been a shocking sight, servants mingling with their master, 

"Ah! We have to go play in the snow tomorrow!" Finnian exclaimed, the other two servants agreeing as they nodded vigorously, they all sat by the window, on the floor carpet, each with plates with slices of the cake that they had served themselves.

[Name] smiled at the small trio before turning over to Ciel, "Do you like it?"

The earl lifted his head, the fork already passed through his lips with a chunk of his third slice of cake, and with a small blush of embarrassment on his cheeks, [Name] already had her answer before he could give it to her. They sat at a table with his aunt and Elizabeth while Sebastian remained standing next to Ciel's side. Both his aunt and betrothed let out their own laughs at his reaction,

"I can assure you, he most definitely enjoys the cake, and I must say, so do I. Where did you learn to bake like this? it's simply heavenly," Francis patted her lips with a napkin as she turned to [Name], Elizabeth nodding along,

"Mother's right! This cake is extraordinary!" Lizzy exclaimed, clapping her hands as she waited for [Name] to reveal some sort of baking secret,

"Ah, I had told the servants a similar explanation, I couldn't cook or bake at all, only for the past year have I dedicated more time to it," [Name] also wiped the corner of her lips with a napkin before setting it down to see the surprised expressions on everyone's faces, even Sebastian was quite surprised, though his face didn't show it as such as the other three at the table,

"Only the past year?! You must've learnt extremely quickly!" Elizabeth exclaimed before her mother shushed her a little, however, also agreeing,
"I do agree, you must be quite adept at learning a skill so quickly, and so proficiently as well," she commented, Ciel stayed silent, waiting for his aunt to finish before making a quick observation,

"You have a butler do you not? Why learn a skill like that?"

"Ash...had only been my butler for a few months, and even then I still often cook for myself..." Her voice was softer, softer than when she had begun talking about herself. Both earl and butler noticed how her mood dropped slightly with the mention of her butler, and out of pure curiosity, decided to ask,

"Speaking of him, is he not with you? Did something happen?" Ciel asked and Lizzy interjected with a small jab to his torso saying how it was rude,

"No..! I understand completely why you would think that...but truthfully, I'm used to being independent, it's practically built into me to be the type of person to fend for myself..." The last sentence, to many ears, fell deaf the true meaning, but to the sharp ears of the phantomhive butler, he picked up instantly the hesitancy in her voice. And Although their previous interaction, he had gotten some sort of hint but didn't want to ask as she wouldn't have given him a straight answer, they were familiar, but not yet friendly with each other.