"See?" Harmony explains holding up two different cookies to Phipps. "This one here is called a rosette and this one is called a tirggel. They're both really, really sweet and good. Mr. Sebastian made them once, but, I like sandwich cookies better."

The man gave his full attention to her, mentally taking notes. "Here." She holds the rosette to him. "Try this one, I like this one better."

He takes it with a bite. "Yes, it is good." She smiles at his answer and likeness.

"Good, I knew you would. Everyone loves cookies. Now, let me explain the different kinds of cakes, but," she whispers looking around first. Gestures him to towards her. "Don't tell, Mr. Sebastian okay? I'm not suppose to have too many sweets."

He understand and agrees. "Very well."

"Good! Now," she whirls around to the rest of the glorious treats smorgasbord of dessert assortments. A slight bit of saliva slowly started to slither down the corner of her lip.

To be quickly wiped away by Phipps. "Remember, one must look presentable, Lady Harmony."

She heard him only nods in response her attention glued to which dessert to eat first and then explain. That one with the fluffy-creamy cream looked delicious.

Sebastian could see the withheld cold anger that blazed silently behind Ciel's eye as he kept good form with the her majesty. Exchanging graces between the two as they watched and followed (In Ciel's case, glared) the sight before them. A sight that nerved Ciel than anything, there was something else Sebastian noticed in his master. Though the young boy stood well and respected there was tension all through out his body. It shook with it, the drawing of slow, steady breathing with each word that exit his mouth. Though he hide it well.

The queen could not see it, no, she was too busy marveling fondly at interaction set before her. In fact many heads and eyes followed the two pair that seem to be more important the arriving New Year. He could hear their whispers and slight sneers they kept to themselves. From many, it was glorious for others not the slightest. Even if the air the two put reflected the misconception the queen and the others believed to be seen.

But, it was quite clear for Ciel and Sebastian that it was not so. May carried on with Grey as her escort like any fair lady would do, her arm remained linked with Grey's walking by his side as one of her status should. Her head held high, yet modest. Her eyes warm and pure and her stride was delicate as a flower. A true lady, that any man would want on his arm and in his company. Grey was a completely gentleman, with all eyes on them it was best they both play the role required. Each of them had one to uphold.

Grey had the queen.

May had Ciel, her current status, and much more.

Entrapped and bind.

Yet, she had no airs, nothing but grace and poise. Clad in red a burning red befitting for the daughter of Madam Red. A standing she must (forced) to uphold, though not as frivolous and vulgar as her predecessor.

"Your cousin, Lord Phantomhive," Victoria speaks with please and delight. "is becoming quite a fine young woman. The way she walks and holds herself it most becoming. One cannot advert their eyes when her presence shines as well as the sun. Would you not agree?"

Suppressing the growl he intended to produce, Ciel choose words. "Yes, I could not agree more." There was a sense of pride in his voice, Sebastian noticed. Genuine pride. His eye trailed his cousin well. "She has indeed come quite a long way-"

Miles Sebastian chuckles to himself.

"I could not be prouder."

Victoria beams softly from his words. "Yes. Indeed. Her mother would be proud to see her beloved daughter upholding her title well. There is strength in Baroness's eyes, I suppose one must be from all that she has endure."

"Endured?" Ciel arches a brow.

She elaborates. Her eyes remaining following the pair. "Yes. Endure, strength held in your cousin's eyes come from those who have had been bond and forced to follow what is to be told of them. Forced to molded into something they choose not to be, freedom is what they desire more than anything. Eyes, that speak to the world "You are not to control me". They are rather considered defiant, yet also hold warmth and love."

"You speak with familiarity, your majesty."

Victoria chuckles softly. Her eyes softly reflect such a moment. "Yes, so I do. Strength that the Baroness has is the strength if for herself and her dear sister, and even," she turns to Ciel. "you as well. Eyes such as hers, never leak tears."

He reads her gentle smile. There was much behind it, turning back to May who was now dancing with Grey. Though he scowled at the man, his eye did no such upon May. Though she smiled, he knew it was not a real one. Just one to present before everyone. Studying her a bit more, saw the corner of her lip tremble ever so slightly. Even as she danced though fluid was at time dragged. Held still. He saw it...the binds. Invisibly shackled upon her, more now because..because of this.

She enjoyed freedom and yet, he forced into a cage. He ignored her desire to remain in her simple life with her sister. His need was more, after all...the letter of his Aunt, her instructions was not what the whole truth. Changing it up he did, why? Because for his own amusement, and he greatly enjoyed the game. But, now, he wasn't sure if he did. Feeling an odd knot churn in his stomach and drop. Scanning the room finding Harmony happily by Phipps side, Sebastian stood back watching his master's observation. Going from one cousin to the other, saw something rising in his eye a decision being made. With a tinge of...guilt was it? No, it was something else with it.

He too looks to the two females, starting with the youngest, Harmony with a enjoying smile on. She always had it, she loved this life and loved being here. Not here, here, but in the presence of his master. To her he was just simply family and nothing else. It was clear on day one, Sebastian saw it spill it out of her how happy she was to be here. He remembered her exact words the first day he met her. When he had to take her upstairs back in the cottage to ready herself. It still astounded him to this day. He never said anything, as he swore not to, he promised her.

The girl loved games and secrets. Good secrets.

As for her sister, he moves to her, now she and Grey were mingling with others who of course just wanted to get some form of information from them as well quips of sneers subtly of course. May, was not like her sister, he knew there was deeper reason in those golden eyes of hers. A haunted one, a dark one..a shameful one. That transformed into her resistance. Her distaste of the life she now had. No wonder his master enjoyed toying with her, no wonder she...smiling to himself his master had it quite wrong. That guilt in his eyes was completely misplaced. It wouldn't have been months ago, now, still eyes upon May.

It didn't seem so, well maybe at that moment in Grey's company. But, other than that, no. That night between them, hidden from the ears of the others in the manor, Sebastian was able to see a glimpse of rawness May exposed. After all he did his own exploring of her. After that, there came some sort of understanding. Understanding that turned into (a surprise to himself) genuine care. If May disliked her life so much, than it would show, her words would still be sharp and cutting. They were no longer, at times of course. Only when she jest. Which even that was kind. What began to change? He wasn't sure really, no wonder it peeked his interest.

The danced ended, Harmony stood with Phipps finishing off a sweet. Her eyes on May and Grey (sent a shiver down her little spine) her eyes narrow at the man. Her tongue was tempted stick out.

"Lady Harmony, it is not considered proper to stick one tongue out." Phipps chides her, looking down Harmony sees that it was and quickly pulls it back blushing.

Her hands quickly cover her mouth. "Don't tell Ciel!" She cries.

He kneels down and lightly pats her head. "I would never do such a thing. What would you like to do next?" He stands offering a hand to her.

"Here we are darling." Grey kindly says, offering you a glass of wine. You take it with detest but smile none the less, he saw straight through it. "My, what a odd smile, it is both beautiful as it reeking."

Damn this man. Honestly, Lau would be of better company than him right. Raising a hand take it, instead of slapping him. "Why, thank you," you force yourself to say. This smile was killing you, in fact was burning. You stare down at the red liquid, swirl it around a bit. You weren't in the mood for drinking.

Something was off, Grey noticed with you. You hadn't yet made a single sharp remark to him. It was well..rather boring. There was something else he noticed, he could see it, the way your eyes drowned themselves in the wine. The way you kept swirling the liquid a few times. What was going on?

"Darling?" he quips, it got your attention. Quickly. There it was, that sharp look, made him smile. Your eyes flash a warning for him to stop with that name. He'd been calling you all evening. "Now, darling, what is with such heavy eyes? Hmm?" He leans a little closer, he could feel you itching to lash out, but restrained himself. He chuckles to himself. "Come now, I am just worried? Eyes like yours are known for being bright and not dull. That includes," his eyes fall to your lips. "your mouth as well. Won't you tell me what is aching you? Darling?"

The way it rolled of his tongue was if it was a tease (which it was) and as if it had some actual meaning. Some sort of brand, he said loud enough for others to hear. Because you saw a few sliding glances and giggles, he was enjoying this. Way more than he needed and all to your leisure.

Scoffing turning a slight shoulder to him, of course to many it was just a adjustment. Stick your chin up, though not too high. "Please stop calling such a name, it is rather, an annoyance."

"Oh," he purrs closing the space between you two, your body tensed from the touch of his hand upon your shoulder. Shivered from its soft caress. His voice softens, you could feel his smile curl more and eyes drop suggestively. "and why is such so?" His voice whispers upon your ear. It was so close it was like a kiss upon you. His hand removes itself from your shoulder and slithers down your collarbone to your neck, gripping your necklace, his thumb rubbing the jewel. "I might as well, you are wearing identification that proves much." He laughs softly. "A collar for the Watchdog's cousin, how befitting. Wouldn't you say?"

How dare he, you were not...he...your hand pressure to the glass in your hand. It cracked, peeked his joy. "Ah, there it is. And here I thought it would be boring."

Your eyes slice him, his grey ones slice back. Keeping yourself composed speak your bladed words. "Your words you speak are quite ill if not rude. You dare speak such things? Lord Grey, if you speak of boredom, I promise you that I am not such a thing. You will regret such words you, if I where you, I'd watch what comes from your lips of yours."

His smile remained. "Really now?" His hand slides from your necklace and wraps around your holding the glass brings it between you two. Lifts the glass and takes a sip. A refreshing sigh leaves his lips, his eyes never broke from your hard ones. "Is that a promise?"

The challenge in his voice only ignited you more, move the same glass back to you and drink from it as well. "It is indeed."

He moves in closer, noses touching. "Very well, darling."