𝙷𝚒𝚛𝚊𝚎𝚝𝚑 {𝓒𝓲𝓮𝓵 𝔁 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓻}

Chapter 9|FALL FROM GRACE

❝What is to give light must endure burning.❞

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

   A SHORT DISTANCE FROM LONDON, just beyond the fog-cloaked forest, stands a well-kept manor. Its resident the head of Phantomhive, a distinguished aristocrat.

His day begins with a morning cup of tea.

In two knocks, your stomach tightens and Sebastian walks through the double doors you recognized as that which beckoned you nights ago. Striding briskly across the room to draw back the curtains, "It is time to wake up, young master."

Light heaps into the frigid room, basking the floors and stirring Earl in daylight rays. Your hands clutch the steel handle of the tea cart, gaping at the scene. The very one you've watched and read a million times, now sparkling new.

It's only when Sebastian beckons you over that you finally roll his way. Once it's within his grasp, he shoos you away just as quickly. You speed walk out of the room, remembering his words about not making yourself known to the Earl. As you do, you hear Sebastian pour fresh tea as he speaks, "For today's breakfast, I have prepared poached salmon and mint salad. We have toast, scones, and pain de campagne on the side. Which would you prefer?"

You're quietly closing the door just as Ciel begins to rise, rubbing his marked eye, the other half-lidded. Just before they shut, he yawns, taking a moment to shield his eyes from the offensive light to look at Sebastian, "..scone."

Omg.. I'm really in Black Butler..!

Though the door is shut, your eyes still sparkle at the chocolate indentations, as though watching the scene play out. A giddiness in your vibrating steps.

The fact you were even here was unheard of, but Sebastian instructed you to wait until he helped Ciel with the morning toilet before you could come in and clean up his room. It took you a second to realize he meant getting him ready and not helping him take a dump.

Why he had you follow him, you can only guess. I mean, it's not as though you wandered the halls and lost your way every single time...

"This aroma.. ceylon tea, hm?" Your ear perks, close enough to the door that you can hear, but not so close you're pressed against it. Had anyone walked past you, you'd look as though you were simply standing by the entrance in wait.

"Yes, sir. From royal doulton." Comes Sebastian's muffled voice, "The tea set is wedgewood blue and white."

"And the schedule for today?"

"Professor Hugues, an authority in Kingcraft, will arrive after breakfast sir. And after lunch-"

"Before that, we are to receive a guest."

"A guest?"

When you hear their footsteps approach, you inch closer to the wall and stare ahead. Ciel is the first to exit with a scoff, "he will be the one to decide whether or not I do as you say.."

The sly grin once cast on his face lowers, noting your presence at the doorway.

Sebastian follows his gaze, "She is merely here to tidy your room if that is alright."

You give a small curtsy, refusing to look up as you once read servants weren't allowed to look at those they serve. All the better for your racing mind, "Do not mind me, my lord. I will be out shortly."

There's a momentary pause that makes you fiddle with your sleeve behind your back. Did you screw up? Right as you finally were about to figure out where this story was going?