The Queen's Black Cat

Chapter 1: Cherry Blossoms

Florence

I love flowers. Pink, purple, yellow, blue... Flowers can shimmer, flowers can heal, and flowers can kill. Depending on each plant the flower's purpose changes. Thats why plants are like the great wonders of the world, they can wither away then be reborn in a matter of weeks. Plants and I are almost exactly one in the same. We can both come back after we have been beaten down and lost all that we love. Yet we still will come back, and better than before. More durable and better prepared.

Estelle dressed me in one of my favorite dresses. It was my mother's when she was my age. It was one of the few articles of clothing that they did not take. They took almost everything, my parents life and even me, but not my favorite dress. Colored like the milk of a cow and laced with the color of fresh cherry blossoms. The dress is like the fresh snow that blankets the pastures beyond the boxwood maze, Mother had the maze created when she married Father. Alaster would tell me stories of when Father was young and courting Mother. He said that Mother could make any man's heart swoon when she would look their very way. Alster said that this dress brought anyone who wore it good luck. And luck was what I needed for today. Today there was going to be a ball, celebrating a meeting between me and the esteemed Earl Phantomhive.

One week ago Estelle received a letter, hand delivered, from her majesty Queen Victoria. As the Queen's Black Cat I watch over every case that goes in and out of scotland yard's doors and even the ones that don't. For those that stand out the most, I send a small list to the Queen and she assigns the Guard Dog to fix the problem. Usually, it would be me to send the letters to her, however it was the other way around. The letter told me to hold a ball a week from then. It would be celebrating a contract that the Funtom Toy Company and my own Fragrance company would be holding. A small list of names where on the list with a reporter and photographer as the last people.

Father liked to say: to know the right cases from the wrong ones, you have to know the investigator. Once every year or so father would call on someone and meet. Then, after a day or two he would return. He would never mention who he was meeting with to me or my mother but would simply say everytime: "It's for the Queen." Which meant that he had the list of cases done and would send them to the Queen to post them to the Guard Dog.

As she brushes my hair and curls my bangs, I stare up at her in the mirror. My maid, Estelle Obeiré, became my loyal servant after I made a contract with her. Her demon green eyes intently fixed on my hair as she perfectly molds it to the form which she chooses. Today would be a simple bun with Cherry Blossoms, everyday I always insisted on having flowers in my hair and somehow she did something to the flowers so that they stayed perfect just as though she had picked them seconds before. The difference between the two of our hair colors was uncanny. Her pitch black hair compared to my almost white blonde hair was astounding. Like night and day. Demon to human.

After such a short time of having Estelle as a lady's maid, it feels as though my life without her would be incomplete. Her presence has made such a huge impact compared to the past. In my past I thought I was protected by my parents but now, with Estelle by my side, I have a strength that has not walked the earth since before my time.

"Mistress... Mistress.."

I slowly look up from my reflection to my maid. A sweet smile plays on her pure blood lips. "You seemed to be off in dreamland ma'am. But i need to apply your makeup."

I nod and turn around to face her. She holds the powder up to my cheeks and dabs it on. Small white puff clouds billow off my cheeks. While my skin may look porcelain, compared to Estelle I look like an african. Her skin could rival that paper that we write on. People, women, envy skin like hers. Yet she thinks nothing of it, like a plain old dress that she wears everyday. Nothing special at all.

I lift my grandmother's pearls to my neck and wait for Estelle to fasten it. As I look at my reflection, a different, older, girl stares back at me. Only a year or so ago I would have killed to be where I am now. The elder girls had a secret that they would tell you once you had proven yourself. A wish, anything your heart desires. Thats what the girls said. But to prove yourself there were three levels that you had to pass. One was to have a steady man. The second was to get a necklace, but not any necklace, a diamond necklace. The third and last challenge was painful, it required the girl to take one of her customers and take charge. While this may seem easy to some it required the recipient to usually be the one in charge. The girl had to convince her partner that this was even more pleasurable than the other way. Girls would constantly be giving up on the challenge, but for me it had to be done. Otherwise what else was there to live for. My life had disappeared in seconds and the thought that I could receive whatever I pleased by fulfilling these three tasks seemed like a dream.

...

When I wake up I love to see plants blooming and growing in the sunlight that travels through my bedroom windows on to their leaves. When I eat my breakfast I sit in the conservatory and get to be surrounded by plants. Plants radiate life and joy, yet they can alway harbor death. Consume the wrong one and be killed in a matter of seconds. As I slip on my gloves the grandfather clock in the front hall chimes.

