Alois' POV
I wake up to a dark room and look out the window. Storm clouds, I hope this doesn't interfere with the party tonight.
"Claude!" I shout. After a minute, Claude enters the room and bows.
"Good morning your Highness," he says with a smile, "How was your rest."
Awful, I kept having weird nightmares about Claude, but I'm not about to tell him that. He'll know his words have gotten to me, and I don't want to give him the satisfaction.
"Fine," I tell him, "Just fine. Is breakfast ready?"
"It is," Claude tells me, "And Lord Phantomhive awakened an hour ago."
"Oh? Where is he?"
"He said he wanted to go for a walk in the garden."
"Claude, go to the dining room and make sure everything is under control. I'll meet you there shortly."
"Oh? Where do you intend to go?"
"The garden."
"Very well, sir," he turns to leave but glances at me over his shoulder, "Oh, it may to you good to take our little conversation last night to heart."
Claude exits the room, leaving me in shock at his words. But I shake the feeling away and start to head to the garden. I just want to see Ciel.
Ciel"s POV
It's a gloomy day as I walk through the garden, admiring how well kept it is. It's so beautiful here, to Alois did all this as a memorial to his little brother. He has such a kind heart. I hear footsteps approach me and turn to see Alois standing not far from me.
"Good morning Ciel," he says with a warm smile.
"Good morning," I tell him, returning the smile, "How was your sleep?"
"It was fine," he says so fast the words trip over each other. He had a rough night, but I'm not gonna press him for answers, he'll tell me when he's ready.
"If you say so," I tell him, "This garden really is a sight."
"Yeah," he says, coming to stand beside me, "Luka always wanted a place like this to play in. Our town had a small park with a bush with roses like this grew. He always admired how pretty the flowers were."
"It's really sweet of you to build a place like this for him. And I'm sure he is always watching you from heaven."
"You really think so?"
"I'm sure of it."
Alois wraps his arms around me and holds me close, catching me off guard.
"Thank you," he whispers, "That means a lot."
I return the hug and smile, "You're welcome."
After a minute Alois pulls away from me and smiles again, "You hungry?"
Was that supposed to sound sexual or was it just me? My gaze travels from his blue eyes down to his luscious pink lips. I'm overcome with the urge to kiss him, to taste those lips. I bet he tastes as sweet as he looks.
"Umm, Earth to Ciel," Alois says, pulling my eyes back to his.
"Oh, um, yeah, I'm starving," I tell him. In more ways than one.
"Well breakfast is ready!" Alois tells me cheerily, "C'mon! If Claude's good at anything, it's cooking."
Alois grabs my hand and pulls me to the dining room. After a few minutes we're there and we sit down for breakfast. We eat in silence, unsure of what to say to each other and after a while Sebastian approaches me.
"Young master, we have a new lead on the case," he whispers to me and I look at him.
"Well spill it," I order him.
"The Undertaker has found something new in the way the hands were removed. It may help us narrow down a suspect."
"We'll head to town after breakfast," I tell Sebastian and turn to Alois, "How about it? Do you wanna come with us?"
Alois looks at me and smiles, "Hell yeah!"
"Your Highness, it's unwise to go to town with such a nasty wound," Claude puts in and sends a glare my way. Seriously, what's that guy's problem?!
"Claude, you have nothing to worry about," Alois assures his butler, "Everything will be fine."
"And Sebastian is one of the best escorts there is ," I tell Claude, "He won't let anything happen to Alois. Right, Sebastian?"
"Of course not, young master," he tells me, "I value Lord Trancy's life as highly as I value my master's. And what kind of a butler would I be if I can't keep my Lord and his friend safe?"
"Very well then," Claude says angrily before storming off. That guy really needs to get a handle on his temper. Seriously.
"Well, that takes care of that," I say, "We'll leave after breakfast."
Alois and I finish breakfast as Sebastian readies the carriage for our trip to town. I may have solved this case yet.
