Chapter Text
The first time I see it, it’s after the entire debacle of two Ciels in the front foyer of Phantomhive Manor. Scotland Yard takes my brother into custody, and I retreat to the earl’s office, Undertaker a mere few steps behind, and find a large, locked box sitting innocently on the desk.
It’s black, with silver edges. Although under the harsh afternoon sun, the slight royal purple undertone in the black is visible. A large gleaming silver lock, almost white under the afternoon sunlight, ornate and intricately designed, keeps the box’s contents secret.
Pointless, really, if you’re going to leave the key in the lock.
The key itself is also ornate: swirling tendrils of silver and a brilliant amethyst set right in the middle of the bow.
A crest is embossed on both the lid and the back of the lock: a sword and rifle each resting on a weighing pan of a balanced scale, sword on the left, rifle on the right, crossing at the intersection of pillar and beam. The pillar of the scale is intertwining “ribbons” of water and fire. A viper sits coiled around the crown above the crest, head reared.
I breathe sharply out.
A duchy. My brother had in his possession the property of a Duke or Duchess.
“What do you want to do with this, my lord?” Tanaka asks, and I turn to leave.
“Write to whichever family this belongs to. Return this to them and explain the current situation of our house. This crest is one I don’t recognise, so I suppose it’ll fall to you, then.”
“Understood, my lord,” and the door shuts behind me.
Tanaka does as instructed.
-
Within the hour, it’s back on the desk, along with a reply.
“This was a gift from my father to yours, as proof of our families’ alliance. That was the previous generation’s oath, this generation has yet to do anything of the sort. You may do with it as you wish. Simply be wary of Fate’s retribution, should you choose wrong.”
I get Undertaker to toss it.
I have no use for it, after all.
Undertaker does as instructed.
And within the next hour, it’s back on the desk again.
As is every time we try discarding it.
After the fifth try, I simply give in and leave it.
Eventually, after another few hours, when the sun has set and dinner long eaten, that nagging curiosity in the back of my mind wins.
I turn the key and open it.
It’s empty.
So I close the lid and leave the key in an opened lock, simply ignoring it now, and letting it take up space on a perfectly good desk.