The Poison Prince and The Queen's Watchdog

Chapter III: Their Worlds Meet

Part II

Meanwhile…down at the chilly London harbor, a grand luxury liner sails in to dock. Standing near by, a young noble woman and lady servant impatiently wait for a long time friend to disembark from the ship.

"I'm so nervous Malory…would if she did not board the ship in France? Would if she does not recognize me…or worst would if someone kidnapped her?"

"Haa…Milady please calm yourself… I'm sure she has arrived, let us wait for the other passengers to come off the ship first."

"That's unacceptable Malory! I've specifically requested her arrangements to be made in first class only and the first to disembark from the ship. She is a noble and should be treated as such." declared the young lady with pertinacious in her voice.

Her lady servant wasn't listening, instead she exclaim out loud. "Milady! Look over there! pointing to the top of the ship's deck.

Waving her arms in the cool autumn air, stood a brilliant young woman with soft toffee colored skin.

With glee the young noble woman grabbed her lady servant's hand rushed quickly through the crowd to greet the woman. She extended her arms to embrace the young woman as she stepped off the boat.

"Lilia! I was so worried that the ship had left you behind in France, but my troubles are over let's hurry to the carriage. Malory collect her things please."

Lilia placed her hand on Lady Nettlee's shoulder stopping her from going any further.

"Nettie? Please wait…have you seen my papa? I'm worried about him I haven't heard from him in days?

"Papa?" Oh…uh you mean your father, Count Charlet! He was over my house for an hour to speak to my father, then he left shortly afterwards to meet with my Uncle Chancellor Brown."

"…..Oh….I thought he might be still there I need to talk to him about something, but it's not important right now.' She tried to hide to her worries with a forced smile, even though her friend knew something was wrong.

(She is totally lying she had no idea! well except for the birthday part. Once she overheard her father talking about the arrival of her childhood friend today. Nettlee rush down stairs demanding the carriage driver to sneak her down to London harbor. Dragging her poor lady servant in the process.)

"Let's hurry home we've got so much to talk about." She said with a wide smile on her face.

Later that afternoon at the Cantor Manor, the hired hands were making the final preparations for tonight's ball. Since the young lady was upstairs getting ready for 18th birthday costume ball.

Her mother, Lady Patricia Cantor finished most of the over cite. Mrs. Cantor a stern, but stately graceful woman of dark brown hair and crystal blue eyes walked towards the refreshment table inspecting and checking off each entrée item.

Everything must be perfect for her beloved daughter's night, she would go in great links not to upset her in anyway.

Mrs. Cantor paused for a moment as she gazed into the pool of white bubbly in a ruby-crystal like bowl.

The thought of her daughter stirred her; from the conversation earlier that day before she jetted off to the docks. She tried to convince her daughter into marrying a fine noble, since she was no longer in polishing school.

"Mother! Please I'm not ready for…umm, Well you know "m-a-r-r-i-a-g-e"

"Nettlee…please listen I only want you to be happy with someone…."

"Well mother, to tell you the truth I don't want to be wedded right now, I want to explore the world more. I want to continue to study as a archeologist… that's where I'm the most happiest."

"Ah, my beautiful little girl…I can not argue with what your heart desires. But I would still would like for you to at least meet a nice man at tonight's ball?….

Meanwhile in Lady Nettlee's dressing room…..

The room was in a state of utter disarray, a ray of colorful dresses sprawled all over the rosy-pink dressing room. Since the young lady is very indecisive about making rather small decisions; she decided to purchase them all together while at the dress shop.

She turned her attention to her best friend, who is sitting quietly in a lovely cushioned armchair near a large vanity. Lilia was in deep thought when she caught sight of her friend looking directly at her. "Oh, I'm sorry Nettie…what did you ask of me?" (remember she has a French accent)

"Lilia, what do you think about this one here?" Nettlee pointed to a pink and cream pompadour styled dress draped over her bed.

"To tell you the truth Nettie, I can't decide either. I do know that soft yellow one with these pearls and white roses suit you the best. This one brings out your dark colored hair."

" Must agree Milady, she is absolutely right and also your mask matches with it."

"Ah, I guess your both right…Lilia since you don't have one you can pick any one you like."

"Alright, umm…let's me see…Ah! I do love this one." Pointing to the pink and cream pompadour styled dress from earlier.

"Hey! That is not fair Lilia! You told me that dress wouldn't satisfy my look? pouted the young woman in a childish manner.

"Ah, I did no such thing! Besides I never said that dress wouldn't satisfy your look. So don't go putting words into my mouth." teased the young woman as she folded her arms together in defense.

Nettlee grimaced for a second, slightly shook her head in defeat and gave a faint smile.

