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!
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Towards the end of the Victorian Era, Britain hung in a precarious position.
The head of government contented itself with important matters such as exports, imports, maintaining the colonies, and international relations.
The British nobles who lived outside of Buckingham Palace's walls assumed more….domestic….duties.
Outside of London, sat amidst a picturesque backdrop of English countryside stood the timeless, elegant Phantomhive Manor, home to Earl Vincent Phantomhive, his wife Rachel, and their only child, Ciel.
Earl Phantomhive oversaw a variety of responsibilities, from running his toy business to trading opium, as well as acting as husband, father, and sitting head of his aristocratic household.
Every once in a while, a secret envelope from Queen Victoria herself arrived in Earl Phantomhive's morning mail.
His family asked no questions when he disappeared for a night or two afterwards, though when he returned with bruises and scrapes, Rachel lovingly tended his wounds herself instead of handing the task off to the household's maid, Mey-Rin.
It was usually all the Phantomhive maid could do to keep up with the basic tasks assigned to her.
Baldroy, the strapping, blonde cook, had more of a background in military life than he did in preparing cuisine.
No one was quite sure where Finny, the Phantomhive's young gardener had even come from, nor were many details known about the family's mysterious footman, Snake, who kept a plethora of scaly friends with him at all times, hidden away in his small cottage on the left most side of the property.
Rachel never questioned Vincent's austere decisions on hiring their bizarre servants, though the house's aging butler, Tanaka presented her with the fact that she would soon have to trust her husband once more.
As the sun beamed down on a bright, spring morning, Rachel sat at Vincent's side in the parlor.
She quietly sipped her tea while he read the latest issue of the newspaper.
"Is it any better today, sweetheart?" Rachel frowned at her darling while she studied the blackened bruise that framed Vincent's bloodshot eye.
"A bit sore, that's all. I've had worse, Rachel, there's no need to worry." Vincent quietly chided his wife, reluctant to reveal the true depth of the pain his recent injury had caused.
"It may not have happened if you had been able to take Tanaka with you Thursday." Rachel frowned.
"Well, of course not. Years ago, he could battle with the strength of ten men. Now Tanaka can hardly get out of bed, Rachel." Vincent frowned, "If he would have accompanied me Thursday evening, he would have been killed. You can't expect an elderly man on the verge of serious impairment to move with the flexibility his youth offered."
"I don't, my love." Rachel sighed, "I merely want you to make haste in finding a suitable replacement….Even if it's only someone to help you on your missions. You can't take another until you have a bit more protection."
"Baldroy and Finny are perfectly capable of aiding me." Vincent nodded.
"Baldroy and Finny were with you two nights ago and look what happened!" Rachel exclaimed.
"They were busy with their own fights, Rachel!" Vincent laughed.
"...And you need someone to be busy with yours!" She snapped, "You need a proper, able-bodied butler."
"That's precisely what I'm seeking, my love." Vincent purred as he took his wife's hand, raised it to his lips, and pressed a gentle kiss against her knuckles.
"Your search has been disappointingly fruitless so far." Rachel commented as a frown marred her beautiful face, "How many candidates have you spoken to…...five? Eight?"
"Twelve, to be exact." Vincent nodded, "But that's of little matter! I'm hopeful that today's visitor will be just the man we've been looking for!"
"Oh?" Rachel asked as she kept her frown, "How can you be so sure, Vincent?"
"The fellow coming for an interview with me at noon today is known as 'Mr. Sebastian Michaelis'." Vincent nodded, "...A worldly man, of decent breeding and fine taste. He comes to us from quite some distance, I'm told."
"If he's of fine breeding, then why does he work as a butler?" Rachel frowned.
Vincent shrugged as he replied, "I intend to ask him that when he arrives today."
Silence settled between the couple for a moment before Rachel asked hesitantly, "...And Ciel?"
"My dear…." Vincent answered with a knowing smirk, "Do you honestly believe that I'll let Ciel run another good employee off? Besides, if Mr. Michaelis is as exceptional as I've been led to believe, I'm certain he can easily handle her."
"Controlling Ciel is no easy feat, Vincent." Rachel quipped as she raised her teacup to her lips once more, "You and I both know that. Most young ladies her age are delightfully docile…..Why she rebels so much, I'll never know."
Vincent gazed at his mate with softness in his sapphire eyes.
He had to admit that although his wife's fiery boldness had initially attracted him during the early years of his youth, it was often a struggle to see that same quality reflected in their daughter.
In polite British society, women were expected to be anything but bold.
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Two hours later, Vincent sat in his study and frowned at the documents on his desk while he waited for Sebastian Michaelis to arrive.
He had become so consumed in his careful scrutiny of the paper in front of himself that he failed to hear the sounds of approaching visitors.
Vincent did not notice Tanaka's voice as it carried down the hallway, mingling with a second much smoother, younger tone.
Lord Phantomhive finally blinked as the heavy footsteps of two men shook him from his state of deep concentration.
He looked up with a furious frown as Tanaka knocked, opened the door, and stepped inside the room, followed by a handsome, tall, thin man.
The man wore a black suit that matched his raven-coloured hair, which hung in sharp angles around his pale face.
His amber eyes flashed at Vincent as a charming smile curled his lips.
Vincent, also tall and thin, but significantly older in his early forties, politely stood from his desk to greet his visitor.
The man instantly noticed Earl Phantomhive's unique blue and grey hair as the sunlight streamed through the window and highlighted its odd hues.
