You know, I'm going to be 100% honest with you. I wasn't going to touch this story, I was not, not until my other stories were done. This is why I haven't updated this in a century. But then one day I got a review from MissUzuki, and what that review said literally kicked me in the butt. So this chapter is all dedicated to MissUzuki because without that review you wouldn't have this update today.
The weather for the morning had suddenly changed, the sun was no longer seen as dark grey clouds covered the sky and a shower of rain began to poor on to the ground. The Phantomhive servants were in the kitchen preparing their master's breakfast when all of a sudden a conversation appeared.
"I still can't believe Sebastian's married." Bard muttered as he washed dishes.
"Yeah.." Mei-Rin replied, sad because the one she truly loved was taken.
"I can't believe he married his sister! That's disturbing, don't you think?"
"Perhaps they have a reason." Mei-Rin said as she spoke quietly, "At least she looks around his age. It would be weird if Sebastian had married someone who looks like the young master's age. And the young master is engaged with his cousin, after all."
"Yeah I guess." The chef mumbled and looked into the other direction, "But why his sister?"
"Like I said earlier they probably have a reason why they are wed." The maroon haired maid tried her best to hold back her tears, but she found it was easier to be said than done.
"I sure has hell like to know why."
"I'm sure all you have to do is talk to Sebastian."
"Talk to me about what, exactly?" The butler of the topic stepped through the entry from the hall.
"Why you kept you marriage a secret from us!" Discarding the butcher's knife he was cleaning, the chef had by slamming it into the wooden cutting board, a rather infuriated Bard began to yell.
"Because I figured the subject would not be necessary. So why would I bring up something that would be completely useless?"
"Because being married isn't useless!"
"Bard, please keep your voice down!" Mei-Rin said, "The young master might hear us!"
"No! He needs to hear every word I say! The young master can wait!" Bard declared crossly.
"I shall tell you three things and then our conversation is over." Sebastian said, his eyes now piercing into the chef. "First, and for most our master always comes first. We wait on him, he does not wait on us, nor will he ever wait on us!" The ignorant chef scoffed at the remark, rolling his eyes in annoyance. "Second, my personal life and my past has nothing to do with you; so stay out of my business. Third, remember where you stand. Just because you are here does not mean you are here permanently. May I ask you who does the cooking around here? Because it's certainly not you." Bard stayed silent, crossing his arms and continuing to scoff, "That is exactly my point. You can easily be replaced, and you will if you continue to act in such a childish manner." With that being said Sebastian walked passed the chef and began working on his master's breakfast. When everything was finished and plated the Phantomhive butler was placing everything onto the cart. "That is all, no go back to work."
...
It was only a moment's walk from the kitchen to the master's quarters, and once Sebastian had reached his destination he made no hesitation to awaken his master.
"Young master." He began the morning routine with a delicate knock on mahogany wood. When he wasn't hearing movement from the other side he sighed as usual and opened the door. It was silent inside the dark chamber; the only sound that could be heard was the soft click of the butler's shoes as they collided with the floor. "Young master." He continued to say, his gloved covered hands grasping onto the curtains, the reason why the room was surrounded in darkness. When the curtains were raised and tied into place there was light inside the room.
"Honestly young master." Sebastian sighed when his ears heard his master groaning for more sleep, "Must we go through this every morning?" The boy continued to groan, keeping his back away from the light and his butler. "Honestly." He sighed, his body walking away from the window and towards the cart. "Come now young master. Your breakfast is getting cold."
"Just heat it up." Ciel finally said as he replied to his butter.
"And give Bard a chance to burn it to his content? I think not." By this point Ciel was in a sitting position. His body was slumped forwards, but at least he was sitting instead of sleeping. "For today I have prepared fresh strawberry scones with a sweet honey cream, along with a lite fruit salad." As he set the announced food in front of his master he could not help but smile.
"And what sort of tea am I having today?" The earl asked.
"Earl Grey." Sebastian replied almost instantly, "That is your favorite is it not?"
"Indeed." Ciel said as he began to eat his breakfast. As the sounds of of silverware hit fine china the demon continued his morning preparations by selecting the outfit that his master will wear. "Tell me, Sebastian." Ciel spoke as soon as he finished his meal, "Why did you marry your sister?"
"Young master-"
"Normally I would not care if it has anything to do with your past, but I am far too curious to set this aside. "
"I understand, young master." Sebastian replied with a smile, "Allow me to explain. In Hell, we demons are separated by two classes; those would be the hierarchy and the stigma. Judging by their name you can assume that stigmas would be labeled as "peasants" or "majority" if we were on Earth. Thus saying the hierarchies are the earls, the heirs, and the nobles of Hell."
"I see." Ciel said, "This still doesn't answer my question of why you and your sister are wed."
"I was getting to that." He said calmly, "You see, just like on Earth nobles must wed other nobles. For example you being betrothed to you cousin, Lady Milford." He watched his master nod in silence before parting his lips to speak once more. "It is no different in Hell as it is here, only the hierarchies are more rare."
"I see." His master said calmly, "So what you're saying is-"
"Incest is very common in Hell." Without much thought Sebastian spoke and completed his master's sentence, "In fact, my parents are siblings as well. Incest seems to run in my family."
"And you take pride in that?" Ciel said with a scoff.
"I am a demon after all, young master." As he walked over to his master's wardrobe, the Phantomhive butler continued with his work.
"So, does being a hierarchy effect who you form contracts with?" The earl of the manor asked.
"I would say so." His butler replied calmly as he returned to his master, "For you see, stigmas have no shame. They form contracts with anyone they can; even if it was a child wanting revenge on who stole their sweets."
"How childish." Ciel muttered.
"Indeed. What lowlife scum they truly are. My class, however, have standards."
"So you're saying that the only reason our contract was formed was because I met your standards?"
"You exceeded my standards, my lord."
"And suppose I didn't?"
"Young master, I don't see the purpose for all your-"
"Don't you dare question me, or my logic ever again, you dog."
"Yes, of course." Setting the clothes he had in his arms aside, Sebastian could now answer his master's questions without any concern over wrinkled clothing.
"Now answer my question." Ciel barked, "What would you have done if I hadn't met your requirements?"
"Left you be." By this point Sebastian's true eyes began to show, "I'm sure some stigma would have come along to claim you." Folding his arms Ciel had become more fascinated than he imagined; the idea of a slight change ending with catastrophic differences.
"Would I still be a noble?" He asked.
"I highly doubt you'd survive to be honest." His butler replied, "Stigmas don't wait until their contract is complete."
"Like Alois and his butler?"
"Indeed."
"So you're telling me Claude is a Stigma."
"Every demon in the Trancy estate is a Stigma." His butler replied ever so quickly.
"I... I believe I'm done with this conversation." Ciel said, "Finish with the morning routine at once." He ordered.
"Yes, my lord."
One more thing, I had this really good idea awhile ago and I decided to stick with it. This story will soon the rest of my creations in the M section of Kuroshitsuji. I am sorry if there is anyone who is upset by this, but it's too late. In future chapters this is going to be where I believe it belongs. But don't be upset, be intrigued about what's going to happen later on. All I can say now is review and just keep checking.
Goodnight to all who have read the entire chapter. I hope this was enough to satisfy you for a bit.
