History: A Touch of Colour in the Grey

Book 1: Shading the black.

Date: 25 september 2018, corrected in April 2022

Beta: AxZi (2018) Nouillesverte (2022)

Fandom: D Gray Man

Disclaimer: No, I don't own D Gray Man and I'm not making any money with this story.

Summary: After landing in the 19th century, Estelle soon realizes that she has been hired by the Kamelott family, basically the villains of DGM. Taking the name Eve, she then becomes Tricia Kamelott's lady-in-waiting and helps her with her daily tasks. Now that her life is a little less chaotic, Eve reflects on her arrival in this world and decides to make her own opinion on the people in this new world despite her knowledge of the manga. However, she soon becomes aware of the social difference between women at that time and starts to fear for her future, especially when Road and the twins arrive...

Chapter trigger: Nothing I can think of... shame at the third person?

I'm so tired…
Good Reading !

Chapter 12: Points of Embarrassment

Saturday 14 March 1885

Three knocks on the door were enough to wake me up.

Rolling limply onto my back, I stretched and yawned before sitting up, my legs dangling from the bed. Mentally preparing myself, I placed my feet on the cold wooden floor with a grimace. Anyway, I grumbled to myself, painstakingly adding more logs to the fire, it's not like I had any time left to sleep in. Not that I used to do it often in my previous life, but I must admit that I used to set my alarm clock at eight o'clock... and stay in bed reading until eleven.

Long live to productivity.

Sighing, I grabbed my brush and ran it through my hair mechanically, letting my mind wander while at it. It wasn't Clarisse who had woken me up this morning. My old roommate always wished me good morning and even stayed to chat a little from time to time. I guess, the other maids usually said good morning to me too, but in the last few days this had been happening less and less. Even I, who usually didn't notice anything, didn't need Clarisse's remark the day before when Marie had ignored me at lunch to understand that something was wrong. The staff, especially the cleaning ladies, seemed a bit jealous. I suppose I had a privileged lifestyle. The inability to take time off, the low pay and the 24-hour availability seemed to be poor negatives compared to a room alone in the master wing, and days that consisted exclusively of having tea with the lady of the house and playing with the children. I thought that was the problem but Clarisse seemed to be of the opinion that the main point of contention was that I hadn't even spent two weeks as a Maid before being promoted to a role that wasn't really part of the manor hierarchy. If I didn't help out in the kitchen in the evenings or tidy the library in my spare time, I would have been more of a glorified guest than an employee. It was probably because of this that there weren't conflicts yet, but I was afraid that the status quo wouldn't last despite John's reassurances. I could see that I was making some of the employees uncomfortable, and the cultural gap certainly didn't help. I found it hard to participate in conversations, it was like being the new student but worse because I couldn't relate to most of the topics, which were of another era to me. The staff would only talk about village gossip, love prospects or the education of each other's children and I had absolutely nothing to add to these topics despite my best efforts. Well, nothing to add which would be appreciated, otherwise I had a lot of stuff of the 21 century to say about their way of raising children. Luckily Louise and the others were there to keep me company! They could talk for themselves and I just needed to listen to them to get things going.

Running my brush through my too-stiff hair one last time, I placed it on the round table. Taking off my nightgown, pulling it over my head, I threw it into a corner before dipping my hands into the warm water. Then I groaned. Because I'd forgotten to tie my hair up and it fell over my shoulders, covering my breasts and shaving the floor. Sighing, I shrugged, too bad, it will get wet. Grabbing a big gulp of water from my joined hands I threw it in my face without further ado. The guy who said that cold water to the face was invigorating is a liar: I still felt so dizzy...

BAM

My door flung open and slammed against the wall.

With round eyes, hands in the basin and face dripping with water, I saw Tyki Mikk in the doorway, a large bag in his hands. Unlike our week together, he was now wearing a white shirt, waistcoat and suit trousers. He was also clean-shaven and his hair was stuck back, leaving just a few curly strands framing his neck.

" ... " I raised an eyebrow.

" ... " He opened his mouth... then closed it, a little confused.

"Hello?" I asked, not sure what to do. I was still pretty damn naked in front of him. Well, I had shorts on and my hair and hands covered my chest, but I'd spent the last few months hiding every inch of exposed skin, so it suddenly felt strange to... well... not do it?

"Hello...?" He repeated slowly as if he didn't really understand what he was saying. His eyebrows furrowed, he let his gaze slide over my room before suddenly frowning and turning sharply back to the hallway, seeming to understand the situation. He fixed his gaze in my eyes again, he nodded towards the hallway with a guilty smile, "I apologise for the inconvenience, it seems I entered on the wrong room. They changed the table to the other side of the corridor and... well I'm really sorry, I'll, um, just leave"

"Uh yes, please..." I replied, blinking, still stuck in the same position.

