Black Butler: The Stellar Dove

Chapter 8.1: Acting

  I walked beside Sebastian down the hall until we reached the massive room filled with books. As we went, I attempted to study him once more. He was choosing to spend his free time with me? Was he following his master's orders, or was this an act on his own?

He closed the door behind us as I gaped at the collection of books. The shelves were filled with them, and were stacked clear to the ceiling. For a moment, I forgot about the bit of shame bubbling inside me, but it returned as soon as the excitement settled.

"I suppose you're right about me," I told him as we walked around the room, leafing through books. "I'm just afraid that this conflict with Lord Ciel's fiancé will upset him. The last thing I want is to become an unwelcomed guest."

"You must forgive my master," Sebastian told me. "He never looks to be happy. He used to be different, but ever since his parents' death in the fire and he became the earl, he's been like that. Please try to understand."

I stopped and covered my mouth, looking down. "I... I had no idea..." I uttered. "I knew he seemed quiet mature for his age, but for a child to lose both parents in a night, and then to immediately take such responsibility..."

"You mustn't worry about him." His mysterious smile returned. "On the other hand, Lady Elizabeth... she's a bit of a different story."

"I didn't know how to console her, or..." I took a seat in a chair. "If it was even my place to."

"You are right that it is not your place. People's reactions to your actions are their own fault, really. Nevertheless, her happiness is my master's happiness, and his problems are my own," he bowed. "I'll resolve the conflict."

"But how? I mean—based on what you just said. How can you...? "

"I've studied human nature, and I know their ways. Have I not told you that I am simply one hell of a butler?" he began in a lowered tone as he kneeled down beside my chair to meet me at near eye-level. "Besides, if I could not handle a little drama, then what kind of butler would I be?"

I was about to say that I believed there was more meaning behind those words than what was on the surface, but I decided not to. I simply smiled and nodded in thanks to Sebastian.

For the next twenty minutes or so, I browsed the bookshelves looking for something to read. I eventually came to a book sitting on a higher shelf written in French and decided to try it. I had no idea if I knew French or not, but I was up for a challenge. On the very first page, I realized I could not translate it whatsoever.

"Are you having trouble?" Sebastian asked, leaning over my shoulder.

"Yes," I smiled sheepishly, realizing that I had jumped when he came up behind me. "Do you speak French?"

"I tutored my master, actually," he told me, taking a seat in the chair beside me.

Sebastian began reading the passages out loud, helping me translate them bit by bit as we went along. But, I soon found myself listening to him instead trying to learn.

As much as I wanted to continue, he suggested we stop when we reached the second chapter. I closed the book and made my way over to the shelf to put it back. I had to use a stool to reach it. Suddenly, just when I began to step down, one of the legs snapped and I fell.

Something caught me on the way down. And who else would it be but Sebastian?