-Chapter 12-

The clattering of metal foils hitting and grinding against each other echoed nosily around the hall where Ciel had been practicing his fencing with Sebastian until Prince Soma and Agni had joined them. Lucile stood a little ways from the four men, she still couldn't look Ciel in the eye after what she remembered doing to his aunt, but it was still her job to protect him even while in his own house. Instead she watched Sebastian and Agni duel. As usual, Sebastian moved with feline grace like he was floating on air. But Agni was as fluid as a dancer, managing to hold his own against the demon in their mock battle. She knew from experience that he was strong. Last night when she'd woken, screaming and terrified, he had been the first one there, almost breaking her door down in the process. In the time between him arriving and Sebastian stepping in, Lucile had hit the Indian man at least five times, the last being in the stomach hard enough for him to let his grip loosen enough for her to break free. She realized now that he'd only been trying to help but to her, he had been a threatening stranger. Her fear had turned to instant relief upon seeing Sebastian and her only thought to was to run to him, he could make everything better. And he had after she'd calmed down, but that didn't mean she didn't owe certain people apologies and thanks. Agni's actions that night had caused some doubt to form in Lucile's mind - perhaps she had been wrong about them, well him at least. She still wasn't too sure on the boy prince, but looking at his behavior and the way Agni had spoken about him, he really didn't seem the type to be able to kill anyone.
The duel was suddenly called to a stop as both the blunted ends of the foils met each other and snapped due to the strength and precision behind them.
"Oh my. The foils snapped." Sebastian commented airily as if he hadn't just been defending his master's honour moments ago.
"So the match is a draw, huh?" Lao announced from Ciel's side as Lucile, who had been holding towels for Sebastian and Ciel to refresh themselves with, walked over to the two men in the middle of the room.
"Ciel's khansama is pretty good, too!" His royal pain said approvingly. Lucile fought the urge to roll her eyes, of course Sebastian was good - the man was a demon. Still she stayed quiet and handed said demon and Agni each a towel to wipe the sweat off their foreheads should any such thing had occurred, though she doubted Sebastian would have worked up a sweat.
"Agni is the best fighter in my castle!" the prince continued as Ciel slowly made his way over to them. Lucile risked a quick glance at the boy, his face was morphed into a well camouflaged surprise as Soma continued to speak, "This is the first time I've seen anyone fight on a par with him." Lucile handed Agni a towel before joining Sebastian's side, as she'd expected the demon hadn't even raised a sweat, still he took the offered towel and dabbed his forehead. By then Ciel had joined them and whispered, while eyeing a retreating Agni off, "Just who is this man?" Lucile had been thinking the same thing. It was obvious he wasn't ordinary, no one who could fight so well against a demon could be. It just wasn't possible. Still she was certain this man definitely wasn't a demon.
"Keep a close eye on him." Ciel ordered both Lucile and Sebastian who responded with his usual, "Yes, my Lord." Lucile stayed quiet as she bent down to pick up the broken foil piece on the ground.
"Are you feeling better today?" Sebastian asked her softly.
"What on earth caused that behavior anyway?" Ciel asked, trying to keep the worry out of his voice, but it was useless against Lucile's ears. She stared at the foil in her hands trying to think of something to say. She couldn't tell him that she remembered what she did to his aunt. At least not yet. Once she did, it would become real and she would have to face certain things she didn't want to face just yet. Thankfully, Sebastian came to her rescue once again.
"She had a frightful nightmare. I believe it may have something to do with this current case. After seeing her friend almost die, perhaps having to look at all these corpses took a toll on her mind." he said deliberately leaving bits out. Although it wasn't a direct lie, Sebastian certainly wasn't telling Ciel the whole truth.
"Hmm." the boy said thoughtfully, "Well I don't want another scene like that again, so I hereby order you to take some time away from this investigation. Sebastian and I can handle it." Lucile stood and frowned at her young master, fully looking at him for the first time that day,
"You can't be serious? I'm fine, really."
"I am serious, nor do I care what you think. You're taking a break and that's final. However, though I don't particularly want you participating in this investigation for the time being, that doesn't mean I don't have another job for you." he said with a slight smirk and Lucile knew exactly what he wanted her to do. Ciel had no patience for their foreign guests, and the Prince was intent on not leaving him alone, so that meant Lucile was on babysitting duty.

"Ehhh? You are?" Prince Soma exclaimed in disbelief after Lucile announced that she would be showing them around London.
