25 🦇 𝔖𝔥𝔢/ℌ𝔢𝔯

They were ever so sweet, and seeing them made you want a child of your own. Sometimes you'd allow them to spend the night if they arrived back far too late into the night, while other times during the morning, you'd allow them inside to help break their fast when they'd walk by with growling stomachs. Your home was very homely, and all who came by felt a sense of warmth and security. However, deep in the bowls of your humble abode, lies your husband's morbid labors.

Your husband has returned to his calling as an undertaker, opening a parlor within the village, burying the deceased for mourning kin. From time to time, you offered him aid in the parlor, but you found yourself more at home than not. You would observe as he laid the coffins to rest, unknown to their grieving family, that they were but hollow shells. Within your shared abode, deep below, there lay rows upon rows of coffins, containing souls eternally at peace. Your husband, lost in profound contemplation, delved into experiments concerning the spirits of the mortals he has gathered.

While being an undertaker for the village, he was also harvesting souls of the soon to die, collecting their films for his morbid curiosity. You'd watch him slave away over a record, trying to bring their end to a new continuation. Many times, did you watch him grumble in failure when a film would become far too corrupted or just simply cease to exist. He'd be hunched over his desk for hours, neglecting his need to eat and sleep. Most nights, you'd have to collect him for the night, convincing him to come to bed, while other nights he'd argue with you or simply ignore you.

Such has been your existence these past several months. Arise, prepare breakfast, rouse your husband from his slumber, or bring to him his breakfast below stairs, unless he be out, engaged in the harvesting of a soul. Thenceforth, you would extend warm greetings to the youthful ones who did pass by your abode, bestowing upon them sustenance or bestowing their initial few coins in the course of their long day. Then, you would engage in the dusting and cleaning, perchance venturing into the town to procure food and other necessities. Upon your return, you might witness your husband in discourse with a patron regarding their beloved, ask him for a proper burial for their departed one, or you might return to find the village shrouded in the somber atmosphere of a funeral.

By the middle of the day, you would prepare lunch for your husband, for he was often at the parlor by then, exhibiting his customary aloofness. As the twilight hours approach, you would either ply your hand at preparing the evening feast or bid adieu to your husband as he left for the night, a nightly ritual. For it is during this hour that the forces of mischief do enter into mortals, inciting them to undertake most villainous deeds.

In the twilight hours, the youthful ones would return to the village, whereupon you might either bid them to remain for the night or buy their final offerings. In the early morning, you would descend the stairs, endeavoring to persuade your enchanted husband to take his rest, or perchance to merely observe him with concern.

For the next few months, that was your life... It all changed, however, when your husband finally made a breakthrough. You were upstairs in your shared bed chambers. Your coffin was usually the only one being warmed, it was ever so lonely. Gently opening your casket, you sat up, your hair a mess having just roused from your slumber at the usual hour. You looked over at the clock, seeing it was 3:30 am. With a tired sigh, you began your nightly routine.

You stretched before you stood from your coffin, quietly stepping out as you walked over to your bedroom door, gathering your robe, you slipped it on, securing it tight as you moved through your quiet home. You quietly walked towards the door leading to your basement, you opened it, seeing the familiar flickering light from the candle alit downstairs. You sighed as you walked down the steps, a few groaning in protest as a weight was burdened on it.

On the fifth step, a strange noise sounded out making you freeze in your decent, you listened for the noise, but it didn't sound again, shaking your head you blamed it on your worrying mind, continuing your adventure, however, the noise sounded out again, and this time you were able to place a name to the noise. It sounded like a human man groaning. Your brows twitched at the thought. With a heavy heart, you continued down the stairs, your husband's hushed whispers sounding out. He sounded like he was trying to comfort something or someone while also sounding gleeful.

Once down the steps, you looked over at your husband, his back facing you as he sat on the edge of an open casket, the sound of a man groaning sounded out again and your husband chuckled. "I comprehend, I comprehend… You are in great distress and most dreadfully perplexed, for which I must extend my apologies… Nevertheless, you are exceedingly lovely. Indeed, you are." He spoke. You stared with confusion as you wrapped your arms around yourself tightly.

"Love?.... Dear?.... Is everything alright?" You asked with an increasing sense of dread. Your husband didn't turn to you, his attention focused on whatever laid beyond the coffin he sat upon, whatever that may be, you didn't want to know. "Dear.... you should come to bed soon... it's late, and your coffin is dreadfully cold next to mine." You spoke, trying to convince him to pull away from whatever it was that was bewitching him. He sighed happily as he looked back at you, his usual wide grin on his face, but it seemed very proud.

"Dearest Love…approach hither, if you would be so kind?" He asked sweetly as he held a palm out to you. You stood there for a moment, shifting from foot to foot with battling thoughts. You shook your head. "No... I want you to come to bed, love." You spoke, your voice full of worry with an edge of fear. He tilted his head to the side. "I shall shortly attend to the matter, I assure you, but do indulge me by coming hither first… I yearn to reveal to you a sight most exquisite." He spoke with a dreamy like voice.

With a single glance back up the stairs, your thoughts pulling between going back up the stairs and going over to your husband weighed on you. You stared at your husband, thinking over his request, it wasn't much, in fact he wasn't asking for much at all, but it was the way he was acting that made it seem so daring. However, you wanted your husband to come to bed, and he promised he would once he showed you, and your husband never broke any promise. So, with a heavy sigh, you slowly walked over to your husband.

