That Butler, New Face

That Butler, Mourning

CLANG! CLANG!

"Kyaah...ahaha!" three children laughed and ran along the outside of the churchyard's fence, as they dragged a stick along the fence, making a racket.

"Big bruver!" a little boy called as he stopped to look at the church.

"Hm?" the older boy asked as he and the little girl with them stopped to stare too.

"There sure are a lot of people at the church over there, huh? Why?" the little boy asked curiously.

"Dunno," the older boy said thoughtfully. There were lots of people dressed in black entering the church. Their clothes looked fancy, like they belonged to the upper class.

"Big bruver is big, but he doesn't know? Are you a dummy?" the little boy asked skeptically. "Booo."

"Dummy?" the little girl asked curiously.

"Wha—!? I'm only twelve, so I don't hafta know!" the older boy yelled indignantly, vein mark throbbing on his forehead.

"Yes. Quite right. It makes perfect sense for a child not to know," Undertaker said creepily as he suddenly loomed over the children from the other side of the fence. The three children turned blue with shock and trembled in fear of the mysterious man. "Hee! Hee! You see, today... they are holding a certain noblewoman's gala," Undertaker said, grinning.

"Gala...?" the older boy asked nervously.

"Yes. The last, grandest ceremony of her life," Undertaker said, smiling as he held finger to his lips. "Her funeral."

=†=†=†=†=

{Inside the church}

Lizzie stood before Madam Red's coffin, which had been placed in front of the altar. Lau watched silently from his seat in one of the pews. For once, the Chinese man wasn't smiling. His expression was just as solemn as those around him. A few of the women in attendance were sniffling and crying softly as they mourned the Madam. Tears threatened to fall from Lizzie's eyes as she sniffed.

"Aunt An..." Lizzie said sadly as she gazed down at her aunt's coffin. Madam Red had been dressed in a simple white dress, and her coffin was lined with white lilies. Her hands had been arranged so that she was holding a lily and a rosary.

CHAK.

The mourners filling the church began to murmur amongst themselves when the church doors opened, and someone stood at the entrance. Lizzie's eyes widened in surprise as she turned to see who the latecomer was. It was Ciel. He was wearing all black, except for the red rose pinned to the lapel of his coat. He was holding a brilliant red dress. Sebastian and Chêne stood behind him. Sebastian was holding Ciel's top hat for him and wearing his usual black coat and butler uniform, but Chêne was wearing a modified version of her maid uniform that was completely black, without an ounce of color on it. She was also wearing a black mourning hat that had a veil on it, and she was wearing black gloves. She held a single red rose.

"Ciel..!" Lizzie said surprised. 'A red dress...!?' she thought, wondering what her fiancé was planning.

CLICK.

Ciel stepped forward into the church, followed by Chêne. Sebastian remained by the door as the two of them processed down the aisle. They ignored the whispers of the other mourners as they approached Madam Red's coffin. Sebastian watched solemnly, his face half cast in shadow, as they drew closer to Madam Red and the church altar. Lau looked slightly surprised when they passed him. Lizzie held a hand to her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes, as she watched. Ciel and Chêne came to a stop in front of Madam Red's coffin.