Thanks for reading! I don't own any of Black Butler! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates every other Saturday!

Since the night of the ball, Alois Trancy had been beside himself, wallowing in the throes of despair.

Melancholia had nearly consumed the blonde.

Instead of bouncing around the manor, eager to irritate his servants and shrug off his duties, Alois spent days either lingering listlessly in bed or lying aimlessly on his parlor sofa.

Even Claude was starting to get a little…...concerned.

Alois hadn't mentioned anything about the next step of his plan and Claude didn't understand why.

But Alois was just too lovesick to think about anything but…..Ciel.

Alois's entire existence was focused on Ciel.

As the minutes of each day passed, Alois wondered silently….

What was Ciel doing?

How was Ciel feeling?

Was Ciel thinking about him?

Forget the stupid plan, Ciel was all Alois wanted…..

Ciel was the only thing that would make Alois happy…

Claude neither realized nor really cared about his master's plight.

But to advance his own agenda, Claude needed Alois to pull himself together and move forward.

"Still no consideration of what you'll do next, highness?" Claude asked Alois one afternoon.

"...no." Alois said in a quiet voice that was barely above a whisper.

Alois wasn't going to harm Ciel.

Alois would rather slit his own throat than lay a finger on any of the precious hairs atop Ciel's head and that—

"-Why not invite Earl Phantomhive for dinner?" Claude asked, interrupting Alois's thoughts.

Alois drew in a breath and grit his teeth before he even dared to speak of the possibility. "...What if Ciel doesn't come?"

"Earl Phantomhive is known for being mannerly and hospitable." Claude said shrewdly. "I'm certain your invitation wouldn't be declined. I'll distract Sebastian Michaelis and you can take the opportunity to discuss your land dispute at least."

"Land dispute…..?" Alois blinked hazily.

Oh yes….

Alois had been pretending to argue with Ciel over that bit of property they owned together….

Together.

Alois sighed.

Dinner would be a start, but there were many things that Alois wanted to do with Ciel…

Together~.

"What does he want this time?!" Ciel spat when Sebastian presented her with Alois's newest invitation a few days later.

Ciel was masking her delight.

Ah….

Earl Trancy wished to see her again?

"I'm not sure, young master. However, I think it would be best if we proceed with caution." Sebastian said suspiciously, casting a possessive glance at Ciel.

Sebastian was not a fan of Alois Trancy.

Anyone that had the audacity to touch Ciel was scum to Sebastian.

Ciel quickly and cleverly thought up a reason for why she should accept Alois's offer. "If I refuse, he could turn up here. Wouldn't it be better for you and I to keep Earl Trancy as far away from the manor as possible?" Ciel said quickly.

"On the contrary, bocchan, wouldn't it be easier to keep you safe here?" Sebastian blinked at Ciel.

"No." Ciel said firmly. "I don't want him and that horrible butler of his, Claude, snooping around. I'll accept the invitation."

Sebastian opened his mouth to protest, but Ciel snatched the paper out of his hands and signed it before he had a chance.

Sebastian looked a bit surprised but he nodded at Ciel, "Very well, then. As you wish, young master~. We shall return to Trancy manor once more."

A week later, Alois found the will to live again when Ciel's response arrived in the mail.

It was like flipping a light switch.

Alois went from being sullen and moody to happy and carefree in the span of a moment or two.

The blonde spent the rest of the day floating joyfully about the manor while he danced from room to room.

Ciel was coming to see him again!

—-

The day of Ciel's scheduled visit, Alois spent most of the afternoon barking orders at Claude, Hannah, and the triplets before he went to his room and used a good amount of time to groom himself.

Alois wanted to look perfect for Ciel.

Ciel had made no such preparations.

Not that she needed any…..

The bluenette was as beautiful and flawless as always, dressed smartly in her black and blue pantsuit, as she rode beside Sebastian in the carriage.

To Ciel, it seemed to take even longer than before to pull into the Trancy driveway.

As soon as Ciel's carriage came to a stop and the door opened, the bluenette got a glimpse of what the evening would be like.

Outside the manor, Alois stood with Claude, ready to greet their guests.

The blonde watched with a smirk as Sebastian stepped down from the carriage first and then helped Ciel out.

Ciel was so small and fragile and helpless and gorgeous…..

It made Alois want to scream!

"Hello, Ciel~." Alois greeted the bluenette with a confident, bright grin.

