The Liars and The Soothsayer
-Kidnapping Arc-
Chapter IV:
Promise
Title: The Liars and Soothsayer (Previously known as 'A Kiss To My Prince')
Summary: After an incident with all the right intentions goes awry. Will Yuri be able to hand the consequences? Yuri wakes up 125 years back in past in Ciel's bed. Stuck in 1887, she helps Ciel and Sebastian to complete their mission as Queen's "guard dog" and also along the way, everyone who has become involved with her, has somehow gained an emotion they had once lost.
Pairing: Sebastian x OC x Ciel with Claude x OC x Alois
Thank you to those who have read, reviewed, followed and favorited my story:
Illusion Idony- He is a meanie! Ruthless too, if he wanted to! Yuri definitely has an impulsive side to her which you'll get another glimpse to in this chapter. Yep, this rewrite would be a bit darker and serious than AKTMP. Oh sociopaths - not all though - but some can and do love albeit a very rare numbers of others and in their own way. To them, it could be that they can be hesitant to hurt or manipulate them can be taken as 'love'. But Alois and Ciel, are by no means, a sociopaths. Although Claude and Sebastian might fit the definition of high functioning psychopaths in that they are unable to form emotional attachment or feel empathy, have charming and disarming personality, can mimic emotions and appear 'normal' to unsuspecting people - they are first and foremost, a demon and fictional characters. It would be a misdiagnosis to apply human diagnostic tools to Sebastian and Claude who are entirely different species when it was made for humans. I believe with recent chapters I've read, Sebastian seems to be slowly learning to FEEL human emotions so it is possible for a demon to learn how to feel emotions if they spend considerable amount of times around human.
BBFan- There will be romantic moments, just a bit more realistic in a sense it will take time and compromising from parties involved which can be difficult to achieve. Harley and Joker relationship really interests me, it's undoubtedly unhealthy but I think many of us have a bit of Harley and Joker kind of relationship going on in our relationship with whom we become intimately involved (e.g. cheating, manipulation, lying etc) so there's something about Harley and Joker that just draws us in and some want to believe Harley can tame and change the bad boy the Joker is while our 'BFF-advice' side of us want Harley to snap out of it and find a guy that actually deserves her and are good to her! Madam Red will be saved like in the original plot!
Reo-kun- Aww, well hope you enjoy this chapter as well! Happy reading!
Marie Mclaire- Well, good morning! Yes, I think lots of readers, they don't notice it, but as time passes and they read again, the story they thought they enjoyed and characters they thought was good and real enough, doesn't seem so 'realistic' anymore! Do you ever re-read some stories you enjoyed reading when you're 12 and then you read it again when you're 18 or 20 or even 30 and think 'Gosh, this story used to be so amazing but it feels so...lacking!' well this is what becoming mature is! Hope you like this chapter!
VampireSiren- Defo, my friendship with my current BFF took seven years to achieve the level of intimacy and comfort we have now. It'd be take much more longer and would be harder for two people who are so involved to the highest level of intimacy to become all-sacrificing, completely trusting relationship within a month!
Melissa Fairy- There will be some happy, fluffy moments! Just later on I guess!
Alara16- Thank you! I'm glad the emotions she felt during her kidnapping was respectfully conveyed to the readers!
thetankgirl- I'm so glad you like it! Kuroshitsuji is quite a dark manga although it has its moments and this is something I wanted for 'The Liars and Soothsayer'. I hope you like this chapter too!
Rival Argentica- I will be following the story plot of Kuroshitsuji although it'll be much more shorter with Yuri's foreshadowing knowledge of future events but it will definitely be different from AKTMP and to small extent, Kuroshitsuji manga/anime. Well we will be seeing more of William in the next few chapters soon! Yes, for Ciel to fall in love, you'd have to be pretty special and it'd take him a very long time to actually open himself up to put himself in that vulnerable situation. I like to portray Elizabeth as a mature girl and that all she wants for Ciel is for him to be happy and she'll be basing her actions on that variable. Sebastian has long way to go to even learn what love is and how it even feels! He'll probably think his feelings for Yuri will be like his feeling for cats, he can't exactly describe it but he sees her differently from other humans who all look the same to him. I like to write the chapter within one day so I can write quickly when I have the inspiration but it takes hours and hours to write something I've no motivation for i.e. my essays/dissertation LOL! I'm so happy you like this story so far! Hope you enjoy this chapter as well!
sleepy Kirby- Heyy! Long time no see! So missed you! How you doin? It's been ages since I've saw you! Gosh, I've missed you!
