Unwinding Time (Black Butler Dreamfic)

Part 2: One Day

I grudgingly made my eyes adjust to the early morning light as my curtains were undrawn with a sharp hiss.

"Good morning, young master," the familiar voice I had woken up to for the past few years greeted me.

As usual, I forced myself to sit up, was given my tea and breakfast, and dressed.

"What's on the schedule today?" I asked him as I watched his nimble fingers work like machines, tying my shoe laces into perfect bows. My butler looked up and gave me a strange, soft smile.

"There is nothing."

"What?" I nearly dropped the teacup. "Nothing? That's odd. Even on holidays, I have some kind of work to do..."

"Everything has been canceled, sir," he replied. "No lessons, no meetings, no investigations, no parties...?"

I'd like to say his words were a relief to me, but it was the complete opposite. "Are you mad, Sebastian? Why would you clear out the schedule for no reason?"

"Every living thing needs rest at some point," he replied, taking my hands in his as he stood and helped me up, since I was too dumbfounded to move on my own. "I thought we could take the day off. Perhaps we could go out for a picnic or something. It's a lovely day out."

"You're acting awful strange, Sebastian," I narrowed my eyes. "Explain yourself."

"I'm afraid I've explained it as well as I can," he tilted his head, still smiling. I almost wished he wouldn't do that sometimes. It's almost like a teasing way of telling me I could never even guess what's even crossing his mind. "Is it so wrong to take just one day of rest to enjoy ourselves? Honestly, I thought you wouldn't hesitate to go along with a plan like this."

I sighed heavily in defeat. "I suppose one day won't hurt."

Even though his actions made me skeptical, I had put my full trust in Sebastian. Whatever he did for me, I knew it was for my wellbeing. Perhaps he somehow foresees us needing this day to relax.

I spent the morning with my servants in the den. It seems strange, but it was actually almost enjoyable. They're rather entertaining when they're not working and threating to ruin my mansion with their silly antics.

"It was nice of Sebastian to have done all our chores last night," Finny chirped.

"Ya, I wonder how long it took him to do it how... or how he did it, for that matter," Bard said, the cigarette in his mouth bobbing up and down as he talked.

I allowed a smirk to twitch on the corner of my mouth for a split second. All this time and they still hadn't figured it out?

"I'm glad you're not working in my area of business," I commented, looking down to hide my secret humor.

"What was that, Young Master?" Bard asked.

"Oh, nothing."

"Mey-Rin! That's the 1 Ball, you're supposed to hit the que!" Finny exclaimed.

"Well, I can't see anything! It's dark in here!"

"Mey-Rin, all the lights are on!"

"Master, I have our things in the carriage whenever you're ready to leave," Sebastian announced as he stepped into the room.

"Oh, where are you going?" Finny asked excitedly.

"Just a little outing," Sebastian answered them with a smile. "We'll be back later. Until then, keep the mansion in check, but please try to not destroy anything this time."

"Yes sir, Mr. Sebastian!" They all three answered in unison.

And with that, we departed from the house and made our way into the coach with the open top. Along the journey, I couldn't help but silently agree with Sebastian in my mind. It really was a nice day-- warm, no chilling breeze, few clouds in the sky. It wasn't until we were almost there that I noticed I didn't recognize these roads one bit.

"Where are you taking us?" I asked Sebastian. Of course, he knew what he was doing, but I was curious.

"A little place I found on the countryside," he answered me. "I don't believe we've ever traveled here before."

With no major cases going on currently, I really had no reason to refuse enjoying a day off other than my pride. But out here, the only ones who would know would be myself and my butler. It's not like I've never done this before, years ago, anyway.

The carriage soon came to stop. He first helped me out, then unloaded the trunk that I'm assuming held the picnic supplies. I watched as my slender butler carried the large chest on his very shoulder with little to no effort, leaving his other hand free. I always pretend to pay these things no attention, as I have grown used to them over the years, but I secretly admit only to myself that his feats continue to impress me occasionally.

Ahead, there was a single large tree sitting atop a hill. Underneath it, a little wooden table was already set. Judging by its fine craftsmanship, it was obvious that there was only one person that could have done it.

"Sebastian," I asked as I casually perched on the edge of the table, watching the butler effortlessly set the trunk down beside us.

"Yes, my Lord?" he replied, meeting my eyes.

"What are we supposed to do until lunch?" I asked.

"Well, I brought this along," he answered, opening the box and revealing the chess set.

"You expect me to play chess with you?"

"Is there a problem with that?" he smirked. "Surely, with as much experience as you've had, you shouldn't be worried about playing me."

"That's not what- it's just that... I'm not used to playing chess with my butler."

"It's not like you to turn down a challenge, Master," he said as he began to set up the board. Seeing it like that tempted me.

"Fine," I sighed, talking a set across from him. "I suppose one game won't do any harm."

"Well then, it's your move, Master."

~~~