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Devilish Impulses	By : Arianawray Category: > Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji ???) Views: 13948 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji or any of its characters, and I do not make any money from these writings.

Chapter List
- 1-Unwanted
- 2-Whim
- 3-Trust
- 4-Taste
- 5-Scheme
- 6-Command
- 7-Competition
- 8-Advice
- 9-Enlightenment
- 10-Sustenance
- 11-Caught
- 12-Breath
- 13-Arms
- 14-Inflammation
- 15-Imagination
- 16-Intent
- 17-Compromise
- 18-Sacrifice
- 19-Despair
- 20-Compassion
- 21-Interest
- 22-Equality
- 23-Mentor
- 24-History
- 25-Disorder
- 26-Reputation
- 27-Gifts
- 28-Admission
- 29-Watching
- 30-Bonds
- 31-Revelations
- 32-Confrontation
- 33-Struggle
- 34-Separation
- 35-Duty
- 36-Change
- 37-Together
- 38-Love
- 39-Epilogue: Heaven
- 7
- 8
- 9
Advice

"What is the likelihood that this is a trap, and His Royal Highness will have us arrested on some trumped-up charge once we are inside the palace, then order us killed to silence us?" Ciel asks idly, when the carriage is in motion.

Soma and Agni look alarmed, not least because Ciel sounds as if he almost looks forward to such an outcome.

"Young Master, why are you bringing this up now?" Sebastian responds evenly. "Such remarks will make Prince Soma and Mister Agni nervous."

"Worse things have happened," Ciel sighs, no doubt with reference to eventful moments from his own past. "It would only be fair to prepare Soma and Agni for the possibility, so that Agni can prepare to protect his master to the best of his ability."

"Of course," Sebastian agrees mildly.

Agni, after careful consideration, says: "If anything does happen, I doubt that it will be with the authorisation of the Prince of Wales."

"Why do you say that?" Ciel inquires.

"I am not too poor a judge of character," Agni replies simply. "I have seen and done a great deal in my earlier years that I no longer consider acceptable. But I have retained the lessons of those years, and I know the nature of people. Although I have not been in England very long, and have heard some speak ill of His Royal Highness, I did not sense evil in him while in his presence. I sensed that he can be arrogant, but also affable; he can be foolish, but also sensible; sometimes he can be weak and led astray, but he is in these middle years of his life developing a more upright character. In the main, I believe he has a kind heart."

"That is a very thorough analysis for someone who has not been in England long," Ciel comments.

Sebastian does not wish to say what he thinks of the analysis of a man who not two hours ago told a devil that he was not as bad as he made himself out to be. But his master is asking him for his view: "Sebastian?"

Obliged to answer, he examines the matter and concludes that Agni's assessment is not far off the mark.

"Mister Agni is probably right," he says. "It is true that His Royal Highness has not always made good decisions. Even Her Majesty once declared after he hastened his father's death that she could never look at him again without a shudder. But he seems to have tried to change for the better in recent years, and he is not of vicious character. I do not think he will silence us that way. If he did, he would hardly do it at Buckingham Palace – I believe it has become a much less sinister place since the demise of Mr Ash?"

"Hmm," Ciel murmurs.

"If anything does happen, however, I shall protect you with all that is at my disposal," Sebastian declares in a manner that is almost – for him – both cheerful and gallant.

Ciel glares once at him before turning his face to the window again with his umpteenth scowl of the day. He does not have to pull that face for too long, though, for the ride is a short one. At the gates of the palace, they find that the guards have been told to expect them. The carriage is waved through. Ciel notes that the flag is not flying above the palace, meaning that the queen has not returned from Balmoral yet, and is not in residence.

They are directed to the main entrance, in consideration of the rank of Prince Soma and the Earl of Phantomhive. A manservant of the Prince of Wales greets them inside, and leads them through the grand interior, up the stairs, and down two passageways. They pass other staff going about their routine duties. Sebastian and Agni look to be correct so far – this is not the place to murder four people in cold blood.