TooLazyToLogin- Thank you so much sweetie for the correction! You da real MVP! I've gotten confused with the maximum star a restaurant can have (3 stars) and stars chef has in total (e.g. Joël Robuchon, mentor to Gordon Ramsay has total of 31 stars, making him the most decorated Michelin star chef in the world!)
A/N: Another song I like to add to the list to the character's theme is: "Give Your Love a Try (Benz Hustle REMIX)" by Marques Houston! BBFan- I think you'll definitely feel less anxious about the Ciel's (and Sebastian's) feelings toward Yuri when you hear this!
"My name is Yuri Park. There was an incident and I woke up in 1887. Am I mad, in a coma, or back in time? Whatever's happened, it's like I've landed on a different planet. Now, maybe if I can work- out the reason, I can get home."
She woke up with a gasp, soaking sweat sipping through her night gown onto the expensive bed. Her chest rose with deep, heavy breath and scanning the familiar looking room, she let out a sigh of relief. The first thing she noticed was her changed outfit and she was so glad she didn't have to look at the blood stained dress again. Or that dress ever again.
Something cold touched her feverish skin and she remembered him punching her stomach, how her body lurched forward against her restraints and she flinched, letting out a yell and lurched away as far as she could away from the contact.
"M-Miss Park–I mean, Yuri, Yuri, it's me, Mey-Rin!" She grabbed both her wrists in attempt to calm her down but this only elicit more panics from the flailing girl.
"NO– NO!"
"YURI!"
She froze, recognising the voice as her erratic breath gradually slowed to a more steady beat.
"..Mey-Rin.."
"Yes, it's me." Mey-Rin nodded, letting go of her wrist with an apologetic expression as she noticed the grip marks on her wrist overlapping with the burns marks from the rope. The sympathetic maid quickly soaked the cloth with cold water and dabbed Yuri's face gently.
Human touch.
Yuri threw her arms around her neck, pulling her closer with a cry of relief. Mey-Rin returned the embrace, settling for her waist and gently rubbing her back in soothing circle, "It is alright. You are alright."
She spent the rest of the day in her room; she didn't eat or see anyone except Mey-Rin but Mey-Rin had her own job to complete and could not spare much of her time. Her fingers careless the hollow point of her neck where her necklace should be was empty. She couldn't sleep, didn't want to sleep. She wanted to go home. She wanted to see her family. She wanted to see her friends. She wanted to hear their voices. It was supposed to be the main character – not her – that was supposed to go through this! Alone and in silent, she wept.
"She still refuses to come out of her bedroom?" Ciel asked, not looking up from the documents.
"Yes. It seems she was quite shocked by the event and has been refusing to eat or drink or sleep ever since, according to Mey-Rin."
"Leave her be." Was his succinct reply, "Did you bring the report I ask of you?
"Yes, here you go." Sebastian handed him a pile of paper stored in a plain brown folder.
She didn't know when she's fallen asleep but it had been a very long time since she dreamt. Unlike her fears, it wasn't a nightmare or dream that had Azzurro in it. She was standing on the vast grassy field she couldn't exactly register and it was night time. Yuri gazed up at the sky, and she would have admired them were it not for its unnatural arrangement.
There was no moon or stars, just a dark blank canvas. She frowned, squinting to try and make out something in the distance. She didn't know why but deep inside, she knew there was something that she was searching for within the empty night sky.
Wait…?
There was a star. A very bright star, so bright she had to look away for the fear she may become blind from its light.
