Laura opened her eyes to saw that she was surrounded by darkness. She didn't know where she was but she shivered as she had a bad feeling. She began to walk around looking for a way out as she still shivering. Shortly afterwards, she saw a door and she ran to that door before she opened it and saw something that she didn't want see again forever... Her captors.
"N-No... NOO!" She screamed out and ran away from the door as her captors began to chasing her. She ran in the darkness in fear and screaming for help while her captors getting closer to her. "CATCH HER! WE MUST CLEAN HER FROM HER'S AND HER FAMILY'S SINS!" One of the captors shouted made Laura more panicked and ran faster. When she ran, she saw someone from afar who is familiar to her as she getting nearer. "MOTHER! FATHER!" She screamed in joy as her tears came out from her eyes and ran to hug them both. But, suddenly someone grabbed her hair made her fell to the dark ground.
She looked behind and saw her captors with a crazy smile. "NOO! LET GO OF ME! SOMEONE HELP ME!" Laura screamed as her captors stripped her before chained her feet, arms, and her neck, and she saw her parents burned alive made her screamed louder.
"La...ra... Ura..." A voice said echoing around her. 'Who's there...?' Laura searched the sound as she tried to release herself from the chains and her captors. "Laura..." The voice echoed again through the darkness. Laura looked around in panic and fear but she found nothing other than her captors. "HELP ME! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!" She screamed harder as she cried and trembling in fear. "Now, let's begin our ritual!" Said one of the captors who known as the leader, and he began to lift up the knife to stab her before everything went black and the voice echoed again.
"Lady Laura... Wake up."
Laura gasped as she opened her eyes, and began to grab the knife under her pillow before she started to aim it at someone in front of her, who is revealed as Sebastian who is going to woke her up. Sebastian surprised to see her react at him, which made his feeling bit hurt and worried.
"My lady, are you alright?" He asked in concern and tried to touch Laura, but she flinched and trembling in fear with a knife still on her hands.
"D-Don't touch me...!" She said trembled in fear and panic with her loosened knee-length hair almost covered her face while still pointed out her knife to Sebastian. Sebastian saw her scared of him, made him more worried and confused until he remembered about his prince's words to him last night.
Flashback: on~-
At Midnight, in the guest's room of Phantomhive Manor, Sebastian carried Laura gently in bridal style, tried not to wake her up. Yvet who stood beside Sebastian, glared at him.
"I already called the manor and told them that you will work as my replacement for one day. And here is the schedule for tomorrow." Yvet said while gave Sebastian a folded paper after packed his mistress's things to the luggage. "You better not let her get hurt, Sebastian. If you hurt her or she got hurt by anyone else, I will kill you immediately." He continued with a pink eyes and Sebastian just nodded at him.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I promise I won't let anyone hurt her." Said Sebastian with a smile, and Yvet just 'tsk!' at him. "Please take care of Young Master, Your Majesty. And please don't try to eat his soul, his soul is mine." He continued with pink eyes smirked at Yvet.
"I know, I know..." Yvet sighed, "Even your little master's soul is so tempting and delicious, I won't steal it. But in exchange, don't eat her soul and don't you ever dare to mark her." Yvet said with death glared, and Sebastian smiled as he nodded at him. They walked to the front door and Yvet opened it slowly for Sebastian. As Sebastian walked out from the door, Yvet tapped his shoulder remembered something. "I almost forgot, if my lady has a nightmare please give her a tea added with a milk and honey. That will calm her down." He said while looked at Sebastian who nodded at him as his answer.
"I shall take my leave then. I will be back again to get the luggage after I put Lady Laura on her bed." Sebastian said smiled at Yvet, and Yvet just nodded with heavy sighed before he closed the door as Sebastian began to walk with his demon speed to Laura's manor.
Meanwhile, Yvet stood in front of the door after he closed it, and tried to calm himself down from jealousy and worries. He hoped that his mistress is safe without him and didn't break her vow about her past and scar, because just only him who should know about her past and her scars... Not the others.
