#iimpius

𝔗he term "late" hardly captured the extent of the butler's absence. It failed to convey the deep vexation simmering within the young Earl, which he struggled to suppress. In truth, the youth's blood boiled beneath his pale complexion, yet he refrained from acknowledging the absence of his servant. Instead, he focused intently on the documents before him, his grip on the pages tighter than usual. When he spoke to the demon present, he maintained an air of calm.

‘ I do hope you've not come in this office empty-handed. ’

            𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐆𝐄  𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄  𝐇𝐀𝐃  𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍  𝐁𝐔𝐌𝐏𝐘  𝐀𝐍𝐃  𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐓;  and  her  curls  were  pinned  so  tight  to  her  scalp  that  Corinne  could  feel  the  beginnings  of  a  headache  coming  on.  But  despite  these  little  misfortunes,  she  remained  smiling  —  ever  polite  and  cordial.  Her  parents  had  been  ushered  inside  the  manor  the  moment  they  arrived.

            She  suspected  it  would  be  a  long  afternoon  of  talks  with  the  young  Earl  about  his  company  finances,  something  Corinne's  father  had  been  politely  acquiescent  to  handle.  Her  mother,  she  presumed,  would  be  waiting  for  him  in  the  parlour  with  a  cup  of  tea.  For  herself,  Corinne  insisted  on  remaining  outside.  Phantomhive  Manor  had  a  beautiful  stretch  of  gardens  that  she  had  been  keen  to  explore  as  soon  as  the  flowers  came  into  view.  And  so  she  did.

            Corinne  leaned  down  to  inspect  a  white  rose,  taking  in  its  delicate  aroma.  She  hadn't  heard  anyone  approach,  but  when  she  lifted  her  gaze,  a  tall  man  in  a  crisp,  black  suit  was  blocking  her  vision.

Ciel didn’t move, didn’t flinch, though he could feel the heat of Sebastian’s breath skimming his skin. His hand, small and pale in the demon’s grasp, trembled - but only faintly, like a violin string held too tight. His lashes lowered, eyes narrowing with something between suspicion and something far more treacherous: want.

“You’re bold tonight,” he muttered, voice low, touched with that cool, clipped edge he wore like armor. But the way his hand lingered in Sebastian’s grasp betrayed him. He let the demon’s lips brush against his skin, the ghost of a kiss stirring a quiet shiver down his spine.

“Planning to bite, or are you just toying with me?”

𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝟐 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 & @iimpius

" i don't want to sound like a broken record, my lord. but only i know what is truly best for you, even if you deny it i can assure you i won't be wrong when i tell you that you will feel better. "

‘ ℑs that so. ’

Another soft exhale escaped him, more akin to a huff, as the boy reached for his utensil. Reflecting on his butler's remarks, he began to acknowledge that he might have been pushing himself too hard lately. He hadn't even glanced at his reflection in a mirror. If there was one individual Ciel could rely on, it was Sebastian. Given his butler's keen eye for aesthetics, he would never allow his master to appear in such a disheveled manner. The dark circles under his eyes from countless late nights, the sneaking of sugary snacks to stay awake, and his irritable demeanor throughout the day were all signs of his neglect.

Perhaps taking the rest of the day to relax and rest was not such a bad idea after all. He had a tendency to work himself to the point of illness, and he was already on that trajectory had Sebastian not been stern with him.

As he listened to the demon reiterate his concerns while standing tall, Ciel responded with a hum—not one of annoyance, but one that conveyed his acknowledgment and understanding of his butler's care for him. The realization was somewhat exasperating, yet he recognized that he was merely being looked after.

A demon, after all, would not let his meal go to waste.

Shifting his weary gaze back to his cake, the Earl pierced the strawberry atop the dessert with his fork before bringing it to his mouth. He waited until he had finished eating it before speaking again.

‘ You sound like a parent who worries if I'll get sick. ’