Yuri stepped closer, walking closer to the star that seemed to call out for her.
Her eyes snapped open; hair fanned out on the pillow and covered in cold sweat again. She just had her first proper sleep ever since she was dumped into this world.
What kind of dream was that?
Yuri turned to the window, noting it was dark outside and void of light. Her stomach growled. Despite the physiological needs her body needed to be filled, she found herself unwilling to move. She just wanted to lie in bed until she withered away.
Frowning marred her face as soon as Yuri caught her own thoughts. She knew this feeling; knew it very well, for a long time.
Clenching her eyes tight and biting her lip, she groaned, I thought I got over this. Get up Yuri. Get up. GET THE FUCK UP!
It took her every ounce of strength she so little had to heave herself up from the bed. It was as if she was chained to the bed by anchors and it was pulling her back down the more she drew herself away from it. Yuri's head turned toward the bell beside the bed, suddenly remembering Sebastian's word to use it whenever she needed something and for a fleeting moment, she wanted to use it. Needed to because she had no strength to go down to the kitchen and get the food.
Yuri curled her hands into fist, No; you're just making an excuse. It's not that you don't have strength go to the kitchen; it's that you think you don't have the strength to do so. Don't be like this again.
She considered it very rude and cruel to call someone who probably at this hour, deep asleep. As someone who also worked where she had to deal with customers, she hated to be that type of 'customer' where they think they were a king simply because they were the one paying.
Having spent more time with Mey-Rin and others, she knew her way to the kitchen more than her way around the upper part of the manor. Unfortunately, after making to the place, the kitchen after-hour lacked any edible food she could quickly make and grab. It was sparkly clean with all the left over thrown away and fresh ingredients readied for the next day meals. It was at situation like this did she realise just how much she took £1 ready-made-just-pop-it-in-the-microwave-for-one-minute for granted.
Yuri groaned, "Great."
"Are you hungry?"
Yuri screamed, more loudly than she felt it was appropriate. She was still sensitive, she supposed. Being kidnapped had a way of fucking with your head. Yuri glanced over her shoulder to the kitchen entrance where the butler stood, still dressed in his uniform, holding a lit candle with apathetic expression. She guessed he had been roaming around the manor in the manner she was seeing since everyone retired yet there wasn't any hint of tiredness radiating from his expression or his figure.
"Are you not tired?"
"I do not need to sleep." He replied.
"Just you or demons in general?"
"Demons in general." He propped the candle in one of the kitchen's many island, "If you're hungry, I can make you something to eat."
"Oh.." A genuine smile appeared on her, "That would be..really nice. Thank you so much."
Shrugging off his coat and rolling up his sleeves, he replied back with a smile of his own, "It is no problem, Miss. Park. It is what I am here for."
In one smooth established movement, he began pulling out the ingredients from the cold closet which Yuri learnt was the Victorian era version of refrigerator, a knife and a cutting board as Yuri took a seat next to the island he was working at. Soon, comforting, familiar warmth filled the room and mouth-watering smell began to dance around her nose. She had no idea what kind or type of food he was making, other than the fact that it was absolutely going to be delicious and probably very expensive if she was paying to eat them on a night out.
Her mouth gaped open as she looked at what was a piece of art form on a plate as she delicately picked up the knife and forks.
"It is Moorland Hogget loin with pomme purée, roast shallot, aubergine, pine nuts, rosemary and Honey Dukkah and dash of Old Winchester Cheese on top."
She didn't even know half the ingredient in front of her and wished she had a working phone where she could snap a picture and share it with the world. Oh, he even made a dessert!
"For dessert, we have Curgurrell Corner lemon verbena sorbet, white Chocolate and macadamia nuts."
"T-This is amazing." Yuri blinked, cutting into the delicate meat and bringing it forth to her mouth. The meat just melted in her mouth and sweet vegetables and cheese complimented the pork as if it were created for this dish only. She finished the main quick before moving to her dessert, finishing the last dish as fast as her first.
"Thank you for the food." She said, "I'll clean up the dishes."
