( chapter eight ! )
"It is time to wake up, Miss."
Light streams into the room through the curtains, illuminating the skin of Leah who peacefully sleeps in a bed. Brunette hair encases her face, brushing against her pale skin as her eyes occasionally twitch, the long lashes moving along. A small streak of drool is almost past her chin and threatens to pool onto the pillow, the consequences of breathing through her mouth as she recharges her energy.
After being in a bad mood the night before, the girl did in fact retire early like Anna suggested. Leah practically melted into the warm sheets as soon as she hit them, sprawling out and falling asleep mere moments after her head touched the pillow. It seems her morning won't be as glorious though.
Agni leans his face in close to the teenager, staring down at her sleeping face, "Miss Leah.. it's time to wake up." The butler tries not to be too loud, but his past ten attempts to wake her haven't succeeded and he's beginning to wonder if he should pull her off the bed.
Rolling over onto her left side, Leah's eyes remain shut as she groans in her sleep. Wrinkling his brows, Agni finds it hard to believe anyone can be this heavy of a sleeper.
"Miss?" Agni asks, tilting his head.
There is a prolonged silence that fills the room, save for small chirps of birds from outside the window. The light shines on her eyes, and being half awake makes Leah's eyes begin to flutter. But much to Agni's surprise, the Barrett's reaction to his presence is anything but welcoming.
Staring blankly at Agni's face, it takes Leah a few long moments before she can comprehend who has their face so unreasonably close to hers. With a gasp, she sits up with haste and leaves the Indian butler little time to dodge her head, "What are you doing in here?!" she tries to not shriek.
The brunette has the look of a deer in headlights at the sight of Agni, now scrambling to get out of bed and cover herself with the plush blankets. Leah has only ever allowed one male, Thomas, to enter her room and see her in such a way, so any man other than him — even another butler — is unwelcome.
A look of surprise paints Agni's face, staring at the girl who now stands tense and practically dragged the entire blanket off the bed just to cover her already clothed body. "Good morning..? I wanted to inform you that breakfast has been prepared!" Despite Leah looking terrified of him at the moment, he still wears his brightest smile.
"That is reasonable enough for you to enter a lady's room?!" Leah harshly questions, frantically shaking her head along with her words.
Agni gapes, "Well—"
Cutting off the Indian butler is the entry of Anna who stops in her tracks at the sight of him, slowly closing the door behind her.
Smiling down at the maid, Agni places his hands together, "Namaste, Anna."
Anna gives an uneasy smile, "Good morning, Agni. May I ask what you are doing in the Lady's room?" she moves across the room to stand by Leah's side.
"I wanted to wake her for breakfast," Agni explains.
Nodding slowly, Anna side-eyes Leah who still stands tall and tense, "Well you don't have to worry about that.. It is my job to attend to the Lady in the morning." The maid confirms, flashing a kind smile.
Agni blinks in realization, "Ah, then I shall wake Sir Ciel instead. I apologize for the intrusion." he gives a quick bow and is out the door before the two women can blink.
"What is wrong with him? Coming into a lady's room like that.." Leah complains, letting the blanket drop to her feet and reveal her silk nightgown.
Anna moves over to the closet and prepares the girl's outfit for the day, "Perhaps things are different in India?" she suggests, pulling out a dress and shoes.
Grumbling in response, Leah moves to sit on the bed and let herself be dressed. The Barrett is naturally in a beautiful cerulean dress, decorated with small ruffles in the fabric that compliments the winter weather. Her shoes are a similar color, paired with gloves to cover her hands that she doesn't bother wearing at the moment.
Styling her hair, Anna decides to leave it down but curled, accompanied by a simple ribbon that goes around the top of her head. The night before, Leah and Anna discussed if it was in fact alright for her to keep her hair down. They decided that since she has yet to debut into society and is still sixteen, it shouldn't be a problem. Finally, to pair with her hair Anna uses a sheer rouge on Leah's cheeks to compliment the color of her lips.
Leah stands from her chair, turning her head at the sound of what she believes to be Ciel yelling, "I don't want breakfast.." The teenager complains, pouting her lips.
"You should eat, Mistress. You didn't eat dinner last night. If you continue the way you do, you'll just be bones soon.." Anna advises, walking with her to the door of the room.
"Perhaps that would be better," Leah mumbles, letting herself out the door.
In the well-decorated dining room of the townhouse, Leah stares down at her plate hesitantly, moving the curry around on her plate. Seated beside her at the head of the table is Ciel, Soma across from the Phantomhive while Lau is across from Leah, servants stationed behind their masters. The room is relatively quiet, save for occasional sounds of silverware clashing.
Giving the prince a frustrated look, Ciel decides to be the first to break the silence, "..So? How long do you two intend to stay in my house?"
