Kuroshitsuji/ Black Butler Fanfiction Ch 1 prt 3

"Gasp… gasp… gasp… S-Seba…stian…!" Cealia uttered. "I can… hardly breathe..!"

"Perhaps if I…"

"Oh…! Gasp!"

"Is that better?"

"I can't… feel my legs…!"

"Hold on. Relax yourself Young Mistress. Just one more…
pull!"

"Kyah!
P-please! M-my ribs! It's c-crushing me…!" Cealia gasped.

"A lady has not had her bones crushed by a corset. Not
yet." Sebastian said as he pulled the back strings of Cealia's tiny corset. "Alright. That should do. Are you still alive
Young Mistress?" Sebastian asked with a smile. Cealia smiled and giggled with a
cough.

"I'm still breathing." Cealia reassured him. Sebastian
went back to Cealia's closet.

"Your mother wanted you to wear your finest. That
would be the rose gown, correct?"

"Yes. It goes with the veiled hat." Cealia said.

"The one that slopes over the right
eye?"

"Yes, that's the one."

Sebastian took out the dress and the hat and helped
Cealia get dressed.

"You look quite charming Young Mistress." Sebastian
commented when Cealia finished dressing. She blushed.

"Thank you Sebastian." She said bashfully.

Suddenly, the two heard the carriage pull in.

"Come Young Mistress." Sebastian said. They heard
Madame Etolie call for Cealia and they rushed downstairs to the coach. They
were off.

Cealia took out her fan and fanned herself nervously.

"Are you alright Young Mistress?" Sebastian asked.

"I'm…" Cealia trailed off.

"Is it the corset Young Mistress?" Sebastian continued
slightly panicky.

"No. I'm just… nervous." Cealia said. "I'm scared."

"I see… I suppose I could understand why you are. Just
be yourself Young Mistress. You'll be fine." Sebastian comforted her.

"Thank you Sebastian…" Cealia whispered her thanks.

The rest of the ride was as silent as the grave. The
only noises heard were the horse's trotting, the carriage rattling, and the
soft, swift beating of Cealia's Japanese fan. Sebastian watched her concerned
as she tried to keep calm.

Finally, the coach came to a stop. Cealia peered out
of the carriage window and gazed at the towering manor. She began to fan
herself even faster. She saw her father come out of the front door and open the
carriage door.

"Hello my dear! You look simply gorgeous." Cealia's
father said with a smile. "It's good to see you too Sebastian!"

"The pleasure is all mine, my
lord." Sebastian bowed his head.

"She wouldn't leave without you?" Earl Louis chuckled.

"More or less, my lord."
Sebastian joked.

"Oh, Sebastian!" Cealia
blushed.

"Forgive me Young Mistress." Sebastian smiled. "I
promised I would accompany her, my lord."

"That's perfectly alright, but the Earl wishes to see
Cealia alone for a moment." Earl Louis said.

"… I see. Nevertheless, I will wait for the Young
Mistress outside their door." Sebastian persisted. Cealia and Sebastian got out
of the coach and entered Cliffe Manor. It was dark and eerie to Cealia. This
new Earl must be very mysterious, she thought. She fanned herself nervously.

Earl Louis led them to what looked like a large living
room sealed off by a large double door.

"Come Cealia. I will introduce you to the Earl."

Cealia reluctantly followed with Sebastian by her
side. Earl Louis opened the large double doors to reveal a dark room. It was
the Earl's office. The dark red velvet curtains sealed off light and shaded the
Earl's desk. Earl Louis walked in with Cealia and Sebastian.

"My daughter has arrived."

"… Oh, splendid."

"Sebastian, let's leave these two alone." Earl Louis
whispered to Sebastian.

"… I see." Sebastian reluctantly replied. Cealia
quickly turned to him and looked up at him with terrified eyes. Sebastian gave
her a smile and leaned to her ear.

"I will be right outside the door, Young Mistress. Don't
you worry." Sebastian whispered. Cealia calmed down a
little and watched them leave until the doors shut. Cealia turned to the Earl's
desk nervously.

"Please take a seat, Cealia." The Earl said. Cealia
didn't reply. She then took a seat in front of the Earl's desk.

"…" Cealia was silent. I can't see his face, she
thought.

"You're quite bashful, Cealia." The Earl commented. "It's
adorable."

"Thank you…" Cealia blushed nervously.

"Earl Louis told me a lot about you. He described you
quite vividly. You certainly fit the bill."

"W-what exactly did my father tell?" Cealia stammered.

"He said you were pretty as a picture."

"O-oh…"

Everything fell silent.

"You know my dear, I adore the color red." The Earl broke the silence. "You'd look gorgeous in red."

"Why thank you…"

"You needn't be afraid of me. Make yourself
comfortable and we can call in your butler to prepare us some tea." The Earl
consoled her.

Immediately, Sebastian came in. He did very well in
hiding scorn.

"My lord wishes to speak with the Young Mistress."
Sebastian said. Cealia got out of her chair and went outside, closing the doors
behind her. As soon as they were shut, Sebastian shot a red hot glare at the
Earl.

"Oh my, Sebastian darling, why in the world would you
give me a look like that?"

"I knew it. I knew it was you from the start Grelle Sutcliffe."