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Chapter Text

[Name] walks along with Gilbert, a young boy with black hair of longer length and golden eyes that shine so brightly when the sun hits them.

The boy, a bit flustered, has his arm out for [Name] to hold onto, he glances over at her, completely just admiring the sight of her. [H/C] hair that is styled back into a single, thick braid, always styled back cleanly due to her being a servant.

Well, both were servants but [Name] was a servant for Oscar Vessalius, Oz's uncle. Currently, [Name] had met up with Gilbert as he grabbed a book from the library for Oz.

"Master Oz's coming of age ceremony is tonight." She says quietly, breaking the silence between them. Her eyes glancing up, a smile appearing on her lips when she sees Gilbert already looking down at her, his cheeks get more red upon getting caught staring.

Nervously, he looks away. "Y-yes, it is." Gilbert feels his ears burning, he's always been flustered around the (H/C) haired girl.

[Name] looks ahead of them, a smile still on her lips. "I hope things go well for him tonight."

Just as Gilbert was going to open his mouth to speak again, the sound of footsteps is heard, rapidly heading in their direction. Gilbert looks back, preparing to shield [Name] in case of danger but it was Ms. Kate and two maids following behind her.

"Gilbert!" The woman looks down at the two, "as a personal servant of the young master, surely you must know where he is hiding!?" She shouts, grabbing ahead of Gilbert, [Name] letting go of his arm.

She watches the scene play out, Ms. Kate is clearly stressing about Oz missing just hours before the ceremony was to begin. Gilbert, of course, is a bad actor, stumbling over his words.

"A-actually, I myself haven't seen him since lunch...!" He says nervously, sweating profusely while tapping his fingers together, clearly fidgeting under Ms. Kate's gaze.

The woman is clearly not buying his words as she calms down, smiling at Gilbert, "....I have heard from the young master that you greatly dislike cats, is that not so?" She says, grinning as she holds up a fluffy white cat with a ribbon tied around it's neck. 

[Name] tries to intervene but Ms. Kate shoots her a look, making the girl stop. Gilbert falls back against the wall, clealry trying to get away from the cat, panicking as he spills the beans on Oz's whereabouts. "The lake! He headed for the lake with Lady Ada!?" He screeches and Ms. Kate seems satisfied with his answer.

"The lake you say? Ladies, let's go there quickly!" She tells the two maids and the three women scattered away, determined to catch Oz.

[Name] runs to Gilbert, kneeling down, checking for any scratches from the cat. The two stop and look up to see the cat walk over to a wardrobe, meowing and scratching it. Blinking at this, the door to it is kicked open, startling the girl, as Gilbert holds onto her hand.

Oz's laughter is heard, "good work Gilbert!" The blonde boy says smiling big, Ada, the youngest out of the three is sitting on Oz's lap as he helps her out. The little girl runs over to [Name], giggling and smiling as she holds out the cat to her as the boys talk.

"...Ms. Kate will definitely scold me..." Gilbert says as Oz just shrugs his shoulders. "Poor Gil has it so rough! Well!" Oz looks over at [Name] playing with the cat with Ada.

"Let's go explore the back garden today!"

[Name] immediately stands up straight, bowing her head, holding her dress up slighty, Oz and Gilbert were to slow to notice this as they're grabbed from the collar of their clothes.

"Master Oscar, I found Oz like you instructed me to." [Name] says, head still bowed, eyes closed, waiting for any new orders.

An older man, long blonde hair in a low ponytail, tied back with a ribbon, it's clear that he, Oz and Ada are related with the three having blonde hair.

"Uncle Oscar!" Oz exclaims, looking up at his uncle. Uncle Oscar grins at him, "there you rascals are, hiding too well i had to send [Name] to find you, Oz."

Uncle Oscar looks over at [Name] who still was waiting for orders, head bowed, eyes closed. "[Name], good job." He tells the girl, letting Gilbert and Oz go as he walks over to the [H/C] haired, gently patting her head. "Relax now."

She relaxes, Ada holding her hand as they all go into Uncle Oscar's room.

Sitting next to Gilbert, who was getting flustered at her close proximity once more, [Name] listens to the conversation.

