After the night of Ciel's fourteenth birthday, he invited Isabelle to sleep with him every night afterward, and every morning she would rise early to leave his room, in the hopes that their secret wouldn't be found out by their contracted demons or the servants.
When Ciel woke one morning, he scooted closer to Isabelle's spot on the bed. He groaned feeling around for her before opening his eyes slightly.
His eyes widened in his half-awake state when he realized Isabelle wasn't there.
"Isabelle?" he called groggily, rubbing his eyes as he swung his legs off the bed. There was no response.
"Young Master."
Ciel turned to the door in surprise, where Sebastian was standing with his cart.
"Good morning, my Lord." He said, welcoming himself into the room. Ciel was too tired to care and just laid back in bed.
"I've brought you some warm milk instead of tea, since it is quite cold, I believed it would suffice better, my Lord." Sebastian said, pouring the warm milk into a teacup. Ciel groaned softly and sleepily in his half awake state.
"That's fine… Where is Lady Isabelle…?" he asked, glancing up from his nest of blankets, lying face down in his bed. Sebastian smirked.
"She left your room early this morning, as usual."
Ciel's eyes widened in surprise as a smirk crossed Sebastian's face. Sebastian crossed the room toward his master's bed as he spoke, maintaining respect while demonstrating sarcasm.
"I must say, I found it surprising that you have been inviting another woman to sleep with you ever since your fourteenth birthday, my Lord."
Ciel clicked his tongue, sitting up in his bed, "don't you think that you are being a bit bold by questioning me, Sebastian?" he asked while sipping the milk that Sebastian gave him.
Sebastian bowed, hand over his heart, "forgive me my Lord."
Ciel shut his eyes, letting a satisfied sigh escape from him after drinking his fill.
"So where is she?" he asked again.
"Lady Isabelle has gone home." Sebastian answered, helping his master change into his normal attire.
Ciel looked up in surprise, "she's gone?"
Sebastian nodded, "she informed me that she would be writing you later on Christmas day in three days time."
Ciel nodded slowly as he fell deep in thought, "I see…" he said breathed, setting his tea cup on its saucer, his tone somewhat disappointed.
Then, he suddenly looked up.
"Sebastian, ready a carriage for this afternoon, I have some business to take care of…"
Sebastian nodded, taking the empty tea cup,"yes, my Lord."
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
The carriage ride was grueling. The north of England had been blanketed in snow from the coming winter and had left behind an icy mist as residue. It chilled the countryside to the bone, preserving the rolling green hills in a sheath of frost.
Isabelle endured the biting cold for a long 4 hours before finally arriving home. She was surprised she hadn't froze to death.
The manor of Tonnerre stood tall and grand before her, constructed through the finest stone to give it the most sophisticated and unique of styles with the family's crest on display in carvings.
The hedges surrounding the entrance were covered in an icy like dew, creating crystals on the flimsy branches. The fountain that lay before the entrance had frozen over and the few birds that visited skated around the iced water as if to admire the stalagmites of water frozen in falling cascades.
It looked almost fairy tale. But it was, no doubt, a place Isabelle despised nonetheless.
Enobria had halted the carriage before the doors and she hopped from her perch on the coach. Isabelle stepped out of the carriage once the door had opened before her and she heaved a shaky sigh induced through shivers.
"Home sweet home." she breathed, stepping inside.
Warm air hit her like a wall and she couldn't resist letting a relieved groan escape her. She glanced around to see several of the maids there to greet her. But, she simply waved them off.
A few maids called to her but she gave a sharp glare as Enobria followed her, "I'd appreciate being allowed to relax. My journey was long and troublesome- all I ask is for some well needed rest." she snapped irritably.
The maids did not try to stop her as she trudged off to her room where she would wait for the days to pass in solitude.
She sunk into her bed with a deep sigh and shut her eyes as hot air emitted from the fireplace Enobria had lit.
"Home… sweet home…" Isabelle muttered, eyes narrowed.
She turned onto her back deep in thought before sitting up. She looked to her maid.
"Enobria," she called, "I'd like you to get some things for me from market as I must remain here. Do it at once." she ordered, pulling herself into her desk chair.
She scratched away on the paper before her, compiling a neat list.
"Finnian… Mey-Rin…. Bardroy… Snake- ah and his snakes as well…" she mumbled to herself as she wrote, "Sebastian…. and… and Ciel…"
She tapped the pen against her bottom lip and bit it lightly before jotting down her ideas. Then, she promptly handed it over to Enobria.
Her maid blinked in surprise before meeting her lady's gaze, "may I ask what exactly this is meant to be?"
