That Butler, Brand New


I own nothing but my OC.

≤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:

"There was nothing left," Ciel shouted. "What they were trying to protect had ceased to be long ago." He tossed his head back, holding onto the brim of his hat. "Without even knowing that much, they were still that desperate… and they all died in the end!! AHHAHAHAHAHA!" Chêne couldn't hold her tears back anymore. They came flooding out, streaming down her face while she watched Ciel laugh like a madman. "Sneering at desperate wishes and trampling them like insects. How dishonest… and cruel… and ugly. So much more devilish than even an actual devil. Is that not so? AHHAHAHAHA! AHHAHAHAHA! Haha… Ha..." His laughter suddenly died down. "—I am the same," Ciel said. "I too… am packed full of the same hideous stuffing as they. This is what we humans are! This is what humans are like!!" he shouted with an anguished expression on his face. "Sebastian!! Chêne!!" Chêne didn't say anything. She couldn't, not after what he did. Not after she was willing to overlook it just to stay with them. She just ran to Ciel and held him tight, still crying. Sebastian stared at his master with wide eyes for a moment.

"Yes, quite," he said with the hint of a smile. "You are different from devils in that you possess mean and complex malice… and you lie—

"!" Ciel and Chêne squeezed their eyes shut at another gust of strong wind.

FWOOSH.

The bow on the ribbon around Ciel's hat was pulled loose. "Ah..." Ciel said, surprised when the wind stole his ribbon. Ciel reached for it, but it was already floating beyond the tips of his fingers.

'You struggle desperately and kick others down...' Sebastian thought as he watched the ribbon float past him. He reached for it, but it fluttered up beyond his grasp. 'You rob and are robbed in return, all the while repeating your excuses… Yet still you aim for the yonder over the hills.' All three of them watched as the ribbon flew away. Sebastian's pupils constricted to slits as he smiled up at the sky. 'That is exactly why I find humans so amusing.


"As I believe I have mentioned before… servants are to perform their work unobtrusively…" Sebastian lectured the three stooges. Mei-Rin and Finni were white as sheets with tears in their eyes, trembling while they huddled together. Bard was acting like he couldn't care less. "Well?" the butler asked sternly. "How many times must I repeat myself until you understand the meaning of 'unobtrusively'?" One wing of the manor had been demolished, and parts of the roof were damaged here and there.

"We're sooo sorryyyy!" Mei-Rin and Finni cried, terrified.

'Wow, he's letting them off easy...' Chêne thought, sweat-dropping. Just a scolding? Usually he would give them triple-decker ice cream scoops and then some. 'Well, they did do a good job of protecting Elizabeth.'

"In any case… Please clean up what you three have scattered about," Sebastian told them, putting a ripped flour sack into a trash bag as he got started on the cleanup. "Chêne and I shall do something about repairs and our daily duties."

'We will?' Chêne thought, sweat-dropping again. She didn't mind cleaning, but even with Sebastian's help, that was a lot of work… "Hm? What's that?" she asked, squinting. She picked it up. "A red hair?" Her face deadpanned when she recalled where she had seen hair like that before. 'It's a really good thing we weren't here, or things might've gotten complicated…!' she thought, sweating nervously. The damage to the manor would probably be at least twice as bad.

"..." Sebastian was also glad to have missed that particular reunion. He took the hair from her and threw it in the trash. "Here," he said, handing her the bag so he could get started elsewhere. "Mister Tanaka. Do carry on as per usual." Chêne picked up a burnt scarf she didn't recognize and let it drop into the bag. "Now, everyone," he said, clapping his hands together, getting the others' attention. "Today will be a busy day. Devote yourselves to cleaning up and nothing else..."

—^—^—^—

"Sebastian, it's awful!! There's nothing!! There's nothing left at allll!!" Lizzie cried dramatically as she burst into the front room of Ciel's bedroom, where he was getting changed behind a screen with Sebastian's help. She had wanted to pick out something cute for him, but everything was just gone.

"Excuse us," Sebastian said calmly while Ciel yawned. "Due to the servants' ineptitude, Young Master's dressing room was destroyed as well… and the only suits left are those we had taken to London.

