Hey, everybody! Darou here! Well, I've finally gotten around to making my third fanfiction. Please let me know what you think of this! This is just kind of an experiment, so I don't know for sure how it'll turn out. Also, the title is a work in progress, so I might change it. I don't know. Enjoy!
I do not own Black Butler or its characters(I wish xD ), however, the OC's and story belong to me, so please do not use them without my permission!

Chapter 1

Snowflakes swarmed the courtyard as a chilling breeze swooped in, making me shiver, albeit I wore my thickest fur coat. The old porch swing squeaked loudly as it slowly swung back and forth in the wind, the remains of the yellow paint chipping off, revealing splinters in the wood planks. Most of my roses and tulips were gone ever since autumn began, leaving the garden seeming as a cold and lifeless sheet of white, excluding the evergreens that were always green throughout the year.
I ignored the numb burning sensation in my red fingers as I drew my quill pen from the ink and continued sketching. Every few minutes I looked up to the remnants of my garden, using my thumb to scale different details of the environment around me. As I was gridding the sketch, I heard a soft crunch, crunch in the snow. I turned to look in the direction the sound came from. A small white rabbit bounded out of the dead bushes and twigs. It flinched when it saw me, but when I didn't move, it resumed making its way across the courtyard until it crawled underneath the gate surrounding the Hille estate. I watched it until it disappeared into the snowy fog, envying its freedom to leave whenever it wanted.

"Ma'am, you should come inside!"

I shrieked and nearly fell out of my chair at the voice. "Wha- Dorothy?!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Miss!" Cried the maid as she helped me up.

"How many times do I have to tell you?! Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"Yes, yes, I know, I didn't mean to, honestly! But please come inside, you'll catch cold out here!"

I sighed as I stood and let her lead me inside. Dorothy shut the door behind me, and I was welcomed by the soft light of candles above and the warmth of a fire glowing in the nearby brick hearth.

Two statues of sleeping felines decorated the exterior and a portrait of my late grandfather hung above the fireplace. The coffee table sat in front of the fire. It was made up of oak wood, with four pillars on each corner that held up a glass shelf. In between the glass and wood base was a stuffed bobcat, stuck in a crouched position with its fake teeth bared, its glass eyes reflecting candle light. It had been a gift from my grandfather, who used to be a hunter before he'd passed away. Several other prizes he brought home long ago were still in the living room. Badgers and foxes stood frozen on wooden shelves, some of them leaping in the air or pouncing on an invisible mouse, others snarling or rearing up on their hind legs. A rabbit was hunched in the corner next to one of many colorful potted plants, its fur now matted and dusty from years of sitting untouched. Out of all of them, though, the bobcat was my favorite. I've always loved cats, even when they scratched or bit me, or when they would jump from your lap and run off to some hiding place while you're petting them.

Of course, the cat was a symbol to me. The Queen had hired me some time ago to work with her investigators. She had her watchdogs, her rats, and her cat. I, unfortunately, was the Queen's cat, and so was my job to keep the rats in check and get rid of any from the outside. It wasn't a fun job or an easy one at that, but it was mine, and I did my best to fulfill it.

"You go and take a seat, Miss Evelynn," said Dorothy as she headed towards the kitchen. "I'll make you some hot tea. Now get some rest, dear, you have a big day tomorrow!"

"I don't understand, were we supposed to do something tomorrow?"

The maid turned around with a surprised look on her face. "You don't remember?"

I shook my head.

"But, milady, tomorrow we're going to get you fitted for your wedding dress!"

"My wedding dress?" Suddenly I remembered - my wedding was coming this spring. I slumped back in my chair - at least, as far as my stupid hoop skirt would allow. "Oh, yes," I mumbled. "It just now dawned on me that in a few months, all of my freedom and respectability will be replaced by a chimp disguised as a man." I emphasized the last few words with obvious disgust.

Dorothy made a sympathetic face and came to sit next to me on the loveseat. "Don't be so gloomy, Miss Evelynn. Think of it as an opportunity. You'll be able to save your company and your title!"

I covered my face with my hands and groaned with despair. "But he's such a pig!"

"Yes, he may be, however, he's a pig with money and status, both of which you are in need of."

The expression on my face darkened even further. "I know," I said. "I need him. That's why I hate him!" The maid gasped as I stood up on the couch, my hands on my sides and my chest puffed out. "I shouldn't have to waste my life with a boar just because I haven't much experience with finance. Why can't they just let me figure it out myself?! I'm a quick learner! All I need is a little more time, and I'll find a way to fix everything!"

"I believe you, Miss," whimpered Dorothy, "but you'll need an heir for the estate, and I don't think you can solve that problem alone..."

A wistful sigh escaped my lungs as I sat back down, my shoulders slumped. "You're right. Even if I tried to find a solution for this, it would never work."

