"'Someone well-versed in medical science and anatomy. Someone with no alibi on the nights of the murders.' And 'someone involved with a secret society or cult of black magic.' Only one individual fulfills all of these conditions. The Viscount of Druitt, one Sir Aleistor Chamber. He graduated from medical school, but does not work at a hospital or practice medicine. He has held several parties at his residence during the season. But, there are rumours that he also hosts secret parties on the side in which only he and his intimate acquaintances may participate." Explained Sebastian as he read over a few papers written on a document.
"The Viscount of Druitt, hm… Now that I think about it, I have heard rumours that he's into black magic or something similar." Madam Red said with suspicion.
"So some kind of ritual is being conducted at those "secret parties". And the prostitutes may have been used as offerings?" Questioned Lau.
"Yes."
"Possibly."
Both Red and Ciel spoke at the same time. They turned to face each other, one glaring and the other raising an eyebrow.
"Tonight, there will be yet another party at the Viscount's residence beginning at 19:00. As the season will soon be coming to an end, it is safe to assume that this evening will be our final opportunity to steal in."
"Madam Red. That is where we stand. Can you do something about it?" Asked Ciel.
"Really. Who do you take me for? I'm quite popular with men, I'll have you know. Obtaining an invitation or two will be child's play." Answered the woman in question.
"Then it's decided. We'll do whatever it takes to get into that 'secret party'. But make certain to never use the Phantomhive name. We may fail to catch them otherwise. This is our only chance!"
"Why is it that I feel as if something bad will happen?" asked Red.
Timeskip
Murmurs casted around as guests poured into the residence for Aleistor Chamber. Carriages pulled up and released more guests. Two carriages pulled up, one with Grell as the driver and the other with Sebastian. Both got off and opened the doors for the occupants inside.
"This is rather grand, isn't it? I wonder if indeed tonight marks the last night of the season?" Asked Madam Red as she was helped out of the first carriage.
"It would appear that this evening will be most delightful." Said Lau as he got out of the second carriage.
"We're done for if we arouse their suspicions. Listen up. We did not come here to amuse ourselves. Do not let your guard down!" Said Ciel as he was helped out last from the first carriage.
Laughter erupted from behind them. They turned to see Red dying from laughter as she was looking at Ciel. The boy glared at her from anger and irritation.
"And just what so happens to be amusing to you?!" He shouted at her.
"N-Nothing at all…Cecilia…" At that she laughed as if there was no tomorrow.
While Ciel was fuming, Madam Red snuck up behind him and ensnared him and Red into a hug.
"I understand! You're both just the cutest little things, aren't you!?" She squealed.
"Let me go!" They both shouted; one from dislike, the other because she couldn't breathe.
"Why must I wear something like this?!" Shouted Ciel.
"Because dear, I've always wanted a girl!" Replied the enthusiastic woman as she let them go.
"You're kidding me!" Fumed Ciel.
Red walked to the older woman and gave her a proper hug. Madam Red was hesitant but returned the hug.
"I never had a mother figure in my life, so thank you!" Spoke the girl happily with a hint of sadness in her voice.
Madam Red hugged her tightly and let go to face her. Tears were brimming at the edges of her eyes. "It warms my heart for you to see me like that."
Red knew of Madam Red losing her husband and child from a carriage accident and showed sympathy. During this exchange, Sebastian was lecturing Ciel about how a lady should not raise her voice. Ciel cursed the man out under his breath.
"He's right, you hear? You have to follow the script."
"So, if Ciel and I have to play as your nieces, who are the others?" Questioned Red.
"Lau is my young lover. Sebastian and Grell will be yours and Cie- I mean Cecilia's tutors."
Grell smiled brightly, for once, having a change in acting in a role. Madam Red then went to explain to Ciel how disastrous it would be if he was exposed to be a Phantomhive.
"In any case! If people were to see a one-eyed boy with a well-dressed butler, they would know it was you on the spot! So then it follows that THIS is the best disguise." Red explained the rest.
"And the Viscount of Druitt supposedly loves women of all ages, so it's better if you're dressed that way!"
"WHAT?!" shouted both Ciel and Red.
"Why couldn't she be the one to dress up only?!"
Red took her fan and slapped the back of his head and narrowed her eyes at the boy.
"Unlike your chances, chances from me would result for the case to be solved quicker since I know how to act like a proper young lady! With your help of dressing up, it doubles the chances…slightly."
"Besides, were you not the one who said, 'Do whatever it takes'?" Questioned Sebastian as he grinned. Ciel growled in response.
"Then shall we go my lady?"
The group entered the ballroom and looked around, searching for the suspect.
"Now then, we must first locate the Viscount of Druitt." Said Red as she struggled to walk in heels.