"Eeeeeh!?" Lizzie exclaimed in disappointment. "I was hoping we could get all dressed up today and take a boat ride together…" she said glumly.

"I am so very sorry," Sebastian apologized with a wry smile. She almost looked like Chêne when she pouted like that. "As soon as I have finished repairing the manor..."

"Oh! I know~!" Elizabeth said brightly, suddenly perking up as a marvelous idea occurred to her. "We need only have some made if you haven't any!"

"Y—Yes, so once I am done with the repairs..." Sebastian said, sensing an even larger workload headed his way.

"Easter is at the end of March, so the timing is just right!" Lizzie said moving past him to peek around the screen at a thankfully fully-dressed Ciel. "Ciel, let's do that!" He seemed to be staring off into space. "… Ciel?" she asked, concerned when he didn't answer.

"Eh!?" Ciel said, flinching back to attention when he realized she was talking to him.

"Were you listening to me?" Lizzie asked, getting in his face.

"Ahh… um..." Ciel said lamely, leaning back a little to maintain a more comfortable distance between them. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face. She caught him.

"Then we will call for a tailor today. Is that acceptable?" Sebastian asked, coming to his aid.

"Yes," Ciel replied.

"Why you, Ciel!" Lizzie huffed. "I knew you weren't listening to me!" So mean!

"No, well, um..." Ciel said nervously, trying to think of a way to get himself out of trouble. "I know! How about you have something made too, Lizzie? It'll be a gift from me."

"Really!?" Lizzie said, brightening instantly. "I'm so happy~!" Sebastian sighed. If only making up with Chêne were that easy. He watched as Lizzie grabbed Ciel's hands with a huge smile on her face. "I'd like an Easter dress so we can decorate it with matching flowers!"

"All right, all right," Ciel agreed, sweat-dropping.

"The please enjoy a leisurely breakfast until the tailor arrives," Sebastian said, leading them to the next room, where everything was set and waiting for them.

=†=†=†=†=†=

{A few hours later...}

"Well, I guess we might as well begin sweeping in here..." Chêne said as she stared around at the rubble littering the main foyer with Mei-Rin (she had already finished helping Bard in the kitchen). At least then the plaster dust might stop getting everywhere, and it should go faster with two of them.

RING.

Before they could get started, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" Mei-Rin said, wanting to be helpful. Chêne let her. She could guess who it might be. "Who is it…?" Mei-Rin asked as she carefully opened the door to greet their guest. "Ah!" she gasped when she saw who it was. "Miss Nina!"

"Hiii! Ça va?" the stylishly dressed tailor greeted the maid with a big smile. "The tailor who announces the seasons… Nina Hopkins has arrived!" She immediately glomped the glasses-wearing maid in a passionate embrace and kissed her cheek. "I've missed you so, Mei-Rin! "

"Hyowah!" Mei-Rin cried in alarm, turning blue with shock. Chêne set her broom aside and brushed her hands off. It seemed Mei-Rin could use some rescuing.

"Did my maid uniform come in handy this time too?" Nina asked, fondling the maid's thigh, sliding the skirt up to expose the piece of fabric beneath it that could be used to hold it up when secured with a button, for easy movement.

"Ye—eep!?" Mei-rin yelped when the tailor groped one of her boobs too, blushing deeply and breaking out in a nervous sweat. "Ah! Ummmmmm!"

"You're well endowed, so you should emphasize your features more," Nina told her. "You should come to my shop next time..."

"Ahem. I think that's enough, don't you?" Chêne said, staring at the tailor with her hands on her hips and a no-nonsense expression on her face.

"Chêne! " Nina exclaimed, trying to glomp her next. "Oh, you look so wonderfully authoritative when you do that! Magnifique!"

"Not so much that it prevents you from trying to molest me though..." Chêne said, sweat-dropping, while she did her best to hold the enthusiastic woman at arm's length. She knew Nina didn't mean any harm, but the only people Chêne would let get away with that embarrassing level of overfamiliarity were family and Lacey. And Sebastian, obviously. But she was still upset with him at the moment. Nina settled for a kiss on the cheek and gave up trying to grab her. For the moment.