You body haven't felt this heavy in so long, it was laboring just to pick up your foot, but you eventually made it close enough for you to stretch out your arm and allow your smaller hand to be gently enclosed within his larger one. With a gentle tug, he pulled you towards him, wrapping his arm around your waist as you sat down on his lap. Your gaze locked onto the nightmare that was lying within the casket below.

"Dearest, behold the wonder of him, is he not most delightful?" He asked as he stared down with you. Your head slowly shook from side to side as the weight of what your husband has been doing all this time weighed heavy on you. "What have you done?" You asked softly. He leaned his head onto your shoulder gently. "I have discovered a most remarkable breakthrough and, indeed, vanquished Death himself." He said with pride.

The lamentations of the tormented gentleman were the final echoes that graced your memory as your dreadful nightmare came to an abrupt conclusion. The next occasion you did become aware of your surroundings, you find yourself nestled within your casket, enveloped in warmth and bliss unparalleled, a feeling that was lost to a realm most ancient and forgotten. Your back was pressed tight to the side of your plush casket while your front was cuddled into a more firm surface.

Your eyes adjusted to your darken surroundings, your gaze becoming accustomed to the dark fairly quickly, and you observed your sleeping husband, his hair encircling your both, as does his arms. His legs bunched up underneath your bum, your coffin far too small for his lengthy form, but he somehow managed to squeeze into the confined space. Your legs tangled around his waist, your arms bunched up in between your bodies. You stared up at his handsome face in a daze. It's been since forever when you both last laid like this.

Back in your courting days, this was common, it's been eons since the only time you both laid like this in recent years was simply do to you both sharing a night of passion. You gave a peaceful sigh, as you rested a while longer, wanting this moment to last forever, but you were brought from you musing when the sound of harsh knocking sounded out from your front door. Your brows twitched in confusion.

'Who the devil would be up at this ungodly hour?' You thought in confusion. You reached up to the lid of your coffin, pushing it open gently as to not rouse your husband from his much needed slumber, but the moment sunlight pierced the small gap, your eyes widen in alarm and you pushed open the lid harshly, with a bit of struggle you peeled yourself from your husband's form as you sat up and looked about your bedroom in confusion. 'It's morning?... Since when?' You pondered, but your thoughts were interrupted once more when the knocking commenced.

You quickly gathered yourself, using your inhuman speed to cleanse and dress yourself properly before you opened the door to your home, revealing the familiar faces of the younglings that always traveled into town. "Ello, madam!! Might you be kind in bestowing upon me a sovereign of the queen in exchange for a loaf of bread?" The young girl asked. You smiled down at her, hiding your troubles. "But of course dearie, I'd gladly buy two loafs from you, you're just in time, for I was in the middle of making breakfast when I noticed that I was low in bread, bless you kindly." You explained as you dug into the pocket of your cooking apron, digging out a few coins.

Giving her the coins, she smiled excitedly before she pocketed them in turn, giving you two loafs. You took them from her with a sweet smile. "Thank you kindly, now be off with you and stay safe." You bid her farewell with parting words. She smiled sweetly as she bid you farewell. You watched her little body slowly vanish down the hill, and your smile faded. You stepped back and closed the door, the loafs in your hands feeling weightless as you walked to the kitchen, placing them gently on the counter.

In all honesty, you had nothing cooking at all, your mind clouded with confusion on where did the night go, you remembered your husband being down stairs, and you went to go get him to being him into retirement for the night, only to be met with a terrible discovery. You looked towards the basement door, your heart heavy as you walked over to it, your mind filled with curious wonderment at the thought of wanting to see what it is that your husband was doing exactly.

You knew he was fiddling with the cinematic records, and you knew that was what reapers collected in order to cast rightful judgment upon a soul, watching it like a performance of some kind. You knew it was only truly harvested once the soul was to be stored away at the end of their life, but your husband was looking for a way to continue the reel in some way, overcoming death and over riding it's almighty hand. You didn't agree with it, for you believed that every soul should be allowed to rest after its long winding journey, but you also understood why he did what he did. With a steeled resolve, you snatched open the door and descended down the stairs.

You stared on with wide eyes, blinking owlishly in confusion at your own thoughts and memories these past few months. In the basement, the army of coffins you remember seeing filled with cadavers was gone, almost like it was never down here. In fact, everything that was down here was now gone, and it seemed like a normal basement. Your reality almost seemed like a joke as you seen cobwebs, piles of dust, and boxes of unpacked luggage from when you both first packed laid about.

Towards the rear of the basement, laid a very familiar coffin, it was an older coffin, polished enough to be cared for but plain enough to not stand out, it was a special coffin and one that your husband treasured truly so, as did you. Within it held your future, the family you always wanted with your husband lied within that precious coffin. You sighed tiredly as you gazed about the normal basement. You were so lost in your musing that your husband was able to sneak upon you.

His hands gently caressed your arms, slowly trailing down to your hands, before they traveled to your hips and over your waist, his cold breath on the side of your neck as he spoke. "Dearest love… what fortune has brought you to this dilapidated abode? 'Tis hardly a fitting scene for a lady." He spoke evenly. You leaned back into him, feeling his hands gently rest on your stomach, and your hands gently laid over them. "I was curious as to what lays down here... although I'm not sure what I was looking for... it all seems like a bad dream now." You spoke softly, your gaze still locked onto the coffin in the distance.

His lips pressed onto your neck gently with a kiss before he spoke once more. "Might you be inclined to narrate the tale of the nature of the dream you encountered?" He asked. You hummed in thought. "It was about you... You were tampering with the dead, manipulating their records as a means to obliterate the meaning of the word 'end'" You explained. It was his turn to hum. "My... what a most extraordinary dream that was indeed… whatever might have prompted you to experience such an odd vision in your slumber?" He asked curiously as he gently rocked you both from side to side.

