But Eleanora hadn't finished her speech. If Sebastian had just waited for a few more minutes…But there is no sense in mourning the past and bemoaning the "almosts" and "might-have-beens."

"Drocell," she said, "I love you. I love you very, very much. I had never thought that I could love someone so much...I don't think that I could ever love anyone half so much as I love you."

"But," she said just as he was about to embrace her, "I can't run away with you."

He stared at her with all the intelligence of an inebriated oyster.

"—What—?" he finally said.

"I can't leave with you. I'm sorry."

"Oh. OH! Oh—I—understand. You—don't—want—to—sever—your—ties—with—Phantomhive—just—yet. I—can—relate—to—that…"

"No, Drocell; you don't understand," she said, taking his hands and staring at him, straight into those beautiful, perfect amethyst eyes, "I can't leave him."

Again the vacant stare.

Eleanora forced a laugh and continued:

"I love you, Drocell; I didn't lie when I said that I did. And yet…whenever I think about him…I just can't leave him. I just can't…give up on him."

"I—don't—understand."

"It's hard to explain…And I mean that it's REALLY hard to explain, but…I love you; I know that I do…but I feel as if I love him more. In any case," another forced laugh, "I love him enough not to leave him."

"Oh," Drocell said and stared at the ground, silent.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm so, so sorry…"

"Don't—be," Drocell said. "There's—nothing—to—be—sorry—about."

"If only all men could be as nice as he is," she thought as they left the garden, holding hands. "Then maybe this world wouldn't be the awful place it is…"

Of course he was hurting. She could tell; she knew; she was hurting too, because she knew that she had hurt him. But what else could she do? She couldn't run away with both of them…

Sebastian was waiting for them with the carriage—just a simple two-seater. He would be the one escorting Drocell to the sanatorium and making sure that he was safely reunited with Earl Mandalay. He had a completely blank expression. This was beyond his furious face—it looked as if he was dead inside.

Drocell shook hands with all of the servants and kissed Ciel's hand in gratitude. He said goodbye to Eleanora last. They shook hands, and then she hugged him.

"You be good," she whispered. "Take care of yourself. I love you."

"I—love—you—too," Drocell said back. Sebastian looked away.

She smiled and they pulled away. She held his head in her hands for some time, studying him carefully, as if committing his face to permanent memory.

"Write often," she said, "and come visit us."

"We'd certainly appreciate another competent butler around here every now and then," Ciel said, while thinking, 'Yay! More games!'

Sebastian didn't say anything throughout the whole parting; he didn't look at anyone as he got into the carriage next to Drocell. He just snapped the reins and the horse took off.

Drocell turned around and waved as hard as he could. Everybody waved back. Sebastian didn't look back once.

They waved at each other until the carriage had vanished into the distance. Then they went back into the manor.

Eleanora excused herself and went up to her room, where she lay on the bed and burst into tears.