Chapter Three

Butler, Omnipotent. Bride, Dancing

The month of September was in full swing for the likes of Phantomhive manor, but to say things were peaceful at the country home of the Queen's Guard Dog would be a complete lie. It wasn't through any fault of their own, but life for the staff of the household was never easy, despite having a demon butler at the head of it all. In other words, explosions, breakages and garden disasters were common occurrences, but this time it wasn't actually the fault of anyone who worked for Ciel. For once, Bard, MeyRin and Finny were completely innocent. It was another who was causing the mess this time…


In the peace of the household, a scream destroyed the semblance of silence. A tea trolley moving at top speed down one of the corridors, with Madame Red's butler Grell along for the ride, was heading straight for the dining room, where all the servants and Ciel had gathered. Sebastian had just pulled out the Master's chair for him to take a seat when Grell crashed through the door and collided with Finny. Everything shattered to the floor, and a cup of boiling hot tea spilled down the front of the gardener's shirt.

"AAAAAHHH! HOT! HOT! HOT!" Finny screamed.

Marianne couldn't understand how Grell managed to get out of the situation without injury, other than a spinning head. When Grell came to, he realised what had happened and rushed over to Finny.

"Oh my! I'm so, so sorry!" he cried.

He tried to grab onto a napkin on the table, but ended up taking the tablecloth with it, along with the entirety of Ciel's meal. Marianne sighed heavily.

Great… More work for me. She complained to herself.

Ciel rolled his eye in exasperation. Bard went over and whispered in his ear.

"Master, why did you agree to take on this useless idiot?"

The boy arched a brow.

"You're one to talk, Bard," he deadpanned. "It didn't seem like such a bad idea."

He remembered what his aunt said when she asked him this favour.

"Oh Ciel darling, I have a problem. Grell is hopelessly incompetent. Could you do me a tiny favour and have Sebastian train him to be a decent butler? He's doing such an excellent job with Edward after all. You can't refuse your favourite aunt, can you?"

He sighed.

"I thought Sebastian would be the only one inconvenienced. I never expected I would be effected as well."

Tanaka took a sip of his tea.

"Ho, ho, ho."

Grell apologised profusely to Finny, Bard and MeyRin, who were glaring at him, making him feel so small.

"I have no idea how I am meant to atone…" An idea struck him like lightning. "Wait! The only thing I can do now is die! I shall atone with my death!"

Out of nowhere, he pulled out a long knife, and aimed it at his neck. Bard made an effort to stop him.

"Whoa! Hold on a second!" he cried.

"Shouldn't we take the knife away?" MeyRin asked.

Sebastian, who decided enough was enough, placed a hand on Grell's shoulder.

"There is no need for that," he said calmly. He stepped away and gave him the shit eating smile Marianne was more than familiar with. "Just think of the horrible mess you would make. It would take hours to clean up all of the blood, and Edward has other duties to attend to, so it would be most inconsiderate to leave such a mess for him."

Grell's eyes were filled with stars. He was gazing at the demon in such admiration, it was almost disconcerting to watch.

"Thank you, Sebastian. You are so very kind."

The idiot trio weren't sure what to make of such a scene.

"That was kindness…?" Bard whispered.

MeyRin and Finny shook their heads.

The demon moved to the empty teapot.

"Now, what I would like to know is how you could think it was acceptable to serve the Master such weak tea," he complained.

Sebastian went on to demonstrate the correct way to serve Ciel's tea.

"Watch me. Now, a spoon full for each person, and one more for the pot. Finally, add half a pint of boiling water, and let it steep before dark."

The servants were busy taking notes on his technique, as though they were God's gift to the Earth. Marianne had to roll her eyes at such an idea, especially when he was on the opposite side of the spectrum in terms of the holy divine. She watched Grell's expression of sheer awe with an impassive expression on her face. Sebastian then placed the cup of boiling tea down in front of Ciel. Ciel took a quiet sip, and listened to Sebastian as he spoke.

"Master, are you ready? It is almost time, I have the carriage waiting in the front drive now."

The boy nodded his head.

"Fine."

Sebastian then turned to the other servants.

"As for the rest of you, I want this place absolutely spotless, do you understand?" He turned to Grell. "Grell, why don't you just sit there and relax so you don't get into any more trouble? Oh, and if you do decide to seek your eternal rest, please see to it outside and try not to make too big a mess."

He gave him a shit eating smile as he said the last sentence. As he turned away, Marianne listened to Grell as he sang the demon's praises.

"Such generosity, such kindness."

She was brought out of her thoughts when Sebastian called out to her.

"Edward, come along. We don't want to be late."

She nodded her head.

"Coming!"


In London, Big Ben was chiming near the Houses of Parliament. Piccadilly Circus was crowded with carriages and people as it always was, with newsboys advertising their papers, and patrons gazing at the blaring headline, 'Prostitute mysteriously murdered'. Marianne shuddered at the thought of an elusive figure stalking the ladies of the night in the shadows. If she hadn't been as careful with her gender as she was, she may have become one of them just to survive, and that profession was one she had no intention of undertaking. She would rather starve than face to degradation of pleasuring men, and the occasional women, in the back alleys of London.