"Oh, Chêne you always play so hard to get~" Nina teased.

"That's because I am," Chêne replied with a radiant shit-eating grin.

"Surely you can let me have just one little…." Nina started to ask.

"Ah! Miss Nina's here!" Finni exclaimed innocently as he and Bard entered the room. "Hello!"

"Hyaa," Bard greeted her.

"Tch!" Nina clicked her tongue darkly at them and turned back to the two maids. "Come, Chêne. Mei-Rin. Take me to the earl," she told the two women with a gleam in her eye.

"Yer gonna ignore us!?" Bard shouted incredulously with multiple veins throbbing on his head.

"Your spare uniforms are in the carriage," Nina told him, waving her hand dismissively at the guys.

"What's with the difference in treatment!?" Bard demanded incredulously.

"You really want to be treated the same?" Chêne asked him skeptically, raising an eyebrow. Bard sweat-dropped, thinking of all the sexual harassment the two maids had to put up with.

"Well, maybe not the same..." he admitted a bit sheepishly. That was pretty bad…

"Miss Hopkins," Sebastian said strictly, getting her attention. He was standing on the stairs above them, casually holding thick beam of wood as if it were light as walking stick. Chêne sweat-dropped at the sight. Couldn't he be a little more subtle? It was amazing no one had figured out he wasn't human. "I have always asked you merchants to come in from the rear entrance."

"Tch! Mister Hardhead is here," Nina said, furrowing her brow in irritation.

'You're the hard head,' Chêne thought. None of the other merchants had a problem with that arrangement, but Nina flat out refused to conform.

"Master is waiting, so come through to the drawing room," Sebastian told her. "Chêne, show her the way."

"I will," Nina said happily, immediately perking up with the knowledge that one of her favorite maids was leading her to her favorite earl. Sebastian continued on his way with the beam, leaving escorting the troublesome tailor in his wife's capable hands. "By the way, Chêne. How was that fur-trimmed wedding dress I made for you?" Nina asked as they walked."I sooo wanted to see you walk down the aisle in it…"

"It was beautiful, thank you," Chêne said sincerely, smiling at her with gratitude. "It actually turned out to be a real wedding, after all… so I have a picture, if you want to see it?" The first picture, which was taken as they were leaving church was ruined when they had to dodge the bullet, but they had paid the photographer to stick around and take another one outside on the church steps after the culprit was taken into custody.

"What!? You mean you and that stiff man are—Ugh! Of course I want to see it!!" Nina said, appalled that Sebastian had snapped her up, but her desire to see the picture was too strong to let a grudge get in the way.

"I'll fetch it for you while you work on the young master's fitting," Chêne said with a smile that held a touch of sadness. Thinking back to how happy she had been that day, she never would have seen her current troubles coming. She didn't hate Sebastian and Ciel for what they had done. She couldn't. She still loved them. She knew their motives were complicated and extremely personal, and felt that she was partly to blame as well. So even if she hated what they did, she didn't hate them… but she couldn't forget. She didn't think she ever would. Especially not when she was still having nightmares about it. Chêne was brought out of her musings by the realization that Sebastian had evidently finished with the beam and caught up with them. He opened the door to allow the two ladies to the enter the drawing room.

"Excuse me," Sebastian said, alerting Ciel and Lizzie to their presence. Nina swept in first.

"Nina!" Lizzie said, standing up from the table they were drinking tea at to greet her.

"Lady Elizabeth, nice to see you," the tailor said, giving her a polite peck on the cheek. "You look lovely today too."

"Thank you," Lizzie responded brightly.

"I see the earl is a beautiful boy as always. How wonderful..." Nina marveled with glistening eyes. The sight alone was enough to tug on her heartstrings.

"Oh...?" Ciel said, sweat-dropping.