"What am I going to do with you?" He tells Oz as he lights up a cigarette, sitting next to an open window, "don't make the house keeper worry so much." Oz just smiles at this, learning back against his seat. "But you see, she was more on edge than usual so I couldn't help but tease her."

Uncle Oscar laughs at this, "of course she'll be so tense. It's the coming of age ceremony for the next head of the Vessalius family, one of the four great dukedoms. You of course, Oz Vessalius." Oz's eyes widen before he slumps down, clearly a little embarrassed.

[Name] smiles at the boy's next words. "Yeah...that...how come I have to do something like that? Its such a pain." He whines as the [H/C] haired girl folds her hands on her lap.

"It's a blessing to be the next head of a great family, Young Master. I know you'll be destined of great things." She smiles at the blonde who just blushes at her words, burying his face in his hands.

"It's the destined of those who've turned fifteen. Accept it already." Uncle Oscar looks out the window as Oz mentioned the bright side of his coming of age ceremony, they were able to come to this mansion which was extremely large.

"Word has it that this was built over two hundred years ago but now it's only used for the coming of age ceremony. So you can relax here and just think of all this as a strange party."

[Name] nods as she looks at Gilbert who was pale since the fluffy small cat has curled up on her lap, fidgeting in place.

"You're going to perform the ceremony right?" Oz asks his uncle who nods, but a frown appears on his lips. "...but your dad should really be the one doing it. I'm sorry you have to settle for someone like me filling in for him."

Oz's gives a closed eye smile at them. "What do you mean? After all, you're more like a dad to me, Uncle Oscar. I'll be happier if you did it!"

Uncle Oscar, Gilbert and [Name] looks at Oz quietly, [Name] looks down in shame, clearly getting frustrated before Gilbert's hand covers hers, squeezing it before Uncle Oscar changes the topic since it was getting tensed when Oz's father is brought up.

Gilbert was too busy making sure [Name] was okay, "are you okay?" He asks quietly as the girl slowly nods, bangs covering her eyes before Gilbert tucks the hair back behind her ear, making the girl look up. A little flustered by his gesture before a loud knock is heard.

Oz freezes up upon hearing Ms. Kate's voice from beyond the door. Standing up and walking to Uncle Oscar's side, [Name] waves at Gilbert, "I'll stay but I'll come find you three after Ms. Kate questions Master Oscar." She smiles as Oz, Gilbert and Ada climb the window to escape.

Before the three leave, Uncle Oscar mentions the messenger of the abyss and watches the children leave. Sighing, the man rubs his head before looking down at the girl, "...you're not going to play with them?"

[Name] shakes her head, "I'll stay with you for the time being." She giggles as he pats her head, a habit he's always done with her growing up.

"It suits you." Gilbert looks back, startled upon hearing [Name]'s voice. Oz and Ada had already left.

Sitting down beside him, [Name] looks down at the white, silk coat Gilbert was holding. "You'll look like a prince." She smiles at him, making the boy blush as he looks down at the coat, scared at the thought of attending as Oz's friend rather than a servant.

"I....I don't know if I should go...what would the nobles think seeing a servant attend such a grand ceremony." Gilbert mumbles as the girl sighs, relaxing and resting her head against his shoulder.

"You've been friends since you two were small, you are his best friend."

Gilbert stares at the coat for a moment before looking down at her relaxed expression on her face as she leans on his shoulder.

"Tell me the details later, okay?" She says smiling at him before stands up, patting her dress. "Since I'm not fifteen yet, I can't attend the ceremony." She sticks her tongue at him before giggling. "Good luck." [Name] debates for a moment the before leaning down and pressing her lips to his cheek, making both of them blush red.

She pulls away and turns away from, clearly embarrassed.

Gilbert tries to say something back at her, finally getting the courage and looks at her before his eyes widen, a figure dressed in a red coat, is now holding a unconscious [Name] in their arms, blood leaking for the side of her head.

"Don't harm the girl. Leave her in her room for the time being."

Gilbert turns around to see another figure right behind him, eyes widen even more in fear, clenching the white coat tight before everything goes dark. "What lovely clothing. Won't you let me see too?" The figure says grinning big at him.

