"Gone? What the blazes do you mean gone?!" Ciel demanded of the lawyer standing before him. He glanced at Sebastian who was standing obediently in a corner and listening carefully to everything. He´d heard the whole exchange, even while making the tea for their guests. Apparently Scotland Yard had seized all of Ciel´s wealth, his money, his lands, his house.
"Like we told you Lord Phantomhive," the lawyer repeated patiently but firmly, "Your family´s wealth and lands were obtained illegally. Slave labour, smuggling, numerous tax offenses, prostitution, need I go on?" he asked, looking at the young boy before him. Poor kid. He could keep his title, but that was about all he´d be allowed to keep. Perhaps a few keepsakes maybe.
"So…what are you saying?" Ciel asked wearily, "That Funtom Corporation is being closed down?" He had understood their words, but he refused to believe them.
"Yes," the detective confirmed, "The Funtom Corporation is being shut down, your properties are being seized, your money is being taken. None of this belongs to your family," he finished with a sigh.
Ciel fell silent for a moment, glancing helplessly at Sebastian who watched calmly. He couldn´t help his young master in this situation. The situation was out of his control.
"You should probably get your affairs in order," the lawyer continued, "You can no longer afford to pay your staff and this mansion will be put on the market as soon as possible"
Ciel raged at the lawyers and raged again after the lawyers left, but there was nothing he or Sebastian, or anyone really, could do. A few days later people arrived and started packing up furniture and ornaments and valuables from the mansion. It happened bit by bit, given how large the mansion was. It was about six weeks before Ciel had to give in and leave, it was only he and Sebastian left. The others needed jobs, they needed money and had been forced to find other employment.
Where they would go, Ciel wasn´t sure. He had no money and Sebastian wasn´t a legal guardian. Just his butler. Sebastian said he would happily stay with Ciel, he didn´t need money, he was being paid at the end of Ciel´s life anyway, but this wasn´t the point. Ciel knew that unless a miracle happened, sooner or later he would end up in the workhouse.
As it happened, this miracle came about about two days later in the form of a horse and carriage.
"A message for Lord Phantomhive," the driver said, passing the note to Sebastian. Sebastian brought it to Ciel, who was in the kitchen. His office, like most downstairs rooms, had been cleared out by now.
"A note, my Lord" Sebastian said, handing it to Ciel. The boy ripped the envelope open and immediately glanced down to the signature, groaning loudly. This was all he needed. Those damn Indian dorks sticking their noses in.
"My dearest friend Ciel,
I was most upset to hear of your predicament and have been following it in the newspapers here in London. But I´ve got the most wonderful news! I can help you! That is why I sent a carriage, they´ll take you to London.
Your very close friend,
Prince Soma Asman Kadar
"Absolutely not," Ciel spit, putting the letter down and glaring at it as if the Indian prince was about to jump out from between the lines on the page. He was NOT going to go begging Soma for assistance.
"If I may, my lord," Sebastian murmured, taking the letter and reading it, "It seems to me that you do not have many other options," he replied, "You have no money, no home to speak of and the only possessions you own are two spare outfits and one family keepsake," he said, "A worthless one at that. You won´t survive very long," he pointed out.
Ciel sighed deeply. "Fine, fetch my bag" he ordered, getting to his feet and making his way out to the carriage. Things were getting very, very dire indeed if he was now relying on Soma for help. Heavens knew what the idiot had planned. Probably some idiotic solution that wouldn´t actually do any good whatsoever. He sighed once more and folded his arms, ignoring Sebastian when the demon joined him and the carriage pulled away. Ciel was painfully aware that this was possibly the last time he´d see his family home. Life as he knew it was now over, he knew this also. The lifestyle he was used to was gone now. Soma was his last hope. That was possibly the worst of it all, Ciel reckoned.
The journey to London was tense and silent. Ciel stared out the window the entire time, only speaking when necessary. After a journey that felt like it had gone on for weeks, the carriage came to a halt outside Ciel´s townhouse and the driver came round to open the door for the passengers.
"I thought this had been cleared out and sold," Ciel remarked with a frown, walking up towards the door. How was it that these two idiots were still living here? From the outside he could also see that the curtains were different.
Once Sebastian had opened the door, they stepped into the hall and Ciel looked around, his eyes widening in horror and rage.
"What the damn have they done to my home?!" he yelled as he took in the brighter walls, colourful curtains and brightly coloured rugs everywhere. It seemed that the townhouse had been redecorated in an Indian style "Who the bloody hell gave him permission to change everything?!" he raged loudly, taking it all in.
"Ciel!" Soma called, rushing out of the drawing room and flinging himself on the irate younger boy who tried unsuccessfully to free himself from the excited prince´s grasp. "I have missed you so much and I was so worried about you!"
"Who the blazes told you you could redecorate my home?!" Ciel demanded, finally managing to push Soma off him.
"Well that is why I summoned you here," Soma replied happily. Ciel made a noise that almost sounded like a growl. He was so angry that there was practically smoke coming from his ears. He´d summoned him? Soma had summoned him?
"This is no longer your home," Soma explained, with a wide smile on his face. "It belongs to me. I bought it," he told him. "Well...technically my father bought it, but…I own it. I can decorate it however I want to," he shrugged.