Following behind Ciel and Sebastian as they entered the shop, the bell ringing as the door opened, the three of them stepped up to the counter. Ciel was dressed in a long navy coat with a black top hat and gloves. Sebastian wore a long black coat over his butler uniform with silver buttons and black gloves. Marianne was bundled in her old brown coat with the tattered brown cap she wore when the three of them first met; Sebastian had been kind enough (if kind was the right word for it) to fix them up for her, to make them look presentable once more.

The man behind the counter, a portly man with a bald head and grey moustache, small circle glasses balanced on the bridge of his nose. He smiled at them politely, his eyes immediately on Ciel.

"Oh hello boy, did your father send you for something?" he inquired.

Sebastian merely smiled and handed over a piece of paper.

"Actually, he is here on his own business," he explained. "We are here to pick this up."

The man stared at the receipt.

"Oh, I see. You're here to pick up that walking stick." He opened one of the many drawers. "I was wondering who could have a use for such a short walking stick."

Ciel glared at him, irritated at the mention of his height. It wasn't his fault that his intended growth spurt got stunted two years ago. Marianne placed a consolatory hand on his shoulder.

"Naturally I didn't think a child-ah!"

The shop owner gasped in fear. Sebastian had taken the cane out of his hand and whipped it out, the tip barely a millimetre from his nose. He trembled at the speed of it. Marianne had gone blue with shock at the move. The demon merely smirked, holding it like a rifle ready to take fire.

"Straight as an arrow. A magnificent stick indeed, good sir."

He placed a bag of coins on the counter and walked out the shop, following behind Ciel and placing a hand on the small of Marianne's back to get her to follow.

"Keep the change. Good day."

The girl could barely suppress a moan of pleasure when he touched her.


As soon as they were out the shop, Marianne turned on him.

"You scared the life out of him! He's going to be terrified of you every time we have to come here!" she snapped.

Sebastian only laughed.

"If a man cannot handle his customers, he isn't worth his salt."

"He's probably fainted now, poor man. I'd have been scared if you did that to me."

He used the tip of the cane to tilt her head up to look him in the eye.

"I would never do that to you. He needed to be scared after disrespecting the Young Master. You would never do such a thing. I like that about you."

The girl was left blushing as he went on after Ciel. His flirting and teasing had gone up a notch in the last month, and it was putting her off balance. Not that she didn't like it…


They walked through a glass covered shopping centre together. Ciel was shaking his head in exasperation.

"Honestly, that ridiculous strength of Finny's is a menace. How could anyone accidentally break a walking stick? It was a pain to special order a new one."

Sebastian smirked.

"Indeed, what a pity to go to all that trouble. You haven't had a growth spurt in years."

Marianne slapped his arm lightly.

"Hey, you know it's not his fault! Growth can easily be stunted if the body is deprived of certain nutrients," she explained.

"Keeping up with the medical journals again, I see." Sebastian complimented. "Or spending too much time with Madame Red."

She pouted prettily as he then turned back to Ciel.

"And speaking of trouble, I'm not sure how Grell is going to work out. We shouldn't stay away for too long."

Strolling past a toy store, they overheard a child at the window.

"Look Mama, it's the brand new rabbit toy from Funtom, see?"

Marianne smiled at the child's innocence, knowing the short supply of it there was at the Phantomhive manor. All of the residents had suffered one way or the other, and knew the world was a very cruel place.


"The Funtom Company. The maker of toys and confections has grown rapidly in the last two years. And this estate testifies to the company's prosperity." Grell smiled as he trimmed the shrubbery outside the Phantomhive manor.

Bard was smoking a cigarette on the lawn as the butler continued to speak.

"The manor is magnificent; don't you think?"

Bard took his cigarette out of his mouth.

"You know, it's only been around for about two years now," he said.

Grell was startled.

"That's odd. It looks so stately and dignified."

"Of course it does. That was the intention."

Grell turned around at the sudden voice, and was shocked to see an old man standing tall behind him. Finny and MeyRin, who were also tending the garden, smiled at the sight of him.

"Hey, it's the real Tanaka!" he cried.

"We haven't seen him in months!" she chimed in.

Tanaka, in all his dignified splendour, continued to speak.

"This manor was specifically built to be an exact replica of the previous one. It is identical in every single detail, from the window panes to the stairways, and even the cracks in the pillars." The old man explained.

Grell became greatly confused.

"Identical?"

"The original Phantomhive manor burned down two years ago. The entire estate was engulfed in flames. It was a great tragedy."

"Oh… I see…"


Sebastian was driving the carriage that took the trio back to the manor. Ciel nonchalantly stared out the window, while Marianne sat opposite him with her hands in her lap, occasionally glancing back at the broad back of Sebastian through the small window above her head. The blue diamond on Ciel's thumb sat proudly on his hand, glittering back at her with a singular intensity much like the owner's uncovered eye.


"Forgive me for asking… But Ciel's parents… Did they…?" Grell was hesitant to ask.

"Yes." Tanaka sighed. "Sadly, they both perished in the fire."

"How terrible! That poor boy!"

Tanaka seemed to deflate before his eyes, going down like a balloon until he was the small man every one recognised.

"Tanaka!" Grell gasped.

Bard shook his head.

"His energy and stamina are way below a normal person's," he went on to explain. "The real Tanaka is exhausted; he just needs to rest for a while."