When they are shown into a large sitting room, they see two figures standing by the window, looking out into the grounds below. One is the Prince of Wales; the other is Lord Randall. The prince is pointing out some feature of the grounds to Randall when they enter, and the two men turn around.

"Your Royal Highness," says the manservant, who goes on to announce them as they bow to the Prince of Wales. "Prince Soma Asman Kadar, the Earl of Phantomhive, and their men, Mister Sebastian Michaelis and Mister Agni."

"Good, good. I am delighted that you have all come. Please, sit down," the prince says graciously, moving his portly body with surprising ease towards the circle of armchairs on the other side of the room. "The tea was brought in only a minute before you arrived, so it is ready to drink."

He does not need to be so polite if he does not choose, Ciel thinks. In fact, it is highly unusual for him to already be in the room before all the guests are here. Royalty almost always comes last, because it is generally considered a breach of etiquette for any guest to arrive after the royal host does. Indeed, the prince would be well within the rights of his lofty rank to keep them standing, speak a few superficial words of approval, and dismiss them. But it appears that His Highness intends to be an intimate host today. Ciel and Sebastian have already planned, the night before, how the earl might ask to have a private word with the prince, supposing they were quickly shown the door. But with the prince preparing to sit down with them in the comfortable armchairs around the heavy coffee table resting on a large Oriental carpet, that line will not be required as yet.

Sebastian and Agni remain standing, behind their respective masters' chairs, as they would in any social situation. However, the prince surprises them by saying: "Mister Agni, Mister Michaelis. Please sit down. For this time, you are first and foremost my guests, and the butlers of your masters only second. And this is not a formal occasion."

The manservant pours out the tea, an excellent Earl Grey blend if one judges by its aroma, into fine bone china cups in a black and gold pattern. He serves the two princes first, then the earl, Lord Randall, and finally the butlers, who look out of place seated with those who so outrank them. It is certainly the first time that Sebastian has been seated for tea in his master's presence.

When everyone is holding a teacup, and shortbread biscuits have also been served by the man, the Prince of Wales says: "Thank you, Markham."

The servant withdraws, leaving the prince alone with his visitors.

The prince speaks once the door is pulled quietly shut: "I wish to express my appreciation to all of you for all you did to apprehend the conspirators who so betrayed me – and for the discretion with which you discovered two of the parties. I am thankful for the speed and efficiency of your response. I have thanked Lord Randall, and I wish to extend the same thanks to you, Prince Soma, Lord Phantomhive, and your excellent men."

"Your Royal Highness," says Ciel. "It is my duty, and therefore also my butler's, to protect you with all that is within our means."

"It was an honour for us to have been of some use, Your Royal Highness," Soma adds.

"Prince Soma, I hear that you are the son of the Raja of Bengal?" the crown prince queries. "I did not have the privilege of meeting your father when I was in India many years ago, but I would be pleased to write to him and tell him what a credit you are to him, and what a credit to all your people your manservant Agni is."

The crown prince looks at Agni, who bows his upper body elegantly despite being seated with a teacup and biscuits.

"Sir, you are very kind," Soma replies, knowing that this prince is showing him far more respect than he needs to, for despite his own royal status, he is only a boy, while the other prince is a middle-aged man whose five surviving children are all older than Soma. Not only that, but Queen Victoria has the title of Empress of India, so Soma is nothing to the queen's heir. "But I must confess that my father does not know I am in England. I am only his twenty-sixth son, so he has his hands full with everyone else."

Prince Edward notes the boy's plain honesty and excellent diction – he speaks English without a discernible accent, and is obviously well-educated. He already knows from his direct dealings with Agni that the Brahmin manservant is probably as well-bred as the prince he serves.

