History : A Touch of Color in the Gray
Book 1 : Shading the black .
Date : March 25, 2018, corrected in december 2021
Beta: Lyra (2018) RostosGirl (2021)
Fandom : D Gray Man
Disclaimer: No, I do not own D Gray Man and I am not making any profit from this story.
Plot : After landing in the 19th century, Estelle quickly realizes that she got hired by the Kaamelott family, basically the bad guys of DGM. Taking the name Eve, she then becomes Tricia Kamelott's companion. Now that her life is a little less chaotic, Eve reflects on her arrival in this world and makes the decision to make up her own mind about the personages of the mansion despite her knowledge of the manga. However, she quickly becomes aware of the social difference of women at this time and begins to fear for her future, especially when Road arrives and her mania to turn everything into something extremely scary.
Chapter Triger : Mention of abused children and vertigo. Possibly attempted murder too, but it's up for debate ...
Chapter 6: Shame Doesn't Kill (Usually ...)
Tuesday February 3, 1885
"I worry about them," Tricia sighed, putting down her teacup with an audible click. I understood immediately who she was referring to. No need to say who 'them' was, after all, they had been the only topic of conversation at the mansion for three days straight.
"Give them some time, Tricia." I told her calmly before swallowing, as gracefully as possible, a sip of tea. The mug made a horrible noise as I put it back on its saucer and I kept myself from wincing. Tricia was trying to teach me noble etiquette and it was… a work in progress, let's say. Oh, I certainly wasn't a hopeless case, and I wasn't as lost as a plebeian of this time, so it wasn't a remake of 'My Fair Lady' with heavy training and all, either. ... But there were some rules that seemed so crazy to me and at odds with my time that I found it difficult to apply them. Luckily, Tricia was too busy to give me her usual disapproving look when I forgot to apply a rule of etiquette that I had already mastered.
"I know… But they haven't been out since I put them in their room… They don't touch the food we bring them… They only swallow a little water… I don't know what to do." She said, a pained look on her face. She suddenly burst into a coughing fit and I hurriedly put my cup down to run to her side and try to calm her down.
"You should go get some rest Tricia, you're very pale." I told her when her fit was over. She nodded reluctantly, and I helped her get back to her bedroom so she could get some sleep.
It had been two days since Tricia's health had taken a turn for the worst and I was seriously starting to worry. Ho, I understood that her health depended on her mood and that her worry for our two new residents was the cause of her fatigue… but I didn't know what to do with it either. I had only seen them for a few brief minutes, but the twins looked like trapped, wild animals. Sheryl had mentioned the streets… They must have been very suspicious, maybe they thought the food was poisoned? But didn't the Noahs all have some sort of common memory where, I don't know, they immediately understood each other? Skin and Wisely seemed to immediately trust the other Noahs upon waking up, but it is true that Wisely was a special case and we weren't sure what happened to Skin before and after. ...
Frowning, I headed to the kitchens to get something to eat. It was my only idea and even if it wasn't the problem, food for hungry kids was still a good idea, right? Let's see, for two malnourished children who have not eaten for three days, if not more, it would be better to have soup ... Down the stairs, I arrived in the kitchen. Fortunately, at this hour, there were not many people, only the kitchen staff cleaning up after lunch. The other employees were busy cleaning the mansion, but that would be another story when it was dinner time. At that time, everyone was helping, whether it was the personal servants of the master of the house, the chambermaids and the footmen who took care of the table service to the maids and handymen who helped with the laundry, cutlery or peel the vegetables.
"Eve! What are you doing here so early? Did the young mistress send you for cake again? She's going to ruin her appetite, and I was baking her favorite pie for tonight… "Berthe, the Chief Cook, lamented, when she saw me enter.
