Her Butler, Compliant
The ballroom continued its elated dancing and the jubilant piano played swiftly followed by the sharp and soft violins. Only you could feel the anguished tension in the room, along with your opponent. As Lady Cora would say, and you suppose Ciel would as well; life is a game of chess. Your only option was to win. No, not option. Order.
As you could sense the sickening feeling in your stomach grow, the music came to a slow fading and the crowd bowed to their partners in the dance and gave the musical instructor and players an applause. Before you were able to walk and meet with your mistress, a young lady in a purple embroidered gown with yellow-glowing curls that were tied into pigtails had stepped in front of you, leaving you flustered and irritated.
Lady Elizabeth. "Oh my, my! What an absolutely dreadful dress!" she pouted in disapproval, as you looked down the view the dress with her. "I cannot believe Lady Cora would ever let her maid show up to a royal ball in such rags!" she began again, refusing to move.
You could see over Lady Elizabeth, your mistress speaking with a few other anonymous people. You thought of what Sebastian had told you earlier. "I'd expect better from you"... You sighed, you couldn't simply shove Lady Elizabeth out of the way. You had no other choice than to respond. "Lady Elizabeth! I assure you, I don't mind it at all. I wouldn't want to steal the attention from your absolutely stunning gown!" you smiled cheekily, which Elizabeth took in and smiled in return with a twinkle in her teeth and a pink flush across her cheeks.
"Oh do you really think it's stunning?!" she asked, pleading for another compliment.
You swallowed hard. "Yes, positively jaw-dropping!" you concluded.
Lady Elizabeth twirled a bit, drowning herself in her own pride. "Paula helped me pick it out! It was hand crafted by- Hey?! Where'd you go?...".
Standing beside Lady Cora, you were introduced to the same couple from before who were putting on an act of happiness. Their names were Jonathan and Elissa Velette. They had been married for 5 years now, and have three children. Two boys and a daughter. The sons were All, and Jax. The daughter was Collette. A rather coincidental rhyming name. It wasn't that you cared, because you really didn't. But it was only the appropriate thing to do when trying to have a civilized conversation. "We originally intended to have two daughters, and one son." Elissa smiled, giving her husband a heinous look as he took another quick sip of his drink.
Jonathan wiped his mouth clean with his dirty sleeve, nodding. You could tell by the look in his eyes that this wasn't his first cup of alcohol. "Without an absolute doubt!" he slurred, struggling to find the table beside him to put down his drink. Lady Cora grinned, and said her goodbyes as she noticed the intoxicated Jonathan. You gave her a soft handshake and the two of you wandered off towards the food table where you were both finally not talking to any other guests.
"What a disgusting man." Lady Cora frowned sarcastically, glaring over at the two who tried to hide their arguing behind their backs. "I remember when they first met, little Elissa and young Jonathan. They were very youthful, active if you might." she lifted an eyebrow, giving you a mischievous smirk. You gave no reaction, but she could tell from your staring at the two that you were very much listening. "I've been in love before." she dragged on. "But it was a waste. A poor game of cat-and-mouse, if you will.". She stared at her dazzling golden ring that wrapped around her ring finger. "Have you, (F/N)? Ever been in love?" she asked, eyes averting from her ring to you.
You weren't taken back by this question, it was another one of her attempts at trying to understand your past life, who you were and what it was like before you became… You. "As you said, Milady." you finally looked her in the eyes, giving her a flash of your pink orbs before continuing. "Love is a waste, and I haven't desired even a drop of it." and with that, Lady Cora smiled before taking a bite out of her slice of the raspberry pie. You quickly glanced back at Elissa and Jonathan, the two now completely ignoring each other.
You repeated what you said over again in your head.
Love is a waste, and I haven't desired even a drop of it. And it was true. You have no desire for anything in this corrupt world. Just the taste of sweet souls squirming against your tongue.
"(F/N)! Have you finished the paperwork?!" Lady Cora screamed from across the hall in her bedroom, where she laid sick as ever.
As usual, you were in the office with glasses on using the typewriter to finish up some paperwork and numbers for the Cora Candy Tea company. You dialed the last entry in before yanking out the paper, laying in on the pile and walking across the corridor to enter Lady Cora's room. You knocked first, before entering in the black draped room. It felt even more dark than usual, because of her ill state. "But of course, Milady." you smiled, wiping off the smudges of ink from your palms onto your apron. "Perhaps you would like another bowl of noodles and broth?" you asked, seeing the cold bowl of chicken broth still on the bedside table.
Lady Cora signaled you away, turning onto her other side. You picked up the bowl and nodded. "I need you to do something for me." she asked, before you exited with the glass bowl. You turned, and she was sitting up looking at you with a red nose and irritated itchy eyes. "Ciel Phantomhive has a Faustus contact as we do, correct?".
"As I am aware of, yes." you answered.
"Then he is able to order his butler to do as he wishes, right?". You nodded, before replying with another "yes". Lady Cora took a tissue and blew her nose before continuing. "I order you to go the the Phantomhive Manor and confront Sebastian. Find out as much as you can about the brats deal. If we can complete the deal before he has, does that not mean his soul will go to Sebastian?". You nodded, rather surprised with her order but it was up to you to complete this.
You gave a cautious curtsey with the bowl in your hand, a small smirk growing on your face and your jagged teeth slightly showing. "Consider it done, my mistress." with that, you exited the room and walked down the hall slowly. Beneath your gloves, you could feel the heat of your Faustus sign intense and you nearly swung the door to the downstairs off of it's own hinges!
"Sebastian Michaelis, you are mine.".