Chapter 8

Her frown deepened even more in question when Meirin too gulped nervously, only answered her question. Flicking her eyes from side to side at the two, Estella asked her unanswered question again.

"Who, who…? Who is this 'she' were you two talking about….?"

Meirin snapped her head over to Bard before turning back to her. "Lady Elizabeth…The Young Master's fiancee."

Both of her eyebrows rose up at this information. "Oh? Phanto- Master…has a fiancée…? He already has a fiancee at such a young age….?"

When Meirin nodded in confirmation, Estella could only return it with an incredulous look. "Seriously….? Wow."

She nodded knowingly to herself at this new information. Then her head snapped up over to Bard when he spoke. "I-I think I would better be going to check it out….."

Not waiting for any response, the blond male gingerly took a step forward and started strolling towards the door for his investigation. Watching as Bard disappeared out through the door with a raised eyebrow, Estella turned her attention back to the other female when Meirin gave out a sigh. Tilting her head in question, Estella shrugged and spoke to ask.

"Meirin. What's so…..scary about Lady Elizabeth….?" She shrugged again, this time, indifferently at how big her co-workers were making a deal over the arrival of the Young Master's fiancée.

Meirin tapped her index finger against her chin repeatedly in a rhythmic manner, pondering over an answer. The older female then rose up her head to answer.

"Aa….I'm not sure how I can explain….." There was a brief pause before she continued. "…..She's just…..a bit too….erm…..enthusiastic…"

Estella rose both eyebrows in puzzlement at her reply. "Enthusiastic….?"

…..

Estella could not help but burst out into laughter the moment Bard entered the kitchen. The sight of him was too interesting to not burst out into laughter. There stood at the mouth of the door was a sulking Bard with arms hanging lifelessly at his sides, a lump on his head which she could finally recognize… a blond curly short hair wig. The way he sulked made it even harder to not laugh as the sulking look on his face reminds her too much of a little boy when he got his sweets taken away for him.

"W-What t-the h-hell are you w-wearing…? A w-wig…?" Her whole body shook as she stammered between laughter. Hearing another burst of laughter from the other female, she could not resist but let a smirk break across her face. Breathing hard to calm her laughter, Estella tilted her head the now fuming male in amusement.

Bard glared dangerously at his two female co-workers and snarled. "Hey! Not funny at all. Stop laughing, Meirin! And you! The new girl, wipe that stupid smirk off your face now!"

Yanking the wig off, the fuming male stormed towards them with arms folded across his chest. Foot tapping against the marble floor in an impatient manner, Bard narrowed his eyes at the two in annoyance.

Succeeding after struggling to make the smirk slip off into a poker face, Estella sighed in resignation before looking up at Bard. "Alright, alright…See, no more smirks."

Meirin too breathed hard to suppress her laughter and looked up at the blond male with a mocking smile. Then the mocking smile slipped when the male narrowed his eyes dangerously at her. Clearing her throat to compose herself, she spoke.

"So… it's Lady Elizabeth?"

"Obviously…Who else would give me such a wonderful gift?" With the wig waving in his hand, Bard shot it a look of utter disgust before carelessly flinging it to somewhere behind him. The minute it left his hand he started going on about his earlier 'horrible' encounter with the mentioned visitor.

Estella had her eyes following the flying wig, stared shocked with wide eyes the moment it dropped into a pot of boiling stew. The shocked look was then replaced by a dumbfounded look as she watched it slowly sank into the boiling mixture.

Turning to the male with the dumbfounded look still on her face, she tugged onto his sleeve to get his attention. "Erm…Bard? That wig you sent flying…..Aa...…just dropped into a pot of boiling…erm…stew. You might…want to try fishing it ou-…"

Outcries of horror emitted from the two interrupted her. The loudest one came from that particular blond male.

"Oh no, oh no! Damn it, Sebastian's going to kill me for ruining the Young Master's lunch!"

…...

Estella could not help but watch in amusement as the two struggled to get the wig out from the pot of boiling mixture. Whistling lowly under her breath when Bard finally managed to yank out an unrecognizable stew-covered lump with an almost equally stew-covered arm, she watched him stroll towards a bin which was located beside a cupboard, and watched the wig get dumped into the bin.