"And I'm sure she'll be very happy about it." I smile at her before greeting Christine and Shermann, the other two cooks. "But no, not this time. In fact, I was wondering if there was any soup left from this afternoon? I wanted to try to bring some to our two little guests. "
"Yes, ask the kid, but Eliott has already tried to bring them a tray this afternoon and they haven't touched it as usual… Well, you might have better luck with your angelic smile!" Berthe replied before picking up her scroll. Thanking her, I stuck my head into the small adjoining room where the kitchen maid usually sat. Louise was there, crouching on the ground, scratching a cauldron with the sweet aromas of burned food. Her eyes lit up when she saw me, and she gladly took the break I was offering her. She poured me some broth into an earthen jar before closing a lid on top.
"You're lucky Auguste wasn't here, he would have made a big deal out of it, even if it's for the guests." She said, handing me the pot, two bowls and spoons. It was of simple iron cutlery, those with which the employees ate, not those in silver for the owners of the house. But that was normal, only Ernest Impleton and Eudora Landless, the two housekeepers, had the keys and Eudora scrupulously counted every item after the meal to be sure no one had stolen any.
"Yes, fortunately. I don't understand how someone can be so ... harsh like that all the time." I mumbled, stumbling over a polite adjective to use for Sheryl's valet. For once, it wasn't my bad English that made me stutter… Even if it was for the owners of the house, it was better not to get caught stealing food by Auguste or even Alphonse. These butlers were terrifying and I suspected them very strongly of being akumas. Thanking Louise and promising her to play a game of cards with her tonight, I made my way upstairs to the family quarters.
Come to think of it, Louise, along with Clarisse and John, were clearly the people I was closest to at the mansion. I even wanted to consider them as friends. John was kind and helpful, a little too gullible and clumsy but always there if needed. Clarisse was suspiciously calm and discreet, and only the fact of having been her roommate had made me notice her prickly sarcasm. She was careful not to make the slightest comment in front of Elinor, the head maid, but she certainly thought no less behind her shopkeeper's smile. Finally, Louise was much closer to my idea of a 19th century girl than Clarisse, that was for sure. Eyes full of stars and the will to do well, however, she was unfailingly naive despite her ambition. She was only waiting for one thing: to finally be sixteen to become a maid like Clarisse. Even I, who recharged my batteries in solitude, could not resist this disparate band and I often had tea with them in the evening in the kitchen where only Berthe could hear our bursts of laughter from where she chose the menus of the week.
Blinking, I stopped dead realizing that I had already entered the family hall. Hesitant for a second, I knocked on the door to the twins' room, the jar and cutlery in the other hand. Receiving no response, I knocked a second time then a third time and was about to knock a fourth time when a violent "Shut up!" Sounded from behind the door. Blinking, I politely replied that Tricia was worried about them so I was bringing them soup. The voice answered me, decidedly not so politely, that I could stick it up my ass and get out of here.
Well. Unsurprisingly, the polite manner hadn't worked.
Unfortunately for them, I was a 21th century girl and hadn't spent enough time here yet to learn good behavior from a Lady, much to Tricia's despair. So I had no shame in going to plan B: The Break-in
My eyes filled with determination, I put my hand on the doorknob… before pushing hard. The door did not move. "Get lost!" Devit yelled from the other side of the panel and I moaned painfully before regaining composure. Good. Looks like all that was left was Plan C: The Break-In 2nd try.
"Eve? What's the matter ? Road asked me curiously, seeing me on her doorstep a few seconds later.
"Hello Road, I was wondering if I could go… zut, le mot… " I mumbled, patting the jar of soup. "Ah oui ! If I could use your balcony." Blinking, a look of confusion plastered on her face, Road opened the door a little wider to let me in.
"You know it's February, right? The balcony is still frozen… "she said, looking at me doubtfully. "Why do you want to go? " Following her gaze, I groaned at seeing the ice on the stone railing. Glancing at the small space between the two balconies, I moaned even more.
"Et merde… je ne peux pas escalader le balcon comme ça, je vais glisser, tomber, me rompre le cou, mourir…" I mumbled before sighing and loosening my skirt quickly. Sliding it down my legs, I thought softly that even if I didn't fall there was a good chance I would freeze to death. Shivering, I shifted my gaze to Road, who was looking at me with a suitably shocked expression.
