Chapter 3 Diamond|Two

Ciel was once naive enough to think that all these was merely a dream, but now after a year she had lost all hope. She had tried whispering to the bracelet, rubbing the charm of the bracelet, searching for a witch's grimoire or people who had the power to travel to different universes. But so far, her bracelet remained sealed, the clasp disappeared. And she remained in this world.

She did not understand how those heroines in stories can settle in so quickly, forgetting their pasts and their family. Maybe those heroines led such an exciting life that left them no time to think about stuff such as this.

Maybe she should follow their lead, try not to think about her past, her other world and try to focus on the present and this world.

"Are you struggling between using blue or ...blue?" A voice cut through Ciel's contemplation. Ciel looked up to find Lord Lambert smiling intriguingly at her. "Maybe it's something to do with my eyes, but I don't find any difference between these two types of blue."

Ciel looked at the palette in front of her, seemed like in her melancholic contemplation, she dabbed the same type of blue twice on her palette. Ciel laughed embarrassingly and tried to change the subject, "Are you here for your sister's mask?" Lord Lambert visited this small town which was famous for masks three times each year. Every time he's here for masks he had ordered for his sister.

The teasing smile on Lord Lambert's face disappeared and turned to his usual subdued quiet smile, "Yes. Is Master Rita in the shop?"

"Master has just gone out for her daily afternoon tea." Ciel left the chair she's sitting in and dragged out a chair from the corner. "Do take a seat, my lord. You'll have to wait for at least an hour. Would you like some tea?"

After bringing out some cookies and a cup of tea for Lord Lambert, Ciel settled back down into her chair behind her working desk. She was midway through a simple mask before she drifted off to day dreaming. It's her task to prepare masks with simple design, like plain color masks with some drawings as decorations. Those masks were sold at a much lower price, unlike those tailor made and designed masks made by Master.

Even though the masks she was responsible for were just mass produced products, that didn't mean she didn't have to put in effort into thinking of their designs. Currently she's making one stylized like a midnight sky. Different shades of blue together with twinkling stars.

"That's a very pretty mask, " Lord Lambert praised.

"Thank you." Ciel replied with a shy smile. "I have the pleasure to take a look at the one Master made for your sister. It is totally stunning. I'm sure your sister will like it. You're such a great brother, going across the country for your sister's mask!"

Masks had a special status in this kingdom. This kingdom was famous for its masquerade parties and festivals.

Lord Lambert returned with a wistful smile.

"Are you unhappy here?" he asked suddenly after a few seconds of silence.

Ciel was taken aback by this sudden question. Her first instinct was to shy away from the bright piercing gaze of Lord Lambert. "Why would you ask that?"

"Your art... they give me a feel of loneliness and sadness."

No one had ever found out this. Not Master and of course not the customers.

"I... I miss my family." Ciel didn't dare to look up, she's afraid he might notice her slightly wet eyes. "But I have decided to stay strong. It's inevitable for someone who has to work far from home."

"There's nothing wrong with missing family. I understand the ache and hollow in the heart when you realized the one closest to you is now far far away from you." Ciel looked up to find Lord Lambert looking out of the window with hollowness and despair in his eyes.

Has someone close to him passed away? Ciel thought.

Lord Lambert took out a handkerchief, placed it to his mouth and burst into coughing.

"Are you alight?" Ciel asked worriedly. Come to think of it, Ciel thought, Lord Lambert looks pale and sickly every time she meets him.

Lord Lambert took a deep breath and said with his usual smile, "Never been better."

He leaned forward across the desk and took hold of the paint brush left on the desk. "Hope you don't mind, " he said.

He added a few strokes on the mask Ciel was drawing on. In just a few strokes, a cute fat cat appeared on the edge of the mask. The melancholy feel disappeared and the mask gave off a warm and fuzzy feel.

After drawing, Lord Lambert leaned back and gave Ciel a wink. "Sometimes tiny things in daily life are the light in life."

Just then the door to the shop banged open and Ciel's master came sashaying in. She cried, "Lord Lambert you have arrived! Always on time. Ciel go get the box in my room."

With a nod Ciel disappeared into the deeper part of the shop in search for the box holding Lord Lambert's sister's mask.

After Ciel disappeared, Lord Lambert chuckled softly and muttered to himself, "Who knows I'll be the one cheering someone up? It's usually your job, my dear sister."