On the day of Oz Vessalius's coming of age ceremony, he was swallowed up by the chains of the abyss. Everyone who attended the ceremony has extremely hazy memories of what happened that night.

It's been a decade since then, [Name] walks away from the rundown building where Break, Sharon and Raven were waiting.

Raven's head was down, unable to look [Name] in the eyes, things changed in 10 years. They weren't children anymore after all, full grown adults. Heated arguments and harsh words to each other changes relationships. Raven knows that of course, [Name] doesn't even spare him a glance, not a stop of her heel as she looks back at him hesitantly, as if wishing he would say anything to prevent her from leaving. She doesn't have that unsure in her footsteps like before, a woman filled with confidence and no hesitation.

But she continues on, there was no more hesitation in her steps, the wind making her dress flutter in the breeze. Brushing a strand of her hair back, she looks back at Sharon and Break, "We'll meet again, make sure to bring back Oz safe and sound. Unfortunately, I don't have time to give him a proper welcome back." She says before leaving for good.

Break looks over at Raven who clenches his fist, "surely you're not going to let her walk away again. Miss [Name] has an extremely busy schedule as it is after all. It took weeks to even have her here wuth us to prepare the path to the abyss to bring Oz back." The black haired man doesn't say a word, eyes closed.

"...A shame, I thought she was special to you. Guess time does change people." Break says sitting down, eating his cake and tea as Sharon sighs.

"When are you two ever going to fix this tension between you two?" She asked. "...this is almost straight out of those romance books I've read, except it's been going on for 10 years." Raven stands up at this, grabbing a cigarette from his pocket and starts to walk outside. Indicating that he's going on a smoke break.

"Those two will properly die before fixing whatever happened between them." Breaks says shrugging his shoulders.

"I wonder...." Sharon looks down at the cup of tea in her hand, looking down at the liquid. "Once Oz comes back, how will things play out between them."

Chapter Text

Looking out the window, the sun is barely rising, standing there in deep thought, eyes barely open, before a knock is heard on the door to your office. Closing your eyes, you look at the door, hands resting on your stomach as the door opens.

"[Name]." It was Uncle Oscar, "the carriage is here to take us to Pandora's headquarters." He says, walking over to the stack of papers in an envelope, "they seem to have sent a lot of paper work for you." You watch as he reads some of them before he looks up at you, gathering them in his hands. "You know, if you needed help with some of these, I could've helped." He chuckles as you smile at him before shaking your head.

"I didn't need any assistance, it's just some paperwork that needed to be looked over and signed." Walking over to gather your necklace that shows you're apart of the Pandora organization, a pair of small footsteps is heard.

Before tiny hands grip the bottom of your dress, one of the maids comes running in, sweating, clearly panicking.

"Young Master!" A boy no older than 1 is clinging onto you tightly, black hair and golden eyes that were swelling up with tears but refusing to cry, lips trembling. 

Looking down, you signal the maid to leave the room for a moment. Once the door closed behind her, you open your eyes, a gentle smile appears on your lips as you bend down to pick up the small child, barely a year old. Still clumsy at walking but extremely fast if you're not keeping an eye on him.

He immediately clings and curls up against your chest. Closing his eyes tiredly, it was clear that he was sleepy. "Just when I thought I could sneak out of the residence without you waking up." You says softly, "my little boy sure knows when his mother is going to leave the house as always."

Oscar sighs, "almost like he senses you leaving.." He chuckles as you gently pat the boy on his back, he had already fallen asleep in your warmth.

"...I didn't want to take him with us to Pandora this time but I'm afraid I don't have a choice once again." You frown, pressing a kiss to his black hair. ".....most of the Pandora staff keep staring at him differently simply because of who his father is..." you mumble sadly. "....it's not his fault his father is considered a deadbeat...or rather, I don't think he means to be one...just busy"

Oscar doesn't say anything about this. "...he wasn't sent a letter?"

"I'm afraid not, I haven't seen him in months, besides hearing about him from you a couple days ago when you found him and Oz in town." You shake your head, walking over to the door, quietly telling the maid to prepare a bag of clothes for your son. While Oscar was taking the documents needed and carrying the spare bag, a maid helps you walk down the stairs of the Vessalius mansion since you're still carrying the boy against your chest.