Sebastian blinked several times, "Oh, no, that is my job, Miss. Park. You should go back and rest."
She vehemently waved her hand in refusal, stacking the dirty dishes on top and quickly taking her place at the sink.
"No." She firmly argued as he took the dishes from her hands which she took it back and shoved him away with her body, "You cooked the food, I'll clean. That's how we do it where I come from. You said I'm the guest so let me do what I need to do."
"But–" He sighed in exasperation or irritation, she didn't really cared.
"I'm good at these kinds of things." She said, having taken care of her brother and the housework since she was eight when their parents had no choice but to leave them alone for a long duration of the day since they needed to earn money to afford their current situation, "You can check them afterwards."
She scrubbed and scrubbed until the plates was shining and clean before handing it to Sebastian for inspection. He twirled the plates around, examining it for any missed spots before giving her a smile of satisfaction.
"Well done, Miss. Yuri. It is very clean." He told her as he stacked the cleaned plates on top of the others in the cupboard.
She swelled with pride at his praise, like she always did whenever her mum would give out one of her rare compliments.
"Ah, yes, before I forget." Sebastian remembered, pulling something out from his pocket. He held up his fist and something slipped out of his fingers, familiar chain hanging in front of her that made her eyes widened in surprise.
Her necklace. It was the necklace her cousin gave to her for her sixteenth birthday. Her only true link and reminder of her world and her family.
Yuri was so grateful she went to hug him; an action that caused him to flinch and she waited three more second before she pulled away from him and took the necklace with her.
"Thank you…" Her voice trembled with bubbling emotions. She tried not to cry again.
"It was fallen on the garden when I was walking around the garden." He revealed, "I presume it fell during the struggle."
Yuri shivered as flash of memory emerged, "..Yeah, it was…"
She wasn't sure if he would mind of her next request, but she didn't want to be alone, "D-Do you mind i-if stay with you tonight?" Wait that sounded wrong, "I-I mean, like can I just walk with you? I-if you're just gonna roam around the manor."
"I do not mind." He replied in a beat, "Are you unable to sleep?"
She didn't confirm nor deny his question.
"If you wish, there's a medicine that will bring forth sleep." He said as they exited the kitchen.
"…Why would you have something like that?" She frowned, even in modern time, sleeping pills was something you'd have to have prescription for and she was having a hard time of thinking up who would need them.
"Young master takes them when he has difficulty sleeping and he has important matters the next day."
There was a brief break of a rhythm in her stride at the revelation, "H-he has trouble sleeping?"
"You must know what he went through before he contracted me, yes?"
She nodded.
"Human minds are fragile, as you can see," He said pointedly, "Child's mind, even more so."
Yuri hung her head in shame, to think she was out of her mind to have wished what happened with Azzurro to a child.
"I-is he…how often does this happen to him?" Yuri asked.
His answer was a smile and although it wasn't put into words, the understanding she gleaned from that smile was more than enough.
You're older; you're supposed to be the adult here.
"Good morning!"
Ciel glanced up from the newspaper with the tea in his ringed finger. He raised a brow as he took in her unusually cheerful appearance. Few days ago, she seemed so willing to waste away cooped up in her room and now she was acting as if nothing had ever happened? Perhaps not, he saw her faltering although she quickly recovered.
"I know I've been acting…" Yuri didn't want to say she was sorry for being traumatised because she was not, "Like someone who was taken from her world by most unorthodox method there is and then kidnapped by a sexually deprived Italian mafia who just wanted his drugs. But, I'm ready to hold up my part of the bargain now."
Ciel titled his head, folding his newspaper and disposing them next to his breakfast, "I was getting quite impatient waiting for you to recover. Well, what do you know?"
She thought of Madame Red with uneasiness as they delved into the subject.
"Jack the Ripper." She said and noted his fixed fingers holding the tea, "That's your next mission."
He put his tea down on the plate in elegantly controlled gesture that made her envious at his seemingly effortless elegance before shoving his hand into his breast pocket and gently toss an envelope on the table for her to see, face down so that she could see the disturbed symbol of the stamped on its flapping close.
