Chapter One- Ciel

Humph. I reached my hand out, picking up the white envelope that had only one thing marking it: The Queen's seal. It was a red emblem with a crown. Unmistakable. I wonder what the Queen of England would possibly want now. It was only two days after I fulfilled her last request.

I slowly opened the envelope and removed the fine quality parchment inside and set the empty envelope on my desk. The sunlight streaming in from the windows lit half of the paper. One side in darkness. One side in lightness. How poetic.

I read through the document, taking my time. Rereading it twice to make sure I understood it properly. I sighed, setting down the letter that was formally addressed to me; Ciel Phantomhive.

"Sebastian!" I called for my butler, who was fixing dinner at this time across the mansion in the kitchen. I knew he would hear me anyways.

There was a knock at the door, and my butler entered, with a grace unnatural. "My lord," he said with a voice as smooth as honey.

"Sebastian. I've gotten another job to do from Her Majesty." I said, tossing the letter on the edge of the desk closest to him.

"Another one already?" he asked. I nodded, gesturing for him to pick it up and read it. He picked it up and carefully unfolded it with his white gloved hands. I saw his red eyes scanning over it. The corner of his mouth twitched. "I see the Queen has asked you, her loyal dog, to dispose of these written names."

I decided to ignore the dig. "We will invite them into my mansion to have dinner tomorrow. There are three names on the list here. I expect you to send the invitations and still have time to prepare dinner." I said, wanting to make my instructions clear.

"And when they come over? What shall you have me do?" he asked, fixing his gaze on mine. I knew he was waiting for me to give the exact order.

"You will be in charge of dealing with our guests after dinner-

"Fattening up the pigs before slaughter?" Sebastian interrupted, raising an eyebrow. I narrowed my eyes.

"As I was saying, you will deal with the guests after dinner. I want full confessions on their crimes against the Queen, no matter how trivial they are. I don't care how you do it, just get it done. Then, I want you to dump their bodies in an alley in London. This will serve as a warning against those who think they can stand up against Her Majesty and get away with it."

"So, you're saying she hasn't told you what the crimes are? Perhaps she doesn't completely trusts you still," Sebastian said, smirking the tinniest bit, clearly enjoying me being left in the dark on something that could be potentially important.

I will NOT lose my temper. That is exactly the kind of rise he wants to get out of me. "My order is clear. The contract is still intact." Now it was my turn to smirk. Any last bit of smile dropped from Sebastian's lips and he stared coldly at me.

But as quick as the look was there, it was gone, replaced by a smile leaving me wondering if I'd imagined that expression.

Sebastian bowed to one knee. "Yes, my lord."

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