"The strongest actions for a woman is to love herself, be herself and shine amongst those who never believed she could."- Unknown
I do not own the Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler story or characters who belongs to Yana Toboso.
I only own my OC, Celine Phantomhive
Enjoy
The Phantomhive Girl
Chapter 4: A Lady's Purpose
Astre, Celine and Tanaka stood around Ciel, who refused to come out from his bed.
"Young Master Ciel. Won't you please rise from bed?"Tanaka suggested. "Your tutor will be arriving soon."
"I don't want to!"Ciel cried out angrily. "I don't want to study anymore! Everyone, just get out!"
"Well, it's certainly not like you to throw a tantrum like this."Tanaka declared.
"I agree."Astre agreed. "Ciel, what's wrong?"
"Are you not feeling well?"Celine assumed.
Ciel dropped on his bed and placed his blanket over his body, refusing to explain his situation to his younger siblings.
"Neither of you would understand!"Ciel snapped. "Just leave me alone!"
Astre, Celine and Tanaka glanced at each other, neither of them not sure what to do.
"My goodness."A familiar female voice said. "What's all the fuss this early in the morning?"
Astre, Celine and Tanaka saw Vincent and Rachel come into the room.
"Mother, father, Ciel refuses to get out of bed."Astre exclaimed. "He says he doesn't want to study anymore."
"Oh, my."Rachel gasped in surprise. "I wonder what's wrong?"
Vincent didn't respond.
"He says we wouldn't understand."Celine said with a hint of sadness.
Rachel smiled at Astre and Celine.
"Your father and I will try talking to him."Rachel exclaimed kindly. "You two go on ahead to the classroom, alright?"
Astre and Celine nodded before leaving the bedroom with Tanaka.
Rachel sat on the bed as she and Vincent brought their attention on their eldest child.
"Ciel."Rachel spoke up.
"I'm not studying!"Ciel shouted. "Even if you spank my bottom!"
"Goodness."Rachel giggled. "Have you done something worthy of a spanking, then?"
"There's probably a good reason why you don't want to study anymore, right?"Vincent assumed.
"We won't get mad."Rachel assured. "So, will you please tell us?"
Ciel slowly removed the blanket over him, but didn't show his face to his parents.
"Be…because…"Ciel started.
"Ciel."Rachel responded. "Mummy would like to see your cute little face when talking to you."
Ciel turned his head to his parents, revealing tears in his eyes and had a runny nose.
"Astre…said…he doesn't want to become a priest."Ciel sobbed. "He said he wants to go to London and run a toy store."
Vincent and Rachel became surprised by Ciel's respond as he began to cry more.
"He wants to leave me on my own just like Cellie wants to!"Ciel cried hysterically. "I'm not going to be an Earl anymore! I want to run a toy shop with Astre and Cellie, so we can be together forever!"
"Goodness."Vincent said in surprise. "The three of you have been discussing matters like that?"
Rachel smiled and gives Ciel a hug.
"Don't cry, Ciel. I completely understand how you feel."Rachel assured as she comforted her eldest son. "The three of you have been together since you were born after all. I've had a hard time leaving my younger sister when it came the time for me to get married."
Rachel looked at Vincent.
"Dear, can you lend me your ring for a bit?"Rachel suggested.
"Alright."Vincent responded.
Vincent removed his ring and gave it to Rachel.
"Ciel, hold out your hand to me."Rachel instructed.
Ciel held out his hand and Rachel placed the ring on his fourth finger.
The ring was an ornate silver piece that holds an emerald-cut deep-blue sapphire. Left and right to the gem stone, the band takes the shape of the Phantomhive family crest; the rest of it was ordinary. On the inside of the ring, the family motto—'Potentia regere'—was engraved.
It was the Phantomhive ring.
"This is-"Ciel started.
"This ring can only be worn by the Earls of Phantomhive."Rachel exclaimed. "Even, I, your mother, is not allowed to wear it. Only your father and the future you possess have the right to wear this special ring."
Ciel stared at the ring in awe.
"It's pretty, isn't? A deep blue that glitters like the stars. The colour matches your eyes nicely."Rachel remarked. "The position of Earl isn't something that you can obtain through hard work like an owner of a toy store. The only one who can take take the title as the Earl of Phantomhive is you."
"But…"Ciel started.
"It's true the eldest son of a nobleman's household has a right path to tread."Vincent explained with a smile. "But the second son's path to becoming a toy store owner is no cakewalk either, you know? The same goes for the Marchioness of Midford role. So if you were to become the Earl, you'd be able to help them whenever they're in trouble or in a pinch."
"That's right!"Rachel agreed. "Just because you're apart, it doesn't change the fact that the three of you are siblings. Think about if you were to come running to your siblings' aids if they were in a tight spot. Mummy thinks you would look impressive."
Ciel looked at the photo of him, Astre and Celine before looking down on the ground.