"We'll leave once our work is done," Soma speaks while stuffing his face with French toast, Agni leaning down to refill his cup of tea.
An irk fights its way to make itself noticeable on Ciel, "And that is.." he trails off, looking for a straight answer.
Lau shifts his attention to the prince, spoon in hand, "Aren't you two looking for someone?"
Not bothering to place the usual feigned smile for Ciel on her face, Leah takes small bites of the french toast on her plate. There was an initial reluctance to try the prawn curry, which wasn't as bad as she anticipated, but the girl prefers to stick to the food she knows better. Sipping on her cup of tea, she occasionally lifts her eyes to observe the other inhabitants of the table.
"So what if they are? And why do you need to stay here also?" Ciel irritably complains, directing his attention to Lau.
"What's wrong with me staying here?" Lau laughs.
"Oh yes, we're looking for a lady," Soma nods as he chews, leaning down to pull out a poorly done drawing, "This lady." he hands it over for closer examination.
Holding the piece of paper in his hand, Ciel lets Sebastian, Lau, and Leah get close to see as well. They all hold a confused expression, trying to make out something from the drawing.
"Her name is Mina. She was a maidservant at my palace," Soma says, stuffing his face with food and leaving stray crumbs on his cheeks.
Ciel stares, "This is.."
Knitting her brows, Leah puffs her cheeks in the hopes that would make it any better, "Do you perhaps have a more.. professionally done drawing?" she treads lightly, trying not to offend with her words.
"I drew that. I drew it so good that once you see her in person you'll recognize her for sure! Isn't she a beauty?" The Indian prince appears proud of his amateurish art, partially blind even.
Placing her back against the chair, Leah subtly side-eyes Anna who got a glimpse of the drawing herself.
"Sebastian, can you find her with this?" Ciel asks.
The butler in black sweatdrops, "Even for me, that's.." he stutters. "I'll try my best then."
The drawing of Mina makes its way to Lau's hands, "I have never seen such a beautiful lady~" he gives a concerned smile.
"Of course! She is the most beautiful lady in my palace!" Soma releases a breath of air. "Thanks for the meal." he presses his hands together, crumbs decorating the perimeter of his mouth.
Ciel turns his head back towards Soma, "So, why is this woman in England?"
Unsurprisingly, the Phantomhive doesn't get his answer. Soma and Agni both abruptly leave the table, racing over towards a statue that was not previously there, kneeling to begin praying.
"Listen!" Ciel yells in frustration.
As her fiancé, Lau, and Sebastian gather to observe the two Indians and the statue, Leah stands from her chair. Glancing around the dining room, the Barrett huffs and signals for Anna to follow after her, walking out of the room.
"Is there anything to do today?" Leah complains, trying not to let her boredom get to her too quickly.
Anna follows close behind the girl, trying to think, "When Lord Phantomhive is not busy you could be with him.. For now, perhaps practice your studies?" she suggests.
The teenager pouts, "I have finished my studies. The only one I continue is my sword lessons. When do those end anyway? Surely there's nothing more to learn." Leah moves further down the halls, the sound of her heels against the floor echoing.
"Lady Barrett says you shall do them as long as necessary. That is why you practice at least once a week." Anna explains. "How about you play the piano? It has been a while since you practiced the pianoforte."
Stopping in the middle of the hallway, Leah thinks over her options before rolling her eyes, "I suppose that'll do."
A piano can faintly be heard from a secluded room in the townhouse, housing Leah and Anna. The Barrett is seated before the instrument, letting her thin and long fingers dance along to keys to play the tune to Moonlight Sonata.
Standing not far behind her, Anna listens and nods along, occasionally correcting a small mistake if necessary, "You're doing quite well, Miss!" she smiles.
Hums sound from the teenager, trying to drown out the strange sounds she's now hearing. Previously, she was hardly able to make out the sound of Ciel's violin but she found it peaceful. Now the music is replaced by a piece she's never heard before.
Playing for a few minutes longer, the piece finally comes to an end as Leah's hands rest against her lap, feeling the soft material of her dress skirts. "What now?" she asks.
"You can join Lord Phantomhive in his art studies?" Anna suggests, despite knowing the Barrett's distaste for art.
Seated beside Ciel, Leah reluctantly paints the display before her with intricate work. Although she's never been fond of art, she studied it at a young age and learned quite well. The only downside, it often makes her head hurt.
"Look for balance calmly and bring out the depth." Sebastian guides, allowing Ciel to focus on the display and canvas.
Soma speaks up from behind the earl, "What? Drawing a bottle is boring, isn't it!" he deadpans, turning to Meyrin and pointing at her. "Drawing a picture is better with a naked woman, right? So, woman! Undress!" Soma says, earning a disapproving gasp from Leah.
Meyrin immediately flushes at the prince's words, stumbling back and falling against Lau, "I will only undress in front of the man I love!"
