DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS FROM KUROSHITSUJI. Thanks lovelies.
When All is Said and Done
Ciel's POV
Light streamed in through my window and I squirmed under the covers to block it from my vision.
"It is time to wake up you know." Sebastian smiled and pulled the blankets down.
"Stop!" I whined.
"I already let you sleep in, you should be thankful." he persisted.
"How long, a second?" I frowned.
"So childish." he lifted me up from the bed and carried me to the bathroom.
"Idiot, it's cold!" I yelled when he threw me into the tub.
"It's because you didn't wake up fast enough." he poured hot water in to warm it up.
"Ugh…" I didn't wish to continue this argument.
"I hope you slept well." he scrubbed my hair.
"I don't think it is physically possible to not sleep well after being so exhausted." I sighed, "Abby wore me out."
"She is rather energetic, it reminds me of small dogs." he said honestly.
I laughed, "Abby is a lot like that. I don't think it's her true face though, I think she's hiding how she really feels."
"Well we can't solve all the problems in the world, you have to let her do what she needs to do in order to achieve happiness, for that is the only way one can feel true joy." he advised.
"Said like a scholar." I chuckled, "What's the plan for today?"
"It seems that Duke Westly wishes to meet with you at noon. Other than that I left your schedule open." he told me.
"That man again…" I tried to figure out what he wanted. I had looked in the envelope that he had given me and was dumbfounded that he of all people would be asked to deliver it to me, not to mention the fact that I didn't know why I had received such a package directly.
"If I may ask, what is it that he came for last time?" Sebastian probed.
"He wished to give me something. Are we done yet?" I avoided that conversation with him.
He dried me off and then dressed me, making sure I looked appropriate for when the Duke came. I then went into my office and studied documents yet again. He then spoke up, "I don't recall you meeting Duke Westly before, might I ask how you know him or how he knows you?"
"It was quite some time ago and I'd rather not talk about it. I need to focus for a minute; please leave if you cannot be quiet." I ordered. He left the room, probably to prepare something for Westly's arrival since he was to come in about an hour.
I didn't mean to snap at Sebastian, but I also didn't wish to delve into my first meeting with that man. It was one I'd rather forget.
I first became acquainted with Westly last year at a charity event held by the queen. He directly served her through an ordeal like mine where he relayed messages for her, and not necessarily legally. It was at this event when we met for the first time. Westly had gotten quite drunk. I later learned he didn't hold his liquor well and that his getting unruly was a regular occurrence. He began to spill many of the secret orders that he had been assigned to relay to others. I decided to investigate on one particular message concerning trading routes with China and India. When I arrived to the port that he said was in a 'turf war' between certain companies, I was shocked to see that nothing seemed wrong. Turning to leave, I ran directly into Westly who had followed me.
He wasn't actually telling real messages, but was instead setting up a trap for those who could decode them. He began an attempt to capture me and interrogate me since he believed me a threat to the queen. Apparently he was not quite in the right mind because of his previous drinking or he had not been aware of the fact that I was an Awful Nobleman because when he took me away but was stopped by the queen herself, he was rather shocked.
He was severely scolded after that and I believed all was sorted out, but I was completely wrong. He is not one to be humiliated, because a week later he showed up to deliver a message for me. Apparently I was summoned to a party, one that I should never have known about.
Due to his prank I lost something very important to me, something that I can never have back…
I snapped myself out of my thoughts and set back to work. If I wanted to complete looking through all of this paperwork I had to get a move on. After all, nothing gets done by itself.
XxXxXxXxXx
Sebastian's POV
"May I ask you something?" I whispered to Mey-Rin.
"Y-yes Mr. Sebastian, you can ask anything!" she stuttered, red faced.
"Do you know how Duke Westly knows Ciel? Or do you know anything on him for that matter? Ciel won't tell me anything." I wondered why he was being so stubborn today, he wasn't usually like this.
"I don't know much about him, usually you know all of that stuff, but I do know his wife left him last year, about a month after the Master's birthday. They had two daughters, the youngest died when she was three months old. The oldest daughter is now nineteen and married. That's all I know. I wonder why the Master is being steadfast on not telling you, don't you usually share most everything?" she said.
"Yes, that's why I'm at a loss now. Thank you for telling me all of that. I should go check up on him now. Please make sure Bard doesn't come in here while I'm gone." I ordered her as I left the kitchen.
"Of course." she bowed and then went about cleaning the dishes.
I made my way up to Ciel's office and knocked. Not long after I had done so he ordered me to come in.