Flashback: Off-
Sebastian smiled at Laura and he walked to the teacart, which has a French tea set on it. "Today's morning tea is Earl Grey tea with added milk and honey. It is a milk tea which I prepared." He said while poured a tea and Laura tried to calm herself from panic while she is still holding her knife.
"Milk can help to soothe one nerve and calm your down, especially after a nightmare." Sebastian said as he gave the cup of tea to Laura who already calmed from her panic state. "Here is your tea, my lady."
"Thank you, Sebastian..." She said as she put down her knife and received the cup before she drinks it. While she drank her tea, she looked around and realized that she was in her own bedroom. "When... did we go back to my manor...?" She asked confused.
"I apologize, my lady. Yvet and I were agreed to start working in the morning, that is why I carried you back to your manor and I can work as your butler for today as his replacement." Sebastian said with genuine smile at her.
"I see, so that is why I felt a cold breeze last night." She said with a little smile and sleepy eyes as she drank her tea again.
"Were you having a horrible nightmare, My Lady?" Sebastian asked as he walked over to the dresser and picked out a dress for Laura.
Laura stared at her tea with silent, and she nodded. "Yes... But you don't have to worry about it, Sebastian. It's already gone." She answered before she drank her tea again.
"If I may know, what kind of nightmare do you have my lady?" He asked again with worry look as he closing the dresser then placing her dress on the bed. Laura silent again and shook her head back and forth.
"You don't have to know, Sebastian. It's just a common nightmare, like seeing a ghost." She replied with a smile before she gave the tea cup to Sebastian. "Thank you for the tea, it's delicious." She continued made Sebastian smiled at her lovingly as he nodded at her.
"I'm glad the tea suits your taste, my lady." Sebastian said and Laura just smiled at him. "Will you allow me to change your dress, my lady?" He asked.
"Oh, Su-... Umm... No, no...! You don't have to Sebastian. I can change dress on my own." She said quickly changed her words as she remembered about her scar on her back.
Sebastian looked at her confused, "Will you be okay? I will cover my eyes while help you change your dress, my lady." He said and Laura shook her head again.
"I will be okay, Sebastian. You don't have to worry about it." She said as she sighed lightly. "You can... turn around and cover your eyes with handkerchief while I'm changing. Don't you dare to peeping on me, understand?"
"Yes, my lady." Replied the butler as he bowed to her before he covered his eyes with handkerchief and turned around facing the wall.
Laura began to unbutton her nightgown and let it fell onto the floor. She quickly grabbed the dress, and wearing it without any difficulties since she didn't really need a corset. After a few minutes, Laura finished changed her dress and lifted her fringe after she wears her high heels. "I'm done, Sebastian. You can turn back now."
Sebastian turned around as he removed his handkerchief from his eyes, and he smiled lovingly when he saw Laura in white dress with loosen hair. "You are really beautiful, my lady." He said made Laura blushed.
"Don't teasing me. I knew that words are just a lie." She said smirking at him before she sat on boudoir.
Sebastian shook his head as he walked. "I'm not lying, Laura. You are really beautiful, like an angel." He said as he smiled lovingly at her, made the young duchess blushed again.
Laura looked at Sebastian's eyes, and she smiled. "I see you are not lying about your words. Thank you for your compliment, Sebastian. I'm so flattered." She said with giggle. "Now, tell me what today's schedule?"
"Today's schedule, you will have a piano lesson with Mr. Swan. At noon you will have a meeting with Ms. White about a company's new wine and sweets. And this evening, Mr. Davies of the Norwich Company will be paying you a visit." Sebastian said while he combing Laura's long black hair.
"Cancel it. Cancel this evening's meeting." She said as she heavy sighed after she heard about her schedule.
"Why? May I know what is your reason for canceling the meeting, milady?"