"May I help?" Lau offers.
Eye twitching in irritation, Ciel kicks both Agni and Soma out of the room, "Get out!" he shouts.
"They are a lively duo.." Leah mumbles, making small brush strokes across her canvas, already nearly done with her piece.
Ciel huffs and returns to his seat, "Annoying is what they are." The Phantomhive glances at Leah's canvas, surprised at the work. "How are you already that far?!"
Glancing at her fiancé, she shrugs, "I just work quicker than you, I suppose." she purses her lips, taking a moment to look over her drawing.
There's a faint spark of admiration in Ciel's eyes, observing his fiancé in wonder. Due to not seeing each other often until about a few months ago, they never got to display their talents much to the other. The Phantomhive still learns new things about Leah daily, the list of things she is capable of seems endless to him.
"I feel like some of my skills disappeared..?" Leah pouts, "Did I not do better work at fourteen?" she asks Anna, letting the insecurity get to her.
Ciel and Leah now observe a group of toys placed around a small tree, toys made for the Funtom Company. The Phantomhive currently holds a stuffed rabbit, hugging it tightly against him to feel the material. Leah on the other hand fiddles around with a stuffed bear but quickly loses interest, looking at the other today.
Sebastian speaks up, "The samples of the limited Christmas goods from our Yorkshire factory have arrived."
"It feels good now that they remade it," Ciel says, releasing the rabbit to hand it over to Leah who glances at it with glistening eyes.
"Next, the production plan for next year has arrived from headquarters," Sebastian reads from a clipboard while following Ciel, "It seems new products like the Christmas Cracker are having favorable sales at the Herriot Department Store."
Ciel holds a popping toy in his hand and pulls the string to release the confetti, "Though since our kid customers are the majority, we need to keep producing new toys." he explains while he parades around the room.
The calm in the room is short-lived however when Soma and Agni burst into the room, startling Leah who squeezes the stuffed bunny a bit too hard.
"That's it. I have thought of a new business plan for you!" Soma smiles proudly, Agni behind him with a piece of paper that reads 'Business Plan'. "Look at this!"
The Indian pair get closer to Ciel to show him the drawing, an elephant with the words 'by Soma' beneath it. "A doll in the image of the Indian God Ganesh! But get this.. somehow.. the nose.. moves!" Soma excitedly exclaims, Agni smiling while he lifts another drawing to display the elephant with its nose in a different position.
"Get out!" Ciel shouts, once again kicking them out.
Leah holds the rabbit close to her, admiring the cute toy, "You don't have much patience, do you?" she smiles, trying to divert his attention.
"Not for them!" Ciel yells.
"Hmph.." Soma sighs in boredom, half of his body on the floor while the other half is on the rug. "What time will you finish? And just what the hell are you doing?"
Ciel yells in frustration, "Shut up! I can't concentrate!" The earl can hardly hide his anger anymore, fencing sword in hand.
Unlike Leah, Lau, and Anna who were originally in the room to just watch Ciel practice, Soma and Agni are once again getting on the boy's nerves and interfering with his schedule.
"No need to get mad." Soma purses his lips.
Ciel breathes in irritation and snatches the sword from Sebastian's hand, wielding two. "I get it.." he tosses one in Soma's direction. "If you want my attention that much, then be my opponent."
Soma catches the foil and swings it around, "I have only studied martial arts like Kalaripayattu and Silambam though. Meh, have it your way." Soma looks towards Ciel and smirks, "So if I beat you, you will play with me?"
"Only if you win." Ciel glares, "If you lose then you must be quiet and keep out of my way."
"Five bouts in three minutes. The one with the highest score wins." Sebastian announces, watching both boys on opposite ends of the room, getting into position. "So.. let's start!"
Almost immediately, Soma runs for Ciel who stands still, lifting to strike his opponent only to realize the fencing foil bends.
Turning back to look at Anna, Leah ignores the sounds of the clashing swords, "Is this fencing? I don't think I've seen it until now."
"You've never seen fencing, Miss?" Anna furrows her brows, "But you take your sword lessons."
"I take sword lessons, yes. Lessons that are nothing like this.." Leah turns back to observe how Soma and Ciel play. "Mine is much more.. violent? Less agile. I'm taught how to take out an enemy quickly and dodge their attacks but in a manner different to this." she explains.
Despite the amount of years she's spent with the Barrett family, there are quite a few things Anna hasn't seen and one of those is what happens behind closed doors between Leah and a sword. The maid has only ever seen the aftermath, a sweating, and slightly disheveled Leah. Whoever did better during the training would reflect on her mood.
"This feels like child's play compared to what I do. Perhaps I should have Elizabeth teach me," Leah tilts her head, observing quietly until she gasps when Agni intrudes to strike Ciel's arm.
