This child…is the liege lord!?, everyone thought as Sieglinde Sullivan was carried to the group by a large German man with sideburns. He leaned in close to Sebastian's face abruptly and his face contorted into a disturbingly, hideous glare.
"And from whence do you hail, peon?" the man asked in German. "Hnn?"
"Yes, well." Sebastian replied, ready to explain, but the little girl smacked the German man upside his head.
"D'OW!"
"Enough, Wolfram." Sieglinde scolded before looking at the group. "Excuse us. It has been quite some time since we last had visitors in the village. Moreover…"
As she trailed off, she looked over at Ciel from head to toe for a long time. Red's eye began to twitch in irritation as the young girl ogled at her lover. However, Ciel was completely oblivious to what was currently going on.
Wh-What is it?, he thought to himself.
Wolfram cleared his throat before saying, "I don't know how you managed to reach us, but here in our village of 'Wolfs-schlucht', outsiders are not welcome to stay. Now that we're clear, go back to where you came from!"
"Best to retreat and consider alternative approaches, I think." Ciel whispered to his butler.
"Yes, sir." The demon responded before ushering the group back and responding to Wolfram. "Very well. Then we will take our lea-"
"Wait!" Wolfram yelled, causing the other armed women to point their weapons at the group, causing them to look over at him. "You and your party don't seem to understand how fortunate you are to have passed through the forest unscathed."
"What do you mean?" Sebastian asked.
"Surely you must have heard the tales! About the noble wolfman who protects the forest!"
"Then this is indeed the witches' village under the protection of the wolfman. Is that right?"
Everyone was silent for a moment before one of the women villagers spoke up.
"Herr Wolfram, these people are dangerous! Having them here is a risk! Especially with bringing another witch! We must finish them off at o-"
"Wait!" Sieglinde yelled at the woman before whispering into Wolfram's ear, causing his eyes to widen.
"My lady, that is-" he started before being interrupted.
"Do you refuse to do as I bid?"
"…Ja…" Wolfram nodded before looking at the group. "Listen well. If you head back into the forest now, darkness will fall before you make it out. The forest at night is far too perilous a place. Safe passage through the forest a second time cannot be guaranteed…no. You'll never be able to leave its confines again. So…we will make an exception and permit you all to stay the night."
Finnian and Sebastian's eyes widened at the offer as the villagers began to grow angry.
"We can provide beds for tonight. But come the very break of dawn-"
"Herr Wolfram!" a village-woman yelled. "How could you invite strangers to the 'Emerald Castle'…!?"
"Hilde." Wolfram sighed. "It is as my lady wills."
"Frau Hilde." Another woman spoke in concern as Hilde gritted her teeth.
"What's happening?" Ciel asked Sebastian.
"I believe we are being permitted to stay at the liege's residence for the night." Sebastian explained.
"I don't like this." Red frowned. "Something isn't right here and I think we should take our chances with the forest."
"Are you daft? We haven't a clue what lies in the forest around this time that has these villagers so terrified of even thinking of stepping foot within. I am not risking my servants' lives nor yours for some unknown danger we may face." Ciel answered, placing his hand on the red head's shoulder.
Staring at him for a second, Red sighed before nodding, "You're right. I just don't trust her."
"That is my lady's 'Emerald Castle.'" Wolfram said, pointing at a crooked, yet elegant looking castle in the distance, having everyone look. "Follow me."
The Phantomhive group then followed Wolfram and Sieglinde to the castle.
"They told us to leave, then to stay the night. Really, what are they playing at?" Red muttered to Sebastian and Ciel, crossing her arms.
"I cannot say." Sebastian replied as the group walked past medieval torture devices. "But…it is clear that there is something afoot in this village."
"Eep! What is this place!?" Mey-Rin exclaimed in fear.
"You do realise that it's packed with instruments of torture!?...says Wilde." Snake spoke, using one of his snakes' voices.
"Those were quite popular in the witch trials." Red commented, looking a little bit impressed at the outdated torture devices.
"This is all fast becoming outrageously occult for my tastes-" Ciel started but was interrupted.
"You there, little gnome." Sieglinde said, looking at Ciel. "What is your name?"
"Oh dear! forgive us for not introducing ourselves sooner…" Sebastian replied to the little girl before speaking to his master in English. "She is asking for your name."
"I get the feeling she said something passing rude just now…" Ciel whispered to his butler before speaking louder. "I'm Ciel Phantomhive."
"How old are you?" Sieglinde asked.
"The young master is fourteen years old." Sebastian replied, giving one of his fake smiles.
"Hmm." The young girl hummed as she ogled at the young lord more, causing him to grow confused, and Red to grow angry.
The group soon arrived across a bridge at the tall black gates that guarded the castle.
"Whoa! Soooo high!" Baldroy exclaimed, looking over the bridge as Wolfram unlocked the gate. "I'd be dead meat if I fell from here!"
"Do a flip!" Red yelled, cheering on the American.
"We have arrived." Wolfram said as he picked up Sieglinde and led the group through the front yard of the castle. "This is the 'Emerald Castle.'"
