Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji. No copyright infringement intended.
Author's Note: I wasn't sure what kind of character that Lilia would turn out to be as I was writing since I had initially intended for her to be very timid and meek then decided I didn't really like that much and she turned out to be more a broody tsundere especially in this chapter. Oh well, she'll write herself I guess. It'll be fun to see where it goes.
This chapter is based in chapter 85 of the manga.
It had been three days and Lilia had learnt a great many things in such a short span of time. First there was the fact that she did not like the tailor Nina Hopkins one teeny tiny bit. The woman had arrived by coach in the late evening several nights earlier, entered into the mansion, taken one disgusted look at the butler, and then moved her attention to the smaller form beside him being swallowed in the outfit Lilia guessed she had made for the other maid. After that Lilia wondered why she'd had thought she was in hell before. The amount of sexual harassment made Sebastian out to look like an angel. She had even made the mistake of deeming him her savior out-loud when he had distracted the insane seamstress for long enough for her to escape her groping hands and outside into the hedges. It was the only place she could deem safe from the woman as she'd chased her through the whole house already.
The second thing that Lilia had learned was that she had apparently never worn a corset properly before as during her final fitting to see if the outfit was perfect, Nina shook her head at the girl's manner of dressing herself and tightened the lacing so taut that Lilia feared it would snap. When she voiced these concerns Nina merely laughed and advised her that since she was not as well endowed as most women her age she would have to make up for it some way. That way was quite uncomfortable.
The third thing she had learned after Nina had finally departed the next morning. Sebastian felt for some strange reason that Lilia was an object that was under his ownership. The girl had been attending to the young master's breakfast when the butler had sauntered into the kitchen with a scowl. Curious she'd asked him what had him riled up and the next thing she knew she had been snatched up into a vice, warned never to let anyone touch her so casually again, and then he'd pushed her out of the kitchen without allowing her to finish anything. The serving table had rolled out only a few seconds after leaving her to gawk at a full course, fully cooked breakfast when she had only just been mixing batter before. There had even been tea and milk. Which leads us to the fourth thing she'd learned: the butler was a miracle worker.
The girl had also learned that even as mere humans, the servants were dangerous. Since she had been there, she had nearly been crushed by a flying, flaming, uprooted tree. She had endured an explosion that had caused her eardrums to rupture, a particular pain that was a first for her. And she had suffered severe lacerations from the maid falling on top of her, down the stairs carrying a new set of fine china. All of these she had fully recovered from. However when she was bitten by the footman's black mamba, the butler had had to come up with an explanation for the servants as Meyrin had found her blue and cold on the floor outside of one of the guest bedrooms after having cleaned it up. In reality, she had died. She was aware of that, the butler was aware of that, and the young master was aware of that, but the others were led to believe that she had simply fainted and had not been bitten in the first place. Somehow they bought it. Lilia had been utterly amazed at the lack of questioning, but she supposed with a demon butler, even if they were unaware of the truth themselves, they had surely seen some strange things.
Lilia had also found that her unnatural hearing and sense of smell—which for a long time she had thought was an odd talent belonging only to herself—Sebastian had as well. She had learned this the hard way as over the past three days she had made exactly twenty-two escape attempts and every single time the butler had caught her. The best she had been able to manage was to get to the front gate before she'd had the wind knocked out of her and a very irked demon looming over her with an already tight butler's schedule which she had managed to throw off by thirty minutes during previous attempts. After that particular encounter, she had decided to lay low until she could think of something more substantial. It wasn't worth the consequence.
It was on this third day Lilia was thrilled to learn she might just get that chance. Sebastian had gathered the servants together and told them to go change their clothes as they would be going out. This outing, Sebastian had told her, was bound for London to get Meyrin new glasses and Finnian a new hat. Acting quite the proper lady she simply smiled and loaded into the cart compliant and well mannered. All the while she was gleefully scheming just beneath the surface. Going into town she would have more openings and more things to distract her captor from keeping an eye on her all the time.
