Janus — The Heirs, He Who Wishes To Wear the Crown, Endure Its Weight
-Phantomhive Manor Murder Case Arc-
Chapter XXXIX:
Clue
Title: Janus (Sequel to 'A Kiss To My Prince and The King 2 Hearts)
Summary: The light turns on at a dark street, I'm wondering around to find something again. The unfamiliar darkness is all that remains in my hand. This world approached me with an unfamiliar face, everything was taken from me by that first glance; I have changed, this have switched everything. Run away, disappear far away, give me back the lost time, I ask of you. Any time, any fate – it's a rough road that won't end though I'm ripped apart and in pain, I will smile, watch me, I promise. I will win and win and smile, watch me. I ask of you.
Pairing: Sebastian x OC x Ciel with Claude x OC x Alois!
"My name is Yuri Park. There was an incident and I woke up in 1887. Am I mad, in a coma, or back in time? Whatever's happened, it's like I've landed on a different planet. I decided to stay in this world...and this is my story."
Thank you guys for those who reviewed and alerted my other story: 'A Kiss To My Prince' and 'The King 2 Hearts':
'A Kiss To My Prince'
dfaradisa- Aww thanks! I really appreciate your support :D Glad my oc is unique to you hehe! Very happy my footnotes are helpful since I put them there to make sure there are no confusion to my readers and such! (Phew! They did their work haha!) I really hope you like this chapter as well!
DeathlyIceMaiden- Yay! So happy you love this story keke! Hope you enjoy this chapter as well as you did to my previous stories ^^
The King 2 Hearts'
xCROSSxGAMEx- Thank you! *Bows back* So happy you liked my story and enjoyed it hehe! Yes I love Orange Caramel and Teen Top's songs! ;)
lexi- Keke you will have those more moments haha! :D
DeathlyIceMaiden- So happy and glad you liked this series as well! Hope you enjoy this sequel too! And its chapter of course hehe!
'Janus'
VampireSiren- Glad the chapter was cool hehe! How was the Evil Dead remake? I love zombie films! Probably seen most of them since I was like 10 haha! Awww, well I hope you were there to hit his back just in case he got sick! I have a friend like that, sees a finger prick in film, she gasps in horror.
Yugao702- Oooh, love your changed profile pic! Haha Yuri did mastered in taek kwon do black belt LOL so she kick ass! Well, Yuri will stay with Ciel for few months or so then live with Alois for few months probably. Haha well Alois was promiscuous before he became a demon after all but it's more tamed and 'acceptable' LOL. Last phrase? Which one?
Enchanted Elf- Thanks! Hope you enjoy this chapter as well! My exams are finally over - well for this year - so I can concentrate on my stories hehe!
Wonderwomanbatmanfan- I'm glad you enjoyed it! Hope you like this chapter as well then~
Illusa- Keke yes I have updated more! I understand ugh~ school ㅠㅠ it's just love to see us suffer :( if Yuri had twisted moral she would've probably used it to Woodley by now haha! Good luck to you too! Oh and take your time updating your chapters too! It's better to have good chapter and worth the time waiting then hurried chapter and quicker updated time ;)
xXxStrawberryJamxXx- Did you changed your profile! If you did I love it! Very summer-ish! Haha, such irony I noticed it while eating strawberries LOL! Ooh! Well hope this chapter cures your withdrawal symptoms (well as long as this chapter last I guess) Oh God no! This story is very possessive and will never break up with you!
LufenCrosszeria- Nope! Just barehands...unfortunately -_- I was planning to use my shovel to good use but I guess you can use the shovel to bury him. I think slippers will be counted as lethal weapon...but the imagery is LOL! My brother is like that Damien guy from Omen...the hell I go through because of him and MORE now that he's going through puberty (Guuahahhh why!?)
My bro is little bit slow on trends...so he just copies what I listen to since I'm more up-to-date with KPOP. I used to laugh at my friends sibling for getting SNSD-struck, bragging my bro is different...(He said himself that he will never like girls!) now he's going around saying he want to put ring around SNSD fingers ㅠㅠ Oh God~! He said he want to become a singer (My mum snapped cuz every Asians know you only have like 1% succeeding)
Yes, Rachel had to steal Vincent ㅠㅠ but it matches the match hypothesis though (That people with similar attractiveness are attracted to each other) Yes! Ciel is becoming more like his father every day! We have so many club that are little bit awkward to admit to join haha! First old men club now gene club LOL!
My friend has a dog that very resemble Ciel's dog and she said it was Scottish Deerhounds (Hunting dogs were popular during 19th Century) Also, did you know Lucius from Harry Potter, he has the very same two dogs as Ciel's!? Oh minus five shows how deprived I am of men OTL awkward Asian over here! I'd have five exam too if it weren't for retakes but now it's over for me! YAY! Maths...just kill me! Good luck!
Doll with No brain- Here's another update! My exams are finally over for this year and can concentrate on my stories so YAY! OMG my friend, Arianna, want to go to LA anime expo! I want to go too of course! Me and my friends made promise to go to LA when we are 18 or 21 U it would be so nice to meet each other and discuss our obsessions haha! You went there as Ciel?! I love that pink dress! But yes, I admit the costumes are very expensive ㅠㅠ my friend does Art and sewed her own costume and it was amazing~ I wanted a costume too (Buy them) but mum said just go there as myself, an Asian. -_- Hahaha I guess your twin want to learn about guys in more deep details LOL! My friends are like that too hahaha!
Oh, I need to read 'The Mark of Athena'! Been focusing on exams but it's finally over phahaha! So I guess I'll be expecting the unexpected hehe. Oooh art exhibition! Wish I could see one of your work! You need to rest! Homework later, health now! Hope your body is OK now!
Hahaha, well dirty-minded Alois keke! Usually I'm the one who scars my friends' innocent mind and I love it! Their faces! Phahaha! Yuri misses her life yes, but she also like her new one because it's full of adventure and danger! I'll defo PM you! Sorry for not able to do earlier due to exam and me being in hibernation.
nekolover3- Phahah! Let's hope your reaction to this update is at the same place! XD But enjoyed your description of reaction keke! Enjoy~!
Paxloria- Sorry for long wait~! Here's the next chapter! My exams are over so now I can concentrate on my stories hehe so I guess the update time will be more shorter! Well, woman power! Yuri sure showed him that haha!