"A list of gifts I want you to pick up, wrap, and deliver on time for Christmas." Isabelle responded.
Her maid blinked in surprise, skimming over the list once more before a small smirk stretched across her lips. She rolled up the papyrus neatly before bowing, hand over her heart.
"Yes, my Lady."
… … … … … … … … … … … … … 3 Days Later… … … … … … … … … … … … …
It was then that Isabelle finally emerged to interact with her family.
She wandered downstairs on Christmas morning to the living room of the manor to find her mother, aunt, and other family parading around in a mix of smiles and laughter.
It was a foreign sight to Isabelle. And, like every year, she was not allowed to participate in such a simple thing as Christmas. Her family, to put it simply, resented her. It was only her mother that treated her with respect.
It was, no doubt, a place Isabelle despised.
She took a quiet seat on an adjacent couch with a book to read, praying her family wouldn't take notice and force her to interact even though she was not welcome.
She skimmed through the pages but found that she couldn't help but watch her "family".
Her cousins did laps around the living room, the dog chasing them as they giggled. Her aunt and uncle were becoming a bit too touchy as they swayed to the beat of the alcohol washing over their stomachs. Her mother and father were sat beside each other, hands laced in an affectionate embrace as they chatted idly.
Isabelle hated it.
She envied how, even though she shared the same home, same name, same titles, she was not welcome.
She only snapped back to reality when her aunt threw a drunken slur at her. It sounded like an insult but there was no reason for Isabelle to take her intoxicated aunt seriously.
She noticed her aunt scowl but then continued to ignore them, enveloped by the world of her book. That was until Enobria came to her side.
Everyone noticed the mysterious maid.
Like a shadow, Enobria had been with Isabelle ever since the mother had taken her in. Enobria had appeared like a shadow with Isabelle, loyal to the end as if she had no other interests.
It was even stranger as Enobria had once served another lady of the house until she disappeared.
But, unlike Isabelle, the family of Tonnerre adored Enobria, skills, looks, and all. That was something Isabelle had referred to as Enobria's "devilish charm".
The maid led her mistress from sight and into the foyer.
There, at the entrance, lay an orderly stack of the gifts Isabelle had requested. The duchess inspected each gift for the quality of the wrapping paper and the actual present. Once she was satisfied, she gave Enobria the ok to take them all to the Phantomhive manor.
Enobria had just opened the door to leave but, instead, stood aside. Before Isabelle could ask, she gasped.
"Surprised Lady Isabelle?" Ciel teased, standing there with a neatly wrapped gift in his arms.
When Isabelle didn't respond, he invited himself inside with a "brrr". He glanced over the duchess with a smirk as he cradled the small gift in his arms. Her family had emerged from the living room in search of them and they all watched in surprise as Ciel Phantomhive stood in their home.
"E-Earl Phantomhive!" Isabelle's aunt exclaimed, eyes wide.
"W-What brings you here?" Isabelle's mother asked, stepping forward.
Ciel gave them a polite smile and bow before answering.
"I've come to steal your daughter for a while, Madam Tonnerre."
Isabelle flushed a brilliant red as her family chorused in a series of gasps of disbelief and shock. Her aunt repeated what he had said in a mutter before scowling.
Ciel offered the present in his arms to Isabelle with an almost sweet smile and she took it with shaky hands. She glanced up and he gave her a nod, permitting her to open it in front of her awestruck family.
A choker decorated with a white lace and sapphire stone as the centerpiece was carefully wrapped in a light pink tissue paper. A card lay below it, reading "Merry Christmas Isabelle -From Ciel".
Her eyes widened as he took the choker from the wrapping and instructed her to turn around. Daintily, he secured the choker around her neck and then spun her around once more, inspecting the stone with his hand.
"Perfect…" he cooed. Isabelle's flush grew brighter as his hand traced the indents of her collarbone before he officially released her.
"Now then," he began, "shall we head back to the manor?" he asked, offering his gloved hand.
Isabelle blinked wide, surprised eyes at him and took a quick glance at her family spectating. They gave her daggered glares, more so her aunt, but she caught her mother's expression the easiest.
It almost seemed to read go on.
"Well?" Ciel asked, cocking his head to one side in question.
Her entire family held their collective breath as Isabelle took his waiting hand.
"Yes…" she cooed, "let us be off."
Isabelle spending a Christmas all alone? No worries, Ciel to the rescue! What a cute little reunion. It's all so peaceful~ ... maybe a bit TOO peaceful... Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!
Stay creative my friends~