"My master requests it. He is extremely sorry that he has been kept busy by his schedule and has asked if I would suffice in his stead." The boy prince sighed and pouted, obviously displeased that he wouldn't be able to play with Ciel, but nonetheless was happy that he was finally being shown around London. Lucile passed Sebastian as she followed Soma, Agni and Lau down the stairs to the door. He seemed to be enjoying her displeasure had having to play the tour guide role and she swore to herself that she would exact revenge on him when she got back. Outside it had just begun to snow lightly, December would soon be upon them and with it would be Ciel's birthday. A day she wasn't particularly looking forward to, the anniversary of his parents death.
"Where should we go first, Agni?" Soma's voice cut into her sorrowful memories and brought Lucile back to the present, "Where we left off yesterday?"
"If you don't mind me asking," Lucile said, "but why did you want to see London so badly if you don't actually know what you want to see?"
"We're looking for someone." Soma replied matter-of-factly. Lucile recalled him saying something about that the other day, and a rather badly drawn picture.
"Does this person have a name?" Lucile asked, "Perhaps I know them." Prince Soma pulled out a folded piece of paper - the same paper with the drawing on it - and held it up for Lucile to inspect.
"Her name is Meena. She was my nursemaid when I was little, but recently she was kidnapped and brought here. I came to London to find her and rescue her." he said, a pink hue lighting his cheeks. Suddenly, Lucile felt a little bit more compassionate towards the boy. Clearly this woman meant a lot to him, especially for him to come all this way just to find her. Feeling her conscience tugging at her ruthlessly, Lucile knew what she had to do.
"Unfortunately, I don't know her." she said, Soma looked at the snow covered ground in disappointment, "But I know someone who may be able to help though I don't think it's a good idea for you to come with me..." Despite her reservations about taking the boy Prince to that particular place, he seemed determined on going with her, which meant Agni and Lau were dragged along for the ride.
"You know, Miss Lucile," Lau began as they walked, Soma and Agni were some distance ahead, enjoying the London sights, "Wasting your beauty tucked away with the young Earl is just tragic."
"Lau, I'm not joining you and your girls." Lucile said outright, "And I happen to like living with Ciel."
"Are you sur-"
"If you say one more word on the subject, I swear I will pulverize you into the pavement." she said with a fake smile good enough to rival Sebastian's. Lau laughed,
"My, my, the guard dog bites when the master isn't around." Lucile pretended to ignore him but secretly in the depth of her mind, his words replayed in her mind, making her more suspicious of him than she ever was before. Lau, after all, was a strange fellow. He always seemed to know everything that was going on, yet pretended he was clueless. Lucile had never particularly warmed to him, he just seemed...shifty. Still, he didn't talk to her the remainder of the way which was something she was grateful for.
The party stopped outside the secreted building long enough for the tourists to gaze upon it in anxious nervousness.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Prince Soma asked her, "I just don't know how this type of person could help us." Lucile smiled at the prince and walked over to the door.
"He's helped us many times. But," she said holding her hand up as Soma went to take a step forward, "It'll be better for you to wait out here until I call you in." Soma frowned and looked to his bodyguard for advice.
"Perhaps it's wise to do as she says." Agni said surprisingly. Lucile nodded once to him and went inside, closing the door behind her.
"Welcome~" his singsong voice called out from some hidden place in the shop, "To what do I owe this particular pleasure, Pretty Wolf?"
"Undertaker, where are you hiding?" she asked turning in a small circle. The shinigami giggled and poked his head out from a sack of salt so large it was almost the size of Lucile.
"There is nothing quite as relaxing as having all the moisture drained from your body." he grinned.
"I can think of several things more relaxing than that." Lucile replied sarcastically, "Anyway, I need a favour."
"Anything for you." he replied stepping out of the salt bag and dusting himself off, "Tell me what your heart desires and I will do my best to make it happen." Undertaker held his thin hand out to her, Lucile took it automatically and let the grey man twirl her in a circle.
"The people I'm with, an Indian prince and his khansama, they're looking for someone." Lucile said while they danced together.
"Hmm. Is this person royalty as well?" he asked curiously. Lucile shook her head, "She was a servant." Undertaker lowered her in a dip, his impossibly long silver hair brushed against her neck and face.
"I'm afraid I have no information for you this time. At least nothing reliable without more information." he said pulling her up right against his slender frame. Lucile looked into his eyes, or at least she hoped that was where she was looking since she couldn't see beneath his bangs,
"Her name is Meena and I'm fairly sure she married a nobleman, not one of any great power though."
"Hmm." Undertaker said thoughtfully, releasing her and taking a step back, "Alas the name does not sound familiar to me, however I will be more than happy to keep a special eye out for her."
