Yay! I was so happy when I saw I got FOUR FRIGGIN REVIEWS! I know its lame but I was so excited! Anyway, thanks to those who Favorited and Followed my story. Oh and um i forgot for the videos last chapters, yeah, I didn't put a disclaimer, so all rights go to the actual owners. Anyway, chapter four! enjoy! :)
"Gosh, I'm so excited! Today is the day! Aren't you excited Ciel?" Alois asked when he entered the dining hall. He stretched his arms up above his head before taking his seat at the table, Claude, in his straight posture, stood behind his master obediently. Alois smiled and looked at Ciel who looked like he's been up for hours with a dark bag under his eye, his hair disheveled and messy. Ciel glared at Alois with a tired eye as Sebastian placed a plate of food in front of him.
"Why do you look so ugly?" Alois mocked him.
"Because you kept me up all night with your planning and ideas!" Ciel yelled at the blonde boy, "I didn't get to do any of my work!" he took a deep breath and began to stab at his breakfast with the silver fork.
"Well, I was just getting your approval on my ideas for the ball. It's not my fault you can't concentrate on your work." Alois retorted, also eating his breakfast. Ciel let out a small growl before letting the conversation drop with a sigh. The two continued to eat in silence. The servants avoided eyes contact with everyone but themselves. With Sebastian, Mey-Rin, Bardroy, Finny and Tanaka on Ciel's side of the table and only Claude on Alois's side, it created a very tense and awkward atmosphere for the other servants.
"Young master, the guests for the ball will begin arriving at noon. Shall I prepare a carriage to retrieve the Avaline Family?" Sebastian asked as he took the earl's empty plate and handed it to Mey-Rin.
"Yes, be sure that they get a fine carriage. I don't want to disappoint Her Majesty and disappoint the Spaniards." Ciel ordered. He got up from his chair, gave a curt nod to Alois, who still hasn't finished eating, and he made his way back to his study. After Ciel left the room, Sebastian and the other Phantomhive servants went to the kitchen, where Sebastian gave them their chores to prepare for the ball. The Phantomhive servants were relived and began with their duties.
After Alois finished with his meal, he too left to do his own work. Leaving the half empty plate for the Sebastian to pick up, he and Claude went back to the Trancy manor.
"Ah, it's good to be out of the retched Phantomhive manor!" Alois cheered as he entered the Trancy manor. All the servants were lined up to greet him with a bow.
"Now it's time for us to prepare as well. Come Claude; let us get ready for the ball." He said as he made his way up the stairs.
"Yes, your highness." Claude answered as he followed his blonde master.
"Young master, I have sent a carriage for the Avalines and it appears that the Earl Trancy has retreated home as well." Sebastian announced as he poured Ciel his cup of tea. Ciel let out a sigh of relief, slouching into his chair. Now he can finally relax and finish his paperwork without interruptions from that brat.
"Tch, good riddance." He muttered before taking a sip of his tea. He enjoyed the warm liquid as it traveled down his throat, "Sebastian. Be sure the ball goes well, I don't want any mistakes. That's an order." Ciel ordered the black clad butler.
Sebastian took a deep bow before answering, "Yes, my lord." And with that Sebastian left to finish the preparations for this evening's ball. He had an anticipating feeling in the pit of his stomach. He had a feeling, a strong one, that something, possible a new adventure for the earl and him will soon begin.
After Sebastian left the study, Ciel got up and made sure the door was locked before returning to the center of the room. Once again he took his starting position and began with the steps. The truth is that he has set aside his work to practice his dancing. Though he told the truth about Alois's bothering him and was truly a reason he couldn't get any sleep. As he practiced for the last three days he has somewhat improved. Well, improved as in hasn't tripped on his, own two feet, but he was sure it would be much harder if he has a partner. He counted the steps in his head and practiced for what seemed like an hour to him. In the end he sat at his desk to take a break. Ciel ended up sipping on the now cooled tea to refresh him. Was it strange for him to practice just to impress a person he doesn't even know? He was engaged to Elizabeth, but he thought of her as only his cousin. He felt an ounce of guilt because he knew that Elizabeth cared for him very much, but he wouldn't be able to return those feelings mutually. He let his mind wonder for a bit, thinking of the possibilities and his choices. All his thoughts were scattered when he heard a knock at the door. He muttered for the intruder's entrance before he remembered he had locked the door. He got up from his desk chair and walked to the door, unlocking it.
Sebastian walked in with a confused look on his face. He knew well that he didn't lock the door when he left his master's study. Did Ciel lock it himself? He gave the blue haired boy a suspicious look before getting back to what he came here for.
"Young master, it is almost noon, shall we get you ready for the ball?" he asked with a small smile. Ciel looked out the window to see that the sun has begun its travel down the sky. He closed his eyes for a second before answering with a question.
"Is everything ready, Sebastian?" he asked in a monotone voice.
"Yes, my lord. Everything is prepared and the orchestra has arrived and begun setting up. Has for the other servants, I gave them strict orders to behave and to serve the guests." Sebastian recited with a confidant smirk. Ciel nodded and turned to look at the butler.
