Dorian the mean butler!

Alice was standing in the middle of the Great Hall, shivering slightly from the cold she had brought with her from outside. Her simple dress was not suitable for the harsh winter, and her hands were trying in vain to warm her arms. The glowing fire in the stove gave off some warmth, but it was not enough to remove the cold that penetrated her body.

As she stared at the dancing flames, she suddenly sneezed audibly, causing the silence in the hall to collapse. From a golden stand near the fireplace, a familiar voice rose, full of sarcasm.

"Ah, Alice, your sneezing is like a drumbeat! Was that an announcement of your presence?"

Alice immediately turned towards the source of the voice. There was Midnight, Sebastian's clever crow, his glossy black feathers reflecting the glow of the fire, his mischievously glowing eyes following it.

"Oh, Midnight, this is not the time for your nonsense!" Alice said annoyed, narrowing her eyes at him.

The crow laughed in an almost human way, his wings moving slightly as if he was enjoying the scene. "Stuff? I'm just trying to add a little fun to your miserable atmosphere."

But before Alice could respond, Sebastian appeared from one of the side corridors, his stoic footsteps echoing clearly through the hall. As usual, he was very calm, his dark eyes emotionlessly scanning the situation.

"Midnight," he said in a low but firm voice, "I don't think Alice needs your comments right now."

Midnight raised his head, feigning innocence. "I'm just telling the truth. Doesn't she need a coat, or maybe... an extra fire?"

Sebastian ignored his sarcasm and focused his attention on Alice. He noticed her trembling, and approached her slowly. Before she could say a word, he slowly raised his hand and placed his cold fingers on her cheek, as if checking her temperature.

When Sebastian placed his hand on Alice's cheek, it was like touching cold silk in the middle of a winter storm. Her slightly chubby cheek, with its soft texture and natural pink color, looked like a piece of luxury candy. Her cheeks held a pleasant mixture of innocence and beauty, making Sebastian pause for a moment, as if studying this simple perfection.

His dark eyes, cold as a stormy night, showed no expression, but a faint violet flash passed them quickly. His fingers stayed there for a short moment, almost feeling the warmth of her skin melting something small into the depths of his usual silence.

Alice, who had not expected this situation at all, felt the heat rising in her face, making her cheeks grow redder until they looked like a ripe apple. She quickly raised her hand to her cheek, trying to cover it after he moved his hand away, and she looked even cuter with her embarrassed features and burning cheeks.

"Alice," he said in a calm but expressionless voice, and then he added: "You are shivering. Why didn't you ask for something to warm you?"

Alice felt heat rise to her face, from his sudden proximity and unexpected touch. She took a small step back, hiding her confusion, and said in a hesitant voice: "I...I'm fine. It's just a cold breeze."

Midnight laughed again from the stand, and said in a voice filled with malice, "A cool breeze? Or perhaps a sudden heat? Your cheeks seem to tell a different story."

Sebastian turned his face towards the raven, a sharp look that made Midnight swallow another comment he was about to make.

Alice, trying to get over her embarrassment, quickly changed the subject: "Thanks, Sebastian. I think I'll go to my room now."

Sebastian shook his head slightly, and said softly: "Dinner will be ready soon. Don't be late."

As Alice headed towards the stairs leading to her room, Midnight's voice was following her from behind "Alice's room in the castle? Ah, it seems you've become a permanent part of this place."

Alice ignored the raven's comments, but she couldn't ignore the unexplained warmth she felt after Sebastian placed his hand on her cheek. Was it just a passing touch? Or is there something deeper behind his apparent coldness?

She muttered to herself sheepishly "Why do my cheeks always make me look... like a baby?"

Outside, the snow continued to fall softly, blanketing the ground in a pristine layer of white, like a delicate silken carpet. The gray sky showed no sign of clearing, and the cold wind hummed its eerie tune as it rustled through the bare branches of the trees. The castle stood in silence, broken only by the faint sound of snowflakes tapping against the windows.

Inside the grand hallways of the castle, Dorian, the butler, walked with measured steps, his presence as composed as always. His golden hair was neatly styled, and his black blindfold gave his elegant features an air of mystery. His dark suit was impeccably tailored, accentuating his poised demeanor as he moved down the corridor, his steps echoing lightly on the polished floor.

Just as he passed by one of the rooms, a sudden crash shattered the quiet. He paused mid-step, his head tilting slightly as if to confirm the source of the sound. The noise had come from Alice's room. Without hesitation, Dorian turned on his heel and reached for the door handle, opening it with calm precision.