"I received this letter this morning from Her Majesty regarding Jack the Ripper." He said, "Any details that could hurry the conclusion of the case would be appreciated."
She gulped; she would not in any lifetime reveal just who the real culprit was not after the tantrum he threw when she revealed the truth of his world, "I think we have to visit the Undertaker and…" She closed her eyes, trying to remember the Viscount's name, "–and this Viscount who is not really the culprit."
Ciel deeply exhaled, as if he wasn't pleased with the vagueness of her help.
"I'm sorry," She said, noting his reaction, "But I-I can't remember everything in details."
Wiping his lip with the cloth, he stood up, "Sebastian, prepare the carriage to the townhouse."
"Yes, young master." The demon butler pulled the chair back as Ciel stood up to leave.
"A-are we leaving now?" Yuri asked as she hasn't finished her breakfast yet and she hated to see the food go to waste.
"We will leave when you are ready." Ciel conceded before taking exit of the room with Sebastian.
"T-thank you!" She called after him.
The door closed and she waited five minutes before she put her fork and knife down.
"…Brat." She grabbed the croissant with her hand from the basket, imagining it to be his head as she tore it apart with her teeth and chugged it down with a large gulp of orange juice. How she wished it was a whiskey in hand. Can't he see she was trying her best to try to move on? She was still hunted by his scared face, the way his hands roamed and dirtied her body, the excruciating pain she felt at his every punch. Thankfully, he left her face alone as to 'preserve the goods' except for her left cheek that was still aching to the touch and slightly bruised when he slapped her but mostly he aimed for more invisible parts of her body.
She didn't know just how hard he punched until she saw ugly purple, brown and green bruises decorating her arms and stomach. That fucking bastard.
A tear fell down her cheek as she forced herself to chew down the food and quickly wiped it away before anyone saw it. The food was delicious, too delicious but it wasn't her mum's cooking. Her mum's cooking wasn't as excellent as the butler who was perfect at everything, but her food had something that no famous chef or perfect demon butler could ever make.
A mother's touch.
"엄마 (Mummy)…" She would give anything to taste her mum's food right now and hug her and drown in her comforting scent.
But she can't be like this right now, not because the kid won't allow it, but for the sake of her sanity, she had to get her shit together.
"Come on, Yuri…" She leaned against her chair, staring at the ceiling, "You can't control what happened to you, but you can control what you can do…"
The journey to the townhouse was a silent and awkward one and Yuri settled for staring out of the window the whole time to avoid awkward silence and eye contacts. She soon forgot about whom and why they were in the carriage, instead staring in awe at the olden days that came alive in front of her very eyes. It was just like in the movie except she wasn't looking through a screen as an audience in cinema or at sofa in her home; she was experiencing it as part of them. Although the air had a slight stale and foul stench to it and the sound was louder than she would've liked, it was magical and for a moment, she had forgotten about everything that had happened in the past week.
"Shut the window." Ciel spoke for the first time since the ride, "The foul stench offends me."
It was like glass shattering. His voice had a way of pulling her down to what was the reality she wanted to deny for a moment. He had a cruel voice and used it very cruelly.
Yuri's grips on the edge of the window tightened and she exploded, releasing tirade of anger, "You fucking offend me! I'm so fucking sorry I appeared in front of you; I'm sorry I've gotten kidnapped and acted all traumatised; I'm sorry I told you that your world was as fake as croc skinned fuckin' Hermes bag being sold in the back of the van in Camden(1) and that everything you've suffered through was part of cliché tropes every tragic protagonist goes through, but is it so hard for you to be at least fucking considerate even for a fucking second?! I was nearly raped and sold off because he thought I was some whore you were fucking around with!"
She said it. She wished she had actually written down what she was going to say beforehand so it would sound much more better and impactful, but that wasn't her style. She could feel the tears she was holding back with all her will strength freely flowing down her face and her voice broke half way through her retort. Her words might haven't been as articulate of what she was feeling and going through, but it was as raw and real as she could make it to be.