Grell sweatdropped.

"Well… That's interesting."


Just then, MeyRin let out a violent shriek. They turned to what she was pointing at, and saw what Grell had done to the shrubbery. He had turned the topiary into skulls. In fact, the entirety of the estate was covered with them.

"Why are they all skulls?!" Bard demanded.

"Oh no, not again!" Grell wept. "I've made yet another unacceptable mistake!"

He ran off and went up a (conveniently placed) stepladder and wrapped a length of rope around his neck.

"I can't go on any longer!"

The servants immediately went up to him.

"What the Hell?! Why are you trying to die all the time?!" the cook snapped.

"I have to! It's the only way to redeem my honour!"

All of a sudden, someone took away the stepladder, immediately causing Grell to hang from the tree branch. His face turned blue from lack of oxygen.

"GRELL!"


The carriage soon pulled up in front of the manor. Marianne assisted Ciel out of the small box and followed him and Sebastian up to the front door. Sebastian smiled.

"I'm sure you're tired, Young Master. I'll prepare tea for you immediately."

He opened the door, and Marianne felt her mouth drop to the floor. Ciel turned blue with shock, a shuddering finger pointed inside. The demon looked at them in confusion, using his free hand to close the girl's mouth.

"What's the matter?"

A bolt struck him when he looked inside.

Everything was decorated with fluffy items, cute décor, stuffed toys; hearts and streamers and flowers, an explosion of pastels and bright colours, so much that Marianne felt bile building in the back of her throat.

"So… much… cute…" she stammered.

"What happened to my mansion?!" Ciel cried.

"What happened to this place? It's a disaster!" Sebastian gasped.

The servant trio ran out of a side room and headed straight for them, crying Sebastian's name as though he would be the one to save them. They clung to him. Marianne felt an idiot hair pop at the top of her head. Seeing Bard with a frilly blue and white bib around his neck and matching bonnet on his head, and Finny with a pair of white rabbit ears and gloves, was a sight to see. Somehow MeyRin managed to escape the frilly monster that attacked them.

"What on Earth is going on here? And why are you all dressed like lunatics?" Sebastian asked.

"She's crazy! Crazy I tell you!" Bard whimpered.

Ciel's brow furrowed.

"Who is crazy?"


They heard someone choking and hurried to the side room. A collective gasp escaped them when they saw Grell, artfully decorated with orange ribbons, and slowly choking to his death as the pendulum that was his body swung from side to side.

"Grell, what are you doing now?" Ciel snapped.

"At the moment, it seems I am in the process of dying, Master…" Grell rasped.

Marianne shook her head.

"I'll go find a ladder and get him down."

Sebastian clapped a hand on her shoulder.

"No need. I shall see to it."

He went over to get the incompetent man down, only to be stopped by a blur of orange as it sped by and latched onto Ciel, screaming the boy's name at the top of their voice.

"CIEL!"

Marianne stumbled back to avoid getting caught in its grasp. She saw the corkscrew blonde pigtailed curls, and bright green eyes; she recognised them instantly.

"Ciel, you're back! I missed you so much!" the girl cried.

Ciel struggled for breath within the bear hug he was trapped in.

"Elizabeth, what a surprise."

Elizabeth released him for a moment.

"Oh, how many times do I have to tell you? Call me Lizzie!" she laughed. "Aren't you just the cutest thing ever? I could just eat you up!"

Sebastian, having gotten Grell down and placing a hand on Marianne's back, spoke up when he saw his Master was about to be suffocated.

"Lady Elizabeth," he greeted.

"Welcome to Phantomhive Manor, Lady Elizabeth." Marianne added politely.

Elizabeth let go of the boy all together and turned to the butlers.

"Oh, hello Sebastian, Edward, how do you do," she curtsied. She then saw Grell's limp form. "Aww, you took him down?"

Sebastian smirked.

"Yes, he detracted from the beauty of the room."

"But I made such a lovely decoration out of him." Lizzie complained.

"I think you were killing him, and no one wants a body to clean up, no matter how beautifully decorated it is," said Marianne.

Lizzie waved a hand dismissively.

"Well, no matter. Just look at how cute the salon is!"

Ciel groaned.

"Uh, it's so pink…"

"Only the cutest things belong in the Phantomhive Manor," she explained. "Don't you agree, Antoinette?"

They all turned and saw poor Tanaka. He had a curly blonde wig on his head that was piled up to the ceiling much like the beheaded French Queen, and a pink frilled collar and bow. Marianne gulped, and swiftly tucked herself behind Sebastian.

"She got Tanaka too…!" she whispered, her eyes wide with fear.

Elizabeth then turned to the demon butler.

"I've got a present for you too, Sebastian!" she cried.

He turned to her.

"Oh?"

With quick and efficient skill, the girl managed to slap a pink bonnet with flowers and bows decorated all over it onto his head. The sight of the imposing man, who usually was able to terrify his subordinates, wearing a pink bonnet sent the servants into fits of laughter. Sebastian's excellent hearing was able to pick up their snickers, despite their efforts to keep their mouths shut. He glanced at Marianne out of the corner of his eye. The poor girl stared at him in what looked to be a stupor, complete with the inability to laugh or cry. At least she had some restraint. He was brought out of his musings by Elizabeth's voice.

