This got my vote for favorite episode. It was clearly made for fangirls such as myself.
I know several other writers have done this sort of story before, but I couldn't help myself. I just LOVE delving into character's minds and showing readers how they view the world.
I didn't want to use a name similar to Elizabeth, but Elicia just kept jumping out at me. She's named in honor of the daughter of one of my favorite anime character Maes Hughes. RIP Hughes.
And I can totally see Grell screwing up Elicia's name with someone else's.
As the carriage pulled up to the large manor, Elicia found that she was not nervous. After all, she usually wasn't nervous when she was working. Nervousness was not allowed on the job. And surely this job would be just as easy as any other.
"Here we are, dear," the young girl in front of her said. "This is the Phantomhive manor." She let out a small laugh once Elicia met her eyes.
It had been easy to gain Elizabeth Midford's trust. Almost too easy. The young girl was still so sweet and innocent and terribly naïve. That made her the perfect tool for Elicia to use to infiltrate the home of her target.
Elicia rather missed the days where she too was young and ignorant to the harsh ways of the world.
Those days were long gone.
The carriage came to a halt, and Elicia prepared for the butler she had heard Elizabeth talk about to come meet them. However, she was not prepared for someone so…perfect-looking to greet her. This man in front of her was basically the very definition of handsome. He had an elegant build with sleek, beautiful black hair. His eyes seemed to see straight into her soul like he wanted to devour it. A small smile graced his lips that made her feel at safe yet uneasy, protected yet vulnerable all at the same time.
"Always a pleasure to see you, Lady," he said to Elizabeth with a polite bow. "Do come inside."
His voice. It drifted to Elicia's ears like beautiful music that she never wanted to cease.
Who in the world was this man, and how was he possibly having this effect on her? After all, Elicia was not one to swoon so easily in the presence of a male. In fact, she hated men. So what was so different about this one?
Elizabeth took the man's awaiting hand. "Thank you, Sebastian." Sebastian helped Elizabeth out of the carriage. "Ciel, Ciel, Ciel!" Elizabeth squealed happily.
She immediately began bounding off to meet her fiancé Elicia had heard her talk endlessly about. At first, it was rather adorable to hear the way she talked about him. But after hours upon hours upon hours of listening to her incessant fawning, she wished the girl would just shut up and talk about something else. Nevertheless, she kept up her image and always smiled and nodded during their conversations.
Sebastian looked at Elicia. "We've been expecting you. Allow me, miss."
The butler held out his hand, and Elicia slowly took it before allowing him to help her out of the carriage. She looked up and saw Elizabeth standing with a young boy who looked her age.
"Here he is, dear," Elizabeth smiled. "Presenting Ciel, Earl Phantomhive."
So this was Ciel Phantomhive. Her target.
But…he was just a boy.
Sure she knew that he was going to be a boy from her orders and the fact that Elizabeth was his fiancée at her age, but she wasn't expecting him to be this…young. He couldn't have been older than thirteen. How could someone so young have a hired assassin after him?
His eyes were clouded over. The pure innocence and naiveté in Elizabeth's eyes were long gone from his own. She couldn't help but wonder what it was that had stolen away that innocence.
Elizabeth turned to Ciel while Elicia couldn't help but let her gaze drift over to Sebastian for a few seconds, still curious as to what made him so different from other men. "Ciel, this is the new friend I mentioned to you in my letter. We met at the ball last month, and I took an instant liking to her, and I felt sure that you would adore her as much as I do! I could not wait to introduce you, so I brought her along this afternoon!"
"What is an earl to do with you?" Ciel sighed. He smiled a little and approached Elicia. "Welcome to my estate, miss. I'm Ciel, the head of the Phantomhive household. I hope that you'll find tonight's ball an enjoyable experience. Sebastian, see that she has everything she needs."
"Certainly, my lord," Sebastian responded. He turned to face Elicia. "Pleased to make your acquaintance. Sebastian Michaelis, butler to the Phantomhives. I am at your service."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sebastian," Elicia said with a small nod."
"We pride ourselves on hospitality. We shall offer every comfort." He gestured to the front doors, and an older gentleman opened them to reveal the large foyer. "And now, welcome to the Phantomhive manor."
Perhaps this job was going to be a bit more difficult than she had anticipated…
Sebastian led Elicia to one of the many elaborate rooms. "We have prepared this guest room for you," he told her.
"It's very lovely," Elicia remarked.
"Lovely, you say? Thank you. I am so pleased."
Elicia slowly walked into the room and looked around. It was a quaint little room, perfect for a visiting guest.
"Over the generations, the Phantomhives have furnished this room with the finest quality historic pieces," Sebastian explained. "You will find that everything is suitable for a gentlewoman, so please do make yourself at home." Elicia walked towards the fireplace and looked at the several photos on top. Sebastian came to stand next to her. "Ah, I see you are admiring the photographs on the mantle. They are of the previous earl, Vincent Phantomhive, and his lovely wife, Rachel."