"Good evening, Earl Trancy." Ciel replied in her cold, formal tone.

Alois struggled not to visibly shudder with ecstasy at the sound.

Ciel regarded Alois with a deep frown but Alois's cheeks just turned pink while he smiled back at Ciel.

Was it really possible?

To Alois, the bluenette seemed even more beautiful in the fading light of day….

Alois ushered Ciel inside while Sebastian and Claude followed.

After a few, awkward moments in the parlor, dinner was served.

Alois tried to make conversation with Ciel while they dined, but he found it a bit difficult with Sebastian standing right behind the bluenette, on guard.

Alois had noticed that earlier, Sebastian had followed on Ciel's heels into the dining room.

Alois couldn't help but wonder...did Sebastian follow Ciel into the lavatory too?.

During dinner, Ciel couldn't get rid of the feeling that Alois was staring at her every chance she got, but whenever she glanced up at him, she saw his eyes were turned away.

Ciel scowled.

Was she just imagining things?

Once the main courses were over, dessert was brought out next.

Alois smirked while Ciel happily consumed her chocolate mousse.

"Is it to your liking, Earl Phantomhive?" Alois grinned.

There was something Alois found very alluring about watching the adorable bluenette eat…..

"Indeed." Ciel replied, dabbing her pink lips with her napkin. "Perhaps not as good as Sebastian's, but it is more than acceptable."

Ciel laid her napkin back in her lap.

Alois watched Ciel's motions very carefully.

After he watched Ciel place it on her lips and in her lap, Earl Trancy was growing quite jealous of Ciel's napkin…...

Insulted by her comment, Claude scowled at Ciel.

Sebastian smirked at Claude.

Alois's eyes were soft as he smiled at Ciel, ignoring her haughty tone, "As long as you like it, my de-, I mean…..Ciel, that's all that matters. Hannah will bring the tea shortly."

Ciel had just taken her last bite of mousse when the heavy dining room doors flew open and Timber burst into the room, wide-eyed.

"I need your help!" Timber shouted at Claude. "There's intruders on the edge of the grounds. Quickly! We mustn't let them reach the manor!"

Claude pretended to be surprised and he dashed over to Timber.

Alois feigned a look of shock too.

Sebastian and Ciel exchanged a glance, silently communicating what they were both thinking.

"Sebastian….." Ciel commanded.

"Yes, young master!" Sebastian replied, accompanying Claude as he followed Timber out of the room to help with the security measures.

Ciel watched them all leave, a bit startled.

While her head was turned, Alois gave Ciel a deep, satisfied smirk.

Good, Alois thought, Sebastian's distraction was right on time!

The door to the kitchen opened suddenly and Hannah emerged with two, full tea cups on a tray.

"Don't worry, Ciel. I'm sure Claude and Sebastian can protect the manor just fine." Alois said sweetly before he added with a grin. "And I'll be happy to protect you~."

"I can take care of myself, thank you very much, Earl Trancy." Ciel snapped, sipping her tea.

Alois chuckled.

In the brief time he had known Ciel, he knew that was a lie.

Ciel seemed to be dependent on Sebastian for everything.

Alois just hoped that one day, Ciel would depend on him for those things instead.

Ciel pursed her lips together after she swallowed her tea.

The flavor was robust and…...strange.

Almost overpowering, really.

Ciel lifted a hand to her temple as she suddenly felt the room spin around her.

"Sorry to be a bother, but…...what kind of tea…..did you say this was?" Ciel asked as her vision started to go out of focus.

Ciel was struggling to maintain her polite mask but, in the middle of her haze, she realized something unsettling…

Alois had not taken a drink from his cup.

"It's called 'new moon drop', Ciel~." Alois chuckled.

Ciel felt herself slip from her chair.

Ciel was expecting to painfully fall onto the floor but…..she landed in something firm and warm.

When Alois's face came into focus a few inches in front of her own, Ciel knew then that she was in Earl Trancy's grasp.

Oh dear….

Ciel should have listened to Sebastian and not her own foolish desires.

New moon drop…..

Ha!

Ciel had fallen for Alois's shenanigans.

This was all an elaborate plot!

How silly of Ciel to think that Alois had been interested in her.

Around Ciel, the room was spinning faster and faster….

Perhaps Earl Trancy was a true villain after all.

"Don't worry, Ciel~." Alois cooed reassuringly. "I'm going to take such good care of you!"

Alois's promise was the last thing Ciel heard before she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep….