Autumn spent most of her time in the horse stable now, she couldn't talk but it was not needed as the horses understood her actions perfectly. Little by little she was able to stop the reactions of the nervous horse towards other horses and people. She remembered the way the beast tamer used to treat the animals each time they obeyed the commands.
She found herself being followed each time she brought treats to the horses in the stable.
Alois often was busy in the mornings so she took this time either for her tricks, the horses, or the harp. Most of the days, after lunch, she was completely Alois possession. Ever since that night Autumn had been wondering about her meaning to Alois.
" I shouldn't care about it" She often reminded herself
"Autumn my dear, please play something for me" Asked Alois with a soft kiss on Autumns lips.
It was a very hot afternoon in the middle of the summer, only Alois and Autumn were on the hall.
Autumn got ready to play the harp as she heard footsteps in the hall. She looked around to find Claude with a letter on his hands
"You highness, you had received an invitation" said Claude as he handed the letter to Alois
" Please send response, I won't be attending" Said Alois annoyed " Claude could you please leave me alone, Autumn was about to start in performance" He added
"Your highness I highly suggest to attend this ball, as Ciel Phantomhive himself sent the invitation" said Claude.
"He did?" Said Alois "Just because I thanked him for returning Autumn to me does not mean we are friends. I still wish to see him with a blade on his guts"
At that moment Alois looked at Autumn and with a sign asked her to sit next to him. As she did so, he pulled her by the hips and sat her on his lap. He proceeded to kiss her softly while he hugged her by her back.
Claude looked at the scene clearly disapproving.
Finally Alois broke the kiss and looked straight to Autumns eyes.
"It's a very hot day, would you like to walk in the gardens after the tea?" He asked Autumn in a soft voice.
Autumn nodded.
"Your highness, May we have a word" Finally said Claude, glancing threateningly to Autumn, she shivered when she meet this hateful eyes.
"In private" Finished Claude.
Autumn got up ready to leave the room, but she felt a hand grabbing her wrist strongly "I haven't told you that you may go Autumn" Said Alois.
Autumn looked at her apologetically and looked down as she sat again on Alois lap. She was received with another kiss as she lay on Alois arms.
"I must insist your highness" Said Claude in a tone neither Autumn or Alois had heard before. Finally Alois sighed.
"Autumn, dear, why don't you wait for me at your room, I will send someone to pick you up once I'm done" he told Autumn pouting.
Autumn got up, bowed and left the room as Hanna entered the hall with a glass of cold beverages; she smiled at Autumn, left the drinks and left the room in a hurry. The door was half open, enough for Autumn to listen the conversation between Claude and her master. She hesitated to listen, as it was none of her business, but she heard her name through the door and decided to stay and hear just a bit.
"Your highness, I would like to have a word with you regarding…Autumn, your personal entertainer" Said Claude
"What with her? " Said Alois narrowing his eyes as he picked a drink from the table in front of him.
"If I may be bold… I would like to remind you that woman is a mere worker, like me, or like the rest of the servants, Even if she entertains you in ways the other servants can't. She is merely your servant.
Autumn heard silence for some uncomfortable seconds, and then she heard a slam on a wooden table, as she peeked she saw Alois had hit with his fist the table where the drinks were, spilling them all over.
"Speak clearly Claude" said Alois clearly affected by those words
"Your highness, as you may be aware, Ciel Phantomhive has a fiancé, as many noble men do, and it's a fixed marriage by the sake of the noble families. The eyes of the noble society are in a young man, head of a great household that still haven't chosen a woman of blood for a marriage, not even a relationship, as he passes too much time entertained with his servants, or should I say servant?" Finished Claude
"We had this conversation before, Claude" Said Alois looking directly at his butter eyes "I am not interested in anyone, nor I care about fixed marriages or women"
"Are you telling me you are not interested in that harlequin you purchased from a vagrant circus?" added Claude with a smirk on his face
"It is true that she knows how to entertain me" Replied Alois
That is not a straight answer, your highness" Said Claude
Know your place, Claude" Said Alois gazing at Claude.
"My place is here, to serve you, your highness. I must add then that you will be attending Ciel Phantomhive ball. I have arranged a worthy escort for you. Lady Amaltea Delahfort , daughter of the Delahfort family is on a business visit, as you may know this family had been given the maintenance and care of the jewels of The Queen since many generations ago, being the main jewel crafter in England. She came along with her father from Birmingham for a regular visit to Her Majesty, and of course she will be attending the Phantomhive ball. I had sent a request for you to escort her to such important event and I received answer today. That invitation was received a few days ago, however I took the liberty of having everything arranged before handing it out to you, Master." Finished Claude with a huge grin as he looked to the door where Autumn was hiding behind.
Autumn felt her heart burn " Marriage" She thought for herself. She couldn't hear Alois response; she spun on her feet and headed jogging to her room as instructed.
"I am an entertainer, as Claude said, a mere servant, a buffoon one could say. What was I thinking? What was I thinking?" Though Autumn as tears felt from her eyes. She thought of running away, away from that cold sharp pain that she was feeling. She remembered the promise she made to her master. She was bound to the Trancy household, regardless of how broken her heart would be. She slowly stopped sobbing as she drifted into sleep.