So she flattened the skirts of the plain grey cotton dress Sebastian had given her to wear in place of her form-fitting maid uniform, tightened the ribbons of her bonnet securely under her chin, and frowned. Remembering the lecture she had been given when Sebastian had pulled her aside that morning as the others ran off all smiles and excitement at the news of getting out of the house.
"Do not draw attention to yourself. It is unacceptable of a Phantomhive servant to cause the master any if even mild problems." That said the butler presented a neatly folded bundle and a saccharine smile. "I will help you change."
As she stood to view herself in the full length mirror she noted how conservative the choice of clothing was. Not tight, but not too bulky that it looked that it did not fit her. Sebastian stood behind her looking dissatisfied until he plopped a matching atrocious bonnet on her head. A small grin crept over his face as hers had now disappeared under the shadow of the contraption. "This will do." There was doubt in her mind that he was not dressing her like an old hag simply because he felt her looks were an inconvenience to the boy. Her mind moved back to the her first day at the estate and she frowned to find her cheeks heating. "You will be mine." Damn butler.
Setting in the carriage she watched as the other four servants clambered in behind her grinning from ear to ear, with the exception of Snake who rarely seemed too emotional one way the other. Bard plopped down beside her with a cigarette hanging from his lip. "Looks like Tanaka's gonna' have to hold up the fort till' we get back. Too bad he can't come along."
Sebastian who stood helping the young master into the coach ahead of them didn't seem to be paying attention at all, but his voice rang clearly in their direction. "Someone must stay and watch over the manor, unless you would like to take his place?"
The cook paled. "Nah, I haven't been out in ages."
"Then I'd suggest you hold your tongue," the head butler stated sweetly then entering the coach himself.
"Miss Lilia, do... d-do you mind if I.. ah..."
She smiled up at the young man in front of her who had only in the past day been able to speak to her without talking gibberish. "I would be glad Finny," she replied. The boy turned pink at her words setting in the place across from her hesitantly.
When he finally noticed her smile as she turned her face so that the shadow wasn't as covering he beamed in response. "Thank you!" the gardener laughed. "Ah, but why are you hiding your face?"
Lilia sighed. "I'm indecent. I wouldn't want to make the master look bad."
Meyrin who had taken a spot next to the younger blonde blushed before saying, "What are you talking about? You are not indecent, yes?"
The cook next to her snorted trying hard to keep from laughing. "Probably, just that Sebastian doesn't want anyone lookin' at her."
Lilia frowned turning her face down again so that no one would be able to see. "It was my decision," she lied. "I don't want to cause any trouble. I know it's not normal to look like this." In truth, she was a bit grateful the butler had thought to cover her up. She wasn't fond of the attention anyway.
Something else she had learned upon her stay at the Phantomhive estate was that unlike her stay with the man Ceil called Undertaker—as he did not seem to know his name either—she felt uncomfortable. Someone was always watching her and she couldn't really get used to it. Between the butler and the footman who had been suspicious of her since she'd arrived, she was ready to rip her hair out for some sort of privacy. And when it wasn't those two, or the master of the house himself, the maid eyed her from around corners with a bloody handkerchief, and then dear sweet little Finnian couldn't seem to stop looking at her when she was anywhere near him and she hated it. Lilia suspected Tanaka of keeping an watch on her discreetly as well, which left the only one who seemed completely indifferent, Bardroy. As much as she hated to admit it as his very gruff demeanor did grate on her nerves, he was probably the only one there that did not set her on edge constantly. And she would probably enjoy his company if he didn't smell like tobacco singed flesh most of the time. So despite living in a mansion with seven other people she was lonely. She wanted to get out of there and search for the Undertaker, even if it was impossible to find him she was going to try. Until that happened she would continue with this ruse of being their companion.
Her hair was loose falling in a mess of curls over her shoulder and catching the wind as the carriage made it's way into the city. The servants around her made noises of awe and appreciation at things that were new to them. She leaned on her knees, breaking posture for the sake of her back aching from the long ride. Finally they arrived at an optometrist's business and pulled to a stop every one getting out. The cook offered her a hand in a surprising act of gallantry, she took it obligingly not wanting to appear rude even if she didn't need the help. She decided to ignore the glare sent her way by the demon butler as the American took her by the waist and placed her on the ground.
