Sebastian went out from the master's bedchamber. Glancing around, he was looking for a way into the kitchen of the inn. The inn is not so fancy, the lodger can feel the niceties of their home—which was a plus for the small inn that located in Oldmaple. On the sidelines of his mind, he heard someone approaching him. He spun around to his back, tugging a smile.
"Goodnight, sir. I believe you are the Phantomhive's family butler?" the man asked.
"Aah, yes, absolutely."
"Oh yes, my name is Daniel Leopard." said the man who called himself Daniel, holding out his hand. "I am the owner of this inn." Sebastian smiled and said, "My name is Sebastian Michaelis. Pleased to meet you," Sebastian accepted the handshake.
For a moment, the time seemed stalled. Sebastian squinted. 'This person seems off.' He thought, but he ignored it.
"Mr. Leopard, if I may ask, what is the latest news about this city?" Mr. Leopard looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well, do you ask about the events that have recently happened?" Sebastian grinned. "Yes, more exactly-"
"The celebration of Guy Fawkes, right?" he asked. No—more to a cry. Sebastian held his anger, clenching his hands. "The event is so lively, Sebastian." he continued, his eyes closed because of laughing. Sebastian could only smile, but he continued his conversation. "Is there another event?"
Sebastian looked at Daniel who slowly stopped laughing. The next view of hefty made Sebastian a bit shocked—Daniel's eyes had turned dark black. Not humane.
"M-Mr. Leopard...?" Sebastian blinked, which only earned a laughter. Sebastian clasped his eyebrows together. "No, nothing." he replied, still half-smiling due to the laugh.
"...All right. I will excuse myself for this, Mr. Leopard. It is a pleasure talking to you. Oh," Sebastian who had turned his back turned to ask something. Which surprised Sebastian was—that Daniel's both eyes had returned to normal.
Was that just my hallucinations, huh? Ah—I am the devil. It is impossible, he thought.
"Mr. Leopard, may I borrow the inn kitchen for a while?" Sebastian asked. Daniel who was still smiling replied, "Oh, go ahead. From here you go straight, you will find two signs. One leads to the kitchen, the other one leads to the backyard's park."
Sebastian smiled back and bowed. "Well—thank you very much, Mr. Leopard."
"It's nothing, Sebastian."
After parting with Daniel, Sebastian went to the kitchen of the inn. Once he was there, Sebastian found the kitchen was empty—no one was there. Before he had time to cook, he thought for a moment. 'Why the innkeeper was like hiding something? Young Master too... ' he thought.
'Guy Fawkes... I think this has nothing to do with this serial killer. Aah, I'd better inform what I got on Mr. Vincent later.' he thought. "All right! Now it is time to work." Sebastian began making the Clam Chowder Ciel ordered—or rather the whole family Phantomhive ordered.
...Actually, what's so special about the boy anyway?
KNOCK KNOCK.
"Come in." Vincent said to the someone behind the doors. Rachel who was playing chess with Ciel, too, turned their head toward the door.
A few moments later, the door opened. "Mr. Vincent," called Sebastian as he stepped into the room carrying a tray containing the master—Phantomhive family dinner. "The menu today is Clam Chowder, and for the dessert, I made Gateau Chocolate. And," Sebastian took a glass of milk and a jar of honey with its spoon. "It's the milk that you requested, Young Master," he gave the glass to Ciel.
"I can do it?!" Ciel cried happily. Sebastian smiled. "Yes, you can—"
"Just not too much, alright." said Rachel. Sebastian's smile widened. Sebastian saw a chess set on the carpet. He raised an eyebrow.
"Young Master can play chess?" Sebastian asked, more to himself. Ciel exhaled. "Of course I can!" he exclaimed.
Sebastian began to give each one a bowl of Clam Chowder. "Daddy taught it to me," he said as he sipped a milk that he had mixed with the honey. "He's pretty clever, you know, Sebastian. I'm sure you can be defeated by him," Sebastian smiled as he poured two glasses of wine for the older masters.
It makes me want to test Ciel. Hmpf.
Finished serving the dinner for his master, Sebastian took his pocketwatch. "Oh yes, Mr. Vincent," called Sebastian.