"You will understand why I want you to cancel the evening's meeting, if you see me while practicing and at noon's meeting." Laura replied with heavy sighed, while Sebastian still confused but he granted her wish to cancel this evening's meeting. When Sebastian began to combing Laura's hair as he enjoyed touched her hair gently, he saw something which showed up a bit on Laura's back near her shoulder. He curious and began to touched it made Laura bit surprised.
"Sebastian, what are you doing?" Laura asked as she felt Sebastian's finger on her shoulder.
"My apologize, milady. But I saw something strange from your back. It just looks like a scar from what I see on your back." Said the butler worried and curious at the same time.
Laura turned around while still sat on boudoir, and she looked at Sebastian with cold eyes. "Sebastian... You are my new butler, and that is so rude of you for seeing something which you shouldn't see. So please behave yourself, understand." She ordered with menacing aura.
Sebastian flinched a bit and bowed to her. "Yes, milady. Forgive me for my rude behavior." He said.
Laura sighed and turned around again facing the mirror, and Sebastian began to combing her long hair again before he tied it into a low pony tail, and put a white rose as the accessory. And then Laura went out from her room with Sebastian to the dining room as the butler teasing her, made the young duchess smiled and hit Sebastian's arm lightly.
Meanwhile, in Phantomhive Manor...
Yvet who is working as Ciel's butler for a day, put socks on the feet of his new master who sat on the sofa as he explained today's schedule.
"For a breakfast today, we have a lightly poached egg with salmon accompanied by a potato salad. I also offer a toast, scones, and pain de champagne. Which dish would you like, young master?"
"Scones..." Ciel answered with bored looking face. He thought something while he looking at Yvet, made his new butler realized his stare.
"Is there anything wrong, young master?" Yvet asked as he put the shoes on Ciel's feet.
"You are now working as my butler for day, right Yvet?" Ciel asked while he kept looking at Yvet.
"Yes, my lord."
"So then, I order you not to tell a lie and you must only say the truth to me." Ciel ordered as Yvet stood in front of him after he put his master's shoes.
"Yes, my lord." He answered as he bowed to Ciel. The young earl smirked and stood up from the sofa before Yvet put a dark brown suit on him. "I shall await for you at the dining hall, young master." Said the butler before he turned away and walking toward the door. Ciel looking at the butler, and he grabbed the dart which on the table.
"Young master, let's save the game for later. You must not waste your time." Yvet said without looking at Ciel who wanted to throw a dart at the butler. Ciel surprised before he smirked and put a dart back on the table. "I guess you are right, Yvet. And it seems you have a better response than Sebastian." Said the earl, and Yvet just turned his head and smirked at him before he left the room.
At the dining hall, Ciel grabbed a dart again and looked at it before he threw it into the back of Finny's head, and it had begun to bleed a little. "Ow, ow, ow... What was that for master? What did I do?" Finny asked as he rubs his head.
"Nothing, I don't need to justify my actions." Ciel replied, drinking his tea. Suddenly, Yvet opened the door and looked at the servants.
"There you are. Have you finished weeding the courtyard Finnian?" Yvet asked and Finny gasped like he forgot his task
"Miss Mey-rin, have you washed all the bedding? Yvet asked to Mey-rin while she stood there nervously and then put her forefingers together. "Umm... Well..." She said nervously and blushed.
"Mr. Bardroy, shouldn't you be preparing for tonight's dinner?" Yvet asked to Bard, and Bard just put his hand on back of his neck and smiled.
"Mr. Tanaka... Well I was told by Sebastian about you last night, so I suppose you are alright as you are." Yvet said as he looked at Tanaka.
"Ho ho ho." Tanaka replied, drinking his tea.
"Now all of you get back to work now!" Yvet yelled scaring Finny and Mey-rin making them ran off to do their jobs.
"Hey, you are just Sebastian's replacement! So don't be so bossy to us!" Bard complained at Yvet. The butler looked at him with menacing aura, made Bard stood nervously.
"Because I AM working as Sebastian's replacement today and he told me yesterday not to act soft to all of you. Now, get back to work and don't you dare use your weapon or I'll make you can't have a child forever..." Yvet said with menacing aura as he glared at Bard.
