A/N: Hello all! I'm sorry I wasn't able to post yesterday. Fanfiction was apparently being difficult and I didn't realize it would still allow me to post. Anyway, I am posting two chapters to make up for being so late with my previous chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter Ten: Solo Butler, Adventurous Friend
The next two days passed by quickly, especially with Frances using her music room so often, and the weekend was soon upon them. Everyone from Phantomhive Manor was invited to the river where the builders had begun to reconstruct the weathered dams that spread throughout the rivers. Sebastian opened the door of the carriage wearing his typical butler uniform, holding out his hand to assist the Young Master.
Ciel stepped out of the carriage. He was wearing a blue coat with a black tie and a black bow on his back. He also had on a white shirt underneath the coat with blue shorts, black socks that went to his knees, and black and white shoes. He stepped down from the carriage and stood by it as Frances stepped out next. She was in a matching blue day dress with a black lace collar, around her waist a black ribbon sat with the ends dangling down the back of her dress, matching blue heels. She was also wearing a blue hat with a matching black ribbon and a blue rose on the right side of the hat, her hair was pulled into a low, tight bun at the base of her neck. She squeezed Sebastian's hand after she stepped down onto the ground. The demon smiled at her as they released one another's hands.
Ciel and Frances began to led the way with the five other servants behind them. Tanaka, in his small form, wore his tuxedo. Bard wore a white shirt with a black vest, light brown pants, dark brown shoes, and he wore his goggles around his neck. Finny wore a white shirt with a dark brown button up vest, brown with black checkered pants, black socks, black boots, and a long red neck tie. Mey-rin wore a pretty coral colored dress with a white collar and white cuffs that ended just below her elbows with a dark brown ribbon tied in a bow around her neck, brown stockings, and brown boots with her hair in its usually two spiked pigtails.
The group didn't make it very far when a carriage pulled up next to theirs. The footman opened the carriage and assisted Lizzie out of it. She wore a pretty pink dress with red fabric leading from her collar down to the coral pink ribbon wrapped around her waist ending in a bow on her back, white collar with a coral ribbon around her neck, and white gloves, her hair in its usual pinwheel curls with a pink ribbon bow in her hair.
"Ciel! Frances!" She cried out, happily.
"El—Lizzie! What are you doing here?" Ciel managed to ask as Elizabeth hugged him.
"I came to see you and Frances, of course! (She parted from him, holding onto his shoulders.) I wanted to be here for the two of you as you both made your speeches to keep us safe. And besides, Frances invited me." She said, cheerfully, looking at Frances.
Ciel turned to look at her. Frances smiled. She gave a curtsy.
"Thank you for being here, Lizzie."
"Of course!"
Lizzie hugged her tightly. Frances returned the hug. They parted after a few minutes. Lizzie turned to Ciel expectantly. Ciel gave a small smile and held out his arm for the young lady.
"Will you do me the honor of walking with me to the newly constructed dams?"
"I would love to!" Lizzie exclaimed.
Frances smiled. She longed to do the same with Sebastian, but it wouldn't be proper, even more so now that she was a noble. Her hand tingled.
*Soon, my precious mate, soon.*
She glanced at Sebastian, who glanced at her with a comforting smile.
*I know.* She sent him in return.
She looked forward again. She could see the large crowd of people. As they made their way through, they stopped a few times to make small talk with them until Sebastian informed them of the time. Ciel excused himself from Lady Elizabeth with the whole crowd watching.
"Please, excuse me, Lady Elizabeth. I must make my announcements." He said, placing a kiss upon her hand.
"Of course!" Lizzie exclaimed, happily.
The crowd of watchers awed, some of the women tightening their hold on their own lovers. Frances and the Young Master made their way to one of the newly rebuilt dam bridges with Sebastian trailing behind them. They stood on the bridge with Sebastian on the left of the Young Master and Frances on the right. The audience clapped politely. After it died down, Ciel spoke,
"Greetings everyone! As you can see, I have returned and will be taking over the Phantomhive lands once again. Though, you will see Lady Harkness on occasion, should I be indisposed. I thank you for showing her the respect that she deserves (He bowed to the audience with a hand on his chest. The audience politely clapped. He straightened and turned to her.) I thank you, my lady, for putting this all in motion and taking care of the Phantomhive lands during my absence."
