literature

Chiaroscuro Chapter 7

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~"Trump"~


  As they strolled casually down extravagant Parisian streets, Cadencia smiled cheerfully, with her arm linked about Sebastian's. To the butler's own surprise, his expression was a relatively cheerful one, as well. For some reason he could not discern, Sebastian did not mind the fact that Cadencia was not typically a serious person. Her happy-go-lucky nature was a refreshing change of pace, compared to the other stuffy humans about. He always observed her closely; everything about her was new and delightfully strange to the demon. The way that she was trailing the fine, silk hem of her gown in the dust of the side walk, the way that she would wave to anyone who passed by her, regardless of social status, even the way that she held onto his own arm, not frightened in the least that he was a demon.

Even if she hadn't yet specified a wish to create a contract, at least she wouldn't be a miserably annoying human to linger around with in the meantime.  Quite the contrary, actually. Daring to say, Sebastian had to admit he rather enjoyed Cadencia's company. He felt her give a light tug on his arm.

"Yes, Milady?"

"Are you tired, Sebastian?"

Sebastian smiled. "Milady, this sort of thing would not tire me out, even if we walked for days on end."

"Oh, I see. That's good then."

"What about you, Milady? Are you getting tired?"

"No, not in the least. It feels great to get outside, you know? So many aristocrats spend their days indoors, they're really missing out."

"Indeed."

Cadencia came to a sudden stop.

"Milady, are you all right?"

Sebastian looked forward, in the direction which she was staring. There were two young girls. The difference in social class couldn't have been more obvious if you compared the blonde haired girl's worn dress to the taller, dark haired girl's frilled bonnet. The upper class girl held in her arms, a porcelain doll.

"Milady?" Sebastian tried again, but Cadencia simply stared on, almost transfixed.

"Don't touch her!" The upper class girl slapped the hand of the young blonde. "She's made of fine bisque, and her clothes are real silk! Don't be jealous just because you could never have a doll like this!"

Cadencia watched the small blonde girl sulk, and, lips taut, without a word, the young Marchioness stormed into a small shop just over to the left. Sebastian blinked, rather bewildered about the whole thing, and decided it would be more interesting to just step back and see where the whole thing panned out. His mistress pushed open the wooden shop door after a few moments, and marched over to the two girls. The demon's eyes widened ever so slightly when he caught sight of a porcelain doll under Cadencia's left arm.

"Little one…" Cadencia addressed the small blonde girl.

Nervously, the blonde turned; intimidated by the rich way Cadencia was dressed.  The Marchioness knelt down on one knee and presented the doll to the girl, whose eyes lit up in surprise.

"I couldn't…."

Cadencia smiled. "It's all right. She's for you." The Marchioness rose to her feet and gently ruffled the girl's blonde locks. "Take good care of her, okay?"  Cadencia waved, and rejoined her astounded butler.

"Come on, Sebastian!" Cadencia grinned.

"Milady…"

"What?"

"Why…would you do a thing like that?"

"What do you mean, Sebastian?"

"You went out of your way and procured a doll for that girl…for what in return?"

"I didn't do it to get something back, Sebastian."

"Why wouldn't you?"

Cadencia just shrugged and gave another grin. "I don't know."

How very noble, and how very foolish....  

Sebastian had made his judgment; she was the sort of person who would do a variety of good, and be taken advantage of at every turn. She wouldn't ever get ahead because she would be so preoccupied trying to make everybody happy. Yes, she would indeed be walked all over. Still, this weak girl was rather interesting all the same. Her actions were quite amusing. They walked a few blocks however, before Sebastian voiced his confusion.

"Milady…really, what was the point of that farce, anyways?"

"It wasn't a farce, Sebastian."

"Did you think you were going to make that girl happy?"

Cadencia tensed. She could feel his antagonistic gaze bearing into her from behind. Still, she smiled, welcoming the challenge.

"Very well, Sebastian, I'll bite. What are you going on about?"

"I'm sure you must have realized what sort of social class that girl came from, did you not?"

"Of course.  It was painfully obvious that she came from the lower class, what are you getting at?"

"Did you not stop and think that buying such a fine doll for that girl would be a constant reminder of her family's monetary situation, every time she plays with it?" Sebastian smirked. "That she never could have had such a doll, had you not stepped in and bought it for her?"

Cadencia bit her lip. "I don't know what you mean-"

"Oh…" Sebastian's tone purred. "I'm quite certain you do."

"Is that right?"

"And….I know that you're trying to be aloof so you don't have to answer me, Milady."

"You want an answer that badly?"

"Yes, Milady."

"Why is that?"

"Realizing that I will have overstepped my bounds by saying this, it is because I would like to know if my current mistress is a coward who runs from a challenge."

Sebastian was rather taken aback by the sudden change in her eyes. At this moment, they didn't look as they had a second earlier. They were fierce, not kind.

"You want to know if I'm a coward? If I'd run from a conflict? I'll tell you in one breath that I'm not. A challenge, a conflict, a problem; I won't back down from them!" She locked eyes with the demon.

Sebastian did have to give her due credit; it wasn't easy to meet the eyes of a demon and not be intimidated, yet here she was, not only meeting his eyes, but staring him down at his own game.

"Now then…I do believe you requested an answer for my actions earlier, correct?" She asked, firm in tone.

"Yes, Milady."

"I knew."

"Pardon?" Sebastian arched a dark, perfect brow curiously.

"I knew what I was doing…before I gave her the doll, and I knew what would probably happen because of it."

"So, you felt compelled to do it because you pitied her?"

"No. I didn't pity her."

"Why not? She was a poor girl. A beggar, I can assume. She lives a sort of life you do not have to, Milady. Why wouldn't you pity her?"

Cadencia paused. "Well, in part, you're right.  Her family's monetary situation….the way that other girl was teasing her…I can't imagine she was a very happy little girl. Still, even as she was being teased, she didn't cry."

"Your point, Milady?"

"That was not a weak little girl. She didn't need to be pitied."

Sebastian said nothing.

"I think…that having someone go out of their way for you can inspire some happiness, don't you?"

"I don't quite understand what you're meaning, Milady."

"In that fleeting second when I gave her that doll, she was happy. If only then and never again, don't you think some happiness is better than none?"

Sebastian looked down on her condescendingly. "How…human. I don't understand what you're going on about at all."

Cadencia smiled. "Now…who's trying to be aloof?"

Sebastian's eyes widened.

"You're a demon. You're malevolent, you're antagonistic, you're tormenting…..but you're not stupid. Even if you try to deny it, I know you understand." She sighed. "When your life is like a dark tunnel, you've got to make a grab for even the smallest shred of light so you don't get lost."

The wind blew gently. "That's all I did, Sebastian. I gave her a shred of light to grasp onto."

Although Sebastian was far too dumbstruck to voice a response, he felt something deep inside himself that he'd never felt before. She'd said it. In one simple sentence, Cadencia had demonstrated she could understand the feelings of a complete stranger, and a demon also. Involuntarily, Sebastian smiled, having discovered a newfound appreciation for his mistress.

Aw~ Sebby's starting to melt~

I don't own the aforementioned demon butler~!

Chapter 8 ~>[link]
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HrrrDragon's avatar
Oh, Sebastian, how you act so cold heartedly and yet you understand the compassion that Cadencia showed.

Lovely chapter by the way~