Black Butler Fanfic: Dangerous Liaison

Midnight encounters

"Now that the place is clear, I can finally work at my own pace." I roll up my sleeves and begin my work.

Y/n's POV:

"Rose seed, set of silverware from from Terry Silversmiths, Foley tea sets, and the latest Punch magazine. All checked." Reading the list of items, I make sure I got everything needed before going into the carriage back to the mansion. Sitting in the horse carriage, I think about the exchange between Baldroy and the butler. "He said he use the flamethrower 'again'? Seriously, how many times did Baldroy tried to 'cook' with those crazy explosives? It was Meyrin who messed up the laundry then Baldroy destroyed the whole kitchen. How can the young master even stand these servants? Well then, at least Finnian is alright...I thought the garden is quite a beautiful one."

Carrying the stuff back into the mansion, I continue to think about the weird household. Walking past the gazebo, I see Finnian diligently cutting the rose bushes. I take a closer look and rush to his side. "Finnian! What do you think you're doing? The roses are all cut out." The boy, with a slightly dazed expression, look up to me. "Y/n, I...I'm just trying to gather some roses for the dinner table tomorrow..." As if he just realized the grave mistake he made, he started to shout: "Oh no! I ended up cutting all of them out! Oh no! Sebastian is going to be so upset! Can you go see him with me, Y/n? I'm so scared right now." I sigh at the boy and lead him with me to tell the butler what he did to the garden. "Oh how wrong I was about this household...not a single Phantomhive servant is normal."

"Y/n?? Are you coming in?" Standing before the back door to the kitchen, Finnian wave his hand at me. Wide-eyed, I stare at the kitchen in complete surprise and shock. "It was...in a huge mess just now...how?" "Ah...Sebastian must have fixed the kitchen. Baldroy always blow up the kitchen by accident and Sebastian always manage to fix it afterwards." Still in awe, I stutter when I speak. "I...I know you...you can fix this...but but...not in just 2 hours?" The boy cock his head at my response. "Eh? What do you mean? Sebastian is always quick with his work! That's why he's the head butler!" My heart starts beating very fast and my palms get sweaty. "Just what is this Sebastian? This is...this is definitely not what a human is capable of doing!"

Setting the stuffs on the table, I look around and see everything arranged exactly the same before it was blown to pieces. Taking out a piece of silverware, I carefully inspect it. Not a single speck of soot nor scratch can be found. "Y/n?" A hand is placed on my shoulder, startling me. Probably due to my fear and reflex from years of training, I fling the silverware at the owner of that hand. "Careful with the silverware, Y/n. Don't want to get another scar on your beautiful hand." The butler manage to catch the silverware between his fingers and stare at me with the smile that I'm starting to fear.

"What's wrong? You seem...unsettled?" My heart beats faster but I try to remain calm. "I'm sorry. I...I'm fine." "Sebastian! Please forgive me! I ruined the garden again. I didn't mean it, I was...I was just trying to gather some flowers for our guests tomorrow. I..." Finnian come running into the kitchen and throw himself onto the butler, begging for his forgiveness. "Just like what I expected. Fortunately, I had Y/n to get these packets of seeds ready. The dinner table tomorrow will definitely be up to the Phantomhive standards." "Y/n." I jump slightly when the butler calls my name. "Can you please help me clean and set these silverware and tea sets aside? We'll be using them tomorrow." I nodded and start my work without a word. More like I'm rendered speechless by what just happened before my eyes.

Time skip

Tossing and turning on my bed, I look towards Meyrin to see her sprawled on her bed and snoring loudly. "How are those packets of seeds going to help if the dinner is tomorrow?" I think about what the butler said again and again but can't find a logical explanation for it. "Then maybe...no, it can't be." Without making a single noise, I sneak out from the room in my night gown and find my way to the garden. Reaching the garden, I take cover behind a statue once I see the butler. Stealthily, I follow him into the hedge maze, only to lose him in a few turns. Feeling dejected, I decided to explore the maze on my own, in hopes to find out what the butler is doing. Judging from the noise of the fountain, I know I'm probably near the exit of the maze. I quicken my pace and eventually break into a sprint, eager to "ambush" the butler.

