Love Is Not a Choice

Chapter Three

The Tour of the Phantomhive Manor

Carefully stepping out of the bathtub, hands gripping the sides of the tub as firmly as they could, feet planted firmly on the ground, you wrapped a rather large towel around yourself securely. Once you were sure it wouldn't come undone the moment you let it go, you grabbed another towel and sat precariously on the edge of the bathtub, one leg propped up across the other. You quickly dried of your feet. The last thing you wanted was to leave wet footsteps behind you. You didn't want to ruin the bedroom's beautiful, soft carpet, nor did you want to forget it was wet, walk into the room and then slip.

Once your feet were dried, you quickly cleared up any puddles your feet may have made before laying the towel over the side of the tub. Feeling refreshed and a bit more ready to face the day, you stepped out of the bathroom and over to your bed, peering down at the pretty dress spread delicately out on the bed.

You still were a bit startled at such a gift. Even if he hadn't meant to chuck you out, there was nothing saying he had to give you a gift of apology. He could have simply left you with the knowledge you've got the job and that's it. But he hadn't, and it was unexpected and nice. You wanted to thank you. I should really thank him. Maybe I shall do it during our first lesson together, you thought as you absently dried your body, quickly running the towel over your body.

You had spent half an hour in the bathtub, making sure to get rid of any bits of dirt that might have caked onto your skin, and making sure your hair was healthy and not greasy. Since you hadn't had a wash at all yesterday (that maid Madame Red had sent you had wanted you up long before Madame Red herself even was), you wanted to be in better shape than yesterday; you wanted to be clean and smelling nice and not looking like some homeless person who's just been picked up from the streets. (Of course you chose to forget the fact that were you; it was in the past, and you'd prefer things to be kept like that.)

There were better first impressions to be made, after all. Once you were nice and dry, you began the usual routine of getting dressed; the chemise and the drawers were pulled on, then came the tightening of the corset (which was done as best as one could without assistance), followed by the under petticoat being pulled on. A crinoline was soon fitted on, layering me down a little with it's weight. It was odd and a bit uncomfortable since you had gotten so used to wearing trousers and acting more like a boy, that wearing such things as crinolines and corsets was an almost strange concept.

Still you dealt with it. You had to now, because this was your new life and in your new life, was corsets and crinolines and dresses and petticoats. You were a girl who was expected to dress like one, no matter how uncomfortable it made you feel. You sighed as you gently took hold of the dress Mr. Michaelis had brought in earlier, sliding it on and adjusting it to look professional and neat over the undergarments.

Once you were ready, you quickly slipped on your black boots from yesterday, and checked yourself over in the mirror sat in a corner of the room. You had to admit, you looked a bit odd in the dress. Though it was a nice dress, simple as it was.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door, startling you into a little jump. Stop admiring yourself in the mirror, (Y/N), you chided yourself halfheartedly, turning to call out "Come in!" to whoever had knocked. Upon hearing her permission to enter, the door opened to reveal two people, only one familiar however. The second person was unfamiliar, though quite pretty, in a bookwormish kind of way. Maybe it was the large glasses shielding her eyes away from view, or the thick cherry-red pigtails hanging from either side of her head. She was a maid, judging by the white-and-blue maid outfit. There was a faint blush on her otherwise pale cheeks, though whether it was because she was meeting a new member of the household or because she was standing behind a rather handsome man, you could not tell.

You shook your head faintly, eyes switching to roam over the person standing in front of the maid. In front of the second person, standing tall and rather proud for a butler, was Mr. Michaelis, his black hair as short and spiky as it always was, his strangely enticing auburn (or were they red?) eyes staring at you. He had a faint smile on his face, though there was clear annoyance in it.

Coughing slightly, you turned fully to face them and walked over to them, bowing ever-so-slightly and muttering a soft apology, "I apologize for taking so long. I wanted to be in better condition when I face the Young Earl again." The butler continued to stare at you, unfazed by the apology. The maid behind him was still silent, her blush deepening to almost match her hair, just a shade or two lighter. After what felt like forever (but was probably only a couple minutes at most), you finally had enough of him just staring at you, and spoke up. "Shall we leave or...?" You trailed off, when you noticed the butler shaking his head, seemingly coming out of his little trance.

He bowed, one hand over his heart, the other behind his back, and said, "I apologize for staring, my lady. It's just you looked so lovely in the dress." Okay, so now you were the one who was blushing. You did not know what to say to something like that. Nobody had ever really complimented you before, so when someone does (and that someone being rather attractive themselves), you were at a lost what to do or say. You finally settled on stuttering a 'thank you' out (cursing yourself inwardly) and giving them a small smile.

Mr. Michaelis straightened, and his smile seemed to have widened a little. He held his hand out suddenly, and you took hold of it, albeit a bit hesitantly. He brought you out of your room, closing the door behind you, and showed you over to the still-blushing maid.

I never knew one person could blush so deeply, you thought before listening to Mr. Michaelis. "My lady, the Young Master has decided you need a proper tour of the Manor before you settle officially down in here. You will also need to meet the other members of the household's staff. He believes this will only take a day or two, so hurry along. We have much to see." As Mr. Michaelis explained, you noticed the maid's blush had paled down a bit, and now she was walking over to your bedroom, about to open the door.

