~Lucille's Point of View~

I woke before the sun rose feeling back to my normal self. Rose must have woken up in the middle of the night and went back to her own bed as my bed was now empty. As I rolled over, trying to convince myself to leave the warmth of my blankets, I spotted two beautiful blooms sitting atop my bedside table. They were camellias, a winter flower, one in bright red the other in a dazzling white. My heart fluttered in my chest, who put them there?

Another more terrifying thought crossed my mind, I had been so at ease and relaxed that I'd not noticed someone entering my room while I slept. I couldn't allow myself to drop my guard. Steeling myself and finding my resolve, I quickly climbed from bed and went to the wardrobe to find suitable gear for hunting.

The wardrobe was filled with gowns of varying colors and styles. I found a neutral ashen brown riding gown with faint green accents. It was a suitable hunting gown the dress was lightweight and durable and there were slits in the right places to allow a wider range of motion and I'd blend in to the surroundings decently. Hurriedly I changed into the hunting gown before securing a few blades beneath my skirts two secured to my thigh and four hidden away in my knee-high riding boots. Using a simple green ribbon, I tied my hair up out of my face before turning to my bedside table.

I felt somewhat giddy and light as I scooped up the two blooms and touched them to my nose. They had a pleasant scent it was sweet and earthy. Who brought them to me? Silas knew my favorite flowers, so I didn't think he'd stray from them, but they were beautiful. My heart skipped a beat as I thought of Lord Phantomhive. Yesterday he made sure to point out I liked flowers.

I tucked the white bloom into my hair and smiled as I was enveloped by its sweet scent. It was still dark outside, but I knew it was early in the morning and from memory of the many hunting trips I'd accompanied my father and brothers on, I knew this would be a good time to leave. Silently I crept from my room careful not to wake anyone and listened as I headed for the stairs. There was movement in the ballroom sounding like footsteps approaching the door and the low murmur of voices. They were getting ready to leave.

The voices stopped as I reached the stairwell. I peered through the dimly lit ballroom and spotted Anders and Enzo standing with Lord Phantomhive. They all looked up at me curiously and I almost kicked myself as I realized this probably seemed very suspicious.

"Is everything alright?" Cyril's darkly rich voice nearly sent a shiver down my spine.

"Rose said you were going hunting today." I replied somewhat shakily.

Anders and Enzo exchanged glances.

Cyril's dark gaze took in my appearance and I noticed a small smirk twitching at his lips. His gaze fell to the flower in my hair and he smiled briefly. "We won't be out too long."

This was not working. Why was I suddenly so nervous? I was trained in the art of war, swordplay, and poisons. I came from a family of assassins. Why couldn't I manage to do something as simple as ask my intended to join him on a hunting trip.

The three men looked to me curiously as I fought with myself to steady my nerves and find my resolve again. Now they were going to be even more suspicious of me. I clenched my fists at my sides and forced myself to meet his dark gaze. "Can I come?"

Anders stared at me wide eyed, "I don't think that's a very good idea, it's not safe."

Enzo chuckled and clapped Lord Phantomhive on the back, "You've got your hands full."

Cyril sighed and gracefully ascended the stairs his dark gaze ensnaring me and keeping me rooted to the spot. He reached me and offered me a smile, "Anders is right, it's not safe. There are wild boars, bears and wolves. I couldn't willingly put you in danger."

"I've gone hunting before with my father and brothers..." I stammered, I had to convince him. "I promise I won't get in the way."

"She can be on my team." Enzo piped up from down below, "I'm a poor shot anyway, maybe she'll increase my odds. I'll look after her."

"If you're that poor of a shot, then perhaps I'll be looking after you." My tongue ran away with me and I almost gasped after the words left my mouth.

Cyril laughed at this, a rich warm laugh that instantly set me at ease. His arm snaked around my waist and I stumbled as he pulled me toward him and before I knew it his lips were pressed to my forehead.

I was so startled I let out a squeak. My heart raced in my chest at our sudden closeness and I felt my knees begin to weaken. What was he doing?

"Looks like your fever is gone." He noted casually as he released me from his hold and took a step away from me. "I suppose you can come along, so long as you stay close to me."

My heart was still racing sporadically in my chest and my breathing suddenly became hitched. I nodded meekly and trailed after him down the stairs.

Enzo offered me a smile, "Let's beat these sods." He chuckled.

"Enzo!" Anders hissed.

"What's a sod?" I asked the three of them curiously causing Cyril and Enzo to laugh.