"What is it?" he didn't look up from his work.
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay. How is work coming along?" I asked.
"Just fine. How much longer until Westly should be here?" he flipped through his documents.
"A quarter of an hour. I will notify you as soon as he arrives." I bowed and began to leave the room.
"Hang on," Ciel stopped me, "I wish to apologize for getting angered at you earlier." he said humbly.
"Apology accepted. May I know how you two met now?" I smirked.
"Just because I didn't mean to get angry with you doesn't mean I wanted to share that with you." he frowned.
"I was just joking, Ciel." I chuckled.
"That's Master Ciel to you for now, mister." he pointed his pen playfully at me.
"At what time may I call you the normal way Master?" I dragged out the word for emphasis.
"You'll be able to tell when, now go make sure everything is ready." he smiled.
"Yes, Master" I emphasized it again.
"Just shut up and go already!" he laughed.
I walked out of the room feeling better than I had felt earlier, but I still had a worried feeling in my heart. It was almost as if Ciel was hiding something very important and very dark, and the feeling just wouldn't go away.
XxXxXxXxXx
Ciel's POV
Westly had arrived at noon, punctual as ever, and we had finished lunch. Now as he sat across from me I grew slightly apprehensive as to why he wished to visit.
"I see you're still doing well despite your demotion." he took a gander around the room.
"I do have a company that is doing fairly well you know." I replied.
"Better off than most in your position, I assume. If I was demoted… well I can say things would not have gone so smoothly." he chuckled.
"I'm not one to waste time so if you could please tell me your reason-" I began.
"Slow down there Earl, you shouldn't rush your elders, that's a little something I learned from one of my trips to the Orient.
"Now, if you want to know my reason for coming I should start by asking, what was in that package I gave you?" he inquired.
"It was nothing important. I wonder why you were even asked to deliver it. It wasn't sent from the queen so it must have been another one of your employers, which one?" I demanded.
"That I can't tell you. My source said they received it from another so it wouldn't even matter if I could tell you. I'm surprised it didn't say who it was from." he tapped his chin and looked at me as if he was expecting something.
"You really want to know what it was, don't you?" I sighed and he nodded. I continued, "It was just an intimidation letter. I get them all the time. They should have known I don't take them seriously."
"If they went through all the trouble of sending it through someone who could directly bring it to you, they must be serious." he sounded actually concerned for me.
"Old man, we both know that you aren't worried for me so stop pretending to be."
"I'm not fearing for you, but if I was involved somehow with this guy… I wonder what could become of me!" he became absorbed in his own little world where everything revolved around him.
"Was there anything else you came for?" I asked.
"Now that you mention it, you owe me a favor, correct?" he smiled.
"If anything it's you who owes me!" I said, incredulous.
"Oh that was so long ago, holding onto grudges is such an old thing to do!" he said flamboyantly.
"Old man…" I grew frustrated by his annoying speeches.
"Fine, just please I'm asking you one favor. It's a simple task and I'll pay you for your time." he asked seriously.
"What is it that you ask?"
"As you know my daughter Rebecca is married. Recently though, she returned home and refuses to see her husband, His Grace Reginald Yandon of Fitzburg. I want you to meet him and find out why she's acting this way." Westly said.
"…What is in it for me?" I asked.
"I'll pay you and if you do the job well, it means connections as well as having me indebted to you," he smiled, "now, do we have a deal?"
"Fine. When should I get started?" I agreed.
"Whenever you can. Make sure to tell me though, I might be able to help." he stood up, "I do have to go now though. You don't need to see me off, I just want to get out of this gloomy place. I'll see you later Earl Phantomhive, until that time keep on your best behavior."
"Goodbye old man." I said informally as he left.
I knew that despite how normal he made this job sound, something wasn't right. Until I did it though, I would never know.
XxXxXxXxXx
After a relaxing day of doing nothing besides talk to that Old Man, I was preparing for bed. I wasn't exceptionally exhausted, but one could always use a few extra hours of sleep, who knows when you'll need it?
As I curled into a ball in the center of the large bed, I felt quite lonely. With loneliness came fear, fear of so many things. Memories of recent and past events surfaced as seemed to surround and suffocate me, drawing me in my own personal sea of horror. How was I to escape this? What am I supposed to do?
I clutched my knees to my chest, When will the nightmares end?
"Calm down Ciel." someone patted my head.
"Don't touch me!" I yelled and backed away from the unknown person.
"It's just me." Sebastian raised his hands in surrender.
I exhaled, "Don't scare me like that."
