The White Butterfly of Phantomhive

Chapter 23: The Royal Prince of India

It's currently winter in England where the grey season is enveloped with thick and heavy snow. After the conclusion of the serial murders of Jack the Ripper, London has returned to its state of peace and tranquility. However, that only lasts for a brief time.

Englishmen, who have recently returned from India, have been continuously assaulted, stripped, and hung upside down from the eaves of the Hindustani Coffee House in Portman Square. Since then, noblemen or soldiers who had returned from India were faced with the same fate. The victims all had the same threatening notes attached to them.

"Watch this wild, pathetic child of sloth and depravity. To all the idiots of the bitch-ruled land, you are the ones who deserve the vengeance of Heaven. England is the motherland of the Devil, who robs off everything and forces its worthless, rotten, and ignorant culture on you instead!" At the end of each note is a drawing of a tongue. This has plagued the Scotland Yard, as they have yet to catch the culprit.

Randall crumples up the note, disgruntled by the fact at how many people have been victimised and, in anger, he shouts at Abberline, "This makes twenty victims so far and you still haven't caught this criminal?! Explain!"

"I haven't and I'm sorry Sir Arthur!" Abberline said. "When Jack the Ripper slipped through our hands that brat got all the credit." Randall said with much bitterness in his voice. As Abberline looked through the reports he asked his superior, "Brat, sir? Who do you mean? You're speaking of Ciel Phantomhive?"

Looking up from the papers, Abberline then spoke on the young boy's defence. "You know, I can't help but feel that he's carrying some immense burdens. And he's still only a child." He said. Randall narrowed his eyes and practically scoffed at that. "A child?"

"So all the victims had just returned home from India then?" Ciel asked. Suddenly appearing right beside Abberline, reading through the records with Sebastian and Mei behind him. His sudden appearance nearly shocked the young Inspector. "Oh you're here!" He said. Ciel didn't pay too much mind to him as he continued to read. "But the culprit hasn't killed anyone yet?" Ciel asked. He walks towards Randall and takes the note from his hands.

""Watch this wild, pathetic child of sloth and depravity." This man does have a way with words doesn't he? I agree our country would benefit if all these nouveau riche fresh from India disappeared. Still...I don't like this mark." Ciel says, looking at the drawing.

"With this, he's mocking the Queen and all English Men too!" Randall says as he takes back the note. "He's Indian, I'm certain of it."

"Ah." Ciel went as a smile appeared. "I imagine that would be the reason I was called in." He said. "Most of the Indians who've come here illegally are staying at the criminal neighbourhoods at the East End and Scotland Yard still doesn't know their exact number or their precise location does it?" Ciel asked. One glare and minor shake from Randall was enough to answer that question.

"I can not allow Her Majesty to continue suffering such indignation. Sebastian. Mei. Let's go." Ciel says as he begins to walk away from the scene with the others following him. Ever since Ciel's birthday party, things had changed little by little. But there were good changes. Ciel and Mei were getting more comfortable with each other, enough to call one another by their given name.

Not only that, but Mei had been getting along well with Sebastian. No, she hadn't forgotten that little kiss. And, yes, she was embarrassed about it. She had never experienced anything like it and had no idea on how to handle it. She was just stunned and stumbled to say something when Sebastian, who quickly realised what he had done, apologised profusely about his "undignified behaviour" but Mei had forgiven him without a hesitating. Despite this awkward moment, Mei and Sebastian have gotten close.