I'm really sorry this took me so long to update, and I realize that I've been kind of jumping around with the plot (ie cutting alois off and starting the next chapter with the queen anne part) I'm still experimenting with how to write so please be patient with me. Thank you so much for reading this fic. :)

xxx

" You've found me?" Alois had fallen back down now perching among the tall grasses, staring at the man with a sort of fascination. " And who are you?" Blankly as ever, the man kneeled on one knee in front of the boy, his tail coat pooling behind him.

" I am Claude Faustus, your butler."

Alois contemplated this, getting up from his perch. He stared down at the man, no longer afraid. Butler? He didn't need one. The boy paced around the kneeling man, sizing him up. Claude, as he was called, was good looking- broad shouldered, but very handsome. Alois stopped in front of Claude, and reached out a curious hand, curling it around Claude's chin and not so gently pulling it up. To his surprise, he found a pair yellow eyes staring back at him, bright yellow ones flecked with gold, like the sun.

A simpering smile forming at his lips, Alois tightly gripped his hand around Claude's chin before letting him go. Crossing his arms across his chest he asked his new butler a question. " So, Claude what can you do for me?"

Claude rose. " Anything you wish."

" Really?" Alois smiled even wider, having decided to put his new plaything to the test. " It's getting late. Carry me back." He hadn't honestly been expecting it, thinking that Claude would be like one of those former butlers of his, who were too concentrated on the wrinkles of their coats, but he found himself being scooped up, carried in the butler's arms like a child.

In silence, Claude began the long walk back with Alois in his arms.

Alois laughed, the soprano like sound tinkling with delight. He threw his arms around Claude's neck, and brought himself closer.

" Can you really do anything for me?"

Claude nodded. " Yes."

"Sapphire into gold? The seas into the plains? Water into wine?"

" Everything and anything you wish."

" Really?" Alois dug his hand into Claude's shoulder. He stared into Claude's eyes, watching the reflections of the late afternoon sun in his glasses.

"Your eyes..."Trailing off, he ran his hand lightly across the butler's shoulders. " Are they naturally like that? Gold. Like the sunlight." Claude bowed his head.

"Yes."

Suddenly, Alois clamped his hand down hard on his shoulders, and Claude stopped walking. " I hate the color of your eyes." the boy hissed.

When Claude looked down questioningly, Alois continued. " That color. Yellow, a light happy color." He moved his hands to Claude's glasses. " A clean color." Removing them, Alois breathed on them, fogging the lenses. " I hate that the most."

Claude resumed his walk without his glasses, " Why? Is your hair not golden as well? Or your eyes? Light yellow and a light blue-grey.. they are enough to make you hate yourself, no?"

Alois began wiping the lenses with his sleeves.

" Of course. So light and clean, like a child." He placed the glasses back onto the bridge of Claude's nose. " I prefer something more stained... a bit dramatic."

The outline of the castle began to appear now, looming over the tops of the dark trees.

" Are you stained?" Claude asked.

Alois giggled childishly, as if he had just been asked whether or not he knew the sky was blue. He pulled himself closer to the butler, whispering. " I am more stained than you think, you know. That's why I hate the light colors of my eyes and hair. They make me seem so much more cleaner that I am. If I were the color of my sufferings, I bet I would be stained a dark, dark deep black."

He continued," I once knew somebody like that though. Not black, but a dark and deep navy blue. His suffering, you could see it in the majestic color of his hair and eyes. It was a long time ago, so I don't remember his name. But I do remember being captivated by him. I was envious."

" Is that so?"

They had reached the front gate of the castle by now. Alois looked up at Claude. " So now you know. Put me down."

Claude gently put Alois down, and he hopped off, a spring in his step. Claude followed the boy into the castle as the gates were opened for them, his eyes trailing over the granite and marble walls, and the grand staircase engraved with gold leaf vines and flowers. As the grand french doors closed behind them, a servant, one that had been posted at the gate stared anxiously towards the doors, as if afraid they would reappear. After a few long moments, satisfied that they were not about to come back out, the servant broke into a run. He needed to report immediately that Alois Trancy had returned.

Queen Victoria was waiting.

xxx

An uncomfortable silence fell in the room, and the only sound was of the fire, crackling in the hearth. But Claude, refusing to give up and determined to feed Alois in some shape or way, repicked up the bowl of braised lamb and silently put it back on his cart.

Alois played with his fork, fidgeting in his seat.

He smirked as Claude put a silver cover back over the steaming dish." I don't eat lamb."

Claude ignored him, putting down another dish. Quietly, he presented it to Alois. " Roast duck and raspberry glaze."

" Can't. Doctor once told me I had a bad reaction to that."

The butler lifted an eyebrow. " To duck?"

" To raspberries."

In a flash, Claude presented a new dish.

" French Cheese Souffle."

" I detest cheese."

" Salmon filet."

rejected.

" Coquilles St. Jaques? Chateaubriand?" Claude presented them with a flourish, waiting for Alois's response.

The boy looked at the two dishes on the table with an amused expression. " I no longer understand what you are saying, so no."

Solemnly, Claude put the dishes back.

Alois laughed. " Is that all? I'm starving, you know."

The butler turned to him, stoic as ever. " There is one more.."

" Oh? Show me."

" Though it was bought outside the castle, from a man selling them on the street."

Alois tapped his foot impatiently under the table. " I don't mind. Show me!"

Claude turned to his cart, and uncovered a silver lid to a little white bag. He placed it on a plate and brought it over to Alois. The boy looked at it in wonder.

" Bread? Is that all?" Cautiously taking a bite, Alois was surprised when a spicy flavor flooded into his mouth. " Curry!" He laughed, continuing to take a few bites, some curry sauce dripping into the dish below.

After he finished, Alois wiped his mouth and got up for Claude to clear the table. As the butler collected the plates, Alois yawned and leaned against the wall, watching him. "Well at least you're good for something." he shrugged. " Even if it was just buying food from a vendor." He yawned again.

Seeing that Claude had finished cleaning up, Alois stretched tiredly. " I feel like taking a bath." When Claude made no move, Alois stood up. " You're really of no use are you? Are you not going to help me?"

But the butler only looked at him. " That is because you don't need me yet."

Alois stormed angrily over to Claude. " What?"

" When you do need me though..." he bent down and put a cupped his hand around the boy's face. " Call me. Wherever I am, I will come to you."

Alois looked at the hand in outrage. He slapped it aside. " Don't touch me." Walking past Claude, he made for the door.

" You useless butler. I can take my own bath anyways."

xxx

Alois walked down the marble halls, shivering in the late night chill. That Claude.. he didn't need him. He'll never need him. The boy angrily rushed towards the restroom- Claude can leave here if he's not about to be of any use. He could expect to pack his bags and leave in the morning- Claude can-

rustle

The boy stopped in front of the restroom door at the sound- at the sound of somebody so obviously following him. Alois paused, smirking to himself. So, the useless butler had followed him after all? Without turning around, Alois asked a question,

" Claude, is that you? Go away. Just to let you know, you are to leave as soon as possible."

When he got no reply, Alois spun around in fury- " Answer me, alrea-" but he was cut off by a hand with a handkerchief clamping over his mouth, his eyes widening as he realized that it wasn't Claude after all.

Alois crumpled to the floor, drugs seeping into his system.

And as his eyes dimmed, he only remembered a lone spider scrambling away as his hand thudded to the ground.