Question: Who be the demon to do it?
Answer: Well I was thinking of all four turning her into demon but the problem is how? However, I am also thinking of making Sebastian turning her into demon too but there are many possibilities as to who so I'll make sure you're the first person to know if I make up my mind :) But yes, Sebastian did asked first!
I am glad my writings had improved! I was worried it was more rusty since it's been long time I wrote.
Question: When the time comes for him to learn about the demons, will he also be told about Yuri?
Answer: Yes! Yes! Thousand times yes! XD that way he'll end up writing Irene based on Yuri's character since Irene is quite evolutionary for her time in the book also.
I'll try to make the chapter length long also haha! Oh once again, I am very thankful for pointing our my errors!
Notarealperson- Hope this chapter is as interesting! Thanks for the exam good luck thing ㅠㅠ I needed it haha! Yep, Boyfriend's Janus album cover hehe thought it would suit it with all the coat of arms and such!
SomeoneThatExists- Here's another chapter! Well, I prepared rope just in case you fall again haha! Or I'll probably fly with you! My exams are finally over so I can concentrate on my stories now hehe. Thanks for the good luck messages! I needed it ㅠㅠ
Kitana Lunara- Yes, it was rather a long chapter but it was because it'd been long time since I last updated so hehe! You have no idea how much he's enjoying it hahaha! Once a spider, always will be spider, agree, agree haha! Thanks! Oooh, good luck to you too and hope the exams went well!
lovelyanimeangel- *Sigh* We are all the same, but then again, it's like those sibling rivalries but on extreme~~~ levels I guess. OMG, my grandparent used to live in Busan but now they live in Junju (my home town) along with my aunt's family! Best wishes to your family living in Korea at the moment. But the good news is, nothing happened and I'm going to Korea in December because summer in Korea...I'll never go back. Ever.
Tami-hime- I'm glad you liked it! Hope you also enjoy this chapter as well haha! Maybe May/June is just months of exams -_- I used to love those months now they are my arch enemy.
Dontgotaclue88- Thanks! Hope you love this chapter too! Enjoy~
sleepy kirby- Oh God, my very enemy: Math...-_- I used to love them but now I hate 'em. Yes, May and June seems to be month of exams ugh ㅠㅠ hope your exams goes well! Good luck to you even though it's little bit late! I'm sure you will do well :) I guess student life is stressful but pleasant..lot more pleasant than adult world I guess. Yes woman power in form of Yuri haha! Naruto chapters are becoming more and more light hearted and more funny haha! Orochimaru..who knew he had sense of humour LOL!
Lovely-Dark-Shadows- Hahaha! Oh God! I wonder how your mum will think while you read this chapter LOL! Yep, the pic is still my screensaver! I need therapy too! Yes we shall go to those group therapy where you start off with something like, 'Hello, my name is...' and they say, 'Hello, ...' hahaha! Oh, Naruto chapters are getting more funnier and light hearted haha! Who knew Orochimaru had sense of humour! Here's next chapter and good luck on your AIMS although it's a bit late ㅠㅠ I'm sure you did well! Better than me anyway!
Katherine S- Hello, I'm glad my answers seemed to have answered some of your questions and here's the answer:
Question: Don't you think that you made Alois mistake parental love to romantic love?
Answer: Alois lost his parent (his real parent, I presume) when he was quite young, yes. However, he still remember his parent unlike Luka which may hint Alois (Jim) lost his parent at the age of 8-ish or somewhere around that age.
Psychologically, this means Jim actually had time to bond and form an attachment with his mother but is than lost (deprivation) but the inner working model (the attachment formed between infant and parent is like a map that later influences one's expectations about self and relationship romantic or platonic with others) so he knows the different between love a child might have for someone whom they view as their parental figure and romantic love although it is quite twisted and distorted due to the abuse he suffered.
At first, he did have feelings of appreciation, and parental love to Yuri because she was the first person who gave what he needed which was parental love but it became more apparent it was more of romantic and quite sexually tense I guess and Alois gratefully accepted, and his parental love seemed to be shared with Hannah now although there are times Yuri is like a mother to Alois since Hannah is demon and never had a parent (I presume) so Yuri, who has parent corrects some of Alois behaviours :D
Glad you like Yuri's attitude! Woman power haha! Well, there will be more spoiled Yuri moments soon or even in this chapter too! Yuri knows she's innocent; what's the point of acting guilty? Well, she could feel guilty since she knows what will happen and she did nothing to stop lives from being lost.
Sebastian is currently acting as you-know-who and Claude, he is a butler and therefore must act like one in front of other people. You will soon see Sebastian and Claude getting Yuri in later chapters :)
Oh Yuri is just waiting for the right time, she knows she can't speak of things too early since people may suspect her regarding what she knows so much about the 'killer'. In this chapter, there are some part Yuri showing her 21st Century side so I hope you'll like it!
At the end of this arc (which isn't long), there will be plenty of romantic interactions kekeke!
darkangel- Hahaha yes! The Bleach plot is slowly coming to my mind but the thing is whether I'll act on it or not. I have a feeling I will since this is how this story came to be. I agree, it's the world that is lazy not the people. Oh I have crazy teachers alright haha!
My science teacher were doing experiment before we do it ourselves. She got this white powder and said, 'Girls, do not do this.' then pour all the white powder into this cup which exploded. The fire alarm activated and the water started to shoot on the whole school! Hahahaha! I'm surprise she didn't got in trouble because everyone saw the funny side to it! Our chemistry teacher almost killed us too when he forgot to screw tight so the poisonous gas didn't escape..no one died.
Ooh, I'll try to check out Umineko! I'll also tell Arianna about this since she is a big fan of higurashi. OMG durarara is awesome and funny! Haha everytime I see vending machine I just go XD even in public place! Your Bleach plot sounds interesting!
I love playing games but my dad gets annoyed because it takes up space in the computer (I broke my laptop when I threw it to my bro's head. Not his head, the laptop broke. Damn. That thick skull.) mad Father..I heard of the game..I think Arianna probably showed it to me.
Haruka Nya- Aww thank you ㅠㅠ! I hope you like this chapter too! Kekeke hope you are doing well in your school too and good luck on whatever may come in your way! Enjoy~!