"OOOOOOH! What a strange flower!" Finnian exclaimed, reaching out to touch the plant. "I've never seen one like it!"
"Be careful!" Red and Sieglinde yelled, one in English and one in German.
"It's poisonous." Sieglinde continued. "Your fingers will swell up if you touch it!"
"FWAAA-!?" Finnian yelled in fright. "R-Riight!"
"This way." Wolfram said as he led the group inside the castle.
"You lot wait here." Sebastian told the servants as he, his master, and Red continued on.
"'Kaaaay!" Finnian replied back happily.
Red, Sebastian, and Ciel followed Wolfram and Sieglinde up the stairs and into a dining room, where Wolfram set the little girl down into a chair.
"You are our first guests in many a year." She spoke in German. "Let us treat you to a special feast."
"We are much obliged." Sebastian responded in German.
"Wolfram, make the preparations. And show the servants to their rooms."
"Ja." Wolfram responded before heading back to where the other Phantomhive servants were.
I've been wondering for a while now…, Ciel began to think to himself as he stared at Sieglinde's feet while he and Red sat down at the table. Those tiny feet of hers…Aren't they what's known as "Lotus Feet"? I've heard about it from Lau. If I recall, it's said to be a tradition peculiar to China, a corrective measure in which a young girl's feet are tightly bound to keep them desirably small in size, making them unable to walk freely. So what's it doing here in Germany? And why is it being practiced on the head of the village no less…?
"You there." Sieglinde said, startling the young earl from his stare, making Red narrow her eyes at him.
"Oh? Eh!? Are you talking to me?" Ciel asked.
"I am very sorry. The young master has not yet achieved fluency in German, you see…" Sebastian explained to the little girl.
"Is that so?" she asked.
The room then fell in silence for over an hour before Ciel had finally had enough.
"Come on…you say something!" Ciel whispered harshly to his butler, feeling the silence has now been too awkward for too long. "You're an expert at chatting with women!"
"…Be that as it may, I-" Sebastian started but was interrupted by the sound of Sieglinde's stomach growling from hunger, causing everyone to look over at her.
"That is my body's signal demanding I ingest some sustenance." Sieglinde explained in German.
"Herr Wolfram seems to be delayed." Sebastian sighed as he glanced at his watch. "Perhaps something untoward has taken place?"
"Not even a blush at the tremendous rumbling?" Ciel whispered to himself in shock.
"He is indeed later than usual."
"May I visit the kitchen?" Sebastian asked with his famously fake smile.
"You may." Sieglinde nodded.
"Well then, please excuse my brief absence."
And with a wave, Sebastian disappeared around the corner, causing his master to freak out.
"Eh!? Wai-!" Ciel nearly screeched. What am I supposed to do by myself!? Ugh…this is awkward…
"Tell me." Sieglinde said in German, catching Ciel's and Red's attention. "*&^% black hair *& man *&#% name?"
Oh! I can catch some words if I listen ! The man with the black hair…does she mean Sebastian?
"Erm…Sebastian. My. Butler." Ciel said while pointing after where Sebastian left and at himself. "Understand?"
Sieglinde nodded, understanding the young earl. I got through to her!, he thought.
"Her. *&^% who?" Sieglinde asked, pointing at Red.
Red crossed her arms before looking at Ciel, waiting for his answer. The young lord thought for a second before answering.
"Red. My. Maid."
Sieglinde nodded again as Red's eye twitched in anger before asking, "Your *&%^$ parents *^$^ where #^$?"
"Huh? Parents?" Ciel sighed before shaking his head. "Parents. Not have. Dead."
Sieglinde's eyes widened before resting her head on her hand and began to think.
AAAAARGHHHH, Sebastian, get back here thiiiiiiiiis instant!, Ciel thought in frustration. Looking over at Red, he could only see fury in her eyes as she stared deep into his soul, feeling as if he was looking at the gates of hell already.
After a while, Sebastian and Wolfram returned to the dining room and set different dishes on the table.
"Maultaschen and Wurst Soup." Sebastian introduced with a smirk. "Eisbein made of Ham Hock. And for dessert, Rote Grutze."
"Hohhhh… This is quite…" Sieglinde started before turning to Wolfram. "a marvelous feast. Nicely done, Wolf."
"No…err…that butler assisted me." Wolfram explained, which in turn means Sebastian did all the work.
"As you are allowing us to stay the night, it is only fair." Sebastian explained. "I am the butler of the Phantomhive house. It goes without saying that I can provide assistance of this level."
"Let's have a taste." The young girl said as she stabbed her fork and knife into the meal in front of her and began to devour it in an unladylike manner. "MMM. D'lish! I'b neber had sush shoft bwead befowe!"
"Sh-She eats with such gusto." Ciel whispered, horrified.
"She must be unassuming as a matter of principle." Sebastian replied.
Suddenly, everyone's heads turned to the door at the sound of feet stomping grew louder and closer. The door then slammed open, revealing one of the women from the village.
"Herr Wolfram, it's terrible!" she shouted.
"What is it, Hilde?" Wolfram asked as the woman panted, out of breath.
"Th-The wolfman has come!"