Laughter is Born From Madness

Chapter 27

A plate of chicken curry was set in front of Soma and Red as they were sat next to one another at the dining room table, Ciel at the head of the table with Lau playing cards. Every now and then his gaze left the cards in his hands to the other two teenagers near him.

"My apologies for having kept you waiting. I present you with a curry of tender chicken stewed with spices and the savour of onions. I topped it off simply with some coriander and yogurt." Sebastian said as he bowed at the two older teenagers.

The two looked at Sebastian in surprise as Ciel won the card game against Lau.

"You're already done!? It's only been about two hours since you began-!" Soma started shouting, rising from his seat, only to be pulled back by the female beside him.

"I'm tired of old maid now." Ciel said, resting his head on his hand with a bored and irritated look on his face.

"Then shall we play old man?" Lau asked.

"Yes, it unfortunately took me a full two hours. Please forgive me for forcing you both to wait so long." The butler sighed in disappointment.

"This aroma...it's...almost like Agni's curry..." Soma wondered as he smelled the air. "How in the world...and in such short time..."

"It was simple," Sebastian smirked, "I just sampled all of the spices."

"Each and every one of them!? The whole lot!?" the plum-haired teenager exclaimed, causing Red to facepalm at Sebastian's inability to act human.

"Yes. To return to the point at hand, I then blended the spices to match the fragrance of the curry Mister Agni cooked for breakfast the other day as closely as possible."

"That was all it took to recreate the aroma?" Red asked in astonishment.

"My sense of smell is a tad better than that of most humans." Red facepalmed again at the demon's attempt to be subtle.

"Come, come, your highness." Lau started, "'It is better to get down to worry about it,' as they say. Why not have a bite first?"

"Y-Yes, all right."

"Time to eat!" Red said with a bright smile, not noticing the stares from two people.

"This aroma is very different from the last. The spices present an extraordinary bouquet." Lau said, scooping up some curry onto the spoon and placing it inside his mouth. He chewed and swallowed then presented his normal close-eyed smile. "My, this is delicious!! The flavour of the freshly ground spices whets your appetite, and the stewed chicken is so tender, it practically melts in your mouth."

Sebastian glanced over at the young prince and asked, "Prince Soma, what do you think?"

The prince shook his head as he replied, "This won't do. The aroma is well and good, but the taste is a whole other story."

"Is that so...?" Sebastian wondered. "Then let us try a spice blend that has a similar aroma but will create a different taste."

Soma clenched his fist as he said softly, "If only there was even one thing I knew about the way Agni prepares his curry...but I, utterly ignorant as I am... cannot do anything for you no matter how much I should like. And once again, here I am, having to depend on you lot. Someone like me should just-"

"Stop."

The prince looked up to witness the look of sadness on the red head's face, his eyes widening, slightly.

Placing her hand on his, she spoke, "Never say such things, you're trying your best to help us. There's nothing you can do if you haven't the slightest of how Agni made his curry. But saying such things will only lower your will to carry on further. Even though you don't think it, there are so many things you can do, Soma. I know it for certain."

The prince's eyes widened more at her words, a soft smile on her face as she looked at the prince. A hint of a blush made its way onto his face as his lips trembled.

"Miss Red..." he started only to be cut off by the butler.

"She is quite right," he smiled. "There are yet things that only you can do, Prince Soma. If you would follow me."

The prince got up from his chair, his hand moving away from Red's, as he followed the butler out of the room with Lau. Leaving the two other teenagers alone.

"What was that?" the young earl asked.

"What?" Red questioned.

"First, you leave with him to tour the gardens. Now, you're holding his hand and..." he started, not facing the female near him. Looking straight at her, he asks, "Just what is going on between the two of you?"

Red stared at Ciel, as if trying to solve some puzzle, then explained, "We were talking while wandering the gardens. And I learned more about him, just like I did with Finny and you. We became friends, is that wrong?"

"It seems as though you're closer than just friends."

"We are just friends. Why are you even asking this?"

Ciel hesitated to find the right words, then his eyes widened as he thought, Why am I asking her this?

Silence passed as the two stared at each other. One patiently waiting for an answer, the other trying to find one. Not long after-

"You made them all!?! By yourself!?!"

Red sighed as she stood up from her chair. Turning to Ciel, she spoke, "I expect an answer soon. I know you've been hesitating this whole time. For now, I will leave you to your thoughts. But, I expect an answer after the curry festival."

With that, she walkedout of the room to where Soma and the others were. Ciel stared at the door sheleft out of and his eyes drooped. Not quite understanding what he's beenfeeling and thinking lately.