"I wonder if the Viscount of Druitt is a handsome fellow? If that is the case, I would be more than willing to do my part!" Exclaimed Madam Red as her eyes glinted.
"I'm uncomfortable. It's heavy. This dress. They hurt. My feet. I want to go home." Muttered Ciel.
Red chuckled in response and said, "It could be worse you know?"
"Correct. I do not want Elizabeth to see me like this."
In the distance, you could hear a loud, "Kyah! Your dress is so cute!"
"Oh no…I'm even imagining the sound of her voice now…"
The sound got louder except this time it was closer. "That hat of yours is lovely!"
Both butlers, Ciel, and Red turned in shock to see who the voice belonged to.
"There are just so many ladies in the loveliest dresses, I can't stand it! They are all so cute!" Squealed Elizabeth.
"Se-! Se-Se-Se-Sebastian." Ciel whispered in panic.
"Young mas-! My lady, please calm down. Let us go over there for the moment." Whispered Sebastian.
Both pairs slowly crept away from the squealing blonde.
"Ah! You there in the pink and you in the mask! Your dresses are so adorable!"
"Red do something!" Whispered Ciel, but when he looked over to where she was, she was gone. Grell was in shock and looking around for her. This caused Ciel to panic even more.
"This will never do, my lady. This way!" Stated Sebastian as he quickly dragged Ciel behind the cake table away from Elizabeth's sight.
"Oh? Where did they go?"
She soon wandered away from the table in search.
"Why is Elizabeth here!? I must at least get ahold of Madam and the rest-!"
"It won't work." Spoke Red from behind them. Ciel let out a screech and jumped into Sebastian's arms.
"Will you stop that?! And what do you mean it won't work?!"
"Look to where your aunt is." Replied Red, completely ignoring the first question.
Both males turned their attention to where Madam Red is.
"I do not mind the press of this crowd in the least!" Madam Red exclaimed then chuckled.
"She's utterly engrossed in the party."
"This is not good. I did not think your fiancée would be here." Said Sebastian.
"Even though I am disguised, if she were to catch a glimpse of my face…"
"She would recognize you right away." Finished Sebastian.
"If she finds out, it would spell the end of our investigation!"
"Moreover, everyone here would discover that Sebastian's 'my lady' is a 'young master'." Chuckled Red.
At this, Ciel grew pale.
"IF IT BECOMES KNOWN THAT THE HEAD OF THE PHANTOMHIVE FAMILY HAD THE GALL TO DRESS LIKE THIS, WE WILL BE SHAMED FOR ALL ETERNITY!" Whisper-yelled Ciel as he clutched the tablecloth in his grasp. "I would rather die than have that happen! So she must neve-"
He was cut off by a woman commenting on the Viscount's handsomeness.
"So he is the Viscount of Druitt..!"
"He is quite young." Commented Sebastian.
"We'll use a greeting as our front to get close to him."
"I will observe from here because the presence of another man may make him wary. Please behave like a lady, as I have taught you."
"Yes, yes! All right!" Whispered a fed up Ciel.
He turned to Red to begin but she was, once again, gone. He growled in frustration but composed himself and walked over to the Viscount.
"G-Good evening, Viscount Dru-"
He was cut off by Elizabeth's squealing as she had found him. He ran away and disappeared from her sight in the crowd. Sebastian grabbed Ciel by his elbow and dragged him away from Elizabeth and told a man to give her a lemonade.
"That was dangerously close." Said Sebastian as they were farther away from people.
"Why do I always have to be the one to suffe-" He was cut off as the orchestra of music echoed around the room.
"My lady, look over there." Sebastian pointed to a pair of dancers.
Ciel looked closely and noticed that it was Red dancing with the Viscount.
"How the devil did she even get him to dance?!" Exclaimed a frustrated Ciel.
Meanwhile, where Red was with the Viscount.
"You dance as lovely as a swan, yet your beauty is compared to a red cardinal's. Such grace and beauty."
"Th-Thank you, my lord. I am most honoured by your compliment."
"Pray tell, with whom did you come this evening with, my dear?" The Viscount asked as his face grew closer to Red's. 'Creep…'She thought.
"My aunt Angelina brought me here with my sister."
"Madam Red?" He questioned to which she nodded in response. "I see, are you enjoying yourself?"
"I am impressed with this wonderful party. But, my sister and I wanted nothing more than to talk to the Viscount all this time. Sadly, I can't seem to find her."
"Ohh?"
"I've had my fill with dancing and eating."
He grinned and leaned in to whisper in her ear. "A willful princess, aren't we, my love?"
Red nearly stopped in place from dancing but continued on.
"Do you and your sister long for more pleasurable amusements?" He asked as his hand crawled lower down the girl's back causing her to shiver from disgust.