The maid nodded sadly, probably knowing what this must feel like.

"I can't stand him, though. He's a rich prick with a stick up his butt who only cares about how society sees him."

Both of us were quiet for a while, listening the constant ticking of the grandfather clock across the room. Suddenly, Dorothy started to giggle. In the middle of an important and serious discussion, she starts acting like this?

"Dorothy? What's so funny?"

"I-I'm sorry, Miss Evelynn!" Her giggles turned into guffaws as she held her stomach, trying to catch her breath. "But you-you just described him perfectly! I-I can imagine him, a-a-" She rolled onto her side and laughed even harder, so much that she started snorting between each breath.

For a moment, I only watched her obnoxious behavior with a grim look, but as she rolled on the floor guffawing, her face beaming with a bright smile, I started to feel a giggle come up my own throat. It grew and grew, until I started snorting as well, and that made us chuckle even more. To be honest, I didn't even know why it was so funny, yet I couldn't stop laughing. And it actually felt good. Really good. I haven't smiled this much in so long, and now that I finally got to let it out, I wished that I could feel like this every day. I wished that every day, I could smile until my lips were sore, laugh until my chest ached. And there wouldn't even have to be a reason, I'd just be happy because I'm alive and well. But I wouldn't, would I? My nineteenth birthday was coming soon, and along with that, the loss of my independence. It all seemed to go by so fast. We calmed down after a bit, catching our breath.

The maid suddenly jumped to her feet. "Oh, I forgot the tea!" She ran off to the kitchen. "I'll be right back!"

Dorothy was quite a delightful person. She always had something to smile about, even when she had nothing. I jumped when I heard several knocks at the door, the loud boom echoing in the empty halls of the manor. Who would be coming to my house at this time? Does no one have respect for privacy anymore?

Dorothy immediately ran to open the door in the other room, and I heard a few other voices along with her own. Silently, I waited for my name to be called, judging by the fact that the visit was most likely involving business.

"Miss Evelynn!"

There it was.

"It's Lord Wickes! He wants to speak with you!"

Right then, all of that cheerful mood that had lingered there wilted like a dead rose. Eustace Wickes - my fiancee - had chosen this time to bother me? He had already visited last week to discuss our wedding plans, and I hoped that I wouldn't have to see his rodent-like face or beaver buckteeth for quite a while. Still, there was nothing I could do about it now, so I dusted myself off, fixed my dress, and put on the best fake smile I could muster.

"Come in!" I called cheerfully.

Loud footsteps on marble tile approached, and Eustace came in through the walkway with the most blood-curdling, bucktoothed grin I've ever seen.

"My Lady Evelynn, it's so wonderful to see you again!"

"And you as well," I lied as I tried my best not to cringe when he put his disgusting lips on my hand in a kiss. "Pardon my asking, but what are you doing here so soon after your last visit? You have much to get done at your company, do you not?"

"Yes, I do," he replied. "In fact, at this moment I will be heading off on official business, and won't return until next week. Before I leave, though, I would like to ask if you would wish to sell your estate and move into the Wickes Manor after the wedding?"

My eyes widened as I stared at him with utter shock. "What?!"

"I promise, my dear, I will make sure that you enjoy your stay. And if you like, I'll even hire your staff so they may serve you as always!"

For a moment, I simply stared at him in awe. His hopeful look made it even more vomitous, the thought of leaving my home for some dingy old shack?!

"Just what makes you think I'm going to live with you?!"

His smile faded slightly, his hope disappearing along with it. "...W-well, our marraige, of course! It is quite reasonable that if you are to be my wife, we shall live under the same roof. Do you not agree?"
"Of course I do. But there is only one roof I shall ever live under, and that is mine. I am never leaving this house, I was born here, and I will die here. My father owned this manor, as did his father, and his father before him! I will not let my family's household be sold for any profit at all, no matter what offers you make, and that is final. Do I make myself clear?"

Eustace didn't seem to know what to think of my sudden outburst. In tradition, it is the lady who obeys the man, but I refuse to let any tradition control my life.

"I...I understand," he murmured quietly, a tinge of fear in his voice.

I finally relaxed a little. "Good," I said more gently. "Now, go and get your business settled. I hope to see you when you return."

As do I, madam," he responded as he stood, still dazed.

Before he went outside, I could just barely hear him whisper to Dorothy, "Is she always this short-tempered?" Once I heard the door slam behind him as he left, I fell back into my chair and heaved a sigh of relief. All was going well. For now.

Hooray, my first chapter is finally done! It took quite a while for me to plan this story out, and I sure hope it'll be worth it! Thank you very much for reading, and if you could, I'd greatly appreciate it if you could please tell me what you think in a review or PM. What are some things you like? Things I should add or change? Maybe some ideas? Perhaps a pie recipe? It's very helpful. Anyway, thanks a whole bunch!

-Darou