Betaed by Blind Alchemist. She is a very very very good beta. Not only she betaed my chapter, she also teach me better grammar XD I love you so much!
I may not be able to live up to your expectations. However, it is my only wish for you to find enjoyment while reading this piece of tale... I am sorry before hand if this doesnt suit your likings.
Enjoy!
One afternoon, when Arthur was busy burying himself in self-denial and brothels, Yao immersed himself in the act of following the old butler everywhere. The small boy followed with his smaller steps behind the professional butler, making them look like a duck and its duckling on its tail, checking the house. Some maids were giggling behind them, finding the image hugely amusing.
Suddenly a voice from a carriage could be heard from outside. The butler naturally went to the door to greet the guest, and Yao followed him. The small boy's heart started to rush, thinking that his master was coming back early.
But his hope was crushed, and instead of Antonio at the driver's wheel, a man Yao had never seen, dressed in a gaudy driver's outfit, announced loudly,
"Lady Francesca of the Bonnefoy Family!"
And the fairy descended to the earth. The lady was wearing yet another red, complicated gown, with rubies to match. The young lady confidently stepped down with the help of the butler, and she looked as beautiful as ever. Yao noticed that her gown weren't the same as the ones she wore to the opera. And thinking about the opera brought to his mind the last image of "nice" Arthur.
Since Arthur had been ignoring him since the opera night, Yao started to believe that his witnessing Arthur kissing Francesca was the reason for Arthur ignoring him. Maybe Arthur was angry at him for going to the toilet. Yao wasn't really sure about that, but he could only guess from Arthur's behaviour.
"I am sorry my lady, but I am afraid the master is not home."
Francesca smiled behind her fan. "What a pity. I thought a surprise visit may delight my future fiancé."
The butler was hesitant for a moment before he continued, "…Would you like to rest in the guest hall first, my lady?"
Francesca nodded and followed the butler to the room. She then noticed that the small girl whom Arthur said was his cousin from the countryside was following the butler.
"Ah, what a surprise." Francesca smiled. "You haven't returned to the countryside yet! I am happy that I can be in your company again. Our last meeting was so abrupt, don't you think?"
Facing such an elaborate conversation starter made Yao tremble in fear. It was true that his English had improved tremendously. Yet it hadn't improved enough to answer the number one lady's fancy sentences.
The butler, sensing Yao's distress, tried to help.
"I am sorry my lady, she is not really well at the moment, and she may not reply to your conversation."
"Oh, are you alright, my dear? You should have some rest! Why is she still walking if she is sick? Moreover, I have some aromatic medicine that really eases your mind, such as the lavender oil. If you want, I can send it to you tomorrow."
The butler didn't flinch, but his teeth were clenched from the fact that Francesca had skilfully deflected his lie. "She is alright, my dear lady, and she is very happy for your offer, although it is best to decline."
"Oh, never mind, my dear girl." Francesca smiled broadly. "I need to be more considerate towards my future husband's family, shouldn't I?"
"I beg your pardon, miss. May I know why I haven't been informed about this engagement?" the butler asked politely. Francesca smiled behind her fan.
"Our family agreed upon it. It was decided yesterday, so I guess he hasn't received the news as yet. By the way, you may go, and let me have the company of this lovely young girl."
Fritz couldn't do anything else to save Yao from Francesca's hawk eyes, so he retreated from the room and promised some tea and biscuits for a proper afternoon tea time. Meanwhile, Yao tried to follow the butler to the door, but Francesca's hand was dead gripped on the poor boy's shoulder.
"Let us talk together, shall we? We have a lot to converse about."
"I see that you are still improperly trained." Francesca smiled devilishly before staring openly at the small boy. "Your dress is quite old, I see… is that a hand-me-down from Arthur's sister? How shameful! I think it is quite inappropriate for a Kirkland family member, even if it's extended family, to behave in such an impoverished manner! Would you like me to introduce you to my personal tailor? He is the best in France, and I believe that if one is the best in France, he is naturally the best in the world!"
Yao nodded attentively, trying to decipher some of the more complicated words he'd never heard before. And Francesca often used some French words to substitute delicate English words, making Yao even more confused. In the end he decided that nodding in agreement would be the best option for answering.
"Ah, I beg your pardon. I have been talking all to myself haven't I?" Francesca smiled and watched as the butler opened the door with a maid behind him pushing a trolley of tea pots and cups. "How the time goes so fast whenever you are enjoying yourself! I found your company really lovely, Yao. Thank you very much!"
"Tha…Thank you very much too, aru."
"My, my." Francesca smiled even wider. "I can see that your way of speaking is still heavily accented with the local country dialect? Maybe you should socialize more, to erase that unfortunate dialect?"
"My lady is staying alone due to the lack of chaperones; moreover there are not many members of the town who are the same age as my lady," the butler butted in, albeit inappropriately, just to save Yao from further embarrassment. Although the boy himself didn't know that he was being ridiculed.
"Oh! Why haven't you told me earlier! I know some of the children of the town who are your age! In fact, the Vargas family's twin grandsons are more or less the same age as you! It will be good if you can pay them a visit, it will be great for future connection!" Francesca squealed in delight, although it was more to the fact that she succeeded in finding a reason to separate the boy from her Arthur, rather than giving Yao a companion.