"Then, Miss Hopkins…" Sebastian said, getting her attention, while he consulted his little book of notes. "… Today I would like you first to tailor several suits for the young master… then an Easter outfit… and a matching dress for Lady Elizabeth." Ciel just continued to lean on the table with his head in his hand, as if he was lost in thought. It seemed to Chêne that Ciel had been just as deeply affected by the past few days' events as she had, if not more. She was concerned for him, but she was also relieved. If he had felt nothing for the children, then… she didn't want to think about it. At least she knew he hadn't completely abandoned his humanity. It must have been a moment of temporary insanity, brought on by PTSD.

"I'd like a dress so Ciel and I can decorate our clothes with the same flowers!" Lizzie declared cheerfully. She was like a ray of sunshine piercing through the gloom in their hearts.

"As you will," Nina said, unbuttoning the waist of her skirt so she could whip it off to reveal a pair of modern-looking shorts and over-the-knee boots hiding underneath.

FLAP.

"I shall tailor the finest dress that incorporates the latest trends," Nina vowed grandly. Sebastian stared at her with an extremely unimpressed look on his face.

"Kyaah!!" Lizzie shrieked in surprise, blushing. "Nina!! You're being indecent by exposing so much of your legs!!"

'Ah, that's right… in these times in Great Britain, the legs were considered the most obscene parts of the human body...' Chêne recalled, smiling wryly and sweat-dropping.

"My lady! That notion is as old as the fossils!" Nina said. "These clothes are designed primarily for freedom of movement and were made in respect of Mrs. Bloomer, who advocated active women. Women should cast aside stiff and formal rules, and be freer! Clothes with loose silhouettes that are easy to move about in, such as those favored in Greece and Japan, will become fashionable from now on. Right, Chêne?" Nina knew Chêne would agree, after all she had her design that 'brassiere' for her.

"Well, I'm all for being able to breathe easier…" Chêne agreed diplomatically. She actually believed in what Nina was saying 100%, but it wasn't supposed to be her place to say such things as a maid, especially not in front of guests.

"Will you please refrain from trying to corrupt my wife?" Sebastian requested dryly. That was his job.

"Silhouettes are important for men as well!" Nina said, as if she hadn't heard him. "And for beautiful silhouettes, taking fine measurements is of the utmost importance! Now then, Earl! Let us begin. Earl? Are you listening?" she asked when he didn't respond right away.

"Hah! Yes," Ciel said, starting a little as he snapped to attention.

"Now, measurements, measurements," Nina said, opening her bag to retrieve her tools of the trade, while Sebastian and Chêne made sure she had everything she needed from the supplies on their end.

—^—^—^—

"Ah…. Will the little lord earl also grow big someday?" Nina sighed, measuring him as he stood on a stool for her, while Sebastian held his jacket for him.

'Excuse me for being little,' Ciel thought with a vein throbbing on his forehead, frowning and furrowing his brow in annoyance.

"Then you will not be wearing my handmade evening dress anymore," Nina said sadly picturing him in the lovely muslin-drenched pink dress she had made for him during the Jack the Ripper case.

"Wha!?" Ciel said nervously.

"I regret not being able to see you wear that dress..." Nina said wistfully.

"Waaah!" Ciel exclaimed, paling and sweating nervously, trying to block her out, afraid Lizzie might hear.

"I heard rumors that you wore pigtails..."

"Aaaah!" Ciel waved his arms frantically when Lizzie took a step closer, looking curious.

"What? What are you talking about?" she asked innocently.

"Nothing. You get away from me," Ciel ordered her stiffly, desperate to prevent her from learning the truth of that incident.

"Ah!" Chêne said loudly, hitting her hand in her palm in an 'aha!' sort of way. "I almost forgot. May I show Miss Nina our wedding photo?" she asked Ciel, swiftly changing the subject to something she knew would immediately pique the interest of the others in the room.

"Oh! I want to see it too~!" Lizzie said, getting excited.

"Do you even have to ask?" Nina said rhetorically. "Of course you should fetch it! "

"Yes, please do," Ciel told Chêne, glad she was still on his side when it came to things like this. The other two women appeared to have completely forgotten about the previous topic. Chêne bowed politely and left to retrieve the photo.