"You're always wearing black, so I thought this would be a nice change," she smiled. "What do you think?"

He glared at the trio. Darkness descended upon them, and his death glare all but killed them. Marianne hurried over to them, and wondered if she should resuscitate them.

"I am deeply honoured that you went to such trouble for a humble servant," thanked Sebastian with all his usual grace. "Your generosity overwhelms me."

Even Marianne could tell he was lying to her face.

The girl then turned to the apprentice butler.

"I even have something for you, Eddie!" she laughed, rushing over with something in her hand. "You have such a girly face, I thought this would make you look even cuter!"

She put a pair of black cat ears with white ribbons tied at the bottom of each ear. Marianne blinked, hand trembling as it reached up to stroke one of the new appendages.

"T-Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. You are most kind…" she stammered.

There was no way she could look Sebastian in the eye with her new ears on. The association with cats and herself would allow him to create a whole new realm of harassment and teasing. Maybe she could hide them in her wardrobe once Lizzie had gone home…


Ciel finally took the situation in hand, having tired of all the girl's shenanigans.

"At any rate, Lizzie, what are you doing here? Auntie didn't let you come here alone, did she?" he asked.

Elizabeth ran over to the boy and embraced him.

"I sneaked away because I wanted to see you, you silly boy!" she giggled.

"You sneaked away?! Don't you think you'll get into trouble when she finds out where you've gone?"

As the children talked, Grell finally moved out of his dying state and spoke to Sebastian, who still managed to hold some dignity, despite the pink monstrosity on his head.

"Sebastian, who is this girl?" he asked.

"She," explained Sebastian. "Is the daughter of the Marquis of Scotney. Her full Christian name is Lady Elizabeth Ethel Cordelia Midford of Scotney."

Grell tried to say it, but his tongue ended up in too much of a twist.

"Don't bother trying to say it all, you'll only cause yourself an injury." Marianne sighed. "It's too much of a mouthful for the normal person."

"She is actually our Master's betrothed of several years." Sebastian added.

Grell nodded as though he understood perfectly.

"Ah! His fiancée, how delightful."

He and the other servants then froze in shock.

"Master marrying her?!" they cried.

"Don't forget, Lady Elizabeth is a member of the nobility after all, the daughter of a Marquis. Nobles marry other nobles. That is how it works," said the demon.

Although if they are well matched is another matter entirely. Marianne thought to herself.

She had known about the betrothal almost as long as Sebastian, but still couldn't wrap her head around the concept. The way they behaved, it was a marriage of convenience, despite the familial love between them. At least it was a more solid foundation for matrimony than most.

Elizabeth clapped in her hands.

"Oh! I've just had a great idea! Now that the manor is decorated so prettily, why don't we have a ball tonight?" she smiled. She grabbed Ciel's hand, and spun him around. "You can be my escort, and we can dance all night long. Isn't that a wonderful idea?"

"A ball? No!" Ciel protested.

The girl seemed to not hear him.

"You'll wear the clothes I picked out for you, won't you? Pretty please? They'll look so cute on you!" she laughed. "Of course, I'll be dressed to the nines as well."

Finally letting go of her betrothed, she ran over to Grell and grabbed onto the rope still looped around his neck.

"You come with me. I'm going to make you look even cuter than you already are."

Grell was instantly choking as she dragged him along by his chain.

Ciel cried out.

"Wait! I said no ball!"

The door slammed behind the pair. In the silence, Marianne shook her head with a heavy sigh.

"You know there's no stopping her once she has an idea in her head, right?"

The boy only hung his head.


Once the three of them were tucked in Ciel's study, Ciel sat behind his desk, slumped over and despondent. Marianne was curled up in one of the chairs opposite, and Sebastian was taking care of the tea trolley; the two of them had managed to abandon their cute gifts. There was more than one occasion when Sebastian tried to stroke Marianne's head like she was a cat. While she wouldn't have minded, she would rather stay professional for the time being, at least until they had dealt with Lizzie.

"I believe the best course of action is to go along with her plan." Sebastian said, pouring a cup of tea. "I don't think she's going to listen to reason."

"Can't you just give her some tea and get her out of here?" Ciel complained.

Marianne glanced up at them, rolled her neck and winced when she heard a soft crack. She removed her wig and shook out her sweat-drenched hair.

"If everything was that easy, everyone would do it," she said. "Plus that's hardly good for building a relationship with one's fiancée."

He glared at her petulantly, then turned his gaze back to Sebastian.

"I don't have time for a stupid ball."

The man stared at him with eyes almost glowing.

"My Lord, Lady Elizabeth would like a dance with you. You cannot refuse her."

His words were almost cold; a shiver ran through Marianne's spine. However, there was something suspicious about the way he looked away.

"Master?"

"What now?"

Sebastian merely looked at him.

"I know I have never seen you dance before, but I assume that you can."

Ciel was silent as he picked up a collection of papers and used it to hide his face. The demon sighed.

"Oh, I see. That would explain why you are such a wallflower at social engagements."

He sliced a piece of chocolate cake from the trolley and placed it on the desk.

"I have too much work to do!" Ciel protested. "I don't have time to waste on dancing."

Sebastian took the papers away, and leaned close, a scowl clear on his face.

