Epilogue

Four years later.

After one dreary month of rain in London, the sun finally broke apart the dark clouds that had been constantly looming over the city. It was the promise of monsoon lifting, the end of grey bitter days. The city folk, young and old, walked with a new bounce in their stride, heads held high to take in the first kiss of the sun's warmth.

Amidst a particular district in the city, a noble's carriage rolled along the cobblestone, its horse's hooves clicking against the road in a pace neither too slow nor fast. Onlookers going about carrying out their business peered curiously at the passing vehicle.

Inside the cushioned interior of the said carriage, eager green eyes stared out from the carriage, admiring the white pristine clouds drifting leisurely across bright, blue sky. Her long, curly blonde hair tumbled over her shoulders as she leaned further out against the window.

London during the monsoon season was depressing and it was boring staying indoors almost every day. The thought of her destination and the sight of bright, sunny London had lifted her spirits.

Today was the opening day of the Bastonhive Hotel, ran by Ciel Phantomhive himself, and he had invited her as one of his distinguished guests to stay for a night at his new business.

"Are you going to inform them about your engagement to Lord Arterbury, My Lady?"

Elizabeth pulled away from the window and glanced over at her maid. "Of course, Paula, what are you saying?" She sighed wistfully. "It's too bad Nicholas can't join us this time round."

The manor once known as the Blancbaston manor was now a young budding hotel, kilometres away from the hustle and bustle of the lively city.

The old abandoned manor of the Blancbastons had been undergone many changes over the years ever since Ciel Phantomhive revived the Blancbaston Empire, his wife's family enterprise and took it under his wings, branching it with Funtom. Trying to revive a dead business was risky, but they pulled through.

It was currently late morning and the great windowed doors of the building had been already opened to receive the special guests, marking the beginning of a new journey for the virgin hotel.

Under their watchful gaze, Ciel Phantomhive and Estella Blancbaston-Phantomhive watched the guests they had specially invited pour into the lobby. In the midst of the guests, they spotted the purple head of Prince Soma and beside him was as usual, Agni. Somewhere behind them was Meyrin, Finny, Bard and Tanaka - easily recognizable from afar.

"I love it." Ciel turned his head questioningly to the redhead to see looking around with a small smile on her face. "This place was falling apart and now, it's beautiful."

While the manor did managed to retain some old features, the changes were evident.

The entrance hall was converted into a lobby with a cafe tucked in the corner which sells Funtom's sweets and pastries, and a wide selection of teas from The Blancbaston Empire. The floor beneath their feet that was once carpeted was now made of white marble and the walls made out of expensive wood. The stairs behind them led to the East and West wings of the establishment.

"Let's go visit your parents' graves after this." Ciel uttered, tearing his gaze away from the portrait of the late owners of the manor that was still hung atop the stairs, out of respect for them. "Come on," He grasped her hand in his and began to tug her toward the entrance. "We've got guests to greet."

"Hosting is seriously not my thing, but sure." Estella shrugged indifferently.

Falling in step beside him, her eyes brightened the instant they landed a small family of three. "Hey, it's the Carlisles!"

Ciel snapped his gaze to her, knowing what she was about to do. "Hold on, you-"

But it was too late. Words falling to deaf ears, he felt her snatch her hand out of his hand just as he was going to tighten his grip around it and watched her with bewildered eyes as she rushed forward. Uneasiness shaking like a fist in his gut, his eyes instinctively fell onto her very noticeable bump.

A silent sigh, Ciel hurried after her.

The light afternoon breeze blew over the cemetery, brushing over the trimmed grass and the rows of headstones rooted into the burial ground. The site only had three visitors when they reached there.

Standing before the two headstones that were placed slightly away from the rest, each of them had a bouquet of flowers laid before them.

Ciel glanced over at his wife and noticed her ice blue eyes held an unreadable glint. She looked quiet, but he knew she was telling them a lot of things. Turning back to the engraved stones, he mulled over whatever he had said. He was like her a while ago, saying his piece silently to her late parents.

He had told them almost everything.

That their company was now up and running, along with his own. Also, like how they had travelled to India together with Prince Soma and Agni five months ago to study more about teas. He also mentioned that it was around the time they returned from India when he discovered that their daughter was pregnant with his child.

A yawn drew his attention back to the woman beside him.

"You're done?"

"...Yeah." Estella stifled another yawn. "Talked too much, haha."

"Then let's get you home," Guiding her by her shoulders, Ciel led them away from her parents' graves, "You need to rest. The last thing we want to happen is you catching some stupid cold."

"Erm, shouldn't we be heading back to the hotel instead to oversee, you know...things?" Estella glanced over at him with a raised eyebrow. "I'm pregnant, not dying-Woah!" She felt her foot struck against something on the ground but she couldn't see what because she was too busy cursing and staggering to regain her balance.

His heart felt like it was in his mouth when he saw her falling forward and hastily, he reached out and pulled her securely against him. Apparently, holding her shoulders did not suffice.

Ciel puffed out a heavy sigh of relief and gazed down at her with a strict face. "That's it. Looks like I'll have to set a few rules for you."

"What?" Her voice was dripping with incredulity. "No, you're joking right? Rules? I-"

"One. If I ever ask you to rest, you rest. No arguing."

"Hey, I'm not-"

"Two. No matter how excited you are, I forbid you from running."

"But-"

"Three. If you wish to go somewhere, you must make sure I'm with you. And you're to keep your hands in mine," Ciel laced his fingers with hers and held her hand in a firm hold, "...like this when we're together." He gave her hand a soft squeeze.

A look of dismay appeared on Estella's face as she gave his rules a thought. "So basically, I have to be stuck to you like a glue. Oh my god," She ran her hand exasperatedly through her hair, "I'm not a child, Ciel Phantomhive, I'm your wife! An adult!"

Ciel forced back an amused smile at her response, holding onto his strict facade. "Exactly. You're my wife and pregnant so stop being so troublesome and abide to these rules until the baby's born." He wanted to stop himself, but he ended up blurting out, "Please?"

Estella blinked at him once, twice before a smirk grew on her face. "Awww, since you're begging me, I can't say 'no' right?" She rolled her eyes playfully, "Our hands are joined so can we go now?"

Ciel eyed their joined hands, his eyes lingering on her five-month bump for a second before returning his focus to her face with tenderness in them.

"Alright, let's go home..."

Taking one last glance at her parents' graves, Ciel turned his head to the front, gaze strong and firm as they walked away.

Knowing that after fifty years has passed, the Faustian contract would reappear in his right eye again and Sebastian Michaelis would come take his soul.

He didn't know how he knew but he had a feeling that until time comes, he would be constantly under the watchful gaze of Sebastian. Watching over his prey until it was time. Somehow this knowledge gave Ciel a sense of security and certainty that nothing bad could touch him – Sebastian wouldn't allow it.

Till then, he was going to look towards the future with Estella Blancbaston-Phantomhive and their unborn child, knowing that his life could no longer be...tainted.

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THE END