You stayed silent for a moment before you spoke. "Perhaps it was something I consumed." You pondered. He nodded. "Aye... I would concur. It would not astonish me if it were the doing of that youthful fellow. You are aware how these youngsters delight in the vile indulgence of narcotics and the like." He said. You nodded, agreeing with what he said. He looked over at the coffin that lay in the distance, and he tightened his grip around your waist ever so slightly. "Well, shall we retire once more to our love basket and indulge in additional slumber? I find myself most fatigued from the demands of yesterday, which proved to be quite an industrious day at the parlor." He said.

You sighed. "I suppose you're right... I'm still tired myself... and we haven't cuddled like that in eons... Can we make that a habit?" You pleaded as your turned in his arms, causing him to lean back some, his hands resting on the small of your back as his thumbs drew tender circles on your waist. A fond smile on his face as he nodded. "But most assuredly, my dear love, I could procure for us a more spacious coffin with that very intent, thereby… when he does awaken from his protracted slumber, he might partake in our love basket comforts." He said gently. You smiled up at him. "Would you really?" You asked hopefully. He nodded. "I truly would love, that I would." He promised.

Opening your eyes groggily, you moaned and sighed tiredly as you sat up with a stretch. "Morning already?" You ask dazed as you looked up at your husband through squinted eyes. He smiled gently down at you, yet it was filled with underlined thoughts and secrets. "Indeed, my dear love, yet we shan't open the shop today… for its with regret I declare that yesterday marked the final occasion upon which we did so, alas my dear." He said. Your eyes widened at this, for this was news to you. "WHAT!?" You shouted in surprise as you moved to get out of your coffin.

He stepped back some as he held out his hand, aiding you in climbing out of your coffin. You spoke as you did so. "Why didn't you tell me that!? And what's causing this sudden change in profession?? You can't just go making crazy decisions like this all willy nelly whenever you please, that you can't." You fussed while standing beside him, your hands upon your hips. He maintained his silence, a kind smile gracing his lips as he lent an ear. Yet, his muteness proved sufficient to precipitate an epiphany within you. "It has to do with the young lord, doesn't it?" You asked softly. He nodded.

"My dearest, the hour has arrived… gather your most cherished possessions, for we shall depart as soon as you're prepared." He said. You stared at him with a worried stare. "Are you sure about this?? Don't you think it's a little too soon to act?" You questioned. He turned away from you, walking over to the other coffin he himself dwells in, picking the lid up as he moved to close it. "The young lord draws ever nearer to his destined place; thus, I must likewise be present in my appointed position to ensure his rightful evolution." He explained as he closed his coffin gently. You observed him, listening to his words before you looked back at your own open casket.

"I suppose you're right." You mumbled. For the next few hours, at a moderate pace, you packed, and he offered you aid. Neither of you moving with haste. Every corner of the morbid parlor held fond memories, for 30 years you helped him run this establishment, long before you ever married him, watching the late young Vincent run around with bright, curious eyes as he played with his sister. They both always had such fun here in this place, meant for death. They met all sorts of wayward souls that ventured through this place.

Most grieving, others just simply curious while others on strict business. Opening your file cabinet, you came across some old photos of the late Phantomhive family. Some were of Vincent when he was but a lad, same for his sister, other were family photos with the current earl. However, in all of Vincent childhood photos, there was but one common denominator. There was never a father in the photos. Never a dominate male figure, just the late Claudia Phantomhive and her two children. You gathered up all the photos, none housed your being, but you didn't fret over it.

They were precious memories whether you were a part of them or not. One photo made you pause in your task, it was a wedding photo, housing your husband. He was ever so handsome, his hair tied up in a black ribbon, and his suit black and white instead of white and black. He looked ever so joyous, but it wasn't your wedding photo. You quickly gathered up all the photos, collecting them all together with tender hands, gently storing them in a small box.

Once everything was packed on the back of the carriage, you watched as your husband fastened the binds on the cargo, making sure it was stable for the long venture ahead of you both. You looked back at the parlor once more, the back door was propped open, revealing the now empty establishment within. You stared into the dark void, watching as ghosts of memories ran by. You stared for as long as you could before your husband called out for you.

"(Y/N), Come, my dearest! We must embark upon our fair journey!!" He called as he finished fastening the binds. When you didn't respond, he looked back in question, seeing you staring longingly into the now empty parlor. His curious frown turned into an understanding smile. "Come, my dear, this venerable structure shall discover anew purpose, for the hand of death has passed through, marking the conclusion of a protracted chapter of its existence. Soon, it shall metamorphose into something entirely different, harboring fresh reminiscences, for with death shall arise a new dawn." He said, you sighed as you kept your gaze locked onto the parlor.

"I know, love." You said disheartened as you kept gazing into the parlor. He walked over to you, gently placing a hand on the small of your back. "Come, my dearest, we must venture forth to confront the morrow, for death has firmly shut its portals upon us within this drawing room, and has bestowed upon us a novel cycle of existence with the path that lies before us; we shall find equal merriment as we did within these walls." He said sweetly. With a heavy heart and with burdened thoughts, you spoke. "But... what if along the way... we lose each other?... Then what?" You asked as you finally looked over at him. His smile never wavered.