"Tsk!, yeah yeah..." Bard heavily sighed and went to the kitchen to do his job.
Yvet sighed as he heard a snickering voice from his 'master'. "Is there something funny, young master?" He asked.
"Nothing, I think it will going to be fun today." Said Ciel smirked before he eats his breakfast, and Yvet just rolled his eyes as he stood behind Ciel. "Fun huh..." Thought the butler.
Later, in Hansford's manor...
Sebastian began to clean the manor with Suzie and Susan while Laura has a piano lesson with her teacher who came with his son. While cleaning, Suzie and Susan giggled at each other made Sebastian who is cleaning the window bit annoyed.
"Suzie, Susan, have you two done cleaning the floor?" He asked as he stopped cleaning the window made the twins realizing about their work. "Really you two... Don't get distracted while cleaning. You two still have to clean the other places after this!" Sebastian said as he sighed.
"We're sorry, Sebastian~!" The twins answered in unison. "It because we are curious about will this time young lady accept theirs offer or not~" Said Susan smiling. "Even thought we already know what her answer is, we are still curious about it." Said Suzie giggled.
"May I know, what are they offering to her?" The butler asked bit curious as he put his two fingers on his chin.
The twins giggled, "Mr. Swan and his son, Albert, offering a marriage proposal to Lady Laura almost every day. He wants her get married with his son, but Lady Laura always reject theirs offer because she is not interested to get married yet." Suzie answered.
"And they almost mad at Lady Laura because of her rejection, but she said she will accept the offer if his son can impress her with his piano skill. That is why Mr. Swan always brings his son everyday to impress her. And this is theirs sixth attempt to impress her~" Said Susan giggled.
Sebastian, who heard the twins' explanation, felt his jealousy higher than before. "How dare those two low humans want to get Lady Laura's love... The one who can get her love is me! She is mine! Not theirs!" He thought as he hid his jealousy in front of the twins.
"Sebastian why do you make a face like Yvet always uses?"
Sebastian snapped out from his thought and looking at Susan who asked him earlier. "What do you mean, Susan?" he asked.
"Your face is emotionless but there's dark aura come out from your body. Just like Yvet when he got pissed or mad because of some reason." Susan answered.
Sebastian just sighed. He thought it is very obvious Yvet is pissed because he is jealous too like him, since the demon's prince loves Laura too. And that is made him as his love rival to get her.
"It's nothing, Susan. It is just your imagination." Said Sebastian with a fake smile. "Now, please you two continue the chores. I will go to the kitchen to prepare a tea and snack for afternoon tea." He said before he went to the kitchen, leaving the twins who shrugged before continue their chores.
Meanwhile in music room (A/N: I kind of forgot what name of the room in that era for music), Laura sat on the sofa near the piano as she looking at her tutor's son played the Chopin's song, Etude Op 10 No.2. She sighed secretly in boredom because she already heard that piece for the fourth time from her teacher's son.
"Never thought I would meet a man who is useless and almost every week play the same song to take a woman's heart... Dull..." She thought before the song stop played made her secretly smile in relief and clapped.
"Lady Hansford, what do you think of my son's performance? Are you impressed?" Mr. Swan asked with a proud smile for his son.
"Yes, I'm impressed. He played well, and the song that he played sounded lovely." Laura answered with a fake smile which makes Mr. Swan's song smiled proudly and flustered. "But... I already hear this song for four times, so I hope I can hear another song other than this, gentlemen." She said smiling at them, made the father and son bit nervous.
"O- Of course, my lady. It's my son's duty to make you impressed as your fiancé to be, and your music partner. And w- we still have times to play another song for you, my lady. " Her teacher answered as he smiled nervously while checked his pocket watch, made Laura just giggled at their nervousness.
"My lesson with you is already over, so I think we can continue next week, gentlemen." Said Laura smiling at them made the two men looked at her in confuse.
