I own nothing but my OC.
That Butler, Scandalous
≤speech in Indian language≥
'thoughts'
"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:
"Wherever did you get that?" he asked gravely, frowning, as he pointed to the Devinette brooch that she had inherited from her grandmother on her birthday.
"I inherited it. It's a family heirloom... Why, is something wrong with that?" Chêne asked, furrowing her brow slightly in confusion. Why did he suddenly look so troubled?
"You inherited it, you say…?" Undertaker asked dubiously, deepening his frown. How long had she had it? He couldn't remember having seen her wear it before, and he knew he would never forget seeing that thing again. "… Come with me, Miss Maid," Undertaker said solemnly as he released his vice-like grip on Chêne's wrist and took her by the hand, leading her towards his hearse, "and I shall tell you a fairy story from long ago..."
"Once upon a time, there lived a very special family, who possessed a very special gift… They could see the future in their dreams." Undertaker began as they rode together on his black hearse together in the cold. It felt surreal to Chêne, traveling through the twilight like that, surrounded by darkness and death during the blue hour while listening to a madman tell her a fairy tale. "This… ability… could be both a blessing and curse, but one particular generation learned how to use it solely to their advantage. They began using their insight to gain power, wealth, and favor with certain monarchs, and they came to be known as the Devinettes." Chêne froze when the full weight of his words hit her, and her eyes widened in shock as she turned to face him.
No… It couldn't be…
"Influencing one or two small events here and there to ease one's conscience is no great sin, as long as it is done responsibly, but there is a difference between what one 'can' and what one 'should' do." He continued. "The Devinettes ignored this crucial difference, and their folly had dire consequences on the world's natural order. People who should have died didn't, and people who shouldn't have died did. Together they began to selfishly unravel the tapestry of fate and reshape it to suit their own personal agenda. They tried to play God, and they failed miserably. The more they deviated from the original plan, the world fell into chaos. A schism between the reality of what was and what should have been began to form, creating two parallel worlds… one where humans relied too much on magic, and one where they relied on it too little. Though this was done to preserve the timeline of both worlds without having to destroy one or the other and all who inhabited them, it created a terrible imbalance, especially when the ones responsible for the splitting of realities refused to stop the behavior that had caused it in the first place. The Devinettes of this world were given one last chance to behave themselves, but they refused… So they had to be stopped."
Chêne's eyes widened, and she felt herself shudder as a terrible chill shivered up her spine, as though someone had just walked over her grave.
They were killed… every last one of them. She knew it now, what had happened to her family, or at least her ancestors, in this world…
"And… did 'stopping' them… restore balance?" She asked a bit hesitantly, swallowing the nervous lump in her throat.
"… That is a story for another day, Miss Maid." Undertaker said, glancing at her, as his usual grin began to snake its wake back onto his face again. "This is your stop, Miss Maid." He told her as he pulled back on the reins and the hearse rolled to a stop just in front of the circus's gates, waving her off. Chêne furrowed her brow slightly in confusion at their timely arrival and the sudden dismissal as she began to climb down from the seat.
"How do you know all of this?" She asked, pausing. How did he even known this is where she was headed?
"Hmm… I wonder…" He replied enigmatically, grinning at her like a demented Cheshire cat. "Remember to choose wisely, Miss Maid." He told her as he cracked the reins and started driving away. "And do try not to get caught next time~!" He cackled as his black hearse took off down the lane, disappearing off into the night. Chêne stared after him for a moment longer, gently tracing her fingers over the family brooch, before heading back into the circus grounds.
=†=†=†=†=
"You certainly took your time." Sebastian remarked as she entered their tent. "I had half a mind to send out a search party." He teased, smirking, as he approached his pensive wife. Did she delight in making him worry about her. His smile faltered slightly when he noticed the melancholy expression in her normally bright and cheerful eyes. "What is it? What's wrong?" He asked, concerned.
"Sebastian… Do you remember, when I first came here, how I tried to look up some of the ancestors on my mother's side who should have been living here, but couldn't find any record of them…?" She asked. "Well, I think I finally know why… It's because they're all dead… or rather, they were never born…"
"What do you mean? What are you talking about, Chêne?" her demon husband asked, furrowing his brow, wondering where this shot out of the blue had suddenly come from, but she just closed her eyes and shook her head as she leaned her head against his chest.
"I'll tell you later, but for now… just hold me?" She asked, wrapping her slender arms around him, seeking comfort from his embrace as a lone tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.
