Author's Note: Hello, readers! This is my first Black Butler Fanfic which I hope all of you will enjoy! I do not own the Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler story or the characters. All of them rightfully belongs to Yana Toboso. I only own my OC, Celine Phantomhive. This story will follow the Manga storyline since I'm not fond of the anime one due to its changes of the original storyline.
Enjoy!
The Phantomhive Girl
Prologue
The date was December 14, 1875.
A cold winter night. Clouds were covering up the night skies. Snow had falling down for days. Covering up everything in a thick layer of snow.
For the rich people of London, the houses were warm and noble families were getting excited to celebrate another grand Christmas party with their children and other fine people in society.
But in the streets, the poor were suffering from the night's chill and the lack of food that they barley had enough to feed themselves.
In Buckingham Palace, Queen Victoria, the British Monarch, was in a state of grief since today marked 14 years since her beloved husband, Prince Albert, died from typhus.
Queen Victoria came to depend more and more on Albert's support and guidance. Without him, she entered a state of mourning and wore black for the remainder of her life. She avoided public appearances and rarely set foot in London in the following years. Her seclusion earned her the nickname 'widow of Windsor'.
However, despite Britain's Monarch grieving on this day, a rather special event was happening in household of a prominent noble family.
And name of this prominent noble family was called 'Phantomhive'.
The Phantomhive earldom was in charge of a strictly confidential agency known as 'Phantomhive' which has been under the direct control of Queen Victoria for generations. The earls themselves were often called the 'Queen's Watchdogs' or the 'Aristocrats of Evil'.
The Phantomhive earldom maintained the division between the polite society and the underworld of Great Britain. It employed its monstrous authority to rule over and police the country's underworld. It made sure that the underbelly of the East End, and criminals and blackguards of other nations, who congregate therein do not disrupt the polite society. An interference with the polite society usually prompted the Queen to rely on the Phantomhive earldom to annihilate it.
The current head was Vincent Phantomhive.
Vincent Phantomhive was a handsome man with short bluish black hair, brown eyes and was dressed in a light slate green suit with a red ascot. There was a beauty mark under his left eye.
He was a courteous and chivalrous individual, who inspired unswerving loyalty in his servants. As an gentleman, he would consistently spare a minute to exchange pleasantries and acknowledge others.
Moreover, Vincent was a devoted husband and his family was of paramount importance to him.
He would usually frequented a variety of parties that many other nobles attended.
However, today was another story.
Today was the day that the heir of the Phantomhive Household was going to be born.
The one who will succeed him after his passing.
Vincent was in the drawing room, waiting patiently for the birth of his heir with his head butler, Tanaka, standing at his left side.
His lovely wife, Rachel Dalles-Phantomhive, had gone to labour and was in the middle of giving birth to the heir of the Phantomhive Household.
The snow was falling heavily outside as the servants had been bustling about since early morning, hurrying to boil water.
Everyone was running about, upstairs and downstairs, all throughout the mansion.
Then, everyone waited with bated breath…waiting for that moment.
Rachel was in unbearable pain as her younger sister, Angelina and the maids were encouraging her to be strong and bare the pain.
Eventually, the cry of an infant was heard.
One of the maids rushed toward the drawing room to tell the Earl the news.
"Master Vincent."the maid said. "Lady Rachel has given birth."
Immediately, Vincent got up from his seat and followed the maid that began leading him and Tanaka to the private bedroom, where Rachel was.
The Earl of Phantomhive held his breath in excitement as one of the maids opened the door to the room, where his wife and newborn child were in.
"Rachel."Vincent spoke up.
However, Vincent was lost for words at the sight before him.
To his astonishment, there wasn't one.
Not two.
But, three crying infants in the room.
Lady Rachel have given birth to three children.
Two boys and one girl.
Rachel opened her peacock blue eyes and smiled tiredly yet joyfully at her husband.
Her face was flushed and sweaty while her strawberry blonde hair was wrapped in a long yet messy ponytail.
Vincent went over to Rachel and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
"Well done, Rachel."Vincent declared proudly. "What have you decided to name them?"
"For the boys, I've decided Ciel and Astre."Rachel exclaimed.
Angelina walked forward while holding her newborn niece.
"And what about your daughter, sister?"Angelina asked.
Rachel thought for a moment before a smile sprung on his face when she picked out the right name for her daughter.
"How about Celine?"Rachel suggested. "It means heavenly."
Vincent smiled at his wife.
"That's perfect, dear."Vincent remarked and chuckled lightly. "The british names are too common and old anyway."
