I listened to his words, which barely registered in my brain. All I felt was pain. I tried to hide my desperation as I requested the contract. He asked me again and again if I was sure. I didn't have much of a choice. "I'll ask but once more," he said. "Do you wish to form a contract with me?"
"I do!" I said, imitating my brother's voice to the best of my abilities. "Now stop asking these tedious questions and let me know if we have a deal!" There was silence on the other end, but I could feel something happening to my right eye.
"Master, it is time for you to wake up." Sebastian's voice awoke me from the reoccurring dream of that night. I rubbed my eyes and watched him pour my morning tea as he listed off my breakfast options. I chose a scone. I didn't feel very hungry considering the fact that I was just reminded of my failure to ensure my brother's safety in almost three years. Sebastian began to tell me my schedule for the day as he dressed me. I asked him a question or two concerning the last guest to visit today. (I figured Sebastian would have at least suspected that I was a girl by now, but if he did he didn't let on. He didn't even ask any questions after I had explained to him that the band around my chest supported my ribs and that I had to wear it at all times.) He told me that the man was in charge of running a factory for my family's company in India and that he was Italian. I wonder if he knows any of my friends from there, I thought. But there's no way I'd be able to ask that in front of Sebastian.
Then, we continued the morning routine: I guessed the tea, and he told me that he'd be waiting for me at the dining table. He turned to go. Then I decided I would do something that wasn't in the routine: I picked up a dart from my bedside table and threw it at his head. He caught it, then turned to me and said "Well thrown, my lord. Even so, let's save the games for later."
"Yes," I said. "I suppose you're right, Sebastian." I put another dart in my pocket after he left. If this continues, I might just die of annoyance. Why is he so perfect? I had often been annoyed with him for that and myself for thinking so. At least he's not a real demon in this dumb matrix, I thought as I headed for the dining table. On my way, I decided to give Finnian the same test to see what results I would get. He wimped out, especially when I said it was for no reason at all. Good acting, Finny! All of the other servants were old pals of mine and very good actors, with the exception of Tanaka, of course. I didn't like him at all.
Sebastian assigned the servants their chores, except Tanaka (he had the ability to be in two places at once but it caused him to be… well, I suppose you get the idea if you've seen the anime) then got to work himself. I finished eating and went on with my day. Later, I called for Sebastian in the study, requesting something sweet (my brother and I both have a big sweet tooth) but Sebastian insisted that it would spoil my appetite. Then I made a request concerning the décor to keep him busy so that I could have my daily workout without him knowing.
That evening, the guest arrived. I noticed that the garden was different, probably this was a way of covering up an "accident". I might just have the best actors ever! I was impressed with both my friend's acting and Sebastian's repair to the garden. The guest seemed impressed too, from what I could see through the window. The guest came in and we decided to talk business over a board game. I pretended not to listen while he talked about his requests for the company. Something didn't add up. I'll have Sebastian look into it later, I thought, which is when Sebastian called us for dinner. I insisted that we would finish the game later because I did not like abandoning games halfway through. The guest muttered that it was childish, but he quickly corrected himself when I shot him an annoyed look.
We went down to dinner and the guest was even further impressed with the meal. Mey-Rin impressed me with her acting by spilling the wine partway through, which Sebastian quickly dealt with by removing the table cloth before the guest noticed. My explanation was a spec of dirt. The guest was even further impressed by this and praised Sebastian for it. In an attempt to annoy Sebastian, I said to pay him no mind because he was just acting as he should. My plan quickly backfired when Sebastian agreed with me and said: "My master is quite correct about that, naturally. You see, I am merely one hell of a butler."
The guest and I went back to finish the game and discuss business matters. He wanted to just get down to business but I insisted on finishing the game first. He changed the topic by asking to use the telephone. Sebastian came in with tea just as the guest was leaving the room. When Sebastian and I were alone, I indirectly gave him his orders.
As expected, the guest was a traitor to the company. Sebastian made it clear that I knew about it, although the guest's scream of "Mama Mia!" told me that Sebastian may have gone overboard. After that, I headed off to bed. Just another day at the Phantomhive household. Little did I know that soon my annoyance of Sebastian would soon become something else entirely…