Meirin who just strolled back from the stove, mopped the rivulet of sweats off the sides of her face and gave out a big sigh of relief. Bard shot a last glare at the lump lying at the bottom of the bin before turning to go back to his co-workers.

"Whew…That was close…." Bard stopping at where his co-workers gathered, let out a relieved sigh. His head spun to give the bin a glare before turning back to his two other co-workers. "It will be that stupid wig's fault if the Young Master's lunch is ruined!...Damn wig!"

Estella shrugged indifferently at the topic of that incident. "Don't worry, I'm sure it will be fine. Probably it will just somehow taste a little…hairy?..."

Meirin beside her gave out another sigh of relief. "Yeah…There's no need to worry about, Bard. Oh yeah…Where did Lady Elizabeth go…?"

Shooting an incredulous look at her question, he spoke to answer. "Well…obviously to tortur-, I mean, see the Young Master….Oh….And I think we should tell Finny that it's safe to come out."

"I'll go!" Meirin yelled, spinning towards the wide opened door which Finny ran through.

…...

With a quick hand movement against a paper, Ciel signed at the bottom of the last piece of paperwork before adding to the pile of signed papers on his right. Letting the pen clutched in his hand dropped onto the desk, he plopped back onto his chair. Massaging his temple wearily, he let out a big yawn before leaning forward to stretch out his arms across the desk. Glancing at the grandfather clock which stood next to the shelves, he noted that it was already 4:06pm.

Better get the servants informed about their involvement in the ball…..

Sighing heavily, he was about pushing himself off his chair to a standing position when the doors suddenly swung opened. The next thing he felt was dread when a very familiar high-pitched voice screamed his name.

"CIEL!~~ "

A girl with blond curly long hair in two pigtails, clad in a frill dress of the mix of red and white, hopped into his study. No one other than the girl who shares a relation of being both his cousin and fiancee, Elizabeth Midford or rather likes to be called as 'Lizzy'. Screaming his name at the top of her voice, she ran towards the boy before leaping forward to give him her usual bone-crushing hug.

Wincing when her arms tightened even tighter around his neck, Ciel struggled to pull the clinging girl off him. After when he finally succeeded getting her off, he could not help but gave out a sigh of relief.

"Elizabeth. What are you doing here?"

With hands resting at the either sides of her hips, Elizabeth frowned and pouted up at him. "It's Lizzy! Lizzy~ And well…of course, to visit you!"

The male adolescent sighed. "Elizabeth….I beg you….Do not shout in my manor…"

Looking down at his pouting fiancee, he paused and stared at Elizabeth for a moment before letting out another sigh.

Fiancee...

He loves Elizabeth, not as in the romantic kind, despite of the fact that she is his fiancee. The feeling of love towards her is a family kind of love; he merely only love her as his dear cousin and childhood friend. Though his only his family kind of love towards her, he found it pointless objecting to their engagement since his coming of death will be in the near future. Because of his love for her, of course…again, the family kind, he doesn't want to leave her to suffer. Over the matter of how he was going to break their engagement gave him headaches every time he thought about it. And now, staring at his fiancee's face, a conflict of emotions stirred deep within him.

Shrugging off those tormenting conflicting emotions, he ran a hand through his hair in frustration before looking back down at the female. The pout on her face fell into a face of concern as her head tilted in question.

"Ciel….?"

"It's nothing. Let's go and find the servants. I need to inform them of something…" Resting both hands on her shoulders, Ciel spun her around and led her towards the wide opened doors.

….

Sebastian narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the two servants who were now grinning sheepishly up at him. His eyes flicked to a puzzled-looking Finny, then to the new servant who was watching with a look of boredom on her face. Flicking them back to the two, he questioned in a low dangerous tone.

"What is this and what is it doing in the stew?" He stared pointedly at a stew-covered strand of an unrecognizable whatsoever which was held between his index finger and thumb, hovering over mid-air. Unfortunately for Bard and Meirin or more particularly, Bard, Sebastian found it floating on the surface of the mixture when he came back to the kitchen from his tasks.