Yes, she was there to evaluate, to rate and to fight her potential enemy. It was the first time in her life that a man rejected her offer of bedding together. Moreover, the rejection came from Arthur Kirkland, one of the most sought-after bachelors in London. Francesca had been sure that Arthur already thought of her as his future bride, and when she was rejected for a mere child, it was a real shock to her.
She came fully armed, thinking that maybe this cousin of Arthur's was more charming than her; but when she sat down and talked to her, the small little 'girl' seemed unresponsive, both to her sneers and sarcasm, and only happily nodded instead. The little girl was nothing other than a fool, Francesca concluded, and maybe Arthur was bored of this girl. That's how the rumour about how Arthur had become a common visitor to the brothel had probably originated. Maybe Arthur was trying to run from boredom by using this useless, foolish gullible country cousin of his.
And now she should just find a reason to kick the girl out from sight, and Arthur would only see her again. Francesca's mind was thinking up a lot of different tricks while she was sipping the tea quietly.
Yao, meanwhile, was watching the lady closely. The way she handled the delicate China was amazing. And her grace was something even the butler couldn't teach him, so he watched. And watched. To learn.
He took his cup and imitated the way Francesca was holding it. It came naturally to him, and he sipped the tea properly, just like a first class lady. Yao watched how Francesca closed her eyes when sipping the tea, and he imitated her. Little did he know that the act was actually one of Francesca's great tricks for attracting male suitors. Closing her eyes made her looked more delightful and elegant.
Yao watched and watched every single move Francesca made, from the way she sat to the way she laughed and waved her handkerchief. He watched how Francesca finally moved the door and went home, without meeting Arthur. And he remembered everything, since for him, Francesca was the perfect example.
When Arthur came back, he was surprised to see Yao still sitting in the main guest hall's sofa, with the delicate China in his small hands.
"Welcome back, Master."
The accent disappeared. Arthur rubbed his eyes to make sure that he wasn't dreaming.
"Yao, what are you doing? It is so late."
"Fritz let me have this room to practice, aru."
Arthur unconsciously heaved a relieved sigh when he heard the familiar accent. He sat on the sofa across from Yao and watched as the young boy took his cup gently, his small finger pointing outwards, and brought the cup to his rosy, small lips.
Somehow it felt so sensual in Arthur's eyes.
And when Yao sipped the tea, he closed his eyes. Just like what Francesca did.
Arthur licked his lips. They were suddenly dry.
Yao opened his eyes and put the cup back onto the saucer gently, and then put his hands onto his lap. The beautiful boy smiled gracefully at Arthur, and then repeated the same thing again.
Arthur felt like he needed to write something. Something borderline erotic. Something about love at first sight. Something about the first night in bed.
But before that, his body unconsciously moved nearer to Yao.
He gently took the cup away from those small hands, making Yao flinch in astonishment. Before the petite boy had time to recover, his face was already brought up by Arthur's pointing finger. Gently.
Their eyes met, emeralds versus gold.
And Arthur kissed him.
Arthur felt his groin starting to feel alive again. Despite the fact that he had just released himself within some high class prostitute an hour ago. He deepened the kiss, and Yao tried to run, for he didn't know how to breathe. Yet Arthur was persistent, so Yao meekly obeyed after a moment.
"Your bath is ready, young…" The butler didn't even finish his sentence, because he was too shocked to find such impropriate behaviour displayed by his young master towards the small boy he begun to favour.
Arthur separated himself that very moment from Yao's soft lips and wiped his own lips. He walked away after blushing furiously and replied to the butler; "…Thank you, Fritz."
Yao was left in the main hall, body frozen, eyes unblinking, lips rather red and cheek blushing like roses.
Arthur couldn't even lie to himself as he lay awake on his bed. It was already morning and he hadn't finished repenting for his past conduct. He didn't know what he did, and although he always thought of Yao as his plaything, he never thought that there would be a day where he found the boy sexually attractive.
He was doomed to hell.
The day started badly enough before Francesca suddenly made an entrance into his mansion. Arthur watched as the lady entered his breakfast room and smiled to him, flashing beautiful emeralds beside her face.
"Bonjour, mon cher Arthur! What a lovely morning!"
"…Francesca! What are you doing here?"
"No greetings? Je suis triste*, Arthur…" Francesca pretended that she was hurt and sat on the chair beside Arthur. Yao, who was seated on the other side of the table, watched the scene closely.
"I clearly never invited you in," Arthur hissed and drank his orange juice until the last drop. "What brought you here?" In his mind, he was busy trying to push the lady away before she noticed Yao's presence. He believed that Francesca wasn't attracted to the small boy yet.
Apparently, he was wrong. So wrong. Francesca smiled and turned to Yao. "I am here to take your cousin for a friendly visit over the Vargas family's morning tea."
*I am sad (I look up in google translate. Sorry if this is wrong. Please tell me the right one).
Thank you! The next one will be out soon! (I hope)!
Thank you very much! XD More review equal faster updates, because they fuelled me to sit down and produce new chapter!
