I'm sorry this took so long. I've gotten really distracted with other anime and just stuff in general...

Also... The title of the story as a whole is about love in a mansion... Yet, this chapter takes place solely in a church. I'm pretty sure the rest of the chapters actually take place in mansions, though. Heh. ^^"

Alice folded her arms and glared at the church. Today was the day. Her eyes flickered to her family who had also been invited by Francis' parents. They were not aware of the situation between Francis and Alice – Arthur had been warned to keep it that way.

Arthur glanced worriedly at Alice before guiding their parents by her and into the building. Alice was relieved – the last thing she needed right now was her parents asking her questions. She gritted her teeth, breathing deeply, her fists clenched. She knew she had to go through with this but she was a little apprehensive. She took one last deep breath and walked up the steps to the door. Before she could open it, however, another hand held the handle and pulled it open. Looking round, Alice found Alfred, smiling gently down at her.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Alice hissed.

"I was invited!" Alfred said, cheerily. "And I hear there'll be an enormous feast afterwards, too!"

Alice stared at his cheerful demeanour. "Did… Did you only come here for the food?"

"Ah, no!" said Alfred, grinning now. "I came to be a hero!"

"Huh?"

"I've come to help you, Alice!"

Alice frowned at him. "I have no idea what you intend to do, but if you think I'm going to marry you-"

"No, no, dude!" said Alfred hastily, shaking his head for emphasis. "I don't want that! I-I mean…" He trailed off, blushing. "I-I'm in love with someone else…" He glanced into the foyer. Alice did the same, seeing her brother, standing awkwardly, waiting for her. Or waiting for…

Alfred was grinning embarrassedly at her when she glanced back at him. Then she gave him a small smile, took another deep breath and entered the church. Alfred came in behind her, shutting the door as gently as possible. Then he slipped by her and headed towards the other doors. Arthur opened the door for him, like a gentleman should, and Alfred practically skipped into the church proper. Arthur gave Alice a look and nodded. Alice glanced away, feeling tears prick her eyes and nodded at the floor. She heard the door creak as it was pulled shut behind Arthur.

Looking up, she stared around the vestibule. There was a pair of unnecessary chairs with some equally unnecessary Bibles – she was clutching a small one which she had already brought with her. There were some shelves behind a small table upon which rested several hymn books. She sighed. This was probably the hardest thing she had ever decided to do. She wondered if she would even be able to.

There was a sudden noise – it sounded like the creak of a door – and Alice glanced around. She quickly spotted a pair of eyes watching her from a small gap between a door and jamb. She blinked and the eyes withdrew, the gap of the door diminishing as it was closed.

"Wait!" exclaimed Alice just before the click of the door. She hurried towards it. "Who are you?! You do realise there is a wedding taking place, yes? You should not be here!"

The door didn't click close. Instead, the door opened more so that the eyes could be seen again. "I-I know," said a quiet, nervous voice. "YA zhalkuyu!" Alice thought she recognised the accent. Russian? But… That is a woman's voice… This means…

"Oh, excuse me," said Alice, forcing a smile. "I was unaware that I was speaking to the bride herself."

"Ah… YA zhalkuyu…"

"If you are apologising, there is no need. Do you need some help?"

"Ah… Tak. YA zhalkuyu." The woman opened the door wider and Alice walked into the room which had been set aside for her. It was small and rather cramped. Her wedding dress was on a mannequin. A small dressing table had been hurriedly dragged into the room, scratching the wooden floor. The narrow stained-glass window let a little light into the dreary room. The woman in question was blonde and was wearing only her chemise – which was only just enough to cover her large bosom. The corset lay on the chair in front of the dressing table along with her other layers.

"Do you not have any bridesmaids?" Alice asked, blushing a little.

"Nemaye," the woman replied. "There was no time. YA zhalkuyu."

"Ah, yes, quite," said Alice. "Let me help you, then. Ah, what is your name?"

"Katyusha," said the woman, timidly.

"Well, then, Katyusha. Allow me," Alice said with a small smile. She picked up the corset and wrapped it around the woman before standing behind her to tighten it. "Now, may I ask how you met the groom? And was it that silly notion of love at first sight or a gradual love?"

"Oh," said Katyusha, wringing her hands. "I-I do not…"

Alice fumbled with the laces and dropped them. She reached for them as she said, "You do not…?"

"I- My brat asked me to do d'is," she said, nervously. "I-I do not- I am scared. Ivan trohky is acting strangely…"

Alice paused as her fingers brushed the laces. Then she gripped them and pulled gently, slowly tightening it up. "Acting strangely? How so?"