"What is it, Sebastian?" Vincent put his wine glass down.
"I wish to talk to you after dinner. Do you have time?" Sebastian asked, his face became serious. Vincent smiled, knowing that the devil butler had gotten a clue. "Aah, yes, I can. I'll call you later."
"Then, I will go for now." Sebastian bowed, put his right hand on his left chest, spun and walked toward the door, pushing the tray she was carrying.
Sebastian returns the slide tray to the inn kitchen, and planned to go to the front desk. The receptionist was a woman—light brown hair, braided up.
"Excuse me.." call Sebastian. Reading the identification card of the woman on her breasts, Sebastian called her name. "...Ms. Augustine?"
"Julietta," the receptionist smiled, showing a bit of white teeth. People in Oldmaple are too friendly.. "Ah, yes, sorry, Julietta,"
"Yes, may I help you?" she asked. "I want to ask you about the recent events," Sebastian gave a pause. Julietta was still smiling. "Yes, what of it?" Julietta asked back.
Okay.. Sebastian, start slowly.
"Is there anything special about Guy Fawkes last year?" Sebastian asked. Julietta maintained her smile. "Every celebration of Guy Fawkes in Oldmaple is always special, sir." she replied. "I mean.. Is there anything else that happened on the festive?" Sebastian asked, sounding a little desperate. I haven't done any progress—
"No," Julietta's smile still survived. The same answer... "No. The celebration was running smoothly." Smooth? Was Julietta also hiding something?
"I understand. Uh, in addition, is Mr. Leopard frequently visits here?" Sebastian asked further. "Mr. Leopard?" Julietta thought for a moment. "Oh. Yes, he periodically visit here fore one and a half months."
one and a half months? Wait... 6 weeks?
Well, I'm getting another clue.
"Aah, I see.. Well, Julietta, thank you for the information. I will excuse myself for now." Sebastian bowed, but didn't get a response from Julietta. He looked up.
"...Julietta?—"
She was still smiling, with dark, black eyes.
Don't you remember,
The Fifth of November,
'Twas Gunpowder Treason Day,
I let off my gun,
And made 'em all run.
And stole all their Bonfire away.
Sebastian didn't believe it. First, his young master. Second, Mr. Leopard. Third, Julietta. Okay, his young master was out of question. But still, this is upsetting. He had long called and returned the tray for the second time, and now he was waiting for the arrival of Mr. Vincent at Tanaka and Sebastian's room. Shortly thereafter, Sebastian heard a knock on his door.
"Ah, yes." Sebastian walked to the door and opened it. "I've been waiting for you, My Lord." Sebastian said, bowing. Vincent waved his hand and sat on a nearby chair while Sebastian prepared a cup of tea.
"Before you ask, Sebastian... Ciel thrashed on the bed calling your name. What have you done to him?" Vincent asked. Sebastian looked a bit surprised. His young master called? He did not feel anything. He should have known if one of the Phantomhive family wants his presence. Sebastian lifted a cup of tea it and handed it to Vincent.
"No sir, I did not do anything to him. Does the Young Master wants me in your room later?" Sebastian asked. "Yes. Just stay with him, don't let anything happen to him." Vincent replied. "As you wish." Sebastian bowed.
"So what do you want to talk about, Sebastian?" he asked as he took a sip of his tea.
"Well, Mr. Vincent.. Earlier I met with the owner of this inn," Sebastian gave a pause, giving Vincent time to nod. "And the receptionist of this inn." Vincent handed the cup to Sebastian. "But we didn't talk to the receptionist, right?" Vincent asked. Sebastian nodded. "And that was what I suspected.. Shortly after we arrived here, we are directly served by waitress, are we not? Besides, I have got a little clue."
"Say it."
"The city is implementing the celebration of Guy Fawkes. You still remember the city's relationship with the devil figure, right?" Sebastian asked. "In my opinion, this celebration has nothing to do with this case—but when I asked what is the latest news, they just said Guy Fawkes. Besides that—"
"Sebastian?"
Sebastian disconnected the words, realized that there was someone behind the door—eavesdropping. Sebastian didn't know who it was, but it certainly looks like a kid-
Sebastian went to the door and opened it, and voila—
"Young Master?"
TBC.