"What?" I mumbled uncomfortably, squirming under her gaze. Ho it's true, I hadn't told her what I wanted to do on the balcony, it must have looked strange.
"It does not bother you… ?" She asked me, still a little confused, her gaze moving back and forth between my bare legs and the skirt abandoned on the floor.
"Well, no." I let go, frowning in incomprehension. What was the problem… Shit, Eve, 19th century modesty, of course! "Oh, I didn't think that…! Excuse me, it's just that I want to go to the balcony next door and it would be really difficult in a dress." I apologized with red cheeks but luckily Road just looked curious now and she asked me why I wanted to go to the twins' balcony. Explaining the whole story to her with Tricia and the soup, I took off my shoes, the small heel of which was bound to trip me up, and picked up the pot of soup and the three spoons before stepping out onto the balcony.
"If I die, please gi.. donate my meager possessions to an orphanage, Road." I was joking nervously. Not sure that three old dresses and a few books would help them much, but hey, it was still something…
"Okay!" She chirped, far too gleeful for my very possible, very stupid death to come.
Taking a deep breath, I wedged the spoons into my pocket and handed the pot of soup and bowls to Road before stepping onto the icy railing. The space itself was not that big, but I was unfortunate enough to be dizzy. Certainly, much weaker than that of my father, but still present enough to make me tremble when I saw the small meter of emptiness over which I had to jump.
"I can't do that." I whispered, my hands clinging to the doorframe.
"Of course you can," Road replied, way too close for my comfort. She had put the pot on the ground at her feet, and was now looking at me with a curious smile, her head resting on her arms. Swallowing hard, I tried to focus on the goal at hand, which was the other railing frozen and filled with fresh snow. I was almost grumbling at this. It was already freezing cold on Road's balcony but there was no snow, the constant log fire in the bedroom having melted it before it even settled in. The twins' balcony, however, was crumbling in pure white snow.
"I think that's not a good idea after all… The boys will come out when they're hungry, right?" I answered weakly, stepping back very slowly, ready to put my leg over the railing and back into the warmth of Road's bedroom.
"I'm afraid that mother's health is not as strong as their resolve." Road remarked and I moaned in response. It was wrong to take out the Tricia card! How to get over it after saying that… It was only a small yard, I just have to give them the soup and leave. Simple, easy. Ahah… "So, are you going?" Road asked, losing patience.
"Yes, yes ... just give me a few seconHaHaAHAHA!" I screamed as I felt the ground give way under my feet. Waving my hands back and forth, I somehow grabbed the railing opposite and managed to grip it with my arms.
"ROAD!" I cried, tears beading under my lashes. Legs hanging in the air, arms wrapped around the railing, I was shaking in all my limbs and it wasn't from the cold.
Road had pushed me.
Into the void.
It was an attempted murder, shit!
"What are you doing? Get up on the balcony!" She said, her voice more confused than worried from somewhere behind me.
" I can't !" I sobbed terrified.
The worst idea of my life.
Seriously, what got into me wanting to help the twins or Tricia? They were doing very well in the rest of the manga! They didn't need me! And then go through the balcony? While I have (a bit of) vertigo? Seriously Eve? But what the hell was going through my mind!
"What do you mean you can't?" Road asked suddenly, her voice a little higher than normal.
"I don't have enough… merde, qu'est-ce que … strength! In my arms !" I managed to say, my eyes closed so as not to see the void below. I had never had abs! It's not like in the movies, it's super hard to hoist yourself over an obstacle with the only strength of your arms! And now, starts the delirium ... the stress, the stress ... Focus Eve!
"Yes you can ! Go ahead, pull Eve!" Road said encouragingly. And why, by the way? Didn't she want to kill all the humans? I know we had had a great time and everything during the last few weeks but it was still SHE who pushed me! She was bipolar, this girl, I swear it!