He muttered another apology before closing the door.

"Well, that's one thing for a first impression..." I mumbled before pushing my face into the basin, my cheeks undoubtedly turning pink. The whole encounter had been a little awkward, I had to admit. To an outsider, the scene might have looked like a suicide attempt. Reluctantly abandoning my basin, I briskly rubbed my face in a towel before quickly finishing my morning routine. In less than ten minutes I was freshly washed and dressed and glanced out the doorway.

No one.

With a small sigh of relief, I walked out of my room, grabbed the breakfast tray and knocked on the twins' door, my gaze nervously darting back and forth down the hall. Of course, I couldn't avoid Tyki forever, but I didn't want to see him right away either. It was far too awkward...It wasn't long before Jasdero came to open the door with a shy smile. Handing him my tray, I bent down to take theirs before entering the room. The wide-open window let a pleasant breeze into the room and Devit was already sharing their food. Setting the trays on the table, it wasn't long before they were completely empty. I had been too late this morning, however, and had to abandon them quickly to join Tricia.

Surprisingly, I didn't see Sheryl this morning, Tricia told me that he didn't even come back after he went to see the head butler. Not paying too much attention, I accompanied her on our morning routine. It was one of her good days, and since the snow had almost entirely melted thanks to the warm weather, we took advantage of it to go for a walk as soon as she had finished washing. And I, who had never liked going for a walk, much to the annoyance of my parents...

However, we did not get very far. We had hardly reached the great hall when an argument was heard from the small living room. It was strange, for servants were not used to arguing where the masters of the house could hear them, and it didn't sound like children's voices either. Tricia and I exchanged a look, and she opened the door. Witnessing the scene before us, I couldn't help but let out a laugh, bringing all eyes to me. In my defence, Sheryl, the bossy Sheryl I'd known for the past three months, was getting his face smashed in by Tyki, who was trying so hard to get out of his big brother's hug.

Caught off guard by our sudden presence, Sheryl quickly dropped Tyki, who fell in front of the couch with a startled cry, and dusted off his jacket, and snapped right back to his usual professional attitude.

"Come on, Brother, stand up. This is unseemly." He said as if he hadn't been trying to smother Tyki under the weight of his love a few seconds earlier. For his part, I wasn't sure if Tyki was looking at his brother in disbelief or rolling his eyes. Honestly, I think he was trying to do both and it was kind of weird with a sort of squint mixed with oddly placed eyebrows.

I think that was what lost me.

Backing away hastily, I soon left the room and collapsed on the wall just outside the door leading to the living room. Shaking with unstoppable laughter, I did my best to stifle it, giving life to a kind of hiccupping hiss that was no doubt very disturbing.

"Eve? Are you all right? You're all red!" Road suddenly asked from the top of the stairs. Skipping down the stairs, she soon skidded up beside me, still in her nightgown, a teddy bear in her fist.

It was just too cute.

Hm. Trying to regain my composure, but still hiccupping and shaking, I finally couldn't answer her and just pointed to the door, tears beading at the corners of my eyes. With a strange look on her face, Road leaned to the side, her face suddenly lighting up as she recognised the people inside.

"Uncle Tyki!" she shouted before running at full speed into the living room. I had just enough time to hear a "No, Road don't...!" before a huge noise echoed throughout the manor. Almost calm, I peeked through the doorway to see Tyki on the floor, one leg awkwardly raised on the couch, Road still tucked in his arms.

"Road, my dearest..." Sheryl sighed as he approached the small pile of limbs to pull her out, Tricia on his heels, looking worried. They both seemed to have forgotten Tyki. The latter, still on the ground, sat down, mumbling under his breath.

Approaching him, a smile still on my face, I held out a hand to help him up. "Well, I guess we're even." I said, causing him to look at me strangely before a look of understanding appeared.

"Oh really? I'm not sure that public and private humiliation are the same," he replied when I stood up, a teasing smile on his lips.

"Humiliation? You're going a bit far, I don't think..." I started to answer him in the same tone before I felt someone hug my legs.

"What are you talking about?" asked Road, her parents already approaching our little group.

"Oh, you wouldn't be interested..." Tyki began nonchalantly, meeting my eyes. Seeing that Road didn't seem to want to let go, I added:

"We were just talking about the place of human relationships in French literature during the sixteenth century," I said with the most serious air in the world.

She gave me a flat look before dropping me to cross her arms. "And how could you digress to that subject in just two minutes?"

"We were just continuing our... conversation from this morning, Road." Tyki backed me up as he stepped slightly towards his niece.