Rushing over, she gets on her knees to observe Ciel's arm as his face contorts in pain, gently taking hold of it and trying to massage it in the hopes it makes him feel better, "Are you alright?" she questions, ignoring Sebastian kneeling to ask his master the same thing.
"Ci— Ciel sir! My deepest apologies! My body moved on its own when I thought the prince was going to lose!" Agni frantically apologizes, holding up the foil in his hand.
Approaching the Indian butler from behind is Soma, a happy smile on his face, "Ahahaha Agni! You have protected a master's like me really well. I praise you! Agni is my butler, he's all mine!" Soma sings, "In other words, I won!"
"Tha—" Ciel tries to interject, fighting his urge to push Leah away from his arm.
Picking up a fencing foil is Lau, tossing it to Sebastian, "Here, you should take reprisal for your master, butler."
"What are you going to do?" Soma asks teasingly.
Sebastian kneels to take one last look at Ciel who faintly enjoys his fiancé's attention, "It's because you were being mean to a novice who didn't know the rules."
"Wha—" Ciel becomes frustrated once again.
"However," Sebastian starts, standing from the floor. "When the master is injured like this, as a butler of the Phantomhive family, I cannot ignore it. Moreover, we are behind the planned schedule by ten minutes." his expression darkens.
"That's your real motive isn't it?" The Phantomhive stares at the back of his butler's head, glaring harshly.
"Interesting.. this is good. I shall allow this duel!" Soma smirks.
Agni gets into position.
"Agni! In the name of Kali the Goddess, you can't lose!" Soma encourages.
Sebastian takes position as well.
"Sebastian. This is an order! Silence that brat!" Ciel demands.
"Jo ajna."
"Yes, my lord."
The young Barrett continues to gently poke and prod at Ciel's arm, trying to relieve him of the dissipating pain, "I'm glad Thomas isn't here. He would entertain this behavior."
"What do you have against that butler anyway?" Ciel questions, simultaneously focusing on his fiancé and the two butlers gracefully dodging the other's attacks.
Leah shrugs, puffing her lips, "I don't know.. For as long as I can remember, he's gotten on my nerves. He follows me around everywhere, tells me things, and bothers me. I can't stand him. At least Anna knows when to leave me alone." she complains, moving his fingers up to the boy's wrist.
"Sounds like Sebastian," Ciel comments, earning a small giggle out of his betrothed.
The fight is suddenly halted by unforeseen circumstances, drawing Leah's attention away from Ciel. Fiddling with the now-broken sword, Sebastian smiles wearily.
"Oh my, the sword has broken."
This garners shocked looks from everyone in the room besides Leah, as they hadn't anticipated that being the outcome.
"This means that it'll be impossible to compete anymore, so this match ends as a draw?" Lau proposes.
"Ciel's butler is also pretty strong. Agni is the strongest fighter in my city! This is the first time somebody draw-ed with him!" Soma smirks, not noticing the bewildered expression from Ciel. "I'm impressed! Ciel's butler, seeing that you are so skilled, we shall stop for today!"
Sebastian bows, "It is my honor."
Ignoring the thanks and breaking away from Ciel, Leah travels across the room to pick up the fencing foil previously held by Agni. She squints her eyes to examine it before shifting her attention to Lau.
"Would you like to play with me, Lau?" The teenager smiles.
Lau smirks as he glances at the young girl, "But one of the swords is broken? Surely that wouldn't be fair.." he teases.
"Just dodge! I haven't learned traditional fencing. Something different, I'm sure you can manage." Leah gets herself into position, allowing Lau time to settle himself.
The rest of the room inhabitants look their way, watching the calm before Leah suddenly runs to strike. Ciel and Sebastian both stare incredulously, seeing Lau barely have a moment to move out of the way.
"Leah..?" Ciel questions.
Swinging the sword about, Leah watches as Lau manages to dodge her attacks, smiling as she tries to be more aggressive. Anna behind her finally understood just what exactly was happening behind those doors, staring in surprise.
Leah swipes the sword to her right, grazing the Chinese man's arm, before pushing herself back with the heels of her shoes. Her flowing dress skirts follow after her every move, a stark contrast to the current display from the girl.
Lau lets out a laugh while moving around the room, "You got me there."
"And I'm about to get you again!" Leah raises her voice before bringing herself closer to Lau, finding the one moment his guard is done before swiping the sword across his neck.
Ciel, Soma, and their respective butlers all stare in shock, not accustomed to seeing a woman twirl around with a sword, acting as if she isn't focused on points that would kill a person. Glancing at Leah's smiling face, her fiancé watches the twinkle in her eyes, seemingly unbothered by performing the way she did in front of men.
Giving a performative bow, the young Barrett drops the fencing foil to the floor and brushes a piece of hair behind her shoulder before turning to the rest of the group.
"I win!"