The doctor's office was hard to mistake as the large sign that hung over it read "Donson Opticians" with a set of eerie eyeglasses painted onto the windows beneath it. The bespectacled maid flushed only noticing now that this trip was at least partly due to her own increase in clumsiness.
"How is it?" the doctor asked after fitting a fresh set of eyeglasses on Meyrin. The woman turned to look at the young master, Finny leaning into her field of vision.
"Ah... I can see so well!" she replied looking quite happy at the improvement until Sebastian leaned in asking her if they would take the glasses causing the maid to scream and have a fit. Lilia smacked her forehead from her place in the corner with Snake and Bard. This was going to be a long day.
In fact, she thought, it wasn't even funny the irony of the situation. Why it only dawned on her then, she wasn't sure, but she brought it up as the butler held the door for her when they exited the shop. "So if I am to be covered so as to not cause problems, maybe you need a bonnet as well." The man did not reply and she passed him without another word following the others as they made their way down the street. Meyrin did become much more of a mess when Sebastian was involved. It wasn't misplaced advice, perhaps unwanted though.
Their next stop was a hat shop where Finnian ordered a hat as amazing as the massive clock tower they had passed on their way there. The store assistant had looked completely thrown until Sebastian had corrected that they only needed an ordinary straw hat. Meyrin, meanwhile, had pulled Lilia over to the women's section where a large variety of hats were placed on wooden stand made to keep their shape. "This one is so pretty, it is. I wish I could have something so nice!"
"You just got new glasses though," Lilia responded unintentionally allowing her disinterest to show in her voice.
Apparently the other maid was oblivious as she continued pointing to a hat that was constructed to sit on the side of one's head while the feather plumes came out and spiraled upwards falling delicately over the wearer's head. "That one would be so pretty on you, Lilia!"
Lilia tuned her out instead focusing on the young master as he spoke to Bard and Snake from his place on a plush stool. "Do you two want anything? Now's your chance."
Next thing she knew she was standing inside of a bag shop with the cook cringing as a shriek rang out. Apparently Snake's snake, Wordsworth, had made himself quite comfortable in a large bag that the footman had taken a liking to causing the stewardess who'd been assisting them to promptly faint. Even the cook jumped. Then they had gone to a book store where Bardroy had picked out a raunchy picture book imported from France. Lilia coughed hard on the spit she'd accidentally sucked down the wrong way in shock of such a scandalous sight. The cover itself was enough to make her scarlet. Sebastian reprimanded the cook making sure to cover Ceil's eyes so that he wouldn't see. "Just what are you showing him?" the butler grumbled.
Dejected the cook stood outside of a candy store that the master had wanted to go in. Lilia leaned on the window next to him bored out of her mind. She'd yet to have an opportunity to set her 'get-the-hell-out' plan in action as Sebastian had not once let her get far from him. She had hoped that everyone would be allowed to venture their own separate ways to explore or window shop. She guessed she was probably being too hopeful.
xxx
Sebastian watched as his young master tossed Bard a pack of candy cigars warning him his tongue would go bad if he didn't back off on the cigarettes. Beyond the American's shoulder he could see Lilia leaning on the glass of the Olde Sweet Shoppe window. Her bonnet cast a shadow well, and he could barely make out the look on her face. Thankfullly, no one had really paid her much mind as it seemed his covering her had worked. Still, he clenched his fist and counted to ten to keep himself in check. If Bardroy intended to keep his hands, twitch, then he would not use them so much. The butler did feel it was strange though, to have become so possessive. He dismissed it as instinct.
"Ah before that," he interjected his young master who was already on the way to get on with the next task. "Let us go to one more place."
"Hm, where?" Ceil asked obviously tired of shopping.
"Somerset House."
Once safely inside of the coach and rolling at a good speed, the boy asked him, "So what was it about?"
"This," he held up the mourning chain watching the recognition on the boy's features. Since he'd hidden it from Lilia days ago even the young master had not seen it.
"That's the Undertaker's mourning hair chain!"
