A/N - Hi, all! I suppose all I have to say is...prepare for the cute in this chapter! Also, thank you guys so much for all the support. You're all wonderful, and I appreciate each and every one of you! Now, please enjoy the chapter!
"GUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
I hurried to the main entrance to see what the disturbance was, yet somehow I already knew. The servants of the manor left something to be desired, yet I was still foolish enough to allow a fourth to live with us. All that does is give me more work.
"What is it this time, Mei Rin?" I massaged my temples with my fingers and tried to control my demonic rage.
"I..."
"I can see that," I interrupted harshly. Again, she had mistaken the wood polish for shoe polish, and again, she had turned the rails of the main staircase as black as my nonexistent soul. Before I was tempted to tear her to shreds, I was stopped by her.
"I've got it, Sebastian!" Dear Esther raced in draped in her fairly new main uniform, cloth in hand. "Don't be sad, Mei Rin, just do try to be more careful" She began scrubbing, and seeing that the shoe polish was being removed, I was satisfied.
As I walked down the corridor, I stopped to take a look at my pocket watch. I was nearly behind schedule.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
I hurried to the lawn to see what the disturbance was, yet somehow I already knew. There stood Finny amongst a forest of brand new weeds.
"I thought they were flowers, honestly! So, I gave them the plant food I gave the others!" Finny explained, wiping a tear from his eye.
"Oh honestly!" I snapped.
"I've got it, Sebastian!" Once again, dear Esther pounced out the door with a book and a pair of gloves. "Here, Finny. This is a book all about weeds and how to identify them. You should find it helpful in addition to your other books." She began pulling, and seeing that the weed problem was being solved, I was satisfied.
I decided to go polish the bookshelves in the library one last time before guests arrived for dinner that night. I looked at my pocket watch and was already off schedule. I sighed and kept walking.
BOOM!
I hurried to the kitchen to see what the disturbance was, yet somehow I already knew. When I got there, however, I saw Bard cleaning up some mess and dear Esther in front of the stove.
"Hello, Sebastian!" She smiled and continued her cooking. She had settled the situation before I had even gotten there. Seeing that dinner was taken care of, I looked at my pocket watch. Because of Esther, I was back on schedule. Seeing dear Esther was actually a capable maid, I walked into the kitchen and began cooking with her, satisfied.
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The Young Master has a cold. I've told him repeatedly that he needs to take better care of himself. After all, if something were to happen to him, I will have completely wasted my time and I will have to trudge back to Hell with just a snack in my belly. I was walking down the hall on the way to prepare the Young Master for bed when I heard a soft woman's voice in his chamber.
"My mother made this for me when I was ill. It's the most wonderful comfort food, Master."
When I peered in the door, I saw her place a steaming bowl of chicken soup in front of my Master.
"What is this gruel?" My young master replied, looking distastefully into his soup, "I can't be expected to eat this peasant food." Dear Esther only smiled tenderly at this. "Well, I can't force you to eat it; I can only assure you'll feel much better if you do." She took her small hand and ran it through his hair in a loving, motherly manner. I saw the Young Master relax, obviously enjoying the sensation. The Young Master reluctantly picked up a spoonful and brought it to his mouth. After blowing on in a few times, he finally took his first bite. He sat back for a moment, pondered, then spooned up another bite.
"I suppose this peasant food isn't so bad after all, Esther. Thank you."
"My pleasure, Master," she replied with a curtsy. She turned around and walked out of the door. After she had cracked the door until it nearly closed, I stepped out in front of her. "Food before bed?" I criticized, "He'll surely get nightmares,"
"Nightmares, Sebastian?" She smiled playfully and put her hands on her hips, "The poor boy lives a nightmare. Let him have his simple pleasures," The pair of us peeked into the Young Master's chamber, and to my surprise, the he was eagerly slurping up every last bite of the soup. He sat the soup aside once finished, he blew out his lantern, and instantly seeped into a deep, peaceful sleep.
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It was 3:33am. Most people think this is the time for demons to come out, and if they also thought the demons come out to clean the less visited rooms in mansions, they'd be correct. As a walked toward the music room where the master has his occasional violin lessons, I heard the sound of the master piano playing Piano Sonata No. 14 - Moonlight Sonata Mvt. 1. This piece has always been particularly pleasing to me. I've always appreciated music, as it's one of the few things humans can create than humans and divine beings alike can enjoy. I've lived many years, and I've heard my fair share of beautiful music; however, this performance of Moonlight Sonata had more passion and feeling than I'd ever heard. As I got to the room, I saw dear Esther, eyes closed, tapping away at the keys. She swayed with the music with grace and rhythm. I quietly stepped into the room.
"You play beautifully," I interrupted. Startled, she missed a note and whipped around. "Oh, Sebastian," she relaxed, "you frightened me." She scooted over and patted the seat beside her. "I learned to play when I was a little girl. I've always loved music and it's inner workings. I never was quite satisfied listening to music instead of creating it with my own hands." She cracked her knuckles and began right where she left off. Once she began the second movement, I decided to join in. The first movement is slow and sweet, yet very somber; the second movement takes a furious and energizing twist on the first. As our fingers frantically raced across the keyboard, our notes danced and mingled like a couple dancing across the sand by a moonlit lake. Once the piece ended, she looked up at me.
"Most people don't approve of a lady performing music, you know, " she said, tucking a curl of raven hair behind her ear, "you don't find it unbecoming?" I looked at her for a few moments studying her face, flushed from the energy put into her performance. "Not at all, My Lady," I couldn't help but notice her face flush further upon hearing this.
"Not at all."
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While there are many duties of a Phantomhive butler, and despite my days being hectic, I always make time for Earth's most beautiful and mysterious creatures. The Young Master is allergic to cats, and therefore, we cannot keep them in the manor. Despite this, I quite enjoy feeding the local strays that often gather behind the manor. Today, I prepared their meals as usual and headed outside. To my surprise, there was dear Esther, setting a bowl of food down and scratching one of my precious furballs under his chin. She didn't seem to notice me, so instead of stepping out on the porch, I watched stealthily. She knelt down by a small white kitten, picked her up, and held her to her chest. As she sat there, the cats were climbing on her in the attempt to acquire a snuggle or two of their own. As she held them in her small arms, I realized the jealousy I felt. Not that I was jealous of her holding my strays, but more that my strays were holding dear Esther. My dear Esther. If my cats love her, perhaps I do too.