"But Lady Laura, my father said we still have time to hear my performance again. I will play another song which you will love it." Said Albert with a little force made Laura sighed lightly.
"I apologizes Mr. Albert Swan, but I'm really busy right now. That is why-"
"Please, my lady! Give me once chance to play again! You will lo-!?"
Laura gave a cold look to him with menacing aura, which made Albert flinched and stood stiffly. She stared at him for a few moments before she sighed and looking at her tutor.
"Mr. Swan, please teach your son a manner. He is so rude..." Said Laura with cold eyes before she opened the door. "We will continue this next week, or maybe I can fire you right now as my tutor..."
"Fo- Forgive me, my lady! We can continue this next week, and I will teach him to be a better person! E-Excuse us!"
Mr. Swan and his son immediately went out from the room leaving Laura alone. Laura sighed and held her forehead because of headache. "hhh~ Thankfully they are gone now...My head hurt from hearing that song many times..." She thought before she heard a door knocked.
"Come in..." She said.
The door opened, and Sebastian walked in with a teacart which has a French tea set on it. "Would you like some tea, my lady? It can relieve your headache." He said with a smile.
"Yes, I would like it. Thank you Sebastian." Laura answered with a smile before she sat on the couch near the piano, while Sebastian poured the tea.
"Here is your tea, my lady. A chamomile tea, which can ease your headache." Said Sebastian as he gave the tea cup to Laura.
"Thank you Sebastian, it's amazing as always that a demon like you knows I have a headache right now." Said Laura before she drank her tea.
"Of course, because I care about you and your health, my lady. I don't want you get stressed because of useless men, especially like those men before."
Laura giggled, "Well, I will tell Yvet about them, to fire my piano tutor. They are so annoying because I must hear the same song almost every week. And thank you for worrying me Sebastian." She said before drinks her tea again.
While she drinks her tea, Sebastian walked toward her and touched her face gently made Laura looking at him. "What is it Sebastian?" She asked.
"Do you know that you are the most beautiful human I ever see, Lady Laura..." Said Sebastian as he touched her face gently made Laura flustered.
"Well... Thank you. I'm happy to hear that, and you are the second handsome demon I ever met." Laura answered smiling at him.
Sebastian frowned, because he knew who the first one is and he smirked at her, "If I'm the second handsome demon for you... Then let me be the first one who says these words to you." Said Sebastian made Laura curious.
Sebastian leaned slowly as he stroking Laura's face gently, and Laura just looking at his eyes as she blushed a bit.
"Lady Laura, I..."
"LAURAAAA~~!"
Suddenly the door opened make Laura and Sebastian shocked and step back to see a girl who has a wavy waist length brown hair with a pink rose on it and wore a frilly pink dress. That girl ran fast before she hugged Laura tightly made the Duchess almost lost her breath.
"Laura~! I miss you so much~!" Said the girl while still hugged Laura tightly while Sebastian just silent and confused.
"E-E-Erina... I can't... Breath~~!" Said Laura tried to let herself go from the hug.
"Ah! Sorry, my bad habit! Teehee~" Said the white hair girl known as Erina and she pulled away from the hug.
Soon, after Erina released Laura from the hug, all of the servants came in rush to the room in panic. "My Lady! Forgive us. We can't hold this girl to come in! She is so strong and energetic!" Said the servants in unison.
"It's okay, she always be like this. So all of you don't have to apologize." Laura answered with a smile.
"My Lady, if I may ask... Who is this young lady?" Asked Sebastian as the servants nodded in unison because they have a same question like Sebastian.
"Ah, it's your first time to meet her yes? Her name is Erina Abelin. She is a daughter of my aunt, Madam Christine Abelin. Meaning she is my cousin from my mother's older sister. She just got back from Paris today." Laura answered with a smile while she introduced her cousin who stood beside her.
"It is nice to meet you all, dear servants~" Said Erina as she curtsied in front all of the servants. "huh?" She looked at Sebastian and tilted her head "Who are you? And... Where's Yvet?" She asked confused before she looked at Laura and then looked at Sebastian again.