He bowed to her. The audience applauded as she lifted her skirts and curtsied.
"You're welcome, Lord Phantomhive."
They straightened. Ciel turned back to the audience.
"This area has been plagued by floods for a long time. I am delighted at the addition of a new floodgate on Phantomhive lands thanks to your support. I intend to fully commit myself to the difficult task of flood control (The servants nodded in agreement to his words while Little Man Tanaka quietly took in the scene.), as my family before me has for generations."
Ciel bowed as Frances curtsied. The audience applauded. They straightened. They made their way off the bridge with Sebastian trailing behind them. The Project Manager bowed before them causing them to stop and speak with him for a few minutes.
"Thank you for taking care of the build and organizing the scheduling of the repairs of the older dams." Ciel stated.
"Of course. It was my pleasure." The Project Manager said.
They continued only to continue being stopped and congratulated, thanked, and praised. Women giggled while men chuckled as they conversed with the crowd. There were three nobles standing off to the side. Two men and one woman.
"I say, that speech of the Earl's was just shameless, wasn't it? The girl didn't even speak either, though, I've seen her name on a few papers." The man in a brown shirt, grey slacks, a light purple cravat, and black baker's cap said.
"He did say he was taking the land back." The woman in a green coat, light pink dress, and pink top hat with a veil in a darker shade of pink and dark pink tie around her neck corrected.
"I hear the company they run is making more money than they know what to do with." The man in a black suit jacket with a white shirt, gold vest, black slacks, red bowtie, and black wide brim hat with a red ribbon commented. He leaned close to the woman's ear, "From what I hear…" He whispered the amount into her ear.
The woman gasped.
"Oh my! That much? That's just indecent."
"I certainly hope their vanity doesn't get them into trouble." He snarked.
"Now, now, who's the man who wishes for that most of all?"
"That's what I'd like to know. (They gasped. They turned to see Ciel and Frances with Sebastian behind them. Ciel and Frances gave them a fake bright smile.) Could I ask you to share the wisdom of your greater experience?"
"Oh, there's nothing we could possibly teach you!" The woman exclaimed.
"Heavens, no!" The man in the brown shirt agreed, raising a hand sheepishly to the back of his head.
"B-By the way, my Lord, my Lady, I recently got wind of a pretty little investment…" The man in the black suit jacket started.
Sebastian cut him off with a stiff bow. His anger barely being held back.
"Pardon me, my lords and lady, I'm afraid my Master and Mistress have another engagement."
The three of them began to walk away.
"Such tiresome people." Ciel muttered. He glanced at Frances, "Sorry about them, Frances."
She shrugged.
"I've dealt with much worse." She said.
Sebastian snarled mentally. She glanced back and sent the demon calmness and love.
*It's meant to be a relaxing day, my demon. Don't let them affect you. They're not worth your time.*
He mentally sighed.
*Very well, my darling."
She smiled looking ahead as they walked along. Her smile widened as she saw Lizzie's bright happy face approaching them. She stepped to the side to give Lizzie some space to tackle Ciel.
"Ciellllll!" She cried as she approached.
Ciel opened his eye in time as Lizzie jumped into his arms. With the momentum they had, Ciel spun her around as he exclaimed her full name. He placed her back on the ground after the spin. She held a newspaper in her hands.
"Ciel, Ciel, Ciel! Look at this!"
She shoved the paper against his face. Ciel tried to push her back.
"Come on, Elizabeth, I can't see it like this."
She pulled it away as Ciel raised his arm to block another "attack". She pointed at the deer pictured on the front page.
"It's a deer!"
"Deer?" Ciel asked, confused.
"There's an ever so rare and elusive deer on a hill right near here!"
Frances looked down to hide her giggles as she remembered when Sebastian placed the deer head on in order to save Prince Soma last year. Sebastian sent her an amused smirk.
