Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Black Butler world which is owned by Yana Toboso. This story is written purely for entertainment purposes and the events which happen in this story are not canon. I am not profiting financially from this story. I only own the idea of the plot and my own original characters. Thank you Yana Toboso for thinking up such a world as wonderful as Black Butler.
Chapter #1
"Please Miss Geneva, I implore you to be careful," I advised my young, and spoilt, little protégé.
Well, she isn't really my protégé, but it's the same concept so it's close enough.
"Celia, stop worrying," Geneva whiningly complained, annoyed. "And how many times have I told you, call me Miss Elinton! Servants call their Mistresses Mistress or Miss. You are my servant-"
"I am not your servant, Geneva," I corrected, not angry but a little indignant.
"My dear great-great-great-grandmother was-," Geneva started, angry.
"You are not Mistress Annie. You are not my Mistress, Geneva. Do not be ungrateful of my assistance, I am only returning a courtesy to Mistress Annie," I stated firmly, making our relationship clear.
"I never asked for your help," Geneva muttered.
I chose to ignore that comment, Geneva and I both knew it was an utter lie. I sighed, "Please, Miss Geneva. I've heard unsettling rumours of that butler of Earl Phantomhive's. He's…not normal."
I helped Geneva into the carriage, holding her hand. Her rose pink frilly dress was gathered in her other hand so she wouldn't trip. "Yes, yes, I'm aware. Julia knows all the latest gossip and always shares what she finds out with the rest of the girls."
I got in the carriage after Geneva, my deep maroon dress lifted a bit by my hand so as not to trip myself. The carriage started soon thereafter.
Miss Geneva and I were heading to Phantomhive Manor. She has some business to attend to with Earl Ciel Phantomhive.
Miss Geneva lost her mother several years ago, when she was merely seven years old. Her loving and doting father took care of her all this time, by himself as a single parent. He recently passed away as well. But not before spoiling his only daughter like there was no tomorrow, which eventually there wasn't. Miss Geneva inherited her family's company, she manages it with the help of her parent's friends, aunt, and uncle. Despite her current unfortunate situation, Geneva still doesn't fully live in reality. She still partly lives in her spoiled, naive, and innocent world.
I suppose it could be worse, after all, it's only natural for a thirteen year old girl to live in her own little world. But really, in her situation, it really isn't ideal for her to be so ignorant.
The trip to Phantomhive Manor wasn't too bad, it was simply long so naturally, it was tiring. Miss Geneva was certainly tired by the time we arrived at our destination.
When we arrived, a butler greeted us. He was pale, had raven black hair, demonic crimson red eyes - quite not unlike my own in fact, and he was fairly tall - perhaps approximately six feet. He was immaculately dressed, he wore a typical butler uniform consisting of black trousers, and a black tailcoat. He also had a pocket watch. He was a handsome gentleman, and looked as if he were in his early twenties.
I knew better though. I could tell, this so-called butler was, in actuality, a demon - just as I am. His eyes, his demeanour, his aura and presence, everything about him radiated 'demon', 'supernatural', 'inhuman', 'not of this world'.
"Good day, ladies. May I offer you a hand?" the butler offered his hand to Miss Geneva. His voice was silky and smooth, it flowed consistently and was charming.
Miss Geneva stepped out of the carriage, getting out gracefully and lady-like. I could tell she was a bit flustered, Miss Geneva always gets a little flustered around handsome men. The demon-butler then offered his hand to me.
I could tell by the look on the demon-butler's face that he knew that I, too, was a demon. Any normal person wouldn't be able to tell, to a normal person, the demon-butler's facial expression would look mysterious but still normal. A demon however, can often read other demon's expressions very well.
I took the demon-butler's hand and stepped out of the carriage. "Thank you," I thanked politely, "Miss Geneva, don't you have something to say?"
"Thank you, kind sir," Miss Geneva mumbled shyly.
"It's no trouble at all. If you would please follow me," the demon-butler turned around and lead Miss Geneva and I into the Phantomhive Manor.