"He- He- His eyes… I can see worry."

"Ah," said Alice, frowning a little. So Ivan really was her brother. And he was worried – but about what? He never seemed worried that he would fail to attract her attention. It was rather hard to imagine him being worried over anything…

Alice stepped out of the room just as Alfred appeared at the door to the church proper. He looked at her, a puzzled expression on his face. Then he smiled gently and held the door open. "After you," he said, bowing, a little mockingly. Alice looked at him with a slightly disapproving look before entering the church.

She had been so preoccupied with the nervous bride and wondering what was wrong with Ivan that she had almost forgotten why she was there. Her eyes locked onto Francis in a rather flashy-looking white suit, standing by the altar. A red rose was pinned to his lapel and he was looking straight back at her. His mouth opened as if he wanted to speak to her before he glanced at the front pew.

Alice couldn't take her eyes off him. For a moment, she stopped breathing and she could feel her heart begin to pound harder. Damn! I really am…

Then she felt a hand slip into hers and she glanced round to find Alfred looking down at her kindly. She realised that people were staring at her as she stood frozen at the door. She took a shaky breath and tightened her grip on Alfred's hand. "Th-This doesn't mean anything, idiot," she muttered to him, blushing deeply.

Deliberately looking away from Francis, she looked towards the front pew, letting Alfred guide her to her seat. There sat Francis' parents, a man and woman who both had blonde hair, staring at her. Alice frowned. They didn't look displeased to see her and this bothered her. Finally, Alice reached her place, beside her parents, at the end of the pew. Alfred slipped into the pew behind them beside her brother, flashing him a grin. Alice watched Arthur blush and mutter something, glancing away. Alfred just grinned wider.

Before Alice could be questioned by her parents, the organ began to play the Bridal Chorus. Everyone rose and, as Alice turned to watch Katyusha make her way up the aisle with Yao (Katyusha had explained that her brother refused to be at the wedding for some reason and her father was no longer alive), her eye was caught by Francis once again. He was staring at her instead of Katyusha. Alice ignored this for now and instead, preoccupied herself with smoothing down her dark dress. It was close to black but, if the light caught it in a certain way, it was visible to be a dark blue. Her mother had commented on it before they left, saying that she looked to be going to a funeral instead of a wedding. Alice had laughed it off – but that was exactly the effect she had been hoping for…

When Alice looked back up at Katyusha, she spotted Antonio and Gilbert standing at the back with the other servants. They were glaring at the front. Alice couldn't tell if they were glaring at Francis' parents or Francis himself.

The minister smiled down at Katyusha as the congregation sat, Alice feeling tense now, listening intently as he began the sermon. "We have gathered here today to witness the union between Katyusha and Francis…" The words sent a knife through her and she gripped her dress tightly.

Finally, though, her relief came. "If there is any reason why these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace." She almost hesitated but Alice suddenly stood, gritting her teeth. The minister looked shocked. "Y-Yes, dear?" he said, cautiously – he had clearly never had someone speak up at one of his weddings before.

"I-I have a reason," Alice said calmly whilst her heart beat wildly. She swallowed took a deep breath and said, "They are both liars."

"Liars?" asked the minister, glancing at them.

The congregation was silent, staring at Alice as she proceeded to explain. "Katyusha is not marrying for love. She is scared. This wedding is a farce."

"Well, a lot of people are scared on zeir wedding days," said Francis' mother with a laugh. Alice glanced at her. She looked worried and was clinging to her husband.

"Francis is worse!" Alice snapped.

"Quoi?!" exclaimed Francis, looking rather confused.

"He lied to me!" Alice cried out, letting it tumble out as quickly as possible, glaring at the minister. "He told me he loved me and yet he made plans to marry Katyusha! He does not deserve to set foot in this church, let alone be allowed to get married!"

"Wait just a darned minute," said Alice's father. "Are you telling me that he strung you along and now he is about to get married to someone else?" Alice glanced at him and nodded. "For land and money?" Alice nodded once again, though she wondered about Katyusha's appearance as well. "Well, this is an unacceptable thing for someone to do to a Kirkland!" he growled, standing, his hand on his ceremonial sword – he had decided to dress up as much as possible for the wedding.

"He has to take responsibility!" snapped Alice, agreeing with her father.

"Quoi?!" exclaimed Francis, frowning in confusion. "Take responsibility for what, mon cher?!"