""Ever so rare"?" Ciel repeated.
Frances looked back up as Elizabeth showed him the paper.
"It's a white stage (She handed him the paper. He took it and looked more closely at it.) that brings happiness!"
"I've never heard of it."
"According the legend," Sebastian started. The three of them turned to look at him, a small "Oh?" coming from Elizabeth, "the rare white stag has traditionally been considered a messenger of the other world. Those who receive his message are supposedly blessed with good fortune."
Frances and Elizabeth smiled. Lizzie looked at him with sparkles as her hands were clasped together in awe of the butler.
"Yes! You know everything, Sebastian!"
Sebastian bowed slightly with a hand on his chest. Ciel was annoyed.
"Thank you, my lady."
"Hmph. That's just a fairy tale." Ciel remarked.
The three of them looked at him.
*Who's to say those aren't true too? After all (She glanced at Sebastian who side-eyed her with a small smirk.), demons, angels, Grim Reapers, and ghosts exist.*
"No, it's true! There are witnesses! Let's go look for it, Ciel, can't we?"
Ciel folded up the newspaper.
"No. I'm…"
Frances lightly nudged him. He opened his eye to glare at her when he saw Elizabeth's teary eyes. His own eye widened.
"You're so mean." She whispered.
She began to cry extremely loudly.
"Elizabeth!" Ciel exclaimed, nervous and embarrassed.
Frances walked over to her and pulled her into her arms. Lizzie clutched on to her tightly. Frances sent a glare of reprimand at Ciel.
"Well, I never. He's making his fiancée cry!" A man commented.
"They say they're engaged, but I suppose they're just playing house." Another man commented.
Ciel let out a sigh as he placed a hand to his head, ignoring the woman's comment about her niece possibly having a chance.
"Sebastian, prepare a boat."
"Certainly." Sebastian said, with a small bow and a hand on his chest.
Ciel then placed a smile on his face.
"Lady Elizabeth. (Lizzie stopped crying and lifted her head from Frances' bosom. Ciel bowed with a hand on his chest.) I'd like to go inspect another floodgate downstream. (He held out his hand that was on his chest.) Would you favor me with your company on the river? (He straightened from his bow.) I'm told that the elusive white stag lives on this land. Have you heard of it?"
Lady Elizabeth's face brightened with each word, her tears drying. She moved out of Frances' embrace. She accepted his hand.
"Yes, of course! I'd love to come with you."
She took his arm. He began to led her to a dress shop so she could change. Frances followed behind with a smile as the audience applauded.
Once they reached the tent with excursion dresses, Sebastian returned with Mey-rin to assist Lady Elizabeth and Lady Frances, taking the Young Master to get his own excursion clothing. Frances looked through the dresses on the rack.
"Have you decided, my ladies?" The shopkeeper asked.
He was a flamboyant man with a white shirt with his sleeves rolled up, a pink vest, and khakis pants with a black belt, and a red bowtie. He kept fluttering his eyelashes. His five o'clock shadow most prominent on his face, his black hair curled against his forehead and flipped out the back of his head. His hands were clasped together. He reminded Frances of a certain someone.
*I should get in contact with him… and William.*
"Hmm… (Lady Elizabeth's voice pulled her from her thoughts. She looked over at her.) A simple style is best for boating, but… that lacy one is adorable (Mey-rin zoomed to the dress Lady Elizabeth pointed out, returning with it shortly after.) and I love the frills on that one… (Mey-rin picked up the other dress she pointed out, returning to her quickly.) Oh, blast it! I wish I could wear them both at once!"
"Oh goodness! Please, take all the time you like."
"Frances! Have you picked one yet?" Lizzie asked her.
Frances looked at one that she looked at previously.
"I think I like this one." Frances said, pulling a pretty simple pale purple dress with a white collar and white cuffs.
Elizabeth made her way over to her to look it over. She smiled brightly. She clapped her hands with Frances'.
"It suits you perfectly!"
Frances smiled.
"Thank you, Lizzie."
"Now, help me decide!" She exclaimed, dragging her over to her pile she had.
