Thank you for reading! I don't own any of Black Butler! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates on the second and fourth Saturday of each month!
—
Lady Phantomhive's sapphire eyes were wide with worry and wet with concern as the physician that had been called to her home informed her that Tanaka would live, but his days of servitude were over.
During the following week, each member of the house's staff struggled to tend to their own duties while also completing the numerous tasks that Tanaka's absence left undone.
Ciel and Elizabeth felt the brunt of the bumbling Phantomhive servants' mistakes.
One morning, after Mey-Rin had successfully placed all of Ciel's clothing on her inside out, the bluenette sighed to herself.
Tanaka had been a loyal and fastidious butler to the generations that had dwelt in Phantomhive manor during his years of service, but those years were finished.
The Phantomhives would continue to care for Tanaka as if he were a member of their family and see to his well-being until his last day on earth of course, but that didn't erase the fact that his failing health left a gaping hole in the noble house's staff.
Ciel had to find a new butler.
She contacted London's newspapers and quickly ordered an advertisement to be printed and placed in the next editions of each publication.
As much as Ciel dreaded the string of interviews that she would be forced to conduct in search of an adequate employee, it couldn't be helped.
Lady Phantomhive did not enjoy wearing her clothing inside out.
—
Since his impromptu departure from the gentleman shop, Sebastian Michaelis had found lodging at one of London's finer inns.
He had amassed enough wealth in his lifetime to purchase a substantial property, find an omega suitable for a mate, and settle down to a quiet existence, but that prospect bored him.
Most prospects bored Sebastian, that was how he had come to work in the gentleman shop in the first place, he had found the idea intriguing.
Currently, the only thing that did interest Sebastian at the moment was already gone, married, and it remained doubtful that he would ever see his interest again…..
On a rainy Thursday afternoon, Sebastian sat at the inn's bar while he idly listened to the chatter of the older men who sat nearby.
"Anything unusual in the news today?" One of the men asked the other.
"Not much, not much." The other man shrugged as he leafed through the printed pages.
Sebastian sat and frowned as the men guffawed for some time before they stood and left the bar.
On their way out, one of the pages from the day's paper slipped out of their grasp and fluttered, unnoticed, towards the floor.
Sebastian caught the paper in his hand before it touched the dingy, wooden boards and having nothing better to do at the moment, he skimmed over the page.
His amber eyes widened when he happened to run across a very interesting and very large advertisement that had been placed in the central column:
House Butler Needed for Immediate Hire
Lord and Lady Midford seek a butler for their esteemed household. Must be talented, punctual, worldly, and polite. Please inquire at the Phantomhive estate. More details about the position, salary, and responsibilities will be given upon interview and acceptance of position.
Lady Midford was not a name that Sebastian recognized, but Phantomhive…..Phantomhive?!
Names aside, it was the picture above the advertisement that had truly captured Sebastian's attention.
Hoping to secure the best quality candidates by showing the world and everyone in it that the Phantomhive-Midfords were the best quality family, Ciel had chosen to include an image of the portrait that had been made of her, Edward, and Elizabeth several years ago.
In the picture, Ciel sat on an elegant chair and her husband stood frigidly behind her while Elizabeth, scarcely more than a baby then, sat on her mother's lap and blinked at the photographer.
Black and white photos sometimes obscured details about its subjects, but as Sebastian gazed at the picture on the newspaper page, he struggled not to purr out loud.
The woman in the picture was definitely Lady Phantomhive, the charming omega with whom he had spent that unforgettable night...her pout was unmistakable and even though the color was obscured, her sapphire eyes glinted in richest black while her image stared back at Sebastian.
Sebastian paused long enough to study the picture of Ciel's husband.
He smirked at what a fop Edward Midford looked like, standing there behind his wife as if it were the greatest chore imaginable.
Sebastian noticed that Edward's hadn't even bothered to rest his hand affectionately on the back of Ciel's chair…
Before he moved on, Sebastian's eyes flickered to the little girl in the picture and a soft smile spread across his lips when he paused to admire the adorable child.
Lady Phantomhive certainly seemed capable of producing lovely little ones~.
Sebastian glanced back at the photo of Ciel once more before he looked up from the paper, hurriedly returned to his room, collected his few belongings, paid his tab with the innkeeper, and hastily stepped out into the street.
Sebastian was in a great rush.