"Onto Pandora then. I heard Duchess Rainsworth's heath got better hence why we were called." Oscar says as you pass the sleeping boy to his arms as you tell the carriage rider at the front where to go before getting in the carriage.

"I was really worried about her because she didn't look well the last meeting we had." You says relieved, "I did try to visit her but visitors weren't allowed."

The carriage starts, leaving behind the Vessalius mansion behind as you two head for Pandora's headquarters for a meetings with the other dukes.

Opening your eyes for a moment, glancing down at the sleeping boy, you gently caress his cheek. Soft and chubby, 'the more he grows, the more he looks like Gilbert when we were children.' You think to yourself sadly.

"Did you come here to kill the four great dukes, you bloody black rabbit?!?" The duke for the Nightray family shouts at Oz who looks the scene in front of him.

He could see his uncle and a woman behind him, Pandora staff standing protectively infront of the four dukes.

"What are you doing?! Capture the intruders immediately!? Duke Nightray shouts as the staff pull out their guns at Oz and Alice in her rabbit form.

Deciding to run instead of staying, Alice grabs Oz and immediately runs to the large door, the blonde makes eye contact with the woman hiding behind his uncle. A flash of familiar [h/c] color blurs as Alice runs past everyone.

"...oz?" A faint voice calls out and before he could say anything, it's too late since Alice ran out the room, leaving Oz with questions on who the woman is.

Watching Oz and the B-rabbit run off, you try to run after them but Oscar grabs your shoulder, holding you back. Looking back at him, he shakes his head discreetly at you. "...not in front of the other dukes." He whispers as you force yourself to stay put.

"Did you get hurt Miss [Name]?" Reim asked you concerned since before Oz and the B-Rabbit had fell on the table, you had reached over to grab something on the table. Luckily Uncle Oscar had reacted in time, pulling you back just as the chandelier fell, glass particles flying everywhere. 

Duchess Rainsworth's voice was heard, she was smiling as usual despite everyone witness the most dangerous, powerful chain in the abyss.

"I thought we might finally begin the meeting now that I'm better but there seems to be quite the spot of trouble." She notices the way you looked in the direction Oz and the chain went running off.

You don't notice her smiling more at this, calling you over to her as Oscar and Reim whisper to each other.

"What it is? What's going on?!" Reim, the young man with glasses said to Oscar who whispers back at him.

"Can't say. My nephew suddenly appeared during the conference. I don't think he recognized [Name]." The two men look over at you as you spoke to the older woman in the wheelchair.

"[Name], my dear! With the sudden attack of the b-rabbit." She reaches out to you, "you must be so worried about your little boy!"

You freeze up, completely forgetting that your son was sleeping peacefully in the room provided for you in the headquarters. "I must go see him, he must have woken up with all the noise." She nods, waving at you to go.

Lifting up your dress slighty so you can run without tripping on it, you run in the direction that Oz and the chain went. "...[name] and I can't exactly do anything drastically in front of the other dukes-"

"But what can I do?!?" Reim shouts nervously.

"Go-"

Oscar is cut off when the sound of your heels are heard, the two men watch, mouths dropped. "Quickly, go follow her?!" Oscar shouts at Reim who nervously runs after you. "Go help out Oz instead and keep [Name] out of danger! If things go awry, this could turn into a battle with the contractors of Pandora. We have to avoid that at all cost, so figure out the 'how' for yourself...." Oscar says sweating. 

"Miss [Name]!" He shouts after you, running in heels was hard especially since it's the ones that aren't meant for anything beside walking. You turn the corner, Reim right behind your heels, the debate happening in your mind. Should you go after Oz or straight to your son first?

"Miss [Name]! We should split up! I'll go ahead and find Oz and the B-rabbit, go check up on the young master!" You nod at this before splitting up, heading to the left corner, almost tripping when the build shakes violently but quickly running again.

Panting heavily, you arrive at your room, quickly unlocking it and stepping inside. Closing the door, you walk into the room and just as if the whole commotion hadn't happened. The one year old boy is fast asleep on your bed, curled up with a stuffed animal, white feathers sway in the air for a few moments before landing on the floor as you deactivate your chain.