'BEAR WITH IT! I MUST BEAR WITH IT! Only for this moment...WAS I SUBJECTED TO ACT LIKE A LADY AND NOT SNAP AT PEOPLE LIKE HIM!'
Red cleared her throat, "I-I am, but my sister isn't considering that she might go to our aunt. Have you something more interesting in mind, Viscount?"
"Of course. Allow me to show you, my love…" He replied as he was closer to Red's face.
'I SWEAR WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER I WILL KILL THIS CREEP AND BURY HIM SIX FEET UNDER!'
"What sort of things?" At the corner of her eye, Red spotted Elizabeth looking at Ciel as he began to dance his way with Sebastian to the opposite edge of the other dancers.
"Would you like to know?"
"Yes, I am most curious."
"But perhaps it's too soon for you?"
Red turned her attention to the Viscount and smiled kindly at him. "My lord, I am a proper lady, not a child."
The music came to an end as couples bowed and curtsied before one another. Red could see Elizabeth run after Ciel.
"Can you keep a secret from the Madam?"
"I most certainly can." Another voice answered the question.
The Viscount and Red turned to see Ciel with a fake smile on his face.
"Who is this lovely robin?" The Viscount asked as he took Ciel's hand and placed a kiss on it.
Red moved to stand beside Ciel and gave him a side hug while he rubbed the back of his hand on his dress. "This is my sister, Cecilia."
"It's an honour to meet the Viscount of Druitt." Said Ciel with a worried look in his eyes as he noticed something…or rather, someone.
"You seem to be worried about something?"
A loud bang echoed throughout the room which brought everyone's attention to a wardrobe in the center of the room with a man crouching next to it.
The man turned out to be Sebastian with a mask. People began to murmur throughout the room.
"Now that the party is at its height, allow me to present to the ladies and gentlemen here an illusion that makes use of this closet." He turned to Lau, "Sir, if you please. Would you be so kind as to lend a hand?"
"Me? Very well."
Everyone in the room gazed in wonder at what trick the man was supposed to do. Elizabeth completely forgot about searching for Ciel and the girl in the dresses that she found adorable.
"And now I shall enter this plain, ordinary closet."
"I do not recall requesting a conjuror…?" Stated the Viscount as he tried to remember.
"My lord. I have seen enough magic as well. Shall we go?" Red asked.
"Alright, my love." He replied as he wrapped an arm around Red's waist, she, once again, shivered in disgust as he led her away. Ciel was about to speak but was cut off by Red.
"Cecilia, please tell our guardian that I will return soon." She then walked over and gave him a hug, then whispered in his ear. "If I am not back by the end of the hour send Sebastian to help find me."
Red then let him go and walked away with the Viscount. Ciel saw them both leave through a door behind a curtain. He walked over to where the other people stood and watched Sebastian's trick.
"Once I have made my way into the closet, sir, please secure it tightly with this chain." Sebastian asked Lau as he gave him a chain. "Then please employ these swords to pierce the closet."
A row of swords stood beside the wardrobe. People began to murmur again. Sebastian then entered the wardrobe.
"I shall return alive from its skewered recesses. There are no tricks involved. I hope you enjoy this unique illusion."
The doors of the wardrobe closed and was chained tightly by Lau. He then picked up a sword.
"Right, then here I go."
He jumped above the wardrobe and stabbed the top of it.
'HE AIMED DIRECTLY AT THE HEAD FIRST?!', went through the people's minds.
Lau then stabbed all over the wardrobe, leaving the swords in their places until he came across the last one.
"I suppose that will do. Well what do you say is he still alive?" He asked everyone.
The swords and chains were removed and the door was opened to reveal Sebastian unharmed. People cheered and applauded, exclaiming how it was amazing and a miracle. Madam Red and Ciel approached both men.
"That was wonderful, Sebastian!"
"Indeed! The closet was like a pincushion. I thought maybe I'd really killed you!" Exclaimed Lau.
"It did hurt a bit. I did not think you would begin with my head." Replied Sebastian.
"So? How did you do it?" Asked Lau.
"You didn't know but you went and used all those swords anyway!?" Shouted Madam Red.
"I believe I explained as much earlier. Right, my lady?" asked Sebastian.
"Yes. There were no tricks involved." Said Ciel.
"Dear, where is Red?" asked Madam Red.
"She's with the Viscount. She said if she wasn't back by the end of this hour, to request for Sebastian's help."
Meanwhile with the Viscount and Red.
"The guests seem to be having fun in the hall." Commented Red.
"You will have much more fun at the splendid place we are going." Said the Viscount as he opened the door for her to enter.
She walked in and slightly covered her nose, smelling a strange odor.
"A splendid pla-" Red was cut off as she began to lose balance and fell back against the closed door. 'Must…get out…quick…' was the last thought that went through her mind.
"Oh yes. A very splendid place indeed, my love."