You awoke early, with the sun barely starting to rise in the sky. Fog covered the ground from the river, and all of the animals seemed to be waking up. 

   " I might as well get ready. "

You stood up from your bed, pushing the sheets off your body. You walked to the dresser and searched through the clothes you had moved from your suitcase. You decided on a simple dress, not seeing a reason for wearing your puffy or big dresses. You slipped the dress on and prepared yourself for the day. The good thing about your comfortable dresses is that they looked formal, but they were not puffy, and the corset wouldn't need to be as tight. 

   ' That looks good. '

Knocks were heard from your door, and Sebastian spoke from the other side.

   " Lady, Y/n I have come to wake you and help you dress. "

You walked towards the door and opened the door, stepping out of your room.

   " I'm already dressed, so there's no need to help me. Thank you. "

   " Yes, I see. Let me escourt you to the dinning table. My master has just arrived, and awaiting you presence. "

You only nodded and followed Sebastian down the halls towards where the dining table would be. While you walked, you were curious about what he had said to you earlier.

   " Sebastian, earlier you said you were going to help me dress. How would you do that, without any shame coming to you? "

   " Oh? Curious, are we? I would simply tie a cloth around my eyes, and navigate myself to helping you change from your night gown. "

   " Why not have May-Rin help me? "

   " She was cleaning this morning, and she can be clumsy. I did not wish for her to accidentally break something of yours. "

You only nodded, deciding to change before Sebastian could get there and help you. Sebastian led you to the dining table, where Sebastian was already sitting at one end of the table. FInny, May-Rin, and Baldroy were standing at the side, conversing. Sebastian pulled a chair out for you to sit to Ciel's left. 

   " Thank you. "

Sebastian nodded and placed a plate of food in front of you. You recognized the baked salmon and a few other foods on the plate.

   " Good morning, Earl. How are you this morning? " You asked.

   " I am well. And yourself? "

   " The same as you. I am well. "

   " Please, do call me Ciel instead of Earl. I would prefer you say my name, since we are somewhat familiar with each other from our youth. "

   " Alright, but I ask you to do the same to me. Y/n is fine. "

Ciel nodded and started to eat his food while you followed after him and started eating. While you ate, Ciel picked up a dart and threw it in Finny's direction. The dart's needle struck the back of Finny's head, and he covered the spot on the back of his head, exclaiming his pain vocally.

   " What was that for, master? What did I do? " Finny asked, standing beside Ciel, who was sipping Earl Gray tea.

   " Hm, nothing. I don't need to justify my actions. "

Sebastian turned towards the three before his smile faded, and his eyes hardened. His voice was stern as he spoke.

   " Have you finished weeding the courtyard, Finny? "

Finny stood straight and placed his hands behind his back. He nodded his head.

   " Mey-Rin, have you washed all the bedding? "

   " Oh, um well--"

   " Baldroy, shouldn't you be preparing for tonight's dinner? "

Bard rubbed the back of his head and looked to the side, hiding something from the head butler.

   " Tanaka. . ."

You followed Sebastian's eyes to a man sitting on his knees, drinking tea. The older man was cute to you, and he was a chibi-type person.

   " Well, I suppose you're alright as you are. Now all of you, we have no time for thumb-twidling, this morning. So, get to work! "

Mey-Rin, Baldroy, and Finny ran out of the room, fearful of Sebastian.

   " Yes, sir! "

   " Simply hopeless. "

Ciel took a bite of a biscuit, and you cleaned your plate of food. You took one biscuit and cut it in half, putting butter on the bread and taking a bite.

   ' All of the food is really good. Their chief knows what he's doing. '

   " What are your plans for today, Y/n? " Ciel asked.