"Wait!" You suddenly exclaimed, startling not only the other two but yourself as well. You hadn't meant to say it quite as loud as you had. Coughing awkwardly, you quickly straightened your back, regaining the ladylike posture you were supposed to always have. "If I am to meet the members of this household, may I ask your name? After all, are you not a maid of this Manor?" You realized just how rude that may have sounded, the second it escaped from your lips. You winced slightly, opening your mouth again to correct yourself - you hadn't meant for it to sound so rude -, but was stopped by a nod and a small smile from the maid. The maid's eyes quickly shifting to the tall butler behind you and then back to you, as if to ask for permission. You resisted the urge to roll your eyes; surely she was not to ask for permission to introduce herself.

"O-of course, my la-lady. I am Me-Meyrin, the maid of Pha-Phantomhive Manor." She stuttered, bowing a little. You replied back with a smile and your own bow, introducing yourself politely, "Pleasure to meet you, Meyrin. I am (Y/N) (Y/L/N), the governess of the Young Earl Phantomhive." Meyrin nodded, smiling before picking up the cleaning supplies (the ones you hadn't realized until now) and scampering into your room, shutting the door behind her.

She sure is a nervous one, huh? you thought, watching the maid disappear, Then again I get how she feels, introducing yourself to a new stranger. A gentle touch startled you back into reality, and you turned to face the tall butler. You smiled at him and said, "So, shall we go?"

He nodded and soon you were on your way to view each of the rooms. You didn't know how long this would take (though it shouldn't take two days...right?), but if it was anything like the room you've got, then you were desperate to see them. They must be truly beautiful.

You smiled at the anticipation of seeing more beautiful rooms, and hurried to catch up with Mr. Michaelis' long-legged stride.

*

The rest of the day went quite smoothly, though the tour did not start as soon as you thought.

Not even halfway through the tour, Mr. Michaelis and yourself were ordered to come to the Young Master's office, and you did. You were quite confused as to why you had to go. Did he want to start the lessons earlier instead? Was he changing his mind once more and deciding to chuck you out, for good this time?

You did not know, but you weren't given much time to think on it because suddenly, you was standing in front of the door that led to Ciel Phantomhive's office. Mr. Michaelis was knocking as loudly and politely as one could, and you both waited for the 'come in', which he gave not a second later.

Following Mr. Michaelis, you walked in quietly, your head down politely. Mr. Michaelis and you stood side-by-side, curious as to what the young boy wanted. He finished writing the end of whatever the piece of paper in front of him was, before turning his attention to you two - well, no, to you more superficially.

"Miss. (Y/L/N), this will only be a brief meeting." He stated, getting straight to the point, "I would just like you to sign here on the dotted line, before you accommodated yourself fully within this Manor." He pushed over a piece of paper; there were paragraph upon paragraph, but you managed to get out a few words, such as 'protect' and 'risk'. You felt a bit uneasy and looked up at the thirteen-year-old boy, wondering just what it was he wanted you to sign.

"It's just a simple document stating that if this manor were to come under threat, you will do anything and everything to help protect it. You will also make sure I am safe and protected when this situation arises. You will do it anyway possible, even if it means risking your own life." Ciel explained, his one, navy-blue staring piercingly at you, as if it bore witness to your very soul. You resisted the urge to shiver, and contemplated what he'd said.

He wants you to protect the manor and himself if there are threats to both of them. But just who would want to threaten the thirteen-year-old owner of a toy company?! And why did he say 'when this situation arises', not if, as if there's no doubt it will happen? Would you even be able to protect both manor and master? After all, you were brought here to teach the young boy, not risk your very life trying to protect him from likely threats! You wouldn't know what to do if - or when - the situation happens.

You took a quiet, deep breath, and stepped forward, picking up the piece of paper and skimming over it. It said exactly what the Young Master had told you; by accepting this job and writing your signature on the dotted line, you would have accepted the role of not only governess but protector of the Phantomhive Manor and the Phantomhive Earl. So it was true. You gulped before leaning over to grasp hold of the pen laid neatly beside the paper. Well, if I want to keep this job, I will need to sign this paper, you thought and began to write your signature. Though how I will be able to protect them, I do not know. As I've said, I am here to teach, not to risk my own life. I'd probably get us both killed.

Once you finished writing your signature, you placed the pen down, took a step back next to Mr. Michaelis and watched as the Young Master picked up the written-on piece of paper, checking over it before nodding a single, firm nod. He looked up and with a wave of the hand, he said, "Dismissed." as if that was that. It was apparently, since the thirteen-year-old boy went back to writing and signing documents.

You were led out by the butler, who shut the door behind you. You were slightly taken aback, since this meeting had really been quite short and sudden, and kind of worried, for you had signed something, agreeing to something you were afraid you could not go through with. You only hoped when or if the time comes, you'd be able to protect the young boy at least a little bit.


*

After that very short meeting, Mr. Michaelis began the tour of the manor, and soon day was fading to night. The rest of the day had went quite smoothly, indeed. You hadn't even realized the change of lightening in the sky, so enticed with the beautiful rooms.

It really was a beautiful place, every room you walked into just as magnificent and large as the next. Though you had to admit it was quite strange how such a big manor could have only one tiny boy in it. Of course there were five other servants - excluding yourself, of course - but still, it seemed to large, to spacious for just a few people.

Though, maybe, judging by their rather boisterous behavior, I guess having only five is enough, you thought. You had met the rest of the staff, and although all were kind and welcoming, you could not help but notice they seemed to have been given roles they didn't know much of.

There was Meyrin - the only maid and, before you, the only female. She was a nice, kind woman who you had a feeling you were going to get along with quite well. She was nervous and quiet, but you didn't mind. Although you had yet to see her clean, you had seen her nearly trip on her way into your room, so you had a feeling she was also quite clumsy. Or maybe it was nerves.