"If Cas hears what you've been teaching her, you're going to get an earful." Anders shot at the taller man.

Cyril steered me outside to the awaiting horses, "It's a not so polite way of calling someone an idiot."

"Is there a polite way to call someone an idiot?" I pondered as we approached his great black steed.

Cyril chuckled, "I suppose not, though when you say it, it doesn't sound nearly as insulting."

I felt heat spread through my cheeks at this.

"We'll be going over some rough terrain, I don't think riding side saddle would be best, can you sit astride?" He asked me politely and I resisted the urge to grin.

I nodded so as not to risk sounding too happy with this fact when I spoke. Cyril laced his hands together as we reached the great black steed and bent down a little to give me a boost. I placed one hand atop his shoulder and the other on the horse's back grabbing a fistful of mane and lightly placed my left foot into Cyril's hand.

He lifted me with ease and I placed my right foot in the stirrup and swung my left leg over the horse's back as gracefully as I could manage, before realizing my mistake. I was supposed to look like I wasn't used to doing this. Cyril chuckled to himself as he gracefully swung himself into the saddle behind me.

"Why do I get the feeling my little bride was quite the rebel as a child?" He snickered.

"I don't know what you mean." I feigned ignorance.

Cyril chuckled at this and urged the horse forward as Enzo and Anders mounted their horses. We took off at an easy canter until we reached the woods and slowed the horses to a walk to be mindful of the rough terrain. We rode in a comfortable silence. The men were scanning the dark forest for movement and I was learning the steady heartbeat of Lord Phantomhive.

I caught a whiff of the camellia in my hair and felt a blush spread across my cheeks. Curiously, I glanced over my shoulder and met Cyril's dark azure eyes.

"Are you feeling feverish again?" He asked worried and I felt my face begin to redden more.

"N-No." I bit my lip. "Thank you for the flowers, they're beautiful."

I could hear the smile in his voice, "I'm glad they're to your liking."

We came to a stop at a clearing a good distance from the manor just as the sun began its ascent into the sky slowly peeking over the horizon. A beautiful array of colors began to blot the dark sky deep blues and violets bleeding into pink and as the sun began to stretch over the horizon it began to open into warm reds and oranges. It was breathtaking.

I stared in awe at the sunrise as Cyril dismounted. After a moment I felt a warm hand clasp over my own buried within the horse's mane. Startled I jumped and looked down to find Cyril smiling up at me.

"We're going to continue on foot from here." He gently pulled my hands from the horse's mane and placed them atop his shoulders before lightly gripping my waist in his hands. Easily, he lifted me from the horse's back and set me on my feet at his side.

All of the horses were currently tied to trees within the clearing as Anders and Enzo worked to load their model 1817 musket rifles. It was an older model but had a better flintlock mechanism than the 1814 model, but it was much less faulty than Derringer's latest model of common rifles. Because of the use of a ramrod to reload, it was best to hunt in groups in the event one was hunting big game and failed to fell their prey on the first shot.

"What are we hunting?" I asked curiously as I followed Cyril to meet up with the others.

"Red Deer and Pheasant." Enzo replied as he slung six loaded rifles over his shoulder. Anders took the other six and began trekking through the woods.

Cyril and I followed along behind them in silence. After a while of trekking through the rough and rocky forest the men began to banter quietly and reminisce on old hunting expeditions. I heard something moving in the trees up above, it sounded too big to be any normal tree dwelling animal. The foliage covering the trees was still too thick despite the wintery air the leaves were still in transition.

It was possible they were assassins, thieves or common vagrants. Though there wasn't a town or city anywhere nearby so vagrants and thieves didn't seem too likely. I focused on the trees trying to determine how many there were and what their purpose was. Perhaps father had sent some men to spy on me to ensure my protection, though that seemed very unlikely. If he had sent spies it would be to ensure my success and to keep me in line.

Too focused on the potential threat in the trees, I wasn't paying much attention to my footing and slipped off the large rock I had been trailing along on behind Enzo. Strong arms encircled me before I could connect with the rocks below and I found myself pressed against a familiar torso.

"Are you alright?" Cyril asked concerned.

"S-sorry." I panted slightly as I felt the warmth of his body heat seeping into my clothes from behind.

I heard the sound of a blade being removed from a small sheath and tensed. Who was it? Who were they aiming for? It was most likely Cyril or I as we were nobles. The sound of fabric growing taught from someone pulling their arm back, preparing to throw a weapon, sounded above. I had to be careful how I acted, I couldn't give myself away, what if Cyril had set this up as a test or to get rid of me? That wasn't right, how could he have known I surprised them with the hunting trip. Unless Rose was in on it and had told me to do this as part of their plan. No, she wouldn't do that.