"You'll let me know if you find anything, right?" she asked. Undertaker gave her a great smile and bowed elegantly,
"I give you my word, Pretty Wolf, in return for the dance you just gifted me." he said. Lucile thanked him and left to rejoin the others outside.
"Well? Did your friend have any information?" Soma asked her immediately, clutching her hands tightly. Lucile shook her head, "Not this time. But he promised he would let me know if that changes."
"And you're sure he can be trusted?" Agni asked suspiciously. Lucile turned to the man and nodded,
"I trust him with my life."

"I never thanked you for the other night, or apologized." Lucile said as she and Agni walked down the street, light snow had dusted the cobblestone like icing sugar and there was a slight chill in the air making Lucile pull her coat tighter around her.
"You don't need to do either." he replied with a smile, "Though I must admit I underestimated your strength." Lucile chuckled,
"I get that a lot, I suppose everyone just assumes that Sebastian does all the work."
"About Mr. Sebastian...May I ask a question?" Agni asked her, his voice lowering several octaves. Lucile looked up at the dark skinned man, whatever he wanted to know was pretty serious. She hoped it wasn't about his particular set of skills.
"Of course." she replied trying to sound indifferent.
"Last night, as soon as you saw him you regained your sense. Forgive me if this is too personal but is Master Ciel alright with your relationship?" he asked curiously. Lucile stopped dead in her tracks and stared in bewilderment at Agni. What the hell kind of question was that?!
"Relationship? The only relationship I have with that man is mutual dislike."
Agni frowned at her, "But you ran to him, you're always together and he looks at you like a man looks at his wife."
"We're together because we're a team. As for the way he looks at me...well, if you knew Sebastian you wouldn't say it was that particular look." Lucile explained trying to reason with him and herself.
"And last night?"
Lucile sighed, "I honestly have no answer for that. But I obviously wasn't thinking properly, and he looks strikingly similar to the previous Earl so it's possible I mistook him in my state."
"You were close with the previous Earl?" Agni asked sounding even more curious than before. Lucile nodded,
"I never knew my parents. When I was a baby I was left on the doorstep of the Phantomhive Manor. Vincent Phantomhive took me in as his ward and some years later he fell in love and married a beautiful woman named Rachel and had Ciel. They were the parents I never had." she told him sadly.
"I'm sorry to bring up a painful memory." Agni said lowering his eyes to the ground. Lucile shook her head and placed her small hand on his arm, "It's okay." Although her heart ached each time she was reminded of Vincent and Rachel Phantomhive, she knew her pain was nothing compared to Ciel's. She had spent seventeen years with Vincent, Ceil had only had ten.
"...Uncovered nothing." Prince Soma was saying out loud as he and Lau caught up to the other two.
"I wouldn't say that, Highness, Miss Conte did get us a valuable contact." Lau said brightly. The sound of her name made Lucile break free of her memories and turn to face them.
"That is true." Soma said though he still sounded disappointed, suddenly he looked up and caught Lucile looking at him, "Oh, I am grateful for all your help today, it's just..."
Lucile held her hand up and smiled, "I understand entirely, Your Majesty. You were hoping to find at least some clues as to where your friend is. I would be worried if you weren't disappointed." Prince Soma smiled warmly at her and for the first time Lucile saw him, not as the spoiled, bratty prince, but as a kind-hearted, lonely boy. Perhaps he would be a good friend to Ciel, despite the latter not caring much for such trivial things. Lucile smiled to herself at the image of Ciel making a fuss over having to befriend someone as childish as Soma.
"Shall we return to the house?" She asked them. Soma nodded, hugging himself, "I'm not used to such cold climates, I think if I stay out here much longer I'll freeze."
When they arrived back at the townhouse, dinner was just starting to be prepared. Prince Soma and Lau joined Ciel in the library while Agni decided to see if he could help in the kitchen, despite Lucile insisting Sebastian could handle it. She, on the other hand, retired to her bedroom to wait to be called to dinner. She sat on her window seat and gazed down at the street below thinking about everything and nothing. Her mind wandered far away, to another time when things were happier and the her ears were filled with joyous laughter. Despite having found friendship in Bard, Finny and Mey-Rin, she wished she could return to that time. Everything was less complicated and there was no demon butler to make her life difficult.
"We'll always be together, won't we?" Ciel had been so innocent back then as he grinned up at his parents. Rachel had replied first with her beautiful warm smile, "Of course we will, my sweet."
"All four of us." Vincent added. Ciel's smile had been the brightest Lucile had ever seen on that day, "Mama, Papa, Ciel and Lucy!"
"Miss Lucile?" the new voice shocked her from her bittersweet memory. Lucile shook her head and wiped the stray tear that had escaped down her cheek.