"I am sure that if I send your father a letter to say that you are in England to expand your horizons, you will be in less trouble with him when you do return?" the crown prince says good-humouredly to the youth. "My own sons are seven to eight years older than you, so I know very well what boys are like at your age. People think that princes must make distant fathers, but my father was very involved in my life, and in the lives of my brothers and sisters, and I have done my best to be as good a father to my sons and daughters as he was to me."

The prince looks reflective for a passing moment. Ciel knows he must be thinking of Prince Albert. The queen's consort died almost thirty years ago when his poor health took a turn for the worse following his rushing to Edward's side in Ireland to rebuke him for living in a way that would harm his reputation – word had got out that the young prince was housing an actress in his tent while undergoing a military-experience stint in that country.

The queen has never completely forgiven her son for his father's death. But of late, the relationship has improved, despite Edward's continuing to live fashionably, and the many mistresses he keeps. A big public scandal involving the death of a prostitute, the manslaughter of a reporter, and the abduction of a scullery maid, would certainly sour the relationship again, for the queen is fond of the Princess of Wales, and tolerates Edward's lifestyle only because she sees that his wife accepts it with dignity.

"Phantomhive here is of course even more of a child than Prince Soma," Edward remarks, pulling himself back from his reverie to turn his attention from Soma to Ciel. "Her Majesty, however, trusts you with a great deal. I understood why when I saw the masterful way you drew the information out of the two brothers who betrayed me so."

"Your Royal Highness is too kind," Ciel replies. "In truth, sir, I did very little. I had good advice and information to aid me, while the guilt of the Eastons caused them to betray themselves repeatedly. Her Majesty thinks too much of a child like me – I merely bear the reputations of my father and grandfather and all the Phantomhives before me who were far older and wiser than me when they were the heads of the family."

Emphasise your tender years. Express neither criticism of nor fondness for your position.

Sebastian's advice, given in private last night, surfaces clearly in his mind as he speaks to the prince.

Look wide-eyed, but be sober in your manner.

"I am but a boy dwarfed by the mantle of his forebears."

The Prince of Wales looks curious, but while others are present, it is inappropriate to go deeper into details that may possibly expose confidential information about assignments given to the earl by Her Majesty.

If no opportunity presents itself, ask for one. Request that His Royal Highness permit you a word in private on a matter that concerns how the Phantomhive Earldom may serve Great Britain more loyally. If he declines, saying that he has a prior engagement, ask if you may request an appointment at a future date through his staff. He will agree, for he will by then be grateful to you for sparing him a further blow to his public reputation.

It transpires that Ciel need not ask for the opportunity, for the prince unrolls the carpet for him. After several more minutes of desultory conversation, their royal host summons Markham to ask if the tea is ready in the west drawing room. Upon being informed that it is, the prince turns to Soma, Randall, Agni and Sebastian, and says: "I have ordered a proper tea for you. Having you in this room was but a chance for me to sit quietly over a cup of tea with people who have done good work for me – something I do not often have an opportunity to do. Markham will show you to the drawing room. If you would be so good as to begin without me, I must have a private word with the earl before we join you there."

The others bow and leave the room with Markham. Sebastian and Ciel exchange a glance before the door is closed, leaving Ciel alone with the prince. The prince walks to the window, where he gazes over the grounds and the dimming sky of this February afternoon. Ciel follows and stands silently to his left, a little behind him.

"Phantomhive – that is not your family's original name, is it?" Prince Edward asks.

"No, sir," Ciel replies. "The name of our earldom was not the family name to begin with. I believe it was my great-grandfather who adopted the title as his last name, to demonstrate that he was one with his duties."

Answer all introductory questions with perfect candour. Hold nothing secret, unless it concerns Her Majesty's private affairs. Never speak of Her Majesty's private matters to anyone, not even to her own son and heir, unless you wish to be distrusted forever.

"What, then, was your family name? I understand that you were orphaned young. Do you know your history?" the prince asks curiously.

"I know that my forefathers bore the name of Winterbourn, sir. I often think of returning that name to my family."