"You were crying and screaming and wouldn't wake up. I didn't know what else to do." he helped me back under the covers.
"Sorry. Did I wake the others?" I brought the blankets up under my chin.
"No, you were too far away for them to hear." he stood up.
I grabbed his shirt before he got away, "Please… in case I start yelling again?"
"Of course, I'll be beside you until you wake up, now rest." he sat down next to me on the bed.
"Goodnight Sebastian." I curled up next to him, almost wrapping my body around his.
"Goodnight Ciel, sleep well." he patted my head once more and then I fell into a deep slumber.
I didn't have a single bad dream for the rest of the night.
XxXxXxXxXx
I woke up to the same annoying sun that greeted me every day. Shielding my eyes, I felt around for Sebastian.
"I'm right here." he chuckled and grabbed my wandering hand.
"The sun's too bright to see you." I squinted to look at his face.
"Should I shut the blinds?" he asked.
"You should have done so before I had to tell you to!" I frowned.
He went over to the window and blocked the annoying light from interrupting my sight, "Is that better?"
"Much, thank you. You look horrible though." I laughed at his unusual disgruntled look. His clothing was ruffled and his hair was a mess.
"It's because you kept attacking me in your sleep! Honestly, you wouldn't let me go." he pretended to be upset.
"Well sorry!" I said jokingly and laughed.
"I am glad that you didn't wake up again. You seemed to rest well for the continuation of the night. Did your dreams turn out kindly?" he asked as he tried to reorganize himself.
"Yes, I believe they were good. I'm sorry that I was so obstinate about holding onto you though." I hid my smile.
"Yes, well, at least you weren't being terrorized by your subconscious throughout the night. I'll sacrifice my orderly appearance if it means your happiness." he said while looking away.
"Why, that was rather bold of you. Sounded like a confession to me!" I teased.
"You're such a bother, stop trying to embarrass me." he pouted.
"Your reaction is just too adorable!" I smiled and hugged him from behind, "Thank you though, for staying by my side."
"You're welcome." he turned around and returned my embrace, "Now, it's time to get ready for the day." he pulled me from the bed and my eventful morning began.
XxXxXxXxXx
Due to the fact that I had been asked by Westly to do a favor and that meant he would be endebted to me if I carried out his wishes, I decided to study on his son-in-law.
He was a good man raised by his grandmother who died three years prior to his marriage to Rebecca. He lived in Austria with his wife where he ruled kindly over his people. His predecessors founded the area. His mother and father died when he was young, hence why his grandmother was his caretaker. His mother was what earned him the title of Archduke, and his father came from England to Austria.
He was a mellow chap, one who enjoyed the simpler things in life, or so Sebastian tells me, and would much rather spend time with his wife than go on a trip to a foreign land, so why exactly was Duchess Rebecca so angry with him that she would return to her parent's home in England?
"Sebastian, as soon as we can, invite Duke Westly and his daughter Rebecca to dine with me." I ordered him.
"Yes Master. Should I also arrange a meeting with the Archduke of Fitzburg?" he asked before he exited the room.
"Yes, maybe in a few weeks if possible." I tapped my pen against my lip in consideration.
When he left I picked my research up again.
Reginald's parent's died individually. His mother passed away during a miscarriage two years after his birth. Due to the anxiety and loneliness of losing his wife, Reginald's father died three years later, supposedly due to stress, although it was widely rumored that he committed suicide.
With his closest relative being his grandmother, he travelled to Prauge. There he flourished in his studies, always improving. At the age of fifteen his grandmother gained a disease of the brain, causing her to be unable to care for herself. He took her back to his original home in Fitzburg and nursed her until her death three years later in the year eighteen hundred and eighty.
He continued to progress and took up his rightful position as Archduke at the age of seventeen, a year before his grandmother's passing. When he was thirty two he began courting Duchess Rebecca Westly, eventually marrying her a year and a half later, leading us to the most current event of his wife returning to her parents on a 'visit' yet declining to see him.
XxXxXxXxXx
Sebastian's POV
"Master, you received an anonymous letter." I brought it forward to Ciel, surprised that he had gotten such a letter.
"Alright…" his face showed that he was just as surprised as he was. He grabbed the pure white envelope and opened it, revealing matching parchment. He then slipped the letter out and read it quickly. After reading for a minute or two, he let it fall from his hands to the ground.
"She… no…" he looked off in space.
"What's wrong?" I picked up the letter and skimmed through it quickly, "How-"
"She… Lizzy… she's been kidnapped."
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KRM