Temper. Temper. Everyone warned her of her temper and the trouble it'll bring if she didn't keep it under control. They assumed she was kind, funny and unserious girl, but when they, who by random or inappropriate timing, witnessed her anger, they were all shocked that a girl like her were even capable of containing such anger. Maybe that's where the saying: 'there's no one scarier than a moment when a kind person gets angry', because she can and was truly ugly when she was truly angry.
There was a name for such illness that her mum and other members of her family liked to use frequently either seriously or half-heartedly: Hwa-byung. It literally meant fire disease, or if translated, anger disease. A culturally bound mental disorder, it was characterised by depression, stress and anxiety-related physical and mental symptoms and often were marked by explosive temper and bellicose behaviour. The doctors and alike attributed the cause to the chronically suppressed, unexpressed anger felt inside.
She wasn't proud of it. She absolutely did not want to have it by all means. She liked the kinder side of her. But the anger was constantly bubbling inside her just waiting for a slight trigger to overflow and let the world see her anger and frustrations that had been deeply rooted as long as she could remember. She felt like Hulk sometimes, as soon as something ticked inside her head, she saw red and felt the need to destroy everything in her sight. It was a truly monstrous side of hers' that was born from multifaceted factors, and mostly reserved for her dad whom she had a strained relationship with.
The two males seemed to be genuinely surprised and shocked by her outburst, and she had expected it at least. Ciel for once seemed speechless for a moment but he had always been fast when it came to pretending nothing was wrong.
"Watch who you're talking to." Ciel narrowed his eye, "Remember–"
She jumped out of the carriage, opening the doors as soon as she felt it coming to a stop and slammed the door shut with a loud bang.
"How can I forget?" She retorted back, connecting his unfinished but predictable sentence. Then she did something they probably didn't expect. She turned and walked away from them, from the direction of the townhouse.
She needed to cool her head down, just needed to calm down alone…just like always. Always calming down by herself then coming back with a smile as if she hadn't been angry in the first place and it hadn't bothered her. She gave her chest a gentle beating with her fist, as if it would bring down whatever was stuck at her throat. In the past, maybe – just maybe – she could have identified just why and what she was angry about, but now, it was just a messy ball of anger too jumbled for her to detangle. She had no idea why she turned out to be so fucked up.
Yuri found a dirty alleyway she could hide in and she sat on the ground, not caring how dirty the ground was and of questionable liquid pooled near her. It was probably a scandalous sight to others who bothered to look at a well-dressed woman sitting on the dirty ground.
It was at times like this she remembered her all-time favourite poem by Philip Larkin. She had no idea just how she came across it; all she can remember just how much the words touched her and that someone must have read her heart because it felt as if someone out there understood her and wrote it for her.
"They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.
But they were fucked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another's throats.
Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don't have any kids yourself."
The words spoke to her in a way she couldn't describe them. For whatever ironic reason, the words comforted her and she would often murmur them whenever she had an episode like this and she would almost immediately find her peace in the solace the words bring.
"Our fathers and mothers can be a quite the God when it comes to shaping us in their image, don't they? Their own Adam and Eve. Then they give birth to their own Cain and Abel – it is a never-ending cycle of ruined generations."
Yuri nearly jumped out of her skin at the closeness of his voice. She had no idea how or where he came from or how she did not hear him approach, not when he and his cat was standing so close she could probably touch him if she partially stretched her arm.
"Oh, did I frighten you again?" He chuckled, "You were deep in thought."
"N-no, it's fine." Yuri managed to say, "Um..what are you doing here?"
"I was heading to the Earl's townhouse when I saw a bizarre sight in the alley." His voice remained playful and even boarding teasing.
"Oh…" She nodded, although she found it hard to believe his reason it could have been very true that he saw peculiar sight of well-dressed lady sitting in the alleyway and came to see if she needed any help as dictated in the gentleman's code.
"I have heard you were kidnapped." He mentioned as if he was asking if she had lunch yet.
Her face must have said it all: surprise, shock, fear, unpleasantness.
