Imperfections & Flaws

Chapter 6: The Ways of a Proper Lady

A/N: Woot! School's out! You know what that means! I'm kidding. I don't really know c: All I know is that I have a lot of free time now (good for you readers). Just keep in mind that updating isn't really my first priority, BUT IT'S UP THERE! I CARE! Well, I'm using this time to update my stories, and hey, new chapters may be rolling out more often! :) Also, thank you to my super patient/wicked beta Phantom Hitman 1412. I don't know what I'd do without her. ; u ;

Disclaimer: Have I put this here already? I don't remember. WELL, if I didn't, then Kuroshitsuji and its characters don't belong to me. They belong to Yana Toboso. It makes my heart cry every time. ~crycry.

I couldn't believe what Hannah was saying because it practically blew me off my feet. Guests were arriving in twenty minutes. I was JUST swinging on the chandeliers five minutes ago, having the time of my life.

"Hannah, why wasn't I given a notice about this 'party'?" I asked, slightly getting irritated with her hands practically clawing my scalp in an attempt to un-knot my hair.

"Because, my lady, if we were to tell you ahead of time you would have most likely tried to hide away in some corridor until we found you." She replied, her hand reaching towards her apron pocket and pulling out a ribbon. I scoffed at her response and lightly shook my head, trying to make my head as comfortable as possible.

"I would not have run away-"

"Claude predicted it; the same way he predicted that you were swinging from the chandeliers in the foyer." She yanked on a loose knot in my hair, causing my upper lip to move backwards in a menacing scowl.

"That man is a psychic. Or something, I don't know, but it's not normal. Then again, what is normal about me…" I trailed off, rambling about my lack of fun memories. I subconsciously tried to scratch my ear, out of irritation, but my hand was quickly swatted away. "Hey! Ow! That's not nice, Hannah!" A deep exhale was heard from the white-haired woman behind me.

"Please do not fidget; I'm almost done. I do not with for this to take long since I have to go downstairs to tend to the party, too. I believe you do not want me in your hair for much longer, either, so please hold still." She frowned even more. As if I were some responsibility that had been dumped upon her. Well, I technically was, because of Claude, but I'm still better than that!

"Hrmph, fine. Just…please hurry, it's hurting a lot." I twiddled my thumbs absent-mindedly. A few minutes had passed as I sat there in awkward silence with Hannah still fixing my hair. I tried pulling my attention away from what she was doing and began spacing out. I was harshly tugged back to reality when I felt Hannah tie the ribbon around my neck a little too tight. "H-Hannah! C-Can't br-breathe!" She loosened it slightly so that it did not hug my neck as much before, but kept its form neatly.

"I apologize, my lady. I did not mean for that to happen!" Her hands inspected my neck carefully, her face filled with worry. I swatted her hands away, then quickly tried to shoo her out of the room.

"Hannah, stop! It's fine. Just, leave." She stood still, still watching me carefully. I exhaled deeply, my fingers automatically going to the bridge of my nose. "Please? So I can put on my dress?" She nodded, bowed, and then turned around quickly to leave. The door's loud creaking then slamming alerted me of her absence. Once the door shut, I let out a short breath and shifted my glare over to the dresses that were surrounding me, like a sea of glitter and sparkles. I cringed. I turned away from the dresses only to see what Hannah had done to my hair. I smiled, and fiddled with my hair. My hair had been combed neatly, and was now resting on my shoulder, the tresses caressing my neck gently. Hannah made me look like I had never encountered the asylum. She made me look like I was born of nobility and lived like it all my life.

I heard sounds outside my window, and naturally, I ran over to inspect it. It seems our guests had begun to arrive, which only made me panic more. This was my first party after all, and I had no idea how to behave at a party. I quickly picked out a dress that didn't have too much flow, too revealing, sparkly, or glittery. Then, it hit me. The perfect 'party' dress. Its bright sapphire blue would enhance the electric in mine. Before I grabbed it, though, I put on (well, tried to) a corset by myself. 'I knew I should have asked Hannah to help em with this damned thing before kicking her out.' I slid the dress on, and found it fit snugly. Claude really was scary sometimes, knowing my dress size without even measuring me beforehand.

Three rapid knocks on my door snapped me out of my daze.

"Yes? Who is it?" I shouted, adjusting a few more things on the dress.

"Lady Ophelia, the guests have already started to arrive. Claude requests that your presence is needed soon."

"A-Ah…thank you…uh," I had forgotten which one of the triplets had been speaking. After all, they just about looked identical and sounded identical as well.

"Cantebury, my lady." He replied, as if he knew what I was thinking of. Damn demons.

"Yes, thank you Cantebury. Hehe, please tell Claude I'll be out shortly." I shouted back, and then continued to readjust parts of my hair that had begun to unwind. Cantebury's footsteps were heard as he descended down the stairs and back to the party. The party that is currently scaring me off my wits right now.

I looked back to the mirror and sighed. This was it. This was how I was going to be introduced to high society. If I was lucky, some higher ranked nobles might be foolish enough to be used as my pawns for this game of mine I've started. I took one last calming breath and fixed my posture before heading out the door, and descending into what I believe would be a personal hell for me. From here, I would have to put on my best mask and be the perfect hostess everyone expects me to be.