"Then we shall be compelled to seek one another once more, for you and I are entwined by the delicate threads of affection, our reel shall ever spin, and our tale shall know no conclusion. Come now, for we must take our leave, as not all portals remain ajar eternally. They were fashioned for closure." He said as he rubbed his cheek against yours gently. You closed your eyes as you cuddled up into him, appreciating the comfort he provided. Your smile slowly revealed itself, and he gave a light chuckle at the sight.

"There she is, ever so lovely." He said as he caresses your cheek, you leaned into his palm lovingly. You both stayed there for a moment, embracing in the crossroads before he pulled away slightly. "Come, my dear, we are to embark upon a most delightful adventure before us." He said. You nodded, finally ready to part ways. You never thought that you would ever grieve again, but like your husband always says, "... Death is ever linger near and pervades all realms..." With one last final look into the parlor, you shut the doors for the last time, locking them.

Both of you made your way towards the carriage, wherein he assisted you unto your seat before he ascended onto his own, and with a crack of the reins, the steeds did commence their trot. With gazes ahead as both of you made your way to the locksmith, entrusting him with the keys to your parlor for eternity, before you parted from the fair city of London, embarking upon a new course in life. Death bidding you both farewell as you departed London forever.

The trip lasted over the course of a day in a half, while traveling you both discoursed in various topics, from the little lord, to the case he's dealing with as of late, to his crow, eventually leading into more deeper topics such as life and death, space, and time itself. It's been a long while since you both held such conversations such as this, it was enjoyable, too. Eventually, you both stubbled upon a forest, and from the way your husband was acting, it wasn't a wrong turn.

His cheerful demeanor, however, began to shed itself, revealing a more somber emotion, one you weren't all too familiar with, as it wasn't common it would show itself. Through the forest, you could see that it turned into a hill, shrouded in darkness, a mansion could be seen. "Dear... are we by chance going to that mansion?" You asked curiously as you eyed it. "Indeed, we are most assuredly are love." He said.

The ride wasn't too much longer and he eventually stopped at the foot of the hill, you both sat there for a peep in silence, but it was broken by the sound of him rustling through his sleeve, pulling out your small caldron filled with his favorite bone shaped biscuits that you made earlier that morning. Pulling one out with a joyous smile, he waved it about. "I find myself utterly entranced by these delightful morsels~ They warm the icy recesses of me heart with every indulgent bite." He said as he sunk his teeth into it. He chewed away happily for a moment before he offered you the caldron.

You gave him a sweet smile as you shook your head, declining. He shrugged as he chewed away ever so happy. It did warm your heart to behold him so exuberant; his whimsical moods has been bouncing most tumultuously since the very moment you both arrived at the foot of this hill, and it did cause you concern; yet he appeared more at ease now, hence you refrained from fretting any further. You both sat there in silence for a while before you spoke up.

"Do tell, is the little lord here?" You asked. He nodded. "Indeed, my dear, here… he shall be able to henceforth possess the fortitude to close the portal upon one of his myriad sorrows." He explained. You stared at him with a woeful gaze before you looked up towards the mansion. "Do be careful, Ciel..." You said softly.

For the next few hours, you and your husband became comfortable in the newly acquired spot. Having rode for a few more hours, he stopped somewhere along the path in the woods. The darkness was comforting, and the night was glamourous. Your eyes closed in rest but not slumber as you waited for whatever it was that your husband wanted to observe. The sound of something exploding in the distance sounded out, and you snatched open your eyes in alarm. You looked around yourself, staring off into the distance of the dreary woods. Seeing nothing was amidst, you looked over at your husband, who was already looking upwards.

You followed his gaze, seeing a large pillar of smoke rising into the sky. "Dear... don't tell me that's coming from the mansion!?" You asked in alarm. Your husband said nothing as he chuckled to himself, causing you to look over at him in trepidation. "Love, this is no laughing matter!!" You spoke with lecture, but he didn't seem to register what it was you were saying, taking a bite that seemed to be filled with warning, causing you to clamp up. He spoke aloud seemingly to himself, but his voice held slight frustration

"My lord, what counsel did I offer you? 'You must tend to your soul, for you are granted but the one.' " He said, you listened to your husband vent his frustrations before you looked back up towards the pillar of smoke, worry filled you as you dared not think of what could've possibly happened. The sound of metal gently clanking together sounded out, catching your attention. You looked over at your husband, seeing him fiddle about with his memorial chain around his waist.

"You possess formidable power at your command; yet, perchance at some point, you have ceased to perceive the burden of your actions irreversible. It has transformed into a matter that shall only be discerned when you are overwhelmed beneath its weight." He vexed with forewarning as his hand seemed to naturally take a tender hold onto one of the many small obituaries that housed a specific strand of hair, one belonging to the late Claudia.

His words holding weight to them as the small ornament seemed to weigh so much in his slender fingers. "Yet I find myself in repetition, for I can not refrain from pondering how often I have bestowed upon you the same warning… Hmmm, mayhap you are aware, Phantomhive." He spoke with tiring frustrations before it leaked into a more curious wonderment of the boys' morbid thoughts. You yourself couldn't help but wonder the same thing as your husband.

The esteemed Scotland Yard has been the ones bringing these forlorn spirits into your emporium of the deceased, it's been an unceasing cargo shipment of the lot as well. Day and night you and your husband worked earnestly to bring these gentlemen back to their proper selves, going as far as traveling to the crime scene and picking up each fine shard of bone, brain matter, tissue, and veins that could be harvested from the cobblestone crevasses. Sometimes, your endeavors proved fruitful and you'd be able to fix the lost souls faces back into it's once intact appearance, Yet, it is often most prudent to surmise that they shall never resemble their former selves in life.