After making sure he was safe and well, you carefully picked him up before leaving the room. Deciding to head back to Uncle Oscar, some of the Pandora staff had offered to guide you back to safety.

"Is the young master alright?" Some asked you while being escorted back where the rest of the dukes were at.

"He's fine, I guess the noise didn’t wake him up." You told them before pausing, looking to the side before quicking walking in that direction. The sound of Oz's voice echos through the hallway.

"Lady [Name]?! The B-Rabbit is in that direction! You could get hurt!" The staff tries to prevent you from going but being stubborn, you stood at the entrance, eyes locked onto the scene in front of you.

Oz was standing in the middle of the room, Gilbert and a young girl with long, brown hair hair beside him.

Reim, and the rest of the pandora staff in the room got down on one knee, surprising you, "yes, my lord!" They all says as Oz's sharp eyes lock onto yours but there was something odd, it was Oz standing there but-

"...[name]?" He spoke, making Gilbert look in your direction, his eyes widen at the sight of you, cradling the small boy in your arms before Oz sways to the side, making Gilbert and the girl catch him.

But instead of calling out in worry for Oz, they shout another name, "Jack-!"

Once Oz has woken up, Gilbert and Alice were sleeping on the side of the bed, clearly worried over him. Break had popped out from the window, startling Oz before beckoning him to come talk out on the balcony over tea and some snacks.

Walking into the room quietly, you paused, eyes widen when you realized that Oz wasn't in the bed anymore. You had went to grab some clothes for him and put them aside in case he wakes up.

Gilbert and the young girl were still fast asleep, walking over the girl, you adjust the blanket you put over her shoulders, sighing before smiling down at her as she mumbled in her sleep, something about meat.

You look over at Gilbert who surprisingly hadn't stirred from his sleep at your presence.

"....you used Raven...that's why you're so exhausted. " Mumbling to yourself as you walk over to his side, and you catch yourself reach out to touch his head, freezing up before stepping back.

"...." Opening your eyes, they sadly soften for a moment before looking away, reaching up to cover your right eye, the more dull one of your [E/C] eyes. Deciding to just leave now, you spot Break and Oz outside, Break noticed you at the window, smiling in your direction. Oz's back was facing the window so he didn't see you walk away from them.

The sound of your heels echo in the bedroom, your dress fluttering with each step and Gilbert stirs slighty.

Oz only looks back inside the room when he hears the door close quietly. Break chuckles, "say Oz, it's been around 10 years. Gilbert has changed drastically from the small boy he was." They clean up the plates and Oz pushes the cart.

While walking out the bedroom and into the hallway, Break hims ro himself. "Surely you're curious about the other person who was with you that day 10 years ago is doing now."

Oz looks up at him, little confused.

"[Name]?" He says as Break smiles down at him before some Pandora staff walk by them, their conversation catching Oz's attention.

"—Vessalius is leaving so soon."

"Already? Did the young master not like the room we prepared for him?"

Oz pauses, making Break looks back at him. He called out to him but the boy stares at the staff who paid him no mind.

"Is my father in Pandora?" He asked Break who stares at him for a moment. He looks away from the blonde, "no, your father has been missing for a while now."

"Then who are they talking about? My Uncle?" It's quiet between them for a moment, the sound of a carriage leaving is heard as Break leads the boy to the large window looking out. Oz sees the Vessalius emblem on the carriage, surpised, he doesn't see his father inside of it, rather a woman although he can't see their face, just the color of the dress she was wearing.

"Ada?" He mumbles confused but Break shakes his head, watching the carriage go on.

"[Name], or rather, to be formal, [Name] Vessalius or Duchess Vessalius, He finally said what Gilbert was hesitate to say to Oz after all this time. "She was adopted by your father right after you were dropped into the abyss 10 years ago, she's been taking his place as the head of the Vessalius family for years now."

Oz stares at Break completely surprised, emerald eyes wide, completely frozen in place.

"...[name]....is the Duchess Vessalius?"

He stood there, not believing what he just heard. The image of a young [Name] on that day 10 years ago flashes in his mind, there's no way she would....but the serious expression on Break's face tells him that the man isn't joking.