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight times.

While there is a way to get to the greenhouse from the second floor, I prefer to make a quiet inspection of the manor before I begin my morning routine. Checking if the banister is clean and polished, the chandelier is all clear of dust, no stray water or dirt is on the floor, and that at least one window is open in the house. Mother always used to think that to keep sickness and death away one must always have a window open, it has been a habit ever since.

The yellow and white sitting room always smells of lilies and the fireplace is always crackling with heat, by the time Estelle leads me to the greenhouse for my breakfast. My mother's pink and white dress sweeps the floor as we walk to the french doors on the far side of the room.

Opening the grand doors, Estelle lets loose the hot air that encapsulates the conservatory. I step on to the slate pathway that leads to my small tea table and chairs. Sitting down Estelle pushes in my chair and places my breakfast in front of me.

"Today we have an egg omelette with avocado and pomegranate seeds. A small dish of oatmeal with cranberries and nuts complemented with two slices of orange to cleanse the palette. Your tea this morning is a peach jasmine sutra green tea with a hint of orange zest."

"Thank you Estelle." Lifting up my fork, I quickly turn to stop Estelle from leaving. "Estelle!"

She turns to face me, her emerald eyes staring into mine. "Yes m'lady?"

"I had forgotten to remind you, the Earl Phantomhive is coming today. I suggest you prepare a room for him and his butler as soon as possible."

Bowing, her onyx hair falls over her shoulders and drapes elegantly near her face. "Of course, m'lady."

Closing the french doors with a quiet click, I hear the small clicks of her heels as she walks away to finish the rest of the housework before the Earl arrives.

...

I sit reading an small novelette about the french riviera when a small knock happens upon the french doors behind me. I do not look up, for I know it is Estelle.

"Come in."

I hear her steps as she walks over to me. Taking my pressed daisy bookmark, I close the book and look up at my demon maid. "What is the matter Estelle? Did Clement ruin the cooking again?"

"No everything is fine. However, the Earl Phantomhive has arrived. Alistair took him to the Captain's suite."

"Very good." I nod and begin to read my book again, when I notice Estelle has not left yet. "Is something the matter Estelle?"

"No your Ladyship. Please excuse me." Bowing to me she leaves the room in silence and closes the doors with a tiny click.

...

I am about halfway through the novelette when I hear the back stairwell leading to the room click with the sound of foot steps. Thinking back to who would enter, Estelle would only enter through the front entrance, Otis only entered through the back door or through the servant's entrance, the same with all the rest of the servants (only through the servant's entrance or back door). Unless, it could be the Earl. Estelle did say he was waiting up in his room. Being the lady of the house does have its perks, one of the disadvantages is that I must always be entertaining the guests and be the hostess. That's mainly the reason why I am engaged at this point in time. With a husband by my side, as a hostess, I will be able to rest and put some of the more financial matters on his shoulders.

I have only met my fiancee three times, the first was at a ball where we seemed to 'hit it off', the second after a few correspondence, and the last as a planned date. His personality was pompous and childlike, however Estelle reminded me that soon he will grow out of his childish ways. His rank is the same as mine, and he told me that he "fancies the southern girls better", what ever that means. Some of my uncles believe that we were meant for each other. With our matching blonde hair and his blue eyes.

With the ball in only a few hours, he could not make it. In our last meeting we believe it would be best if we were to begin seeing each other more in the public eye. As so to get used to being betrothed. When I wrote to him about the ball he was all too tied up at the moment to make an appearance.

Unbeknownst me, the footsteps coming down the stairs had stopped and there was a young boy seated in the chair across from me. Confused, I tip my head to the side, an old habit I picked up from my mother. His distinctive eye patch connects the dots in my brain, "Would you be the Earl Phantomhive?".

"Yes, I am Earl Ciel Phantomhive. And you are the mistress of the household I presume?" His midnight blue eye stares into mine with a certain expectancy. Almost as if he wants me to impress him. So I laugh and raise my hand across the small table so that we may shake.

"I am Countess Florence May Taylor, mistress of this manor and heiress to the Taylor Perfumes and Fragrances Empire. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

He takes my hand and smiles as well. There is a warmness that radiates from him as he shakes my hand. While his clothes suggest that he is a hard cold person, as many people have told me, he is quite the opposite. Father used to say that you can tell a person's true motives by their smile. And he, the Earl, has very few alternative motives.

"Pleased to meet you your Ladyship."

We break our handshake and he begins to look around at my plants. "You must not see too many conservatories this size I assume."

