Two weeks later found Ciel and Alois at Alois's home studying for their final exams. Luke was asleep in his room and Claude frequently checked on his master every half an hour. Both were brilliant students but like every student, hated revising and studying.
"I wish exams never existed" Alois said and Ciel whacked him with her World History book.
"What was that for?"
"For wasting time wishing on pointless things" Ciel replied, looking back down at her books.
"Ciel, what happened when you told your aunt about merging the business?" Alois asked curiously.
"I didn't tell her. I think she'll decide that she doesn't want me anymore. I don't want to lose her" Ciel replied, her eyes downcast.
"You can always come and live with me. Luke would love to have you and Sebastian could be over anytime he wanted" Alois said.
"No, I had another idea. I want to start living in that mansion outside London"
"Isn't that the museum? But then you won't have any money to live on" Alois said.
"You forget that Claude controls the Phantom group now. My money is mine now. The mansion is mine too so I can do whatever I want with it" Ciel said.
"So you'll convert the museum into a mansion and live there with Sebastian?"
"He'll be my butler and protector. That's what he wants to be but because I lived with Angelina, he couldn't do anything. Why don't you, Claude and Luke come to live with me?" Ciel asked.
"Really? I do have my own mansion you know"
"I know but you're my best friend. Also, if we are getting our titles back, shouldn't we live together too?"
"You're right. I'll ask Luke first if he wants to and then I'll tell Claude about it" Alois replied.
There was a knock at the door and they both looked up.
"Young Mistress, time to go home" Sebastian said.
"Yeah I'm coming" Ciel stood up from where she was lying on the floor and packed up her things.
She hugged Alois and then made her way out to Sebastian's car. After she was seated, Sebastian drove off to her house. The house was dark and Ciel crept inside slowly. After entering her bedroom, she opened the window to let Sebastian in.
"I have something for you" Sebastian said and Ciel glanced over at him curiously.
He produced a letter and Ciel knew what it was. A letter from the Queen. She took it with shaking hands and opened it up. As she read it, a smile came onto her face.
"I got my titles back!" Ciel said looking up at Sebastian who also had a smile on his face.
Ciel tackled her butler and they both tumbled onto her bed. Sebastian, caught off guard starred at his mistress's large and sparkling blue eyes in surprise. Ciel smiled but then realized the position they were in. She blushed a deep red which Sebastian thought was quite cute.
"Sorry, I just got carried away" Ciel apologized and Sebastian wrapped his arms around her small form.
"It's alright" He said and Ciel blushed even more when she felt the vibrations in his chest when he said this.
Sebastian brushed Ciel's bangs away from her blue eyes and cupped her face.
"Ciel, you're truly beautiful" Sebastian whispered which made Ciel smile.
"You're very handsome too, Sebastian" Ciel said and then twirled her finger around a lock of his black hair.
Sebastian sighed and held Ciel close to him. It had been a long time since he had actually held anyone in his arms and he sorely missed it. They stayed like that until Ciel began to snore. Sebastian chuckled and sat up. He tucked Ciel into bed and then sat down on her windowsill like he did every night.
The next day, Ciel woke up in her bed. She dressed for school and met Alois right outside his house. The minute they walked into school, Ciel felt something hit the back of her head. She reached up and felt something sticky in her hair. She withdrew her hand with disgust and Alois glared at the laughing students.
"Who threw the egg?" Ciel asked in a cold voice.
"I thought it would bring some color to your hair, freak. Apparently not" Amber said and she threw another egg.
"Ms. Windsor!"
The crowd of students parted for Matthews.
"Bullying is not allowed at this academy. To the headmaster's office with you" Matthews said and Amber stalked off.
"Let's go clean this off" Alois said and he led Ciel to the girl's restroom.
He followed Ciel inside and leaned against a stall door while Ciel starting clean her hair.
"I'll smell like an egg all day" Ciel complained.
"I don't feel like going to class today. Let's ditch and go celebrate having our titles back" Alois said.
"Okay"
"Will you give me the pleasure of your company for the day, Countess Phantomhive?" Alois asked holding out his arm.
"Of course, Earl Trancy" Ciel took Alois's arm and he led her out.
They snuck through the school hallways until they reached the back gate of the school. They ran past the security guards and out the gate.
"So where should we go?" Ciel asked, her cheeks flushed from running.
"First, we should change out of these. Let's stop by my house and I'll change. You still have the clothes from last week when you slept over. Take a shower too. You stink" Alois replied and jumped when Ciel poked his side.
They got to Alois's house and Ciel ran to shower.
"Master, you should be that school right now" Claude said poking his head out from the kitchen.
"Oh, we're ditching. Wanna come?" Alois asked.
"I suppose I should" Claude removed his apron and Alois chuckled at how pristine he looked in his butler uniform.
"Go change into something else. Maybe jeans and a shirt" Alois said waving the butler away.