He had to hire a carriage and a driver who could take him to Phantomhive manor before the day was out!
—
Ciel was surprised to see that her published advertisement in the newspaper quickly garnered an overwhelming response.
Interviewee after interviewee arrived, all eagerly seeking the job of Phantomhive butler.
The bluenette spent the better part of the afternoon questioning one potential candidate after another, but none held any promise.
One had come that was older than Tanaka.
One had come that had shifty eyes and an eerie way of speaking.
One had come that was a woman and Ciel was intent on hiring a man, preferably an alpha.
The others who had been to Phantomhive manor asking about the position with no obvious defects had not done particularly well during Ciel's interview.
Although, in their defense, the daughter of Earl Phantomhive was not a particularly easy woman to impress.
By the time the sun was setting, the last interview candidate had left and Ciel was lying on one of the chaise lounges in the parlor, exhausted and defeated.
Little Elizabeth calmly played with her dolls as she sat at her mother's feet.
Ciel passed a hand over her pale face and sighed as she thought.
Why had all of this had to happen to Tanaka?
Was it really necessary that-
When the sound of knocking fell again on the large, heavy front door of the bluenette's estate, she bit back a scream.
Could she endure another fruitless interrogation that day, punctuated by tiring pleasantries and empty smiles?
Another attempt in vain to replace the worker and the friend that she, her parents, and grandparents had known and trusted?
Was it even possible to find such a person?
Ciel unconsciously slumped down, foolishly toying with the idea that perhaps if she hid herself, whoever answered the door wouldn't see her when they came to notify her of the new arrival.
Whoever that may be, anyway.
The intrusive knocking sound came again and Ciel forced herself not to hiss in irritation at the noise.
She scowled when she noticed that she heard no footsteps coming down the hall to answer the door.
Lady Phantomhive grit her teeth.
Someone should be on their way!
Usually Tanaka would have accepted the task.
Who would perform the duty in his place?
Mey-Rin?
Finny?
Baldroy?
Mey-Rin was busy cleaning the library.
Finny was outside, packing up his gardening tools for the day.
Baldroy was in the kitchen, trying his best not to burn Ciel and Elizabeth's dinner.
With Tanaka in bed, aged and recovering, there was no one left to answer the door at that hour.
When the knocking came again, Ciel gnashed her teeth and leapt from her seat with a strangled cry of pure frustration.
"Mummy, where are you going?" Elizabeth blinked as she looked up from playing with her dolls.
Elizabeth watched her mother march out of the parlor and towards the foyer.
Ciel was so agitated she didn't bother answering her little one as she walked over and wrenched open the engraved piece of wood.
Who was it now that wanted to…?
Ciel's pout remained on her face but her sapphire eyes widened when she saw who had come to call on the Phantomhive residence.
It couldn't be.
Was it possible?
Was it really….him?"
"Good evening, my lady." Sebastian Michaelis nodded to Ciel with a pleasant, cordial smile on his face and his voice as smooth as silk, "I apologize for my arrival at such a late hour."
Ciel blinked at Sebastian in disbelief.
Yes, that was undeniably him, the alpha from the gentleman shop with whom she had previously enjoyed such a languid, memorable evening.
As Sebastian stood on the grand front porch, he wore his traveling clothes, a black top hat and trench coat, as he clutched his polished trunk in his gloved hand.
"I…...I beg your pardon, sir," Ciel whispered in a hushed voice, "But may I inquire as to why you have come to this address?"
"Of course, my lady. I'm here to apply for the job. I noticed the advertisement in the paper that stated this family is in need of a house butler. Surely you remember me~?" Sebastian grinned.
Ciel frowned as she stammered, "B-But…..y-you…..you're….."
"I'm punctual, quite worldly, extraordinarily talented, and exceptionally polite." Sebastian said as he bowed slightly to Ciel, "Is the position still open, my lady, or has it already been filled?"
"N-No, it's…..it's…..it's….the position is still open." Ciel stammered, "Please come in."
Ciel stood to the side and as Sebastian stepped into her home, he removed his top hat and nodded at her as he flashed a handsome grin.
Sebastian's grin turned Ciel's cheeks a bright pink and sent her heart racing in her chest.
Regardless of her hesitation when she had first heard the knock on the door, Lady Phantomhive actually found herself delightfully excited about conducting another interview….