"Oh, umm... Well, how can I explain this..." Laura scratched her face a bit with her finger tried to explain with a words which didn't make her cousin in panic.
"I apologize for being rude Lady Erina, my name is Sebastian Michaelis. I am the replacement of Yvet Remdolt just for today, because right now Yvet is working as my master's butler." Said Sebastian as he bowed to Erina.
"Why Yvet got replaced? Why he is working with another master?" She asked in confused.
"It's because I asked him for my wish, Lady Erina. I wish to try working as Lady Laura's butler for a day, because of my high curiosity." Sebastian answered smiling at her. "You don't have to worry, Lady Erina. Because he will be back to work as Lady Laura's butler again tomorrow."
"O-Okay then, I'm glad to hear that. But I'm worried if there's anything bad happen to Laura because Yvet is not with her today." Said Erina in concern voice as Laura just sighed with a light smile.
"It's okay Erina, he can do anything like Yvet including protecting me from danger. Trust me." She said to her 20 years old cousin. "Now, what brings you here today other than you telling me about your holiday in Paris?" She asked.
"Oh! I almost forgot! I brought you a lot of souvenirs for you Laura~! Dresses, accessories, shoes, perfume, and many beautiful things for you~!" Erina answered with a big smile as she held both of Laura's hands.
Laura sighed, "Thank you for the information and the souvenirs, but... I don't really need it because I still have a lot of them Erina."
Erina pouted, "Aww~~ Don't be like that Laura. I bought a lot of stuff for you to make you more beautiful. So you can get a lovely husband easily~"
"I already told you many times Erina... I don't want to get married right now. I'm busy..." Laura answered.
"But you are already 18 years old Laura. You already a woman, and it's time for you to get a husband~".
"Said the one who is already 20 years old but still single." Said Laura in sarcasm made Erina looked down a bit in shame. Laura looked at her cousin and felt guilty.
"I apologize for my sarcasm, but Erina... I don't want to get married yet, at least until I find my true love then I will get married with him." She said. "And I will make you as a first person to know a man who I will get married when the times come."
"P-Promise?" Erina asked as looked at Laura.
"I promise. Now show me your smile and act like a grown up lady. You are older than me but still childish." Said Laura before she hugged her cousin.
Erina giggled and hugged back Laura "Okay, I will wait then!" She said. "Oh! How about we go outside and shopping? You know you need to get relax once in a while."
Laura shook her head, "I'm sorry, today I have a meeting about a new wine. That is why I can't go outside until noon." She said before she saw Erina pouted again. "Uhh... But, I will go outside to give the poor citizen a food after lunch. Maybe you can join me if you want to."
Erina smiled with a bright eyes before she hugged Laura tightly. "Of course I would love to go with you~!" She said and let Laura go. "I will wait for you at the reading room then~ bye!" Erina ran from the room with a happy smile leaving Laura who sighed with a smile with Sebastian who still stood near the duchess.
"Okay then... Sebastian, I want you to make 20 meat sandwiches, beef stews, and cookies. And put them in boxes, so each box will have three of them." Ordered Laura. "And make the foods perfect and delicious! Don't disappoint me."
"Yes my lady." Said Sebastian as he bowed to her before he went to the door.
"Oh... And one more thing Sebastian." Laura said as she remembered something, and Sebastian stood in front of her. "Please make 10 pieces of bone cookies, and gateau chocolate cake. It's a gift for someone."
"May I ask for who, my lady?" He asked in curiosity.
"You should know who likes gateau chocolate, Sebastian~ And for the bone cookies... It's a secret~" She said as she smirked at him. "Now, off you go while I have a meeting with my co-worker!" She ordered with a smile.
Sebastian bowed a bit and then leaved the room as he wondering who will receive a bone cookies from the young duchess. Meanwhile in the piano room, Laura giggled and smirked.
"I think... I will not get bored today~"