After about twenty-five minutes, Lady Elizabeth had finally made her decision. The two of them changed. Frances stepped out of the dressing room first, in addition to the dress, she now wore brown boots and a pale purple wide brim hat with a brown ribbon. Sebastian looked her up and down. His eyes flashed their demonic color for a moment and she heard his warble/purr through their connection. She blushed prettily.
"My Lady." He bowed.
"Sebastian." She acknowledged, walking past him with a smile and a light brush against his fingers.
His warble/purr grew louder. His eyes followed her as she stood to the left of Ciel. He was dressed in a dark green jacket with black fabric on the shoulders, a brown belt around his waist, a matching green hat with black fabric on top, dark green pants, and black boots that reached just below his knees.
"You look ready to search for an elusive deer, Young Master." She complimented.
He scoffed.
"You don't truly believe it exists, do you?" He asked, looking at her incredulously. A sigh escaped his lips as he placed a finger on his forehead, "Of course you do. It's you I'm talking to."
She and Sebastian smirked as she shrugged her shoulders.
"It doesn't hurt to try to look for the mysterious. After all, demons, angels, Grim Reapers, and ghosts exist why not fairies, imps, and elusive deers?"
He scoffed, looking away from her. Though, they could feel his slight amusement. They turned back to the dressing rooms when they heard the rustle of fabric. Lady Elizabeth emerged wearing a pretty light blue dress with brown accents around the collar and near the bottom of the dress. She wore a matching small brown hat that tilted to the left and brown boots. Ciel approached her.
"My Lady." He bowed, holding out his arm.
"My Lord." She cried, taking his arm.
He began to led her towards the river. Frances and Sebastian followed behind them. The audience applauded as they made their way down the steps. As they made their way down a few paces behind the couple, Frances looked at Sebastian.
"Is there anything you and the others need help with?"
"No, my darling. I just have to look over my list to ensure we have everything and then we'll be off."
She nodded.
"All right."
They made it to the boat. Ciel assisted Elizabeth in first before getting into the boat himself. Sebastian assisted Frances into the boat. Once she was seated behind the couple, Sebastian excused himself.
As they waited for Sebastian and the others, Frances could feel her friends' shock and panic. She looked over to see them crowding around Sebastian. He looked over at her with exasperation. She tilted her head and furrowed her brows in confusion. He sent her calmness. She nodded then turned back. After a few minutes, Sebastian joined them and their excursion began.
Elizabeth had Frances move to the front with her. She was currently looking through a pair of binoculars as Frances merely used her eyes, looking around. She saw a fish jump. Lady Elizabeth pointed in her direction, nearly smacking her in the face.
"Oh, there's something over there!"
Sebastian rowed the boat over. Frances heard a splash. She tilted her head and furrowed her eyebrows. She glanced back to see Tanaka left in the boat wearing a white sailor suit, waving his white sailor hat with a blue anchor on it. She tilted her head further.
"Drat." She heard Lizzie say. She turned her attention to her, "I was sure the stag was this way…"
Suddenly, another splash was heard, this time it caught Lizzie's and Ciel's attention as well. It was Bard holding up three geese from the water.
"I got 'em!"
Mey-rin's shout of, "I caught them, yes!" made them turn to the left to see her running with four white bunnies in her arms.
"Here he is!" Finny exclaimed, also from the left where Mey-rin was with a white horse that neighed irritably as he lifted him over his head.
Mey-rin tripped and fell, releasing the bunnies. Frances shook her head in amusement. Ciel let out a sigh.
"Do those look like deer to you lot?" He asked.
Lizzie let out a giggle.
Suddenly,
"All right, we've got six to one odds on Elizabeth finding what she seeks (Frances, Sebastian, and Ciel looked over at the familiar voice. Frances' face instantly turned to disgust and annoyance at him.), and four to one odds on not finding it! Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen!" Lau exclaimed.
