And for dessert a nice Almond Ring Cake, with a light brush of honey to give it a bit extra sweetness. Sebastian cut a slice for person handing a saucer to Paula, and Mey-Rin who passed them out. Lizzie's cheeks flushed from the taste.
"Oh, this is juts absolutely delicious." She compliments, praising Sebastian. "I'm not sure which preferred best, either dessert or dinner. Both where just marvelous."
He smiles modestly. "Why, thank you Lady Elizabeth. But," he looks to the real maker of the dessert and dinner. Quickly. "I cannot take all the credit."
"Oh, don't be so modest Sebastian. Clearly you've out done yourself." She takes another fork fill of the dessert. Her cheeks rosy more than ever. She could hardly contain her bubbling squeal.
"I must agree with the Lady Elizabeth," Lau chimes in. Setting his fork to the side. "This a well prepared meal, one would think it made from the heart. With a touch do delicate and fine, it makes my skin flush. And when it passes my lips sends a light shiver through me. It's alluring is all a mystery and one that I wish to discover. Yes, this meal and dessert is much different than any of your previous ones, there is a certain kind of abundant in it, I cannot seem to get. A sweetness rather..." He stops taking another bite.
Damn Lau and his words. So aggravating, the way he used and said them only fumed many when heard. Growling from what he said, you did you best to keep it in check. Taking another bite of the ring, nearly choke when he directs his attention to you.
"What do you think, Baroness?"
Swallowing the lodged food, pat your lips cleaning hiding your cough, shoot daggers at him. Force a smile on your lips. "I find it wonderful."
"Wonderful how?"
"Sweet. It is kindly sweet. That is how I find it."
"How is that you find it such? Is there a certain succulence in it? Surely you can taste the difference with this meal Sebastian has made compared to all his previous ones."
Setting your napkin over your lap, wish to kick him in the knee if you were close enough. "Sebastian has made many different meals, each one is rather delicious."
Rather, Sebastian scoffs with a quick eye roll and amused smirk.
"How so?" Lau asked, you could hear the light joy he was taking in this. That smile, you just wanted to smack it off. He knew you did.
Gripping your fork stop yourself from trembling. Shoot a look to Ciel who was busy talking to Francis and Alexis. Sighing, he was still doing this, what a child.
"I will be honest, Mr. Lau the words I have to express about the meal today that Sebastian has presented is," you pause. Your mind went blank for a minute. The words you had ready to speak where there, but some how changed and you didn't hear them until all eyes fell on you. Sebastian himself was surprised.
Ciel's head turns bewiled for a moment. Lizzie was nearly, very nearly brought to hears the way you painted his praise. Edward too. You even smiled, not a false one, but one that was true. Eyes reflected the same. Yet, everything was blacked out for you until the last word left your lips did you realize it.
The whole room feel into a air of hush, you felt. Looking around not sure why, confused for a moment. Only Harmony's amazed and happy smile only made sense.
"That was beautiful May!" she nearly shouts giggling. "Mr. Sebastian did you hear that? Did you?" She turns to the stun demon.
What did you say? No one seem to tell you, nor could you even remember. Even if you wanted too. Setting your fork down look to Ciel. Who's bewilderment hadn't left his face either. "Can I be..excused?"
He nods slowly. Allowing it. Rising you bid farewell to everyone and leave still in puzzlement. Your head down just a bit trying to figure it out, walking out even thanking Sebastian. Mey-Rin quickly follows.
Taking to your library sit down still at a lost. "Mey-Rin, what did I say?" You asked, hoping she might know.
Her mouth closes tight. "...….." Shaking her flushed face. Sweating nearly.
"Mey-Rin! What did I say?"
Shakily her eyes meet yours and see you needed her. The strained confusion you held. "You don't remember?" She whispers to herself. Now she wondered if she should tell you or not. Opening her mouth a knock comes to the door.
"May, are you in here?" It was Ciel.
Quickly Mey-Rin hurries and opens the door. "Master!" She bows deeply.
He walks right by her to you. "Mey-Rin leave us." He orders, she does though not before casting you worried looked. When the door clicks shut, Ciel lets out a heavy sigh. Pinching his brow. "Please tell me why you said such a thing?"
There was an odd frustration and calmness in his words. "I honestly, don't remember what it was that I said. Didn't I say the food was rather valuable. A wonderful taste that was well done?"
He shakes his head. "No. Not even close. May, I don't have time for these games," he sighs. Folding his arms. "just tell me why you said it?"
That was it, you didn't know. You don't remember. Ciel searches you for the reasoning, surprised when found nothing but confusion.
Harmony eyes swim in the sea of presents under the tree, her eyes twinkled with ever color of wrapping paper they crossed. Green. Bright red. Blues. Silvers. Golds! Purples! It was heaven, so many presents and all..most of them for her. She saw her name on at least twelve may more. From Ciel of course and her sister. Lizzie, Edward, Aunt Francis and Uncle Alexis too. There was even some from Lau and Ran Mao. A few others too. All these presents from everyone she knew, except, her eyes lowered looking at the names. There were certain gifts missing, a certain name. A certain color of red.
No elaborate bows either.
Maybe, they were just lost in the mail. Yeah, that was it. Hopefully, her letter to the jolly man would allow them to come. Reaching for one she picks it out and shakes it. She heard something move inside, trying to deuced what it might be puts it down tired from trying. Picking up another one, she hoped it would a new doll. Or better a new tea set. Maybe even a bike! There was one big enough to be one. Sitting in the center. Determined to shake it, she starts to swim towards it, moving many others out the way. Her little physical strength was enough to move a few, so she decided to climb over the rest. Crawling, stretches her hand towards her prize, to be scooped up by another.
"And just what are you doing?"
Harmony yelps quickly covering her mouth in a cold sweat. She was caught. Shutting her eyes didn't make it go away or make her invisible. "Well?" Francis asked sternly, setting her down.
Opening one eye, Harmony looks up to find her and Alexis. Her eyes remained firm waiting for an answer. Puckering her eyes as cute as she could and in her sweetest voice Harmony answers. "Sorry."
Her attempt didn't work on Francis, she remained unaffected. Alexis on the other hand throws himself on his adorable niece. Scooping her up in his arms. "My precious child!"
"Honestly." Francis mumbles at her husband. There was no point in scolding the child now, not when her husband was like this. Luckily another took her attention. Leaving Harmony and Alexis for another's. Heading to their room. "Edward?" She knocks on the door. Hearing voices behind it, belong to her daughter. "Edward, open the door we need to talk."
Shushing and hushing stopped the talk between her child, in a few seconds he opened the door. "Mother, yes?"
Sensing something between her children, Francis eyes them sharply. Sending a sweat trickling from their brows. Her eyes narrow, reminding herself to ask about it later. Another matter required her attention. "Elizabeth, I need to speak to your brother."
Understanding she leaves right away. Calling for Harmony down the hall, with Paula joining her. Waiting for her daughter to be far enough, Francis walks in and shuts the door. "Sit."
He does so.
It was getting late, Mey-Rin prepared the bath for May and now set to get her bed ready. It was nearing nearly close to 9:30, pulling the covers back smoothing them out, laying out her nightgown. Keeping track of time, her mistress would be done soon. Fluffing the pillows right, hopefully. The bed needed to be comfortable, she would have done the other rooms, but Sebastian gave her strict instructions to only keep to May and no one else. Done with the bed, she goes to the closet opening it and takes out May's holiday dress, it was elegant and rich. Smooth and well. She could nearly stop herself from blushing. Imaging May in such lovely clothing. It would wrap and hug her well. She would look more than a Baroness.
"Almost like a princess!" She gushes. Turning red. "The Baroness will lovely, yes she will." Her eyes check for anything out of place. Any sort of snag. There was none, everything crisp and clean. Puts it back. Closing the door. When she noticed something. "What's this?" She reaches out.
"Mey-Rin? What are you doing?" Sebastian appears at the doorway, startling her.
She nearly jumped out of her skin. "N-Nothing!" Whips around quickly. Laughing nervously. "I was just...umm..."
He peers at her work, making sure it was done. "It seems you managed this, I believe the Baroness might be done with her bathing. Should you not be there?" His eyes whip her. "Well?"
He was right. "Yes! I-I forgot!" she hurries and scoops up the nightgown, leaves to the bathroom. He waits and listens till she was far gone. Hearing her knock on the door and enter. He enters the room, shutting the door just a bit.
Making sure no one was coming walks to where he saw Mey-Rin reaching for something. It was in the closet, opening it his eyes search around. The corner, she was reaching for something in the corner. Kneeling down, eyes glowing slightly seeing through the bit of darkness, his nose picked a all too familiar scent and sound.
"What in the world?" He reaches for it, gripping a nice sizeable box. Something moved in it. Pulling it out slowly he hadn't noticed the approaching voice and footsteps. Until it was upon him.
"Sebastian? What are you doing?" you said a bit startled he was in here.
He stands quickly shutting the closet. Standing before it. You arch a brow, steadily moving your eyes to corner of your closet. "Why were you looking in my closet?" You asked walking over. He moves aside bowing.
"My apologizes, I thought I saw something, troubling."
There was nothing troubling, just him going through your things, when he shouldn't especially with your closet. He notices you stepping between him and the closet with cautiously.
"Well, thank you. But there is nothing." You assure him clearing your throat the same time he heard that same faint noise coming from it. Your foot steps blocking his view.
Just what were you hiding? A rising question in his mind, along with another. He spoke that was meant to be spoken in the mind, left his mouth. "Baroness, your words from earlier, did you mean them?"
This question again. He watches your eyes widen and drop confused. Searching. "I...I am not sure. I honestly cannot remember the words I spoke." Searching for them, finding nothing.
He wasn't sure if he should believe it or not. A odd part of him lingered on being so. He wasn't sure why. The silence patience broke when a soft chortle left your lips. "Honestly, I cannot remember, it seems everyone can. But, I cannot. Sorry," you notice his unamused look. "I feel it is best I laugh this off other wise, I would began to feel rather dread."
"So it would seem." He clears his throat walking to the door. "I should be off, there is much for tomorrow. Good night, Baroness." He bids you opening and leaving. Shutting the door.
"Well, A Mid Winter's Night Dream I see?" Lau said catching Sebastian leaving.
Holding his rising nerves Sebastian endures. "Just checking up on the Baroness, is there something I can do for you Mr. Lau?"
Lau looks back at your room. "Oh, no, nothing. I've thought to take a nice walk before heading to bed. It seems my Lovely Flower," Sebastian growls lowly. "is resting herself. She blooming rather well, would you not agree?"
"Yes, the master's cousins are blooming into lovely young women."
"That they are. That they are. Well, good night."
Lau walks off a smile slipping on his lips, Sebastian's eyes follow growling, hearing Lau pet name speak from his lips. "Please reframe from calling the Baroness such a name." He warns the oriental man.
Lau stops smirking more to himself. "Oh, forgive me, I did not mean to. It just slips out. But, she is a lovely flower, the question is who's. I suppose. Well, again good night."