"With all due respect, dancing is a necessary skill for a person in your position. In your line of work, Master, social contracts are important to maintain."

Ciel shuddered as the man continued to speak, slowly realising the full extent of what he was meant to do.

"The world expects every noble gentleman to possess at least rudimentary dance skills. If you turn down too many invitations simply because you can't dance, your reputation in society will suffer greatly."

Having just about enough, Ciel snapped.

"Fine, I'll do it! Enough with the lecture!" he took a bite of cake. "Call in a private tutor or something. Mrs Bright or Mrs Rodkin should work well enough."

Marianne shook her head.

"To call someone in when we have very little time is an impossibility, not to mention Lizzie would notice if someone came to the manor now," she argued.

"There is only one option," said Sebastian, glancing at his pocket watch. His face split into a shit eating smile. "With your permission, I will be your dancing instructor."

Marianne all but fell out of her chair at the idea.

"Sebastian, are you sure that's a good idea?" she asked.

Ciel on the other hand was much more severe with his indignant thoughts.

"Don't be ridiculous! I can't take dancing lessons from a man!" he snapped. "Besides, do you even know how to dance?"

The smirk that spread across the demon's face was evidence enough.

"The Viennese Waltz is my specialty. I was a guest at the Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna from time to time."

"That is impressive…" muttered Marianne. I'll probably end up tripping over my own feet if I tried to do it…

Sebastian, having heard her thoughts, merely smiled in her direction.

"How about we start with a little demonstration?"

He stepped over to her and extended his hand like a gentleman.

"Now, would you do me the honour, my Lady? May I have this dance?"


It was with great hesitation that the girl finally accepted his hand, placing her dainty one in his gloved grasp. Sebastian brought her out of her seat, and put her in position in front of him.

"Watch closely, Young Master, and see what we shall be doing in a moment." Sebastian told Ciel.

"To lead, you start the first step on your heel."

He placed Marianne's hand on his shoulder, and held the other at shoulder height. His free hand then went down to her waist, and pulled their bodies close. A blush spread across the girl's face as she took in his essence.

"Keep your hand firmly on the lady's back. When the music starts, lead with your left foot."

Sebastian took a step forward, so Marianne stepped back to accommodate. He then moved his right foot, and she copied him; her eyes remained firmly on their feet. She didn't dare tread on them.

"Keep your eyes on me, Marianne. A lady doesn't hide her eyes from her partner when she dances. Eye contact must be maintained."

His whispers forced her to look back into his glowing red gaze. She trembled under their intensity, unable to look away.

Hypnotised by him, she followed him step for step, unhearing of his explanations as they moved into a natural turn. The routine continued for a few minutes before they came to a stop.

"And when your dance is over, release the lady's hand and back, bow politely as she curtsies, and then separate from one another should you choose not to remain any longer in her company."

He bowed gracefully as Marianne shook herself and bobbed into a quick curtsy, looking most unnatural in her male clothes and hair tumbling down in front of her face.

"Very good, Marianne. We may make a lady out of you yet." Sebastian smiled.

She pushed her hair out of her face, her cheeks burning red under the two males' scrutiny.

"It will be a long time before you can say that about me…" she said. "I only followed you, I was so stiff during that. I'm just glad I didn't step on your toes."

The demon nodded.

"We shall keep practicing until you flow like a lady's gown," he turned to Ciel. "Now, Young Master, may I have the honour?"


Ciel's endeavour with Sebastian was much more painful, even though the demon didn't move a step out of place while the boy stepped on his feet and kicked his shins. Marianne watched them, wincing the whole way through. It was agony to see. When they finished their dance, Ciel looked more than a little awkward, embarrassed at his failure. Sebastian sighed.

"Your natural ability for dancing isn't so much lacking, as it is non-existent, my Lord." A smirk spread across his face. "You simply cannot cling for dear life to your dance partner."

"You're too tall! It's not working!" Ciel shouted.

The girl piped up, hoping to ease the tension building up in the young boy.

"He's got a point, Sebastian. Generally speaking, the male is usually taller than the female. And there is more than a foot between you in height." She pressed her fingers together timidly. "Maybe he should try with me. At least I won't completely tower over him…"

Sebastian looked as though he was considering it for a moment. On one hand, it would assist Ciel in his dancing lesson. But on the other, he wasn't particularly fond of the thought of another man touching his mate, even if it was his contracted soul. Still, it wouldn't do to make things more difficult than needed for the moment, so…

"Very well. We shall try that in a moment. However, there is another thing that needs to be dealt with…" he said as he looked down at Ciel. In a flash, he had the boy's cheeks pinched between his fingers. "You need to wipe that gloomy look off of your face, Young Master. The lady will take it as an insult. Now, let's have a smile from you! Pretend that it's fun."

Something inside Ciel seemed to snap.

"Let me go!"

He slapped Sebastian's hands away from his face. The demon looked at him with shocked eyes.

"Master…"

Ciel sighed, his voice filled with pent-up emotion.

"I can't smile. I've forgotten how," he whispered, his fingers rubbing against the blue diamond ring. "I don't know how to pretend like I'm having fun. Not anymore…"

Marianne's eyelids drooped, a soft smile touched her lips as her hands moved to wrap around his shoulders and press his face into her bound chest. He leant into her touch, much like a child would its mother, and closed his eye. Ciel had learned to accept her caring touches long ago, it was one of the few kinds of contact he allowed, and secretly craved. She was the only one to give them to him now, and he couldn't bring himself to let them go.