He was wearing his green Chinese garb with white around the sleeves and his waist. He was seated in the driver's seat of a carriage. Ran-Mao sat on the roof of the carriage in her usual purple dress with the maroon flowers, black corset, blue long sleeve shawl, black stockings, black flats, and gold bells around her ankles. In between them sat a betting board that read: Lady Elizabeth Cap, To be found, Not to be found, and Breaking off the engagement which had the highest currency. Ran-Mao moved her left leg over her right.
"Bet."
The men raced forward.
Frances rolled her eyes and turned away with a scoff. She carried two baskets over to the table Sebastian had finished setting up after he docked the boat to take a break for lunch.
"What does he think he's doing?" Ciel asked with obvious distaste, from the blanket Frances set out.
Frances placed the baskets on the table. Sebastian went to retrieve the other two baskets sending her calmness. She smiled at him.
"Aww, I was so sure (Ciel looked back at Elizabeth as she spoke.) we'd find the stag by lunch, too…"
"It's called "elusive" because it's hard to find, isn't it?"
"I suppose you're right. (Frances met Sebastian in the middle and took the third box from him, walking beside him to the table.) All right, we'll eat lunch and then go back to searching! (Elizabeth turned to Sebastian and Frances.) What's today's lunch, Sebastian?"
Sebastian looked at her with a smile.
"For today's picnic luncheon, we have shrimp salad, salmon pie, and (He opened the box. Frances glanced down. Her eyes widened. *Sebastian.* She tried to interrupt.) Cheshire cheese sandwiches." He announced, looking into the basket.
A pig stared up at him.
"Oink, oink."
Sebastian slammed the lid down.
"I say, did anyone hear a strange noise just now?"
Sebastian turned to them, a hand on his chest, an easy smile upon his face.
"My apologies. There's been a slight mistake."
"That's not like you, Sebastian." Lizzie commented.
He opened the next box. Pigeons flew out of it. He quickly leapt up and grabbed them, shoving them in the box, slamming it shut. Ciel sighed in annoyance.
"What are you playing at?"
"One moment, my lord." Sebastian said.
*I am going to kill those three idiots!* The demon snarled.
He walked away calmly, though Frances could feel the anger radiating off of him. She turned back to the two with a smile. She reached underneath the table to pull out her black violin. She straightened.
"In the meantime, how about a song, my lord, my lady?"
"Aww! Yes, please, Frances!" Lizzie exclaimed, clasping her hands together.
Frances tuned her violin for a moment. She placed it under her chin and began to play their waltz*. Lady Elizabeth sighed happily. Ciel's gaze even softened slightly. She ignored the punches that the servants, her friends received (except Little Man Tanaka, of course.) and the second one Baldroy received. The music calmed him down enough that while irritated with the three, he was able to push it away as he heard her music. It ended with one last stroke of the strings. Lady Elizabeth sighed, happily.
"Lovely as always, Lady Frances." Elizabeth complimented.
The audience across the way applauded.
"Bravo! As expected from a lady of many talents." Lau exclaimed, "She certainly turned the Lady's happiness."
Frances ignored the man, focusing on the happiness the melody brought. She moved to the side as Sebastian returned with a huge pile of food. Her eyes widened at the tower. The demon butler smirked at her, then began to plate the food. He served the couple first.
"May I present freshwater fish and lobster souffle with roast pigeon in the style of Pyrenees."
"How marvelous!" Lady Elizabeth complimented. A thoughtful look appeared upon her face, "Wait, isn't this a bit different from the menu you listed before?"
"I made alterations to showcase the local ingredients."
"It looks scrumptious!"
"Please, excuse me, my lord, my lady."
Sebastian stood up and served Frances.
"Thank you, Sebastian." She said with a bright smile.
"You're welcome, my Lady."
The crowd across the way clapped again.
"Thank you! Thank you! The young lady is delighted! Come, ladies and gents, place your bets!" Lau exclaimed.
The box for calling off the engagement had eighty in it instead of one-hundred and eight.
Frances ignored the men and women, continuing to eat the delicious food. After the lunch dishes were cleared, dessert was served.
"This is an Eton mess with wild strawberries." Sebastian announced.
Lady Elizabeth squealed in happiness.
"Delicious!"