"Oh," Nina said when she recorded the current measurements and compared notes. "Très bien, Earl! Your measurements have not changed at all! Only your waist has gotten narrower!"

'And it was narrow to begin with!' Elizabeth thought, flinching in shock.

"..." Sebastian and Ciel exchanged a glance as the butler helped the earl into his coat. Chêne was going to feel compelled to fix that, if she thought it was the result of Ciel not getting enough to to eat.

"You have such a wonderfully proportioned body..." Nina said, getting fired up. "Thin arms and legs just like a boy… slim shoulders! A narrow waist! Yes, yeees, yes!! The font of my imagination is bubbling overrr!!" she exclaimed panting. "The earl's Easter outfit will be in a winter style, a suit with a black-based tailcoat and knickers. A narcissus in the buttonhole by the collar. Gold braids and ornamental buttons as highlights. And an elegant gold dress in shantung silk for the lady. Black ribbons and tassels for a more feminine appeal. And plenty of narcissus for their dress hats, all tied off with ribbons."

"That's wonderful! " Lizzie said, already looking forward to it.

"Ah, but spring-y chiffon and organdy would be good too!!" Nina continued, trembling with excitement, drooling and blushing. "Wide bishop sleeves for the dress shirt and gold silk for the jacket lining!! The same concept for the two… brilliant…!! Haah! Haah! Oooohh!" Ciel sweat-dropped. It sounded a little over the top for his taste. "I shall continue on now to the paper patterns!! You!! Hand me my paper and pens!!" she told Sebastian.

"Very good, Miss," he said, retrieving them for her.

"Daily summer wear should have a sailor collar à la mode. It may be coordinated in any way with ribbons and pants. For business gentlemanly double buttons are key… a three-piece suit would be good too!!" Nina continued excitedly, her faced flushed as she sketched up a storm. "Drapes and pleats on the back would look lovely. A black ribbon around the neck speaks to wealth, but bright red velvet would look good occasionally as well."

"A moment, please," Sebastian said, interrupting her musings.

"Nn?" Nina said, gritting her teeth in annoyance from being jarred so harshly out of her imagination.

"Is not red for the young master a touch too gaudy?" Sebastian asked dubiously. "Young Master does not look very good in reds and yellows. I believe something more muted would suit him better. He is diminutive already." A vein mark popped on Ciel's head at that. "The red might make him look even more childish."

"What is wrong with that?" I'm only interested in ladies and boys under the age of fifteen!!" Nina shouted, glaring hard at the butler.

"I am not interested in your tastes at all..." Sebastian stated bluntly. "… But Young Master is the head of the Phantomhive Earldom. You must place a premium on tradition and dignity rather than the latest fashion. In any case, I cannot agree to the red tie."

CRACKLE.

Sparks flew between the tailor and butler, neither one willing to give an inch.

"What about a berry red?" Chêne suggested, calling their attention to her return. She stood in the doorway holding her wedding portrait with a nice smile on face.

"Chêne! When did you get back?" Nina asked, completely ignoring Sebastian in favor of sweeping towards his wife.

"Around 'bright red velvet would look good'," Chêne replied. "I think I would agree, but a cooler berry red might suit his complexion better. And it might be toned down enough to still be suitable for formal wear. A purple or blue could be nice, too..."

"Hmm… well, it is true that it would look good on him..." Nina agreed a little reluctantly. It wasn't really what she wanted, but she could see Chêne's point. "At least you give constructive criticism, unlike a certain someone..."

"As long as it isn't too bright," Sebastian said firmly.

"Tch! This is why I hate hardheads," Nina said, slamming her hand on the table. "Do you not know the saying 'one cannot make an omelet without breaking eggs'? I do not want an amateur saying this and that!!" she began herding everyone in the room out the door, including Ciel and Lizzie. "Will you kill time until it is time for tacking? Now leave, leave!" She promptly shut the door behind them, leaving Ciel, Lizzie, Sebastian, and Chêne standing out in the hall in silence.

