I own nothing but my OC.


That Butler, Agitated 3


≤speech in Indian language≥

'thoughts'

"speech"

"Demonic speech"

{setting/stage directions?}

SOUND EFFECTS

An entire sentence like this, without quotes, is narration for dreams or stuff like written letters.

=†=†=†=†= scene shift/time shift

—^—^—^— change of perspective/area of action within one specific time frame/location


Previously:

"The dining room is that way. Come, let us go." The demon butler said calmly as he ushered them out of the room. As she closed the doors behind them, Chêne could have sworn she heard Agni's muffled voice, but she just shrugged it off. Had Chêne bothered to investigate, she would have found Agni hidden out of view from the inside of the foyer, struggling to try to break free from all the rope Sebastian had used to tie him up, and to get rid of the gag had been stuffed in his mouth to keep him from calling attention to himself until after their guests had left. Sebastian wasn't taking any chances this time.


"… Now, then." Ciel said once he and his guests were seated at opposite ends of the dining table. Sebastian and Chêne were patiently, waiting to serve Ciel and his guests. "As everyone has settled down, shall we move on to the main topic?" Ciel suggested.

"That's right. I never wanted to visit this sort of eerie doghouse." Lord Randall said grudgingly as he removed a sealed envelope from his jacket and handed it to Sebastian, who came to retrieve it for Ciel, while Chêne left to fetch the bottle of champagne that had been selected as a treat for their guests for the resolution of the hanging incidents.

"I see…" Ciel said as he took the envelope from Sebastian and opened it. "So this latest incident was worth this amount?"

"!?" Abberline gasped in shock when he realized the slip of paper Ciel that had just removed from the envelope was, in fact, a check. Why would the commissioner give the young earl something like that…!?

"?" Chêne said, blinking in confusion when she saw the agitated detective upon returning with the chilled champagne that she had nestled in a bucket of ice. He looked like Luke Skywalker after Darth Vader had revealed that he was actually the young jedi's father. She must have missed something good…

"That's––!?" Abberline shouted incredulously, unable to believe what he was seeing.

"The lord's successor doesn't know yet?" Ciel teased Abberline, smiling slyly. "The commissioner of the Yard has been used by the queen for ages. He purposefully brings the bait to the 'doghouse'. In general, the Phantomhives are a secret committee that carries out special duties. Because of that, the funds for their activities and their rewards cannot be included in the national budget. The fact of the matter is… the ones who raise this money for us, is the police." Ciel explained coolly as Lord Randall grit his teeth in anger and frustration. The commissioner was mortified he couldn't refute the veracity of Ciel's statement. "On paper, it could be called 'reward money'. It is the same as when purchasing a new 'police dog'." Ciel concluded nonchalantly. Chêne sweat dropped. Ciel really was turning into a bully… why did he have to look so happy when mocking others? She eyed Sebastian suspiciously as he took the bottle of champagne from her. He raised an eyebrow and stared back innocently at her, as if silently saying, 'Who, me?' She narrowed her eyes slightly at him.

Yes, you!

He just responded to her silent accusation with a radiant shit-eating grin, amused. He found that Chêne was rather adorable when she was upset. There was always a certain fire in her eyes…

"Th-That can't be!!" Abberline shouted in disbelief, refusing to let his noble image of the British police be shattered so easily. "Isn't that as though it's bribe money––"

"It isn't 'as though'." Ciel calmly interrupted. "It's genuinely bribe money." The young earl stated matter-of-factly as he gave the naïve detective a slight, wry grin of dark humor at the irony behind an organization that was dedicated to 'justice' doing something as 'corrupt' as offering secret bribes. Abberline stared at Ciel, stunned. Lord Randall clenched his fist, unable to look at his subordinate's shocked and appalled face. Abberline might be a fool most of the time, but the bumbling detective at least had an admirable sense of honor and justice… to the point where he was almost too naïve for the job.

Chêne tilted her head slightly to the side in confusion as she watched. She didn't see what the big deal was… Why shouldn't Ciel receive compensation for all the work he did? Even if Ciel was rich, spending his own money on certain 'business expenses' for the queen would add up after a while. Let's be honest, who would want to do work that not only risked their life but lost them money? Especially when they could normally just relax and live the cushy life of an English noble? The least Queen Victoria could do was reimburse him for 'travel expenses' since Ciel never would've come to London otherwise. Besides, was it really that different from the reward money that the police would offer sometimes to the public in exchange for their cooperation to catch certain criminals? Chêne didn't think so. It was like having a hired consultant.

