Rating: T+

Pairing: Ciel/Lizzy (Alois/Lizzy; Grey/Lizzy; Ciel/Sieglinde)

Genre: Romance, Drama, Thriller

Notes:

This story will basically be a fusion of plots that I've had lurking in the back of my head for some time now; them being: (1) "How the married life of Ciel Phantomhive and Elizabeth Midford would actually be like"; and (2) "What would happen if Alois Trancy were part of the canon manga".

It is based closely on the events of the manga, but will obviously take liberties after the point Ciel comes back from Germany. As a side-note, my other Kuroshitsuji story, "The Earl, The Princess & a Day at the Circus", a Alois/Doll one-shot set in a What-If Scenario, is a prequel to this fiction. Reading that is not required, though.

Lastly, this is simply a Prologue. Real Chapter One starts on the next page!

Edit: As of 04/16/2017, the story has been updated and retooled, new scenes were added in existing chapters, and most of Chapter Two and Chapter Three will be extensively modified.

Disclaimer: Don't own Kuroshitsuji / Black Butler / Majordomo Negro

Ciel Phantomhive likes Elizabeth Midford.

At least this was how he understood it when he was just six years old. Elizabeth, or Lizzy, as the older-by-one-year girl preferred to be addressed as, was to be his future bride one day. She was to become what his mommy was to his daddy, and perhaps, they'd also have a baby together, however that worked. To Ciel, it was simple. He liked having her over, and playing with her. She was funny, and always happy, except when she was hungry. She could be somewhat annoying there. But, Ciel liked being with her, so when he was told they had been arranged to be married, he happily accepted it.

Ciel Phantomhive misses Elizabeth Midford.

This was clear to him, at least now. The ten year old, behind the cold bars of that dark cage, missed seeing her. After he was branded like an animal, had his pleas and cries ignored, he just accepted the fact that he would not see anyone else ever again. He had others there with him, but every time those people came, they took one away. And did that to them. Blood went everywhere. So he knew, in due time, he'd be next. So, he missed her. Because her laugh and smile, while annoying and goofy, was something he knew he'd never see again. And, as fate would have it, he was next. He felt as the knife ran through his body, amidst the screams and moans of these monsters. Then, his world faded to black.

Ciel Phantomhive tolerates Elizabeth Midford.

She was the biggest pain in the world. At twelve, Ciel had a lot on his plate, from running his company, to working for the Queen as her Watchdog, to secretly trying to find his parents' killers with his demon-turned-butler. He did not have time for Lizzy, and her little games, and her little things. He was not the same Ciel, she should not expect him to be. Still, he tolerated her presence, because the old Ciel still wished for her to be happy. And at least, while she was near, it felt like if everything had not gone to hell. That he still had a future to believe in. He could at least fool himself, for just as long as her laughter lasted.

Ciel Phantomhive admires Elizabeth Midford.

The girl knew how to hold a blade, in a way Ciel both envied and was astonished by. At thirteen, Ciel knew how to handle a sword, even if he was better at guns, at least enough to hold his own in combat. He had lived through quite a bit to get to where she was. But her, she was something else. When the Campania sank, and he tried his hardest to save her, just her if nothing else, they were on the verge of death. He couldn't, wouldn't allow her to die, allow the last light in all his darkness to fade. He couldn't save her. She didn't need him to. She fought, saved him, and was still there, still laughing and smiling like if those hands had not decapitated dozens of undead. He admired her, for her strength, and for all the strength she made him feel when he was with her.

Ciel Phantomhive is afraid for Elizabeth Midford.

Because, now at eighteen, he knows that his time is coming. He knows he is expected to pay what's due to the netherworld, and he has no soul left to give. But there she still was, right beside him, still laughing and smiling, trying to cheer him up from something she couldn't even begin to comprehend. He is afraid. Because as he got older, he realized life gives very little, and you only notice when life takes it away. And he's afraid it will take her. Her brightness, her light. And Ciel Phantomhive doesn't know what to do anymore. Because…

Elizabeth Midford loves Ciel Phantomhive.

…And Ciel Phantomhive doesn't deserve it.

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