Hola! I am so sorry! I am super duper late. I was busy with semester finals and then Christmas! And then New Year and I am just really busy. Like I'm updating on the last day of winter break! To be honest I kind of procrastinated through break. Anyway, Happy New Year! And Happy Holiday! Please enjoy Chapter 9
After, I left my mistress with the Earl Phantomhive I began to look around to find something to entertain myself. My mistress is so very kind and thoughtful, to even allow her servants to roam around in a ball specifically for the nobility. She is quite an odd human, she chooses to go against the popular opinion and has such an innocent mind even through all she as seen and been through. Though, I still have that same feeling from before, that unnerving feeling has been bothering me since we stepped foot into this manor, but chose not to say a word for my mistress's sake. I felt a lurking presence, two of them to be exact. I looked around for what might have caused this feeling, but to no avail.
'Might as well look for something to entertain myself outside' I thought to myself. As I was making my way towards the exit, I bumped into another person. I apologized before giving a bow, and then I felt it. The aura of the devil's spawns. The darkness that accompanied my kind, that same darkness I carry within me. I looked up to see a pair of blood red eyes and the evil smirk. I stared for second before that same smirk etched into my face.
"Well, well, well if it isn't the 'Serpent from Eden' himself. My apologies I was not paying attention on where I was going, sir." The demon said as he gave a small nod.
"Fransisco Grato." I introduced myself by the name my mistress gave me. The butler smirked.
"Sebastian Michaelis." He introduced himself. I gave a questioning look at my old friend in response he chuckled.
"Sebastian? I never took you for a 'Sebastian'." I thought out loud.
"My young master named me after his pet hound. Quite original don't you think?" he criticized. I chuckled knowing full well of his hatred towards dogs. Now I finally understand why I had that strange feeling earlier, but for some unknown reason it was still lurking.
"Is there another one of our kind here?" I asked 'Sebastian.' He nodded before answering.
"The Earl Trancy's butler," he began with an eye roll, "I'm personally not too fond of him." I nodded and looked around for my mistress to find her still with that blue haired boy. Sebastian must have noticed since he questioned my action.
"Is that your mistress?" He asked slyly. I gave a nod to the older demon, I was quite proud of my mistress. "It appears the young master has also taken a liking to her." He stated. I looked at the blue haired boy and back to the demon. The idea made my blood boil a bit, but it seemed to simmer down a bit.
"The Earl Phantomhive is your master?" I asked a little shocked, he nodded. 'I guess we all have a certain type.' I thought to myself. 'Under the command of children…how fun, but I will do anything for my mistress Cecilia.' I cooed in my head.
"Well, then Señor Sebastián it was a pleasure seeing you again, but I must be off. My master has given me strict orders to enjoy myself in this ball hosted by your master. If you don't mind, hasta que nos encontremos de nuevo." I said with a small nod and began to head back towards the exit of the ballroom.
After a small walk out in the garden, I returned to the ballroom still having nothing that peaks my interest. Then I looked at the small orchestra as it played the classical notes of some of the greatest musical minds. I approached the main conductor as he let the orchestra take a short intermission.
"Discúlpeme maestro, by any chance do you have a guitarra I could possibly borrow?" I asked my Spanish accent seemed to impress the English man. He smiled kindly and nodded leading me to where they had all of their equipment. He handed me a lavish cherry wood acoustic guitar. I looked at it before looking up at the English conductor.
"Would it be possible if I can perform a small piece while your orchestra takes an intermission?" asked. Hopefully he would say yes, and I can perform one of mi princesa's favorite songs. The conductor nodded with a chuckle.
"It seems we have a couple of aspiring musicians upon us in this ball. Did you see the young girl conducting earlier? She was quite extraordinary!" I smiled as he complimented my young mistress, giving a nod.
I followed the man as he made his way back to the ballroom. He announced that there will be a surprise performance. I informed him to introduce me as a performer from La Rosa Divina Entertainment Corporation. The guest applauded and heard the whispers of excitement as they waited for my performance. As I made my way to the center of the dance floor, bringing a chair with me, the guest formed a circle around me. I saw my mistress within the crowd next to the two Earls. I gave a wink and smiled as I set down the chair and sat down adjusting the guitar on my lap. My young mistress has always admired my skill with the acoustic guitar. She had asked me every time to teach her when we first started the contract. I could say she has improved quite a lot, but is still having a hard time with the change in plucking the strings. I took a deep breath and began to strum the guitar. Malagueña, was what this piece was called. I learned it long ago since I spent most of my time in España whenever I made contracts in the human world. Their culture has always interested me, even as a young demon.
I strummed and plucked at the strings of the guitar producing the notes of the Malagueña. I looked up to see my mistress's reaction. Her eyes sparkled has she watched my gloved fingers move up and down the neck of the guitar, she observed how I plucked the individual strings swiftly making the sound I wanted it to. To finish the performance a strummed the guitar with swiftness, paused for a moment and with one final strum I place my hand over the strings to end its vibrating motions.
That same silence lingered in the ballroom as I set the guitar down on the chair. When I, myself, stood up from the chair the ballroom erupted in applause and cheers. I gave a small bow before taking the chair and guitar and proceeded back to the conductor. I thanked him for allowing me to use the instrument. He complimented me on my performance and I bid a small farewell. As I made my way to an unoccupied corner of the ballroom, some of the noble women swooned as I passed by them. I chuckled, 'Oh, how the human race interests me so.'
Once I occupied the corner, my young mistress came running towards me with the two earls on her track. I gave an unnoticeable glare at the young earls as they followed my mistress like obedient hounds. I caught my young mistress in my arms as she happily complimented me on my performance and praised my skills with the guitar and asked, once more, if I could teacher her. I chuckled and crouched to my master's height.
"Fransisco," she exclaimed with her beautiful Spanish accent, "That was wonderful! Muy bien hecho! Por favor, enséñame a tocar la guitarra como usted lo hace, Fransisco!" she pleaded with me. I chuckled as I held her in my arms, tucking a strand of her chocolate lock behind her ear. She smiled at me and brushed a misplaced lock of my raven hair behind my own ear.
"A su debido tiempo, mi princesa, usted aprenderá." I respond with a chuckle. She gave a small pout before standing up and I returned to my full height.
"Fransisco, these are the Earls Trancy and Phantomhive. Who would've guessed that we were the same age? I found someone just like me, Fransisco." She exclaimed happily as she took both earls' hands in her gloved ones. The two earls smiled sheepishly in response. I can sense the tension between the two. 'It appears the young master has also taken a liking to her.' Was what Sebastian said… this makes my blood boil a bit, for I don't think any one of them are worthy of mi princesa. I just hope she doesn't take much of liking to them as well.
Translations:
Senor- Sir or Mister
Hasta que nos encontremos de nuevo- Until we meet again
Disculpeme- excuse me
Guitarra- guitar
Mi princesa- My princess
Espana- Spain
Muy bien hecho- Very well done
Por favor ensename a tocar la guitarra como usted lo hace- Please teach me how to play the guitar like you do
A su debido tiempo- In due time
Usted aprendera- You will learn
I think that's it. So, if you guys are curious about the songs and music they play in the story, for example, Fransisco's mad guitar skills, I post links to the videos on my profile. Just click on the name after the number of the chapter and it goes to the video of that song. So, if you're curious on how Malaguena sounds, I posted the link for it. Again I'm sorry for being gone for so long, but I hope you all enjoyed the holidays and the break! :)
~Tomiko Hinamori