"Sorry, yes?" she asked turning to face the dark man in her door way.
"Dinner is served." he said with a bow. Lucile rose from her seat and followed Agni into the dining room where she took her place next to Sebastian.
"How long do you people intend on staying here?!" Ciel demanded while Sebastian served the main course.
"We'll leave when our business is finished." Prince Soma replied somewhat cryptically.
"You did make mention of you looking for someone." Lau said airily although he had been with them during their search.
"And why are you staying here, too?" Ciel asked turning his wrath on the Chinaman. Lau, of course was nothing but full of surprises, "An interesting question." And that was all. Lucile eyed him off subtly, Lau would have a reason for visiting but his unwillingness to speak of it made the hairs on the back of Lucile's neck stand on end. Still, she forced herself to be more rational. Lau, after all, was an opium dealer. The only reason he was allowed to keep his business was because he provided useful information to Ciel upon occasions. So perhaps discussing such illegal atrocities at the dinner table was not the best move considering their present company.
"I'm looking for a woman." Soma announced drawing Lucile's attention away from Lau. The prince produced the badly drawn picture once again and held it up, "Her name is Meena. She was a servant at my palace." Ciel, bored of the topic already, rested his cheek against his fist and pointed his fork towards the butler standing off to the side, "Sebastian, does that give you enough to find her?" Sebastian moved to Soma's end of the table to study the drawing,
"Even I can't do much with this..." he said quietly but bowed nevertheless, "I will try my best."
"And? What is she doing in England?" Ciel asked without even pretending to be interested. All he wanted was for these people to get out of his townhouse, helping them achieve what they'd come here to do would be the fastest way to get rid of them.
"Meena was my attendant...more or less my nursemaid. She'd been with me ever since I could remember. My father and mother never looked my way, I was alone in the palace but Meena always stayed at my side. But...a British nobleman with his eye on her, kidnapped her and took her to England while I was away!" the Prince replied.
"In other words," Ciel said, "You came here to get this woman back?"
"Yes. I'll get her back and bring her home with me, no matter what!"
Ciel didn't look up from his dinner as he spoke, "That's a lot of fuss over one servant."
"No, it's not!" The raised voice of the Prince shocked almost everyone in the room as he flew to his feet. In a flash he was by Ciel, hoisting the young Earl to his feet and gripping his shoulders. Lucile's protective instincts raged, barely within her hold, but she knew that Soma wasn't intentionally trying to hurt Ciel.
"Can you even comprehend my despair at being separated from her?! Can you imagine how much I-"
"No, I can't." Ciel interrupted, "The kind of trifling despair something like that could inspire? I can't understand it and I don't care to." With a strong slap of the elder's hand, Ciel dislodged himself from Soma's grasp and moved towards the door, "Some things no amount of struggling will get back. And some despair can't ever be escaped. Maybe you can't understand that, though." Lucile watched his back disappear into darkness before the door closed behind him. She wasn't angry at the Prince, he was ignorant about Ciel's past, but she did feel a sudden wave of sadness wash over her. Ciel wouldn't cry, he wouldn't mope around feeling lost or depressed. Ciel was strong, but his sadness would come out as anger. Most who were unfamiliar with him didn't know this. While Soma returned solemnly to his seat, Lucile inconspicuously followed Ciel. He was still in the next room, standing alone in the dark.
"What?" he asked having heard the door open and close again. Lucile didn't say anything, instead she just walked over to him and dropped to her knees, her head lowered. Ciel turned around at the sound, "What on earth are you-"
"Forgive me." she whispered softly causing the boy to stop mid-sentence, "Please...forgive me, Ciel. I-I know what I did cannot ever be undone, the pain I caused you and the horror at having your family taken away before your eyes. I also know that nothing I can ever do or say can make it better..."
"Lucy..." his small voice made her heart seize and before she knew it, his arms were around her neck. Ciel, her precious Ciel...
"So you finally remembered. That's good. I'm glad."
"Glad?"
"Yes. I'm glad you remembered how you saved my life again. As for your request, I cannot forgive you because there is nothing to forgive." For the first time in a long time, Lucile hugged the small boy close. His special scent enveloped her reminding her of times long gone, how much he smelled like his father, yet there was another, fainter scent of a tainted soul. She found it strangely comforting. He may not be the same boy he was three years ago, but he was still her Ciel and she would do anything for him.

Gosh, I'm sorry this took forever to upload! I sincerely love you all for putting up with the wait and I apologize this chapter wasn't as long as I was originally planning it to be. But I'll make it up to you all in the next update.