"Oh, you've met before!" Tricia said cheerfully as Sheryl placed his hands on Road's shoulders, his usual professional look that he always wore in my presence on his face.

"Oh yes, we met this morning," I replied with a smile that was perhaps a little too forced.

"A very pleasant meeting, if I may add." Tyki continued with a smile that I would interpret as smug. Before I could test a sharp retort, Sheryl put a hand on his brother's shoulder and pompously announced that they had some things to discuss. Tricia soon nodded and turned to her daughter to ask if she would like to accompany us on a walk. She nodded and we were soon walking up and down the garden until lunchtime.

Lunch itself was quite strange. I usually ate with Tricia and, if she was there, Road and if they were in the mood, the twins. Sheryl never ate with us, usually being on a business lunch or too busy to grace us with his presence. However, when his brother finally returned, the master of the house spontaneously decided to keep us company. This, of course, elicited cries of joy from Road and his wife and refusal from the twins, who quickly scurried back to their room when they saw Sheryl coming.

As for me, apart from the time I had eaten with them in the restaurant, I had never had lunch in the great hall with them as it was not suitable for my rank. And as I had absolutely no intention of committing myself to a two-hour meal that would surely include far too much politics for my sanity, I shamelessly pretended my lack of social standing so that I could begin a strategic retreat to the twins' room despite Tricia's sad pout.

Passing quickly through the kitchens, I took a large, well-stocked tray with me and quickly went upstairs to have lunch with the twins.

"Eve?" asked Jasdero with surprise as he opened the door for me. "Hey, you're not eating with the moron?" added Devit, coming towards us with his usual scowl on his face.

"In all seriousness, Devit, I think Sheryl is far from a fool." I began, setting the tray down on the small round table before turning to them with a playful smile. "But to answer, no, I have absolutely no intention of eating with them, I'd much rather come and annoy you."

Devit rolled his eyes but said nothing more and came to sit next to Jasdero at the table. After quickly eating lunch in comfortable silence, I suggested the twins play something.

"A game?" grunted Devit as I put the plates and cutlery back on the tray.

"Yes, is there a game you would like to play?" I asked as I headed for the door to put the tray outside, the twins following me like ducklings, to my amusement.

At my words, they exchanged a puzzled look before turning back to me without saying anything.

"I can also teach you new ones if you don't want to play yours?" Or if they didn't know any besides the ones I'd already taught them, I concluded mentally.

"Yeah, go ahead," Devit muttered nonchalantly as Jasdero smiled excitedly.

"Okay, then..." I think as I take one of the cushions dotting the bed to sit comfortably on the floor. "We could play cards? I know several card games... oh! But I don't have a deck..." I mumbled, spontaneously thinking of Tyki before dismissing the idea. "Then there are the usual cat… er, sorry, "It", hide-and-seek, chicken-fox-snake, policeman and thieves..." I listed as I saw their eyes widen. I had shown them these games before, maybe something new? "Oh I know!" I said, suddenly clapping my hands, startling Jasdero. "We can play un, deux, trois, soleil! Err, or I guess, one, two, three, sunshine?"

"It sounds stupid..." Devit grunted sceptically, in contrast to his brother who let out an excited laugh.

"Naah, I swear it's funny!"I replied encouragingly as I grabbed Jasdero's hand and pulled him to stand on his feet before holding my hand out to Devit, waiting patiently for him to grab it himself... or for him to blow me off, whichever way he wanted. With a sigh, he stood up on his own before shoving his hands into his pockets. Unaffected by his misplaced pride, I rolled my eyes with a sigh before explaining the game.

"Okay, so when I turn around and say "One, two, three, sunshine" you have to move towards me as fast as you can, your goal being to hit the wall. Be careful, if when I turn towards you I see you move, you must return to the starting point!" I told them, Jasdero nodding briskly at the explanation while Devit pretended not to be interested.

Surprisingly, the game took place without much trouble. I expected Devit to challenge me when I told him to come back to the start, and he did, but after five minutes Jasdero got fed up and gave his brother the stink eye, so he shuffled back to the start. After that, with the two twins taking to the game with the same determined face, I couldn't stop mixing their names, moreover since the two idiots took a malicious pleasure in exchanging places when I had my back turned. Unfortunately, it was soon noticed that, although the room was quite large, the game often ended in two or three rounds, which was rather uninteresting.

"We can go to the corridor, it's longer." Jasdero suggested to my surprise. I was happy with his initiative, so I gave him a big smile and moved our little game into the hallway. It's not as if the masters of the house would have finished their meal any time soon anyway.