Bard stammered with still the sheepish grin on his face. "I-It's-"

He was then interrupted by a drawl which came from behind them. "I'll answer that question."

All attention turned to an Estella who sat on one of the chair with arms resting on the table behind. Returning the stares with a bored look, an eyebrow rose indifferently at them. It rose even higher when she noticed the pleading looks on the two's faces. She also noted the puzzled look which still remained plastered on the young blond male.

Flicking her attention over to Sebastian, she sighed in resignation before doing what she volunteered. "Well…you see…that broom ther-"

The closed doors of the kitchen which swung opened interrupted her while she was in the midst of her answer to reveal the Phantomhive boy with a girl in two blond curly pigtails clinging to his left arm. Sebastian turned to the duo to acknowledge them with a bow.

"Young Master…..Lady Elizabeth….."

A choir of acknowledgments came from the bowing trio followed after. Sighing in resignation, Estella pushed herself off the chair to stand. Folding her arms across her chest, she nodded at them in acknowledgment.

"Phanto-, I meant, Master…Lady Eliz-"

Before she could even finish, a high-pitched outcry interrupted her. "Ciel! A new one?"

Her eyes widened when the owner of the high-pitched voice detached herself from her master's arm and lunged at her. Scooting away from the girl, she struggled to get the arms which were clung onto her shoulders, off her. Estella gave out a soft annoyed sigh at her fruitless effort when the girl followed, scooting closer every time she scoots away.

Flicking her eyes pleadingly to her co-workers, apologetic looks were only returned. Then to Sebastian who just watched with a glint of amusement. Her eyes narrowed at her new master when she saw his already-present smirk crept wider across his face at her. Sighing, she glanced back at the taller ogling girl. Raising an eyebrow at she realized that the girl gaping at her face with her green eyes flicking about it, Estella cringed her head away in discomfort to break off the close proximity between them.

Apparently, this girl has never heard of something called 'Personal Space'….

Letting out the breath she was holding in relief when the girl moved away from her, her eyes followed as the girl turned to her watching fiancee.

"Ciel, she looks so pretty!"

Then the girl turned back with a smile. "I am Elizabeth Midford, Ciel's fiancee. Nice to meet you! What's your name?..."

A smile gingerly crept across her face to return it, Estella spoke to reply.

"A-Aa…Estella Blancbaston. Nice to meet you too…"

….

Ciel could not feel anything else but just simply amusement when he watched his new servant cringed away from his fiancee with an expression of utterly... discomfort. A small smirk crept across his face. The smirk cracked even wider when he saw her looked at him with a pleading look. Usually when Elizabeth harasses his servants with her obsession of making them 'cute' or another type of harassment which was occurring now, he would make her leave them alone. However for this particular new servant, all he felt was amusement as he watched on. Probably one of the reasons why he actually enjoyed watching her suffer this harassment was maybe because of her defiance towards him…..Maybe.

Instantly letting the smirk on his face slip when Elizabeth suddenly turned to him, he raised his both eyebrows at the look of amazement on her face. He found out the reason for it when she spoke.

"Ciel, she looks so pretty!"

His eyebrows rose even higher at her words. Flicking his eyes over at his new servant, he could not help but admit that what his fiancee stated was true. Then he paused and immediately regretted having that redundant thought. Scoffing at that thought, he decided that he should not let time waste away and instead, go straight to the point for his presence here. Turning back to the only conversation in the room to just in time hear his new servant finish with her introduction, he cleared his throat to have all attention turned to him.

"Alright. Since you two are done familiarizing with each other, let's get straight to the reason I'm here…." He paused for a brief moment before he continued. "….Tonight, you are all attending an evening ball along with me. It's starting at 6:30pm; make sure to prepare yourselves for it. Formal should be what you all should be wearing. We will be leaving for it at 5:40pm, so make sure to be prepared by then. Understood? "

Nods were the only responses before excited chatters broke out among the trio. Elizabeth tilted her head in question at her fiancee. "What ball….?"

Ciel flicked his attention to her and answered her nonchalantly. "Alois Trancy's…."