"It uses cream straight from a Jersey cow to achieve a simple yet incomparably fresh taste, my lady."
Said cow mooed as Frances showed it an apple that was randomly in the basket. She patted its head before it finally wandered off, carrying the apple with it.
"I never thought you'd go so far as to play dairy farmer. Just the memory of it makes me smile."
Frances gave another quiet giggle as she took the third glass of the dessert. It was rather amusing to watch him milk a cow.
"Quite so, my lord. I imagine you're the only Master in all the world who would make his butler do such a thing."
Frances ate a scoop of the treat with a wide smile to hide her giggles. Her eyes softening as she tasted the lightness of the treat.
"Oh, you two are such good friends!" Lizzie complimented.
They turned to her with surprise.
"I'm not "friends" with some blasted butl…" He cut himself off as he saw the smile on Lizzie's face.
The girl giggled quietly. Ciel looked away with a small blush. Sebastian stood up to attend to the baskets. He made eye contact with Frances and they shared a knowing look.
After cleaning up the picnic lunch, they began their search again.
An hour later,
"We're simply not finding it. How tiresome!" Lizzie complained.
"Want to go home?" Ciel asked, bored.
"No, not yet!"
"All right."
Ciel looked away, calmly. He was bored, but it was extremely rare that he didn't do anything but paperwork and now with Frances helping him, his load was much lighter. It was kind of nice to be out in the sun, though he still thought it silly to be looking for a deer even if other beings are out there, they should be left alone.
Frances felt all that he was feeling and glanced behind her with a small smile as Elizabeth turned to face him with a worried frown.
"Is something wrong, Ciel?" She asked.
He gave her a small smile.
"It's nothing, Lizzie."
Her eyes widened. A small smile appeared on her face.
"Ciel…" She whispered.
Frances glanced at Elizabeth who turned back forward, a look of determination which Frances felt from her, upon her face.
Another hour passed, and the rain decided to release upon the land. For safety reason, Sebastian docked the boat and they continued to look for the stag on foot.
"Elizabeth, we should wait to look for the stag." Ciel suggested.
Lizzie just kept walking. Frances walked faster to catch up with her.
"Lizzie, I understand your wish to continue to look for the stag, but you could catch a cold. Please, let's take a break for now." Frances implored.
Lizzie shook her head.
"Elizabeth, I'm telling you, wait!" Ciel shouted from behind them.
He ran to catch up to them.
"I just saw it! It's further in the woods!"
Ciel turned her around to face him. Frances stayed beside them, turning enough to be able to look between them.
"Even the stag will be hiding from this rain! Let's call it a day."
Elizabeth stubbornly shook her head.
"No! I'm going to find the white stag!"
"Don't be unreasonable. We can look for it again any time we like. (Lizzie smiled brightly at that.) We can just hire people (That was the wrong thing to say as Lizzie's face fell. Her feelings of disappointment felt by Frances who looked at her worriedly.) and offer a reward. So…"
"Ciel… You… You idiot!"
She slapped his hands away, turning from him. Ciel stared at her in shock.
"Elizabeth?" Ciel questioned, confused.
"That wouldn't mean anything. You don't understand how I feel at all! Forget it!" Lizzie cried, running away from them.
"Elizabeth!"
"Lizzie!"
Ciel and Frances cried.
Frances ran after her.
"Lizzie, wait!" She called out again.
The young lady ignored her and continued running. She made a sharp right suddenly and used the oar that was on the ground to jump into the boat. The boat lurched violently. Frances' eyes widened as she saw her fall down.
"Elizabeth!" Frances cried out, worriedly.
"What's wrong?" Her friends asked, running up to her.
They all gasped as they saw Elizabeth in the boat that was violently shaking. Frances turned to Finny.
"Finny, go get Sebastian!" She ordered.
"Yes, my Lady!" He cried, running off.
Bard grabbed the rope to pull her in.
"Hold on tight."
"No, Bard, don't!" Frances exclaimed.
"No, no!" Mey-rin cried out at the same time with her arm out.
Bard looked at them in worried confusion.
"If you pull too hard, she'll capsize, yes!"
