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"A very merry anniversary, Mr. Milverton." Ruskin said to his employer and put down the strawberry cake in front of him onto the table. The media mogul, Charles Augustus Milverton's eyes widened from the pleasant surprise - after all, Ruskin's celebratory strawberry cakes were always bigger than usual - and at the same time, from the confusion. He couldn't recall what today's anniversary could be. It was not the day when Ruskin started to work for him, he was sure. And they were not married, even if he knew that Ruskin sometimes talked about things like that in his sleep.
"Thank you, Ruskin." He replied, not wanting to hurt his overly enthusiastic secretary whose gift he was actually grateful for. Since his mind was searching for the information in vain, he asked. "What anniversary exactly do we have?"
Ruskin flashed a smile at him.
"But of course, the anniversary of going blackmailing together for the first time!" He noted cheerfully and he closed his eyes as he remembered. "It was a countess we visited that day, Countess Theresa Rochfort, who cheated on her husband. You got one of her love letters and honoured me with bringing me along to the negotiation where you made the lady beg you in tears. It was such a beautiful sight!"
Ruskin let out a happy sigh. Milverton smirked as the memory came back to him as well. Ruskin served him loyally and helped out in his evil plans for months that time, so Milverton decided that he would show his special entertainment to his secretary, even teaching him the art of blackmail. And Ruskin didn't fail his expectations, he was a talented disciple it was worth sharing his knowledge with. Ever since that day, he always took Ruskin with himself when he went to blackmail and he needed to admit that it was a bigger fun than doing it on his own.
"It was indeed a beautiful sight." Milverton smiled at Ruskin and watched him gently. "And I didn't regret my decision when I brought you along. You are capable of seeing the real beauty of evil."
"Your lessons left a deep impact on me, sir." Ruskin's eyes shone up from the joy. "I hope that I will always be worthy of that. I want to follow your evil ways for the rest of my life." He stated so wishfully that it made Milverton let out a chuckle.
"You will." He reassured the other man and he thought that with Ruskin, he chose the perfect right hand man.
Ruskin blushed even harder.
"In that case... I was bold enough to arrange a blackmail for today's afternoon." He confessed shyly. "You have nothing else in your schedule this day, Mr. Milverton. Did I make a mistake?" He asked with some worry since Milverton didn't respond immediately. But he had another reason for that - Ruskin's thoughtfulness took his voice away for a few moments.
"Not at all." He shook his head and his pupil became similar to a snake's. "It is a fitting gift for the anniversary aside of the cake. May I ask who we are going to blackmail?" He curiously looked at Ruskin, trying to read the other man's expression. But Ruskin's joyful gaze remained mysterious.
"I would like to keep it as a surprise, sir." He replied. "I think it will bring you the greatest pleasure. But before that, you have time to eat from your cake. It is sweeter than usual, since I used a different recipe this time."
Milverton, who was infamous for his sweet tooth, grinned from the satisfaction.
"Then slice it for me." He ordered and while Ruskin obeyed, in his mind he added some observation to his previous thought.
Ruskin was not just the perfect right-hand man - but also, the perfect partner in sins and evil.