Rainbow Dash 123 123- Thank you :) hope you love this chapter too ^^
IvoryGlass- Glad it made your day! Hope this chapter makes your day too keke! Woman power! Do I need to say more? LOL! Kittens are soo cute! XD just wanna bite 'em! Haha! Oh the window shattering was from Ciel, Alois and Claude's anger that made them shatter because of what Woodley did to Yuri. Don't mess with them. Sebastian's alias makes his appearance in this chapter keke!
vic90- Yep, I got them from Criminal Minds! I was just watching that episode (The chapter for my story (Chapter 6) is also the same title as the episode) and they were describing about the escorts and such so I was like I'm putting that in my chapter!
Guest#1- Thank you for reading! Here's the next chapter!
DeathlyIceMaiden- Well, that shows how much of an actor Grey is! Not to mention he is flawless in his plan! After-all, he is Queen's butler haha! I think even Yuri forgotten her ear is missing an ear ring!
chibiamu- Well, you never know what people will think. One thing for certain is that every stories has flaws and not everyone will love them. It depends. Even I have people who don't like my Janus and other prequels stories but I don't mind, why waste time trying to make other people happy when you can make other people who already love your story, more happier! I'm sure your story is wonderful, you just need some inspiration that makes you feel confident enough to upload them!
I had doubts and fear when uploading 'A Kiss To My Prince' but I came this far with people who actually liked my story. Of course, I will help you :) Just DM me if you have any problem or such!
alexma- Thank you for reading! Hope you enjoy this chapter as well! Enjoy~!
jamiencompany- I like Chiron too but my 1st fav is Rachel as well! It's that I can relate to her I guess because I'm also sort of an artist, not to mention open minded! I can also be blunt sometimes and I'm defo chatter-box haha! 2nd is Annabeth because her personality and her abilities can make men beg for mercy haha!
sebby-fan- No-one got shot, it was Ciel, Alois and Claude's power that made window shatter in anger because of what Woodley did to Yuri. Yep, warning bell!
The Velvet Ash- Hahahaha, yes Avenger was funny as hell XD Here's another chapter! Enjoy~!
This chapter contains: 5th Arc of Kuroshitsuji manga 'Phantomhive Manor Murder Case Arc' chapter 45-46
"To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler.
All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen... And yet there was but one woman to him, and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable memory."
― Arthur Conan Doyle, A Scandal In Bohemia (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)
The door banged once again. Its loud noise filling the room with mounting fearful tension as the four servants stood frozen and stared through the wooden door conjoined to the outside. Their heart was filled with mistrust and doubts, after-all who wouldn't with all the things that had happened only mere few days, so they were more cautious with the outsiders of their small, trustworthy circles.
Tanaka signalled his gloved index on his lip, silently alerting them to be quiet as he stood back to the door - ready to open and step aside for the three servants to confront whoever it was - enemies or not.
I glanced at the small grandfather clock decorated up on the fireplace. I need Costa, my brain registered, slightly awake although still dazed from the tiring days. My mind was pinned on going back to sleep as the group discussed their theories one by one.
"The thirteenth person that shouldn't exist..." Grey muttered.
Woodley scoffed the idea as ridiculous and highly unlikely, "Hmph, I'm telling you, it's unreal for such a person to be..." Before he could finish, the three servants burst into the room to deliver the urgent notice.
"YOUNG MASTER!" Baldroy called, holding a black bag in one hand and other pushing the one door open.
"We caught some suspicious looking guy!" Finnian finished, gaping the entrance wide open as Mey-Rin followed through.
The ex-solider turned chef turned to the semi soaked middle aged man bounded tightly by ropes, "Come on, get in already!"
"Huh?!" Most of the groups gasped in shock. I had to slightly tap Claude's arm to silently chide him for nearly chuckling at Sebastian's troublesome situation although it must have been a long time since having this much entertainment at once.
"Wha—he was real?" The Queen's butler frowned, "Where on Earth was he hiding?"
"You're..." Ciel feigned a recognising look and surprise as Woodley gasped and exclaimed at the fact the once impossible theory was perhaps-no, very much correct.
"So you mean...this is the killer."
Lau blew a misty smoke from his lip with an amused smirk on his lip as he stood up from the sofa, "To think the thirteenth guest would show up this soon...even I am a little surprised." There was a slight disappointed tone in his bemused voice, as if the game he was enjoying was to be cut off short.
Lau lightly patted the man's shoulder as if the man was his long time no see friend much to Ciel's annoyance, "So who're you again?"
"My name?" The man repeated, his eyes glancing to Ciel challengingly, it was obvious Sebastian was silently reminding Ciel of their first ever meeting and the name was almost their private jokes.
"It's been a while...Jeremy." Ciel greeted with a moment of hesitancy.
"Earl is this old guy an acquaintance of yours'?" I silently chuckled as 'Jeremy' raised his brow with between half offended and half amused at Lau's reference to him.
"Y..yeah." Ciel cleared his throat, ready to officially introduce the man to the groups with flawless story he had made and organised in his mind during the short time pause, "This man is Father Jeremy Rathbone."
Being Sherlock Holmes novel/film lover, I immediately recognised the name play based on the Sherlock Holmes actors Jeremy Brett and Basil Rathbone.
"He's a popular advisor to the local church and somewhat of a famous person."
"Please just call me Jeremy." Jeremy kindly insisted with a smile.
"A...father?" Arthur muttered, the information soaking through his mind.
Woodley, however, ironically being the same very person who refused to believe the 'Thirteenth person theory' and even went as far as to debunk them, still remained suspicious and pointed an accusing finger at the pastor, "Like I'd trust a suspicious looking guy like you! The only one who could have committed the murders is the thirteenth person without an alibi...no matter how you look at it, it has to be this guy!"
Jeremy remained calm and unfazed, "Actually, your reasoning is utter nonsense, Mister Woodley."
The extravagant jewelry cladded man paled, "How did you know my name?!"
Sinister smile reached the pastor's lip; almost a contrasting of light the religious man was suppose to represent.
And to further his subtle intimidation, Jeremy tread near the backing away man, "Looking at your ring, it's actually quite obvious. The only place you'd be able to mine a large diamond like that would be South Africa."