Finny returned with Ciel, Sebastian, and Lau and Ran-Mao.
"Elizabeth!"
"Ciel… (Her face tightened in determination. She used the oar to stand in the boat.) I saw it… on the other side of the river…"
She let out a cry as she fell once again. Frances gasped.
"Look out! Don't take your hands off the boat!" Ciel shouted, worriedly.
"I'm going to find the white stag! (She shakily got up to her knees.) The white stag…"
"Elizabeth… why…?" Ciel muttered, confused.
She leaned down and reached for the rope, just an extra inch away from herself.
"I'll make sure you find happiness!"
Frances felt a small smile appear on her lips.
*Love makes us do crazy things.*
Sebastian glanced at her. He looked at the Young Master.
"What shall we do, Young Master?" Sebastian asked.
"She's certainly not safe like that. Look." Lau pointed out one of the older dams that was leaking water.
"It's an old-fashioned floodgate. We'd planned to begin rebuilding it next month." Frances said.
"It's already leaking. When it bursts, the water it's barely holding back now will wash upstream and this whole area will be swamped."
Ciel stared at the floodgate for a moment. His head bowed.
"Sebastian. (Said butler looked at him. He closed his eyes, preparing for the order he was about to receive. Ciel ran a hand over his eye patch.) This is an order. Stop the flood!"
"You don't want me to save Lady Elizabeth?" Sebastian asked, opening his eyes.
"Don't make me repeat myself." The Young Master ordered, taking off his jacket and hat, handing it to Frances who took them, "I'll protect Elizabeth. That's my duty!"
Sebastian bowed slightly with a hand on his chest.
"Yes, my lord."
Sebastian jumped. Frances saw his black blur heading towards the main dam. Frances reached her hand into her pocket and summoned an orange and white life saver.
"Ciel, put this on." She ordered.
The boy looked at it for a moment. He took it with a muttered, "Thank you.". He slipped it on. Frances held the rope piece as Ciel got into the water and used the rope tied to the boat to move across. He had just got to the boat when they noticed the water started to get more violent. Frances turned to look upstream. Her eyes widened as she gasped. She turned back quickly as the water dragged Ciel underneath and upturned the boat Lizzie was on. Sebastian appeared next to her in the next second.
"We must move quickly!" He ordered.
He ordered Finny to move boulders to certain places, Frances to slice down trees, Ran-Mao to use her clubs to cut down trees as well, Mey-rin and Baldroy tugged out the trees that Frances cut down placing them where Sebastian had indicated. Soon enough, the water began to calm down, though Frances could feel Ciel's determination slowly dissipate. She made eye contact with Sebastian who nodded. He dove into the water.
After a few seconds, he was back with the two teenagers. Frances gave a sigh of relief as she could sense they hadn't passed. He placed the teenagers on the grass. Frances went to Elizabeth first. She placed a hand on her chest and pushed. Lizzie lurched, water expelling out of her lungs. She coughed a few times. Once her coughing was under control, she looked up with glassy eyes.
"F-Frances?" She asked, confused.
Frances smiled at her with a sigh of relief.
"I'm glad you're all right, Lizzie. (Her gaze hardened.) What you did was reckless though! I understand you want happiness for Ciel, but you shouldn't put yourself or others, especially the ones you care about, in danger like that!" She scolded.
Lizzie gasped, looking at Ciel who still had his eyes closed. Frances felt the pure fear once again. When suddenly, it washed away with relief as Ciel opened his eye come Sebastian's call. Lizzie threw herself into Ciel's arms as Sebastian held him, crying.
"I'm so sorry, Ciel! So, so sorry! So sorry!"
"Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!" Finny exclaimed in relief.
"What have I done?"
"Elizabeth." Ciel called.
Lizzie became silent as she leaned back to look at him. Ciel cupped her cheek.
"I am glad you are all right."
"I am glad you are all right, too, Young Master." Sebastian said, relief flooding through the demon.
Suddenly, Ciel gasped. Anger and confusion coursed through him. He grabbed the butler by his tailcoat lapels causing Lizzie to move away. Sebastian was taken aback.