With a tired sigh, you plopped down ungracefully yet grateful onto the small sofa made for lovers, making yourself comfortable. Earlier, you had boiled a kettle of tea for you and your husband. You've been ever so delighted to have the beautiful tea set that your husband purchased for you. You've made use of it every time you've gotten a chance to make a cup for both yourself and your husband, along with some bone shaped biscuits. Quietly you were nursing a tea cup in your hand, your husband has made do with entertaining himself with a skeleton next to you, feeding a ribbon through it's ribcage, a proper wide smile graced his lips as he stared down at the cadaver beauty, a newspaper folded neatly in half was sitting next to him as he worked.

As of late, there has arisen a troubling trend where youthful unfortunate souls do vanish beneath the cloak of night, By the following morning, a child would be lost, and a band of benevolent constables would have met their untimely demise. It was a rather queer situation. This dismal news brought no astonishment to either of you, for every instance a new patron arrived, the gentlemen would discourse upon the lost lambs, a most vexing matter, indeed.

Right up under that grim story, there was a promotion for a circus in town, 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔑𝔬𝔞𝔥'𝔰 𝔄𝔯𝔨 ℭ𝔦𝔯𝔠𝔲𝔰, You did find it most peculiar that younglings would vanish without a trace upon the arrival of the circus, and much like your eccentric husband, you both were expecting a visit from the little lord soon.

By the hour that afternoon did draw near, a patron had meandered into your grim establishment. "UNDERTAKER, ARE YOU ABOUT!?" Came the familiar voice of the little lord. Your husband chuckled as he heard the voice. "Goodness me~! It appears that the diminutive Phantomhive has at last bestowed upon us his esteemed presence." He said in an amused voice as he rubbed his cheek against the skeletons. You hummed in agreement as you sipped your tea one last time before you sat it down.

"That he has, come love, make yourself known to him, I'll clean up here." You said as you stood, he stood as well, placing the skeleton down lovingly in a pose on the sofa. "Most excellent, my dear, I shall proceed to engage in a brief discourse with the young lord." He said as he merrily made his way to the door. You sighed as you quietly collected the set, rinsing out all the china before cleaning and washing them, and hanging them to dry over the sink. You dried your hands, looking around the vicinity with an observant eye, searching for any more messes.

The operation table where a gentleman once laid at was still a gruesome mess, along with flasks of brain matter, bone fragments, eyeballs, musculature, and veins. As well as a few measuring jars of embalming liquids, alcohol, cotton balls, and tweezers laid scattered about. A next to the table sat a trolley of surgical equipment, all having been properly sterilized soon after the operation was done. You sighed at the mess. "Such a grizzly sight, I best to make haste with it before it began to congeal and harden." You said as you made your way over to the sight. It took a few hours, choosing to move at a more moderate pace, not in any rush at all to make an appearance up front. When the task was completed, the vicinity appeared immaculate, as though it had never borne witness to such a ghastly scene. You dried your hands on a towel, your eyes moving about looking for another mess.

Your eyes landed on the empty tray that once housed the many bone shaped biscuits that you baked earlier, nothing but crumbs left behind to show the evidence of their exitance. You rolled your eyes, as you were sure that your husband snatched the remainder of them, they were his favorite after all. You didn't really care to consume food. Instead, you usually settled on drinking blood as a form of nourishment. With the ceaseless amount of cadavers provided, you were never truly famished, albeit it seemed a lamentable folly when a patron was ushered in mere hours later; yet, it was a lavished banquet when they were delivered shortly following their demise.

As dreary as it were, newly-borns were often brought forth with utmost swiftness upon their departure from this world, for the blood of the newly-born was deemed the finest. It remained untainted, pristine, unmarred by the transgressions of existence. You picked up the crumb filled cookie pan, rinsing out the mess before you dried it, placing it in a lower cupboard under the skin. With a pleased sigh at the state of cleanliness, you made you way up to the front, the soft laughter of your husband sounding out. With an amused huff, you opened the door, revealing your chuckling husband behind the checkout counter while the young lord's appearance was in disarray.

His hair was a nest, and his coat along with his hat was discarded on a near by newly purchased sofa behind him, leaning against the front of the checkout counter was his short cane, his dainty necktie was untied and laid carelessly around his neck, his sleeves rolled up, his skin shined with a light sheen of sweat and he seemed tired. You stared on with an arched brow at the scene. "Come now, dear. Telling a joke shouldn't cause you that much labor, no, it shouldn't." You said as you made your way over to the boy, pulling a handkerchief from your pocket as you lightly dabbed his face clean of sweat. "Madam, with all due respect, the Undertaker is a loon of most peculiar humor. The fellow is most exceedingly difficult to induce to laughter. It is, indeed, a miraculous feat that Sebastian managed to evoke even a semblance of mirth from him, merely by means of jest." The boy said with a sideways glare at the chuckling man.

Sebastian eased his way inside, an amused smirk on his face. "I presume you have triumphed, my young lord?" He asks with mirth laced in his voice. The little lord huffed in annoyance as he allowed you to fix his tie, lifting his chin to allow you some room. "Oh sod off you." He said in mild annoyance. Sebastian made his way towards you both, picking up the discarded coat from the sofa as he did so, waiting patiently as you combed your fingers through his hair gently, fixing it to its once pristine appearance. "Performing such tricks at command for the queen's pleasure, my lord, you are indeed a faithful hound, are you not?" Sebastian said, jabbing at the young earl. "Hush now, that shall suffice from you." The boy said with a glare as he looked back at his servant.