Ah.
Yes.
Noah.
Trying as best I could to do as she said, I loosened the grip of my right hand to pass it over the top of the railing and put my bare feet on the bottom of the balcony. But half-way, my left foot slipped from the snow and I lost my grip on the stone with a painful moan.
"Eve!" Road shouted behind me in a surprised voice. "It's okay, don't panic, even if you fall, it's not that high."
Glancing down, I immediately closed my eyes. It didn't help at all! It was high enough! With the snow, maybe I wouldn't die if I fell to the ground but Ho, Merlin, I could hear my cracked bones from here and I really, really didn't want to explain to Mr Impleton or Sheryl why the heck I was quartered in my underwear under his daughter's balcony. Letting out a terrified little cry, I put my foot back on the ledge as best I could and managed to regain contact with the frozen stone. At that moment, suddenly something strange happened. I don't know if it was the adrenaline that made me work wonders or if Road had done something with her dream power, but suddenly I had the strength to pull myself over the railing and fall into the cold snow covering the twins' balcony.
"Never again." Panting, I stood up, shaking and no longer feeling my toes. "Never do that again." I said calmly to Road who was sporting an unreadable look.
She huffed in embarrassment and grabbed the pot at her feet, avoiding my gaze. "Promise. I… I'm sorry." She whispered, getting on her tiptoes, handing it over the abyss to me without meeting my gaze. I grabbed the pot without a word, scrutinizing her with my eyes. She sounded quite sincere. She looked like a child who had done something stupid and really regretted doing it.
It didn't quite fit in with the sadistic Noah of my memory as a reader.
But it went perfectly with the image of the little girl that I had met for myself in recent weeks.
"Go back inside, you'll catch a cold." I whispered to her, my eyes softening as I watched her play with her fingers nervously. She let out a chuckle at that and told me not to delay too long before slipping into her room. Taking my courage in both hands and my pot of soup too, I approached the French window to open it. As I hoped it was unlocked ..., and Merlin, what would I have done if it had been closed?! Strategy really wasn't my thing ...
Sighing in relief, I delightedly dug my feet into the plush rug in the twins' bedroom. I couldn't see much from where I was, the room being dark, but in response to my sigh, I watched a dark mass stir near a corner. Suddenly the mass moved very fast, footsteps accompanying the movement and before I could even blink a child was standing in front of me with a large piece of mirror protruding in his hands as a weapon.
"What are you doing here?" He growled, curling up on himself, his gums exposed in a parody of a wild animal.
"Devit?" I asked, trying to keep my voice as steady as possible. He nodded suspiciously and I slowly brought the pot of soup in plain view.
"I am an employee of the mansion. Tricia told me it's been three days since you last ate and you refuse to open the door, so I brought you some soup." I told him awkwardly when he let his gaze slide over me incredulously. At the same time, it could be understood… No need to look at myself in a mirror, I already knew what I looked like. A poor, disheveled girl, wet and bare legged, with no shoes or coats ... really, I must have looked more of a drenched tramp than a servant of a noble house.
"Are you the girl from before? I told you to get lost! The fuck, do you think I'm gonna eat your stuff?" He said without real resentment. His eyes swayed between the soup and my face, as if he was just reluctant to take the soup and push me through the still open French window.
"What are you afraid of?" I asked him. He opened his mouth, surely to say that he wasn't afraid, but I cut him off before he could let out a word. "I can taste the soup in front of you if you want. That way you will see that it's not poisoned. Or if you don't want to see other people just yet, at least eat something. You can even hide food without eating it, I don't care, but do something about it. Tricia is worried about you and her condition is getting worse." I finished as firmly as I could despite my teeth shaking from the cold.
He observed me for a few more seconds before glancing quickly at the dark mass still in the corner of the room and then fixing my gaze again. He then crossed his arms, his piece of mirror resting on his elbow, and looked at me expectantly. As I wasn't reacting, he ended up glancing back and forth between the pot of soup and me.