"Well, then all that's left his for me to get ready. Let's go." He ordered as he passed the butler and left the study. Sebastian glared at the untouched paperwork on the Earl's desk, the pile that the boy was supposed to finish, before following the young boy to help him prepare. He already knew that Ciel has been practicing his dancing and he would laugh to himself about it, though he never told Ciel that he knew. Sebastian was waiting for the right time to use it. The butler smirked at his mischievousness as he followed Ciel down the halls of the Phantomhive manor.
"Señorita Cecilia, it is almost noon, shall we get ready for the ball?" Juno asked the hazel eyed girl. Cecilia looked up from here book. She was in the library reading a new book with Pequeño laying his head on her feet, keeping her toes warm. Juno walked into the library with a look of relief when she saw Cecilia sitting in the velvet green chair.
"Oh, that's right. I'm sorry, Juno. I must have worried you." Cecilia put down her book on the table that sat beside the green chair. She stood up carefully, making sure she does not wake the sleeping dog. Juno curtsied to Cecilia.
"Of course not, Señorita, but you did promise I could make your dress for the ball." She said with a small smile. Cecilia's eyes lit at the thought of Juno's new dress. She knew Juno had a love for fashion and she designed and made most of Cecilia's dresses. They were simply beautiful and gorgeous. Juno used to be a dress designer in France and was quit famous with the nobility of Paris.
"Oh, I simply can't wait, Juno! Let's go, I want to see it!" Cecilia jumped in excitement and ran out of the library. Juno followed after her young mistress. She smiled at the girl as she made her way to her room, where Juno left the finished ball gown.
After a few adjustments and touch-ups on the dress Juno had Cecilia try it on. Juno helped Cecilia with the corset first, though she didn't really need the help, she had natural curves at her age of fourteen. The dress was beautiful to Cecilia. As she looked at herself in the full length mirror she smiled and took in every detail of the elegant gown. The sleeves were over the shoulder and traced with white ruffles all around the seam meeting at a split in the center; the bodice was simple dark green velvet material with what looked like white corset strings running down the middle. The skirt flowed down the like a cascading water fall of the same green material. The skirt splits open where it reaches the peak of the bodice opening out to show the second layer of the skirt, the fabric was a pale white, the skirt passed was longer than the top layer by about an inch. The skirt fell loosely and comfortably. It was poofy but not too poofy just the way Cecilia liked it. She twirled around in the dress enjoying as the dress flowed nicely. She was accessorized with a white choker with a green shining stone in the center and white gloves that stretched almost to her elbows. For shoes she wore black laced, leather heeled boots. Cecilia loved it. She smiled at Juno before giving her a big hug of gratitude.
"Gracias, Juno! It's beautiful absolutely gorgeous! I don't know how you do it! It's elegant and beautiful! Oh thank you!" exclaimed Cecilia as she hugged Juno tightly. Juno laughed and thanked her for the complements.
"It was nothing, Señorita. I simply love to make dresses." She smiled kindly. As Cecilia kept admiring Juno's handy work in the mirror, there was a knock at the door. Cecilia called out for the knocker to enter with a cheery voice. Fransisco entered the room and looked at Cecilia with a kind smile.
"Thank you, Juno. You may go get ready as well." Fransisco thanked the blonde. She curtsied before taking her leave. Cecilia thanked her as well as she left, leaving the butler and Cecilia. Fransisco smiled at Cecilia in the mirror, who in return giggled. Fransisco had replaced his butler's outfit for a more formal suit. His black long locks were combed back slickly with no stray hairs. He placed his gloved hands on Cecilia's bare shoulders and lowered his head so that their cheeks touched he smiled at their reflection in the mirror, then made a silly face by crossing his eyes and slightly sticking out his tongue. Cecilia giggled uncontrollably, to Fransisco's amusement. He always tried to make her smile and laugh and he only displayed this kind of behavior with her, which she has always enjoyed and would keep memory of them in her heart. Fransisco cleared his throat and stood straight again, he dusted imaginary dust of his the sleeves of his coat.
"Señorita Cecilia, the Earl Phantomhive has sent a carriage for us and that is currently waiting outside. So, by your word," he said holding out his gloved left hand to his young mistress, "shall we take our leave, mi princesa?" he asked with a wink of his bright blue eyes.
Cecilia took his hand and nodded confidently, "We shall." She said and followed the butler to the main entrance of the manor. There awaiting them where the other servants all dressed in fancy and formal wear. The all bowed or curtsied when they saw Cecilia at the top of the stairs and as she made her way down the curving stairs.
Fortunately, to Cecilia's relief, the carriage had not been waiting that long and everyone was able to fit comfortably in the carriage. They all talked about what they were wearing and how they thought the ball was going to be like. Cecilia, though, had her mind drifting off as she stared out the carriage window. Maybe she was nervous, of course she would be. It was her first ball. What if she trips and makes a fool out of herself. She whipped the 'what ifs' out of her mind before they could ruin her confidence. She was going to this ball for a reason and she wasn't going to let some insecurities ruin that for her.
Translations:
Senorita: Miss or lady
Gracias: thank you
Mi princesa: My princess
I hope you enjoyed and if you have any questions, comments, or concerns please tell me. I reread the other chapters and I was pissed at myself for not properly checking over my mistakes and I went back and fixed them. Sorry, hehe. Anyway please review and follow and favorite!
~Tomiko Hinamori