"For-For-" Alice choked on her words. She couldn't say this in front of so many people. And yet, she had to. "F-For making me… fall… I-I… like you…"

Suddenly everyone was chattering at once, outraged at the interruption, amazed at her confession, congratulating her, laughing at the situation – though the last one seemed to be undertaken only by Alfred. But Francis just stood there, staring at her, a smile slowly spreading over his face. Seeing that, Alice looked away, blushing. Once the hubbub had died down, Alice looked back up, still rather red.

"Alice," breathed Francis, holding his hand out to her. Alice's hand twitched, wanting to raise it, too. To rush forward and grab his – which was ridiculous, really. However, at that moment, the doors to the church opened.

Everyone turned to see who it was. The messenger in question froze, an alarmed expression on his face. His gaze took in the minister, bride, groom and the young woman and man standing. Then his eyes locked on to the man, Alice's father. He hurried towards him and Alice stepped out of the way, puzzled.

The messenger whispered urgently into her father's ear, seeming a little out of breath, as if he had been in a hurry to get there. Her father, meanwhile, paled. He whispered back just as urgently. The messenger nodded and glanced at the groom's parents. Her father also glanced at them, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.

"Thank you," said Lord Kirkland. "Tell them I will take care of it."

The messenger nodded and left. As soon as he had done so, Alice frowned at her father. "What was that? What has happened?"

"The esteemed Earl Grey is dead. He has been murdered. And the murderers identified. The Queen wishes for them to answer for their heinous crime." He looked pointedly at Francis' parents who now stood, holding hands, united.

"What?!" exclaimed Alice. "How can this be?! There must be some mistake!"

"Zere is no mistake, cher," said Madame Bonnefoy. Alice turned to look at her; she looked serious, not worried any more. "You may be the family who works in the darkness in zis country, mais, we are ze ones who work in the darkness of our own country."

"Quoi?" said Francis, frozen.

"Francis was even 'elping us," said Monsieur Bonnefoy. "You know zat we killed ze Earl for our own reasons; we 'ad to make sure you were distracted by your daughter's plight. Zis 'as all been part of our plan. Including this wedding – having it 'appen so quickly caused your daughter distress and you noticed."

Alice gaped at them. "W-What…?" Francis helped them… Does that mean…?

"Q-Quoi?!" exclaimed Francis, still looking confused.

"Ah, ze girl understands," said the Frenchwoman with a small smirk. "Oui. Francis lied. But not about zis wedding. 'E lied about 'is l'amour for you."

Alice's eyes widened and she stepped backwards, her hand involuntarily rising to rest at her chest. "Why…?" she breathed. She stepped backwards again and lost her balance, falling backwards towards the hard pew.

Alfred caught the stunned girl before she hurt herself. She looked rather traumatised and didn't react to the commotion around her.

Firstly, Francis began to deny what was said. "Non. Non!" That was all he managed before his parents grabbed him and quickly dragged him through the back of the church.

Alice's father, meanwhile, drew his sword, yelling about how they had no right to disgrace his family. The minister blocked the way whilst a scared Katyusha was grabbed by a quick Arthur. He pulled her out of the way while his angry father brandished his sword at the minister. The minister shook his head and claimed that they had sanctuary. Lord Kirkland almost cut him down – however, his wife caught his arm and shook her head, pointing towards Alice.

Alfred, meanwhile, sat Alice down carefully. He shook her by the shoulder. "Alice? Alice?" he called to her as her parents clustered around them. For a few moments she stared blankly at the spot where Francis had stood. Then a dark cloud seemed to pass across her visage; her jaw clenched and her eyes narrowed as she glared at the minister. She looked round at her parents.

"We are not going to let them get away with this," she finally said. It wasn't a question. It wasn't a request. It was almost as though she was ordering them. Her parents nodded. "But do not touch Francis," she added suddenly. Before her parents could question her, she continued.

"I want to kill him myself."

I'm sorry if any of the wedding ceremony is wrong. I've only been to a couple and I didn't pay attention to the order. Besides the fact that, once you've been engaged for a certain length of time, they don't say the bit about speaking up. And neither of the weddings I went to had that problem, heh. Which is a good thing, I suppose. :)

If I remember rightly, Katyusha calls Ivan, "Little Ivan" or brother- I just looked it up and I'm right. Oh, and "brat" means brother. Both of them are Ukrainian. As is the sorry, thing.

To end, here is the Ukranian for "I love you." Я люблю тебе. Phonetically: YA lyublyu tebe.