Alois ran up the stairs and changed into black skinny jeans and a white tee shirt with a black leather jacket. He grabbed black converse and ran down the stairs to find something to eat. Ciel emerged from the shower and dressed quickly in black three quarter length jeans and a blue loose tee shirt.
She went down the stairs and smacked right into Sebastian's chest.
"Playing hooky?" Sebastian asked.
"What are you doing here?"
"Claude called me saying you two were up to no good. What kind of butler would I be if I didn't accompany my mistress on this silly mission?" Sebastian replied.
"But you have to change out of your work clothes. No offense, but you're kind of giving off an old adult vibe" Ciel said.
"Ready to go?" Alois asked walking out of the kitchen.
"Nearly" Ciel said going back upstairs to comb her hair.
"I'm ready, Master" Claude said.
He was dressed in blue jeans and a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up.
"Claude, give Sebastian some clothes" Alois said.
Soon everyone was ready to go. They piled into Sebastian car and Alois called shotgun leaving Ciel in the backseat with Claude.
"Should we go shopping first? We need outfits for the Phantomhive tour ball" Ciel said.
"To the mall it is, then" Alois said.
Sebastian drove to the mall and parked. Alois and Ciel linked arms and ran into a boutique that sold formal wear. Sebastian and Claude followed at a more leisurely pace. By the time they got there, Ciel and Alois had already started picking out dresses.
"This is so girly, yuck!" Ciel announced when Alois held out a bright pink dress with ruffles and bows.
"Maybe this one?" Claude held up a black dress with golden bows and a long train.
"Too much for my taste" Ciel replied.
"It's a ball, the dress has to be fancy" Alois said.
"How about this?" Sebastian pulled out a midnight blue dress which matched Ciel's blue eyes.
It was floor length and sleeveless with a corset bodice and the skirt was layered with satin and sheer net.
"This is beautiful" Ciel said walking towards Sebastian who held the dress aloft for her to check it.
"Go try it on!" Alois said.
While Ciel was changing, Claude pulled Alois to get fitted for a suit. Sebastian stood outside the changing room for his mistress.
"Sebastian? Are you outside?" Ciel asked from inside.
"Yes, Mistress. Is there a problem?"
"Can you zip me up?"
Ciel opened the door and Sebastian entered inside. Ciel pointed to the zip and Sebastian reached out. Ciel shivered when his cold hands touched her pale back and smoothly zipped her up.
"How does it look?" She asked shyly looking at him.
Sebastian looked at the reflection of Ciel in front of him and nodded.
"It's looks beautiful, mistress" Sebastian said.
"Really?"
Sebastian placed his hands on his mistress's bare shoulders and bent down to her height.
"You look absolutely ravishing" He whispered and smirked when she blushed redder than a tomato.
"Come, let's show Alois" Ciel coughed and Sebastian led her out.
"This is the perfect dress" Alois answered after he examined her from head to toe.
"Indeed" Claude agreed.
"Then I'll take it" Ciel said.
They left the shop and Alois's stomach growled.
"We should stop for lunch" Claude said.
"I'm in the mood for Indian" Alois said.
"I hate spicy foods" Ciel said.
"Then we'll get you something sweet" Alois said and he ran to the nearest Indian cafe.
"Let's go before he makes everyone in that cafe go crazy" Ciel said and chased after him.
They sat at a table and Alois perused the menu.
"What is this?" He asked in disgust.
"What?" Ciel read over her shoulder and then smiled.
"Sebastian, do you know something known as curry bun?" Ciel asked and Sebastian smirked.
"Do you?" Alois asked.
"He's the one who invented it back in the 19th century" Ciel replied and Alois waved over a waitress.
"Two curry buns" Alois said and the waitress hurried off.
"Look, the chef's in there" Ciel pointed to the see-through window where a Indian man with white hair was taking different spices and adding them to the pot.
Alois and Ciel watched the chef wide eyed and the waitress came over with the curry buns.
"Can we meet him?" Ciel asked pointing to the chef.
"Of course. I'll just call him over" The waitress went into the kitchen and Ciel took a bite of the delicious curry bun.
"Hi, I am Jai. You guys wanted to see me?"
"We just wanted to tell you that this curry bun is delicious" Alois said.
"It's so amazing" Ciel said.
"You wouldn't happen to be related to Agni who had the hand of the Goddess Kali would you?" Sebastian asked.
"He is my great grandfather. I am the only one out of his grandchildren who has inherited the hand of the Goddess Kali" Jai replied.
"That brings back memories" Sebastian commented after Jai left.
"Didn't the Phantom Company expand into food after obtaining the royal warrant from the Queen?" Ciel asked.
"That's why Phantom owns most of the supermarkets in UK" Alois replied.
"Wow, my ancestor was amazing. I pale in comparison" Ciel said looking down at her half eaten curry bun.
"Everyone has their weakness and strengths. I'm sure you'll live up to his expectations" Claude said and Ciel smiled at him in thanks.