"It's a long standing tradition…" Ciel said, bringing an end to that particular topic, as he glanced at Chêne and Sebastian, letting them know that was their cue to get moving. "Now, to commemorate today's settlement of the case, I have had some champagne prepared for you gentlemen. Won't you celebrate with me?" He offered politely, returning to his role as a 'gracious' host.

"But the culprit still hasn't been arrested––!" Abberline started to object.

"That's enough, Abberline." Lord Randall said sternly. "If Her Majesty and Phantomhive say it's over, then… The culprit no longer exists." He stated firmly as the doors to the dining room suddenly flew wide open.

BAM!

Ciel's eyes widened when he saw a rather exhausted looking Agni standing there, bold as brass. How had he escaped from all those ropes Sebastian had used to tie him up with––Was he some kind of Indian 'Houdini'!? He, Chêne, and Sebastian froze like three deer caught in the headlights, and Agni was the speeding eighteen-wheeler truck that was only seconds away from turning them all into road kill. It was too late to hide him this time. Randall and Abberline had already turned around in their chairs to look at him, slightly taken aback by the sudden appearance of a complete stranger.

"The truth about that case, is I––!!" Agni started to shout anxiously, determined to do the right thing and confess his crimes.

"Don't––" Chêne cried in alarm as she instinctively reached her hand towards the Indian man, praying Agni wouldn't get them all arrested for adding and abetting a known criminal, but before she could take another step, Sebastian swiftly but gently pushed her aside and aimed the bottle of champagne at his fellow butler and 'friend'. 'That stance…!' Chêne thought, eyes widening with realization, as she watched Sebastian push up on the cork with his thumb.

POP!

The cork shot across the room like a speeding bullet, propelled by all of the pent up pressure from the bubbly alcohol, and nailed Agni right on the chin.

"Gyah!" Agni grunted in pain and surprise as he was sent flying backwards from the force of the impact. The cork rebounded of off the unfortunate man's face and flew up into the air in a graceful arc. Sebastian reached up and caught it in one hand, effortlessly.

'D… D-Damn…!!' Chêne thought, stunned. That had to have been one hell of a shot to send a grown man flying like that! Since when was the carbonation from champagne that violent!?

"My… I apologize. Are you all right?" Sebastian asked innocently. Chêne sweat dropped. He didn't look very 'apologetic' at all…

Poor Agni couldn't even speak, but he nodded his head as he held a hand over his aching mouth. He had started to tear up a little from the throbbing pain. Chêne hoped that little stunt hadn't broken any of Agni's teeth… Victorian era dentistry was borderline torture. Still, that had been some quick thinking on Sebastian's part. At least they should be safe, now that––

"A-ah, I'm starving." Soma moaned pitifully as he staggered into the room, looking extremely pale and weak from hunger. He hadn't had anything to eat for hours now. "Before they find me, I should…" Soma froze in his tracks when he realized he wasn't alone. They were all staring at him. It was so awkwardly silent in that room, that you could hear a pin drop.

"Who are these people?" Lord Randall asked as he watched Soma turn blue from shock and nervously inch towards his trusted khansama for safety. "They're… Indians?" He asked, puzzled. Why were Indians in the country manor house of an earl?

"Lord Randall, I apologize for the fuss." Sebastian said calmly, being the first to recover from their series of shocks. "These people are…" He said, glancing at Ciel to let his young master know that he should be the one to come up with an excuse since they were his guests. Ciel sighed, chagrined.

"This is the Prince of Bengal, Soma, and his servant, Agni. They are my good friends who are staying here while they study English culture." Ciel stated calmly. He figured that should be an acceptable explanation for the two policemen. Soma stared at Ciel in awe, blushing slightly, as he suddenly lit up with joy.

"Ciel! You finally admitted it~!!" Soma shouted happily as he glomped Ciel, glowing with the radiance of a thousand white-hot suns. "You really do think of me as a friend~!"

"Who is your frien––Guuuah." Ciel started to ask incredulously before grunting in pain as Soma squeezed him tightly. Chêne sweat dropped as she watched Ciel start to turn blue from lack of oxygen… apparently, Soma's friendly affection was too much for him.

"Wow, such a pure smile… I haven't seen a (honest) happy face that blindingly radiant in a while." Chêne commented, smiling wryly as Ciel struggled to break free and preserve whatever was left of his dignity after being embarrassed so in front of Lord Randall.

"Indeed." Sebastian replied dryly, barely managing to suppress a smirk as he held in his laughter. Unfortunately, he was still on duty at the moment, and a proper butler should not laugh at his master's expense… no matter how amusing it was.

"Ciel~!" Soma sang happily, completely oblivious to the younger boy's mortification and suffering despite all the struggling.

"It hurts, stop it!" Ciel shouted indignantly as a vein mark throbbed on his forehead. Lord Randall sweat dropped, not quite sure how he should react in this strange situation... He had never seen Ciel act like a normal little boy before… Was he really seeing this? His attention was drawn away from the comic scene, just as Chêne finally went over to help pry Soma off of Ciel, when Sebastian began to fill his glass with champagne.

"To settle this incident, you also went through many difficulties. Please, let me offer this in congratulations." Sebastian explained humbly when he saw the commissioner stare at the bottle in his hand. Ciel furrowed his brow slightly as he sighed in relief, finally free from Soma's vice-like embrace. To think that Lord Randall, of all people, had seen him like that… He softly cleared his throat before addressing the entire room.

"Then, for safely bringing another conflict to an end, Cheers!" Ciel toasted dutifully as he and all of his guests raised their crystal flutes of champagne. Chêne smiled as she watched the atmosphere in the room lighten. Thank God everything had ended so peacefully.

=†=†=†=†=

{Later that night…}

"I am so very sorry!" Agni shouted earnestly as he prostrated himself before Ciel. "If Mister Sebastian hadn't stopped me, then…!!"

Lord Randall and Detective Abberline had already left once they finished their meal, so it was safe to speak about the truth behind those incidents again, without implicating themselves as accomplices for aiding Agni and Soma. However, after all the trouble their guests had caused, Ciel had wanted to set them straight, and Sebastian and Chêne were completely in agreement with that sentiment. Chêne even had them kneel in front of Ciel's chair in seiza while they apologized and tried to explain themselves. Soma was actually starting to tremble from the 'pins and needles' sensation that was running through his legs after staying in such a strange position for so long. A vein mark throbbed on Ciel's head. Even with Soma looking so pitiful, he was far too irritated by the whole affair to let their idiotic behavior slide with just a simple apology.

"I couldn't care less if you turned yourself in at a place to which I have no connection! As it is, this is my home, so I would be caught up in it too!" Ciel snapped sternly, crossing his arms, as he scowled at the Indian Prince and butler that were groveling at his feet. Sebastian sighed while Chêne sweat dropped as she sipped on Ciel's leftover glass of Champagne. Since Ciel was still just a preteen, and Chêne was old enough to drink in this era, they had developed a system where if Ciel would have adult guests who drank alcohol, he would have one glass poured for him to toast with, take one sip out of politeness, and then pass it off to either Chêne or Bard to finish later, so that such expensive liquor wouldn't go to waste. She usually let Bard have it since technically she wasn't of the legal drinking age in our world yet, but cleaning up after Agni's multiple attempts of martyrdom had left both her and Sebastian feeling a little exasperated. They were just glad it was over now.

"That is right, Agni! Don't trouble my friends." Soma chided his faithful khansama firmly. He wasn't really mad, but he furrowed his brow slightly to show how serious he was. "And you are forbidden from turning yourself in! That's an order!" He commanded, causing Agni to flinch in shock. Agni looked deeply conflicted for a few moments as he struggled internally over this moral dilemma, but eventually, his loyalty to following Soma won out in the end. Agni sighed humbly as he bowed his head in defeat. If that was what his prince, his god wanted, then Agni could not refuse.

"≤Jo aagyaa≥…" Agni said solemnly, pledging his loyalty and silence. Soma beamed at his servant in approval while Ciel, Sebastian, and Chêne sighed tiredly. Well, that settled that. If all it took was one word form Soma, then maybe they should have thought to do this sooner and save themselves the trouble…

"Then, since we have received permission to stay here from our dear friend, Ciel, to stay here, let's go to bed." Soma added matter-of-factly, with a serious gleam in his eye. He wasn't going to forget about what Ciel had said back in the dining room anytime soon.

The young earl sweat dropped as he face-palmed. What on earth had possessed him to use such a phrase to describe this spoiled and dense prince…? He decided that he really should try to be more careful in the future. His spontaneous choice of words was probably going to haunt him now.

"Yes." Agni agreed pleasantly, back to his smiling self now that everything had been settled.

He looked so refreshed, that Chêne could have sworn she saw spring flowers pop up around the Indian butler. She sweat dropped. Well, that was a nice, but really abrupt change of face… She glanced at Ciel, wondering how he was going to handle this since he had obviously been against letting their new friends cramp his style any longer. Ciel sighed resignedly. He had walked right into this one… however, he had no intention of admitting defeat yet.

"… Fine. I shall let you stay at my manor." Ciel stated calmly, causing Chêne to raise her eyebrows slightly in surprise for his compliance. "However!!" He added suddenly with a cunning gleam in his eye, pointing a finger at Soma. "People who do not work cannot eat." He declared, borrowing one of Chêne's pet phrases.

Soma stared at Ciel, seemingly dumbfounded.

"Work?" Soma asked, puzzled, not entirely sure he had just heard Ciel right. "Me, a prince?" This concept was completely foreign to the Indian prince. It was like Ciel had just told him curry was bland, or something equally unreal.

"Indeed." Ciel replied coolly with a scheming glint in his eye. "In return, I will pay you. In other words, that is money you will earn through your own work. You want to become a great man, independent of your parents, correct?" Soma immediately perked up when he heard Ciel's explanation, and his eyes sparkled innocently out of admiration for his friend's generous plan.

"That's right~! What should I do?" Soma asked enthusiastically, smiling brightly at Ciel with all the radiance of the sun. Ciel furrowed his brow slightly as he turned away from the prince's blinding innocence, slightly chagrined. He hadn't expected such an extreme show of joy… However, Ciel smirked slightly as he turned back to Soma again.

"Let's see… How about managing my townhouse in London with Agni?" Ciel suggested thoughtfully. "It is a very difficult job. I wouldn't ask just anyone. Can you do it?" He asked Soma a little coyly, earning him a glance from Sebastian and Chêne. Chêne smiled wryly.

'So, that's what he's doing…' Chêne thought, shaking her head a little at Ciel's sly use of reverse psychology.

"I'll do it!! Leave it to me!!" Soma declared enthusiastically, pumping his fist in the air excitedly as he jumped to his feet from his kneeling position on the floor. "Uwaah! Owwww! My feet hurt!" Soma shouted and flinched in surprise and pain when all the blood rushed back into his numb legs. It felt like thousands of tiny needles being stuck into them, like a pincushion. He nearly fell over when his knees buckled under him after suddenly being forced to support all of his weight again.

"Prince, be careful!!" Agni warned anxiously as he too struggled to stand so he could support Soma.

'With this, things will finally start to quiet down.' Ciel thought, sighing for what felt like the hundredth time that night, as he ignored their plight and left the room on his own, not even bothering to look back. Ciel still had some paperwork to see to. He was too busy to waste time on their shenanigans.

"…" Sebastian said as he stared after his young master. It seemed he had finally figured out how to handle their unusual guests.

"… You think maybe I over did it with the seiza?" Chêne asked Sebastian thoughtfully as she watched Agni and Soma stagger around the room, trying to get their balance back in their legs after sitting on them for so long. If you weren't used to it or did it wrong, sitting in Japanese seiza could be really painful if your legs went numb… She furrowed her brow slightly out of concern.

"Not at all. I find it rather amusing." Sebastian replied easily, flashing her a brilliant shit-eating grin. Indeed, it seemed to be a most affective and appropriate punishment for two people who had been running around so haphazardly just a while ago. They would surely remember to be more likely to avoid any behavior that would result in experiencing such an unpleasant sensation again.

"No, that's not really what I meant…" Chêne said, sweat dropping. "… I guess I should've known better than to ask a sadist something like that." She sighed as she stared at her handsome 'fiancé'. It was kind of a shame the wedding was just pretend, but on the other hand… thinking about what her future might be like with a sadistic demon as a husband, she wasn't sure how long she'd survive a relationship like that… Chêne had a feeling that she probably didn't want to know…