=†=†=†=†=
{Sunrise…}
The sun was just beginning to peek over the line of trees behind the campgrounds, but it was already promising to be another beautiful, crisp, and clear winter day. With the reaper, their third wheel, already gone off to help the rest of the rookies prepare breakfast, Sebastian and Chêne finally had a moment alone together, and he was savoring it. The demon butler found himself reluctant to wake his petite wife and separate from her, despite his orders. Chêne cried so rarely that he knew it must be something serious to have unnerved her so. So, he had listened patiently as he held her throughout what remained of the rest of the night, until she eventually exhausted herself and fell asleep in his arms.
Sebastian sighed regretfully, knowing that, despite his wish to let her rest properly, it was time to rouse her again so they could collect their young master and depart before they fell too far behind schedule.
"Chêne… Chêne. It's time to wake up." He called loudly, giving her a little shake.
"Nnn… What?" She asked sleepily as she reluctantly opened her eyes, which were still slightly raw from crying. "… Already?"
"I'm afraid so." He replied, smiling wryly as she rubbed her eyes and stretched, very much resembling a sleepy kitten.
"Mm… Thanks for letting me vent last night." She said, giving him a small apologetic smile. "I'm sorry for crying on you, but it just mad me so sad, thinking of all the people who could have been but never were…"
"You do not have to apologize, Chêne. Never apologize for being yourself." He told her, smirking, as he held her chin. "It is what drew me to you, after all." Chêne blushed.
"I love you." She told him, smiling a little shyly.
"I know." He replied smoothly, pressing his lips to hers in a soft and gentle, almost reverent kiss.
=†=†=†=†=
"—Nn!!" Ciel said, twitching in surprise, when he awoke to the feeling of something cool being pressed against his forehead. He opened his eyes and realized Chêne was leaning over him, holding her hand against his feverish forehead to check his temperature. It didn't seem to be as bad as yesterday, and he wasn't sweating as heavily either. "Chê…ne?" He asked groggily, blinking. He was still half asleep and feeling a bit dazed from his cold.
"Good morning. It looks like your fever broke while you were sleeping last night." She informed him with a sunny smile. He noted Sebastian was standing just behind her, sporting a brilliant shit-eating grin of his own. "How are you feeling?"
"Koff! Not great, but better than yesterday. Koff!" Ciel replied as Chêne helped him sit up in bed.
"That's great, but try not to cough too much. We don't want your throat tightening up again." She said, smiling wryly, at him as Sebastian went to fetch some water for him.
"Did Freckle Face go to breakfast already…?" Ciel asked when he noticed the other half of the bed was empty again. "Koff!"
"I'm not sure… probably. She was already gone when we got here… and her name is Freckles, Ciel, just Freckles." Chêne replied, sweat-dropping. Poor Freckles.
"Please have some water." Sebastian told Ciel, offering him the cup of water he had just returned with.
"Aah… Nn? What happened to your gloves?" Ciel asked as he accepted the water. "Why are you only wearing one of them?" His inhumanly black nails were showing…
"Ohh." Sebastian said, glancing briefly at his exposed hand before gracing his master with another brilliant shit-eating grin. "I'm afraid it got a little dirty." He couldn't just walk around wearing a blood-stained glove, now could he?
"?" Ciel said, frowning at his butler's vague answer. Well, whatever. At least the hand with the seals for his covenant and his tie with Chêne was still covered, that was the important thing. "Well, that aside," He continued, pausing to take a sip of water, "Koff! I do hope you took care of the errand I left you?" he asked pointedly.
"Yep. All taken care off." Chêne replied brightly. No need to mention how she almost got caught.
"Come." Sebastian said, scooping the young earl out of bed. "There is no need to linger here further. Let us make our exit while everyone is breaking their fast. We can talk at leisure once we have returned to the townhouse."
"Good idea." Chêne said, wrapping Ciel's scarf around his neck, making sure he was properly bundled up against the cold. "I get the feeling we'd really be pushing our luck by staying here any longer." She added as they exited the medical tent together.
They were slightly taken aback to see a certain reaper waiting for them just outside. William T. Spears was once again wearing his black business suit, and he had that special record book of his tucked under his arm. Whatever event was going to take place, it must be happening soon. Chêne was tempted to ask him about it, but then the Undertaker's warning about interfering crossed her mind. Perhaps it would be best if she didn't…
"We have finished with our business, so we will take our leave." Sebastian informed the reaper coolly as he marched straight past him, patting Ciel on the back when he coughed.
Chêne gave the reaper a quick nod goodbye before hurrying to catch up with her husband.
Will nodded back at the Code 42, but he narrowed his eyes at the retreating demon as he carried his small master away.
"As long as you are with your owner, I don't give a toss where you go." He said, just loud enough for the demon he was addressing to hear. Sebastian decided not to dignify that with a response. "Now I can relax and get down to my own business." Will thought aloud to himself as he watched the odd trio depart before opening his binder of soul collection lists.
