Tangled Web (A Black Butler Fan Fiction)

Chapter Nine

"Pleased to meet you, Alois," I said as I let him take my hand and lightly kiss it.

When he turned around to look at the gardens, I wiped it off. It just didn't seem proper or anything when it came from him. I stepped up to him, psyching myself into thinking that Sebastian was going to save me if anything happened. Besides, his butler would step in right?

"Your garden is beautiful," I said as I looked across it and saw everything.

There were different colors fo flowers all growing in neat patterns. Some of them formed a maze and at the far edge, there was a giant chess board. I instantly thought of Ciel. It was his favorite game and he was good at it. I looked at Alois, who I caught staring at me. It reminded me of that guy that kidnapped me the night I was marked.

"Thank you, I tried to create something as emaculate as my future wife, even though I never met her until now," he said.

I know I should take that as a compliment. There was something in those words that screamed lie. I smiled anyway, letting him know nothing was running through my head when there actually was something running through my head.

"Shall we take a walk through the gardens?" he asked as he waved a hand toward the stairs that lead down to the gardens.

"Sure," I said as I let Alois take my hand and lead me down the steps and into the gardens.

I looked to the sun while we walked toward the garden maze. I was sure he knew the way since it was his estate. He smiled at me just as we stepped into it. I looked to the sky again. I wanted Sebastian to come early or for something to happen so I wouldn't have to stay for very long. That's what I want. Something about this boy seems-I don't know- cruel.

"I inherited this estate after I was found in a village and my parents died," Alois said as we walked through the maze.

"This is a lovely place," I noted as I looked around, trying to keep my eyes off the souless ones staring back at me.

"I'm glad the future lady of the manor likes it. I personally love it. It represents me and my past."

Shattered or perfect on the outside and a torturous chamber on the inside?

I smiled, unaware of what to say to him. I wanted to be with Ciel. I wanted to be safe knowing I knew who I was with and that if anything happened Sebastian would be there.

"Your past?"

I knew I shouldn't have said that, but anything to distract my future husband from noticing I'd like to be elsewhere.

"Yes, as I've said, Miss Selena..."

"Please, call me Selena. Just Selena like my family calls me. After all, we will be married when we are older."

Even when I said it, it seemed like a chore; like my life was already mapped out and I had no say in it. A girl cannot call off a betrothal but a guy can. Part of me wanted to see if I could get him to call it off, the other part of me wanted to see if he would see we are unfit together and break it off.

"Selena," Alois said with a soft smile.

I smiled, trying to hide how uncomfortable I was around him.

As he went on telling me about everything about the estate he knew, I partially listened. I was more thinking about how I was going to tell Ciel I was engaged to someone like Alois. Ciel had a good judge of character just moments after meeting someone. I wondered what judgement he passed on me and Lizzie.

"Selena, you are nothing like I imagined," he said. "You're far more beautiful. Your hair shines in the sun and your beauty radiates far brighter than the sun ever will."

Something inside me told me he was lyign and that he had practiced it before I even got there. It seemed far too rehersed and scripted. It was like I had heard it before from someone.

Just as we exited the maze, his butler approached us. He waited until we were up the other side of the stairs before he even tried to speak.

"Your highness," he started as he bowed. "Lady Selena's carriage is here to take her home."

Damn, he seemed more of a suck-up than Sebastian will ever be.

We made our way to the carriage and Alois stopped me before I got into the carriage.

"Selena, wait," he said as he pulled me back.

 I stopped and turned to him when he tugged at my hand. "Yes, Alois," I said as I tried not to look him directly in the eye.

"I'd love to see more of you," he said. "You and I will grow to love each other more. I just know it."

I smiled at him and then turned my head into the carriage. Sebastian was waiting for me.

"Thanks, Alois," I said. "I still have to go for now. My butler is waiting for me."

Alois looked in and I felt his hand tighten on mine. I looked at him. He looked upset by something. I brought his face to look me in the eyes, trying to ease the tightening grip on my hand and migrating to my wrist.

"Alois, I'll see you as soon as I can, don't worry about me," I said.

He slowly let go of my wrist and let me get the rest of the way into the carriage. I waved one last time at him before the carriage took off and I could breathe again.

"How was your first visit to your betrothed?" Sebastian asked when I stayed silent and kept looking at my wrist where Alois gripped it.

"Different," I started as I stared at the light bruise forming into a handprint. "Nothing like I thought."

"How so?"

I sighed. "For some reason, it wasn't sincere like the butler and Alois wanted it to be.  It seemed dangerous and nothing like the Phantomhive manor."

Sebastian was silent until he said, "What was his butler's name?"

"Claude," I said. "Alois talked about him a lot."

"There does seem to be something troubling you, Lady Selena," Sebastian said when I returned to my wrist.

"It's Alois, there is something off about him but I can't put my finger on it. There is something about him that is a lie and something that seems as fake as the sincerity in his voice."

"I'm sure it's nothing, Lady Selena," Sebastian said as he gave me a warm smile.

I sat back, feeling more comfortable as we got farther and farther way from the Trancy estate and closer and closer to the Phantomhive manor.

"Sebastian, does Ciel know who I am betrothed to?" I asked as I looked into his demon eyes. I knew he couldn't lie to me.

"He knows you'll be betrothed to someone sooner or later," he started.

"Not what I meant," I said.

"He doesn't know who exactly you are related to, however, Lady Selena, he knows who you're betrothed to."

"I don't think I should tell him, then," I said as I sat back.

"That might be for the best now," Sebastian said. "Earl Trancy and Young Master aren't on the best of terms right now."

For some reason, it made me feel better. I knew that if anything were to happen with me, Ciel would be to the rescue with Sebastian, ready to strike at Ciel or my command. I sighed with relief knowing that my safety isn't in danger and only Alois's is.

"Lady Selena, would you like to join Young Master for dinner this evening?"

I looked at Sebastian and smiled. Seeing Ciel would be the only thing that would put me at ease enough to sleep. Ciel, since he was the Queen's Guard Dog, would protect me from any evils that came in front of me.

"Of course, Sebastian, I would love to join Ciel for dinner tonight when I get back," I said.

The only thing I wanted to do now was tell Ciel the truth and beg for him to help. I saw the way Alois saw Sebastian and tightened on my wrist. Something happened between them and now I am determined to figure it out what exactly it was.