~The Queen's Butler...Arrogant~ (Charles Grey x Reader)

Chapter 13: The she-butler, a fangirl

(Y/n)'s POV

It was in the evening when liquid crystal began raining down onto the earth, and it was in the evening when Grey and I, along with her majesty's distant relative Herr Georg Von Siemens, began travelling to the Phantomhive manor by horse-drawn carriage. Upon pulling the silver pocket watch I possessed from my clothing and clicking it open, I came to find that we were going to be late, only by about fifteen minutes, but still late nevertheless. Myself and Grey had run over the initial plan with the old man, selling it to him as a practical joke when in reality it would be his untimely death. Part of me felt kind of sorry for him, though the other part forced me to be apathetic, and we were going to carry it all out with no mistakes. 

As I stared into my reflection against the glass that covered the little clock in my hands, I couldn't help but think of the characters who I'd lived through by reading the novel that Grey's younger sister, Elizabeth, had mailed to me during the last week. It was a work featured in Beeton's Christmas Annual, a magazine that I never usually bought unless I really liked what was on the cover - as prejudicial as that sounds to quite literally judge a book by it's cover. I found that the cover of this particular novel didn't actually pique my interests all that much, though I did decide to read it, because if anyone knew my taste in literature, it was dear old Lizzy Grey. And enjoy it I did. 

The trip to the Phantomhive manor was silent, and when we arrived, we all filed out of the carriage and made our way to the front door and into the manor, where we found the guests had all gathered as well as Lord Phantomhive and his jet black butler. 

We both approached each other and met half way in the room, all of us baring polite smiles.

"A pleasure to meet you, My Lord. Herr Georg Von Siemens at your service. Thank you for your kind invitation," Herr Von Siemens greeted in his thick German accent, to which Grey peeked out from behind him with a smile.
"Hello! All set for a cap of the party, hey?" He greeted, to which Lord Phantomhive ignored him and continued his own greeting with Herr von Siemens.
"You've come a long way, I'm so happy you could make it," He began, holding his hand out for the older man to shake, "I am Ciel Earl Phantomhive."

They shook hands, and Lord Phantomhive was ready for the next subject.

"You must be hungry. Well, we've prepared a feast for you. It's buffet style, for conversation. If you will please accompany me this way."

I swear I saw Grey's eyes light up at the mention of a feast, and I mentally facepalmed as I promised myself I'd keep and eye on him while we followed Lord Phantomhive into the grand dining hall of his manor, awaiting the other guests who were invited to the party. 

~

The guests were quite bland to say the least. There was Karl Woodley of the Woodley diamond company, Patrick Phelps, son of a distinguished shipbuilding magnate. Mr. Lau of the Kunlun and his sister-in-law, Ran-Mao, who I knew of their true nature. Then there was the famous Opera singer, Irene Diaz, accompanied by a recognized theatrical producer, Grimsby Keane, who were suspiciously close to each other, if I do say so myself. But the gentleman who sat the side side of everyone, I had to say was unfamiliar to me. 

At first he'd been examining the crowd, like he was trying to pick out their characterizations and personalities just from their mannerisms or the way they stood. But then he resorted to staring down at the ground with a look on his face that practically shouted inferiority complex. I wondered, why would Lord Phantomhive invite such a basic character to a much more prestigious party? Though I had been taught through Beeton's Christmas Annual that things aren't always what they seem.