Once you were finished with his hair, you stood up straight with an amused look on your face as you stared down at him. Your hands on your hips. "I'm not surprised that you had a hard time telling him a joke good enough to even make him chuckle, given how stiff you are." You said. The boy huffed in annoyance as he positioned his arms correctly so that Sebastian could place his coat on his shoulders properly. "Ugh, don't bring such matters to my recollection." He said tiredly while Sebastian chuckled. You sighed fondly down at the young earl before you walked over to your husband's side.

"What a delightful little spectacle, I should never have anticipated such a performance to emerge from your modest sleeves." He spoke in merit. The boy glared daggers at the undertaker while Sebastian turned his head away as he chuckled quietly at his master's dispense. You noticed a stack of paper on the counter, standing behind your still trembling husband you read over the first sheet of paper, seeing that it was related to the case of the missing younglings. It was of a young lass, she looked so very sweet, the poor child. You were brought from your musing when a commanding voice that belonged to the earl called out, beginning business, having had enough with being properly embarrassed for the evening.

"There, I have discharged you your absurd fee; now, pray tell, what do you know of the vanished children?" He demanded. Your husband sat up properly, his elbows on the counter as he got comfortable, his ever amused smile forever present. "Well, nothing." He answered, causing both the young earl and Sebastian to stare on in puzzlement. "What?" They both asked in sync. You sighed. "It's as my husband said, we know nothing of these sweet, little lambs." You said with disappointment. Your husband nodded as he reached out to pick up one of the sheets. "Indeed, she does speak truth, for none of these hapless, unfortunate souls have ever graced my clientele, nor has any whispers come to me ears that bear resemblance to their portrayals." He further explained.

The young earl seemed perplexed while also displeased as he walked closer to the counter. "Do pray tell, Undertaker. Are you implying that you are entirely ignorant of this matter, and that my visit has been in vain?" He spoke, sounding calm and collected, yet you could see the frustration at the possible notion of having no lead on his case. You cocked your head to the side. "Mmm, not quite, little lord." You said. He looked up at you with a questioning stare. "'Not entirely'? Then do please explain to me what does that signify? He has just imparted to me that he possesses no knowledge whatsoever!" He argued, ready to throw a fuss. But your husband was quick to act. "She is not mistaken, I assure you." He spoke up with an amused tone.

The young lord's eye darted down back towards him. "What? But you have just merely declared -." He was cut off when your husband spoke up once more. "What I do know is but the acknowledgment of me own ignorance." He said calmly. The young lord stared at him with further confusion. The silence was broken when Sebastian spoke up with his own perplexed expression. "A most astute observation. Should he possess no knowledge of the matter, it does indeed imply that none amongst the nether realms have perpetrated their demise. Would you not concur, my lord?" He spoke his thoughts aloud, helping his young lord to understand the words that Undertaker was sprouting. "Indeed, if their corporeal forms have not been discovered within either circle, it does imply that they still breathe. In such circumstances, I daresay our sole recourse is to embark upon a personal investigation of that wandering circus." He spoke, seeming satisfied with this conclusion. You nodded, agreeing with his train of thought.

"That's right, which means they may very well be still alive somewhere either within or somewhere close by to the circus. Either way, that band of entertainment is bound to be connected." You said, soundly akin to a proud mother. The boy nodded as he grabbed his cane, making his way out of the establishment, pleased with the results of his findings. "We shall proceed there swiftly. Come hither, Sebastian." He said as he plucked his hat from the sofa as he walked past it, Sebastian bowing in farewell to you both as he turned to follow his lordship. The young earl spoke once more as he made his way towards the entrance of the establishment, Sebastian hot on his heels. "Undertaker, do make haste to contact me should you procure any further intelligence." He spoked.

You stared at the boy with slight worry, as you always did when he came in for a new case, you knew he'd be just fine with his black shadow always by his side, but you still couldn't help but to worry. Your husband spoke up. "Do not forget, M'lord!!" He spoke in slight earnest, causing the boy to pause at the open doorway that Sebastian opened for him. "Each of us is bestowed but a singular soul; therefore, do tend to your own with utmost care." He wisely spoke in a calmer, sane, yet fatherly like tone. Your eyes shifted down to your husband for the briefest of seconds before you looked up at the young earl and his crow. The little lord stared back at him questionably. "hmph, I find myself in scarce need of such counsel." He spoke in a dismissive tone before he parted from the vicinity of your sight. Sebastian turned towards us one last time as he bowed in departure before he moved to close the door.

With a gleeful chuckle and a wave of his hand, your husband spoke up in challenge. "My~, are you certain of that? Hehehe~." He said before the door was closed, and the little lord was gone once more. For a spell, you both gazed in silence upon the closed portal, ensnared in your own muddled musings, yet both fixating upon the same thought. "Dear... Are you sure we shouldn't get involved and separate the young lad?" You asked your husband, worry in your voice. Your husband's smile softened to a more thoughtful one as he rested his chin over his palm. "In the fullness of time, my dear. For it's most premature to take action; his mind is with confusion and his memories entombed in trauma. Should we act with haste, we might irrevocably seal his fate." He spoke.

You hum with a melancholic air in assent; your husband mayhap a fool, yet he is by no means deranged nor adrift in folly; he possesses an awareness surpassing that which many would ascribe to him. You sighed sadly before you looked down at the stack of papers the little lord left behind. You grasped the stack, perusing the pages with great tenderness; each new sheet contained a name, an age, a birthdate, and a description of a youngling. Gazing upon their adorable visages in the likeness rendered stirred within your heart, heavy with concern for their welfare. You wished to get involved, but your husband always prevented you from doing so, for he believes that the little lord must travers through these tribulations alone in order to uncover his own truth.

