Chapter 4: Her Butler, Able :Part One

It had been almost three years since Ciel had returned as the last surviving member of the Phantomhive bloodline. She didn't speak much when she had returned, she couldn't bring herself to look at her Auntie Anne or Elizabeth. After all, she was not only the younger twin, but she was a daughter. The spare. Never truly meant to inherit her families land or title as earl or countess. Honestly, she had thought she would have to put up a fight for her family name and title but the law had favored her due to her tragedy. Auntie Anne had greeted her in tears of relief. Elizabeth had nearly strangled her in a hug, just happy that her would be sister was safe. Ciel had expected her to be angry. Furious even that her beloved husband-to-be was gone. She was, but not at her. Never to Ciel but the ones who had torn her family apart. If Ciel had been as she was before her tenth birthday she would have sobbed. But she did not. She never once shed a tear to anyone. For the longest time, her face remained stoic. Her body healed. A man in black, always by her side like a shadow and she carried on. She would not be seen as fragile like some porcelain doll that would crack or shatter at the slightest mistreatment. She was the Countess of Phantomive. The last remaining line of her name sake. She would rather be damned then be seen as some fragile play thing ever again.

Almost two human years had passed since the demon had made his deal with Ciel. She had gifted him the name of Sebastian. It was a fine name. He just wished she hadn't named him after a dog of all creaturs. He knew part of it was pettiness for the stunts he had pull when making the arrangements of their deal. Honestly the two simply just found enjoyment in being petty to the other. Just like he was about to be right now. It was a beautiful day after all. It would be such a shame if the lady of the house slept it away. Besides she would be rather cranky if she didn't get her morning tea. He rolled the trolly in the her bedroom and flung the curtains open. His ears perked as he heard the child begin to awake.

The young girl slowly sat up, rubbing the sleepiness from her eyes as her butler readied her breakfast. She listened to the familiar sound of fresh tea being poured in a porcelain cup. She brushed her hair from her eyes as looked at the tea set Sebastion had chosen for the day. The blue and white Wedgwood set. Her mothers favorite set. She swung her pale legs over the edge of the bed as Sebastian pulled put her outfit for the day. Sebastion held is hand out to the girl, gently pulling her off her bed. Gently removing the oversized nightshirt that had once belonged to her father. Ciel sniffed the air. "The fragrance, is today's tea ceylon? She mumbled as Sebastion pulled a white a white shirt over her head, buttoning it up gently as he smiled at her. "Yes, my dear it's royal dolton tea to be more specific." Ciel hummed and stepped into the white pettycoat before Sebastion pulled the black skirt over her head. "What is the plan for today?" she asked as the butter finished her dress with a deep purple broach atop the collar of her dress.

The butler chuckled a deep but mischievous sound as he gently placed her hair in a braid before tying a plan black eyepatch across her right eye to hide their contract. As he informed her of her duties for the day before placing her families rings on her fingers.

After breakfast she had a meeting with Lady Hugh on the subject of being a the social graces of a lady. In the evening she had a meeting with Lord Klaus. A man she had kept in charge of the stuffed animals in India.

Quite frankly.

She found him annoying.

As Sebastion finished placing her shoes upon her feet he turned to leave with a turn of his heel. Ciel lazily grabbed one of the darts she kept by her bedside table and threw it at the butlers head. Unsurprisingly he caught it with ease between his fingers. Her aim had been a few centimeters off. That or the bastard moved before she could strike him. The demon turned his head to face hue.

"Well thrown my lady. Even so. We should keep games for later. Ciel merely scoffed and brushed off the imaginary dust from her dress. "Yes. I do suppose you're tight." She huffed.

After her morning lesson with Lady Hugh Ciel sat idly in the dining room. Three other servants she had acquired over the years chatting idly by the window. The young girl glanced at the three. Twirling another dart with her gloved fingers as she sipped her tea. As she placed the cup down gently as a lady should she threw the dart at Finny. The teenager yelped in pain as he removed the dart from the back of his ran up to the Lady of the House, tears in his eyes as she raised the teacup to her lips once more. "Why would you do that my lady, did I do something wrong?" a small quiver in his voice.

Ciel merely shrugged as she placed the cup down with a gentle clink once more. "You did nothing wrong, I should not have to explain my self to you though." Finny gave her a confused look before they heard Sebastian open the doors glaring at the three servants "There you are." Sebastian scoffed in annoyance, his deep brown eyes landed on Finny first. The young gardener began to fidget before forcing himself to stay at attention as Sebastian began to speak to him. "Finnian have you finished weeding the courtyard." The boy shook his head already knowing he was going to be scolded later if he didn't get to it soon. The Butler's eyes moved to May-Ren a rather clumsy maid but she meant well. Demanding to know if she had washed the bedding or polished the silverware yet. The redheaded woman flushed. As she nervously fiddled her thumbs blushing. Her heart thumping at at the butlers stern eyes on her. "Um, well. Not yet I'm afraid." The butler fought the urger to growl in annoyance at the twos incompetence. His eyes turned to Baldroy. He already knew the American had yet to start his own duties. "Balrdory should you not be preparing for tonight's dinner." It was not a question. Sebastion glanced over to Tanaka. A gentle old man from Japan that had been with the Phantomhive family for a number of years. When he had returned with Ciel the old man quickly found had been the only survivor found the night the estate burned down. Honestly the man was a mystery to even Sebastian. But Ciel had wanted him to stay. He was much more than a servant to her. He was family. To Ciel and Sirias he had been gramps.

