The Royal Albert Music Hall Investigation
~ Prologue ~
Phantomhive Manor, spring of 1891.
In his study Ciel tossed the mouthpiece of the telephone onto his desk before dropping unceremoniously into his armchair.
"I dare say the young master is dissatisfied with the outcome of this particular phone call?" Sebastian inquired with a teasing, ironic undertone in his voice while taking the phone away.
"Aren't you sharp to catch on on this particular morning." Ciel retorted, his head resting on his propped up arm while his eye focused on anything but the servant he was talking to.
"It is quite unusual for the young master to be this upset over not being able to attent a charity concert. And here I was thinking charity was the last thing on your mind altogether." Sebastian easily withstood the glare his master was directing at him.
"Of course I do not care one bit about the outcome of this inferior cause." He paused, diverting his gaze once more. "But there is an artist I had hoped to hear again. She had stopped performing very suddenly some years back but I used to see almost every concert of her."
Sebastian lifted a brow. It almost sounded like the young master had an idol when it came to playing the violin. How had he not caught on to that yet?
"I do admit, now I regret too that you were not able to be able to hear the lady play again. It might have improved your violin play perhaps even a little." Sebastian wore the same inappropriately cheerful smile that was so typical for him, very much to Ciel's annoyance.
"If you must know I wanted to play the violin after heari her for the first time..." He admitted after a moment's pause. Then he smirked looking up to his butler.
"Sebastian...you will get me prime seats for that concert, that is-"
"May I interrupt for just a second, a letter arrived for you just minutes ago." Sebastian pulled out a letter with a very familiar seal. "Perhaps you want to read this first?"
Ciel narrowed his eye while grabbing the letter from Sebastian. "Perhaps you should have opened with this information when you entered the room?" He spat, appalled by the possibility his butler had wanted to make a fool out of him.
A flicker of a mix of a emotions crossed his young features when he looked at the royal seal for this letter could contain anything from a tea invitation to an assassination order.
My dear boy,
Ciel was both touched and embarrassed every time her majesty referred to him this way. But mostly the latter.
Have you heard the Baroness Von Weizsäcker is performing again? If I remember correctly your father was very fond of her music and I can only hope you inherited his taste in music.
It saddens me that I will be out if the country on official business on the 23rd of March for I would have very much loved to hear her bring the violin to live once more.
It would be a shame to let the tickets go to waste so allow me to enclose them to you, a sign of deep gratitude for your service to our great nation.
Don't get lost in the music too much though, dear boy, for I very much wish to hear your take on the night over afternoon tea.
Be well,
Queen Victoria
Ciel smirked having finished reading the letter. He carefully folded it up and stored it in a drawer of his desk. "I shall very much enjoy this game, your majesty."