Noblewoman | Black Butler

| 21 |

( chapter twenty-one ! )

    "Mr. Phelps!"

    Only the sound of crackling thunder can be heard throughout the room when the body of Patrick Phelps is discovered, a third round of wide eyes and stances of discomfort wash over the guests. This has been the third dead body to be discovered within two days. Paired with the fact that none of them can just up and leave due to the weather, it causes tension to fester.

    Arthur, seemingly feeling brave, is the closest one to the body. Nearly everyone else has almost backed themselves against the walls, but the wordsmith crouches beside the body to get a closer look.

    "Rigor mortis is already setting in. So he's been dead for a while," says Arthur with a shake of his head.

    Standing in the doorway, Grimsby shields Irene from the body. "Are we having some kind of nightmare?" he asks.

    'Oh, that would be wonderful.. My dreams have always been strange. Perhaps this is just a long one?' Beside Ciel, Leah stands between him and Anna. The feeling of discomfort overcomes her, and she uses her hands to cling onto them, hoping to feel a semblance of comfort. The girl can only wish to disappear from the situation.

    "He doesn't have any external injuries like the other two though.." Arthur points out while searching Phelps' body before his eyes widen in shock when he lifts the collar of his shirt. "There's a wound on his neck like he was stabbed by something! It might be from a needle-like object that was used to inject a poison."

    Ciel lets out a noise of question before his eyes begin to drift past a short wall, falling upon the sight of Lau and Ran Mao ransacking his closet full of clothes, hats, and shoes.

    "Wow, the Earl sure lives in a nice room~" Lau muses, sifting through the numerous different coats the younger boy owns. Crouched down beside him, Ran Mao carefully places hats on her head as she stares blankly at the floor.

    Eye twitching in shock and annoyance, Ciel can already feel his irritation growing. "Don't just search people's rooms as you please!" he yells.

    The pair ignore Ciel's words of protest in favor of examining a piece of fabric, earning a smirk from Lau. "You held on to the clothes I gave you~ Did you wear them?" Ran Mao wears the hat Ciel wore when he attended Viscount Druitt's ball, holding up the garment for Lau to see.

    "Listen when people are talking!" the earl's voice is nearly a shout when he is ignored, striking even more annoyance within him.

    Peering past her fiancé's shoulder, Leah perks up at the sight of Lau and Ran Mao going through Ciel's items. Having lost her will to care in the moment and hoping to feel normal, she shifts and begins walking over to the pair. However, her interest in joining in on the run is short-lived when Ciel grabs ahold of her upper arm, preventing her from moving any further.