"Young Master, it is time to get up."
Ciel Phantomhive opened his eyes. His butler Sebastian was standing by his bedside, preparing the morning's tea.
"Today's tea is Earl Grey, served with a side of Danish pastries," Sebastian said as he handed Ciel the cup and saucer.
"Fine," Ciel said nonchalantly, "What is today's schedule?"
Ciel quietly sipped his tea as Sebastian relayed the day's planned events. Today promised to be a dull day of work. First thing after breakfast, Ciel would go into town for the opening of a new Funtom Toy Store Then, he would make a quick stop at the cobbler's shop to have some new shoes made. After running a few more tedious errands, he would retire to his study before dinner and bed. Yes, there was certainly nothing special about April 19th…
Ciel suddenly spat out his tea.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow, "Is something the matter, my Lord?"
"Sebastian," Ciel gasped, "What day is it?"
"April 19th," his butler promptly stated.
"Damn!" Ciel shouted, springing out of bed, "Cancel everything!"
Having set down his empty saucer, Ciel sloppily attempted to change out of his nightshirt and into a respectable outfit. His butler, Sebastian, swiftly came to his side and aided the boy.
Sebastian began buttoning his Master's white undershirt and asked, " Whatever is the matter, my Lord? Is something-"
"Today is Elizabeth's birthday," Ciel snapped, pulling on a pair of gloves, "Honestly, how could I have forgotten? I'll never hear the end of it if I don't get her a present. Edward's going to kill me!"
Sebastian picked out a green waistcoat for the boy and smiled, saying, "Oh, there's no need to worry. I have prepared in advance for exactly this kind of situation."
Ciel raised an eyebrow and muttered, "You know, there is such a thing as being too prepared, Sebastian…What do you have in mind?"
"Well," Sebastian offered, smirking as he buttoned the Earl's waistcoat, "It occurred to me that what Lady Elizabeth wants most is to spend time with you, so why not let that be her gift?"
Ciel grimaced, "Do I have to?"
It wasn't that Ciel didn't want to spend time with Lizzy. It was just…well…He wasn't quite sure he could take a whole day of her suffocating bear hugs.
Sebastian scowled, and hastily tied on the black eye patch that concealed the mark of the covenant between the boy and the demon, "Young Master, it would be disgracing the Phantomhive name to upset a lady on her birthday."
"Fine," Ciel sighed, brushing away Sebastian's hand, "It's not like I had anything extremely important today. Her Majesty hasn't instructed me to solve a new case yet, so-"
"Oh!" Sebastian interrupted, "I almost forgot! This letter arrived late last night."
Sebastian handed the boy a small envelope encrusted with the royal seal. Ciel snatched the note and immediately opened it up. As the Queen's Guard Dog it was his solemn duty to attend to every one of Her Majesty's worries, sweeping them away like pesky spider webs nested in the nooks and crannies of the country. Ciel glanced up at Sebastian.
"You should have alerted me earlier, Sebastian…Are you ignoring your duties as a butler?"
"Apologies, my Lord," the demonic butler said in a deep bow, "I will not be so tardy in the future."
Ciel scoffed and quickly glanced over the content of the note. Apparently, a "person of significance" to Her Majesty had mysteriously vanished. The missing person's name was Cordelia Brown. The girl was a child and a distant relative of the Queen's family that had been living in London with her family before her disappearance. It was Earl Ciel Phantomhive's job to find Cordelia and, if possible, return her safely home. Ciel's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. With Elizabeth's birthday to work around, this would be no easy task.
"Sebastian," Ciel commanded, "I order you to look into this matter for me while I am at the Midford Household. Interview her parents and find out where she was last seen. Tell me what you find out as soon as possible."
"Yes, my Lord," Sebastian bowed, then added, "How long do you plan to stay with Lady Elizabeth and her family?"
Ciel thought for a moment and said, "Have a coach ready for me by five o'clock.
"Very well, sir," Sebastian replied, "I'll be sending Snake with you as your escort for the day."
"Fine, fine," Ciel replied, waving his hand dismissively. Today wasn't going exactly as planned. The young Earl slowly walked to his study to reflect on the Queen's note. As he sat at his desk, a deep sigh enveloped the room.
Another missing person's case, Ciel thought. The last missing person's case he had looked into had been much more taxing than he would have preferred. The set of circumstances was eerily similar, with a "person of significance" to the Queen being the victim both times. Ciel highly doubted that the case of Derrick Arden was related to the case of Cordelia Brown, though…and he certainly knew he wasn't going to infiltrate a school again, no matter what the circumstances. The boy glanced at the hair locket lying on his desk. Ciel slowly picked up the necklace, fingering the silver engravings of initials…could the Undertaker have something to do with this as well?
A timid knocking at the door interrupted Ciel's thoughts.
"Come in," Ciel said, setting down the piece of jewelry.
"It is time to go…says Keats," Snake murmured, nervously poking his head in the door.
"Very well," Ciel said, offering his footman a small smile. Snake had come to work at the manor after Ciel had taken him in. The footman was incredibly insecure, probably due to the snake-like markings on his skin, and talked through his "friends." Rather, his snakes. One could always be found draped around his neck, and Snake had recently begun carrying them around in a satchel whenever they left the manor. It did not escape the Earl's notice that Snake had this satchel with him today. Even so, the boy said nothing as the two headed down the staircase of his manor.
"Young Master," Sebastian called.
Ciel turned to see his butler approaching with a small, colorfully wrapped box.
"Shouldn't you be waiting at the coach?" Ciel asked.
Sebastian answered, "It occurred to me that although your presence may be enough of a gift for Lady Elizabeth, her brother, Edward, may protest if you don't give her a present."
Ciel took the box and asked, "What is it?"
Sebastian put a finger to his lips and said, "It's a surprise."
"Whatever," Ciel grumbled, handing the box to Snake, "Come on Snake, lets go…"
"Wait! Young Master!" Meyrin's shrill voice screeched. Meyrin, the maid, and Bard, the "chef", rushed out of the kitchen and dumped two large boxes into the child's hands.
"What?" Ciel gasped, struggling under the weight of the gifts, "More presents?"
"Of course!" Meyrin chimed, "I got Lady Elizabeth something real special, yes I did!"
"And I cooked her up a big surprise!" Bard exclaimed.
Note to self, Ciel thought, don't give Lizzy Bard's gift.
On the way out of the door, Finney gave Ciel some flowers to deliver to Elizabeth as well.
"Have fun at Lady Elizabeth's!" the gardener, Finnian, shouted as Ciel and Snake rode off.
Fun, Ciel thought as Sebastian drove the carriage out of the drive, As if…
Ciel glanced at Snake and noticed the look of discomfort on his face.
Ciel chuckled and said, "You didn't have to get her a gift, too, you know."
The Earl rested his head on his hand as he looked out the window, "There's no need to feel guilty."
"But," Snake sighed, "Everyone else got her something…says Oscar."
"Well," Ciel argued, "That was their choice. Just because they did something doesn't mean you have to."
"If I had known today was her birthday, I would have gotten her something too…says Keats," Snake replied sullenly.
That makes two of us, Ciel thought. The boy cleared his throat and said, "It's too late now, anyway. You can get her a gift next year."
The ride continued the rest of the way in silence. Soon, they had arrived at the Midford Estate.