"Sebastian, why did you open the water gate?! I told you to stop the flood!"
Sebastian's face relaxed into a gentle smile.
"Oh, yes. I did as you ordered."
"What?"
"A flood won't happen again. For all eternity. In order to let the river flow back correctly, we needed to release the water that had been dammed. Our… friends have worked together to guide the flow little by little to reshape the river back to how it's supposed to be."
"How it is supposed to be?" Ciel repeated questioningly.
"Yes, as in several thousands of years ago, the same shape it was when the white stag lived."
"But, we didn't find the white stag." Ciel commented.
"That's okay. I will find it some day." Lizzie smiled.
"The elusive stag is there up on the hill." Sebastian said, looking up at the hill before them.
Everyone else began to run up the hill while Frances, Sebastian, Lau, and Ran-Mao walked up it leisurely. They stopped once they got to the top.
"What?!" Ciel gasped.
"Ahhhhh!" Lizzie exclaimed in excitement.
There on the hill was…
"A white stag!" Lizzie exclaimed.
"It's a hill figure." Sebastian explained.
"Hill figure?" Baldroy asked.
"Ahhhh!" Finny and Mey-rin gasped in excitement.
"It's the ancient figure that had been drawn on the chalk hill. The recent torrent washed the surface of the hill, so the hidden picture got revealed."
"So, this is the truth behind the legend." Ciel whispered in awe.
"Sebastian, it's fantastic!" Lizzie complimented.
Sebastian bowed.
"A Phantomhive butler who can't find a…"
Tall Man Tanaka cut him off.
"'The flow of the river (Sebastian stared at Tanaka incredulously for cutting him off. Frances had to hide her amusement.) is constant and never ends, as people move around the different dwellings.'."
"Ah, it's Tanaka!" Finny exclaimed.
"It's been a few weeks, yes!" Mey-rin cried.
"Unseen geoglyphs would weather away, and it may have been forgotten without anyone's knowledge." Tanaka continued.
Frances leaned her head against the demon's shoulder as she watched the couple in front of her grip each other's hand tighter. The demon stopped staring at Tanaka incredulously as happiness coursed through him as she leaned against him. He wrapped an arm around her waist.
"But, it's wonderful. It's so great, Ciel. We found a white stag."
"Yeah, but you were the one looking for it."
"Well, Ciel. Are you happy now?"
"Huh?" Ciel asked.
"I am so happy because I spent all day with you! Well, Ciel, you're always away, claiming you have work, and when you return, you seem unhappy. So, I thought… (She turned to him. He looked at her.) They say that seeing the white stag fills up the person's heart with happiness."
"Lizzie." Ciel whispered.
She giggled.
"I am glad you continue to call me that. (They looked back at the stag.) Ciel, please don't ever forget this view."
"Thank you, Lizzie."
Sebastian and Frances tightened their hold on one another.
*Yes,* Sebastian agreed, glancing at his mate, *Love makes you do the craziest of things.*
They enjoyed the view for a few more minutes before Frances stepped forward and suggested they should return home to enjoy a bath to avoid risking catching a cold. The two teenagers agreed. Ciel escorted Lizzie into her carriage and gave her a light kiss upon the knuckles. Frances gave her a blanket after hugging the young lady. Ciel entered their own carriage where Frances wrapped him in his own blanket. He blushed, turning away. Frances looked out the window of the carriage as she leaned against Sebastian, they each had an arm around the other's waist.
"You tried to tell me. (Frances and Sebastian looked at the boy. He was looking at Frances.) But, I wouldn't listen. I'm sorry. It's… harder to pick out some times."
"It is." Frances agreed, "That's why one must listen closely."
Ciel huffed. The blush becoming more prominent.
"I'll try."
Two days had passed where Ciel and Frances had received invitations to social outings, even an interview for a newspaper. He didn't want to be bothered with people, he liked being alone, but Frances and Sebastian explained it would be good to be more sociable. That was how Frances made the company soar. Ciel reluctantly agreed.
*'A Diabolic Waltz' by Taku Iwasaki