"They seem like very pleasant people."
Elicia could see where Ciel got his looks from. He looked a lot like his father. Such a shame he lost them so young in his life.
She could sympathize with him. She tried not to, since having sympathy was dangerous in her line of work, but she could understand the horror of losing parents at such a young age.
"From what I understand, they were prominent figures, much loved by the entire community," Sebastian continued. "They devoted themselves passionately to worthy civil causes, such as aiding the poor and improving medical care of an infrastructure. The Queen evidently placed a great deal of trust in them. You might ask my master for further details at tea this afternoon. For now, though, please make yourself—"
He was cut off as an explosion shook the manor. Sebastian's eyes widened for a moment as he looked in the direction the loud noise had come from.
"What on earth was that?" Elicia asked.
Sebastian looked back at her with a smile. "If you'll please wait here. There's a matter I must attend to."
He calmly departed from the room. Elicia stared after him. Pity she would have to end his life per her orders. He seemed like such a nice man. Under different circumstances, she might've wished for him to court her. Unusual for her to think such a thing, yes, but it was true.
Curious as to what was going on and desiring to get a good look at the manor, Elicia quickly followed in the direction Sebastian had gone, making mental notes of her surroundings along the way. She ended up below the manor where the horrid smell of burning food wafted down the hallway.
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised," she heard Sebastian say.
"It's this bloody new burner we've got!" another man yelled. "The blasted thing won't work!"
Sebastian turned his head and noticed Elicia standing outside. "Please, miss! Stay back!"
Before Elicia could register what he was doing, Sebastian ran forward and pushed her to the ground, using his body to shield her from another explosion. Elicia's eyes widened a bit at the close contact with him and the awkward position they had landed in.
Loud shouts and screams could be heard from the kitchen as fire erupted from the room.
"My deepest apologies," Sebastian said as he got up. "Are you injured?"
"No, I am all right," Elicia answered, her face feeling rather warm. "Thank you."
Sebastian helped her up into a sitting position.
"That was a close shave, eh?" a charred man smiled as he came to the kitchen doorway, his hair in complete disarray. "We came pretty near to starting a bloody great fire in there."
"You did start a fire!" a woman, presumably the maid, shrieked as she came next to him, just as charred as he was.
"Are you all right?" a young boy asked, quickly running out to join the others. "Sorry, Sebastian." He then noticed Elicia on the floor next to him. "Hello. And who is this?"
Sebastian turned to Elicia and offered his hand. "Miss?" She took his hand, and he helped her up off the floor. "Our visitor is a friend of the Lady Elizabeth. She will be one of our esteemed guests at this evening's ball."
"Oh, my, how lovely!" the boy said excitedly.
"It's always exciting to have a fancy new guest!" the woman added.
"And she's a right pretty little thing, isn't she?" the man smiled.
Elicia looked down bashfully. She always felt a bit withdrawn when people called her pretty. It didn't seem to fit considering what she did to make money and her built-up reputation. However, it certainly made her job easier. People were always more willing to do things for a girl with a pretty face.
"If you'll please follow me," Sebastian said to her. "I'll return you to your bedroom."
Elicia followed the butler back up to the first floor of the manor, taking a quick look around as she did so and making more mental notes of where everything was.
"I am terribly sorry you had to witness that scene," Sebastian said once they had returned to the guest room. "Even more so that you were exposed to danger. I can't possibly apologize enough."
"Oh, it's quite all right. I was lucky enough to have you there."
"Indeed. However, I do recall requesting that you wait for me here. Every household has its secrets, certain places that are not meant to be seen by visitors."
Elicia put her head down in shame and refused to meet his eyes.
I'm not just any visitor, she thought to herself. And I need to know this manor's secrets. How else will I complete my job?
"Strolling uninvited about somebody else's manor strikes me as quite inconsiderate."
"I am terribly sorry," Elicia said quietly as she took a few steps back. "I hope you can forgive me."
Sebastian smiled a little. "However, I certainly understand the curiosity of the young."
Young?! You're not that much older than I am!
Masking her thoughts, Elicia smiled sweetly. "I do apologize. It's just that I have never been in a place like this before."
"Ah, I see. It's your first visit to such a large estate. And your inquisitive nature got the best of you. Rather similar to an innocent puppy who knows no fear."
Did he just compare me to a dog?
Sebastian checked his pocket watch. "We still have a little time before tea. I'd be honored if you'd allow me to show you around the manor. We can assuage your curiosity."
Elicia smiled again. "That would be lovely."
Right in the palm of my hand.
"Then with your permission, I shall be your escort for a guided tour. May I take your hand?"
"I would be delighted."
Elicia gave him another sweet smile as she put her hand in his. A small gasp emitted from her mouth as their gloved hands touched. She couldn't describe the feeling, but it was unlike anything she had ever experienced before. It made her feel…exposed.
It didn't seem like he noticed and for that, she was thankful.
What kind of butler was he?