Inside, he found Alice crouched on the floor beside a shattered vase, her hands nervously trying to pick up the scattered pieces. Her cheeks, already slightly rosy, were now burning with embarrassment as she glanced up at him.

"Miss Alice," Dorian spoke in his usual deep, steady tone, "what has happened here?"

Alice's head shot up, her wide eyes meeting his. "I-I'm sorry! I just wanted to smell the flowers to see if I could still breathe properly, but… I accidentally knocked over the vase."

Dorian remained still for a moment, as if carefully processing her words. Then, without a word, he gracefully knelt beside her and began gathering the broken shards with deliberate care. His gloved hands moved deftly, as though this was a routine task.

"You shouldn't be handling broken glass, Miss," he said calmly, his voice carrying a quiet firmness. "You could hurt yourself."

"No, really! I can clean it up myself!" Alice protested quickly, trying to regain control of the situation. But Dorian didn't seem to acknowledge her objection.

"This is my responsibility," he replied simply, continuing to gather the shards. Once he had collected all the pieces, he wrapped them neatly in a piece of cloth and stood up. "I'll have someone clean this area. Please refrain from touching broken glass in the future."

Alice looked up at him hesitantly before nodding. "Thank you, Dorian."

He turned to leave but paused briefly at the doorway. Without turning back, he said in his calm, composed voice, "stop making noise."

With that, he exited the room, his steps fading into the corridor. Left alone. As the sound of Dorian's footsteps faded into the hallway, Alice stared at the door, her lips trembling. His words echoed in her mind: "Stop making noise." It wasn't what he said, but how cold and dismissive he sounded.

She bit her lower lip, her golden eyes welling with more tears. "What's his problem?!" she muttered, her voice shaky with frustration. She wiped at her cheeks furiously, but the tears only seemed to flow faster.

Alice clenched her fists, feeling a mix of embarrassment and anger. "He didn't have to say it like that! It's not like I meant to drop the vase! Stupid, blindfolded jerk!" she hissed under her breath, glaring at the door as if he could still hear her. "Who even wears a blindfold all the time? Is he trying to act mysterious or something? Well, congratulations, Dorian, you're officially the most insufferable butler in the entire universe!"

Her voice cracked slightly as she spat the words out, the humiliation of the situation hitting her like a cold wave. "And to think I even thanked him!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air in exasperation. "Why am I always so clumsy?! First, I break a vase, and now I've managed to make myself look like an idiot in front of him! Ugh, this is so embarrassing!"

Alice groaned, sinking to the floor and covering her face with her hands. Her cheeks were still burning, both from the scolding and her own stupidity. "Of all the people to walk in, it had to be him," she mumbled through her hands, her voice muffled. "I can't believe this. What kind of person sniffs flowers to check if they can still breathe? What was I even thinking?!"

She let out a frustrated sigh and flopped onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. "Why do I always end up in these situations?" she asked the air. The snow tapping softly against the windows was her only answer.

After a few moments, she sat up, wiping her face again and sniffling. "Fine," she said, her tone still tinged with anger but now laced with determination. "Let him think whatever he wants. I don't care. Next time he says something rude, I'll… I'll… I'll tell him off! Yeah, that's right!" She nodded firmly, though the idea of confronting Dorian made her stomach twist in knots.

She stood up, carefully stepping around the spot where the vase had shattered. As she glanced at the flowers, now lying on the floor beside the cloth-wrapped shards, her lips pressed into a thin line. "No more flowers," she muttered, grabbing the wilted stems and tossing them into the waste bin. "And no more clumsiness."

Feeling only slightly better, Alice stormed towards her bed and flopped onto it face-first. She buried her head in her pillow, muffling her voice as she muttered angrily. "I'm never breaking anything ever again. And if Dorian shows up, I'll just… ignore him! Yeah, that'll teach him. Stupid, mean butler."

Still, deep down, the memory of his calm, steady voice and the way he had efficiently cleaned up her mess replayed in her mind. Her cheeks burned hotter as she buried her face even deeper into the pillow.

"Why does he have to be so perfect at everything?" she grumbled, though her words came out more like a whine. Despite her anger, a part of her couldn't deny the intimidating yet composed presence he carried, which only made her feel more self-conscious.

"Ugh! Why am I even thinking about him?" she scolded herself, rolling over and pulling the blanket over her head.