Disclaimer: Kuroshitsuji and all of its characters are property of Toboso Yana.

Elizabeth enters the scene. Poor dear. I should stop torturing her so much.

Laus means "Praise/Approval" in Latin

Laus

"Thank you Sebastian." Elizabeth smiled softly as she was handed her tea. Sebastian, ever dutiful, played his part perfectly. He bowed deeply then stood at the ready for his master to walk in the door. As the two of them waited for Ciel, an uncomfortable silence hung in the air between them.

In recent years, Elizabeth had felt that Sebastian was not all he seemed to be. In some ways, it was as if he almost disapproved of her. There was something sinister, something dark behind his smiles toward her and though she had never noticed such things as a child, she was honestly quite unnerved by his presence now. Being alone with him felt suffocating. She felt as though he were a vulture festering over her, waiting for her to die, to rot, before he could swoop in for the feast. She took care not to let her discomfort show, but she could feel his piercing scarlet gaze behind her, and she couldn't help but grip her tea cup more tightly.

Sebastian stood a slight ways behind Elizabeth's chair and gazed at her with even eyes. He admitted to himself that he was shocked at her transformation over the years. As a child, she had been unbearably annoying to him. She was loud, boorish, and he never quite forgave her for the bonnet incident. Back then, he simply could not approve of her engagement to Ciel. She would besmirch the Phantomhive name, he thought. She was such a disgraceful little being, a far cry from the lady she eventually became. But now...

Elizabeth shifted slightly in her chair, adjusting her ruffles. The movement filled the air with the sound of rustling fabric, before it was replaced by the suffocating silence yet again.

Now even Sebastian had to concede that she was a perfect match for Ciel. She had marvelously transformed herself into a gorgeous lady of prestige and grace. Sebastian smirked. Humans were so very interesting in that way. Through sheer willpower and social pressure alone, the clumsy child made the decision to be a respectable woman. She wanted to be the perfect woman for Ciel, so she worked hard to become that woman. She loved him deeply, he knew. But Sebastian could find no merit in her love for him. He could neither condone nor praise the blind faith she held in Ciel for it was wrapped in deception and lies. To this day, Elizabeth held dear to her heart the Ciel that disappeared eight years before. Sebastian could see how she longed for Ciel's gentle smile, the smile that reminded her of how happy he had ben as a boy. But that smile she longed for was false. Ciel had lost his joyous smile years ago. The only honest smiles he gave now were those filled with malice and triumph at the defeat of his enemies. When he smiled honestly, he smiled darkly. Only Sebastian ever saw Ciel's true smiles. Ciel could lie shamelessly to Elizabeth all he wanted, but his lord could not hide the truth from him in the same way.

In a way, he almost pitied her. All her effort for Ciel was in vain, because it was for a man that no longer existed except in her memory. She was right to be nervous around Sebastian, he thought. He knew the truth she was afraid to ask for. His mere presence was a constant reminder of the barrier she knew existed between herself and Ciel. If she wasn't nervous, then she was a simple-minded fool. But because she could at least infer that much about their relationship, Sebastian knew she wasn't a hopeless case completely unworthy of his master's time.

Still, even though she wasn't hopeless... Even though she had now made herself worthy... Sebastian found he still could not stand her presence. It surprised him, for his feelings were unprovoked. She had done nothing, said nothing to upset him. And yet for some reason, as she sat there waiting patiently in her chair for her fiancee, his lord, he found he wanted to be rid of her. He wanted nothing more than to cast her out of the mansion, away from Ciel.

As their thoughts wandered, Ciel at last entered the room, breaking the tension in the air. Elizabeth stood up by her chair to acknowledge his entrance, and Sebastian gave a curt bow. Ciel walked over and placed his hands on Elizabeth's chair, a gesture for the lady to sit back down. She complied with a thankful smile and Ciel made his way around her to sit at the chair opposite to hers. A steaming tea cup was placed dutifully in front of him.

"Elizabeth, what brings you here today?" His tone was even and held no trace of his earlier doubts.

"I've come to give my recommendations on the church for our ceremony." Elizabeth replied gently. She handed Ciel the envelope she held in her hand. In it, there were pictures of the various cathedrals available for their ceremony. All of them were placed in Westminster, and she had tastefully selected the five most fitting cathedrals. Ciel glanced at the photographs, but gave no real attention to any of them. He didn't care for the church, they all knew, so he could care even less for which specific church he would be married in.

"I'm afraid I'm completely ignorant on the issue, Elizabeth. Choose whichever cathedral best fits your fancy and I will concede that to be the location." Sebastian smiled knowingly at Ciel's response. In the end, his lord would fall into the darkest depths. No matter the church, he knew that neither he nor Ciel was welcome and that none of it mattered in the end. No church would hold more influence over his master than he himself. Elizabeth caught Sebastian's smirk from the corner of her eye and it irked her. But she spoke to Ciel as if she had not noticed. Choosing her words carefully, she decided to put Sebastian in his place. She knew Ciel better than he gave her credit for, and she suddenly felt the desire to prove it.

"I was drawn to the St. Clement Danes church to be honest," she admitted. Her statement wasn't a lie, but it wasn't completely honest. "It was where your parents were wed, Ciel."

Ciel raised an eyebrow at Elizabeth. Sebastian's smile fell. They hadn't expected that.

"It's a very beautiful building," Elizabeth continued. "The inside of it..."

"No." Ciel interrupted and Elizabeth looked at him carefully.

