Chapter 3

Mey-Rin knocked on Ceil's study door.

"Come in" he said.

"Young Master, I brought Miss Alice to see you."

Ciel looked up from his tea. "Thank you Mey-Rin. You can leave."

Mey-Rin bowed slightly and left, leaving Alice alone with Ciel. Ciel sipped his tea, looking at paper documents. Alice wandered slowly about the room, looking around.

"Do you like games, Miss Amberwood?" Ciel asked.

"Just Alice," She replied, "and I do enjoy games, Lord Phantomhive."

Ciel smiles, "Just Ciel. How about a game of chess?"

"I would be delighted." She sat in the chair in front of Ciel's desk.

Ciel called Sebastian. When he promptly arrived, Ciel ordered him to fetch his chess set. Sebastian bowed and departed to fetch the game.

Ciel and Alice sat in silence as they waited. Sebastian returned within few minutes.

He left the two kids alone to play. Ciel set up the board. "Which color?"

"Either or." She replied. He turns the white side towards her. She moved a pawn.

"Do you have any other interesting stories?" Ciel asked.

"Not off the top of my head. Do you have any to tell me?"

"…not really." He said, moving a pawn as well.

"I assume that is because you don't wish to share them."

"What makes you say that?"

"The hesitation before hand."

Ciel chuckled. "Quite perceptive Alice."

"Thank you."

They were quiet for the rest of the game which ended in a stalemate.

"Do you pay often?" Ciel asked as they clean up.

"I guess you could say that. As I child I played with anything I could get my hands on. One of the servants was kind enough to take the time to teach me to play chess. After that, I played against myself often." Alice said.

Ciel nodded as they finish setting up the pieces again. Alice yawned and Ciel called Sebastian again. "Show Alice to her room." He ordered. Sebastian bowed.

"This way, My Lady." He said. Alice stood up to follow him.

"Good night Ciel." She said, leaving.

"Good night, Alice" He replied a minute after the door closed. He looked down at the Chess set before him and played himself, copying his game with Alice to see if he had played alternately, if he could've won. As it turned out, he would've have given Alice the advantage multiple times if he played differently, same with her. There was only one alternative where he could've won.

He stared at the endgame. He knocked over the white king and got up. He was ready for bed. Impressive Alice, I look forward to more games.