It was dinner time and Sophia was being very clumsy but she couldn't help it. She was trying to make everything perfect plus avoid Mey-Rin and Alois's butler Claude. It was damn near impossible because they were all servants and they were working closely to prepare the meal. Sophia wanted to stare at Claude even though she knew it was wrong. There was something so cold about him just like Sebastian and that made her want to know more about him. Even his very name being mentioned by Alois made her flinch inside. Her mind was so distracted but she manages to keep her hands busy preparing.
"Sophia please go outside and gather flowers for the centerpiece." Says Sebastian.
Sophia's entire body goes stiff.
"Outside?" she asks.
"Yes Sophia. That's what I said."
Mey-Rin walks up to Sebastian.
"I can do it." She says.
Sebastian senses Sophia's fear and looks from her to Mey-Rin.
"Very well but make it quick." He says.
Sophia is so flustered. Was Sebastian doing this on purpose? At first everything seemed so right at the Phantomhive manor now it was slowly becoming a nightmare. At every turn Sophia feels like she is taking a test but she doesn't know any of the answers.
"May I be excused to the washroom?" she asks
"Of course Sophia. Right after we are all finished here." Says Sebastian.
He was back to being cold to her. The truth was she didn't have to use the bathroom she just wanted a few minutes in private. She could feel eyes on her from everyone in the kitchen. She didn't want to face any of them so she didn't look. She had to make herself useful and not stand there looking like an idiot.
"May I help you with the arrangement?" she asks Sebastian
"You could have but now it's Mey-Rin's job." He says
Sophia wanted so badly to just go up to her room and hide underneath the covers until dinner was over.
"Then what will you have me do?" she asks nervously.
"Well you could start with igniting the candles so the masters aren't dining in the dark." He says.
"Right away."
Sophia nods and goes to the dining room. How could she have overlooked something so obvious? She was messing up but even so Sebastian was colder than usual. Was he angry with her for wanting to stare at Claude and could he really read her thoughts? This was all getting creepy. Sebastian was possibly into witchcraft and he had strong senses. Maybe Sophia should just throw in the towel but she was no angel herself. She had done things very bad things that she would take to her grave. If Sebastian could read all of her thoughts would he find out? Worse what if he already knew? There was no way to tell when dealing with him.
Sophia not paying attention to her surrounds turns around and knocks right into Baldroy. Luckily they are alone in the dining room.
"What are you doing?" she asks.
"I just wanted to tell you to keep your head up." He whispers.
Sophia can't help but smile at Baldroy.
"Thank you. You are so nice to me."
"I'm not doing it to be thanked." He says.
"Still thanks anyway."
"You might wanna put out the dressing for the salad since it will be served soon." He adds.
"Thanks Baldroy you're the best."
Sophia disappears back into the kitchen and Baldroy smiles.
Claude has left the kitchen and Mey-Rin hasn't returned with the flowers yet. Sebastian still has his head down busy putting garnishes on the plates. Sophia goes straight for the salad dressing on the counter next to him. Sebastian actually looks up for a moment and their eyes lock.
"Well." He says to Sophia.
"I was just going to take the salad dressing out."
"So your back in the land of the living." He says
"I was trying to do my best but.."
"Sophia don't try anything just do it." He says dryly.
"Okay Sebastian."
The tension in the room suddenly seems so thick.
"Is there something bothering you?"
"Why do you ask?"
"You seem sort of cold so I was wondering." says Sophia.
"Butler affairs are of no concern to you." says Sebastian.
"I apologize for asking." says Sophia.
Something was obviously eating Sebastian. The question was who?
"Nonetheless I shouldn't take it out on you." says Sebastian.
His eyes seem to have faded from the usual startling red to a lighter shade. Sophia stays silent.
"I would like you to assist me with serving tonight. Mey-Rin will take the time to prepare the linens for an overnight."
"You mean their staying?"
"When you say they who were you referring to?" asks Sebastian.
"Sorry Sebastian. I meant to say is master Trancy staying over?"
"Yes and I trust that you can keep your mouth shut." he says
"What about Claude?"
"What about him?"
"Nothing. I will keep my mouth shut."
"Be sure that you do."
Just then Mey-Rin comes back with the flowers.
"That took quite a while." says Sebastian
"I had to get help cutting them from Finnian."
"So, that still doesn't explain your long absence." says Sebastian
"I had to find him first." says Mey-Rin
She offers the flowers to Sebastian. He pauses to look at Sophia before he takes them from Mey-Rin's hand. Mey-Rin flashes Sophia a dirty look as Sebastian goes back to the counter.
"Mey-Rin prepare the guest quarters." he says
"Right away Sebastian. Then do you want me to come back to help serve?"
"I have Sophia doing that so it won't be necessary."
Mey-Rin can't help but be a little disappointed. Sebastian wasn't around her a lot before Sophia started work here anyway but now the distance seems to have slightly increased. Was Sophia right was Sebastian more into being with her? Sebastian hadn't been attracted to anyone in all the time Mey-Rin had worked with him. To show any interest in a woman now would be beyond bizarre. Sebastian lived only to please the master, right? Despite the facts Mey-Rin refused to give up hope. She dreamed of her and Sebastian falling head over heels in love and being joined in the laws of holy matrimony. Perhaps if Sophia came to her senses she could be her maid of honor at the wedding.
"Mey-Rin did you not hear me?" asks Sebastian.
"Yes Sebastian."
Mey-Rin rushes away to do her task.