"I'm sorry Elizabeth." Ciel shot a glance at Sebastian as he spoke. "I misspoke earlier. You may choose any of the cathedrals except for that one." He gave no reasons, they were obvious. He looked at her steadily, his eyes neither warm nor cold. Elizabeth caught the change in Sebastian as well. He was looking at Ciel rather curiously now, and soon he turned his gaze onto Elizabeth. Elizabeth smiled inwardly at her slight triumph. Of couse, that had not been her first choice for the church. But she knew that Ciel would refuse it if she gave its history. In taking them by surprise, she felt more vidicated of her position in that room, and she was glad that Ciel had not gotten visibly upset.

"I'm sorry Ciel." She apologized without any real remorse. "Then how about St. Margaret's?"

Ciel nodded his head. "That's fine." He was uncomfortable now. He looked to Sebastian for a lifeline. He could not stand being in the room with Elizabeth any longer. Sebastian saw the unspoken request in Ciel's eyes and complied.

"Excuse me, my lady." Sebastian politely interjected. "But my lord has an engagement in London within a few hours and we must make preparations before our departure."

Elizabeth could see that Sebastian was lying. She glanced at Ciel and saw his relief in the lie his perfect butler had constructed. It took every ounce of her willpower not to narrow her eyes at Sebastian for his impudence.

"Of course." She finally said, forcing a gracious smile. She stood to leave and Ciel stood as well to escort her out. Elizabeth made a point to walk closer to Ciel than was necessary, standing in between Ciel and Sebastian. But even then she felt as though she had been boxed out of the invisble room that seemed to hold only the two, her fiancee and his raven-clad butler.

When Ciel finally helped her into her carriage, she gripped his hand tightly, holding onto it after she had already settled in. She looked at Ciel, who would not meet her eyes, and she quickly grew frustrated. She tugged gently at his hand in hers, an unspoken request for him to look at her. Ciel raised his head and his sapphire eyes met her emerald ones. She smiled gently with her lips while her eyes pleaded for more. Ciel returned the smile, but his eyes saw straight through her, not seeing her request. Elizabeth let go of Ciel's disdainful hand then and bowed her head. The carriage took off with a start. When they were off the Phantomhive grounds, Elizabeth ripped the photos in her hands to shreds, scattering them all over the floor of her carriage.

Ciel watched the carriage until it was out of sight, hoping that his discomfort would disappear over the horizon as the carriage did. But to his dismay, Elizabeth's visit had only aggravated his doubts from earlier that morning.

Sebastian watched Ciel intently as he stood there looking after lady Elizabeth's carriage. He looked carefully at Ciel's features. He looked positively regal standing there. Ciel had aged so gracefully, so handsomely. Whenever they were in London, Sebastian could see the longing stares of the women who wished to be his courtiers. He could see how his lord dismissed their presence without a second thought, a heartbreaker to the core. In many ways, Ciel resembled his late father Vincent but there were key differences in their features. The late Vincent Phantomhive could be described only as a handsome man, charismatic in every way. The current earl, however, this blossoming youth Ciel Phantomhive was hypnotically beautiful. Sebastian knew that he had fashioned himself into the image of a handsome man in his current form. It wasn't a far cry from his true demon form in all honesty, but knowing the advantages a handsome vestige would bring, Sebastian had purposefully made himself into what he considered one of the most attractive men. Indeed there had been a few times when he had been able to use his appearance to his advantage to get whatever information he needed. But there were times when he gazed at Ciel, and he considered his false form to be pale and meager in comparison to his lord's beauty. The beauty Sebastian had fashioned for himself was a lie. But the beauty of his master was as genuine as could be, and that honesty made it all the more alluring. It was somewhat appropriate, he thought. The butler should not outshine his master, after all.

Finally Ciel turned to go back into his mansion. He caught Sebastian eyeing him hungrily.

"Careful, Sebastian. Your eyes just might pop right out of that head of yours." Ciel smirked. When he was younger, that look of Sebastian used to unnerve him. But now he found it inviting, a challenge. It made him feel wanted, desirable. He hadn't ever told Sebastian, but he enjoyed that gaze of his. He found comfort in those blazing ruby eyes. Still he felt that on some level, there was no need to say such things aloud. Sebastian understood.

"My apologies, my lord." An insincere apology left his lips, and Sebastian did not lower his eyes. He kept them fixated on Ciel, garnet orbs boring into sapphire pools. Sebastian continued to stare and Ciel allowed it, reveling in their connection. Ciel felt his right eye tingle under the patch. He wondered if Sebastian felt the heat on his hand.

Ciel broke contact first, turning his gaze to the sky.

"Ready my horse, Sebastian."

"My lord?"

"I want to go for a ride."

"Shouldn't you change first, my lord? You're hardly dressed for riding."

"It doesn't matter. I'm not going back into the manor right now. If you're so intent on having me change, you'll have to do it out here." It was a tease. Sebastian had stopped dressing Ciel for a few years now. Ciel had ordered him away three years ago when he felt his body changing, growing, and longing for the butler's gentle touch. He had started feeling vulnerable baring his skin to Sebastian. More than that, he wanted to feel Sebastian's skin against his own. Striking his feelings to hormonal changes and the onset of adolescence, Ciel began to dress himself and gave no more thought to it after that. But whenever he caught Sebastian staring at him that way, he felt himself yearning for him again and knew he could no longer attribute it to adolescence. He also knew that on some level, Sebastian yearned for his touch as well. He had been quite morose when Ciel had declared he would dress himself from now on, and more than ever Sebastian seemed to look for excuses to touch him.

"That seems inappropriate, my lord." Sebastian replied at last. Though he could not deny there was a certain appeal to the offer.

"Then do as I command and stop asking questions." Sebastian didn't take the bait. Ciel knew he wouldn't. But it was fun to tease.

"Yes, my lord."