"You own this home?" Ciel repeated in disbelief. Although perhaps it was better it had been sold to someone he knew than to a stranger.
Soma nodded, glancing at Agni in excitement as the older man joined his prince. He wasn´t so sure that Soma´s plan was a good idea, but it did seem like the best option after he´d given it thought. But who was he to question his prince? Soma did know best after all.
"And what is your solution to my "predicament" as you phrased it?" Ciel asked, barely managing to remain civil. His fists were clenched in repressed anger at the purple haired boy standing before him.
"You will live here," Soma answered as if it had been obvious.
"Absolutely not!" Ciel snapped back, "I do not need and I will not accept your charity," he hissed. Charity was the worst thing of all. He also could imagine nothing worse than having to live with Soma constantly.
Sebastian opened his mouth to intervene, but Soma cut him off.
"It wouldn´t be charity," he replied, "You would work here. As my servant," he explained. Sebastian mentally began counting, to find out how long it would be until Ciel exploded. Two and a half seconds apparently.
"Are you completely insane?! I am an earl! I´m not going to be your servant! I´m Earl Phantomhive! That´s the stupidest idea I´ve ever heard in my life!"
Sebastian reached forward, touching Ciel´s arm to stop him.
"May we please have a moment, your highness?" Sebastian asked, escorting Ciel into the drawing room and closing the door.
"If I may, my Lord, you do not seem to have a choice right now," he pointed out. "You have no money, you are currently homeless and all you own are two outfits and one worthless keepsake. How do you intend on feeding yourself?" he asked. "Bear in mind that I told you my fortunes are unavailable for your use," he reminded the boy again. He´d use what he needed to, to spare them sleeping on the street or starving, but he´d refuse to fund Ciel´s lifestyle. If the boy starved to death, it simply meant Sebastian would get the soul owed to him.
"I will not serve that blundering fool!" Ciel replied, his face turning purple with rage.
"You will live on the street," Sebastian pointed out calmly.
"He´s a spoiled idiot!"
"It´s winter. It´s raining. If you don´t freeze or starve to death, you´ll end up in a workhouse where you´ll probably catch a disease and die." Sebastian looked at his white gloves, brushing off an imaginary speck of dust.
Ciel glared at his butler for a moment. He wished Sebastian would catch a disease and die. That would teach him. But even he could see that Sebastian had a point. Things really had gotten desperate. He really didn´t have a choice in this. There was no other option.
Instead of speaking to Sebastian any further, Ciel turned and opened the door, stomping back into the hall and glaring hatefully at the Indians.
"My Lord has seen sense and will accept your kind offer," Sebastian replied, joining them in the hall. Soma jumped a little, clapping his hands in excitement.
"Fantastic! I´m so excited!" he said happily. "And don´t worry. Sebastian will be allowed to stay with you if he wishes, I will employ him too," he said, glancing at the demon worriedly and back at Agni. The demon made him uneasy, but Ciel was close to him and he wanted Ciel to be happy.
"But he is to stay away for two weeks, while you are trained by Agni," Soma announced.
"What? Why?" Ciel demanded angrily.
"I will ignore your tone this once," Soma said, his smile fading just a little, "Sebastian, if he chooses to stay, will take a break for two weeks because you are too close to him. I want someone else to train you," he stated. "Someone who will not cater to your every whim and do your chores and duties for you because you believe you still hold some sort of position here"
Ciel pouted furiously. This actually made sense to him. Sebastian looked at Ciel, obviously not happy with this idea.
"Fine," Ciel decided. "Sebastian obey him. Come back in two weeks." He ordered. Sebastian didn´t think Ciel could survive. Ciel knew that just from Sebastian´s doubtful expression. He´d show him.
The demon hesitated for a moment before bowing.
"Yes my Lord," he replied, before leaving reluctantly. He wouldn´t go far. As long as he was nearby, he and Ciel were connected through their seals. Ciel knew how to summon him if he were in trouble.
Ciel watched Sebastian leave and returned his gaze to Soma and Agni.
"Agni, take Ciel to his new bedroom" Soma ordered, returning to the drawing room.
"Come with me," Agni told him kindly, taking the small bag Ciel had brought with him and leading him up the stairs.
"From now on you will sleep in the servants´ quarters, since that is what you are," Agni stated, "But do not worry Ciel. His highness is a kind master. And he cares deeply for you. This way you have a place to live and food to eat. All he expects in return is that you earn your keep," he said. Ciel remained silent, a pout on his face. He was not happy with how his situation had changed. Not one bit.
They had arrived in the servants quarters and Agni opened a bedroom door, revealing a small bedroom. It was bare and simple. There was a single bed, a window, a wardrobe and in the corner, a small sink and a mirror.
"What is that?" Ciel demanded, indicating the outfit laid out on the bed.
"Why it is your uniform," Agni replied, "His highness has requested that you wear it when you work," he answered. Ciel glared at it in disgust. It appeared to be white trousers, a long white shirt that came down to the knees and an undergarment. Typical Indian style. He sighed deeply.
"Take your time, relax a little, get changed and join me in the kitchen," Agni said, bowing slightly and offering him a friendly smile before he left.
Ciel sighed and sat on the bed. What a horrific situation. The sooner he and Sebastian figured out how to fix this the better. A servant to Prince Soma, who would have imagined?