Shooting a raised eyebrow at her when her eyes widened at that mentioned name, his own eye too widened when he figured the possible reason for her reaction. Don't tell me….

Her reply then confirmed his assumption. "Alois Trancy?...He invited me to the ball too! That's great, we can go over there together!"

Not waiting for his response, Elizabeth spun around and hopped towards his new servant. A small unnoticeable mocking smile crept across his face when he saw his new servant suddenly jumped, startled when his fiancee suddenly approached her, yelling.

"Estella~ Let me help you prepare for tonight's ball!"

Gaping at his fiancee in horror was her only response. Ciel could not help but let the mocking smile on his face cracked wider across his face.

The mocking smile instantly slipped off into his usual poker face when he heard Sebastian utter his name. Turning his attention to him, Ciel gave him a questioning look.

"What is it….?"

Sebastian narrowed his eyes at him. "So it's the Trancy….?"

"Aa."

A frown appeared on Sebastian's face before it disappeared as he nodded knowingly to himself. Bowing with a hand on his chest, Sebastian spoke.

"Then I shall now go and prepare the carriages for the ball."

Ciel stared up his butler for moment before giving him a curt nod. "Go ahead…" Before Sebastian could move to exit the kitchen, he spoke again. "Sebastian, wait….What time is it now?"

Sebastian instantly responded by taking out his handy dandy pocket watch and flipped it opened to take a glance at it. Looking up, Sebastian snapped the pocket watch before slipping it back.

"It's 4:28pm, Young Master."

Frowning at the answer, Ciel gave him a curt nod. "You may go."

With another bow, Sebastian exited the kitchen. Turning to the chattering group behind him, he spoke.

"Okay, listen up…"

Glaring at the still chattering group when he realized that they were not listening, he gave out an annoyed sigh. Summoning a deep breath, he snarled out.

"LISTEN!'

Letting out a heavy sigh when the chatter went down to a hush, he ran a hand through his hair in annoyance and sighed again.

"Okay, listen…Now it's 4:28pm. I want all of you to start preparing for the ball now. Remember, formal attires are to be worn for it... We'll meet at the entrance hall at 5.40pm sharp. Do not be late. Understood?"

A choir of 'Yes, sir' and an 'Okay, Ciel~' emitted from the group. Giving them a curt nod, Ciel turned away from them and strolled to the doors of the kitchen before disappearing through them.

….

Watching the retreating back of her master as he opened one of the doors and exited the kitchen, she sighed before turning back to his fiancee. Despite of the fact that she had already tried convincing the overexcited female for countless times that she is able to prepare herself for the ball by herself which resulted to be fruitless attempts, Estella still desperately continued with her attempts to convince the female.

Sighing exasperatedly softly to herself, she snapped her head up to the smiling female with a deadpanned look on her face.

"Lady Elizabeth…Don't worry about me. How about you help prepare Meirin for it instead…?" She asked hopefully. The horrified look on Meirin's face fell into a relieved look when Elizabeth shook her head at her offer.

"No, no….I want to help you prepare for it! You see...Like this, I can get to know more about you while I'm at it...So it's you I want to help."

Trying to hold back the urge to knock herself unconscious with one of the furniture around her, Estella gave out an irritated sigh. Also trying hard to hold back from yelling at the girl, she took in deep breaths to calm herself. Looking up at the excited look on the female's face, she sighed again.

Now I know why Meirin described her as 'Enthusiastic'….Hmm...A bit enthusiastic? Hn. More like, WAY too enthusiastic….

Burying her face into her wide opened palm, she groaned in frustration into it before raising her head up to Elizabeth again. Seeing the overexcited look on her face, Estella finally gave in. "Alright, alright…."

"Great! Let's go get you prepared now!"

Staring dumbfounded at hearing the immediate too-excited response from Elizabeth, a great feeling of regret instantly fell upon her. Hearing her female co-worker uttered a 'Sorry' to her as Estella dragged her feet, moving pass her co-workers to follow Elizabeth in front, leading their way towards the door, she only grunted halfheartedly back as a response.

On 5th April 1888, Estella Blancbaston, the new maid and bodyguard of the Phantomhive household, had became a victim of Elizabeth Midford.