Ciel's POV
I stand at my lover's side as we approach the starving young man. Tears having left their impression on my face, hopefully that is all that is left behind in their wake. Although from the way those crimson eyes gaze so joyfully into mine, I know that they must have left my face flushed.
The young man gazes up at us with pleading eyes, wishing for money from the two noblemen who graced him with their presence.
"Please sirs, would you consider donating to help me sustain myself?" The boy asks with surprising diction. Perhaps he was educated prior to becoming homeless.
"We can do one better. We are in the process of planning to build an orphanage and we'd like to offer you the chance to live and work within the Manor as a gardener in the meantime. You will gain your own private room, free meals three times a day, privately educated by tutors as my adoptive children have been until the completion of the orphanage. Then you will live there with the same privileges except from the gardener position. Truly the only reason I am giving you the position of being a gardener is due to the boredom and lethargy you feel having nothing to do." I explain, watching as hope fills the boys eyes.
Finding that his whole life is beginning to change in front of his very eyes.
"Y-You...Are you serious?!"
"Perfectly serious. What's your name?"
"I'm Alexan-...no."
"This is the beginning of a new life, my child. You can choose a new name if you wish." I kindly offer as the struggles to speak his own name without anger flashing through him.
"L-Leo...my name is Leo." He tests the name, finding that it rolls so naturally from his tongue that it causes the child to smile. Confident in his choice, he nods.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Leo. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Earl Ciel Phantomhive, Lord of the Phantomhive Estate."
"Y-You're the King of the Underworld?!"
"Yes." This boy must have been forced to deal with some very untrustworthy people in his time.
"But you're so-...! You're so nice!" He exclaims, causing a chuckle from Sebastian and I.
"He's not evil simply because he's powerful, Leo." Sebastian adds, playing his Butler role rather well, despite not wearing the uniform.
"That's true I suppose...I apologise for my blatant disbelief."
"It's quite alright. Now, Leo. The question is whether you would like to accept our offer or continue to live on the streets until the orphanage is put in place?"
"There's no reason to live in squalor for months on end when two very kind nobles are standing right in front of me. Of course I accept." Sebastian outstretches a gloved hand to him which he gladly accepts, being supported as he stands on his exposed feet, raggedy clothes swaying at his knees.
"What age are you Leo?" I inquire as we make our way back to the awaiting carriage.
"I just turned twelve, my Lord. May I ask why?"
"You may, I was simply asking due to my duty to address and inform the government of who lives in my household."
Nice save.
Sebastian gently and swiftly lifts us both into the carriage as, to this day, I am still too short to get in myself and he loves to hold me for any and every reason imaginable.
"Hello Milady, And Sir." Leo greets both Lizzy and Finny with a warm handshake. Luckily they are both wearing gloves otherwise they would be dirtied by the poor child's hands.
"Hello sir, I'm Lady Elizabeth Midford but you can call me Lizzie." She gleams, seemingly smitten with the boy already. He is rather adorable.
"And my name is Finnian...Michaelis but you can call me Finny."
Sebastian's eyebrow raises to the moon until it hits us both like a ton of bricks.
Finny doesn't have a surname.
So he had to use my lover's as a substitute.
"Alright Lizzie, Finny and-..." He stalls on Sebastian, having forgotten to address him entirely. "I'm terribly sorry, I seem to have forgotten to ask for your name."
"It's quite alright Leo. My name is Sebastian Michaelis and I am the Phantomhive Butler."
"You both seem incredibly close to one another. I would have guessed that you were the Lord's brother!"
"Heavens no." I exclaim, laughing in disbelief as I steal a glance at my partner only to find an impish grin forming on his gorgeous face.
"I wouldn't be engaged to my brother."
YOU ARE READING
As Time Goes On - A SebaCiel Story
RomanceCiel Phantomhive is growing older than he ever thought he would as the search for clues to gain his revenge are few and far between. His nightmares become worse in a way he never expected as the man who has served him hand and foot becomes something...