Standing at the walkway leading to the fountain, rows of rose bushes bloom beautifully. The sweet scent of rose come into my nose. "Coming out for a night walk?" The familiar voice comes behind me, as if awaiting my arrival. I turn to see the butler walking towards me. "How...how did you revive those flowers in just one night?" I back away as the butler walk towards me. "Well, it's nothing worth mentioning, my dear." With his lips right beside my ear, he whisper to me. "I'm just simply one hell of a butler." Loss for words, I can only stare at the strange man before me. One of his hand started to reach into his coat and I tighten my fist, preparing myself for the incoming attack.

In a single swift move, he drape his coat over my shoulder. "It's a little chilly tonight. It would be unfortunate for a pretty lady like you to catch a cold." Clipping the pin back on his vest, I realize that he was just trying to take off the pin before giving his coat to me. "It's a little late already, isn't it? Please get some rest, Y/n." The butler then walk me back to my room and left before I can return his coat to him. Carefully keeping his coat into my wardrobe, I make sure to keep it hidden underneath my clothes. It will probably break Meyrin's heart if she sees it. "Maybe he isn't the kind of person that I imagined him to be?" Finally laying down on my bed, I think about the warm gesture from the butler just now.

Next morning

The noise of birds chirping by the window wake me up from my sleep, as I'm always a light sleeper. Rubbing my eyes, I sit up and stretch my arms. To my surprise, a single stem of rose is placed on the stool right beside my bed. Holding the stem of rose in my hand, I'm amazed that the rose's thorns were removed. Looking at Meyrin, who is still sound asleep, I wonder who would've came into the room and place this flower here. "Could it be? No, I'd be awake if someone came in here." Noticing the time, I decided to keep the flower away and start preparing for the day.

Sitting down at the table in the kitchen, I greet the others and start to eat my breakfast. "Ah, I heard that a guest will be visiting today!" Finnian said, while throwing his arms in the air excitedly. "Then I'll shine the plates and silverwares and...make Sebastian proud." I quietly eat my breakfast and occasionally break into a small laugh whenever the others acted in a funny way. It's been a while since the last time I can afford to sit around for my breakfast and enjoy the company of others. "Clap clap" The butler walk into the kitchen and clap his hands to draw the attention towards him. "I'm sure you all aware that we'll be expecting a guest today. He is an important manufacturing representative of Funtom company. Please behave and show our guest the Phantomhive standards." "Yes, sir!" Finnian and Baldroy exclaimed loudly, and saluted the butler. I can't help but chuckle a little at their reaction.

"Y/n." I walk to the butler when he call my name. "You're an expert in deboning chicken, I reckon?" I smile at his comment. "Why, I won't see myself as an expert in this but I believe the skills I learned from my previous occupation would be transferable to this situation." Rolling up my sleeves, I take up a knife and start to debone the chicken. The butler give me a impressed smile and start to work beside me as well. "Say, Y/n. Do you normally enjoy late night walks?" The butler asks, probably an attempt to strike a conversation. "Not really, but my previous work requires staying up late a lot of times. How about you?" "Sleeping is luxury for me." I look at him for a moment, trying to process his somewhat weird response. "Will this be alright?" I put down the knife and a complete set of chicken skeleton is carefully laid out right beside the deboned chicken. "Excellent, Y/n. You never fail to exceed my expectations." The butler flash a smile at me after looking at my work.

"Well then, since you're so quick. I'll let you handle the garden. I'll need you to gather some flowers for the dinner table tonight." I nodded in response and ask: "What kind of flowers would you like me to gather?" The butler smile at me and bend to my level. "Just pick whichever you like, I'll arrange the decoration accordingly." I feel my cheek turn warm from his intense stare and quickly back away. "Alright, I'll go to the garden to see what I can find." I quickly make my way to the garden.