"Earl Phantomhive," Tanaka greeted his master with a polite bow, "I have Mr. Sebastian Michaelis here to see you, sir. As you requested, I've brought him straight to your study."
"Excellent, thank you, Tanaka." Vincent replied as a soft smile drifted across his handsome features.
"I'll return shortly with a tea cart, sir." Tanaka answered with a low bow before he took his leave of the study.
Vincent nodded briefly before his sapphire gaze flickered to Sebastian.
Both men reached to greet one another with a proper handshake as Vincent stepped forward and smiled at his guest, "I am Lord Vincent Phantomhive, Mr. Michaelis. Welcome to my estate! It's wonderful to make your acquaintance at last! I've heard quite a bit about you and your many talents."
"With all due respect, Lord Phantomhive, please, call me 'Sebastian', sir. Truly, it is I who am humbled to make your acquaintance." Sebastian answered with his same, charming smile.
"Very well then…..Sebastian." Vincent nodded as the men dropped their hands, "Won't you sit down so we may discuss the matter of your potential employment in this household?"
"Of course, sir." Sebastian answered as he nodded in return as a gesture of formal respect.
From his debonair mannerisms to the stoic posture he assumed as he sat in the large chair across from Vincent's heavy, mahogany desk, Lord Phantomhive had already become impressed with his latest interviewee.
"Right, then…." Vincent said as he cleared his throat, "I suppose that firstly, I'll give you an overview of this household and my expectations…...The manor itself is staffed by my current butler, Tanaka, whom you've already met, a maid, a cook, a gardener, and a footman. I'm searching for a man capable of taking over Tanaka's many duties with as much attention to detail and unwavering loyalty as he has shown the Phantomhive family over the years."
"Of course, sir," Sebastian nodded, "There is no better virtue than untarnished dedication."
Vincent's sapphire eyes bore into Sebastian as he went on, "The Phantomhive lineage dates back to the beginning of the British monarchy and has been in service to the royal family for the duration of that time. I myself remain under the Queen's command and every so often, I receive special…..requests….from her majesty. There may be many occasions when I ask you to accompany me on my assigned errands, should you decide to accept an offer of employment."
"It would be an honour to assist you in any way possible, sir." Sebastian said as he placed a hand over his chest and nodded again.
"Your salary can be negotiated." Vincent added as he stared at Sebastian curiously, "Now then...I suppose that's somewhat of an overview….Tell me a bit about yourself, Mr. Michaelis, won't you?"
"I hope I won't bore you, sir." Sebastian said as a smirk splayed across his lips, "I'm certain you've heard rumors that I was born of high status in another nation. Those gossipings are not entirely untrue, though I must say that I far prefer the adventures I've had since my departure from my homeland to the days of my early childhood……From the moment the carriage pulled into your driveway this morning, I marveled at the elegance of your estate. I am well-educated and well-traveled, sir, with a fair amount of domestic skill received from my days spent wandering. If you decide to hire me, I promise that I will not disappoint."
Vincent listened carefully to every word that Sebastian spoke.
After he finished, Vincent asked him a single question, "...Mr. Michaelis? You speak of adventures and travel…..May I ask why you want to be employed here as a humble butler?"
Sebastian's smirk remained while he prepared his answer.
As the door to Vincent's study opened, he didn't expect his reasoning to change so quickly.
Sebastian heard soft footsteps behind him as Vincent's eyes roamed before he sighed, "Ciel! I'm in a meeting, darling, if you'll wait just a moment, I'll be glad to speak with you then."
"Father….." A low, seductive voice spoke with a cutting bite of haughty irritation.
Ciel Phantomhive, Vincent and Rachel's only child, walked over to stand next to Sebastian's chair.
Dressed in the unconventional clothes she preferred, Ciel's frilly, blue pantsuit had been crafted from the finest of fabrics.
Her knee-high black and white boots gleamed in the sunlight that shone through the study's large window.
Her hair, bizarrely blue and grey like her father's, had been clipped to such a short length that many women of her era would have gasped and laughed, but Ciel preferred to keep her tresses exactly that way.
She glanced over at Sebastian, expecting to find another portly, older man with a fat face and chubby fingers, like most of her father's business contacts.
Under the thick layers of black lashes, Ciel's sapphire eyes widened as she beheld the tall, impossibly handsome man who sat across from her father.
Vincent kept his gaze on his daughter as he introduced her and Sebastian, "Sebastian, this is my daughter, Ciel, my only child, my pride and joy….Ciel, sweetheart, this is Sebastian Michaelis. He very well may be my new butler soon."
From Sebastian's raven-coloured hair that hung around his face in a flawless frame, to his angular features and lithe physique, Ciel immediately fell in love with the gentleman in her father's study.
Her mouth fell open as Sebastian rose to his feet, took her hand, raised it to his lips, and pressed a gentle kiss to her ivory knuckles.
He gazed deep into her eyes as he spoke, "The pleasure is all mine, my lady~."
Ciel mumbled a response of forced politeness before she nodded and left the room.
While Vincent and Sebastian resumed their talk, Sebastian crossed his legs to hide the evidence of his arousal, determined not to let Lord Phantomhive see that thoughts of his blue-eyed daughter in those knee high boots with a good two inches of thigh exposed by her shorts lingered in his mind.
As Ciel walked down the hallway, she found it hard to breathe.
Facing the prospect of being sold into a marriage to the highest bidder soon enough at her own debutante ball, in her eighteen years of life, Ciel had never met any man who made her heart race like Sebastian Michaelis.