Find an opening to honestly express regret that things are not the way you wish they were.

"Do you not like the Phantomhive name?"

"I liked it better on my father than on myself. I may be mistaken, but I believe Your Royal Highness likes it no better than I do."

Be humble, but bold.

"Why do you say that?" inquires the prince.

"I ask your pardon if my words seem childish or offensive, but I wish to answer your question honestly, and I cannot do that without possibly causing offence."

Prepare him to be offended.

"You may speak freely."

"I am and always will be loyal to the throne, and this country. But I wish my loyalty could take the path of honest duty that would bring credit to the crown and some light to my family."

Briefly speak figuratively once you are permitted to speak your mind, to cast a frame for the offence you may give.

"Explain."

"The Earl of Phantomhive exists only to mend things in the dark, when he could instead steer a path into the light. If there were no darkness around the throne of England, I would not need to exist."

The prince bristles.

His Highness is quick to anger, but also quick to be soothed. Let him be angry.

"Are you saying that the throne of England is propped up by dark deeds that force you to live in the shadows? Phantomhive, I have given you leave to speak freely, but you would do well to remain within that greater bound permitted you and not overstep its confines."

"I speak only of Her Majesty's great love for her people, her family, and her responsibilities, sir. Her Majesty seeks to protect the integrity and goodness of all that she has a heart for, by removing from her garden the things of darkness that should not be there. As Queen of Great Britain, Her Majesty is perfectly correct to do so. But I am certain that bringing the darkness into the light would be a greater service to the crown than disposing of the darkness within the darkness. I wish I might serve my monarch and my country by administering true justice the way I did today, instead of administering concealed justice in the shadows."

Be resolute, but go about it with compassion.

The prince still looks stern, and a little red about the nose. "And if it had turned out that the Eastons had not murdered that poor girl in the house, but that she had died of a mishap; and if it had turned out that the reporter had indeed been killed and the scullery maid abducted, what sort of justice would you have administered?" he asks stiffly. "Would you have dragged my name through the mud?"

"No, Your Royal Highness. I have declared that my loyalty is to the throne of Great Britain, and that shall never change. As heir to that throne, Your Royal Highness has my full loyalty. I would never expose anything that you so much as hinted I ought to hide. But had you commanded me, sir, to administer true justice, and had you commanded me to bring the darkness into the light, I would have advised you – foolish child though I am – to first admit the whole truth to Her Majesty, then present the truth in a gentler light to the people, which would have condemned the Eastons without legally implicating Your Highness. Kings and queens are counselled to be proud and hold themselves aloft from even their own misjudgements. That way, they remain distant and feared. But the child that I am thinks that when one admits to small failings, one starts to be loved. And if you will forgive me for further saying so, if one would choose one's companions more wisely, there would be no need for such painful honesty, such administration of justice, or such admissions of failings."

The prince looks even more furious now, and Ciel prepares to use Sebastian's next piece of advice: Tell him that he may detest you, or seek to destroy you, and there would be nothing you could do to save yourself – but no one else now living will ever speak such truths to him, with such candour, and with so little motive. It will remind him of his father.

"Phantomhive – you –" the prince begins. But in the next moment, his anger seems to peak, then decline, in complete silence. As Ciel watches, the Prince of Wales makes his way to a desk by the next window, and sits down heavily in the chair before that desk.

Ciel steps after him quietly, and remains on his feet. His Royal Highness suddenly looks very tired, and at the same time dismayed.

"My God, you're only a child. A slip of a child..." he murmurs.

"I ask your pardon, sir. I say foolish things that make sense only to me."

Give him space to retreat. Do not press him into a corner that he can find no way out of. It will only cause him to push back hard at you to escape.

"Perhaps you do. Perhaps you do not. But sometimes, children speak the greatest truths. You are treading on dangerous ground, Ciel Phantomhive, but you are not wrong to say that if I did nothing to be ashamed of, there would be nothing to hide, and no darkness to hide it in. If nothing else has struck me today, it is what the crown of England has done by using one so young to do its darkest work. We are no longer in the medieval ages. Children ought to be children."