"Ho! Do you want me to taste it? Uh, yeah wait two seconds… "I mumbled as I crouched down to open the jar and grab one of the spoons. I dipped the utensil into the still steaming soup and put it in my mouth. Really delicious, I thought as I swallowed, but not as good as my grandmother's… Somewhat demoralized, it took a few seconds for me to notice Devit's gaze still on me. And there, I do not know what I was thinking. Unable to help myself, I dropped my spoon and suddenly began to grip my neck, coughing.
"Are you okay?" Devit suddenly asked, crouching down next to me. "Water, we need water!" He panicked, starting to look around frantically.
"Right here!" A new voice said, holding out a pretty, ornate jug full of water in my sight.
Devit grabbed it before suddenly looking even more terrified than before. "There is no glass, Jasdero!" The two boys looked at each other, their eyes wide and it was too much for me, I burst out laughing.
"Ahaha! I'm sorry, ahaha!"
"What?" Jasdero blurted out completely lost, while Devit stared at me in awe.
Forcing myself to calm down, I made myself more comfortable before placing the soup in the middle of our small circle, the two boys still looking at me in silence. "Everything is fine, I haven't been poisoned." I told them, a smile still on my lips. "Sorry, that was too tempting ... But I assure you there is nothing wrong with this soup, it is even very good!" I told them as I brought the pot closer to them. Devit groaned and was about to stand, his fist clenched around the end of the mirror already dipping forward towards my neck when Jasdero pinned him to the ground.
"No! He told us not to hurt anyone at Kamelott Mansion! We promised him!" Jasdero cried as I watched them, completely frozen to the ground, having seen my whole life pass before my eyes. Swallowing hard, I was breathing a little easier when Devit gave me a grim look but made no further movements to attack me. Okaaay… I admit it was in bad taste but still… A little worried about their reaction now, I hastened to push the two remaining spoons towards them and took another spoonful of soup while being careful to keep their gaze with mine. After five spoons, Jasdero's stomach growled and he shyly brought his hand to the jar despite Devit's glare. Despite his reluctance and with a growl in my direction, Devit ended up eating the soup when nothing seemed to happen to Jasdero. Between the two of them, the boys hastened to scrub the pot, making a displeased face when they ran out of food.
Feeling their gaze on me again now that there was nothing to distract them, I suddenly stood up. "Okay, well… uh… I'm going to go? I'm starting to feel a little cold, I really have to go and change. And, you should light the fireplace too, it's really freezing in here." I stammered as I headed for the door. However, I was stopped in my tracks by a hand that grabbed the corner of my blouse. Turning around, I saw Jasdero who, his face a little red, avoided my gaze.
"Are you bringing food tomorrow too?"
I looked at him confusedly at his words. "You will only have to open the door when you are hungry. The servants leave a tray in front of it." I told him, wondering for a moment if they had even noticed that they were being brought food. But yes, they had to, Sheryl had banged enough on the door the first day to ask them to go downstairs to eat. And I distinctly remembered that he had ended up giving up at Tricia's request, yelling at them through the door that he was leaving food in the hallway.
"I don't want their food." Devit muttered, crossing his arms defiantly. I didn't have the courage to tell him that I would bring them exactly the same thing ...
"Okay" I sighed, rubbing my temples. "I'll bring you something to eat tomorrow, but only if you open the door for me! Like hell I'm going to go back through the balcony!" I warn them before turning around and leaving their room. But not fast enough to miss Jasdero's awkward little smile.
Well, at least, this whole disastrous adventure amused someone ...
It's quite difficult to give character to the twins because they must have evolved a lot and that's what I'm trying to show in my story. So, for now, the main words are "Distrustful" and "Protective" for Devit and "Shy" and "Hope" for Jasdero. And for both: "socially awkward". But don't worry, they will change over time.
Think about the reviews and see you on the fifth of next month!