"Well, well… it is a little early, but I will have afternoon tea ready," Sebastian said with a small shit-eating grin after consulting his pocket watch.

"And Chêne can show me your wedding photograph while we wait!" Lizzie said brightly.

=†=†=†=†=†=

"Oh, you look so lovely, Chêne~! " Lizzie gushed while Sebastian and Chêne served the tea and snacks, gazing at the photograph with a dreamy expression on her face, clearly having fun imagining what her own wedding day might be like.

"Thank you very much!" Chêne thanked her, blushing a little at the enthusiastic response.

"And is this your family~?" she asked, checking out the photo in the other half of the hinged diptych frame. "Wow, you look just like your mother! And all of your dresses are cute and beautiful! "

"Thank you," Chêne thanked her again, accepting the framed photos back from her.

"Oooh, it's cuuute! " Lizzie exclaimed when she saw the beautiful snacks on the table. Today's afternoon tea was chocolate macarons with fruits and three-berry shortcake, etc. "Sebastian and Chêne's sweets are the best in Great Britain! What should I eat first?"

"The credit goes entirely to Sebastian today," Chêne admitted, smiling wryly.

"I hardly deserve your praise," Sebastian said humbly as he poured the tea. There were carpentry tools and building supplies on the serving cart. "A lady should not eat too much," he cautioned Elizabeth when he saw how many treats she was piling onto her plate. It would be a shame if she outgrew her new dress too quickly.

"I… I will watch myself!!" Lizzie said, flinching.

"But don't starve yourself either," Chêne told her kindly.

"Y-Yes!" Lizzie said, sounding a little relieved. She noticed Ciel was spacing out again. Something about him seemed sad. Chêne seemed a little sad too, sometimes. She wondered what was wrong. "… Ciel," she said nervously, concerned. "Um! Has something..."

"It is tacking time, you two!!" Nina declared grandly, bursting into the room, making Ciel jump. Sebastian paused with a load of lumber under his arm. He had just been about to return to his repair work when the tailor came in.

"Already?" Lizzie asked, standing up. "You're amazing! Let us go, Ciel!" She grabbed his arm to pull him along. "Hurry! Hurry!"

"Do not run so," Ciel chided her.

"Come on, Chêne!" Lizzie said, hoping the fun activity would cheer everyone up.

"..." Sebastian watched them go silently. Lizzie was pretty sharp. He hoped some of her sunny spirit would rub off on the others and pull them out of their brooding. Despite the brave face she put on in front of others, it was obvious to him that Chêne and Ciel were both still deeply disturbed by the events of their most recent case. She still wouldn't let him touch her.

—^—^—^—

Once they were back in the drawing room, Nina wasted no time in pinning Ciel's frilly new blouse onto him.

"Ciel, you look so cute~!" Lizzie said happily.

"… Do I?" Ciel asked, unsure. Nina was looking at him from a short distance away, framing her view of him with her fingers.

"Yes, yes!!" Lizzie said. "Especially the frills around your collar..."

"...O," Nina said darkly, suddenly extremely close to their faces.

"Eh?" Lizzie said, slightly taken aback. When did she…?

"Noooo—oooo!!!!" Nina yelled, ripping the shirt off of him without any warning. Ciel jumped and paled in shock.

"Wha!?" he exclaimed in surprise. What was she…!?

"Kyaaaaa!!" Lizzie cried, blushing as she covered her face.

"No!! No!!" Nina shouted, brimming with fighting spirit. She would not be defeated here! "I was not seeking an ordinary silhouette like this!!"

"What are you doing…!" Ciel said, gasping as he suddenly remembered the scar on his back. 'Drat. The brand!! I cannot have Lizzie see this.' He quickly hid the mark with his hand, while Nina continued her creative tantrum in the background.

"Ciel, is something wrong?" Lizzie asked.

"No… nothing," he lied. "A marking pin scratched me, that's all."

'Ah… that's where…!' Chêne thought, quickly realizing what the real problem was. She thought it was kind of futile to hide it now, when Lizzie would eventually see it anyway once they were married, but she knew Ciel wasn't ready for that yet, so…

"A pin!?" Lizzie said, getting upset. "Oh no, I must treat it," she said anxiously.

