Author's Notes: Hello my lords and ladies! I have been neglecting this story and I am sorry for I have sinned. T.T
But I have this new chapter and hopefully it makes up for my neglect! I own nothing!
The air in the manor was tense every single day that week. Alice wouldn't say anything, smile like nothing was wrong but she would glare at Sebastian whenever they were in the same room together.
Alice spent more time in the kitchen with Bard and the garden with Finni so to not be around the demon so much. She smiled and laughed like normally, trying not to worry anyone else with her problems.
Sebastian spent his time like he normally did, serving Ciel and trying to keep the mansion together in one piece. One of the drawbacks of Alice not being around all the time was that a lot of dishes were broken and this alone was making the week worse. Another was her voice; she never spoke directly to him. She would ask for things and be polite but he knew she was upset.
Another was that Sebastian was feeling…odd. He wasn't himself, feeling random emotions and usual emotions of remorse and unhappiness. It unsettled him greatly, although he never let it show.
Lady Elizabeth had invited herself over when Ciel was at his busiest and instead of leaving, she walked around the garden, listening to the birds when she spotted Alice washing Sirius.
"Hello! Who are you?"
Alice looked at the little girl in the blue dress briefly before continuing her task, "My name is Alice, and you?"
"Elizabeth, I think I've seen you somewhere before…"
"At the party…you were wearing a pink dress and dancing with Master Ciel. It's nice to finally meet you Lady Elizabeth."
Lizzy smiled as Alice curtsied to her and in good humor, Lizzy mimicked her actions. Alice finally had a smile on her face as the young lady asked to pet Sirius' muzzle, "Of course, dear, just be gentle."
"Alright!"
"Alice, who is this and why is she touching my nose?"
"Be nice, Siri."
"What's the matter?" Lizzy looked at Alice with curious and nervous eyes as Alice brushed Sirius.
"He's shy. He'll grow to like you soon."
"Nope, no way, she smells funny."
Alice smiled and handed Lizzy a small bag that held a few sugar lumps and nodded to her to feed him one or two. Sirius smelled the sugar and looked at Alice with a wavering glare before licking up the lumps.
"Alice, her hand is so soft. Why did you give her the sugar?"
"See I told you, he would like you."
Lizzy smiled and laughed as she feed him more sugar, not noticing the time passing until Sebastian's shadow cut into the stable.
"Lady Elizabeth, Master Ciel would like you to stay for dinner and he would like to see you now."
"Alright," chirped Lizzy as she stroked Sirius' muzzle one more time, "be a good boy, Sirius!"
She rushed toward the manor, letting Alice turn to Sirius with a smile on her face.
"Alice she smells funny?"
"But she did!"
"You live in a barn, you like the smell of manure."
"No! I like the smell of apples and sugar and well…you, you smell like stew and fruits. Besides you always clean my stall nice."
"You silly horse," Alice continued to brush Sirius' mane until Sebastian walked forward.
"I trust he was behaved for Lady Elizabeth?"
"Yes, Mr. Michaelis, Sirius was a perfect gentleman." Alice was colder to the butler but she was no ruder then he expected her to be, "I trained Sirius when he first came to Ravennail. He's a gentle creature and loyal to the end."
Alice put away the brushes and other things before walking away.
"Ms. Alice?"
"Mr. Michaelis."
"Please speak to me," he didn't dare sound weak in front of her.
"I am, sir."
"Alice."
"Sebastian."
"…"
"…"
"…"
"If this little conversation is all that is needed of me, I'd best prepare dessert."
Alice walked toward the manor, Sebastian closely behind her, "Ms. Alice!"
"Mr. Michaelis?"
"What do you want me to say? I won't say I'm sorry, but what more can I say or do to show you how...regretful I am of my actions?"
"You can't…you can't show or tell me because I know already." She stopped walking and looked back at Sebastian, whose poker face held firmly in place, "I know you're regretful because of how unhappy the household is, but I'm not looking for a 'sorry'. It hurt so much to hear you describe me as just a human with wings. It's more than that."
She looked down at the ground and glared at the demon, "Father warned me that demons were heartless and unfeeling but I thought you were different. I'm not mad, even though it seems like it. I'm hurt."
Sebastian felt so angry and unhappy, flooded with unusual emotions. Sebastian had felt anger, but not anger towards himself, felt unhappiness but not with his actions. The worst part was the emotions didn't leave. They stayed, moved in his brain, and flooded his thoughts.
He had to been sick or something because he was not himself.
"Mr. Michaelis?" Alice's voice was distance to his ears, foggy until her hands touched his shoulder, "Mr. Michaelis, are you alright?"
There it was again, a shot of worry. "Fine, just distracted."
"Sebastian?"
A shot of fear.
"Please tell you're not in pain."
A pulse of warmth.
"Fine, I'm fine." Sebastian walked toward the mansion, the feeling of regret once again filling his lungs like water.
"Damn you, Alice for-"
"-making feel this way," Alice grabbed the dress covering her heart and squeezed, it hurt to feel anything at all.
Author's Notes: Well...this was a little...crackish? Is that fair to say?
Thank you guys so much for the overwhelming support of this story and I hope to update soon, but until I do!
Until next time, my lords and ladies!