Just as I heard movement again as the concealed attacker threw their blade I made a show of tripping on some rocks and stumbled into Cyril throwing him off balance and causing the pair of us to tumble into a small pile of leaves that had collected at the base of a nearby tree. I heard the blade clang against the rock we had been standing on, and from the sound of where it had landed they had been aiming for Cyril.

Anders and Enzo tensed at the sound of the blade hitting stone and were suddenly on high alert.

"Master Cyril?" Anders' voice was deadly calm as he readied one of the rifles.

Cyril wrapped me in his arms and helped me to my feet, he gave me a once over, "We're fine." His gaze flit to where we had been standing moments before, he kept his face a perfect mask though I saw his eyes widen for the briefest of moments. He was surprised by the attack, they had all been completely caught off guard.

"S-sorry that was clumsy of me." I apologized in a rush and made a move to turn around to face the others but Cyril lightly caught my chin between his fingers and directed my gaze back to him.

"No need to apologize, I'm just glad you're alright." He was trying to keep me from seeing the blade. I heard Enzo pick it up off the ground.

From the movement in the trees there was currently only one foe. I heard the nearly silent draw of string and almost uttered a curse aloud. He had a bow and had taken off his jacket that had been making noise making it nearly impossible to hear.

"Shouldn't we be on our way?" I asked the men curiously hoping to get Cyril moving, he'd be harder to hit on the move and when we were moving I could deflect less suspiciously.

Cyril offered me a smile and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. He was trying to shield me with his body to the best of his ability based on the trajectory of the blade to where he thought the attacker was. We stepped around the tree and I heard the string of the bow ease up, we were out of his line of fire, he'd have to move. Anders and Enzo followed after us almost reluctantly, they both had their guard up and looked ready for a fight.

There was movement in the trees, our attacker was in quick pursuit. I spotted a small flock of game birds on the lower branches of a tree where I knew the attacker was going to head for in his pursuit as it had the best vantage point of our current location.

Anders handed a rifle to Cyril as he spotted some hares and other small game nearby thinking it was safe enough to say they were at their hunting ground to trick me. Enzo reluctantly gave one of his to me.

"Sure, you can shoot one of those, it's got a pretty nasty kick to it?" Enzo asked me as he handed it over.

"My father used this one a lot." I noted, "I'll be okay." They were all still tense none of them knew where our foe was. "I spotted some pheasant in the trees. I bet they'll take off soon once they notice us."

Cyril threw a quick look to Anders in some kind of silent order. Anders nodded his understanding. "You have done this before." He chuckled.

While Enzo, Cyril and I were focused on watching for pheasant, Anders was scoping out the surrounding area for our enemy. Just as I had suspected the birds in the tree I had expected our assailant to go to took off in a flurry.

"She was right." Enzo laughed as he and Cyril aimed for the pheasants and each took one down. I took aim, knowing exactly what branch our foe had intended to claim and fired. Regardless of who he worked for, I couldn't have anyone interfering. I could faintly hear the sound of the bullet rending flesh and crunching through bone and knew I'd hit my target.

I pretended to scan the area for the bird I had been aiming at.

"What were you shooting at?" Enzo laughed.

"I guess I've been out of practice a little longer than I thought." I smiled sheepishly. "It's been a while since they've taken me hunting."

"Yeah, why's that?" Enzo chuckled as Anders went to collect the birds Enzo and Cyril shot, though it was a cover, he was going to scour the trees.

"I accidentally shot my father in the arm." It hadn't been an accident, though that's what I had claimed it to be. My father had announced he was looking for a husband for me and hit me when I tried to argue with him.

"What?!" Enzo paled, "Hand over the firearm."

"I'm just kidding." I giggled, "They said it wasn't very ladylike, so I wasn't allowed to go anymore."

Cyril chuckled at this, "Rebellious child."

Anders returned after a short time with two pheasants strung up and tossed over his shoulder he motioned for Cyril to follow him. Cyril excused himself politely and I watched them step out of earshot and begin speaking in hushed tones. Anders pointed right between his eyes and motioned in the direction of our assailant. So, I must have got him right between the eyes, at least I hadn't lost my touch.

Enzo noting the nature of their discussion and thinking it not appropriate for a lady began telling me stories of his infant son, Tanaka.