   " I, imagine I would walk around to familiarize myself with your estate. I would like to know the area I will be living in for a while. Then I might reside in your library. "

   " Yes, that all sounds fine. But I must ask you join me for dinner. "

   " But, I thought a guest from your company was coming. I wouldn't want to impose on your business meeting. "

   " Nonsense. I'm sure he wouldn't mind. I will be in my study if you need anything from me. I will be working. "

   " Alright, thank you. "

Ciel stood up first and left the room, and you were left alone, with only Tanaka. You felt lonely sitting there, only looking down at your plate with a half-finished biscuit. 

   ' Is it going to be like this all the time? Lonely? '

You heard Tanaka's tired laugh from the corner, and you looked at him and smiled. 

   ' At least there's Tanaka. '

You finished your tea and stood up from the table to wander around the estate. It was a huge manor, and you enjoyed exploring. When you had looked over every inch of the place, you walked to the library to find a book to read. You wandered through the rows of books, looking for something to read. When you finally found a book, you took it off its shelf and sat down on a couch. You opened the book and started reading. You were intrigued by the book and wished you had some paper to write notes on. 

   ' While my mother is taught in medicine, and my father in business, I must be proficient in both. Though I'm very good at medicine, I only know a few things about business. My father said that when he gets back he will continue educating me in our family business. So, until then, I will continue my research in medicine. '

You had started a research project in medicine with your mother, but since their trip to America would disturb your research with your mother, you decided to do it independently. You liked research. Making assumptions, conclusions, and finding solutions pleased you, mainly when what you discovered had never been seen before. It was a lot of work, but it was all you had to do. You stood up to find someone to ask for paper, but when you started walking to the library's doors, they opened, revealing Sebastian.

   " Oh! You surprised me. I didn't even hear you coming. "

Sebastian smiled slightly at your words.

   " I was hoping I could have some paper? I have found some information I would like to keep with me. "

   " Certainly. Here you are. "

Sebastian pulled his coat open slightly and pulled out stacks of paper, handing them to you. You thanked him and took the papers. You went to sit back down, but you realized you still didn't have a pencil. Sebastian placed one on the coffee table in front of you and continued to smile down at you.

   " Dinner will be ready in a few hours, our guest will arrive in one hour. Finny will come to collect you and lead you outside when dinner is ready. "

   " Okay, thank you. "

Sebastian bowed and left the library. You started writing down any information you thought would help contribute to your medical research, and when dinner arrived, you had three pages full of information.

   " Ms, Y/n! Dinner is ready! " Finny said, skipping into the room. 

You looked up from the book and smiled at Finny. You closed the book and gathered your papers.

   " Thank you, Finny. And just call me Y/n. I will be here for a while so, please just call me by name. I would like for us to be friends. "

   " Really!? "

   " Yes! "

   " Okay! I'll walk you to dinner, then! "

You nodded and walked beside Finny through the manor. You noted that you walked past the dining room and towards a set of doors leading outside. Finny opened the door for you, and you stepped out only to stop in your tracks. The garden was completely different from yesterday. Instead of the green grass, bushes, and wonderful vegetation, there was sand with rock outcrops. A thin platform led to a large platform that held a table with bug lanterns surrounding it. Ciel sat at one end of the table while an unfamiliar man sat at the other end. A lonely chair was on the side of the table facing the garden, but it sat in the middle, the perfect distance between the two men.

   " Finny, what happened to the garden? " You whispered.

   " Oh, I might have ruined it earlier with too much weed killer. But Sebastian came up with this plan! It looks great doesn't it? "

   " But, how did you all manage to make the whole garden like this in two hours? "

Finny shrugged his shoulders and guided you to the lonely chair at the table. He pulled it out for you and pushed it into the table once you sat down.

   " Oh, my who is this lovely lady you have brought? " The man said.

You recognized his accent, it was Italian, and you remembered that this was the man who would be overseeing the production in India. 

   " This is Y/n, of the L/n Household. She is a guest of mine, while her family is away. " Ciel said, looking over at you.

   " It's a pleasure. " You said to the Italian. 

