Ciel was starting to get nervous. Sebastian had been gone for several hours and Ciel could smell smoke coming from the kitchen. Bard's meal was quickly becoming inedible. The butler usually began preparations for dinner about now. What was taking him so long?
Just as the earl became concerned, Sebastian's voice rang throughout the house. "Could everyone gather by the entrance? I have something important to discus." Ciel wondered what could cause Sebastian to make such a breech in etiquette. A butler calling for the master of the house was hardly proper. Still, he hastily made his way downstairs. By the time Ciel arrived all the savants were already there.
"Sebastian you're back!"
"Where did you go?"
"Well, what is so important?" Ciel came down the stairs.
"Young Master, I've brought a new person to live in the house." He stepped aside so the girl was in plain view.
"Aliya?" Ciel jumped.
"I had a meeting with the orphanage. It seems that I am her father," Sebastian told the servants a half-truth with a pleasant smile.
"W…What do you mean by that?" Ciel demanded.
"This is my daughter," the butler said pleasantly.
"Aliya, I didn't recognize you in a dress," Bard laughed.
"Neither did I," Maylene marveled at the girl. Before coming to the mansion Sebastian had taken time to provide her with some new clothes. Aliya now wore a simple black and gray dress and leather shoes. In her arms she carried a bag that held another clean outfit. Sebastian had also taken a moment to comb the knots out of her black hair. Aliya now looked like a "presentable young lady" as her father called her.
"Whoa…" Finny leaned closer to the demons, "you're so similar."
"Ho, ho, ho," Tanaka seemed to agree.
"Standing next to each other like that…" Maylene started to say but trailed off as she realized that Sebastian had a kid. That meant there was a mother out there somewhere.
"Why did I not see that sooner?" Bard wondered, "Must have been because of that hat you were wearing."
"Hemph," Aliya turned away from the servants. She didn't like being compared to a demon she barely knew. Plus, their stares were making her uneasy and her muscles tense for battle. She bit her lip to try and calm her nerves.
"Why didn't you tell us you had a kid?" Bard asked.
"That is not something humans should ask," Sebastian warned. The three servants quickly shut their mouths.
"And you just brought her here?" Ciel irritably asked the butler.
"I believe my salary will cover the expense of her room and board. I also plan on training her as a maid," Sebastian explained.
"Couldn't you have cleared this with me first?" The earl didn't like Sebastian doing things behind his back.
"Young Master, I simply could not leave her there," he said carefully. Ciel realized they would have to continue this conversation when the servants weren't around.
"Fine, show Aliya to her room then we can discuss financial arrangements." The boy headed back up the stairs to his study.
"As you wish," Sebastian nodded than gave Aliya a smile, "there is an extra bedroom near mine."
"But Sebastian, that room is used as storage," Maylene pointed out.
"It won't take long to clean. Once that is finished I'll start dinner." Sebastian checked his pocket watch.
"Don't worry about it. I've already prepared tonight's dinner," Bard said proudly. On cue a cloud of black smoke started billowing into the room. Sebastian gave the cook a disapproving look as the man bolted towards the kitchen.
"We'll…go clean that up," Maylene offered as she and Finny left.
"Is it always like this?" Aliya asked as she gazed up at her father.
"It used to be worse. Now, come, I'll show you to your room," Sebastian told her.
Ciel waited several minutes for Sebastian to appear. When the butler finally arrived in the study Ciel wasted no time.
"Your daughter?" he snapped.
"In a sense. According to Master Bookkeeper she was created using my blood." Sebastian gave a brief, un-detailed, synopsis of his discussion with the lord historian.
"End our contract? Can he do that?" Ciel asked.
"It is within his jurisdiction. I couldn't stop him from doing so," the butler admitted.
"What would happen to me?" Ciel wondered.
"You would be left as you are. You would also have the ability to summon another demon if you wished," Sebastian didn't lie.
"That would be an inconvenience," Ciel leaned back in his chair, "as the butler to the Phantomhive house, your daughter can stay here. Try not to let this affect your duties."
"Of course not, Young Master, I am still your loyal servant," the demon bowed.