While his face was buried in her bosom, she met Sebastian's blank eyes. They watched each other in silence. She was surprised when Sebastian moved towards them and placed a hand on top of hers around Ciel, while the other touched her cheek. Marianne tried to read him, but he kept his face impassive; she had no idea of the thoughts going through his head…

Sebastian wasn't sure why he allowed himself this physical contact. Maybe it was because he knew his mate cared for the boy as though he was her own. He did admire that quality in her, especially when it applied to the children he would plant within her one day. And while he would never admit it, he did have a soft spot for the little lord. In the time they had spent together, they had quite unwittingly become a family; one he would take care of until the end...


The dance party was soon upon them. Marianne felt obliged to put the cat ears back on, and allowed Lizzie to put a small cat bell around her neck and a cat tail around her waist. Sebastian couldn't resist petting her head like a cat when she was dressed up. Although she got off lightly if what the others were wearing was anything to go by…

Grell was dressed in a white dress covered in frills, lace and bows.

"How awful! This is the most humiliating outfit ever!" he moaned.

Bard was stick in a red wig with a pink sailor girl's uniform, his cigarette between his teeth. Tanaka was a Japanese princess with a long black wig and kimono, and Finny was a cat maid, complete with the ears and paws.

"You're just going to have to make peace with it." Bard groused.

"It's so white and girly and frilly…" Grell sighed. "If I had to dress up, why couldn't it have been in a sexy shade of red with a waistline that would flatter my figure?!"

"That's your problem with it?!"

The butler tried to kill himself again, opening up a window and planning to jump. When no one came to stop him, he glanced back over his shoulder.

"You aren't going to try to stop me this time…?"

Meanwhile, MeyRin was assisting Elizabeth with her red ball gown. It was trimmed with white lace and pink ribbons.

"Oh, blue is just Ciel's colour. You should see them, I picked them up in London today. They look positively dashing!" she smiled.

Once the maid had finished tying a red ribbon with a rose adornment, she stepped away and allowed the lady to admire her work.

"Now, it's your turn to dress up! I'm going to make you look so adorable!"

She reached for MeyRin's glasses, but the maid quickly backed away, holding her eyewear for dear life.

"I'm really far-sighted! I can't see anything without my glasses, My Lady!" she cried.

Elizabeth rushed over to her.

"You don't need to see at a ball to have fun!" she protested. "Now, hand those over please!"

She reached for them again, but was stopped when Ciel's voice came down from the stairs.

"Leave her alone."


They all looked up and saw Ciel, dressed up in the deep blue ensemble Elizabeth had selected. Even the little hat matched with its cream ruffles and ribbons. Sebastian and Marianne stood behind him, waiting to follow at his command.

"Ciel!" Lizzie cried with joy. "You look adorable!"

She ran up and wrapped her arms around him, twirling them as she giggled in glee.

"That outfit is absolutely perfect!"

Something then caught her green eye. A darkness swept over her features as she glared at the ring on Ciel's thumb.

"Ciel, why aren't you wearing the ring I brought you? It matches your outfit perfectly, now where did it go?" she growled.

Ciel merely moved her hands away and shrugged.

"The ring I already have on will work," he deadpanned.

Lizzie snapped.

"No! I went to so much trouble! That ring isn't cute at all!"

She slumped to the floor, tears streaming down her face.

"Why wouldn't you wear the ring I specially picked out for you? You're so cruel!" she wept. "I just wanted everything perfect for our lovely ball and you're ruining it!"

The poor boy felt helpless as she cried, but he was unwilling to give up his family ring.

"Lizzie, this ring is…" he began to explain.

"Ha!"

A gleam shone in Elizabeth's eyes.

"Fooled you!"

She latched onto his hand and swiped the ring off his thumb.

"It's mine now!"

Marianne felt her eyes widen. A sense of foreboding ran up the length of her spine while she watched Ciel's anger slowly bubble to the surface of his blank mask.

"Lizzie…" he hissed.

His fiancée seemed oblivious to his fury.

"This ring is far too big for you. The one I picked out will fit perfectly. So just put it on and…" she babbled happily.

"Give it back!" Ciel bellowed.

Everyone watched him in shock, unable to believe that he had raised his voice.

"Give me that ring," he ordered. "Now Elizabeth."

Elizabeth couldn't understand it.

"Why are you so angry at me? I just wanted…"

She was unable to continue because Ciel's sapphire eye was glaring at her, something that terrified her. It was too intense to look away. But she feared it.

"What's wrong? I just wanted to make everything look adorable, that's all." She tried desperately to get him to understand. "So why are you so angry?"

Her next action chilled the blood of everyone around her.

"I HATE THIS RING!"

Lizzie threw the ring to the floor between her and Ciel.

"Take it!"

The blue stone shattered on impact with the marble floor.


Sheer fury consumed all of Ciel's thoughts. His pupils narrowed into slits. He surged forward, his hand raised as though to strike Lizzie.

SLAP!