"Please, allow me," Chêne said, trying to intervene.

"No, I'm not bleeding," Ciel said quickly. He didn't want Lizzie to try something while Chêne was fetching the first-aid kit. "I'm all right." 'I must wear something,' he thought anxiously. "Will you get me a shirt? I'm feeling cold."

"Yes—" Chêne started to answer, but Lizzie beat her to it.

"I will… wait for me!" Lizzie said eagerly, quickly fetching the shirt before Chêne even had a chance to move. "It's the wife's duty to take care of her husband," she said, smiling brightly as she held the shirt up in front of her. "Here. Put your arms through the sleeves! "

'If I put my back to her, she'll see the brand,' Ciel thought, paling again.

"I shall do it," Sebastian said, reappearing with impeccable timing. "The marchioness will reprimand me if I have you act like a servant."

"Sebastian," Lizzie said, a little surprised by his sudden appearance.

"Phew!" Ciel and Chêne sighed in relief. Chêne didn't think Lizzie would have surrendered that duty to another girl so easily.

"Yes!!" Nina exclaimed suddenly with gleaming eyes. "I should make the silhouette tighter so it fits snugly around the body. And so, Earl, I shall measure your nude body," she declared calmly, pulling her measuring tape tight in her hands.

"Huh?" Ciel said, sweating nervously. What the hell? Chêne sweat-dropped. That couldn't be good…

"I want a tighter silhouette," Nina repeated, trying to get started.

"W-Wait," he said anxiously.

"Earl! I cannot measure your chest, as your hand is in the way," Nina said strictly. "Now stretch your arm!" she told him, trying to force him to move it.

"Hey!" Ciel protested, fighting with all his might to keep his hand where it was.

"Raise your arms," she said, pulling them both up in the air. Chêne lunged forward and slapped her hand on his back, covering the brand in an instant. She was stretched up on her toes to reach him on the stool. Sebastian was impressed she beat him to the punch, even if she was slightly closer.

"Wha!" Ciel said, surprised.

"… What are you doing?" Nina asked Chêne, looking taken aback.

"No… It's… he looked like he was about to fall, so I just..." Chêne said, fumbling for a believable excuse. "I thought someone should brace him..."

"Uh, um… I've hurt my leg, so I need support to stand still," Ciel added, sweat-dropping, still a little pale. "But perhaps it would be better if Sebastian..."

"Yes, of course," Chêne said, and the maid and butler carefully traded places without exposing the brand.

"What the—?" Nina said, slightly bemused by their odd behavior. She tried to take the measurement, but it was no good. "He's in my way!" she huffed, trying to shove her way in between them. "I'll support you if you need it."

"Wah! Don't," Ciel said nervously. "Sebastian, keep your arm in place!!" he ordered.

"Yes, my lord," Sebastian said, keeping his hand in place while he immediately shifted positions so that it almost looked like they were dancing. "Now, please," he told Nina with smile. Ciel and Sebastian appeared to be ready to waltz. Chêne totally wanted to laugh, but she held it in.

"This is even worse!" Nina complained with a vein mark on her forehead.

"Oh. Is that so?" Sebastian said innocently, while Ciel furrowed his brow and sweat-dropped. "Then." The butler quickly rotated his arm up so that it would be out of her way. "Miss Hopkins, now! Put your hand between us! Now!"

"What is going on!?" Nina demanded, doing as he said. "Why am I doing this!?"

"L… Lizzie!!" Ciel said, making sure he had her attention. "You are my fiancée, but if you keep staring at my bare skin… I feel… s… shy..." he told her, blushing.

"I-I'm sorry!!" Lizzie said, quickly turning away with her eyes squeezed shut, covering her blushing face with her hands. She suddenly felt embarrassed. She didn't realize how much she had been staring!

"Let's just stay facing this way for now," Chêne said kindly, joining her so she wouldn't have to stand there alone staring at the dressing screen.