Jeremy continued, "Furthermore, the only way you'd be able to get the special round brilliant cut this diamond has, is with the latest polishing machinery recently developed by the Woodley company. I've also heard that the London jeweller Daniel Anderson has been holding sales talks with women, saying it's a rare item that hasn't really appeared on the market yet."
"If you say consider that one of the people invited to the Earl's evening party is wearing such a rare ring, it is mostly likely the director of the Woodley company.." Jeremy explained, tearing down the peels one by one, leaving a bare man who squirmed under the Jeremy's thorn-like observation, "In other words, you mister. Am I wrong?"
"Urgh..." It was obvious the man felt threatened in a silent war of shifting powers. After-all, who wouldn't be of a person you met for the first time and whom you regard as a probable killer, slowly unveiling your protective layers until you were displayed bare for everyone to see your secrets and weaknesses.
"More importantly, how in the world...no, why and since when have you been here?" Arthur intervened much to Woodley's sanity.
Jeremy sighed, "Sheesh nothing but questions." He looked over at Baldroy, "Hey you, would you mind opening my bag?"
Baldroy carefully opened the black bag, letting a surprised exclaims, "Woah! This is Mr Sebastian's owl!"
"I-Is it dead?" Mey Rin asked wearily.
"No." Jeremy replied, "But since it resisted I put it to sleep for a while with some medicine. It will wake up soon."
"Wha-just because it resisted a bit! How cruel!" Finnian refuted angrily at the callous action toward the poor bird although his comment went unheard by most. As an animal lover myself, I supported Finnian's statement but those did not matter anything to the demon.
"Please look at the letter at its claw." At Jeremy's request, Ciel unrolled the script before pulling out a strip of paper. His eyes skimmed through the content, Alois looked over nonchalantly before clearing his throat to mask his laughter.
I grinned, putting my index on my lip to shush him.
"Young master! What did Mr Sebastian say?!" Mey Rin asked agitatedly.
Ciel bunched the paper before stuffing it in his pocket and delivered the news with sombre expression, "...It seems that he anticipated that he would be killed and sent a letter to Jeremy."
"Oh my...Mr Sebastian.." Mey Rin gasped, her hands shooting up to her shocked mouth.
However, this revelation did not convinced others as Grimsby argued against the 'Father Jeremy', "But you can't prove he isn't the killer with just a piece of paper! If he came from outside, he could just as well have committed the last night's murder!"
"Actually," Father Jeremy remarked, gesturing to his pocket, "I have a simple solution to your lack of evidence. In my coat pocket."
Finnian ruffled through them before taking out a gold strip of thick rectangular card, "Huh? A ticket..is it? For a play..."
"What's the date?" Alois asked.
"Yesterday...it's for the evening show of March 12th." Finnian answered, "The place and program are umm...the...l..a..d.." The gardener, having being illiterate before persistently being taught by Sebastian quickly sounded the sentences in his mind before confidently wording the opera title as Father Jeremy smiled proudly at his effort, "The Lady of The Lake at The Lyceum theatre!"
Irene gasped, as a fellow opera singer, she knew her dear friend plays Ellen Douglas in the play and nodded her head convincingly, "La donna del lago (The Lady of The Lake) is indeed playing at The Lyceum theatre at the moment." She confirmed.
"Indeed, I went to The Lyceum theatre in London last night. The play ended after 10PM. Even if I took a hansom cab and threw him a sovereign it would still take over two hours to arrive here." Father Jeremy explained, "Furthermore, in this rain the road would become so muddy it'd take at least twice as long as usual."
"A hansom cab in this rain?" Irene frowned doubtfully.
"In this rain, the river along the road would flood, there's no way you'd get over bridge in a horse-drawn carriage." Baldroy added.
Father Jeremy simply smiled, "Of course there are countless other ways of getting here. Walking or swimming...though those aren't really ways I'd recommend for normal human beings. There are always as many ways of getting to a result as one can count the stars. But there is only one truth."
"In other words," Arthur summed up, dismissing insignificant information, "You mean that you cannot be involved in the killings because you were in London last night...am I right?"
Jeremy smirked with satisfaction of Arthur's ability to deduce down data he was given to the vital point, "As expected of a master novelist, thank you for speeding up the conversation."
"Huh?" Arthur blinked, surprised at the man's sharp senses to recognise his not so publicly known profession.
Jeremy leaned in, "You can find out a lot about people's jobs and the like from examining their looks and habits, you know."
The pastor gestured toward the painful looking blister, "First of all, you have a large callus on your right middle finger. It's different in shape from people who paint or draw...so you must be writing a lot."
"Next, there are blue stains on your sleeve. This can happen when you was things with dyed ink on them. Furthermore...you wrote several pieces of material you thought of on the inside of your cuffs with a pencil so you won't forget them. Pearl, India, locked room, sign. You have to be a novelist to do something like this right?"
Arthur sweat dropped, mouth gaped, "Amazing...he's like my teacher, Professor Bell. He also liked people watching." And there's Miss Yuri... Arthur inwardly thought, glancing at the woman seating on the couch almost absent minded.
"Well, now that you doubts should have lifted, would you mind getting this rope off of me?" Jeremy motioned to the rope that bind his body, "It seems that the air around this mansion is heavy with the smell of a crime that will rid me of my boredom."
Everyone looked at each other, contemplating with their chances before Alois motioned Claude to untie the rope. No one, but certain three noticed the subtle glares the two gave each other as Claude moved behind Father Jeremy.
"That's all that happened from the time of the first murder up until the murder of the butler that called you here." Arthur finished explaining to the pastor of the events that leads up to now.
"I see..." Father Jeremy brought his hands together thoughtfully, "That's very interesting. Could I first see the bodies? They will eloquently tell me nothing but the truth."
Arthur stood up, "Well then, let's go to the basement wine cellar together."
"Stop!" Arthur halted, looking at Jeremy questionably.
"Huh?"
"I would like you to move each of the bodies to a separate room." Jeremy insisted much to others confusion.
"But why?" Arthur asked.
"The scent might be a clue to the crime." Jeremy explained, "If we put the bodies together their scents will interfere with each other. Also, the wine cellar will have a particularly strong scent of wine...on that note, can you lend me three rooms, Earl?"
Ciel stood up also, "...That would be fine I guess." Then looking at the three of his servant, "You guys, divide the bodies over three rooms."