A few weeks later, an elegant party was taking place at the Phantomhive Manor to celebrate the birth of the triplets.
Many guests came to see Ciel, Astre and Celine as well as give them various gifts and best of wishes for their future.
Rachel sat down in a velvet sofa chair that was near the crib, where her three children slept together peacefully.
Her three children all inherited their father's bluish grey hair and her brilliant peacock blue eyes that were almost like little rare sapphires.
Among the guests were Vincent's sister, Francis Midford. Including her husband, Marquess Alexis and their two children; Edward and Elizabeth.
Francis was a woman of great discipline, preparing through adolescence for a tumultuous adulthood. She, once the Lady of Phantomhive, excelled in every class given to her, mastering both the feminine arts and the more traditionally masculine talents of academics and the sword.
Alexis Midford was a man without significant achievements, far from it. He was the result of a long line of immaculate breeding, taking over the Order of the Garter before he had reached twenty years of age. Then again, it was Francis Phantomhive, who toppled him when no one else could.
Since Ciel was the future Earl of Phantomhive, he was betrothed to his cousin, Elizabeth Midford.
Elizabeth was only a year older than the triplets, but she was growing up to a little girl with a bright and happy personality.
Edward was nearly four years old and already inherited his mother's serious personality. His ingenuousness, however, derived from his father. In addition, his betrothed was none other than Celine herself.
Baroness Angelina Dalles-Burnett (or Madam Red as she is called by everyone) was extremely happy of becoming an aunt and couldn't wait to play with her nephews and niece when they become a bit older.
Including, teaching her niece how to become a lovely lady as well as buy pretty dresses for her to wear and cute toys to play with.
However, Francis was strictly against at the thought of her newborn niece growing up to become a naive and fragile girl since she wanted her niece to grow up to a fine girl worthy to be known as the Lady of Phantomhive.
That was why after the party, the Marchioness of Midford decided to go have a private conversation with her brother on Celine's future in his study.
"Vincent, I'm highly against the idea of allowing Lady Angelina to tutor Celine in the ways of a accurate lady."Francis stated.
"Come now, Frannie."Vincent remarked. "My daughter is only three weeks old like my sons. You're thinking about her future a little too early."
"I'm saying as your sister that the Lady of Phantomhive occupation is not something to be taken lightly. You should remember since I was one before getting married to another family."Francis stated. "It's the title of a female member of our family that should be confident, sharp minded and know how to defend herself in times of danger."
That was true.
Phantomhive was a power of man.
A womanly strength had no place there.
Yet, the predecessor of Earl Phantomhive was their own mother; the late Countess of Phantomhive that tragically left her children's lives when they were just teenagers.
But since Ciel, Astre and Celine were triplets, perhaps teaching them fencing wouldn't be such a bad thing.
Especially, Celine.
She would need that if she was to become the next Marchioness of Midford.
Vincent and Rachel then got ready for bed after the party ended.
They helped each other carry their three infant children to their cradles before resting in their own bed.
"Today was exhausting."Vincent declared.
Rachel let out a soft giggle as she rested on her husband's chest.
"Everyone were just happy that the Earldom of Phantomhive is officially secured, Vincent."Rachel remarked.
Vincent gives Rachel a small smile.
"The Earldom of Phantomhive is secured, but the dangers never actually end."Vincent complemented. "Which makes me wonder something, Rachel."
"Which is?"Rachel asked.
"Do you think our children will be able to take these tasks that my family has been doing for generations?"Vincent questioned, glancing at his children's cradles. "My own mother fell victim from her role as the Queen's Watchdog."
Vincent was only fifteen years old when he became the Queen's new Watchdog. But the pain of losing his mother was deep down still with him and sometimes left him traumatised when remembering it.
Rachel went on top of Vincent as she placed her hands on his face.
"The Marchioness of Midford like any other noble title isn't easy either."Rachel whispered kindly. "But whatever role or job our children will take, I'm sure they'll be amazing and we'll have to make sure that happens."
Vincent smiled at Rachel as he touched the heart-shaped locket attached on her golden necklace which was a gift he gave from their wedding anniversary.
"You're right, dear."Vincent agreed and moved his other hand to stroke Rachel's cheek. "The future belongs to those who invest in today and have a hope for tomorrow."
Rachel and Vincent smiled at each other lovingly before closing their eyes to share a small yet passionate kiss with each other as the stars outside sparkled brightly in the midnight sky.
A moment for Vincent and Rachel before they begin starting their new lives as parents. See you all in the next chapter :)