Tea & Biscuits (V.2)

Back Again

"Apologies, Ciel, however, this is one of my very best friends' boyfriend we're talking about. What are you suggesting we do?"
"I am very aware of your relationship with Lady Madeline, I have received a message from the queen advising we contain Alois Trancy." he sighed, avoiding eye contact. "If we don't, he's likely to become a threat to England, including Lady Madeline."

"But she..."
"It's for her own good." Ciel turned away, I couldn't read him at all. "So, what do you say?"

The doorbell rung once more. "I... think I'm going to get that." my legs shook as I nervously avoided his question. I opened the door to find a short, blonde haired boy with an annoying brown haired girl clinging to his right arm. on the left of him stood a tall purple-haired woman.  "Twice in one day, you come to visit me? You spoil me, Madeline."

"Madeline overheard that you were having brunch with Earl Phantomhive and suggested we come to visit, like a double date! It sounded like an absolutely fabulous idea, so much so that I had to agree!" Alois faced the purple haired woman. "Isn't that right, Hannah?" He smiled, the purple-haired woman nodded in fear.

"Oh... I'll... be back in a moment..." I close the door gently and quickly run to Ciel. "Madeline and Alois are here for a double date, with someone named Hannah?"

"I believe she was one of his servants, I have no doubt he wants trouble." Ciel groaned and whispered. "Fine, let them in." I nod and head back to the door.

"Please, join us." I create a path for them nervously after opening the door.

Alois walks in and pushes me out of the way with Madeline still clinging onto him for dear life, Hannah nodded to me politely and stood in the centre of the mansion, then sitting on her knees. I didn't want to bother her, so I followed Madeline and Alois.

"Ciel Phantomhive! It truly is an honour!" Madeline smiled gently, as she always did.
"Ah, lady Madeline. It's a pleasure meeting you." Ciel replied, the two smiled at each other.

Alfred quickly surprised me. "Mistress, your days are just full of surprises, aren't they?"
I chuckled at him. "Unfortunately," I sighed as I shook my head. "Can you please inform Jordan that we have last minute guests."

"Yes, mistress." Alfred bows and walks towards the kitchen.

My head begun to ache, I fear it may be due to the overexposing of my other eye from last night. I knew why this was, there was something I needed to hear. It truly is a struggle trying to hear all their thoughts over all the commotion in the kitchen, so I'll need to get closer to them.

"I wonder if Ciel will fall for me too~" Was that... Madeline's voice? Ah, I see. She's begun to crush on Ciel. Well, in all honesty, he would be a better love interest than the boy she's clinging onto. but, what does she mean by 'too'? Alois is very clearly just using her. He obviously was using her to get here, where the final battle between him and Ciel can be fought. Of course, it had to be in my own home.

"She seems awfully flirty for a woman gushing over Alois. What could she be up to?" As I suspected, Ciel had no time to waste.

"All I need to do is catch a moment alone with him, then I'll take him out! You're dead Ciel Phantomhive!" Ah, there it is! Of course, it had to be Alois, but this must have been what I needed to hear. However, this doesn't go into too much detail... had I missed it? No, if I had their voices would be out of my head by now. "He's taking the bait too! Hannah's a surprisingly good actress. I wonder how she can handle acting and Madeline at the same time. I don't care all that much but, what did she do with her?" There it is! This one was for sure! That Madeline must be a fake, controlled by Hannah, the woman who collapsed in the centre of the manor.

They must have her hidden somewhere!

I tapped Ciel on the shoulder and whispered in his ear. "Be careful, she's a fake."
He nods and continues the conversation like normal, what on earth could he be doing?

In fact, what on earth could I be doing? Searching for Madeline! But I'm not, what's stopping me?

I feel as though I'm being tied down, like a heavy metal ball is weighing me down. This must be Alois's doing.
'Madeline' and Alois spoke nonstop of their relationship. I'm sure the Earl and I were dreading the same thing, being asked about ours.

How could we be asked about ours? We have nothing, we aren't anything and never will be. In fact, I'm not quite sure why he even agreed to brunch this morning.

"Now, lovebirds, mind me asking about how you two met?" Fake Madeline's eyes gleamed with love and fascination.

I looked over to Ciel as he nodded, please tell me he can read my mind. "Well, it all begun when Alfred agreed to another ridiculous appointment without my permission, as he does quite frequently. Just before he arrived I had a run-in with one of my relatives asking for money, I declined and she ruined my ballgown." I giggled softly, I never thought I'd need to act so much in a short time frame. It's really tiring. "I had to change into something simple and quick! So, the first we met I was wearing clothes that looked as if they belonged to a child's porcelain doll! He even mistook me for a servant!"
The three laughed, I never thought Ciel's laugh could be so charming.

"Ahah! Don't forget to mention what happened after we had our tea!" Ciel chuckled, maybe fake dating him is taking its toll on me.

"Oh, I mustn't!" I cleared my throat softly. "Ciel's butler, Sebastian, and mine, Alfred, were getting into a fight in the kitchen area. I was sure Alfred would win, so I attempted to leave. But, standing behind me was a strange woman with a mask! She kidnapped me! Ciel, too." Ciel and I laughed as if it was child's play, Alois and Fake Madeline looked at each other.

"Apparently we were going to be thrown into a fire pit!" Ciel guffaws as I smiled. "Thankfully, we knew we'd be in this together and we helped each other escape." Ciel paused, turned to me, and picked up my hand gently. "We've been head over heels for each other since~" it may have been an act, but, even hearing the words come out of his mouth made me blush. Something's very wrong.

Their thoughts begun to fly into my head once more, this is the most it's happened before.
"Why is she actually blushing? Is this part of the act?" Ciel's voice, no doubt.
"Does this mean she already had feelings for the Earl...?" Madeline- or, Hannah's voice.

"Ah, just as I thought. It's not bad to play Cupid every once in a while, is it? Still, I didn't know Hannah's spell would work so quickly. I thought she said it would take at least 2 hours, it's only been a half of an hour." A spell? Their thoughts silenced as my own filled my head. If he's talking about playing Cupid, it must be some sort of love magic. But why would Hannah have any of that? Let alone, know how to use it?

I felt a tsunami rushing around in my head, my heart tearing at the seems. I feel as though I'm going to vomit, this can't be good. I try to stand from the couch but I feel stiff and unable to move. I feel like I can't move anywhere away from Ciel. I feel trapped.

I tried to bring back the power from my eye so Ciel can get me out of there. Whilst they spoke I rubbed my eye enough so that a small portion of it was exposed to the light. I shout as loud as I can in my thoughts, hoping it gets to Ciel. It seems it did, as Ciel gasped. I fixed my eyepatch and waited for my escape.