It was a questionable theory but he made great points. 1. No one can suddenly sneak pass and cause such a scene without someone noticing. 2. All of these women died in clear view areas, so there's no way that a human could kill a another quick enough to not cause an uproar. 3. The tool used was literally out of this world, there's no tool ever made within the duration of man kind to cause such carnage, thus he came to the conclusion that there was a creature of other worldly powers at play here.

It was around mid day when another customer came in, but this time, it was a gaggle of nobles. You were in the back of the shop, stitching together another unfortunate maiden when you heard the bell ring. You didn't stop what you were doing when you heard the voices, as your husband has already made himself rather comfortable in the front.

The bell chimed and in walked multiple people, however you recognized this voice instantly, it belonged to the ever gloomy child of Phantomhive. Earl Ciel Phantomhive was his proper title. He was practically a regular here, having come practically once every few months when the queen sent him to fetch a stray ball. He'd come here, looking for answers on the bodies, trying to uncover any hints as to who the evildoer might be. His family as been well acquainted with your husband, long before you ever married him. You yourself knew your husband since the late Vincent Phantomhive was but a young boy.

You listened to the voices, as they spoke moderately about the recent deaths of the young maidens. Your nose twitched as you seemed to have picked up a scent but you placed it to the back of your mind for later, your primary focus was on making this unfortunate maiden look beautiful again. However, it didn't take long for your husband to get excited, it never did when it came to the little lord. You sighed as you shook your head fondly listening to all the different voices in the parlor. You pulled the thread tight, closing the suture, tying a tight knot before you cut the thread. You dropped the needle in a jar of alcohol while you walked over to the sink to wash your hands.

The sound of the group leaving the parlor sounded out and you arched a brow in confusion. 'That's odd, for there to be no lau-' You quickly silenced your thoughts when the silky voice of the butler sounded out, a knowing look on your face. 'Ah, so the little lord has sent his ever loyal crow to tell a joke... so inflexible.' You thought as you dried your hands, listening to the joke, your husband's laughter wasn't exaggerated, it was in fact a hilarious joke to hear, it even had you laughing.

Wiping a tear from your eye you listened to the little group wander back inside, your husband's laughter dying down into breathless chuckles. You moved about the back room silently as you gathered clothes for the young maiden to wear, looking through dresses that was hung up on a clothing rack you sorted through them, looking back at the young maiden and back at the dress before you shook your head before you moved on to the next dress.

The door where you were opened and in walked your husband a giddy smile on his face. " 'Ello love, looking for a skirt for the lovely maiden?" He asked as he walked over to the sink. You nodded your head with a sigh. "Yes, I'm looking for a color that could compliment her hair, dark hair isn't always easy to pair with brighter colors, I might have to match her with something a little more darker, possibly even neutral." You explained as you moved down to the more darker dresses. "Hehehe~,I do believe a delightful shade of deep green would most enchantingly adorn her! The harmonious union of brown and green is perpetually pleasing to the eye, would it not be so, my dear?" He spoke aloud, you hummed in thought as you pondered over his words for a bit before you shuffled through the dresses. Finding a lovely dark olive dress with apricot colored frills and ruffles.

The sound of glass clanging gently against one another sounded out and you looked over your shoulder, seeing your husband rummage in the measuring glasses and flasks. With an unimpressed stare you watched him as you cuddled the dress in your arms. "Love... just what are you doing?" You asked him. He turned to you with an arm full of flasks and measuring cups. "Pray, we do have visitors, indeed we do, and I have resolved to be a most agreeable host by extending the courtesy of tea to my esteemed company." He said. You made an appalled noise. "You're going to serve them with those glasses!! Are you mad!?" You asked him. He tilted his head with a wide grin as he chuckled. "Verily, I daresay I am not wholly present, thus perchance. Moreover, what injury doth it entail? It is not as though they are lacking in cleanliness."

He argued, you groaned in slight irritation as you hung the dress back up on the rack. His smile dropped. "Oh dear." He said. You whirled on him with an displeased glare as you marched over towards him. "Those glass were once filled with alcohol, blood, organs, dirtied needles, embalming liquids, the list goes on and on!! I told you we should've gotten that tea set we seen at the shop a week ago!!" You lectured as you pushed passed him, he stepped aside as you pulled a kettle out of the cupboard filling it up with water as you held your palm under it, quickly bring it to a boil making the kettle squeal.

"Put the glass down and go and fetch some bags." you ordered, he made quick work of placing the glasses down before he went and gathered some tea bags. Pouring a decent amount of water into each glass, you sighed in disappointment at the sight of the flasks and measuring cups. It was an utter embarrassment to be serving your company in such glasses!! The humiliation would be enough to take your immoral life. A gentle hand placed itself on your waist as it pulled you towards a warm and familiar body.

"Pray, dear heart, should it bring you solace, our esteemed assembly is by no means conventional, and they venture not hither for the sake of tea; rather, their purpose is the pursuit of knowledge." he said gently trying to sooth your worries, it worked very slightly but seeing the flasks only made you sink once more. He seen your gaze practically piercing the glass. "Pray, do not fret, my dear, for I did observe that the tea set remains in its rightful place. When our affairs have concluded, we shall make a brief sojourn to procure it." he said. You looked up at him with a hopeful smile. "truly?" You asked. His smile widened at seeing your eyes gleam as he nodded. "Yes, truly love." He promised.

With that he made his way back into the front with the steaming hot glasses of water. You happily made your way back over to the dresses, pulling the dark olive green one back down, you draped it over the young maiden, seeing that your husband was right. "Hmm... He has an eye for fashion." You said aloud as you pulled the hanger from the dress. It didn't take long before you heard the company began to leave. The young maiden was dressed and cleaned and was now ready for you to bury, the young maiden had no family, being a foreigner.

Elizabeth Stride, born November 27 1843 and met her untimely end on September 30 1888, she was from Sweden, far from home, that she was. The poor lass. You looked away from her with a tired sigh as you walked out of the room and out towards the front. Your husband was busy tidying up some of the coffins, polishing them and keeping them presentable. You sighed as you seen the empty flasks and measuring glasses on the checkout counter. You walked over and gathered them all up. Turning back to go to the back room, your husband's voice stopped you. "My dearest, upon your completion of the cleaning of those glasses, might we venture forth to procure that exquisite tea service?" He asked with a wide grin.

Amidst the vibrant tapestry of shops, there stood one solitary and enigmatic establishment, "𝔘𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔱𝔞𝔨𝔢𝔯," so it was inscribed. Herein, only those steeped in sorrow did venture—freshly bereaved widows and bastards alike sought solace within these somber walls. At the fore of the shop, a resplendent array of floral tributes did grace the entrance, whilst within, the true essence of a funeral parlor unfolded. Neatly arranged along the walls, coffins of various craftsmanship lay in repose, each adorned with a metal plate that bore the name of the wood, the price of the casket, and the nature of its design. All were polished to a gleam, as if cherished by hands long since departed.

In the very center of this solemn abode, more coffins were displayed, yet these were open caskets, revealing the exquisite linings of cotton, linen, silk, and velvet that did grace their interiors. A metal stand, sturdy and proud, did stand sentinel beside each casket, bearing forth the same inscriptions as those upon the walls, detailing the lineage of the wood, the cost of the final resting place, and the nature of its craftsmanship.

Thus, within this hallowed space, the air was thick with the weight of unspoken grief, a sanctuary for those who sought to honor the departed. The flickering light of candles cast gentle shadows upon the polished surfaces, whispering tales of lives once lived, now but memories entwined in the fabric of time. Here, amidst the somber elegance, the living did confront the inevitable, each detail a testament to the reverence held for those who had journeyed beyond the veil.

At the checkout counter, there lay a glass case of exquisite accessories, a veritable showcase of fine craftsmanship that did entice the eye. Within this transparent enclosure were displayed a myriad of treasures: delicate jewelry, timepieces of intricate design, eyepatches of varied hues, hats of all manner, bow ties, cosmetics, wigs, hair adornments, infant bibs, bonnets, and gloves, each a testament to artistry and elegance. Above each item, a small metal plate was stationed, imparting to the discerning customer the price, the nature of the metal or cloth, and the dimensions thereof.

Towards the rear of the establishment, a door stood resolutely closed to the public gaze, shrouded in an air of mystery. Before this portal rested a small cauldron, filled with water that danced with slices of lemon, orange, and lime, interspersed with fragrant blooms. Steam did rise from this vessel, yet the means by which it was heated remained an enigma, cloaked in the shadows of the shop.

Adorning the doorframe were clusters of flowers, artfully arranged to mask the dreaded scent of decay that might otherwise seep forth from the back room. Thus, only the sweet and refreshing aroma of floral and citrus did waft through the air, enveloping the front area in a pleasant embrace, a balm for the souls who ventured within.

Once upon a time, in an age long past, this establishment was deemed unfit for the public's eye, and yet, by some strange miracle, folk did venture forth regardless. The place was utterly besmirched, with spiderwebs festooning every corner, and dust cloaking every surface in a shroud of neglect. Coffins lay scattered haphazardly, whilst dreadful flasks filled with unsightly remnants cluttered the shelves of the building. The air was thick with a pungent odor, suffocating in its intensity, rendering the atmosphere most repugnant. Indeed, it was a sight most distasteful, though the aesthetic, to those with a peculiar eye, might have been deemed captivating—much like thyself, who found a strange allure in its grotesqueness, despite its revolting nature.

There be naught amiss in the ownership of a funeral parlor, yet for heaven's sake, one ought to maintain cleanliness and order! Thy husband, the undertaker of this establishment, had managed this abode alone for many a decade. The notion of such a venture had once seemed amusing to thee, yet it soon grew tiresome, and thus, for a time, thou didst refrain from participating in his labors.

However, upon a fateful day, thou didst decide to pay an unsuspecting visit, hoping to surprise thy beloved, for he had been in a state of melancholy that week, and thou wished to lift his spirits. Yet, what thou didst encounter was not the solemn dignity of a funeral parlor, but rather a veritable nest of vermin. What began as a visit filled with hopes of bringing a smile to thy love's countenance swiftly transformed into a full-fledged lecture on the virtues of cleanliness and organization.

For the fortnight that followed, thou and thy husband did labor diligently to render the parlor more presentable to the discerning public. Though the toil was arduous and the days long, thy husband’s countenance shone with joy at thy side, as if the very act of thy companionship had lifted his spirit from the depths of despair.

In witnessing the transformation of both the shop and thy beloved, a smile blossomed upon thy own visage, and it was in that moment of shared endeavor that thou didst resolve to join him in the stewardship of this establishment. Thus, it came to pass that the shop, once a haven of neglect, was lovingly restored to a state of care and dignity, reflecting the newfound harmony between thee and thy husband.