Everything was so quiet in the townhouse you weren't if anyone was here. But, you knew they where. Everyone was just being polite and following orders. To make the place as soothing and calming as possible.
It was kind, but not needed.
Sitting up in bed, you now had the strength to, look at bowl in your lap of brown liquid soup. Chunks of vegetables floated and bobbed on the top.
Agni made it.
It smelled delicious, but you weren't really hungry. Normally Mey-Rin would be helping you, not this time, actually for the last two days you didn't require her assistance. Felt it was best you do it yourself.
She was hesitant and surprised but followed orders given.
In a little while she'd be back come a collect. You'd best finish. If you were in such a mood.
Since gaining consciousness your mind and thoughts where everywhere and nowhere. Every time you rose, set up, positioned yourself to look in a certain direction looking towards the school.
With a heavy heart that ached night and day to the point your body had become numb.
Was everything alright? You weren't sure, was Ciel doing well? How could you be so blind and...
A knock came. "Baroness?"
It was Tanka. He opened the door. Entering a warm smile on his wrinkled face. Agni trailed behind. He was smiling too.
"It's nice day, how about some fresh air?"
You weren't sure what to say. Tanka looked to Agni.
"If you could please help the Baroness."
"Yes, of course."
Agni walked over. Bowed to you respectfully, informed you that he would be carrying you and asked if that was alright. You nod, gently he scooped up in arms after setting the bowl on the nightstand. His arms where secure and kind. You nearly felt weightless.
"If there's any discomfort, please let me know."
You nod lightly. He just smiled and carried you out with Tanka following.
Over at the school Sebastian was following too. Any clue or information he could find about the tasks he was given. It was crucial than ever. So far he hadn't found much. Nothing really on the Queen's missing nephew, nor on the setup. The only he had for the setup, the odd scent from the note May was given.
It was coated with mostly Ciel's scent but it was clear he didn't do it. But someone who managed to obtain a piece of paper from him.
But who? Who had access to go in and out unnoticed?
The questions pounded in his mind as he sat in his office. It was good he had no students otherwise he'd wouldn't be able to focus on them fully.
"...For someone to do this, they must have been watching our every movement." He mused. "They had to have heard the master's plan without our knowledge an-"
A soft knock came. "Hello? It's Miss Agnes, I've come to clean for a bit."
Before Sebastian could reply she opened the door. The old woman stuck her head and smiled warmly. Her small wrinkled eyes land on Sebastian. He gave a polite smile in return.
"Hello dearie, I hope you don't mind if I come and tidy a bit?
"Oh, not at all. Please," He stood. "come in."
She did. Carrying her items, it amazed the demon how she carried so much for a woman her age and quickly she went to work. Starting with the window behind his desk.
"What a lovely day we're having," she began.
"Yes, the sun is lovely."
"Indeed. Indeed. It nearly makes up from that horrible travesty at the Purple house."
"Yes, quite. A travesty."
She moved to the bookshelf. Began dusting.
"It blesses my heart that the young men came out unharmed. But it also breaks it hearing what happened to April O'Neil. The poor dear. Wrong place at the wrong time."
Sebastian writing his lesson. "Yes, quite indeed. I'm sure without her work has become heavier."
"Nothing but a bit of elbow grease can't fix." She chuckled a little. " but the girl is missed. She should have stayed, but she instead on going. Without thinking about the risk, even if she didn't know."
Sebastian rose a brow slowly.
"Oh?"
Agnes nodded. "Yes, the dear always jumps head first without thinking. Eager one she is. Easy to please. Desperate to please, a good trait but it can lead one to be easily astray. It's like dangling a carrot before a horse," she finished dusting and moved to sweeping. " it'll move not looking where it's going."
"Quite a way of looking at it."
Agnes chuckled softly. Turned a thin smile up at him.
"Yes, it is. I say so because it mirrors my dearly departed younger sister. She was brash in her decision and," her jaw clenched for a moment. "...it left wound that never healed. In the end her fate was caused by her choice. Wouldn't you agree ones choice is the result of their outcome? Warden?"
Sebastian said nothing for a moment. The smile he had dropped for a second. "I suppose, if one chooses to look at it in such a manner. But the maid only did what she was requested. It happened suddenly. So there is no real need for blame."
"There will always be blame, no matter the side," She grunted bending down sweeping the small pile she had into the dust pan. "one will always make a choice that will affect another. They must learn to leave with it, but eventually their choice will catch up with them."
She said nothing more, hummed, finished her work and left.
Back at the townhouse you sat outside on the grass, close the flower bed under the tree. In a nice small setup of two chairs and a table, Tanka had it ready. Even with some small refreshments.
It was a nice surprise, even more so at the extra person sitting there.
Irene Diaz.
Dressed in a lovely and fancy green dress. She stood with a gentle smile and stood.
"May," she greeted you formally. Which was fine. You smile a little, Agni set you down slowly. Irene came and hugged you gently. "how are you?"
"F-Fine," You said a bit hoarsely. "This a surprise."
She chuckled softly. Releasing you and sat down.
"Yes, though I apologize if I startled you."
"That's alright, it's good to see you. It brightens my day and mood."
"I'm glad to hear. You look lovely."
Unsure if she was joking or not you still smile.
"Thank you, though my appearance says otherwise."
She gave a little laugh. "With your natural radiant beauty, you can pull off anything."
Her words rose a small tinge of pink on your cheeks. It was hard not to gush a little. Tanka who wasn't too far away smiled seeing the small change and hear a bit of lightness in your voice.
It was a delight having Irene in your company, the conversations shared between you and her kept going and going. Bits of laughter here and there, though it was charming your mind still remained weighed down. It didn't go unnoticed.
"What troubles you, May?" She asked concerned written on her face.
Was it that obvious? You try to smile and brush it aside.
"It's nothing, n-nothing at all. Why do ask?"
Irene was tempted to raise a brow but resisted, instead her eyes rest consolingly with yours. Watching your bottom lip tremble and the pained expression spread across.
She waited patiently for an answer. Rested a light touch on your hand, giving a light squeeze. The words nearly poured out from you.
"I-I keep failing..." you wept, despite the smile tried form. Wipe your eyes even though no tears came. "...no that's not it," Irene squeezed a bit more. "...yes it is...I'm not sure. I just know...I-it hurts...and it's all because of what I've done."
"May.." Irene said softly.
Your eyes lowered to the grass, "I would do anything to make it right. But, it seems that no matter what I try...I seem to make worse between us."
"Us?"
No name fell from your lips, but it was rather clear whom you where referring too.
"Sometimes," you continued, "I believe that life would have been better if I wasn't here. The choices I've made haven't gone ove-"
"-Whatever choices you've made," Irene squeezed your hand a little. "They were for the best."
If only that where true, you thought.
Irene must have heard your thoughts, what she said surprised you.
"It's quite true, we might not like our choices we make and they can sometimes hurt, but we do it for a reason. Even if those reasons are not quite understandable to others."
"B-But...will they mend?" You asked down heartily.
She gave a light smile. "I'm quite sure they will. I'm also sure when the time comes the choice will be made."
The right choice? You muse on that for a moment. The right choice...will it keep everyone safe? Will it mend all that has been wronged? If it will...then I would gladly take, you rest your free hand lightly over your heart. For some odd reason it sunk for a moment.
How strange...
"Now," Irene's tone lighted. At that moment Mey-Rin came out carrying a fresh pot of tea and set it down. "let's talk about something else. Shall we?"
You didn't mind. Thanking Mey-Rin agree. "Yes, let's indeed."
Irene was delighted. "Wonderful, let's talk about your courting."
You nearly spit and choked on the tea you had just zipped. Mey-Rin whipped around like a typhoon and stomped her foot.
"No ones come to court the Baroness! They can't have her. The master will make sure that!"
You and Irene look at her stunned at her outburst. It took May-Rin a minute to realize what she just did and dropped her head down deep red completely taken over her face.
"I-I apologize!" She shrieked. Gripped her apron until her knuckles turned white, you notice them trembling. "Forgive me."
"It's alright," you kindly tell her, " no need to worry."
Mey-Ren trembled giving a nod. Stood up, her eyes directly on you slowly started to fill with tears. It went unnoticed by you due to her glasses but her slightly trembling lips didn't. Something was bothering her.
"Mey-Rin," you reach out. "What's wron-"
"Mey-Rin, there you are," Tanka stepped out. Wearing his humble and kind smile. You, Irene, and Mey-Rin look to him. "I've been looking for you, please I need your assistance in polishing the silverware."
Mey-Rin's lips parted a bit with a tremble, ready to say something. Stop. Gives a nod to the man, turns to you and Irene, give s a slight nod and hurries inside. Doing her best to hide her eyes with her bangs.
You wanted to stand and go after her. Something was bothering her, you could tell and you wanted to know what.
"There is nothing to concern yourself over, Baroness," Tanka said to you, with his smile. You look to him. "Please enjoy yourself."
Without another word he bows respectfully and leaves.
Your eyes watch and remain on him. It would have remained longer if not for Irene's light touch on your hand that brought you back.
"Shall we finish our conversation?" She asked with a soft smile.
One you couldn't deny. Nod. "Yes, indeed let us continue."
Her eyes lite up warmly. "Wonderful, now I believe we talking about any suitors that have presented themselves."
Your cheeks became dusted with pink. She giggled. "M-must we?" You fuss a little.
Her giggle meant yes. "I'm sure you have had quite a few. My ears have picked up your name falling from the mouths of others. They talk quite much about you."
"T-they do?"
She nodded. "It shouldn't be a surprise, you are quite one to behold. I've heard a breeze in the wind of Lord Grey has taken a fancy towards you and seems eager to-"
"No!" You nearly shriek.
Irene was stunned for a moment. Then laughed a little in her hand.
"You're cheeks are the color of a rose."
Quickly you pick up your spoon and look at your reflection. She was right our cheeks where indeed...that red. It went darker the longer you stared.
"I do hope you tease," you growl a little over her laughter. " the idea is...just..."
"A perfect match." She spoke. Your eyes whipped to her. Was she crazy? "I personally think so, you'd marry one of the same standing as your dear cousin. You'd be taken care of an-"
You hold up a hand. "I don't need to be taken care. His money means nothing to me or his title. It shouldn't be a factor at all." You turn your chin up.
She kept going taking a sip of her tea.
"He is close to the queen, that is something,"
A low growl leaves your lips. "So, my whole family is."
"True, I believe there is something there. That-"
You scuff rolling your eyes. "I'm are there is, vigorous annoyance. That man is beside himself. Those silver eyes of his inflame me to no end. His unkind and rude, to say the least. No understanding of personal boundaries."
You pick up your cup with light aggressiveness.
"His mere name riles me up, he is in no way a suitor I would ever consider. I'd rather marry dirt."
Those lashed words didn't go unnoticed, feeling an itch with his nose Grey sneezed a bit. Phipps looked to him.
"Well, that was weird," Grey said shrugging it off.
Phipps didn't. "Someone must be thinking of you?"
"Eh? Now your just being superstitious,"Grey rose a brow. He sneezed again, this time a little harder. "What the hell? Whoever's thinking about me seems like they might want to kill me. Well they'll have to do better."
"Or they could just simply dislike you." Phipps said.
Grey look brushed off his words. "Cut it out."
"Alright, have you heard any response?"
"Not yet, the earl is still on his mission for the queen. As for..well," a smirk slipped its way on Grey's lips and a soft chuckle slipped out. For a moment Phipps thought he saw this glint in his partner's eye for a moment or it was just the light. "her, not sure. No one said a word where she was, but, I'm sure she'll find out one way or another."
Phipps studied his partner a bit more, especially the growing smirk and chuckle. "What if the message isn't received? Also there is the matter of Lord Midford."
He had a point, but Grey wasn't worried. Not one bit, his smirk remained, and shrugged it off. "It's just a matter, nothing more. Try as he may, it won't do much a difference. It's going joy, watching it all unfold. I'll finally be able to knock that earl down a peg or so. He and his haughty cousin. It's going be glorious."
Grey enjoyed his laughter, Phipps had the words formed in his mind but not on his lips. He should say something, he knew he should but, he didn't. It wasn't his place and he couldn't stop thinking about that glint he saw in Grey's eyes. That told a hidden truth he knew his partner would refuse to acknowledge.
