As soon as she felt the butler's aura retreat, Lilliana unfastened her cape and walked to the mirror positioned at the large wooden vanity. Dark shapes were already making themselves known against her pale skin, signaling the spell was nearly out of time. She quickly recast it and sighed in bittersweet relief as the darkness faded from her skin. Lilliana really hated covering her mate markings but was also grateful for the ability to hide them in her current situation.
With that taken care of, Lilliana was able to properly survey her new room; it was beautiful and incredibly well-matched to her aesthetic. A light blush dusted her cheeks and she wondered if that had been intentional on the part of the butler. Her emerald eyes sparkled as she took in the darker natural wood of the vanity, wardrobe, desk, and bedframe. The floor had several dark green rugs that Lilliana knew would be soft and squishy under her bare feet. The modest queen-size canopy bed was adorned in lavender bed sheets and a dark purple comforter, with no less than six pillows enclosed in dark purple or dark green pillowcases. The canopy drapes appeared grey until the light caught them a certain way and revealed a pale purple color. A settee of dark green upholstery had two round dark purple pillows on it with a small wooden table conveniently within reach sat in the middle of the room. There were two large windows with cushioned window seats overlooking the gardens. Lilliana immediately felt at ease in the room.
While she was in the process of hanging her dresses in the wardrobe, she heard a brisk knock at the door and sensed that demonic aura on the other side. "Come in," she called. Sebastian pushed a trolley through the door and made his way to the small table next to the settee. He elegantly narrated each dish he displayed, arranging them according to the societal standards of the high-class.
"Thank you, sir," she stuttered, suddenly shy that they were alone in her new bedroom. Sebastian only politely bowed before once again leaving the room.
Lilliana's stomach growled loudly to remind her that she hadn't eaten since breakfast that morning in Elizabeth's gardens. So much had changed in the span of 12 hours that it felt like days had passed. Taking a seat on the settee, Lilliana thoroughly enjoyed the delicious dinner the butler had brought her. I could definitely get used to eating food this good for awhile, she thought contentedly. When she was finished, Lilliana found herself yawning. She stretched and stood, making her way to the beautiful desk. Inside, she found stationery and an assortment of writing utensils, envelopes and stamps, even a sketchbook and some art supplies. Lilliana promised herself that she would spend time with the latter items tomorrow in the gardens. For now, she took a piece of stationery and penned a quick note to Sebastian.
"Thank you for the delicious dinner. Please give my compliments to the chef! I assume you'll send someone to help me dress in the morning. I ask that whoever you send comes at 6:15am and no sooner. Please pass my gratitude along to Lord Phantomhive tonight for showing me such kindness and hospitality. Thank you again,
L"
Satisfied with her elegant calligraphy, Lilliana placed the note and all the dishes back on the trolley before pushing it into the hallway just outside her door. She knew Sebastian would come for it later. Yawning again, Lilliana closed the drapes over the windows and changed into her nightgown. She dug her hairbrush out of one of her travel bags and sat at the vanity for her nightly ritual. Since she could tell Sebastian was on the other side of the mansion, she felt safe enough to release the spell concealing her markings. A sigh left her lips as her eyes traced her markings in the mirror. The doubts still swarmed her mind, choking out the faint sense of excitement that seemed to be feeding off the demonic aura that spread throughout the mansion.
Lilliana crawled into bed and fell asleep within seconds.
The next morning, Lilliana woke at 6:00. She yawned and stretched, fully satisfied with how well she had slept in the new bed. She walked over to one of the large windows and pushed aside the drapes. A soft smile graced her lips as she was greeted by a beautiful sunrise casting gentle morning light onto the elegant gardens below. You know, she thought, I think I could be very happy here.
Turning, she walked to the wardrobe to pick out a dress for the day. As she walked past the vanity, she caught sight of her markings in the mirror and sighed before quickly concealing them. The reminder of her soulmate being so close and yet completely unaware and inaccessible put a bit of a damper on her mood. Images of amber eyes and black feathers filled her mind, unbidden.
A knock at the door startled her from her daydreams and she softly called out an invitation. The door was opened by a young woman who appeared to be slightly older than herself, with vivid red hair and large glasses that hid her eyes. She was dressed in a somewhat traditional maid's outfit that bounced slightly when she dipped into a curtsy.
"Good morning, Lady Rosenberg. I've come to help you dress, yes I have."
Lilliana smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet you, miss. I thank you for your assistance."
The maid grinned and held her hands up to her cheeks as she cooed, "Ooo, but aren't you lovely, my Lady! What would you like to wear today?"
Lilliana giggled and knew that she had just made a new friend. She pulled out a dress she had brought from America that was a pale purple cotton with black lace trim around the neckline and sleeves that echoed the mate markings on her arms. The skirt wasn't too full and the top had a built-in corset to minimize excessive fabric and frills. Her grandmother had made it for her after Lilliana's soulmate vision. With a sad smile, she handed the dress to the maid.