"No, I came from the second floor stairwell and the walk over here seemed endless."

"My mother and I just adore any type of plant. Almost every summer we would take a journey to a new and different place." I stand and walk over to a near pathway, "Come, I'll show you around."

…

"And this room is the library. My great-grandfather had this room built like the rolling hills of the Appalachian mountains on the eastern coast of America. The shelves weave in and out of each other, father had them constructed to roll on a track so that they may travel all around the room." I had shown the Earl the entire house with not a single word out of him. I could not tell if he was either fantasized by the fact that almost every room was based on a natural mountain, plant, or river, or scared that I can talk for so long only about rooms.

He slowly walked into the library, moving his head so that he could take in all that there was to see. Closing the door, I headed over to the large glass doors that lead out to a small balcony overlooking the backyard. I open the one door and walk out. The mist and fog still travel over the pastures and maze. A sea salt smell curls into my nose when I notice the Earl standing next to me.

"Your mansion is very lovely. I cannot imagine how long it must have taken to build this manor."

I was stunned. He finally spoke, and it was in praise of my home. No one had ever done that before. Even my fiance said it was an interesting style but was an acquired taste. I blushed. I could feel my embarrassment flooding to my face. Praise. No one ever praised me before.

"Thank you. I was living in a flat for a long time before this, until the manor was finally built."

"In London?" He was suddenly very near to me, almost an awkward distance too close.

"Yes, why? Do you have one yourself?"

"Yes, near Victoria Park." I search with my eyes to find a way out, until he slowly takes a step or two back.

"Ah, I have one near Regent's rose garden. It has the loveliest smell that comes out of it."

"I see…" He looks off into the mist and fog with a sad expression on his face. Like a downed bird that is unable to fly.

Taking his hand, I pull him towards the library again. "Come Mr. Phantomhive, my maid has tea ready in the conservatory. You just have to try her pastries. They are exquisite." Some color floods his cheeks and I cannot help but smile that he is just a bit happier.

…

I take in a deep breath and hold it in as Estelle pulls my corset tighter. "Ohhhh! Estelle! Is it tight enough yet?" I grip the edge of my bed harder, as she pulls the strings tighter.

"Yes m'lady. Let me get your dress." I slowly stand up. And watch her disappear into my closet. Glancing at myself in the mirror, my waist seems like it shrunk two times the size it really is. While my bust is still not very developed it does seem a little more promising tonight.

I hear Estelle's shoes and turn to see her holding the sage green dress with small puffed sleeves. A lily pinned to the right corner evenly balances the blonde in my hair and the violet color of my eyes. I slip into the dress as Estelle fastens the back together. Then she takes my pre-curled hair and starts to place it into the right spots. Watching her work her magic is almost like watching a horse race where all the horses are sprinting. She is quick and precise. Her moments are all chosen so that she may get the job done quickly and with dexterity.

And in one single moment she places a Lily in my hair and pats on some make up.

"You look perfect m'lady. Any necklace?"

"I think the diamond one is needed tonight Estelle."

Disappearing for a few seconds she returns with a small diamond necklace with three larger diamonds hanging off in the center. Clipping it together behind my neck, she pulls her gloved hands away for me to take a long look in the mirror.

Everything is in place. The makeup is perfect, the dress is simple and elegant at the same time. My hair cascades down my back in waterfall like ringlets and my bangs slide across my forehead, tucking the lily in behind my ear.

I stand, smooth out my skirt and smile. "It looks exquisite Estelle. You really outdid yourself this time."

"It is nothing m'lady. Today you have a meeting with the Earl that I arranged to be during the ball. You two may slip away during the main dance and enter your study where you may talk."

"Thank you Estelle. I believe the guest should be arriving soon. You may want to see to that."

"Yes m'lady." Bowing, Estelle leaves the room and quietly closes the door. I take a seat once again at the vanity and clutch my necklace. Tonight was going to be a long night. A ball to dance at, a business meeting between me and the Earl Phantomhive and making sure that the reporter and photographer do not get out of hand.

Tonight was surely going to be a long night.

Hi again everyone! I hope you like my OC's pov. Don't worry I will go back to Ciel next chapter. The ball is coming next chapter as well. Get hiped! In addition, my friend wanted to say the Estelle is her oc so yep! Oh before I forget Florence's fiancee is someone we all know, however not all love. If you can guess who he is they may make a guest appearance as one of the guests at the ball! And Disclaimer I do NOT own Black butler. Too bad tho :'(

Thanks for reading, see you all next chapter.