"Oh, I see now."Ciel said. "So, I guess I have really no choice to become the Earl, don't I?"
Ciel then looked up at Vincent and Rachel to smile back at them.
"Alright!"Ciel remarked brightly. "I understand!"
Celine sat in the library of the Phantomhive Manor doing a study session with Isobel and Rosemary.
They were looking through books about the Kings and Queens of England.
Ciel and Astre were in their study room, having their lesson from their tutor, Mr Davies.
"Cellie, Bella, when was Elizabeth I born?"Rosemary asked.
"On 7 September 1533."Celine replied.
"At Palace of Placentia, Greenwich, England."Isobel added. "Also, the last Tudor monarch."
Rosemary blushed in embarrassment.
She was very intelligent and very facile with poetry.
But sometimes her best of friends were the ones with more knowledge when it came to history.
"Okay."Rosemary said shyly as she rubbed the back of her head. "Can any of you tell me what she was famous for?"
This caused Celine and Isobel to look at Rosemary with disbelieving expressions.
"You honestly don't know?"Celine and Isobel said in unison.
Rosemary nodded as she looked down while her blush grew more.
"Queen Elizabeth I's 45-year reign is generally considered one of the most glorious in English history. During it a secure Church of England was established."Celine stated. "Its doctrines were laid down in the 39 Articles of 1563, a compromise between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism."
"The arts also flourished during Elizabeth's reign. Country houses such as Longleat and Hardwick Hall were built, miniature painting reached its high point, theatres thrived - the Queen attended the first performance of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'."Isobel admitted. "Your favourite English playwright and poet."
Rosemary's eyes sparkled in awe.
"That is amazing!"Rosemary remarked.
"Yes. Unfortunately, there were many who didn't believe Queen Elizabeth had no right to the throne because her father, King Henry VIII (famous for his six wives) was married to her mother, Anne Boleyn after divorcing his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. However, the Catholic Church banned divorce which presented a problem for Henry as he could not legally get rid of Catherine."Celine informed. "Therefore, Henry created the Church of England, a protestant church, which allowed for divorce. In the eyes of the Church of England, Henry and Catherine were divorced and then Henry could marry Anne, so she could give him lots of sons. But to his disappointment, she only gave him Elizabeth."
"Why was King Henry disappointed that Anne only gave him Elizabeth?"Rosemary questioned.
"Because he already had a daughter named Mary from his first wife and wanted a son to rule after him to secure the Tudor dynasty."Isobel answered with a frown. "Also, during those times, most people didn't believe women were clever or strong enough to govern a country."
"That is silly."Rosemary retorted. "We, girls, aren't sick and feeble beings."
"That is true."Celine agreed and let out a sad sigh. "Sadly since she failed to give a son like Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn was executed and Henry had their marriage annulled, effectively meaning that it never happened. This meant that Elizabeth was declared illegitimate as her claim to the throne comes through the marriage of Anne to Henry."
This caused Rosemary to gulp nervously and rub her neck.
"He executed his own wife that he admired so much and was so desperate to have?"Rosemary said nervously.
"Yep."Isobel scoffed. "Not long after that, King Henry VIII became the tyrannical monster for the rest of his reign and known throughout history. He did have a son named Edward from his third wife, Jane Seymour, who died twelve days after giving birth to him. When King Henry died, Edward became King Edward VI, but his health was frail. He died of consumption aged fifteen. After Edward was gone, Queen Mary I came to the throne in 1553. She burned hundreds of Protestants as heretics, then died embittered and unloved in 1558. After a lifelong struggle to give England an heir, Henry's glorious successor was not a son, but a daughter. Our beloved good queen, Elizabeth I."
Rosemary fell quiet, now understood more about Queen Elizabeth I and her background.
"I see now Jane Seymour had the son, but it was Anne Boleyn who really had the legacy."Rosemary complemented.
Celine and Isobel nodded in agreement.
"Now that I think about it, we, girls, don't really need to be born into royalty to show people that we are amazing."Celine declared. "Anything a man can do, a woman can do too."
Then there was a knock on the library door and Nelly came in before bowing at the three girls.
"Lady Isobel. Lady Rosemary."Nelly responded. "You're parents have come to pick you up."
The Lady of Phantomhive glanced at her best friends.
"It sounds like you're both going to be busy the whole afternoon."Celine assumed.
"Yep."Isobel agreed with a nod. "I'm having art class the whole afternoon."
"And I'll be spending time with Great-Aunt Agnes."Rosemary remarked. "She is an expert at needle work. I hope you won't be bored without us."
Celine, Isobel and Rosemary gave each other a group hug.
"Don't worry about me, Izzy and Rosie."Celine replied kindly. "I'll have something to keep myself busy."
Isobel and Rosemary nodded before following Nelly out of the library.
Celine's smile shrunk a bit as she looked down.
Yes.
There was something that was going to keep her busy which made her and Elizabeth completely different from their best friends and other girls in society.