   " You can call me Damien, Ms. Y/n. What are those papers you have brought with you? They have lots of writing on them. "

   " Oh, these are notes I took over a book I was reading in the library. I research medicine and am preparing a thesis. "

   " What a bright young woman! You have impressed me with your company, Lord Phantomhive. "

   " Yes, it seems I am impressed as well. " Ciel replied, looking over at you.

Sebastian, accompanied by Mey-Rin, stood at the table and spoke about the meal. 

   " On tonight's menu is a fine slice of donburi, courtesy of chief Baldroy. "

You looked at the dish in front of you and saw a beautifully organized donburi bowl. You were excited to eat it, while Damien seemed utterly confused and considered it a pile of raw beef. While Sebastian explained what donburi was, you looked over to Ciel in an inspiring way. Ciel felt eyes on him and looked towards you. You raised your hand and sent Ciel a small wave, which made Ciel's cold exterior break, and he showed you a small closed-lip smile, waving back at you.

   " What an excellent idea! The legendary Phantomhive hospitality in action. "

You noticed Ciel had started to eat, so you started feeling the meat melt in your mouth. 

   " The vintage we are pouring tonight was specially selected to complement the flavor of soy sauce. "

Damien was too engrossed with his food to watch May-Rin stumble toward him with the wine. But, with the cracks in her glasses, she missed Damien's cup. Wine poured all over the table cloth, and before it could spill over the edge, the table cloth was pulled away from underneath your dishes. It was done with such perfection that it left you in awe, and none of your silverware fell from its sitting position. You looked towards Ciel and saw Sebastian at his side, with the table cloth wrapped around his arm.

   " Huh? Eh, where did the table cloth go? " Damien asked, looking down at the table.

   " A speck of dirt, most unsightly. I had the cloth removed so it wouldn't distract us. Think nothing of it. " Ciel said, not even looking in Damien's direction.

   " Please, accept my apologies, sir. Do continue, enjoy the meal at your pleasure. " Sebastian said, bowing.

   " Oh, my. Lord Phantomhive, once again, you have genuinely impressed me. What an able butler you've acquired. " Damien said, laughing.

   " Pay him no mind. He merely acted as befitted my servents. "

   " My master is quite correct about that. Naturally, you see I am simply one hell of a butler. "

You didn't think much of his words and continued eating your food. When you were finished, you excused yourself and went into your room. You changed clothes for the night. You only stopped dressing when you heard a scream, run through the building, and send a chill up your spine. 

   ' What was that!? '

You finished changing quickly, threw a robe on, and left your room, looking around the estate. You heard another scream, but this time it sounded further away.

   " Mama Mia! "

   ' Is that Damien? '

You walked through the halls until you found Ciel's study. You knocked on the door and entered the study without consent. Inside, Ciel sat on a chair, looking at you with wide eyes.

   " Yes? What is it? " Ciel asked, thinking it was an emergency.

    " I-I heard a scream. I was worried something might have happened. "

   " You. . .came to check on me? "

   " Yes. I heard the scream, got scared, and wanted to make sure you and everyone else was okay. "

Ciel sighed and stood up from his seat, walking towards you.

   " Everything is fine. Please go back to bed, and rest. " He said, standing beside you.

    " But if everything was fine, what was that scream? "

   " Damien, simply hurt himself on the way out. He got burned a little. " Ciel said with a small devious smile.

   " Oh, well. . .I guess I will head back then. "

Ciel nodded and left his study, with you beside him. You looked down the halls and realized that you had rushed around the halls, not looking where you were going. Ciel noticed how lost you suddenly looked, and he held his arm up towards you.

   " I will escourt you to your chambers. "

   " Oh, thank you. "

You wrapped your hands around Ciel's elbow, and he led you through the halls and toward your room. It was silent as you traveled together, but it didn't feel awkward. At one point, Ciel asked you about your research, and you started explaining what you were researching. And Ciel caught the glint in your eye when you spoke. The passion you showed him while you spoke was evident, and he felt happy seeing this side of you—the side of someone passionate about their work.