Awry Betrothal (Ciel x Reader x Alois) 2

"Congratulations to both of you!"

"I can't wait for the wedding!"

"I just know you two will be so happy together!"

"Almost wish I'd bagged him myself!"

You smiled as everyone crowded around congratulating the two love birds. While you were quiet and uncomfortable, Alois was shining. He was grinning, shaking everyone's hands, thanking them. He put an arm around your waist and placed a sweet peck on your lips, much to the gushing of the crowd. You looked around for your mother and Alois's father. They were nearby at some table, surrounded by guests. Lord Trancy guffawed at some joke someone told and your mother was daintily smiling and laughing.

It seems like everyone was enjoying themselves. The musicians picked up their strings and began playing a jaunty tune that encouraged people to start dancing. You didn't see Ciel anywhere. You saw him leave the room after the announcement was made and hadn't seen him since. Where did he go?

---

"She went along with it! Even when I told her not to, she still went along and did it, can you believe that?" Ciel said pacing up and down the length of some room a few hallways away from the main ballroom. He left right after the announcement was made and kept walking until he reached an empty room, Sebastien on his tail. It was a nice room, and judging by the sofas, armchairs, fireplace and small table, it was probably a sitting or drawing room.

"It would seem so." Sebastian remarked, watching Ciel from one spot.

"You'd think she'd have more sense." Ciel argued. "Though nothing except the announcement has been made. They still have to have the actual wedding and even after that it won't be final until the consummation." Ciel said, cheeks turning pink.

Ciel paused his pacing when he saw the smirk on Sebastien's face. "What?" He asked, scowling.

"It's not my place, young master." Sebastien said, closing his eyes yet still refusing to wipe that smirk off his face.

"I order you to tell me whats so funny!" Ciel demanded.

"Its just...are you sure this is about the Trancy boy? Nothing else?"

"Of course - I don't - what are you saying?" Ciel sputtered, cheeks reddening.

"It is my understanding that you've known Lady (l/n) for a long time. Perhaps you've grown to harbor affections for her."

"Well of course I have! I don't want her to suffer with Alois!"

Sebastien closed his eyes and shook his head. "Thats not what a meant..." He said, still smiling.

Ciel scowled. "Its not like that, you demon." Though he turned his head away all the same.

"We should probably return to the ballroom, young master. Its rude to leave so suddenly, your absence has probably been noted."
Ciel straightened up and Sebastien fixed his bow tie before they exited the room and re-entered the ballroom.

---

As more and more people started dancing, Alois was approached by several noble ladies fawning over his charm and good looks, demanding a dance. Alois promised to return as soon as he could before being whisked away into the crowd. You wandered over to the refreshments table and the server handed you a glass of champagne, which you accepted. You spotted one of your good childhood friends (b/f/n), and excitedly called her over.

"(y/n)!" She said running up to you and throwing her arms around you in a hug. "I meant to find you earlier but my family just arrived due to some traffic on the road. You're engaged!" She practically screamed.

You smiled. "Yeah...well, surprise." You said sardonically.

"And to Alois Trancy of all people." She continued. "To be honest, I didn't expect that. I always thought you'd end up with Ciel."

"Why do you say that?" You said, bristling as you remembered your last conversation with him.

"Its just, you've known him for a long time." She said, thoughtfully. "And you always seemed to get along with him."

You eyes fell to the floor. "Yeah, well I don't know about that anymore..."

Just then you saw said boy approaching you from the crowd. He took (b/f/n)'s hand and kissed it. "Lady (b/f/n/), its good to see you."

She rolled her eyes, placing her hand on his arm. "Come on, Ciel, don't be so formal, how long have we known each other? Its good to see you too." She glanced at you and saw the looks going between you two and probably sensed something. She began walking backwards, "well I should probably go around saying my hellos. I'll catch you both later, alright?" And disappeared.

There was a silence between you two after she left. Ciel held out his hand. "If you don't object?"

You tentatively took it and he led you into the crowd and began dancing to the melody of the song. It was a soft and happy tune and the dance that accompanied it was complicated. "So," He began. "You ended up engaged to him."

"Thats right." You said shortly.

"Thats just like you. To be so stubborn." He said as he spun you around. He was as quick on his feet as all the other times you'd danced with him. Though you knew it was all due to the amount of dancing lessons Sebastien had put him through. He probably danced until his feet were numb.

"Well this isn't exactly the same as refusing to give up my favorite toy. This is something else, something bigger." Why am I arguing with Ciel? He's right, I wasn't exactly thrilled with the whole idea either but...

"I know your parents arranged everything. You wouldn't even have thought of the idea if they hadn't, isn't that right?"

You blew out a breath of air. "Why are you so interested, anyways? Could it be you're...jealous?" You prodded, smirking.

He narrowed his eyes at you. "Don't be stupid. I'm only trying to look out for you." He said as he dipped you and turned you around as you came up.

"Look out for me?"

"Thats right."

"I know you have some history with Alois, but-" You began but he cut you off.

"You don't know anything about what happened between us." He frowned. "But I know you understand what I mean. There are times when you feel it too, aren't there? When you feel something off?"

You paused, unable to say anything. Maybe you were looking too much into it? Everyone has strange moments. And Alois is just an eccentric personality. What is Ciel going on about?

---

Ciel saw the thoughts behind her eyes and knew she was thinking back to every moment she'd had with Alois. He had to convince her. He had a bad feeling about Alois, he felt like something bad might happen to her. And as stupid as she was being right now, he couldn't allow her to be trapped with him.

---

They were dancing...

Why were they dancing?

Of all the people she could have danced with, why Phantomhive? Alois flashed a fake smile to the girl he was dancing with and spun her so he could watch the two better. They looked like they were having an intense conversation. But it was too intimate. (y/n) belonged to Alois now. She was his, no one else's. He was watching them with a malicious glint in his eyes, and only when the girl called his name was he snapped out of his thoughts.

"Are you alright, Lord Trancy?" She said and he realized he was clutching her arm too tightly. He let go.

"My sincerest apologies, my Lady. Its just your beauty distracted me and I fell into my thoughts. Forgive me." He said, inclining his head and flashing her a winning smile that made most people melt.

The girl blushed and batted her eyelids. "Of course, it's not a problem." He smiled back at her while his eyes travelled back to (y/n) and Ciel. When was this song going to end? Ciel spun her around and she followed gracefully, her (h/c) hair flowing around her head like a crown glinting in the light. That little shit Ciel... He hated Ciel so much. Why was he always talking to (y/n)? According to Claude, Ciel had tried to convince (y/n) not to accept the engagement. Ciel probably wanted her to himself...

Well Alois was not going to let that happen. He scanned the room until his eyes fell on Claude who was watching attentively as always. He narrowed his eyes at him, conveying the message that they were going to do something. Like it or not, (y/n) was going to be his.