While dressing, the two women talked about where Lilliana came from and what life at the manor was like. Mey-Rin, as she learned, was previously the only female at the estate and therefore incredibly enthusiastic about having another woman around. After the dress was laced, Lilliana sat at the vanity and brushed her hair while Mey-Rin stood beside her and talked. The two were getting along so well, one might think they had been friends for years.
At Lilliana's request, Mey-Rin showed her outside to the gardens and left her there to retrieve her breakfast. Lilliana closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the early morning air. The various scents of flowers calmed her and eased her troubled heart. She began wandering toward the small table she had seen further back, silently naming most of the plants as she passed them. As she approached the table, she was surprised to see so many white roses vining through the little area. Gently, she reached out to stroke a delicate, white petal. Lilliana's stomach twisted as she felt the butler approaching from behind.
"Those roses were planted especially for my master," the smooth voice from behind her spoke.
"They do remind me of him, so young and pure," she replied evenly. Her heart was racing, but she was determined not to show him how affected she was by his presence. Lilliana finally turned to him as he placed her breakfast on the small table and pulled out the chair for her. "Where is Mey-Rin?" she asked.
"As an honored guest, my Lady, it is my duty as the Phantomhive butler to cater to your needs and provide you with every hospitality. Mey-Rin has her own duties to carry out," he smoothly answered.
Lilliana felt her cheeks warm in embarrassment. She nodded and sat, only half-listening to Sebastian announce her meal. When he left, she sighed and began eating. Her mind was consumed with conflicting voices, some telling her to confront her soulmate and others arguing that she should take some time to learn more about him before springing it on him. She knew that, as a demon, he could only identify his soulmate by seeing her mate markings. For now, at least until she knew more about the little Earl, Lilliana had no choice but to keep hers covered. Not to mention that she had to figure out how Sebastian felt about her little stunts back in the alley. She had a feeling that he wasn't too happy that she disappeared that night. The longer she waited to tell him, the worse his reaction was likely to be.
Her ruminations turned her stomach and she pushed her mostly full plate away before it made her more sick. Suddenly noticing the lack of sunlight, Lilliana looked up at the sky and frowned at the dark grey clouds that were steadily moving in. A cold wind reached her then and chased her back into the mansion. She was so preoccupied that she failed to notice Sebastian approaching her until he was bowing right in front of her.
"Lady Rosenberg, please allow me to give you the grand tour of Phantomhive Manor."
Lilliana absently nodded and missed the confused look Sebastian had sent out the window at the sudden, drastic change of weather. She forced herself to focus as he led her around the mansion and pointed out various rooms. The kitchens, the formal dining room, the salon, the Earl's study, the library, several rooms where they saw and entertained guests, and more. Lilliana created a mental map with the help of her elemental inclination for directions, especially taking note of the library.
When they finished the tour back in the salon, Sebastian's speech was interrupted by an explosion that shook the mansion. Instantly, his glare turned murderous and he sighed in exasperation. Lilliana's eyes were wide and full of concern. "What was that?!" she asked.
"Our cook is an impatient fellow with the foolish idea that dynamite will speed up his cooking. I do apologize if you were startled, Lady Rosenberg. As much as it pains me to say, you get used to it after a while." With that, he bowed and stalked off in the direction of the kitchen.
Lilliana stood there a moment more, confused, before remembering she had a task today. Recalling her mental map, she headed to the little Earl's study and knocked. "Come in," a young voice called. Lilliana took a deep breath and put the morning's troubles out of her mind, at least temporarily. She pushed open the door and curtsied before the desk that seemed so large with a small child sitting behind it. His visible eye widened and he stood, bowing lightly back.
"Lady Rosenberg, I hope my butler has been able to accommodate you. What brings you to my study?"
Lilliana smiled. "Lilliana, please, my Lord. He has been most helpful and I have befriended your maid, as well. I simply came to thank you for your graciousness and ask if I may be of any use to you while I reside here."
Ciel seemed surprised before he once again frowned. "You are my guest, you are not required to serve me."
She held up a hand to stop him. "You misunderstand me, my Lord. I am not offering to become a household servant. In my time with Lady Elizabeth, she has told me some about your service to the Queen." Lilliana hesitated, searching for the demon's aura before deciding it was safe enough to proceed. "I have a unique...skill set, you could call it. It may be useful to you at some point in time."
The little Earl seemed intrigued, but rightfully skeptical. His tone conveyed that as he questioned her further. Taking a chance while the butler was distanced and preoccupied, Lilliana closed her eyes and spoke softly in the ancient language. She smiled as the magick flowed, her spell sealing the room. No one could enter or leave without her permission. She opened her eyes and met the startled blue of the young Earl. Then she began to sing.