"There was a rumour that the watchdog's exotic whore was to be auctioned off, with Azzurro being the provider." Lau revealed, "I assumed it was about you."
Yuri tried not to flinch at the words, not because she hasn't been called a whore before or that a well-bred lady in Victorian era probably faint then lawyer up with a case of defamation, it brought back her memory that imagined what-ifs scenario of hell she'd go through if the bargain actually went through. She had a split second in her mind to make a quick decision as she fought off the Italian mafia, will she going to run out of the door and either be shot in the back or if she make it and they don't, if she can't find a hiding place in time or her possible exits were locked, then she was fucked. There's no way out.
Yuri blinked, bringing herself away from those dark thoughts. She presumed the rumour was only exclusive to the underworld and not the world above it.
"Yes, you're right." She confirmed, "But I'm here now, so…"
"Yes, what is a lady like you doing in such conspicuous part of the place?"
Does she tell the truth? Does she lie? Or does she white-lie?
"I was just taking a walk." She settled with the white-lie.
"I am heading to the Earl's townhouse. If you are done with your stroll, perhaps I can accompany you back."
"Oh..um.." She didn't really have the courage to face the Earl right now but she didn't want him to ask more question why she was hesitant to see the Earl, "…OK…yeah…"
"You have a peculiar way of speaking." He noted, leaving the implication unspoken.
"…When my family moved from Korea, we settled in countryside far from London and they had a different way of speaking so that might be why." It was true, they did settle at outer London and they had a very different way of speaking compared to the era she was currently in.
"Hmmm." He didn't seem to believe her word even for a second, but for now he left it as it is.
They started to walk back, with her positioning next to Ran-Mao as to obtain much gap between her and the Chinese nobleman as possible.
"Hello Miss. Ran-Mao," Yuri greeted, noting the girl was always silent and she wondered if she just didn't like speaking or she was mute.
The Chinese girl gave her a long stare as if considering whether she should greet back or no, or just sizing her up in general.
"Ran-Mao, don't be rude." Lau encouraged, giving his occupied arm a slight jerk.
"Hello…" She murmured her voice barely a whisper but Yuri could tell her voice had a feminine bell-like tone.
"Don't mind her, Miss. Park, she's a shy child." Lau said while patting the girl's head like one would to a pet they were quite fond of. Their enigmatic relationship slightly disturbed Yuri but the girl seemed to be just as fond of him as he is of her and happy.
"Has the doctor attended to the wound?" He spoke up suddenly.
They had been walking for five minutes or so without speaking and she had been comfortable with that. She needed people like him to not know about her or who she might be as much as she could possibly hide and not speaking was one of the more direct but simplest ways to achieve that feat.
"Wound?" She frowned then she remembered her abused cheek was obvious to those who would take their time to examine close. He always kept his eyes close, and for a short moment, she suspected he was blind but the way he moved and navigated himself suggested of normal sense of sight.
"Yes." She lied. Sebastian had announced they will bring in a doctor as soon as they reached the manor but she had refused. Instead when she woke up, she simply had Mey-Rin press a hot cloth on her cheek and occasionally massaged eggs on the bruised site to help it heal faster. Mey-Rin seemed aware of this old wives tale.
"Has the Earl been refusing the doctor?"
"No," Yuri quickly defended, "I told him I was fine and it's just a bruise anyway. If it were broken bones or if I was in pain for long time, then I'd have him call a doctor but there's no point of having a doctor see a bruise that'll just disappear on its own in few days with good hot pack."
"Hot…pack?"
"Hot cloth." She reworded.
"Which countryside did you say you stayed with your family before your acquaintance with the Earl?"
She didn't and she knew he knew she didn't. Yuri's pace noticeably fastened and she could see the townhouse.
"Oh, we're here." Yuri pointed at the smaller manor.
Yuri knocked the door and it didn't take long before Sebastian answered with a surprised countenance, "Miss. Park…oh, and Mr. Lau and Miss. Ran Mao. Please come in."
"I met him while I went out for a fresh air…" Yuri hoped he'd play along and she wasn't' disappointed.
