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—
Over the next couple of days, Alois reeled himself in, trying to make Ciel comfortable without getting on her nerves or in her way.
Alois still allowed himself the pleasure of sitting beside Ciel every morning, afternoon, and evening when meals were served, but while Ciel worked, the blonde was careful to leave her alone.
The bluenette still missed Sebastian greatly, but Alois noticed that as Ciel began to feel more at ease, her scowl seemed to lessen.
Alois did everything possible to squelch his exuberance and while that was very difficult for the lovesick blonde, he found that his struggle was not in vain when Ciel became more willing to talk to him.
During the time they spent in each other's company, Ciel actually engaged in conversation with Alois, thoughtfully chatting with him instead of just muttering one or two word responses to shut him up.
On the fifth afternoon since Ciel's arrival, Ciel even asked Alois for a tour of his courtyards.
"Of course, Ciel!" The blonde replied instantly, jumping up to his feet with a joyous smile.
Ciel frowned at Alois and the blonde quickly cleared his throat and added, "I'd be delighted."
Ciel was prepared to follow the blonde, but instead, he stretched his arm out, offering it to the bluenette.
Just as a gentleman should for a lady….
Ciel hesitated.
"It's alright, Ciel." Alois smiled reassuringly. "No one's here but us."
With a pout that Alois found absolutely adorable, Ciel reached out and took Alois's arm.
The two spent the entire afternoon slowly strolling through Alois's lavish courtyards.
The blonde paused to show Ciel every flower, every fine detail that had gone into the architecture of the stonework…
Ciel pretended to be more interested than she was.
Alois wanted their time together to last and Ciel wouldn't admit it yet, but….
Secretly, so did she~.
—
By the end of the first week, Ciel and Alois had grown quite chummy.
Ciel no longer dreaded the blonde's presence and Alois had memorized the times of day when Ciel found company the least annoying.
Ciel and Alois enjoyed eating their meals together.
Their courtyard stroll had turned into a daily routine.
But Alois knew that time was running short…..
If Sebastian retrieved Ciel that instant, then Alois and Ciel would remain friendly, nothing more.
Ciel was still unaware of Alois's real feelings…..
And Alois still wasn't certain that his pining would be returned…
Alois's mission must continue and so, on the eighth day, Alois selected a very delicate, very fragrant rosé to serve with dessert after dinner.
Perhaps Ciel would appreciate the wine's light flavor…..
The evening meal passed pleasantly, with quiet conversation and friendly banter between the blonde and the bluenette.
Alois was very pleased that his darling Ciel was rather easy to talk to once she opened up.
Ciel was amazed that she found herself actually enjoying speaking to Alois Trancy.
Had his hair always been that blonde?
And his face always that handsome?
Handsome?!
Ciel quickly took another bite of her meal, forcing those thoughts from her mind.
Oh dear…...
Ciel was staying at Trancy Manor as Alois's guest.
In a few days, Sebastian would return and she could go home and forget all of this happened…
Handsome?
What on earth was Ciel thinking?!
—
Alois's voice was soft with concern as he spoke. "Here, Ciel, let me just help you to your room, you're a bit wobbly."
Gently, the blonde supported the bluenette as they slowly staggered along.
"I'm…..fine, Alois…..I'm…..fine." Ciel said dreamily while she teetered up the steep staircase.
Dinner had gone a little too well.
Ciel and Alois had been enjoying each other's company so well that they had lingered after their meal….
….And Claude kept returning to refill their wine glasses.
Alois had no trouble, but when they stood to leave, Ciel stumbled, feeling a wave of dizziness overcome her.
Alois should have told Claude to switch Ciel to water, she was very petite….but in the moment, the blonde had relished spending time with his beloved bluenette too much to consider the consequences.
Alois was sorry that Ciel felt poorly, but he certainly wasn't sorry that she was clutching onto him, depending upon him for support~.
When they reached the door to Ciel's room, Alois pushed it open and slowly walked Ciel over to the bed, gently helping her down onto the soft mattress.
If only the circumstances had been different….
When Alois turned to go, Ciel looked up at him with a sad frown.
"What is it, Ciel?" Alois asked. "Do you feel worse? Shall I send for Claude?"
Ciel mumbled something that Alois couldn't understand.
"What's that, Ciel?" Alois asked, kneeling in front of the bluenette.
For a long moment, Alois and Ciel stared into each other's eyes.
Ciel seemed to be deciding if she wanted to kiss Alois or not and Alois trembled with the terrible burden of holding back.
Ciel put both of her hands on Alois's shoulder and pulled him in gently, hovering inches away from his face.