It was an elegant manor to be sure, one fit for a noble such as an Earl. I could tell Miss Geneva was nervous, she was fiddling with the edge of her white left glove. Miss Geneva had insisted upon meeting Earl Phantomhive all by her lonesome without anyone else other than me. I don't doubt that she's regretting that decision now.
We soon arrived at Earl Phantomhive's office, which was were the meeting was to occur. I left Miss Geneva alone, at her insistance.
"Are you sure you don't want me with you? You'll be alright by yourself" I asked, a bit genuinely concerned. Miss Geneva may be a spoilt little girl, but she has a good heart which is why I graced her with my assistance and knowledge of my existence in the first place.
"Yes, I'll be fine Celia. Don't worry," Miss Geneva assured.
"If you're sure then. Call if you need anything," I turned to leave.
"She'll be in good hands, you needn't worry," the demon-butler, Sebastian as Earl Phantomhive introduced, assured.
"Sebastian, you'll see to it that our guest is entertained," the young Earl ordered.
It was a bit surprising that the Earl was so young, about Miss Geneva's age. But Miss Geneva is in a similar boat as the young Earl so I can understand his predicament. I'm sure the young Earl and Miss Geneva will get along fine.
"Of course, my Lord," the demon-butler - I mean, Sebastian - answered.
It seemed a bit hypocritical to me, I address Sebastian as 'the demon-butler' and yet, I'm more or less in the same boat as he is - except, I'm not a servant of any sort to Miss Geneva.
Sebastian lead me out of the room. "My lady, is there anything in particular you wish to do?" the demon-butler asked, considerately.
"Oh, anything is fine really. Um, do you by any chance have a garden?" I asked, a little hesitant.
"Of course, it's this way," the demon-butler continued on down the hall, leading me to the garden.
Their garden was magnificent, filled with all sorts of flowers. It was a wondrous and beautiful sight. Mistress Annie absolutely adored flowers, she knew the names of every which one. She ordered me to memorize each of the flowers' names as well.
I gasped, "Spider lillies, calla lillies, orchids, violets, fox gloves, amaryllis, roses, and Mistress Annie's favorites: tulips," I mumbled the last bit to myself, reminiscing.
"What was that?" the demon-butler asked, knowing full well what I said.
"…Nothing," I looked at Sebastian out of the corner of my eye before returning my attention to Mistress Annie's favourite flower, tulips.
There was a silence that followed. It didn't last very long before Sebastian broke it again.
"May I ask, what kind of a servant addresses their Mistress by her given name?" Sebastian asked, his gaze focused on the flowers in the garden.
"My, how straightforward of you. Your etiquette is rather poor, asking a lady such a frank and blatant inquiry," I remarked. "Anyhow, you seem to have been under the false assumption that I am Miss Geneva's servant. I am, in fact, one of Miss Geneva's advisors," I explained, calmly.
The only reason this demon-butler would ask me such a question would be because he knew that I, too, were a demon. Knowing this didn't bother me in the least, it wasn't as if I were trying to fool him otherwise. I expected Sebastian to recognize me as a demon, he seemed to be rather sharp and perceptive.
"I beg your pardon, my lady. You are indeed correct, it was idiotic of me to have made such an ignorant and foolish assumption. Please forgive me," Sebastian bowed deeply.
"You are pardoned. By the way, Sebastian, may I ask? What's a demon, such as yourself, doing playing the role of a mere butler? I would've thought us demons had much more dignity than that," I blatantly taunted.
It may have seemed I was obviously taunting Sebastian, but I didn't actually care for his reaction. I was merely genuinely curious as to his answer. I may be more sensitive and emotional than other demons, but I am still a demon so I can't help acting as such every once in a while or on a smaller scale.
"I serve my Master, that's all," Sebastian vaguely replied.
"Your current Master, you mean," I corrected. It's not like Sebastian's only Master is Lord Phantomhive. The young Lord is his current Master yes, but I'm certain Sebastian's had plenty of previous Masters and will have many more in the future.