"Of course, I hope the walk was enjoyable, Miss. Park. We were quite worry you insisted on going alone without any companion." Sebastian asked.
"I take a walk on my own alone so it's fine." She appeased his false worry.
"Mr Lau, Miss. Ran Mao, young master and Madam Red is waiting for you in the drawing room." Sebastian informed, "Miss. Park, would you like to join or do you wish to rest for a bit?"
"I'd like to rest." Yuri snatched the chance she was given and quickly headed upstairs although she didn't know which room she can go in.
"It is the second room to your right on the first floor."
"Thank you. I'll see you..later, Mr. Lau, Miss. Ran Mao."
"Please call us by our given name. We've no care for the English way of formality." He then glanced down at Ran Mao, who having met his eyes, she waved goodbye. Yuri waved back.
She must have been exhausted. She couldn't remember ever taking a nap no matter how tired she was but when she awoke, it looked like a late afternoon outside from the dimmed sunlight. The reason why she woke up so prematurely was the nightmare she had; of Madame Red swinging the sword down to Ciel and then reaching her tragic end at the blood dyed, scythe wielding man with sharp teeth grin. Even though she had no relation with her that could stir emotion beyond detached grief, she didn't think no matter how brat of a kid he was, no child deserved losing his only member of his family that cared for him when he seemed to have no one to baby him like he needed to be.
Yuri went down the stairs and she saw only Madam Red sitting on the sofa. The back of her head turned ever so slightly, her ear tuning to the noise of the creakiness of the stairs.
"You're awake?"
"Yes…um…where's Ciel and Sebastian or Mr. Lau?" Yuri carefully ask and the woman in red swirled her body to face her with a cheerful grin.
"They have left to attend a place that requires their attention, but they will be here soon." She said, and then patted a seat next to her. Yuri sat down as Madam Red grabbed hold of her hands, rubbing her thumbs over her knuckles in an act meant to be assuring.
"I have been asked by Ciel to take care of you whilst they were gone. He told me what had happened." Madame Red revealed with a sad smile, "Undoubtedly, he probably hurt you with his thoughtless words which was why you were not with them when they came into the manor, yes? That boy…" Her eyes softened with her agape for the cruel Earl, "..has very little talent with his words. He might seems uncaring and sometimes, even cruel, but he had not been the same since a certain incident – very similar to what you went through at a very young age and it had traumatised him greatly I barely recognised whether it was the same boy I've help to deliver when my sister gave birth, when I first held him when he was found and looked into his eyes. He's not the boy you think he is. He was a very kind-hearted and shy boy, and I'm very sure that part of him still exists within him somewhere, buried deep inside. I am not asking you to tolerate his behaviours when it should not be tolerated, but I'm asking you to understand why he is the way he is. He probably understands what you are feeling more than anyone in this room and you with his, but he is still a child and he himself has yet to resolve his own issues from that day. Even though he manages more adult responsibility than a child his age should, he still has lot to learn. Help each other…j-just in the case that I cannot be by his side since I am always out in the social events. This is my plea to you, Miss. Yuri."
She couldn't see Madam Red's eyes because she had hidden them with her bang but Yuri knew she must have known she won't get out of this alive when her identity as Jack the Ripper are exposed and Madam Red knew she cannot run forever as the watchdog never failed any mission given by the Queen.
Yuri's hand curled into a tight hold around Madam Red's hands. She will take her words to her heart. She will help him. She didn't know why she was sent here, only that she would be the angel that made the devils repent. She didn't know who the devils were or whether she had the suitable requirement to be that angel, but even though she wasn't unsure of the female demon's word, the only thing she can be sure was her fulfilment to Madam Red's promise.
"…I promise." Yuri swore, "I promise, Mada–"
"Please call me Angelina."
"I promise, Angelina."
Terminology:
(1) Camden: While they are famous and popular for their street stall and music venue that are associated with alternative culture, they are also known as UK counterfeit capital where majority of fake designer brands are sold by vendors.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter!