Sorry for the small delay in updates, once again. I'm working on a lot of different stories so I might be a little slower than usual. Anyways, enjoy the chapter! Thanks for all your reviews! I appreciate every single one of them!

*Claude's POV*

I love you, you know…

The demon's own words echoed in his mind as he laid down on his bed, starring at the Manor's ceiling as he thought about what had happened only an hour ago. The moment had been perfect, between their playful banter and the calm embraces… So why, then, had he ruined it with those words? There was only one question that plagued the butler more than that:

Why hadn't Ciel said anything back?

His heart ached in a way that it never had before as he shut his eyes and tried not to think about it anymore. It seemed that trying to ignore it only made the weight in his chest worse, though. He hadn't thought about what he'd said until after he'd said it, and it was only then that he realized how true the statement had been…

A soft knock struck the door and, for that split second, Claude thought that it would be his mate at the door—It wasn't. Hannah opened the bedroom's door and stepped in just as the other demon realized it was her. Frowning, he motioned for her to say whatever it was she'd come to say.

"Alright, Claude," the maid sighed in exasperation and crossed her arms over her chest, "What happened?" She leaned against the door's frame as she waited for him to explain.

The spider's eyes narrowed at the demoness as he snapped, "Leave it alone, Hannah. It's none of your concern."

"Claude, I'm not an idiot," Hannah bit back, but still managed to keep her voice somewhat level, "You're in here by yourself. Even worse, our lord is sobbing and won't talk to me. So what in Hell's name happened?"

Claude glared at the maid as she argued with him. For a moment, all was silent, and then he finally spoke, "Well… I don't know how to say it, Hannah." He paused again, obviously picking and choosing his words, "I asked him if… I told him… I told him that I loved him." He shook his head then, rubbing his temples, "And he just stood there, Hannah, looking at me as though I'd gone mad."

Hannah rolled her eyes for a moment before suggesting, "Why don't you go talk to him then, Claude? Stop jumping into these things without thinking about it and actually have a conversation with the boy."

*Ciel's POV*

Ciel had finally stppped crying and was now sitting at the edge of his bed, swiping at his eyes to dry them. A hand fell to his shoulder, but he immediately shoved it away, "Leave me alone."

Sebastian sighed as he stood next to the young master's bed and asked, "What's wrong, my lord?"

"Everything!" Ciel snapped, gesturing wildly with his hands, "Everything is wrong!" The child abruptly stood from his bed with a growl in his voice, "I had a chance and I blew it, all because I didn't know what to say!" He made his way swiftly to the other side of his room to look out the window as he spoke, "I'm such an idiot! Everything was fine, but no, I had to go and muck it all up!"

Sebastian sighed heavily at his master's childish behavior before replying, "I've never seen you not know what to say, master. I'm sure you'll think of something—"

"There won't be a chance to think of something to say!" Ciel was shouting now, his blue eyes burning with anger, "It's too late, Sebastian! What don't you understand about that?"

"Master, I—"

When Ciel interrupted the demon, his voice was a hiss, "Sod off, butler. This doesn't concern you!" He whirled around to face Sebastian, then watched as the butler bowed and took his leave, having decided not to bother the young Earl any further…

The night passed without a word from Claude and, at some point, Ciel finally had fallen asleep.