Better yet, give him enough space that he is willing to be defeated.

"One such as I can never be the light; but at least I need not always be the darkness," Ciel says quietly, almost mournfully.

Evoke a sense of sadness.

"Why should you not be the light?" the prince asks, a note of regret in his voice. "You are but a child. I lost my youngest son to death only a day after he was born. He would have been but a year older than Prince Soma by now had he lived, and I would have doted on him. You are even younger. Why should you not be the light?"

"That is too great an ambition for me, sir. All I ask is to not be the darkness forever."

The prince is silent for nearly a minute. At the end of that silence, he looks at Ciel and says: "I wished to speak with you privately today because I was impressed with your talents this morning. I wanted to learn if you would serve me as well as you have served Her Majesty if ever I should become king. But I cannot now in all good conscience use you as a watchdog."

"Your Royal Highness, I am a loyal watchdog, first to Her Majesty, and second to you. You need not doubt my commitment."

"I do not. But I doubt my willingness. I have no authority to advise Her Majesty how to use the children she chooses to serve her. But I am aware that my lack of authority is in no small part owing to the life I have lived. Perhaps, as I regain Her Majesty's trust, you can begin to leave the darkness behind."

***

Soma and Agni are excited in the carriage on the way back to the town house, because the Prince of Wales has asked them, over tea, to form two of his party for his visit to Denmark next week.

What the prince said to Soma was: "The trip will give the Princess of Wales an opportunity to visit her relations, and at the same time be a tour of sorts for me and my entourage. If you would be willing to form two of my party, I would be delighted – and you would give your father more reason to approve your being in Europe for the purposes of gaining more experience."

Soma and Agni are genuinely interested in the prospect of seeing another European country, and have readily accepted the prince's kind offer. The same offer has not been extended to Ciel, but the prince has not left him out because he is angry with him or dislikes him, but rather: "I shall not ask you, Lord Phantomhive, to join me. Not because I would not be interested in your company, but because I hear from those who know better than I do that you would regard such a prospect with horror rather than pleasure. I won't, therefore, torment you with a tour of Denmark."

"Thank you, sir. I am most grateful," was Ciel's reply, knowing that the prince liked the absence of pretence in his answer.

Now, in the carriage, he and Sebastian listen to Soma and Agni chatter about what Denmark will be like, and they indulgently answer their questions – Ciel giving what textbook information he has, and Sebastian speaking from personal experience, although he declines to give details about when he was there and how he knows all that he does. When they reach the town house, Ciel says to Soma and Agni: "All right, enough about Denmark. You two go in and rest. Sebastian and I have an errand to run. We should be back in a few hours. Depending on what time we return, we may or may not leave for the manor tonight, so you may as well get comfortable in there."

He tells Finny to go in with the prince and Agni. Sebastian will drive the carriage, because he knows how to get to the address they are seeking.

"What errand?" Soma asks curiously, as he steps out of the carriage.

"Another one that might get you hurt – and I think we've risked your life more than enough times today, wouldn't you say?" Ciel replies.

Sebastian unlocks the gate and the door, ushers Soma and Agni in, and hands the keys to Finny. Then he returns to the carriage. As he closes the door prior to getting into the box seat, he says to Ciel: "You did very well with the Prince of Wales, Young Master."

"You weren't in the room. How would you know?"

"I have ways of knowing certain things."

"Funny how you can hear a quiet conversation going on in a palace when you had no idea that Vanel's thugs had broken into the manor that time and kidnapped me."

"I have ways of knowing certain things," Sebastian smiles. "Whatever you may think of it, I think you did perfectly."

"I acted on your good advice," Ciel answers, quietly.

"Oh, is that a word of praise, my lord?" Sebastian asks sardonically.

"Shut up and drive."
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Devilish Impulses