"I'm sorry? I never believe I told you my old name.."
"What happened to you? You used to be filthy rich and an earl!"
She looked at his purple ribbon on his wrist. It was ragged, and old.
"Jim?"
"I don't go by that name anymore. Everyone else, clear the room. Give us some privacy."
With that the other servants bowed and left.
"Tell me what happened, right now."
"I should be asking the same thing! I went to the town and you and Luca weren't in the shed, I was so worried! What happened to Luca? What happened to you?"
"It's... complicated. You tell first."
"Wait... Luca.. he's. not.. don't tell me.." she covered her face with her hand, showing emotion for the first time since they had reunited.
Alois stayed silent and that was enough of an answer.
"Oh Luca.. Poor sweet Luca."
A tear dropped onto the floor, Madeline's eyes open rather than their usual half-lidded and uninterested look.
"What happened to you?" Alois tried to ask again as he got closer to her.
"I... went to visit your house again, to find you and Luca were gone, and I found his body later, I couldn't find your body, I was so worried, I started looking all over. In actuality, my father and mother had sent me to the town to go into hiding. I had no idea, but I received a letter weekly at my aunt's house. She was dead, along with all the other towns people I started working, keeping her house so I could survive. In each letter, it was the same thing, there was no new information, and I was told to stay in the town, they would send me money soon.. and.. "
"And?"
"Eventually the letters stopped and I figured I had been cut off, and I earned enough money to make a nice grave for Luca, and a nice picture for him. I had buried him. It was so painful to let go and leave. I heard of opportunity in London, so I came out to make a living, my only belongings left being my ribbons, and this dress. Well, the dress I was wearing, that was no more than rags by the time you found me. I found work in different odd jobs and eventually because of an accident I was framed for, I was fired. That's when you found me. I take it you don't want to tell me what happened.. when you're ready. Please, tell me."
Alois said nothing, and did not look at her, he looked anywhere but at her.
"Are you mad, do you hate me?"
All of a sudden, Alois came forward and hugged her. She went stiff.
"I missed you so much.. I tried to find you. Call me. Just say my name one time."
"..Jim. Jim Macken." she relaxed, and tried to stay calm.
His grasp on her tightened almost as if they could be each other's paradise for eternity.
But we all know, there's no such thing as paradise. At least not for them.
Alois' lips twitched up into a silent smirk.
'I win Ciel.'