Chapter 1: Photographs.

Ciel's POV

I sat tediously in my study as I waited for Sebastian to bring the afternoon tea. I sighed as I stared up at the ceiling, "What's taking him so long?"

As if on cue, the door swung open and in walked my mischievous butler. "Your tea, my lord," he said as he took the tray off of the cart and placed in on my desk.

"Sebastian," I said as I took a sip from the cup and placed it back down on the desk.

"Yes?" He asked.

I twiddled with my ring as I spoke, "Something's been on my mind lately..."

He rose a brow, "What is it?"

"When the manor was rebuilt," I started, "I remember there being a safe that was found here in the study under all of the rubbish. Do you know where that safe is now?"

He placed his index finger on his chin as he pondered the question, "If I remember correctly, it was put in the attic."

"Could you get it for me?" I asked.

He nodded as he placed his hand over his chest, "Of course, my lord." After saying that, he exited the room.

I believe that safe was my father's. If I can just think of the code for it, then I'll be able to see what it was that he kept hidden in there...

Sebastian came back into the room with a small rusty safe. He held it over top of the desk as I stood up slightly to take it out of his hands.

I sat back down as I gazed at the metal box in my lap. I took a deep breath as I then began turning the dial, trying to figure out what the code is.

After several failed attempts at opening the safe, I slammed my fist down on the desk in frustration, "This is useless! I can't figure out the damn code!"

"Did you try your birthday?" Sebastian asked.

I sighed heavily as I ran my fingers through my hair, "Of course I tried my damned birthday!"

The corners of his lips curled up ever so slightly, "Did you try the day after your birthday?"

"Why would it be the day after my birth-" I asked as I began inputing the code, but stopped mid-sentence when I heard an unlocking sound.

"I'm sorry, Young Master, I didn't quite catch that. What were you saying?"

I shot him a glare as I opened the small door on the safe, "Shut up."

"As you wish." He cooed.

I placed the safe on my desk as I pulled out everything that was in it. I furrowed my brows when I noticed that it was all only photographs of the same woman.

"That's odd... Sebastian," I said as I held out a photo of the mysterious woman, "Do you know who this is?"

He narrowed his eyes at the photo before shaking his head, "No, I don't believe I do."

"Are you sure this is the right safe?" I asked, continuing to look through the photos.

He nodded, "I'm certain it is."

"Okay," I said plainly, too focused on the photos to give a proper response.

I skimmed through the photos, but paused when I saw a document about an orphanage. "What's this?" I mumbled as I read through the document.

It looked like a small article about the Rainsworth orphanage in London. But what use would my father have with this? And that's when I saw it...

Behind the document was one last photo, but this one was of a small child. It was a girl, and she had the same navy hair and sapphire eyes as my father and I. She looked nothing like the woman in the other photos, so what's the connection?

"What the..." I turned the photo around and saw that "Annalise" was written on it in his handwriting.

Of all of these photos, the only name given was Annalise. Does this mean that the child's name is Annalise? Considering how old she looks in the photo and how old this safe is, I'd assume that this girl must be around my age. But why does father have this in his safe?

"Prepare the carriage." I ordered, my gaze never leaving the photo.