When the old man had realized that Ciel was alive and in Royal London Hospital the man practically broke down the door to get to girl. He had fallen to his knees. Gently touching ht girls face. As if he was afraid she was nothing more than illusion. Upon realizing she was alive the old man had sobbed, pulling her in a tight hug afraid to let go. Sebastion saw how Ciel had tensed that day. Fear in her eyes. He had been about to rip the man off her but Ciel signaled him to stop with a glare before retaining the old mans hug. The old man sobbed loudly. Chants of "Your alive. Thank the heavens your alive". Not a word had been said by her. When he released the girl he had bowed to Sebastian thanking him for bringing her back home. He already knew act his little mistress would want him to stay. Damned or not she had a kind soul deep down. Tanaka had been welcomed back with open arms. Though he could not fulfill his duties as once before die to injuries he had sustained from that night. It was clear that Ciel was just happy to have someone from before that dreadful night alive and well with her.

Sebastian sighed only telling the man to remain as he was. The old man nearly chuckled. Not one for talking as he had been once before. Sebastian turned from the little old man and glared at the three other servants. "Now all of you, we have no time for twiddling our thumb's this morning." Sebastian calm voice got loud. "Now get to work!" The three events flinched quickly running to finish up their duties not wanting to be yelled at anymore. "I swear. That lot is simply hopeless." Ciel merely shrugged before returning to her tea.

After her tea. Ciel walked through the halls of her home to get to her study. She paused only for a moment to glance at a portrait of her family. Her mother was sitting gracefully in a chair. Her father standing tall with a hand on her shoulder. Her and Sirus holding hands standing happily together by their parents. She still did not understand how the painting had survived the flames. When she had returned after the manor had been rebuilt the painting had been returned to the estate in the middle of the night. Not a scorch mark or speck of ash on it. Even the frame looked untouched. It was unnerving but at the time she had been relieved that something had survived that fire two years ago. Now as starred at the painting something unnerved her about it. She just couldn't place her finger on it.

As Sebastian readied everything for his mistress meeting for the night. Priding himself on the polished silver, the fresh ingredients and the white roses. that Ciel loved being in perfect. He heard the bell ring. He glanced at the wall of bells seeing that his mistress was summoning him from her study. Sebastian sighed. Wiping his hands off on his apron wondering hat in Earth could the girl want now, knowing how busy he was. As he went to see what she could possibly want he was unaware of three eyes watching him walk off.

As Sebastian returned from the study it was clear he was annoyed. She had mercy wanted something sweet. Though there was not many orders he could refuse. Request as trivial as that he could. After all she had a meeting at dinner that night and it would be rude as the host for her not to eat as well. She had pouted as he denied her. Grumbling obscenities under her breath Sebastian only smiled. Enjoying the fact he was getting under her skin. The two did so enjoy annoying the other. It kept things interesting. He never had that with his prey before. Usually they where to frightened of what he would do to them but Ciel had worded her contract just so that the two could get on the others nerves without any real consequence.

Ciel upon realizing she was not gong to get her way stood up and walked to the window. "Alright then. The portrait in the hallway. Take it down would you?" Sebastian was honestly taken aback by her request. She had been elated when the portrait had been returned the couple of years ago. He had found her a couple of nights curled up under it fast asleep. He watched her body language. She was stiff as she looked out at the trees blowing gently in the wind. Fiddling with he fathers ring on her thumb. A distant look in her eyes. Sebastion smiled. Bowing at the girl. ":It shall be done my lady."
As Sebastian returned to his duties he felt annoyance take hold as he looked at the chaos that has happened in his brief absence.

The garden was in shambles.

The china broken.

The meat burnt to a crisp.

"Now can someone please explain how this happened.

Finny burst into tears. He had thought the weeds would go away faster if he used extra strength weed killer. But the container he had used had been broken so as he stayed the weeds the container holing it stayed from the top. Spraying all the plants with the weed killer. Destroying everything in its wake. Mey-Ren had been trying to get a tea set they used for most guest but she had stumbled and the cabinet nearly fell on her. Honestly it was nothing short a miracle the woman was alive. And Baldroy had wanted to cook the meat for dinner. Wanting to save time he had taken a damn flame thrower to it. Honestly if the three did not have their uses outside of being servants Sebastion might have strangled the whole lot of them. Mey-Ren and Finny sobbed, apologizing for making a mess of things. Baldroy looked away. Feeling ashamed that he had failed his orders. It was clear the three had only been trying to help make his work load easier if they hadn't made a mess of things he would have been grateful but threy had olny increased his work load. Now he was going to have to salvage this night with nothing short of a miracle.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and looked at the three servants. Still a mess at their failure.

He sighed. After all

The Road to Hell is paved with good intentions.