The sounds of fencing swords were heard as a crowd of boys from noble families watched one of the matches in front of them.
A masked figure dodges the opponent's sword attacks before striking him at the chest with ease, making him cry out and drop on the floor.
"Point, Celine Phantomhive!"the referee announced. "Match ended!"
Celine takes off her sabre mask, revealing her face and her bluish grey hair that was styled in a braided ponytail as the crowd gasped at her in awe.
The Lady of Phantomhive notice Elizabeth looking down even though she won her own fencing match.
"Lizzy, you did great!"Celine praised. "Well done!"
Elizabeth gives Celine, no longer feeling upset.
"Thank you, Cellie."Elizabeth replied.
Both Elizabeth and Celine were trained in swordsmanship and fencing from their young age and both of them proved themselves to be prodigies in this regard.
They were the only girls in the fencing school, but were glad to have each other.
After finishing the fencing lesson for the evening, Elizabeth and Celine went to get changed.
In the restroom, Celine washed her face in the sink and dried her face with a towel.
The Phantomhive Girl wore a ruffled pale blue dress with white tights and matching blue low-heeled shoes.
A soft smile sprung on Celine's face as she stared herself in the mirror.
"I'm improving as Lizzy is."Celine thought. "Even though if Aunt Francis will never say it."
The smile on Celine's face vanished when she caught side of a raven staring at her from outside the rest room.
However, when the young bluenette turned around, the dark bird wasn't there.
That was weird.
Celine became startled when she heard a knock on the door.
"Cellie, are you okay?"Elizabeth asked from outside. "The carriage is here."
"Coming, Lizzy."Celine answered.
Celine came out of the restroom and followed Elizabeth out of the fencing school building, where Edward was waiting for them inside the carriage.
Edward was a young teenage boy with short blonde hair and emerald green eyes. He wore a buttoned white long-sleeved shirt with a green ribbon tie underneath the collar, dark green shorts with suspenders, white socks and a pair of brown shoes.
When the two girls went on, the carriage began making its way to Phantomhive Manor.
"How did your fencing matches go?"Edward asked.
"Great, big brother."Elizabeth remarked happily. "I ended up beating Sir Frederick Val Fildes and Cellie beaten up Robert Gosbee. And those two were supposed to be the best fencers in the class."
"Really?"Edward chuckled.
Celine sweat dropped.
"I didn't beaten him up, I simply gave him a lesson on not judging someone from their gender thats all."Celine complemented.
"He looked beaten up to me."Elizabeth giggled.
Edward looked at Celine.
"Hey, Celine. You know me, Lizzy and our parents are planning to visit Balmoral in the summer."Edward exclaimed. "We'll be happy if you would come with us."
"Please say you'll come, Cellie."Elizabeth begged. "Pretty please."
Celine gives Edward and Elizabeth a grateful smile.
"It sounds wonderful, Edward and Lizzy."Celine answered kindly. "Thank you."
Later that Night…
Celine made her way to her brothers' bedroom holding a tray that contained three cups of warm milk and a plate of iced biscuits.
The bluenette carefully walked in her tippy toes in order to not wake up her parents and the servants.
Celine felt her heart beat fast as she made her way to the hallway.
She hated the dark.
It always gave her the feeling that she was being watched.
However, she kept thinking of happy things to distract her mind from the fear of the darkness.
A relieved smile came to Celine's face when she arrived to her destination and Ciel opened the door.
"Hey, Ciel."Celine greeted. "I got our treats."
"Great."Ciel remarked. "Come inside."
Celine followed Ciel inside the bedroom and he closed the door.
Astre was in his bed and was covering his mouth since he was coughing terribly.
Ciel and Celine walked up their brother.
"Hey, Astre."Celine responded. "I've warmed up some warm milk and brought iced biscuits for us to enjoy."
Astre sat on his bed as Ciel handed him a cup of milk.
"Cellie placed some honey on yours to make it more yummy and hep your throat."Ciel declared.
"Be careful it's hot."Celine instructed.
Astre smiled as he took his cup of milk to drink as Ciel and Celine sat with him to drink their own cups.
"It's delicious."Astre commented.
The Phantomhive triplets then started eating the iced biscuits.
"These biscuits are amazing."Ciel remarked. "Nelly sure knows how to bake."
"Yes, she does."Celine giggled. "That's why she is my favourite maid."
"We should do this every night."Astre suggested.
Ciel and Celine nodded in agreement.
"But neither of you must not tell, Tanaka."Ciel instructed, acting like the protective older brother. "Too much sweets are not good for you and make your teeth look bad."
"Now you sound just like him."Astre chuckled.
"We promise not to tell, Ciel."Celine assured.
After finishing their midnight treats, the Phantomhive triplets relaxed on Astre's bed and eventually drifted to sleep.
And here is the last chapter of the Phantomhive triplets' childhood. Next comes their 10th Birthday…