Once in the corridor, I let Jasdero take over as gamemaster. With room to spare, it was immediately more fun and even Devit let out a smile as Jasdero ran into the wall.

We had already played about ten games when I took over again. Devit had quickly understood the game and was already close. In one or two moves he would be on the wall. "One, two, three, sunshine!" I shouted before turning around sharply. However, instead of telling Jasdero to go back to the start as I should have when I saw him stumble, I momentarily froze.

There, right at the top of the stairs, was the entire Kamelott family.

"What? You're playing without me!" Road moans before running over to me to hug my waist. "That's not fair, I want to play too!"

"Sure Road, you can play with us." I replied absentmindedly as I watched Sheryl give us a listless look before guiding his wife towards their room, no doubt for her afternoon nap. Tricia looked at us longingly and seemed pained to leave us, but she gave me a smile and followed Sheryl.

"Well, what does that make it? 2 to 1? For you of course," Tyki said calmly as he walked towards me, the twins having decided to annoy Road.

Looking at him for a moment without understanding, it took me an awfully long time to realise that he was referring to our previous shameful situations. "Are you sure you want to keep score? And on that count, I'd like to say that our first meeting was as embarrassing for you as it was for me." I replied with a roll of my eyes, thinking about this morning but also about the time in the bar when he had been sent flying into our table with Allen.

"Really?" he said incredulously, "I think I saw..." He began to say before suddenly collapsing to the ground, due to a kick in the hollow of his knees, ideally delivered by an annoyed Road.

"Uncle Tyki plays with us too, Eve!" She chirped happily as the twins looked at her with a mixture of terror and admiration. Even Devit, that is.

"Of course Road." I agree with an easy smile. "How about we play hide and seek? Go hide, I'll be the chat." I didn't even have time to finish my sentence when they were already speeding away. Turning to Tyki, who was struggling to get up, I couldn't help but smile viciously. "A gentleman getting knocked down by an eight year old girl? That deserves a point, don't you think?"

A wicked smile spread across Tyki's lips. Okay, maybe I had just done something stupid.

By the end of the day, the twins and Road had completely exhausted me, we had run around and I was pretty sure there wasn't a room left in that mansion that I didn't know about. During all this running, we had also taken the opportunity to continue our stupid battle with Tyki. We were now up to 8 each and the good majority of these embarrassing situations had been produced by the opponent. I had personally used the children to no end and I was pretty sure that Tyki had used his powers once or twice. I'd even seen him do it once, when his foot had gone through a corner of a piece of furniture while running without him even seeming to notice. If I didn't already know about his powers, I would have thought it was a hallucination. Still, they really should be careful... Tyki was still okay, but Devit and Jasdero were a different story! I couldn't count the number of times a piece of the carpet had been frozen because of a burst of laughter or when they had broken Tricia's pearl necklace and, in sheer panic, we had ended up picking up three times as many pearls as there had originally been.

Fortunately, the day was coming to an end and all I wanted to do was collapse into bed with a good book. So I skipped, once again without embarrassment, the usual family gathering in front of the fireplace, which I had been attending more and more lately, giving Tricia the excuse of wanting to leave them with their family. However, just as I thought the day was saved from any further drama, there was a knock at my door. Putting on a shawl, clearly remembering the episode with Sheryl, I approached the door with curiosity. And yes, you guessed it, it was Tyki asking me if I had Shakespeare's Hamlet. Apparently, having not found it in the library, Tricia had told her that I could have it, as she had given me permission to borrow books.

"Oh, yes of course I've finished it, I'll give it to you." I said with a smile before turning to grab it from my nightstand. However, when I turned around to hand him the book, it wasn't me he was looking at. Following his gaze, I landed on the only picture in my room and I couldn't help but mentally groan.

"Robin?" Tyki asked in surprise as he assessed me from head to toe as if trying to recognize the less than articulate boy he had been with for the past week.

"Tyki..." I replied, imitating his tone.

" ... "

" ... "

"I don't tell my brother anything about you and you don't tell him anything about me," Tyki said suddenly, grabbing the book still in my hands.

"Deal" I replied, leaving him without further ado.

" ... "

" ... "

"Shall we stay on an exaeco?" he offered with an amused smile, his hand on the handle.

"That's exactly what I was going to suggest." I replied with a matching laugh.

AxZi Notes: I think it's amusing how only at the end Tyki could recognise her. Not very observant, is this boy? XD

Ennael's Notes: Naah, he really isn't :3 well, i don't really like this chapter, i think it's weird or i don't know... but, well, with my sheldue, i'm not going to rewrite it and it'll be funny later to see what i wrote when i was youger :3 did you like it? Please think about review!

Think about letting a review on your way out and see you on the 25th of next month!