Alois felt his heart pounding and his palms sweating.
"What do you want, Ciel?" Alois asked, half-closing his bright blue eyes. "Tell me what you want, and I can give it to you~."
If Ciel hadn't been intoxicated, Alois would have seized the moment and crushed his lips against Ciel's.
But it was not to be…..
"I…...I don't remember….." Ciel said groggily, closing her eyes and breaking Alois's heart.
"That's alright, Ciel." Alois replied softly with a sad smile.
The blonde stood and walked over to the door, turning around to smile again at the bluenette. "Sleep well! I'll see you in the morning, Ciel!"
Ciel blinked as Alois left her room, hearing the door close behind him.
"The morning?" Ciel blinked in confusion.
—
The morning, ah, the next morning was a joyous one for Alois!
The blonde skipped merrily down the hall towards Ciel's room just after sunrise.
Alois knew that he shouldn't disturb Ciel so early, but the telegram Alois had just received made him unable to contain his excitement!
Alois smiled happily while he knocked on Ciel's door.
He had learned somewhat from his past mistakes….
"Ciiieeelll!" Alois called.
No answer.
"CCIIEELLL~!" Alois shouted, knocking even louder.
When there was still no answer, Alois frowned.
Even if Ciel just told him to go away, Alois expected the bluenette to say something…..
"Ciel?" Alois asked in a much quieter voice, his smile fading away with concern as he turned the doorknob.
"Ciel," Alois called as he dared to open the door and step into his beloved guest's room. "Sebastian sent a telegram from Belgium, he's going to be delayed for another—-CIEL!"
Alois instantly stopped sharing the news when he saw the bluenette hunched over her bed, rocking back and forth with a quiet groan, clearly in pain.
"Ciel! My—-Um, Ciel! What's the matter?!" Alois asked hastily as he rushed to the bluenette's side.
Alois had to stop himself from slipping up and saying "my darling" or "my dear"...
"Nothing….nothing's wrong, Alois. I'm fine…." Ciel said in a strained voice, sighing deeply as she lifted her head up to look at the blonde.
Alois had no idea what was happening, but it frightened him to see how unnaturally pale Ciel had become and how dull her brilliant sapphire eyes had grown…..
"Ciel, what's wrong? You can tell me. I can call a doctor for you." Alois offered, putting a hand gently on the bluenette's back while she swayed from one side to the other.
That was when Alois noticed the bed was stripped.
"I…...I just need Claude to change the sheets, please." Ciel said in a very quiet voice.
"The sheets?" Alois asked while his eyes darted around the room.
That was when Alois saw it….
There, in the corner, was a pile of floral printed sheets, white cotton dotted with purple flowers…...now stained with blood.
It all clicked in Alois's mind as he finally comprehended what was going on.
Ciel was a woman.
"Oh…" Alois breathed.
Ciel hung her head in embarrassment.
"Of course, Ciel!" Alois said, recovering from his surprise. "I'll have Claude come right away!"
Ciel's eyes widened as Alois lifted her off of her feet and carried her down the hall.
"Wh-Where are you taking me?" Ciel asked weakly.
"To a clean bed." Alois smiled. "I was up early, Claude's already prepared my room and changed my sheets, this way, you won't have to wait."
Alois did indeed bring Ciel to his room.
The blonde carefully tucked the bluenette into his bed and made sure she was warm.
When Ciel turned on her side and groaned, Alois frowned.
It bothered Alois to see his precious bluenette in so much pain…
"Is there anything I can do, Ciel?" Alois asked in a worried voice.
"If you have a hot water bottle, that'd be useful." Ciel said through gritted teeth.
Alois quickly called for Claude and gave him his orders.
A few moments later, when the spider butler returned with the hot water bottle, Alois made a bold move.
The blonde lifted up the sheets and slid in behind Ciel, placing the hot water bottle against her back and pressing it to her with his own abdomen.
"Alois….." Ciel breathed.
The heat was very helpful with the pain, but even though Alois had all of his clothes on, there was something uncomfortably intimate about lying in the same bed with the blonde…
"Don't worry, Ciel." Alois said quietly, daring again to gently wrap his arms around the bluenette and hold her tenderly. "I'd never hurt you."
Alois's embrace was safe and warm.
Ciel closed her eyes and inhaled Alois's scent, musk and almond mixed with lavender and mint, sophisticated but playful.
The bluenette was grateful for the heat.
Maybe it was just the fog of her pain, or the soft touch of Alois's palms as they laced with her own, but Ciel believed him…..
Lying there, in Alois's embrace, Ciel felt something she hadn't in a long time….
Safe.