"Yes, I suppose you're right. But please, do tell, what is a demon such as yourself doing as an advisor to a young spoilt little lady?" Sebastian asked in return.
"I'm sorry, I can't say. It's a private matter," I eluded.
"Oh? Is it?" Sebastian answered mysteriously.
"It is," I concluded. I continued admiring the gorgeous flowers all around me.
"It's quite unusual, for a demon to have such feelings toward such trivial and delicate things. I don't think I've met many demons who've had such a fondness of flowers," Sebastian observed.
"I suppose you're right, I'm not like most demons. But let us leave it at that shall we?" I proposed.
The rest of the afternoon, Sebastian showed me around the Phantomhive Manor. I enjoyed the architecture, furnishings, and landscape in and around the manor. Eventually, dinner time rolled 'round. Miss Geneva and I were escorted separately to the dining hall.
Lord Phantomhive, Miss Geneva, and I all settled down into our seats and tucked in, beginning dinner. The food was absolutely delicious, as expected.
"Miss Geneva, how has your afternoon been today?" I asked.
"It's been just fine, thank you Celia. Lord Phantomhive and I had a fine time," Miss Geneva replied.
"Lord Phantomhive, your manor is absolutely stunning. Everything about it is magnificent, so neat and orderly as well. It's a true masterpiece," I complimented.
"Thank you, but the manor is only as it should be," Lord Phantomhive modestly said, albeit in an apathetic tone.
I nodded.
"Who does the cleaning and manages the manor? Everything seems to be truly in perfect order," Miss Geneva asked in wonder.
"That would be Sebastian," the young Lord replied, taking a bite of his food.
"Wow, you must be really skilled, Sebastian," Miss Geneva said, impressed.
"No, you see, I am simply one hell of a butler," Sebastian said smoothly.
"Sebastian merely does his job as expected. If he couldn't even keep the manor in perfect order, what kind of a butler would he be?" Earl Phantomhive said in a monotone.
I suppose he did have a point, if all or most butlers were so ideal.
Miss Geneva nodded, a little overwhelmed. She never did have such high expectations of her butlers, not that she needed to. Her butlers and maids are all very kind and work very hard.
Dinner went off without a hitch, more or less. Eventually, it was time for Miss Geneva and I to leave.
"Please do visit again," the demon-butler welcomed us at their home. The demon-butler smiled a fake smile, simply out of courtesy.
"Thank you, Lord Phantomhive," Miss Geneva said, blushing, as she was helped into the carriage by the demon-butler.
"We bid you a safe trip," the demon-butler said, helping me into the carriage after Miss geneva.
"We both had a splendid time, thank you," I said politely.
"Good night, my ladies," Lord Phantomhive bid farewell, as did that demon-butler, Sebastian.
"Good night, Lord Phantomhive, Sebastian," said Miss Geneva, cutely like the little thirteen year old girl she is.
I can only imagine how tired she feels, this was a big day for Miss Geneva.
"Sebastian," I gestured with my hand for him to come closer. He stood in the entrance of the carriage. I whispered to him, "I'm sure we'll meet again, demon-butler of Earl Phantomhive," kissing him on both cheeks afterward. "That's goodbye in French," I said, smiling an angelic demonic smile.
"I'm aware," Sebastian chucked. "I look forward to our next encounter, demon-advisor of Lady Elinton," Sebastian whispered into my ear in response.
I leaned back into my seat, still sitting up straight though. I looked on in satisfaction as the door to the carriage closed and Miss Geneva and I were on our way back home.
Hm. Interesting, a demon-butler. We'll most certainly be seeing more of that demon-butler and his Master.
The whole ride home, Miss Geneva shot me various types of glances. Some were of curiosity, some were of suspicion, some of giddiness, and the majority of them of perverted thoughts running through her mind no doubt.
When we stepped out of the carriage after arriving at our destination, that being the Elinton Manor, I gave an exasperated sigh. Honestly, Miss Geneva could be so unladylike sometimes.