Ciel sighed.

"Why did she request a tour? Is she looking for something?" he asked while thinking aloud, sitting back in his chair with his fingers laced together.

"I'm not yet sure my lord." Sebastian replied with narrowed eyes, hand over his heart.

Ciel looked up, hair falling over his eye patch.

"Then find out. I want to know more about her and that maid of hers." he ordered sternly. Sebastian nodded obediently before bowing.

"Yes, my lord."

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

Finny and Mey Rin nodded along intently as Isabelle spoke while Bardroy sat back in his seat, almost dozing off.

"I see... interesting…!" Finny said with an innocent smile, tapping his chin with his finger. Isabelle nodded in return with a subtle smirk.

"He is quite... different... for lack of a better word anyway." she responded, breathing out a laugh. Finny nodded, his smile brightening with an innocent chuckle.

Just then, Tanaka, the former butler of the grand manor, wandered into the room, wielding a tray of tea before projecting his usual "Ho-ho-ho." Isabelle blinked in confusion, titling her head at the servant as she took the offered tea. Finny smiled, withholding laugher.

"This is Tanaka; he's been a servant for the Young Master longer than even Sebastian." He said matter-of-factly, Isabelle nodding as Tanaka sipped his own tea.

"I see... well, it is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Tanaka. I apologize for not having a more formal meeting with you prior to this." Isabelle said with a smile, bowing her head politely.

Just then, the servants let out a simultaneous gasp as Isabelle turned around to see the "real Tanaka". He smiled, watching her through his glass monocle, hand over his heart.

"Good evening, Lady Tonnerre." he said, bowing respectively. Isabelle let out an innocent yelp of surprise before she nodded slowly, looking over the whole new man opposite her.

"Uh... h-hello?" she responded hesitantly, blinking her big, doe-like eyes. Finny got up excitedly with a grin.

"It's the real Tanaka! We haven't seen you in ages!" he called happily, his fists clenched in front of his chest as he watched the old man. Tanaka heaved a sigh.

"It's a struggle to communicate in my reserved state. All I needed was to make proper introductions." he stated before deflating back into his miniature form. Isabelle blinked with a mixture of surprise and wonder.

"... Does that occur on a normal basis?" she asked curiously, turning to Finny as Bardroy chuckled.

"We haven't seen the big guy in ages. In short, no, the real Tanaka rarely shows his face anymore. Guess it's a struggle in his old age..." Bardroy said with a sigh, running his fingers through his blonde hair.

Isabelle nodded in some understanding as Finny sighed deeply, sitting back down. He set his head in his hands, elbows propped on the table as he spoke, "he was such a lively person, but I guess the fire had a huge impact on him…"

"Ah yes… the fire the burned the original manor…" Isabelle repeated slowly with eyebrows furrowed. The servants looked at each other hesitantly before Bardroy sighed, his tone far quieter and more somber.

"The original Phantomhive Manor burned down when the Young Master was an even younger master. He lost his parents that day, and many thought we lost him as well, he was missing for months after all…"

Isabelle narrowed her eyes, tone softening as she cupped her hands around the porcelain teacup, "what a terrible feat..." she breathed as she sipped the tea, falling quiet as Finny continued.

"He was such a loving child as well, that experience hardened him up. At least, that's what I've managed to learn from Tanaka… He still carries a heavy heart, and half his sight."

Isabelle tensed some, setting her teacup down.

"His eye patch... it covers a wound he sustained from it then...?" she asked slowly, choosing her words carefully to get as much information as possible.

"That's most likely correct, though nobody has ever seen what might lie under the eye patch..." Finny finished as he titled his head innocently, noticing her sudden curiosity. Isabelle nodded to herself before getting to her feet with a subtle smile.

"It was a pleasure to learn more about the household and its keepers- but I am afraid I have to cut this meeting short. I must begin making preparations with my maid to head home as soon as possible."

The servants blinked in surprise, exchanging a few glances. However, before they could question her, she hastily exited. She was more than eager to learn more about the Phantomhive Earl just upstairs.

As nonchalantly as she could, Isabelle adventured through the manors many halls, hoping to find some clues regarding the Earl's past. That was until a firm hand abruptly ended her investigation.

She tensed in fear as she hesitantly glanced up, meeting the gaze of the butler himself, Ciel just behind him with his arms crossed over his chest.

"What do you believe you are doing?" he demanded sternly, stepping out from behind Sebastian as he released Isabelle's shoulder.

With a light smirk, she crossed her arms, Enobria appearing behind her protectively, "exploring."

The two nobles glared at each other, their butler and maid at their side. Isabelle smirked.

"Has my curiosity touched a soft spot, Earl Phantomhive?" He gritted his teeth as her smirk widened, Isabelle clearly amused by his temper being lost so quickly.

"What have I done wrong?" she asked him teasingly. Ciel scowled.

"I do not appreciate a stranger snooping around my manor." he said, narrowing his eye.

Isabelle furrowed her eyebrows. "I am not snooping!"

He sighed in frustration, approaching her, stopping only a few feet away, "then tell me. Who are you really and what are you doing here?!"

Isabelle narrowed her eyes, "you already know who I am and I have nothing more to tell you." she said as a soft smirk stretched on her face. Ciel clenched his jaw.

"Sebastian!" he shouted.

Sebastian nodded and sprung forward, straight for Isabelle. Isabelle gasped subtly and clenched her fists.

"Enobria!" she screamed.

Ciel and Isabelle grunted. Sebastian held Isabelle tightly, his face serious as he watched Enobria hold Ciel. They were at a standstill.

Ciel scowled at Isabelle. "Sebastian, find her contract mark." he ordered.

Isabelle clenched her jaw, "Enobria, remove his eye patch." she ordered.

Both followed their instructions obediently.

Sebastian threw the hair away from the base of Isabelle's neck as Enobria untied Ciel's eye patch, which fell to the floor with a quiet flop. Ciel opened his right eye, gazing at Isabelle.

A crimson, seven-pointed star with two circles surrounding it was branded perfectly on the base of her neck.

He smirked, "so it's true then…you are in contract with a demon."

So this is a short one. I apologize ;-; But hey! More back story XD I'm really sorry ;-; BUT I promise things shall pick up in a chapter or sooo. Promise. Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!

Stay creative my friends~