"Certainly." They answered obediently.
"Earl," Jeremy asked, "Will you allow me to change my clothes in the meantime?"
"Sure...the clothes of my predecessor might be a little too small. I'll lend you some clothes of the dead butler." Ciel nodded, standing in the lead, "I'll take you there."
With that, the two left, leaving the remaining occupants in the room. This left enough time for Arthur to contemplate the recent events, taking out his notebooks and scanning through his notes for any vital information.
"Still wondering?" I said, bringing him out of his own thoughts.
"Ah..no," He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head, "It's just I'm having hard time regarding the informations I have been given and seen. All these..it makes you wonder doesn't it? Why people do this."
"Well, one thing for certain, they'll never stop." I stated.
Arthur closed his eyes in mournful and shameful acceptance of the cruel fact, "Why?"
"Because it makes them God. Would you give that up? Beside, killing must feel good to God, too. He does it all the time. And are we not created in his image?" For a moment, the room seemed to have descended into an absolute silence. The subtle conversation between Irene and others seemed to have stopped in mid sentence and their eyes turned to our direction.
I looked at them, "Please continue."
However, it was obvious the previous conversation had been discarded and lost; it was something that will not be retrieved back for awhile. Then a sudden laughter broke out. Everyone's head swept to sides to see the laughter's owner, Charles Grey.
"I was right!" He cheerfully pointed toward me then with a devious smirk, "You are interesting."
I merely smiled back and shrugged. I obviously stated facts, what's so interesting about that?
Then I turned to deliberating Arthur, tapping his finger mindlessly against his knee in deep thoughts.
"Shall I give you an advice that was given to me by my teacher? 'When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth(3).' Was what she said, so I know you have something in your mind but you can't bring yourself to say it, right?"
This brought a genuine smile, brightening Arthur's face in rare occurrence, "You have a wise teacher."
I tilted my head, "Hmm..I guess. She did make two worst student in our classroom our class presidents after-all."
Alois turned his head to me dubiously, "Worst students? Such things are unheard of, Yuri."
"I know but because of that, she was a great teacher." I replied.
Alois agreed, "And she taught you well."
"Eh?" Arthur blinked in surprise after few minute of sinking in, "Worst students as Class Presidents? But would it not make more sense if she picked two best students?"
"Well," I replied, "What does the Class President do?"
Arthur pondered for awhile before answering almost immediately with confidence, "Representing the class, support the professors, and works to service other students in the class."
"Right. Service." I agreed, "Pro-actively work on all the dirty works is the Class President's duty. Doesn't it suit the worst students?"
"Still, it's to represent the class, if the worst students take it, the way it looks to the other class students." Arthur countered.
"What our Class Presidents does is morning preparation cleaning, study preparation, chalkboard preparations, cleaning up our assigned area." I said, "In return, we didn't had to do it because the worst student President will do all the dirty works, and all the other students can concentrate on studying. On the other hand, she gave the students with good scores, special privileges."
"Isn't that discrimination?" Arthur asked, he as a writer and a mere commoner had strong belief against such things (slavery for example) and earned for equality. Neither pair noticed many occupants in the room, which became more quieter and their conversation shortened, subtly listened in.
"Discrimination?" I repeated, blinking indifferently and to Arthur's shock, "What about that?"
"Those who wins in the competitions enjoy special benefits, and those who loses get discriminated treatment and end up with the leftovers, this, isn't it of course rule of society?" I continued, "School is no exception. As products of the state (public) school system, we would have to scramble to get anything at all, and most of us will end up as 'ordinary' workers in service-sector jobs."
"Those who enjoys the special privileges and happy in society, and who are living with wealth in the world is 1%." I glanced at Alois who gave me brow raised look back in reply, "One person in a hundred. My class had 24 people, so people with happy privilege status, might or might not come from there. There could be the one person in my entire years."
"Then how will the remaining 99% live? 'It's a discrimination, it's unfair, there's something wrong with society.', they live drinking alcohol and saying things like that, like most of our parent." I stated factually, smiling apologetically at Arthur for the reminder of our social status, "But's it's useless. Even if you shout out that you lost the competition, the world doesn't change."
"I am sure studying is not the only way to success; there are many paths available such as composing or singing." Arthur replied firmly.
"Music? Singing?" I echoed, raising my brow at him, "Us? If we were born with that kind of talents, and are receiving solid financial support from our parents, would I and my friends have attended school, sitting in the class at the outskirts of London? Because, realistically, like our parents, we are the same case of nothing special."
The room went silent once again, bordering mounting tension. Everyone had different expression on their faces, different thoughts yet three people had look of amusement in their faces; one which was seating next to me, another a demon and thirdly, a Queen's butler.
"You have many knowledge that are mysterious in root wise, will you tell me your stories?" Arthur asked cautiously. The woman in front of him, the very woman who rested her frame against the powerful Earl of Trancy in familiar intimacy, was totem of beautiful mystery. Perhaps that is her attraction that attracted both the Earls and to some degree, other people in the room.
Arthur was not wholly oblivious regarding Earl Phantomhive's recent news - he who is famously known to seclude himself from public affairs and society - had taken up a lover or a mistress. He vaguely remember reading a journal of his engagement to respective Marchioness - equal to his age - had been annulled by him after almost 14 years of betrothal so suddenly.
There had been many speculation upon in the public press, but there could be very few and amongst them which was likely, a new lover or another potential wife. The woman's identity and background of her was almost as mysterious as the Earl for her lack of contribution to the social gatherings.
Then he soon came to realise, she may also be Earl Trancy's object of affection. They were obviously close from their bodily contact, the Earl's hidden gaze from others toward the woman, genuine smiles that was only for the Trancy Earl..the hints was all there. The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.
Arthur, from the few days he had spent, came to deduce that Miss Yuri was in fact quite similar to both Earl yet the very opposite like the black and white chess pieces.
While she had the Earls' knack of cruelty to a degree, familiar greedy desires that stem from a background similar to him perhaps, an ability to be ruthless and ambitious however, she did not act on them unless necessary.
She simply enjoyed each day as her last with her cheerful demeanour but it was obvious Arthur inhibited a healthy fear toward the woman after hearing and seeing her words and actions.
"Hmm.." I hummed thoughtfully, wondering how to begin the story. But seeing he is the author of the Sherlock Holmes in this world, it should be something to do with science. Perhaps psychology?
