She had her mother's personality in the beginning, cheerful and bright. She would be the first to open a conversation. Her green eyes sparkled. She introduced herself like the proper young child she was taught to be. After all, the Phantomhive manner had to keep up appearances as usual. Of course the other children adored her. Not only because of the countless toys she was the first to own, nor the huge estates with its many gardens and play areas. She was happy. Not a care in the world, back then. She knew her mother and father loved her very much. She knew the footman, the maid, the cook, and the grounds keeper who would stop their day to indulge her in games and tea parties. She knew the tall Butler who was always by her father's side. He was a pleasant man, much more strict than the others. He gave her beautiful confections from the estate bakery and flower crowns from the garden. He taught her piano. He kept the beaded spectacle chain she made around his neck. He would smile at her. He closely watched over her as well. When all the playmates left and her mansion friends were busy, he was always there. He never left her alone, she was never alone.

As the girl grew older, she noticed how the other mansion servants were not able to run as long as before. Before long, it was only Finny, the gardener who would run about as best as he could while the others could only sit on the side to watch and cheer. She noticed how her father's footman had disappeared from the mansion all together. She noticed one day, the house was very dark and quiet. She noticed the day that a dark casket was taken from the home. She met the curious man who takes caskets that day. His hair was long and gray, almost covering his whole face. She could however see the man's sly grin as she told him jokes she learned from overhearing the gardener and the cook by the stables, much to her mother's dismay. The girl noticed her mother and her father stay practically the same, as well as that tall butler.

When she was a teenager, the rumors started. Whispers she caught right before she turned the corner at school. Phantomhives this Phantomhives that. How they never age. How they stayed economically stable while other business turned to shambles. How the families secretly hated them. How they were the Monarchy's watchdogs. She had never known of such things prior to hearing the gossip in the hallways. Little by little, her classmates began to desert her. They came to the house less and less. One day, they stopped talking to her altogether. She had told her parents about this. Shortly after, she was being home schooled in the mansions east wing. Her tutors came and went. All of the highest class, none of them permanent. With less people her age to speak with, the less she talked. Her mother and father noticed this in their child. They tried their best to keep her chatting; unfortunately, one can't speak so much when they hold many secrets.

Of course, the butler remained by her side. Sebastian. She began to notice his face, always young. He was handsome. His build tall and muscular. There were times she noticed him watching her as he does. Some of those times, heat would rise to her cheeks. This was a strange, dizzy feeling. She felt his warmth as he looked over her shoulder during her piano lessons. They didn't sit together on the piano bench anymore. Her skirts were getting ridiculously more elaborate and layered. They still spoke to one another. They did not sit on grassy knolls or share secrets in playhouses; they sat across from one another in the sitting room. It was all very formal, very proper.

"No one is courting her, my dear" Elizabeth stated to her spouse

"I don't see the problem in that. She doesn't need some bore of a husband. She will be taken care of for the rest of her life. She can do whatever she wants, she can have whatever she wants" He spoke in his normal boastful tone. "Besides, Lizzy, who could ever be good enough for our lovely Celia?"

He was truly proud of his precious child. She was intelligent, independent, and as beautiful as her mother. Who could ever be worthy? Quite a father this Lord Phantomhive has become.

"That's not the point Ciel. She's lonely"

"She has us"

"Darling, she will need more than her parents in this world to keep her company"

His face paled as the thought entered his mind. She reached up to hold his cheek in her hand. Finally, she thought, he understands.

"I guess that is a problem" Ciel stated quietly. "We could always do a formal introduction to the public, isn't that what those snobby brats do now a day?"

"I don't think she would know what to do if there were so many courtiers at the same time. I mean the only men she's spoken with are Finny, Balderoy, and Sebastian"

"Sebas…" His face paled again. "I know those two other old timers don't have the guts to try anything, but Sebastian…He wouldn't dare"

"Darling, don't be ridiculous. Sebastian is a formal man"

Ciels' mind instantly flashed back to that barn, THAT barn.

"Darling, here's a grand idea" His wife's eyes gave off that sharp glint. "Let's send our daughter around the world. She could see all this earth has to offer. Things she could never imagine staying in London. Who knows, she may even find a wonderful young man who will fall in love with her as much as I love you"

He kissed his wife's hand. "As much as I love you" He whispered. "Very well, we shall offer the option to Celia"

" Yes, and Sebastian can accompany her"

"What?!" His mind flashed again. "Never, not that cock of the walk!"

"Darling, you know both of us don't trust anyone with our precious daughter more than Sebastian."

"It pains me to say it, but you're right" Damn.

That evening her parents spoke about the idea. Her heart skipped a beat. She would never say it out loud, because she did not want to hurt her parents whom she loved dearly, but she did want to leave this house, even if it was just for a bit. Her green eyes sparkled like her mother; her dark hair, like her father's, flowed behind as she ran and hugged her parents.

"You know we will miss you very dearly my love" her mother said

"It will just be for a while" she stated as calmly as her beating heart could manage.

The next day, after long embraces and many tear soaked kisses from her mother and father, she left in the carriage escorted by the tall dark butler at her side.

Sitting in the carriage, she felt his warmth come through her coat, it made the cold London air bearable. An hour into their carriage ride, her adrenaline subsided and she found herself drowsy, yawning.

"Pardon me Sebastian"

"You do have time to sleep Mistress; we won't reach the pier for an hour or two" His voice was calming.

"Thank you" she sleepily replied, she was already half in slumber.

He glanced at her. Eyes closed, small lips slightly parted, that rosy blush across her smooth cheeks. He gently guided her head to his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her small shoulders to keep her warm. He had done this action many times when she had fallen asleep during reading time in the library. It was somewhat different this time. She had grown up, Little Cecilia. She was woman. He had to remind himself to remain proper. That father of hers had made his threats of castration and beheading the night prior to their departure, impetuous as always, that one. You grow a bit older, marry and have a child and you think you're a proper man. He chuckled to himself. The estate had become very entertaining since the night of the Master's return. He did not, however, expect to be smitten by his spawn, enamored by this beauty silently sleeping in his arms, quite unexpected indeed.