"Yes. I had it researched, thinking it might give us some hints about him." Sebastian felt himself frown. "The death date engraved in the jewelery, the area in which it was manufactured according to the hallmark on the back, and the death certificates submitted to the household registers at Somerset House from all over the country. I had all of this information compared to the chain." He pulled the pages he'd been keeping inside of his jacket to give to the boy seated across from him. "These are the death certificates of the seven whose hair is contained in these lockets. The investigation concluded that nothing stood to link any of them to each other, but... there was one name that stood out."
The boy's cerulean eye widened as he stopped flipping through the pages on one in particular. "Claudia Phantomhive!" he breathed. "My grandmother? I hadn't thought anything of the initial 'P' since it's common, but to think it stood for Phantomhive." The boy sat silent for a long while and the demon watched him. "Just... what kind of ties does he have to my family?"
Sebastian's eyes narrowed. What kind of ties indeed, Undertaker. His mind flashed to the way that the shinigami had been upset, then suddenly not at all upon allowing his precious item to fall into the young master's outstretched fingers. The image of a broken girl weeping in the floor of an empty room when only a few nights before the grim reaper had been fighting with a look Sebastian could safely say he had never seen the man wear. Was the girl any different from the funeral locket? The Undertaker had only relinquished the mourning chain temporarily, was he going to come back for Lilia as well?
Moments later they had arrived at the sprawling building and gone inside to find a stall by the young master's Funtom Company for women's perfume. "Why are they handing them out to men?" the boy twitched as the woman gave him a card with a strong floral scent spritzed onto it. Behind him the bonnet clad girl snorted back a laugh.
Ceil turned to give her a look when she finally commented on the very thing Sebastian himself was wanting to ask about. "My goodness, it's certainly a frightening looking mascot." The boy in turn flinched looking rather hurt by it.
"Not you too, I was already scolded by Lizzy."
The butler smirked not missing the opportunity to step all over the boy's pride. "It's great that you chose to expand the business with womenly products, but it seems it was a bit hard to capture the women's hearts with just data and quality."
"Shut up! When I come up with a better advertising campaign I'll—"
Screams. A crash. Disorder. The butler leapt into action knowing what was expected of him as the butler of Phantomhive. If something can be done, and there is a profit to be gained, be it monetary or elevation of status, it was his job to secure it. This particular instance would simply be just to save face, for what kind of butler would stand by and allow an accident without helping. It would shame his master.
When he found Irene Diaz in and her partner in the coach that had wrecked right in the middle of the street, he formulated a plan. She was a popular actress, and she did not want to be seen with her lover by the public as it would cause a commotion since they were from rivaling troupes. So he detached the horses and pulled the coach straight to the theater. Donning the "frightening" mascot uniform, as Lilia had deemed it earlier, he took Miss Irene straight onto the stage incognito and tossing the Funtom Company's Lilly of the Valley scent cards about as he did so.
The very confused audience marveled at the entrance. Irene didn't miss a beat and the show ended in a fabulous finale with several people commenting on the lovely smell of the Funtom Company's perfume that had not been selling itself too well. Smirking to himself as Irene thanked him for his help, he left to return to the no doubt impatient young master.
The boy was almost trampled by the onslaught of women who suddenly came running, money in hand, to buy the perfume that Irene Diaz had worn at the production. Ah, the joys of good advertising, he thought to himself as he plucked up his young master just in time. "What a pitiful cry," he scolded as the boy yelped in surprise.
"Where have you been—what are you wearing?!" Ceil blinked at the butler in disbelief. The unicorn costume was slipping halfway down his waist. Sebastian put him down and stepped out it. He hadn't been able to fully remove it in his rush to return here.
"I was doing some advertising. You see, it was Irene in the overturned coach and so I made a deal with her." He smiled down at the boy.
Said boy blinked still a little shocked by the sudden turn of events. "You were out doing that?"
"What kind of butler would I be if I could not double the sales of our new product?" Then his eyes scanned the crowd where the servants had managed to squeeze there way to safety. "It seems there will be yet another delay young master," he could feel the sink of his gut, "I do not see Miss Lilia."