"A famous American psychologist, started his famous thesis : 'There are six billion people on earth. All of their psychological states, tendencies, and personalities are so vastly different, which means that there are six billion kind of psychological states, tendencies and personalities... All humans are unique.' Before he died, he changed his stance and finishes his thesis :'In truth, that's just six billion ways of expressing a person. Humans are all the same.'"
The writer inside him wasted no time to quickly jot them down in his mind, reciting over and over, encoding the very words into his mind palace.
"Do you know what sings normally appear, when people lie?" I rhetorically asked to the group.
Irene gasped, "There are such ways?"
"The eyes, the shoulder and neck, sweating and other actions..when people lie exhibit severe tell-tale sings." I explained, successfully drawing others in. Even Woodley whom pretending not to be fazed but was failing miserably.
"However, the most common and easiest signs to spot are, firstly the 'lips.'" There was immediate stirring amongst the crowds, their eyes travelling down to the said part, "Except for experienced swindlers, we all feel guilty when we are lying, and subconsciously feel the need to 'hide our mouths'. Which almost always results in 'bringing your hand to your mouth'. This action demonstrates the liar's subconscious desire to hide their mouth. Touching their jaws or their mouth or 'touching their lips.'"
"Amazing," Arthur awed, "This type of theory is never been heard of. P-Please tell me more!"
I continued, "Secondly, for the same reason when people are hearing things that they do not want to hear, out of their subconscious desire to 'block their ears'. Their hands will most likely go towards the ears. Subconscious actions such as scratching around their ears or touching their earlobes signify that the person is already thinking 'I do not want to listen.'"
"Thirdly, when someone smiles, the key of telling whether it is genuine or not are the eyes. The smile is only genuine if the eyes also smile. If the eyes are impassive when you look into them but one is smiling at the same time, then it means that their smile is fake." I finished.
"Using that, there are something like mind reading in psychology." I added.
"Mind reading?" Irene mused, looking fascinated, "Those things are mere belief."
"Woah, really? How, so?" Arthur's eyes widened, he who is also an eye doctor, kept in up to date with many medical journals, including recently arising popularity of psychology.
I held up my hand and made a V sign, "There are two types of facial expressions."
"Two?" Grey frowned, "How can there be two?"
"The 'first expression' which only appears for an instant and the 'second expression' that we consciously maintain. Which one of the two would represent one's true feelings?" I asked.
"The first one, should it not?" Alois answered.
I nodded, "That's correct. We call this micro-expression; if you can read that expression well, you might be able to read someone's true thoughts. Regardless of age, culture and races those emotions are universal. They say the first of those expressions..disappear in less than 0.1 seconds."
"How can you read them, if they disappear so quickly?" Grimsby eyed in suspicion.
"Well, that expression that just disappeared...is called 'contempt'."
"..!" His eyes widened, "W-What?" Then his hand suddenly shot up to his lip in embarrassment.
I cleared my throat, pointing my hand to my lip indicatively. Grimsby realising what I meant, quickly brought his hand down and composed himself almost immediately. I motioned toward the corner of my lip, "Your lip corner tightened and raised on only one side of the face; that's contempt. The true smile don't do that; it spread in equal length. There had been a study with 94% accuracy determining the nature of couple's relationship, you know.(1)"
Before anyone could say anything further, the door opened, revealing newly dressed Jeremy and Ciel. They obviously noticed the atmosphere in the room was much different than it was and gave me curious look, silently asking me to explain.
"Young master," Baldroy called, bringing others attention to the chief, "We have finished transferring the bodies."
Arthur stood up from his seat, closing the distance of Ciel and Jeremy determinately.
Alois' half lidded eyes trailed over his shoulder, "Claude, please assist them in anyway you can too."
The spider demon, for a moment, looked down at the blond Earl with his eyes momentarily flashing red in flashing emotions before bowing, "Yes, Your Highness."
"OK." Ciel nodded.
Jeremy clapped his hands together in satisfaction, "Well then! I'd like you to show me the bodies in the order they were killed."
"I don't really know why...but I feel we can trust that man."
Is what Finny said but... Baldroy contemplated deeply, still remembering those serious gaze of absolutism in Finnian's eyes. It was unlike him to announce his faith on someone whom he met a mere few hours ago for Finnian's past had made tremendous impact on the gardener's ability to trust others.
This formed dent in his temple, creating crease as he still held reasonable suspicion toward the pastor.
He suddenly came out of nowhere, acting like he's all that...who the hell is this guy?
"Well then," Jeremy mentioned, "Why don't you show the corpses to me in the order that they were killed."
"We'll start from Lord Siemens then." Arthur said.
"I'll come along too." Grey stood up, momentarily glancing toward me warningly. I remained unfazed.
"Over here." Ciel motioned to the trio, "The bodies of Siemens, Phelps and Sebastian have been placed in order on this side of the hallway."
"That'll save some trouble." Jeremy mentioned gratefully as they entered the first room in the right.
"Hmm. The only external trauma is the wound on his chest." Jeremy noted, gaping open the man's jacket, "A single stab with a sharp-edged blade it seems."
Jeremy took out a expensive looking golden pocket watch, "He was quite the violent drinker during his lifetime wasn't he..."
"How do you know?" Grey questioned, his eyes narrowing little.
"I knew as soon as I saw this." The pastor explained, "This is an expensive pocket watch, but the area around the winding key hole is full of scratches. You'd only do this if you were either a very crude person or drunk right? (2) And this strong scent of alcohol is proof that he was gulping down strong liquor up until the moment before his death."
Jeremy closed his eyes, sniffing the air, "..Hm?"
"What's wrong?" Ciel inquired, noticing sudden still movement.
"There is a faint smell of the sea.." Jeremy noted.
"The sea?" Arthur frowned, sniffing the air but smell of heavy alcohol hung in the air, masking any other subtle smell the pastor indicated. In the corner, Grey's eyes dangerously narrowed and his lip thinned - becoming more secluded and silent in contrast to his usual cheerful demeanour even in inappropriate times.
"That's right, do you happen to carry a handkerchief?" Jeremy asked to Claude.
"Yes." Claude handed him the neatly folded handkerchief, "Here you are."
