The Queen's Dove (Black Butler)

Chapter Seven: The Party - Part 2

Alexander

I find Isabella outside in the garden. She's slumped against a rose bush, her hands cover her face. I hear a quiet sob.

"My princess?" I whisper and she instantly looks up, her green eyes are blotchy from her tears.

"Alex," She wipes her tears with her hand, "I can't handle it. I thought I could, but I can't." I decide to sit down next her, she rests her head against my shoulder. My hand rests on her arm for comfort. She shallowly breathes in and out. A cool, summer breeze blows over us, "I don't want to see George with Alois. I want to protect him, I don't want him getting hurt." I tense at her sentence, Hurt? I think, What does she mean? She looks into my eyes, they're full of hurt.

"What happened at Alois'?" I ask. Isabella looks up at the starry night sky, taking deep breaths.

"He locked me in his study, he kicked and beat me. I thought I was going to die that night." She shudders on her own words.

"That's why you ran away?"

"Hannah helped me escape," Her voice is wobbly, "I never wanted to see his face again and now, he's become friends with my brother. I hate him!" She stands up, her hands against her mouth as she shouts "I HATE ALOIS TRANCY!" Isabella laughs, and I join in, we laugh for a few more minutes. Her laugh fills the quiet summer night, full of joy and beauty, it's a true laugh. She sits down next to me again, resting her head against my shoulder once more.

"I'm always here, Isabella," I say, "I'll protect you." She looks at me, her hand reaches out to me and her pinky sticks out.

"Pinky promise?" She asks, her eyebrow is raised amusingly. I clasp her pinky in mine. We both smile at the same time, I place my other hand against her face planting a kiss on her cheek.

"Pinky promise." I reply, her green eyes sparkle as her smile widens. I get up and hold out my hand but she refuses to accept it.

"You can go," She pushes me away, "I want to stay out here for a bit longer."

"As you wish, my princess," I bow and leave her.

Isabella

Alex's kiss lingers on my cheek, his warmth is still there. I touch the spot with my fingers and it tingles. Suddenly, I hear a rustle nearby and automatically I tense up. Is it Alois? Claude? I panic. However, my mind is put at rest when Ciel's butler walks up to me. The moonlight pounding on his back makes his front barely visible to see but his red eyes stand out.

"Sebastian," I greet, "you scared me," I think I see him smile, but I'm not sure.

"I'm sorry, Lady Ashdown," He replies, "Ciel sent me to talk about the murder investigation, Lady Elizabeth seems to want to keep the Master all to herself." I laugh quietly at his words. Elizabeth seems like the stalker fiancee from hell.

"Did you get the list of suspects?" I ask and he nods.

"Yes, I've only got a few suspects on the list. I will be sending you the list by tomorrow so you can go through it, and then the master would like to speak to you on Monday." I nod my head at him, accepting his invitation, "I saw you dancing with Earl Alois Trancy," He begins and my throat begins to develop a lump, "I watched your brother hug him," he pauses, "I don't blame the Earl for taking a liking to your brother."

"What do you mean?" I question, my voice is slightly wobbling.

"Well, long ago Earl Trancy had a younger brother. I believe his name was Luka Macken," He continues, "sadly, he died when an unknown calamity spread through the village," something burns inside me, does he thinks he can just use my brother as a sort of replacement? "No wonder Earl Trancy likes your brother, George looks similar to his late one. Except, yours has green eyes and his had dark grey eyes."