A gasp escaped him. His eyes widened when he saw Marianne kneeling in front of him. Elizabeth was tucked behind her, clinging to her tailcoat like it was a lifeline. Marianne's head was turned away from him, her cheek bright red with the imprint of his hand. She slowly turned her head back to look at him, her blue eyes showed nothing but acceptance at his blow. Ciel trembled at the sight of the smile that slowly touched her lips.

How can she smile like that when I…?

Sebastian's hand then clamped down on his wrist, grinding the bones together to the point of pain. He glanced back and saw the demon butler glaring back at him with glowing red eyes and his mouth twisted into a disapproving frown. The black look on his face was enough to make his blood freeze within his veins. He expected punishment for what he had done, even if it was an accident. Even he could see how protective Sebastian was of Marianne, although he couldn't fathom why.

"Master…" Sebastian growled.

A shit eating smile then took its place on his face.

"You forgot the walking stick we went to so much trouble to get."

Ciel breathed heavily while Sebastian assisted Marianne with getting to her feet, placing the cool back of his gloved hand against her burning cheek.

"Are you well?" he asked quietly.

Marianne gave a slight smile, wincing under his hand. Both of them knew he wasn't the one hurting her.

"I've been hit harder by people a lot stronger than Ciel."

He was silent at those words. He would push her for more answers later.


After ensuring the well-being of his mate, he turned to Elizabeth.

"Please forgive my Master, Lady Elizabeth. You see, that ring was something very important to him. It is a precious heirloom, passed down to the head of the Phantomhive family. He's grown quite attached to it, it truly is one of a kind. Please try to understand why this upset him."

Sebastian explained the situation in such a solemn manner, it even made the exuberant Elizabeth pause for thought.

"I-It was that important…?" she asked, her voice trembling with each word. "And I destroyed it?"

Behind them, Ciel picked up the remains of the ring. He walked to the window, unhearing of Lizzie's apologies. Without a word, he tossed it out the window. All the servants, except Sebastian and Marianne, gasped at what he did.

"Ciel, wait!" Elizabeth cried. "What are you doing?!"

He tapped the end of his walking stick against the floor.

"It doesn't matter," he intoned. "It is nothing but an old ring after all."

Marianne rubbed her cheek with a pout.

An old ring that angered you enough when it broke to have your hand imprinted on my face.

Sebastian, silent and listening, ran a hand over her spine. Rubbed his palm roughly against the small of her back. She barely managed to hold back a moan of pleasure. Their attention was diverted when Ciel slammed him stick down again.

"Even without it, I'm still the head of the Phantomhives," he proclaimed. "And that won't change!"

The couple's eyes widened for a moment before they both smiled proudly at their young master. Ciel glanced at them, and for the briefest second, he thought he saw his parents staring back at him…

As Elizabeth was crying, Ciel turned to her.

"How long are you going to cry?" he asked.

"I-I…" she sniffled helplessly. "I'm so sorry."

He brought a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped her tears.

"Your face is a mess. Completely unsuitable for a lady." A smirk then spread across his face. "How can I ask a lady with a runny nose and puffy eyes to dance?"

"To dance…?"


Music burst through the silence. A violin's delightful melody played in the background. They all turned around and saw Sebastian playing the violin on the stairs. Marianne closed her eyes and let herself sway to the music. Vaguely she heard MeyRin give her compliments to the maestro.

"He's incredible!"

He is indeed… Such a beautiful song… How did he know this was my favourite…?

"He plays the violin… Is there anything he can't do?" Finny asked.

Grell, unable to hold back any longer, ran to the base of the stairs and joined in. He had a surprisingly good singing voice. Bard was swearing profusely at that.

"What the Hell?! He can actually sing?!"

Marianne glanced back at the young couple, saw Ciel extend his hand to Lizzie for a dance.

"So we are agreed? We'll forget our cares and dance the night away," he smiled. "It's decided."

She giggled at the sight.

Oh dear, it would seem he's taken flirting lessons from Sebastian. Should I be worried, I wonder?

She couldn't begrudge him though. The smile on Elizabeth's face was truly priceless.


The couple danced the night away. Marianne watched them with a pleasant smile, sat down on the stairs as she was with Sebastian skilful music playing above her head. Out of the corner of her peripheral vision, she spotted the other servants dancing, pleased with the outcome of the evening as they were. Despite the joy she felt for everyone, a sadness clung to the insides of her heart; a wistful hopelessness that became a parasite clawing at her chest.

I wish I could join you in the dance… As who I really am, rather than as the male the world sees me to be.

Because she was turned away from him, she didn't see Sebastian's eyes flash under his closed lids.


Night fell and Lizzie was curled up asleep in a carriage, the Phantomhive staff seeing her off the estate while she lay under a heavy blanket.

"Don't worry," smiled Grell. "I'll make sure she gets home safely. You can count on me."

One of the few things he was able to do as a butler without causing any mishaps was drive a carriage, a fact everyone was grateful for.

"Are you sure?" teased Bard.

"Of course, I'm more deadly efficient than I appear."

Something about those words made Sebastian stare at him with an unnerving expression, as though searching for something they couldn't see. Marianne grew concerned when his face didn't even change when Grell came up and embraced him.