Then, Jeremy did what no one would have expected. He bent down, opened his mouth before using the handkerchief to grab the dead man's tongue.
"WHA-!" Arthur yelled in shock as Jeremy nonchalantly examined the excess that was left on the material before dumping it on Claude's hand.
"Thank you very much." Jeremy thanked.
Irritation flashed passed the spider demon's eyes, glowing red in anger but nonetheless stayed silent.
"Well then," The pastor headed to the next room, "Next was Mr. Phelps, right?
"He was the only one killed by different means from the other two." Arthur explained, "I thought it likely from the wounds on his neck that a poison might have been injected..at the time of the murder the only exits and entrances were locked, making it a perfect locked room situation.
Jeremy's eyes sharpened at the examination of the wound, "I see...can you show me the room he died in?"
"Yes," Ciel answered, "I will take you there."
"Mr Jeremy is sharp eyed, so if we show it to him, he might notice things we missed." Arthur said to the other two as they tread up the luxurious golden stairs; he could still not fathom how big and large the mansion was.
"Hm?" Grey glanced over his shoulder, "Huh?" He turned around, leaning against the bar of the stair, "That old guy's not following you know."
"Jeremy?" Ciel called from above.
Soon, out of the darkness below the stairs, emerged the black cladded pastor.
"I'm coming. I'm coming." Jeremy quickly followed the trio up the stairs, soon matching them in pace. There was sweat-beads forming and dripping down the side of his face as if he had just done vigorous activity beforehand, "I'm sorry for being late. Let's go."
Grey sighed, "This is why old guys are..."
"Moreover, aren't you carrying handkerchief yourself there..." Arthur pointed out, noting back to the previous incident that Jeremy could have used his own handkerchief rather than Earl Trancy's butler's whom Arthur was sure was irritated at the fact.
They walked through the shattered gates of the Earl's room yet to be cleaned. Jeremy used magnifying glass, scanning every nooks and crooks. Then his eyes landed on the air ventilator situated at the corner of the opposite upper wall before returning on the ropes of bed curtains, "Hmm.."
Observing the object for few minutes, he finally stated with fact, "It seems there are several killer in this crime." This brought another founded shock amongst the group.
"So there were multiple killers after all..." Ciel confirmed, hinting his own previous suspicious thoughts on more than one murderer.
"It will be simple to catch Georg's killer, but it will be quite trouble-some to catch Phelps' killer." Jeremy frowned worriedly, "In order to avoid any further victims it'll be better if we make sure to catch this criminal soon."
Jeremy turned to the window, fierce rain slamming against the glass and faint sound of thunder rumbled outside with not a hint of stopping any-time soon, "No human will be able to get out in this storm, anyway."
"What do you mean?" Arthur asked.
Smirk spread across the pastor's lip, "In order to catch Phelps' killer, there are two requirements. One is to wait for nightfall, the second is..." He looked at Ciel, "Your co-operation, Earl."
"My co-operation?" Ciel repeated with mirroring confusion to Arthur's.
"Yes, yours'." Jeremy affirmed with a baiting smirk, "I'll tell you everything when night has fallen."
"Well, next up is the butler, right?" Grey intervened, "Let's go back."
Jeremy discreetly peek toward the Earl who equally return the glance silently in ambiguous message.
Jeremy opened the door for the others as they stepped into a spacious bedroom that otherwise would have been beautiful and luxurious room if it was not for mournful white sheet covering the deceased figure on the centre of the room sadistically.
He bent down toward the corpse, "I believe you told me that the butler was stabbed to death after being hit. Well then, excuse me..." With words of lament, Jeremy lift up the white sheet; flashing white gloved hand, part of his dark suits and sleeves.
"Urgh!" Ciel quickly leaned over to Arthur for support.
"Earl?!" Arthur gasped and anxiously asked, "What's wrong?! Are you feeling..." Grey turned over to see the commotion as Jeremy quickly examined the body.
"Hm?"
Ciel's grip on Arthur's arm tightened, "I'm sorry. Seeing Sebastian's corpse so many times...is just too much for me..."
"Are you okay? Why don't you take a break outside." Arthur stuttered, words coming out too quick.
"Thank you Mr. Wordsmith..."
"Whaaat?" Grey frowned at the scene as if it didn't make sense, "Weren't you fine when you stripped the butler's corpse awhile ago?"
"I see..." Jeremy nodded in understanding before covering the body once again with the sheet, "It seems that the butler was actually killed very simply!"
"You're done already?" Grey turned around.
"Yes. I've seen enough." Jeremy said.
"It's almost dinner time. I'm hungry." Grey motioned toward the watch up on the fire place. It was almost 8 in the afternoon, "What's on the menu today?"
"Who knows...shall I ask the servant?" Ciel asked.
"Nah, it's fine." Grey shrugged, strutting toward the drawing room once again, "I'm heading back."
"Well, why don't we head back too?" Jeremy suggested, "I have some preparations to look over for tonight so please go ahead."
"Yes." Ciel nodded.
Charles glanced over his shoulder slyly, satisfied they had their back facing him and he was considerably quite a distance away before quickly turning at the corner of the wall before rushing back to the room where the butler was moved to.
He pushed open the door, revealing familiar sight of the covered corpse still and in place inconspicuously. However, for he was trained to be certain, pulled the sheets away from the body...revealing Sebastian underneath the sheer material.
Charles gazed down toward the body for few minutes, as if contemplating his suspicion before, "...As if, right." He sighed, dismissing any bewildering theories he had in his mind, "There's no way..." He muttered although it was more himself in affirmation.
The guests on the table stared at the food in awe. In short time, the food had been prepare and served with meticulous presentation that looked as good as the taste. It was with help of Claude and Jeremy that they had been able to make the hamburger steak with soy beans - that was the only edible ingredients left.
It was as if the sight of food had triggered their unconsciously suppressed hunger as they start to pick up their forks and knives before digging into their served food. I, too, was surprised how I forgotten all about my hunger (and love of food) - after all, who would in their right mind would be thinking of food-
Of course.
"Ahhh! I'm full! It was delicious." Grey grinned with satisfaction, having two stacks of plates that was enough to make a mini castle around him.
This was before I even had a bite by the way. So I took a small bite, finding the delicious taste exploding in my mouth like popping candies but nothing could beat real meat. Particularly Korean BBQ. How I miss it..
