Imperfections & Flaws
Chapter 5: New Beginnings
A/N: Whoop dee doo, I keep forgetting I have responsibilities and whatnot. :3 FEAR NOT, this story has not been forgotten! I'm just waiting for stupid school to get out. That way, I'll have all summer to whip out some of these babies and keep you readurrs satisfied 3. Again, special thanks to Phantom Hitman 1412 with the beta help! You're so awesome (~; u ;)~
Faustus manor was something so out of the ordinary that I've never seen or imagined it before. It'd be hard to miss something so…astounding and MASSIVE. The colossal silver gates that blocked the outside world from entering the domain, the two grand dark cherry wood doors that blocked the house's entrance to the garden, the maze garden filled with roses and statues, and lastly the bright white fountain of a spider out in the front, in the center of everything. It was just…all too much.
"Claude…don't you think this is kind of overdoing things?" I asked, my eyebrows scrunched together nervously. I wasn't used to this kind of treatment.
"Well, we are royalty now. I figured we should live like it, and what better way to show it by displaying it with your estate?" Claude replied.
My eyes scanned the garden area in front of me while I was still awe-struck at the beauty of it all, and how Claude managed to fix this all up within the few hours I was gone. I walked over to one of the rose bushes and gently pulled a white rose away from it. My eyes flew back to the spider fountain ,that had seemed to tie everything together nicely, and then to Claude. Claude smirked in return and pushed his glasses further up his nose.
"Shall we explore the inside of the manor, Ophelia?" He held out an arm to me, which I graciously took.
"Have you decided about servants, or about housework yet?" I asked, my eyes not staying in one direction as they kept trying to absorb all of the information I was seeing. We walked through the foyer, then to the main hall. Eventually, we passed the kitchen, laundry room, servants quarters, and finally to the main quarters.
I paused when I realized there was only one room and one bed. I turned to Claude and raised my eyebrow.
"Where will you sleep?" I asked inquiringly.
"My room is directly down the hall from yours." Claude replied, his voice void of any emotion. I sighed and massaged my temple with my hand gently. "And as for your question earlier, yes, I have. Timber, Cantebury, Thompson, and Hannah should be downstairs. If you need anything from them, just ring the bell on the nightstand by your bed. They should appear at your request." As he mentioned the bell, I turned my body and looked for the nightstand that he spoke of. On top of the aforementioned nightstand, was one of those bells that every master had at their side.
"Thanks, but no thanks. I'll just get whatever I need by myself, if that's fine with you." I replied, picking up the bell nonchalantly.
Claude's eyes narrowed slightly at my odd request. "Yes, but if we are hosting a ball or dance, you should attempt to use the bell or order the servants around. Just to keep an appearance," he gently reached out and grabbed the bell from me, and placed it back on the table. "But while we are at home, you are free to do as you wish."
"So what are you going to be doing?" I asked curiously, my blue orbs started to glow brightly as I looked up at him, waiting for his answer.
"I believe I am going to walk around the manor to check up on things, and to add a few finishing touches here and there. May I ask why you wanted to know?"
"Oh, just…no reason." I smirked inwardly and kicked my feet back and forth as I sat on the soft bed. "I just wanted to explore on my own." My smirk grew a bit larger, but it went unnoticed by Claude. He nodded, then promptly left the room. I heard his footsteps head towards the east wing—the servants' quarters.
As soon as I deemed that the coast was clear, I sprung off the bed and ran out the door. I mean, who wouldn't want to explore such a big house after being locked in a hellish place such as that insane asylum? I ran around, looking here and there. Lifting up random vases to inspect them, sniffing flowers and sneezing from the pollen that they emitted, and playing with the chandeliers (don't ask how I got up there).
In the middle of swinging on my fifth chandelier, a young man clad in a semi-butler attire came in, followed by two identical ones like him. I paused mid swing and just hung there, staring at the three of them while they stared back. What was I going to say to them? That I was just randomly swinging on the chandeliers in the manor? I bit my bottom lip lightly as I tried to figure out what I was going to say to them.
"Uhm, it's not what it looks like." I looked around for a safe landing place and decided on the elegant, expensive-looking couch. I let go and flung myself in that direction while holding my dress down. I landed on the edge of the bed, then tilted and fell backwards on my bum. The three servants were hovering over me immediately, helping me off the ground and dusting my dress in random places. I quickly stopped them before they touched anything I didn't want touched. "Thank you for your help, but I think I can take care of myself; if you don't mind." The three butlers stood up simultaneously and backed off.
Just as they did, Claude walked in the room. At first, his eyes locked onto the still swaying chandelier, to me, then to the three butlers. He sighed, and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Ophelia, I would appreciate it if you did not try to destroy the house before we present it to our guests tonight." Claude said.
"Well, I just wanted to have some fun. If you haven't noticed, I practically didn't have a childhood- WAIT, what? Did you just say guests? Tonight! Why did you let me know on such short notice?" I yelled frantically. Guests. Guests are strangers. Strangers are danger. An alarm was going off in my head and instantly I began to worry.
"Calm down, please. It's nothing, just a small gathering that I put together. A housewarming party, of sorts."
" B-But I didn't have the chance to go shopping for any nice clothes…"
"It has been settled for you already. I sent Hannah into town earlier to retrieve a few gowns that she deemed would look nice on you." Claude explained, his patience beginning to wear thin.
"Ah, okay. I see you've handled everything then…I'll just," I began walking slowly towards my room in the hall to my left, "go…to my room." I tried to walk faster to get out the punishment I knew was going to await me.
"Not so fast, Ophelia. Even though you are my master, this behavior of yours is not fitting. Since you are not of legal age yet, I will have to take the responsibility of teaching you the ways of a lady—starting with punishments and what actions are not acceptable." I swore I could have felt Claude smirk behind my back, but I threw it off as my imagination.
My shoulders slumped in response and I added in a quick, "Sure thing" before retreating to my room.
As soon as I opened the door, I was surrounded by a vast selection of dresses and ball gowns of all colors. At the same time, I was in awe and in slightly creeped out. A woman with tan skin and white tresses of hair stepped out from behind the wall of dresses before me and introduced herself as Hannah.
"Oh, so you picked out all of these dresses. I must say , you have some good taste." I smiled softly while browsing through the dresses.
"Yes, Claude asked me to go grab a variety of dresses that you would deem worthy. I supposed shopping for you is quite easy as compared to our last master." Hannah replied, her face staying the same. What was with these demons and keeping the same facial expression always? "By the way, Claude told me to tell you that the guests will be arriving in approximately twenty minutes."
"WHAT?"
A/N: So how was this chapter? Sorry if it's a little short, I find it easier to update with the chapters being not-so-long. :D Yaay!
Sync94: I'm glad that you like the rivalry! I like it too ;D.
OnehellOvawriter: I'm glad you like my claudegasms! That's what keeps these stories going! :3 And btw, delivered.
Marystormshade: You are right when you say that Ciel and Sebastian have a big role in this story. It just didn't feel like a Kuroshitsuji story without them in it :0
VampireSiren: I'm glad you like the story so far c: .
Well, time to work on other things and waste my life away~ Please review, alert, and whatever else you think will make me a happy camper. :3
