I stayed in he Buckingham Palace for about a week, getting the best treatment possible in the country. I had heard that the slave which I rescued was being 'kept safe' by the Scotland Yard, and I had used my influence to 'request' to meet him.

As I and Alex approached the building in which the man was being kept, Alex spoke up.

"Pardon me for asking, but milady, why would you wish to meet such man?"

"If it wasn't for 'such man', I wouldn't be here right now. I would have been in the heavens long ago." Or more likely hell.

"I understand." And he fell quiet.

We arrived, and was approached by the doorkeeper. I blinked a few times before I realized that it was none other than Fred Abberline, who was keeping the door.

He recognized me immediately when he saw my face, "You...you are the girl with Ciel..."

"Yes, I do believe we have met." I replied.

He coughed, "Are you... Baroness Clarette?"

"Yes, indeed." I showed him the signet ring on my finger.

"Right." He nodded and he stepped aside to let me in.

Inside was not what I had expected it to be like; it was neat and tidy, with sufficient furnishing.

There was no one in any room that I could see into, but there was one closed door at the end of the corridor.

I stopped in front of it and gently knocked.. I received no response.

I knocked again, and said, "Is anybody in there?"

This time the door was opened angrily, and inside, revealed the black man I was looking for.

"What d'you want?" He said rather forcefully.

"Would you happen to remember me?" I asked.

He furrowed his brows and focused on my face, then he suddenly widened his eyes, "You, you the woman!"

"I assumed that's a yes then. I have yet to introduce myself. I am Baroness Clarett, and your name?"

He paused for a bit, then blurted, "Imari."

"Imari? I have heard that you are being kept safe by the Yard in this building, am I correct?"

"No, they no let me leave."

"They are keeping you here against your will? Now that is something they shouldn't do." As I suspected.

"I want go home."

I sighed in empathy, "I understand why you would want to go home, but, from my understanding, the place you call 'home' was destroyed by the raiders along when they kidnapped you."

His lips twitched as if from pain, "Wife? Daughter?"

"I am sorry, they I do not know about." From what I have learnt in my history lessons, I remembered that woman from the villages where the slave traders raided are most likely raped then sold or killed. But obviously I was't going to tell him that. "However, I promise I will keep an eye out for them. I have friends in the trading and shipping business and I will ask them to do so as well."

He blinked rapidly as if trying to hold back tears, "Why? Why you help me?"

"I am doing this out of condolence."

"...Thank you."

I smiled, but then remembering what I came for, "Say, Imari, would you like to get out of here?"

He was suddenly way more attentive, and he nodded. But the words I told him still haunted his mind, "No home."

I thought for a bit, then an idea came to me, "Would you fancy working for me, in my manor?"

He gave me a questioning look and tilted his head.

"It would be a good idea," I continued, "You can stay in my manor while I look for your wife and daughter. That way, you will have a roof over your head for the time being, and if they are found, you can be reunited very quickly."

It seemed that the mention of his wife and daughter prompted him into considering my offer. He slowly nodded.

"Then it is decided. You will work for me as a footman and guard while I look for your wife and daughter. Well, what are you waiting for? I will show you my manor."

"You can.... get me out?"

"I told you already, haven't I?" It seemed that he was still in doubt of my influence.

He trailed behind me as Alex opened the door to the outside world for me. I walked straight through as if everything was normal, and halted when a shout was heard behind me.

"Hey! Where do you think you are going, boy?" The doorkeeper of the building shouted.

"I... I..." Imari was lost for words as he looked between me and the man.

"He is with me." I took a step towards the doorkeeper as I said authoritatively.

"Miss, I don't think you are understanding the situa-"

"Lady." I corrected his use of honorific.

"Um... I'm sorry, my lady. But he is not permitted to leave under order from the Scotland Yard."

"No, Abberline, I think you are the one not understanding the situation here." Before I could finish what I was prepared to say, a carriage pulled up and out came a man.

Seeing Arthur Randall exiting the carriage, the Abberline immediately sighed in relieve and hurry to his side. "Lord Rendall, I'm so glad you are here. Here, I have been trying to tell this lady that the man we have under protection cannot go, but she..."

Arthur Randall ignored his continuous blabbering and came straight to me, "Lady Clarette."

"Lord Randell, I believe we have met."

"Yes. Excuse me for asking but, what are you trying to do here?"

"I am trying to take this man with me." I said, nodding to Imari.

"He is under the protection of Scotland Yard. I see no reason why you should try to do so."

"Under 'protection'?" I narrowed my eyes, "More like 'imprisonment', am I right, Lord Randall?"

"No, he is here because he is the main witness for the recently solved case of slave trading. We need keep him here since we are gathering evidence for the case."

"But, as you said, that case has already been solved. Why are you still gathering evidence?"

"That is..." His words were caught in his throat.

"There is no reason for you to keep him here, Lord Rand-"

He interrupted, "I know what you are up to."

"What I am up to? I don't even know that, care to enlighten me?"

"Do you think I haven't heard that you are now a member of that little group of noble? 

"So you have heard." I raised my eyebrows.

"Yes, and I know you are involved in this case, and you and your group is never up to any good."

"We work directly under the order of Her Majesty. We do her will."

That baffled him, for he revered the queen as god.

"Well then, if you have nothing more to say, I will be leaving now, along with my company." I said as I gestured for Imari to aboard my carriage.

As we left the exasperated Arthur Randall and the gapping Fred Abberline, Imari once again spoke up, "Thank you."

We soon arrived back in the manor. I instructed Alex to introduce Imari around the manor, and I went up to my study. I noticed that on my desk was a single letter, sealed with sapphire blue wax.

I sat down on my chair and picked it up, inspecting the seal. I immediately recognized it as the Phantomhive's family crest.

I wasted no time opening it, and inside, as expected was an invitation card.

Earl Ciel Phantomhive

request the pleasure of the company of 

Baroness Clarette

at a bouquet held in the Phantomhive Manor

A date and time was stated underneath, and it was only a few days from now.

A while afterward, the telephone on my desk started ring, so I picked it up and put it to my ear.

Before I could open my mouth, a voice came blurting out of the phone, "Clare? Hello, it's me, Charles!"

"Hello Charles." I replied. His ectastic manner bought a smile to my face.

"You receive the invitation too, haven't you?"

"Yes, I have. I presume that you have succeeded in suggesting for me to go to the banquet?"

"Yes. Her Majesty said that we will be the going together as the overseers. A carriage has been provided, though we will have to pick up Gerog von Siemens and accompany him to Phantomhive's manor."

"Alright. I will see then."

"See you!"

And we ended the phone call.

Well, I better start packing!

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Lesson of the chapter: "Sometimes readers' suggestion in the comment might be quite good and fitting to the story line! :)"

An inspiring quote: "No matter how difficult and hard something is, I will always be positive and smile like an idiot."-- Park Chanyeol, EXO.

Me: Woohoo next chapter begins the murder arc, my favorite arc in the series! :D