"Today's hamburg steak wasn't greasy at all. I could've gone on eating forever. As to be expected the meat used by the Phantomhives is something else." Irene complimented to Jeremy and Claude, taking another delicate bite, "Earl Trancy, you are very lucky to have such butler."
Discreet smirk crawled onto Claude's lip, pleased. Compliments was propensity of his - a trait shared by many of his prideful kind.
Alois smiled gratefully, "I am grateful for such flattery, Miss. Irene. After-all I do not settle for second best."
"Thank you." Jeremy and Claude bowed simultaneously.
The servants, over-looking from behind the small gaps of the door silently cheered, having put in their best effort and was rewarded-something that was rare knowing their rather lethal clumsiness.
"Well then, now that we're all full, why don't you finally let us in on the truth of these incidents?" Lau mentioned playfully, lazily leaning against the chair with ease.
"!" Grey's once child-like banter was wiped away replaced with cold stare.
Jeremy dabbed his lip with the handkerchief, "Well let's not be hasty now. There are now something I want to prepare before that." His eyes travelled toward Earl, who had yet to finish his dinner. But there was hidden distaste in every bite Ciel took and swallowed, the human foods tasted bland - even with the two people with very admirable cooking skills - his true hunger that lurked behind his human form remained unsatisfied.
"...Yes, what should I do?" Ciel lowered the untouched chunk of meat in his fork and spoke, his dining utensils still in both his hands mid-air.
"Well then Earl..." He said with restrained pause before-
I swear he said something shocking..what was it? I found myself forgetting one of the infamous quotes, my hand automatically reaching for a cup of water and brought it to my lip while my mind scurried away in attempt to remember.
The soothing water wet my dry lip, cooling my throat with its coldness.
- "Take off your clothes." In that moment; chunk of food on Ciel's fork dropped in simultaneous timing to his gaped mouth, flabbergasted.
"Mmph!" My hands quickly came up to my mouth to cup the water shooting out of my mouth in shock. My throat gagged in attempt to push out the potentially lethal liquid out of my lung through rough coughing so suddenly.
"WHAAAT?!" Confused shock-waves echoed through out the otherwise silent mansion that rainy night.
"Listen up Earl." Jeremy's instruction repeated inside Ciel's mind, "Under no circumstances should you raise your voice. You can't move a muscle."
Ciel wrapped the dark trench coat tighter, the dark material completely engulfed his tiny form in protective cocoon.
"If you do." Jeremy's lip moved tautly with dramatic finalisation, "You'll be caught by 'the string of death' in the blink of an eye."
Three armed, bent figures; consisting of Jeremy, Arthur and Charles respectively, hid themselves in absolute abyss near the very place where Phelps died as they silenced their breathings. The only light was the silvery moonlight creeping through the semi curtained window as the wind shrieked past the yew trees on a bitter thundery night.
Silence lurked throughout the granite walls of the mansion as water flowed over the edge of the window pane. The sound of the rain filled the deaf and the emotionless faint silhouette of stretching trees near the glass, emerging in many tentacles of branches.
What in the world is Mr. Jeremy planning? Arthur anxiously thought, sweat beads forming as his hand subconsciously tightened around his chosen weapon.
"The killer will most certainly come to the Earl's bed tonight as well, we'll like in wait there and capture him. Don't worry, he'll appear for sure...however, we don't know from where he will appear so do not lose focus." Is what he said but... Doubt slowly glided through Arthur's mind like a sly mist, Will the killer really appear at the scene of the crime again?
Ssss
Sssshhh
"!" Jeremy's eyes narrowed in the darkness, the hissing becoming louder and louder for comfort.
Somthing...is coming closer. Arthur gulped, his body trembling with adrenaline as his body geared itself up for fight or flight response for whatever may come in his way.
SSSSSSHHHH
The sound of hissing became more aggressive and vicious but for certain, was heading toward Ciel's bed.
It's coming! Arthur's eyes widened, his pupil dilating further in fear.
"Now! Step aside!" Jeremy shouted as Ran-Mao briskly threw the bed cover away from her onto the floor, making sure to trap the 'killer' that landed on top in its roll.
"Gotcha!" Grey unsheathed his sword, ready to slice the unknown suspect underneath the thick sheet. His sword, nearly stabbing the perpetrator successfully, was swiftly blocked by Jeremy's own form of weapon. The unexpected movement from the pastor bewildered Charles.
"Wha..." The words were lost in the lip of the Queen's butler and Earl in his own right, as he wordlessly demanded for explanation with his widened eyes.
"It's an important witness." Jeremy reprimand sternly, "We'd be in trouble if you killed them!"
"Th..." Arthur shakily swept the match and lighted a nearby candle and shone the dim light on the 'witness' they've captured.
Now with the abilities to see in the light once again, the capturers were in for astounded disturbances as their eyes landed on the uncovered seize.
"This is the...killer?!"
"You do not know her but she has a soul of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and the mind of the most resolute of men..."
― Arthur Conan Doyle, A Scandal In Bohemia (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)
A/N:
(1): The psychology study Yuri was mentioning was a study conducted by John Gottman from the university of Washington, after observing just three minutes of a couple's conversation, could tell if they would break up within three years with 94% accuracy. 'Contempt' and 'ridicule', the instant they appear between the couple means the relationship is almost at an end.
(2) Did anyone noticed the reference Jeremy made regarding the scratched watch to the first Sherlock Holmes film starring Robert Downey JR when he trails the 'midget' (Apologise to whomever may be offended) as Sherlock calls it (haha!) to the pub and makes mention of the back of the watch being scratched?
(3) The quote Yuri said: "When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth", was actually from the author of Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle - whom Arthur Wordsmith is based on - from his 1926 novel, 'The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier' (One of 12 Sherlock Holmes short stories (56 total))
My exams are finally over! Yay! So I can concentrate on my stories more so expect update times shorter more or less.
***IMPORTANT: Guys, I have made some changes and added bits of extra scenes to 'A Kiss To My Prince' and 'The King 2 Hearts' because there were some mistakes, error or simply I didn't liked it when I re-read them over so if you have time, check them out!
Thanks for reading! Leave your thoughts in reviews and I'll make sure to get back on them :)
See you in next chapter.
-Cutie Bunny.
