Black Butler: The Stellar Dove

9.2

  One morning, we went out to the garden. He told me that he had a special surprise "just for me."

"You really don't have to do anything special," I told him as he led me into the greenhouse, blindfolded. "You're already loaded down with work."

"Please, it's not that much trouble," he replied, taking both of my hands into his. I prayed the cloth over my eyes would somewhat hide the blush.

He untied the blindfold and stepped out of the way. Behind him, I saw a pot of blue roses. Blue! I gasped in shock, staring at the strange flowers. I gently stroked one of the petals with my finger.

"Sebastian! Are they... real?"

"Of course, and natural," he placed a hand on my shoulder and leaned into me. Though I was entranced by the exotic flowers, I couldn't completely ignore it.

"My goodness... they're gorgeous!" I giggled, standing up straight.

There was a long pause between the two of us. Somewhere in it, I found a bit of courage to ask a question that I had been dying to for far too long.

"Sebastian..." I whispered once I finally found my voice. "That day..." I began to ask about the 'act', but stopped and changed it quickly. "...that we talked on the balcony—the three guesses—I still have two?" Because of my cover-up, I would have to use the second one.

"Yes," he answered in the same quiet tone, his expression darkening ever so slightly.

I paused, thinking about what to say. Eventually, a logical answer came to me that was sure to fit. "You're a body guard or assassin of some kind—a specially trained one who assists the Phantomhives."

"I must congratulate you on the accuracy of your guess, my lady," he told me, his bright innocent smile spreading across his face. "But that is still a watered down version of the truth."

I looked down in disappointment. He slid his hand down my face to put his finger under my chin, bringing my eyes up to meet his.

"Come now, I know you hesitated on your first question. I only let you spend your second guess because I, in truth, do not want to know the answer. So, what was it you were really going to ask me?"

I froze again, my eyes widening and blush growing.

"Um... I..." I stuttered. Oh dear, why did I do that? By that point, I was bound to know that he knew me too well for me to cover up my mistake that easily. "Alright. What I was going to say was... that day Elizabeth came... were you... acting?"

He froze at the question, his smile disappearing momentarily. "A butler must act at all times as to never display weakness before his master or his master's companies. No matter how strong, he must always keep his true emotions hidden from them. Almost everything you see of me is an act."

Sebastian was hard to read, but I could definitely tell what he was saying with his eyes then. He hated me for asking that question. He was too honest to lie.

It was then that his smile unexpectedly returned. "And what about you, Lady Estella? Do you believe in the same philosophy of hiding emotions?"

Drat. He had me there. "I... I... no..." I answered quietly. "I've never been one for masks. We're all human. We all have emotions."

His smile melted into something that looked like sadness. His red eyes nearly burned into me. Had I said something wrong?

"You are a wise girl, yet so naive in some aspects..." he sighed, his gaze sliding down to the blue flowers. "Lady Estella, did you know that every color of rose has a meaning behind it?"

"No," I looked down slightly, folding my hands at my waist. "I don't believe I have. Would you inform me?"

"Of course. It is a very simple concept, really. Red roses are the most common; they represent true love and beauty. White roses mean purity. Pink roses symbolize appreciation and happiness, yellow friendship, and orange desire."

"That's very interesting," I told him, my eyes widening in curiosity. "What do blue roses stand for?"

"Ah, their meaning..." he began, swiftly and gracefully picking one of the buds and kneeling down before me, brushing the thorns off effortlessly. "A blue rose means 'attaining the impossible' or 'immortal love.'" He looked up as he finished. "They're also said to stand for love at first sight."

My eyes widened as he stood up slowly, showing his mysterious smile as he threaded the stem through my hair. I could say nothing to him. He said nothing to me. It seemed that the whole world had gone silent for us. It was no matter; we didn't need words for communication at the moment. I was finally beginning to understand his language. And even though it may have been a sliver of a crack, I had finally seen through his mask.

His smile grew as his eyes softened. His hand slid around my back, the other caressing my face. He pulled me closer until my eyes were inches from his.

I could hear my heart beat in my chest. I felt dizzy and unstable. I had to wrap my arms around his back just to steady myself. I wondered if he could feel me shaking.

"I'm sorry, my lady..." he spoke in a near whisper. "But... my master calls for me. I must be on my way."

My arms slipped away from him as he turned to leave. I could have sworn I saw him stumble on his way out. It wasn't until the door of the greenhouse shut that I let myself sink against the wall from weakness.

Even though I was disappointed the moment ended so soon, I considered it a victory. Sebastian, in an indirect way, had finally admitted his feelings. (Was I even expecting a simple confession in the first place?) I had done the same to him, so it was fair.

But the best part was, I made the perfect butler stumble.

~~~~

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