Noticing the change in her lady's demeanor…Malory secretly knew it was about the conversation with Lady Patricia earlier this morning; and not about Lilia's teasing.

She knew that milady did not like the fact that her parents were pushing her into marriage so soon. Nettlee wasn't too particular with the male sex, actually she was a bit of an outcast amongst others her age. She decided to immersed herself in upcoming travels around the world and developed more aware of herself culturally. But her parents wouldn't allow for such behavior, well at least for a young lady like herself.

"Milady, it's alright…let's forget your troubles for tonight. I want to see you happy again." whispered Malory lovingly into the young woman's ear.

Nettlee turned and hugged her, the sight of seeing this made Lilia feel a little awkward and lonely. It kind of reminded her of mother soothing her after some event in her life.

The strings of soft playing violins greet the costumed guest as they waltz into the main hall of the reception. The cream of all London's aristocrats came to celebrate the Earl Harold and Lady Patricia Cantor's daughter's 18th birthday.

The house was magnificently decorated with colors of "fallen" leaves as flowers along with black roses placed in gorgeous vases. The whole manor was filled with the smell of apple spice and vanilla that tickled the all the incoming guest noses, including that of Cain, Merry-Weather, Elizabeth and Ciel as they entered the manor.

Merry-Weather and Elizabeth both entered first merrily as the tugged in the two earls by their hands. Both girls were dress in very different costumes. Merry dressed as Maid-Maryann, while Elizabeth wore a Medieval Princess of King Author's Royal Court.

As predicted, this was giving Ciel much more pain than usual. "CCCCiiieelll hurry up the pace! I want to dance! Squealed Elizabeth in her cutesy bubbly voice.

"I agree with Lizzy, come on Cain I want to dance with big brother!" eagerly exclaimed the other blonde. Ciel smiled and nodded to the young blond girl while trying to snatch his hand away from her viselike grip. He told her that they're more prettier costumes to look for, on that cue Lizzy squealed as she took hold of Merry's hand dragging the young girl around the room.

Before Cain could yell for his sister, she was already out of sight with Elizabeth. When the coast was clear he abruptly turned to Cain. "I cannot believe you tricked me into coming to this ball with Elizabeth and your sister!" Whispered Ciel annoyed.

"Aren't you concern this will put Elizabeth and Merry in danger? You're a trickster, Earl Hargreaves." Ciel glumly furrowed his eyes at the older teen standing next to him showing his displeasure of the situation.

Cain, slightly frowned at the young boy averting his eyes away in a hushed sigh, he didn't want to ask why the young earl detested going to balls. Frankly, he didn't give a damn.

"Ah, don't be so sour young Earl Phantomhive. It was you who suggested that you insisted to come with me, was it not? Come now and let's have some fun." Cain said gracing a queer plastic-like smile as his golden-green eyes looked down at the unpleased younger earl.

"How dare you! You're the one who insisted that I should accompany you to this…this wretched ball. I don't want to have fun, remember we're here on an investigation for her Majesty. We must solve this problem of missing young women being kidnapped immediately." he sharply replied in a low whisper

"….." the teen never answered the younger Earl.

"Oh fine! As you wish Earl Cain… I say, why do I have to wear this "costume" you've chosen for me. Why couldn't I be the musketeer, a buccaneer or something with a manly touch?" whimpered Ciel in discontent

"Oh you don't think dressing as that is manly enough for someone small as you? Besides I think…it suits you perfectly well." silently chuckled Cain at Ciel's folly.

(Ciel is dressed as a Royal Court Jester, apparently he doesn't seem to get the joke that Cain made him wear that because he thinks the young Earl is a clown for the Queen. Which is pay back for the conversation earlier. Oh and by the way Cain himself is dressed as King Author (weird), he also thinks that Phantomhive looks ridiculous wearing that pirate-like eye patch as a Fool.)

Scanning about the room, Cain spotted his butler Ruff walking towards the servants entrance, but oddly he did not see Lord Phantomhive's.

"Hmm…interesting?" he thought to himself curiously. "I say Phantomhive, where is your manservant all in black? Should he be here to assist the Cantor's servants?"

The young boy did not immediately answer him, he was in deep thought thinking about his next move.

Turning towards him he coolly smirked, "He's doing a special errand for me, he'll join your butler very soon."

"Is that so...well anyways shall we split up?'' questioned the older teen. Ciel wasn't paying attention his eyes was fixated on someone who looked out of place. A peculiar young man in an normal doctors uniform, glasses, large strange briefcase and long silvery hair waltzed up to the Cantor house Stewart.

