"A light chocolate custard accompanies this afternoon's tea, my lord. It's quite an interesting brew. Dark Red Roselle tea. It's a commonly sold beverage in Sahel, Africa. Lau recommended it to me, so I pray it's to your liking." Only a slight tap was heard as the able butler placed a plate before his Earl. The faint waving of red-tinted steam wafting from the Roselle tea captivated his orange eyes only for a moment before his attention turned back to the young master. A smirk immediately touched his lips at the indifferent face of the boy.
"Is something the matter, My lord?" He asked with just a small amount of mirth. Whatever was on this boy's mind was always entertaining. At least for the butler, it was.
"Nothing of the sort." Ciel Phantomhive raised his cup to his lips. "If anything, I would assume something to be worrisome to you. Do you have something on your mind, Sebastian?" He asked from behind the lifted pottery.
A rather curious stare came to Sebastian's eyes. He tilted his head ever so slightly to question his master.
"Whatever would give you that idea, My lord?" He grabbed the warm kettle to refill the cup of tea his master had drained. The dark rose liquid poured back into the cup at the Earl's careful watch.
"When you looked to this tea, you had a strange look on your face. Have you served it before?" The young boy had never tasted a drop of this obviously medicinal herb before today, but the butler spoke as though he was well acquainted with the fragrant healer. Though, Ciel knew, he was like that with most everything.
Sebastian put on a rather knowing smile. He closed the kettle before placing the piece back to the silver tray.
"Why, yes, I have. Many years ago, My Lord. That is a whole other life, I'm afraid. Such old stories would only bore you." His careful lifting placed the silver tray back to the cart he had silently pushed into the study so many minutes ago. Only the slight squeaking of the wheels had been able to cut into the silence of the room.
"Quite the contrary." Ciel set his cup to the saucer before letting a smirk touch his lips.
"I'm interested in who held you as a dog before me. It would be a nice story to hear over tea." His icy blue eyes locked with his still-smiling butler. Sebastian kept his distance as the smirk was transferred to his lips as well.
"I'd have to say My Lord, you're mistaken about who was who's dog in that contract. I cannot remember a single time when a word of selfish desire fell from their lips. However, I'm afraid I'm not inclined to speak anymore of past contracts. Patient-demon confidentiality, if you will." His white gloves wrapped around the handle of the cart. A slight push swerved it towards the door, only to be stopped by the boy's voice.
"Really? I can't imagine what a spineless wimp wouldn't take advantage of the contract's rules. What type of person was he?" The young boy ignored the warning words of concealment spoken by Sebastian.
The butler gave a small sigh before dropping the handle of the cart. He turned back to his master with a new-found smile to his face.
"Not a man, My Lord. It was a woman. Not only that, a girl. She wasn't much older than you, and she was in a similar situation to yours." He could remember that girl almost as though she was standing right in front of him. Though, he supposed, she wouldn't be standing by herself. Perhaps a crutch would be at her side, or even the butler himself supporting her right side.
Long brown hair would stretch far down to her waist, hair that she refused to put into a braid or even a simple up-do. Blonde highlights often touched that hair in the summer, only to disappear in the dead of winter when the sun didn't touch her light and soft skin. Green eyes stared at the butler in silent suspicion and sometimes fear. Perhaps by the end of their journey, just a bit of admiration touched the silky evergreen pupils as she looked to his figure. The butler did not truly know, nor did he think he would ever figure out. She had been gone for many years, and for many contracts. And as many faces blurred over the years, her face stayed clear and as pristine as the day he met her. Perhaps it was impossible to forget such a truly unfinished story.
Ciel's eyes lit up in surprise as the words flowed from Sebastian's lips.
"A woman? You have to be joking. How could a woman make a contract with you? What were the conditions?" His childish curiosity was being piqued. Sebastian picked up on this fact as he approached the desk. A single hand was placed over his heart and he bowed.
"Now, My Lord, I've just told you about my policy. Do you expect me to break it just for you?" Sebastian smirked even as a glare of blue bullets settled on him.
"Nothing of the past changes the fact that I am your loyal servant until the end." He withdrew himself back to the cart, perhaps giving the Earl a hint to the end of their conversation.
"I shall return to alert you of Sir Rivelle's arrival. Do enjoy the Roselle tea at your leisure." And with those words, Sebastian exited from his master's study. The silent closing of the door cut off all contact and words of the conversation they had previously held. The butler turned back towards the hall ahead of him with a smirk. The reawakening of those memories had given him just a touch of nostalgia.
"Cecily Elizabeth Alexander." He mused to himself.
"The only soul that got away."