"Oh thank you, Sebastian. I am truly in your debt. You have taught me a lot about what it means to be a butler." He then said something rather odd. "You know, they say when a person dies, their whole life flashes before their eyes. And I know that when I see the light of death, this momentous evening will appear in my dying vision."

The demon gave him a disbelieving look.

"Huh, interesting that you of all people should say that," he said.

MeyRin didn't hear the sarcasm in his voice and spoke.

"That's true. He hasn't very good at dying, has he?"

Grell merely smiled at them all, climbed up into the driver's seat and took hold of the reins. The carriage then rode away into the night, illuminated by the candles flickering on the driveway.


In Ciel's bedchamber, Sebastian was readying the boy for bed. He buttoned Ciel's white nightshirt up to his neck.

"It's finally over…" Ciel sighed. "What a horrible day it's been…"

The demon looked up at him through his dark lashes.

"You seemed to be enjoying yourself for a while there, My Lord."

He turned away and walked to another part of the room. Ciel shook his head.

"Don't be so foolish."

He touched his left hand, but realised that the ring that he usually rang his fingers over was gone.

"Am I the fool here?" Sebastian asked through the darkness.

Ciel gritted his teeth and kept his eye on his lap. The butler knelt before him, covered his left hand in his.

"I know the importance of this ring. You can put on that act for Lady Elizabeth," he removed his hands and revealed the ring sitting on Ciel's thumb, completely undamaged.

Ciel stared at it in wonder, knowing it had been shattered to pieces, and he had tossed a good portion of it out the window.

"If I couldn't do this much for my Master, well then, what kind of butler would I be?" Sebastian said, a demonic smile staring back at the boy. "But you should take care. It is precious, this ring. It has seen so much."

Ciel nodded his head, unwilling to let himself lose him composure in front of the demon butler.

"That's true. It's always there. This ring has seen the death of many masters. My grandfather, my father…" His eye patch was set down on the bedside table. "And eventually the ring will witness my own death as well. It has heard the dying screams of the Phantomhives for generation upon generation."

He clutched his hands to his head.

"When I close my eyes, I hear them too… The voices echoing in my head… If I throw the ring away, I won't have to listen to them screaming anymore. At least that's what I believed." He sighed heavily. "Ridiculous, isn't it?"

Sebastian didn't say a word. He merely watched as his Young Master crawled into bed. A silver light shone through the open curtains.

"My, look how high the moon has risen. You must get some rest, Sir. You don't want to make yourself ill, do you?"

He tucked the covers around his charge. Once that was done, he picked up the candelabra from the table and made to leave the room. Sebastian came to a stop when Ciel called out to him.

"Sebastian, stay with me, until I fall asleep."

The demon smiled slightly.

"Goodness, are you displaying weakness in front of me now?" he teased.

Ciel curled into himself more tightly.

"Just a simple order."

Sebastian's upturned lips parted in pleasure. He soundlessly moved back to Ciel's bed and knelt down by his side.

"I will stay here. I am by your side forever, Master. Until the end," he whispered.

His voice was soothing, almost a lullaby that finally sent Ciel into slumber. He ran a hand through the boy's bedraggled hair and left the room.


Outside the door, he stared off into the distance, thinking back on Ciel's words.

"I'm still the head of the Phantomhives, and that won't change!"

"Stay with me…"

He touched his hand to his face, then smirked, his eyes glowing in the darkness. A dark chuckle escaped him as he walked down the corridor.

"Now, I must prepare for tomorrow."

But first, I must see my mate before she turns in for the night.


Marianne was brushing her hair in front of her mirror when Sebastian came through the door.

"Is Ciel asleep?" she asked, meeting his eyes in the mirror.

The demon took the brush from her hands and continued to run it through her hair.

"Yes. He didn't say anything, but he was pleased with your efforts in scouring the grounds for the pieces of his ring," he told her.

He'd had to run a bath for her because of how dirty she had gotten. It was why she hadn't come with him to attend to the master that night. He had later used his power to fix the ring; an easy thing for a demon like himself.

"I'm glad he got it back. That ring is precious to him," she sighed.

Just as you are precious to me, my dear mate.

He twirled a lock of hair between his fingers, subtly sniffed it and relished the scent of the roses from her bath, and the enticing smell that oozed from her very pores, the sweetness of her soul. His, completely his.

Marianne sat before him in her nightshirt again. Tempted though he was by her creamy flesh, he resisted and reached over to the vanity table, placing down the brush and holding his hand out to her.

"You didn't get to dance at all during the ball. Allow me to remedy that." He smiled. "May I have this dance, My Lady?"

The girl blushed under his steady stare, but accepted his hand. He pulled her to her feet and got them both into position. Step by step, they begun to dance.

She felt herself slip into a fantasy, he twirled her in his arms and held her close. He treated her like she was something special. If he continued to treat her so, she wouldn't be able to stop herself from falling completely in love with him…

Sebastian smiled as she fell into bliss under his ministrations. Even though he wanted to take her on her bed and make her his, he was determined to treat her like the virtuous lady she was.


From the bedside table, the white rose seemed to shimmer against the darkness. The edges of the petals seemed to take a red tint, as though it had been dipped in blood.


To answer your question about the rose, it's to represent the state of Marianne's soul and heart. It starts out white to show her purity, and goes darker as she gets closer to Sebastian as a mate.

Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Please read and review!