Won't You Stay This Time?

Hollow Butler

Claire gently wrapped her daughter in a soft pink towel. She had just given Ziva a bath after putting both Hide and Corrin down for a nap. It had been a quiet morning as Mey-Rin stayed with her and the children due to the impending threat on their lives. After drying Ziva, dressing her, and putting her down for a nap with her brothers, Claire left Mey-Rin with the children and went to find Ciel.

As per usual, she found him in his study with Sebastian as they spoke about a new case to be investigated, requested by the Queen. "A noble boy that gouges out the eyes of other boys...," Ciel mumbled in thought. Claire looked between Sebastian and her future husband, standing quietly to keep from interrupting. A moment later, Ciel met her gaze and sat up straight. "How long have you been standing there, love?"

"Only long enough to know what you'll be investigating. When will you be headed out?", Claire asked, tilting her head slightly in inquiry. "You won't be gone too long, right? With everything that's going on here..."

"Don't worry, love", Ciel cracked a small smile to assure her. "I'll be back by evening at the latest. And Sebastian has left specific instructions with the other servants to keep you and the children safe from harm. You know how capable they are. At least, in the secret area."

"Yes, I know...", Claire lowered her head. "I just don't want you to be gone for too long, that's all. You said you'd help me with the children tonight. And you wanted to play with them."

"I promise, I'll be back in time to do those things with you and then sit by the fire with some warm tea while the children sleep." Ciel stood and walked towards Claire, taking her hands in his. "Nothing will stop me if I have any say in the matter." Claire sighed and nodded.

"Alright. But please be careful, love. The children will be expecting you tonight, and so will I." Ciel kissed Claire's forehead and pulled her closer.

"I'll be here. Give the children a kiss for me, alright?," Ciel asked with a small smile. Claire nodded reluctantly, sighing as she returned his smile.

"Alright, but you better be here!" Ciel kissed Claire goodbye before collecting the things he would need to leave with Sebastian, unaware of the look he and Claire exchanged. A look of mutual understanding that there would be hell to pay if Ciel did not return that night. Claire was not particularly threatening to Sebastian, but for his master's sake he avoided any unnecessary trouble, which often fell at his feet when Claire was angry.

The three exchanged their farewells once more at the door before Claire retreated back into the manor, locking the door tightly behind her. She jerked when she saw a silhouette from the corner of her eye, her shoulders relaxing back into place once she turned to face it fully. Finny was standing near the door quietly, smiling sheepishly once he had realized he had startled Claire.

"My apologies, m'lady," he laughed, his cheeks flushing slightly pink from the situation. "I hadn't meant to scare you. I just thought it'd be better if someone was nearby with everything going on."

"It's alright, Finny, I'm just a little jumpy," Claire nodded. "I'm going to go to one of the sitting rooms on the back side of the manor, would you mind helping Mey-Rin bring the children there?"

"Of course! Right away!" Finny saluted and had just started to run off before he stopped abruptly. "I mean... A-After I escort you there, m'lady! The young master would have my head if anything were to happen to you." Claire chuckled at the not so exaggerated truth of Finny's reasoning and nodded.

"Yes, of course. But first I would like to stop and ask Bard to make some tea," Claire smiled. The tension in her had gone as deep as her bones, leaving her with little room to so much as consider what to do if the manor's defenses failed somehow. She hoped a warm drink with her children sleeping in the room with her would calm her nerves enough to allow Mey-Rin, Bard, and Finny to do their jobs—their typical jobs and the real jobs Sebastian had hired them for to begin with.