"Phew..." Ciel and Sebastian sighed with relief, waisting no time in separating from each other.

'I was more embarrassed saying it...' Ciel thought, blushing.

"I can finally measure you," Nina said, getting to work before something else happened to get in her way. She worked swiftly but accurately. "Good," she said, taking the last measurement. "You may wear your clothes now."

"Well done," Sebastian said, helping Ciel as he staggered off the stool he was standing on. "I will bring a shirt right away," he added, moving away to retrieve the article of clothing.

"Do so," Ciel agreed, plopping himself down on the stool to sit with his back to the door. Lizzie and Chêne stayed facing the screen, away from him.

BANG!

"Hey, Ciel!!" Soma shouted, bursting unexpectedly into the room with Agni, who was holding a large pot of curry, throwing the door open wide. "Why have you returned to the manor without telling me!?" Ciel flinched in shock and Sebastian and Chêne tensed. Ciel whipped his head around to face Soma, but he blinked and found himself in darkness.

'Eh?' he thought, taken aback.

FLAP. FWOOSH.

Chêne and Lizzie turned and watched as the curtain that had suddenly appeared over Ciel whirled around him as Sebastian took charge.

"What's going on!?" Soma cried in confusion.

"You will catch a cold again if you do not wear your clothes… Young Master," Sebastian said, opening the curtain again to reveal a fully-dressed Ciel. Chêne silently released the breath she was holding. That was a close save.

"You had already changed, Ciel," Lizzie said, stepping closer to him. It was definitely okay to look now, right?

"Nnn? Ciel, who is this woman?" Soma asked, looking at Lizzie.

"Who are you?" she asked politely in return.

"This gentleman is the twenty-sixth child of the raja of Bengal..." Agni began explaining.

"Where's Bengal?" Lizzie asked.

"How could you not know me?" Soma asked.

"Oh, for heaven's sake, do not talk all at once!!" Ciel snapped, cutting into their ceaseless chatter.

"This is my fiancée, Elizabeth," Ciel explained, introducing her.

"How do you do!" Lizzie greeted the two Indians cheerfully.

"I am Soma," the prince introduced himself. "You being Ciel's betrothed means you're like my little sister!"

"Why!? Your little sister!?" Ciel said incredulously.

"Good! I will specially allow you to eat my curry too," Soma told Lizzie.

"You'll really like Mister Agni's curry," Chêne told Lizzie with a smile, relieved everything had worked out okay.

"Listen to me!!" Ciel shouted, making Lizzie giggle.

"then let us go to the dining room! Yeah!!" Soma declared.

"Yess!!" Lizzie cheered, joining in the fun.

"Wait, the dining room is still in pieces..." Ciel said.

"Not to worry," said Sebastian.

"Eh?" said Ciel.

"I have already prepared for dinner," Sebastian replied with the hint of a smirk. "It was no easy task… but everything is perfect as always." The manor was fully restored.

=†=†=†=†=†=

{Later that evening…}

"Eh, he was ill in bed!?" Lizzie asked Soma during their game of cards, alarmed.

"Yes. That is why we made curry, so he could have something nutritious," Soma replied.

"Ciel! Why didn't you tell me!?" Lizzie asked, concerned, while Sebastian served her tea.

"Lady Elizabeth," Sebastian said, getting her attention. "Young Master was on an important mission and had no time to stand still," he informed her with a self-depreciating smile.

"I'm sure he didn't want to worry you," Chêne added gently.

"Sebastian… Chêne…" Lizzie said a little sadly. "… I would like to do everything I can for Ciel, but he won't tell me anything. What should I do?"

"That is a difficult question for us, the servants… but I am sure of one thing," Sebastian said, glancing at the young earl, who everyone now saw was fast asleep in his chair. "I have not seen Master look so relaxed for quite some time." Lizzie, Soma, and Agni smiled. "He… must have had a good holiday thanks to every one of you," Sebastian said with a small smile of his own.

"Sometimes, it's enough just to know that you're loved," Chêne said with a soft smile.

"I do hope so," Lizzie said, also smiling. "Good night, Ciel."