The house Stewart bowed and led the strange man down the servants quarters door. "Hmm, this is odd...I know this an costume party, but why would someone like this fellow be here? I have a feeling that there is more to this." he thought.

Cain became alert when he noticed Ciel's attention was elsewhere. "Phantomhive… have you spotted something?" he asked curiously

The younger Earl slightly nodded as he calmly replied. "I say, Hargreaves who is that man over there near the servants quarters?" pointed the young boy in the direction of the door near by the stairs.

When Cain looked he saw nothing but guest and servants standing around. Perplexed, he asked the younger teen again.

"I don't see anyone Phantomhive…would you please describe this fellow?"

"Well, this man wore a normal doctors uniform, glasses, a rather strange briefcase, long silvery hair and quite young looking. Why? Do you personally know this fellow?" finished Ciel suspiciously as he stared at him intently.

When hearing this news, Cain's golden-greens lit up in horror…it was him; that man who detested his every existence, the one who wanted to look better in his disgraced father's cruel eyes.

"Jezebel" whispered Cain under his breath. Ciel recognized that look anywhere, he knew tonight something awful will happen at this party.

Immediately, Cain abruptly took a hold onto Ciel's hand as he slightly bent down to whispered into his ear. "We must be quick to locate my sister and your betrothed. They're no longer safe here…" he quickly announced.

"Wait Hargreaves! We must stay put until my butler comes." he said pulling his hand away from the older teens.

"No! You don't understand Phantomhive… We cannot wait for your butler! He isn't even here! We cannot be dawdling about…. That man is very dangerous and he'll cause out right panic. We need to…" before he could continue, he was interrupted by a sonorous voice from near by the steps.

It was Lord Cantor along with the Lady gracing their presence; Mister Cantor hushed the attendees as he announced his daughter's entrance. "Ladies and Gents…please welcome your host and my beautiful daughter, Lady Nettlee Cantor."

Nettlee came down the stairs in her chosen costume dressed as Marie-Antoinette. Her lady servant and best friend follow behind. Lilia was dressed in a similar costume that complement her toffee colored skin. Cain's eyes immediately went straight towards the toffee colored woman next to her; she was something he'd never seen before, something exotic and mysterious. Lilia didn't seem to notice the young Earl staring at her in wonder. Right now her mind was on her father, she was terribly worried about the strange letter she received days ago from him.

At the same time, Nettlee's cool cobalt blues recognized the golden-greens from afar. She was blissfully surprised to see that he actually came to her party.

"Oh my! Earl Hargreaves is here gracing his presence…I always thought he wasn't interested in me, but…wait would if this was my parents plan all along. Tch, they'll do anything for the sake of getting me married. I refused to believe he'd came here on his own accord." She grimaced in thought.

Anyhow, she made her way over to the young man, "Welcome to my party Earl Cain of Hargreaves, I'm humbled by your presence." smoothly announced Nettlee as she gaze directly into his ungodly golden-green orbs.

"Oh my…. he is very beautiful up close." she thought to herself as she tried hard not to blush like a mad woman in front of the young man. Looking for something to distract her gaze away from his eyes, she saw someone small dressed in a Royal Court Jester's outfit.

"Oh and who is this next you Earl Hargreaves?" she said as she looked down at the adorable twelve year old boy standing by his side. " Ah, I see that you spotted my new acquaintance. This is the Earl Ciel of Phantomhive."

Ciel lightly bowed before the young woman, he had to mind his manners or he would hear it to know end from his butler. He still doesn't like to be told what to do by anyone, not even by his demonic manservant. Who in fact was running late, Ciel wondered what could be keeping him? Averting his attention away from his butler's absence, he promptly addressed her.

"Please to meet you Lady Nettlee, and also happy birthday." gracefully replied Ciel as he took hold of her gloved hand and delicately kissed it.

"My you're a very charming little fellow and so sweet. I bet your sweetness will even attract a hungry demon." smiled Nettlee in a teasing manner towards the young boy, she watched his face turn bright red and giggled merrily to his bashfulness.

In return, Ciel forced a wary smile to his lips in response. "You don't know how right you are Miss." mumbled the young boy under his breath to himself.

A/N: Oh I'm sorry very to keep you readers waiting for this chapter. I was typing up another story at the same time for Kuroshitsuji; so that one took up most of my time. I had originally written this chapter before, but decided to scrap it because I had written myself into a corner. (lol and that one was good too but I felt it was too bland and I forgot where I was going with it.) If your wondering where the action is…don't fret. I didn't intend to make this chapter boring at all, it's supposed to be a build up into the upcoming event that will happen soon and I mean very soon. It will be gruesome and will put some people in harms way. I can't tell you that! You'll just have to read the next chapter of "Poison & Watchdog"