The Queen had arrived. And of course, along side her, was the royal butler in white, Ash.

"My word! Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Mother of England, has favored us with her honored presence!" The contest host said with noticeable excitement.

"It is Her Majesty!" "I can't believe she really came!" People in the crowd wildly whispered to each other.

As the Queen was walking down the red carpet in the middle, Viscount of Druitt stood up and started singing the national anthem, "God save our gracious Queen,"

Others began to join.

"Long live our noble Queen!

God save the Queen!

Send her Victorious,

Happy and glorious,

Long to reign over us,

God save the Queen."

Neither Lau, nor Sebastian sang.

The Queen reached the side of the stage where a luxurious chair was placed for her. Before she took her seat, she whispered something to Ash.

Ash straighten up, and announced to the listening crowd, "Her Majesty bids me to tell you: I apologize for my inability to appear before you for so long. However, I am now in such perfect health, that I may enjoy curry again. My late husband Albert was very fond of curry as well. I look forward to examining the 'fruits of your labours'."

That got a great reaction form he crowd. The host waited for the queen to be comfortably seated, and announced, "And with that, allez cuisine!"

The four contestants immediately started their process of preparing the best of their effort in front of he Queen. The crowd marveled over the whole ordeal of Sebastian using chocolate and Agni using a rare blue lobster for their curry, but I was paying attention to the french chef. And of course, after seeing Sebastian and Agni's curry, he knew he had to use it. He discreetly took out the small white pouch, and sprinkled the mysterious spice Angela gave him into his curry. Then he rushingly shoved the pouch back in his pocket. He looked around the crowd, who were all focused on either Agni or Sebastian, and caught my eyes, who was standing right at the front of the crowd. I gave him a nod. When he realized who it was that he was looking at, he looked down in a hurry. I smirked.

Was it really worth it? Blackmailing just to do that little task of my curiosity?

Afterward the judges were able to taste the curry of the four contestants. The first chef got kicked out of the competition because the judges were able to tell that he used curry powder in his curry. It was the French chef's turn to be judged next.

The judeges tasted the curry carefully. Viscount of Druitt said, "I take it that Dhol & Company blends its own spice?"

"Y-Yes, my lord." The French chef responded.

"Hmm... There is on particularly magnificent scent..."

The French chef widened his eyes, for he knew that the judges could pick out the scent of the spice Angela gave him.

"However, it is unbalanced overall, so that nice scent is standing out too much."

Agni's blue lobster curry and Sebastian's curry bun were to be judged next. Needless to say. they both received very high praise.

"We will now leave our judges to deliberate. In the mean time, feel free to try any curry you like!" The host said.

I walked to one of the table which had they just placed some curry on. I helped myself to the curry with the mysterious spice. I immediately knew what the judges were talking about. There was one amazing scent that stood out, but it was slightly overwhelming, causing the taste of the rest of the curry, such as the beef to be underwhelming when tasted.

I then tasted Agni's curry, which was really quite something. And of course, Sebastian's curry. Finally, I have fulfilled on of my dreams- to try one of his curry buns. It exceeded my expectation with its rich flavor and soft texture. And I had to eat one in order to not be affected by the mysterious spice in the French chef's curry.

"I noticed Her Majesty didn't eat. She is not going to examine the recipes?" Lau asked.

"I imagine she avoided it to spare her health. But if it is possible she will sample the ones she finds interesting. And that would change the judges' impressions. It is up to the Queen who gets the Royal Warrant."

I saw that a women arrived at the scene and started talking to Harold West and Agni. After a while, Agni began weeping blood tears having heard that the women, who I now assumed was Mina- the women Soma had been looking for, betrayed Prince Soma. Mina walked away coldly from the weeping Agni with a spiteful expression. I saw that she then ate some of the curry with the Angela's spice in it. She suddenly widened her eyes and held onto the table for support. She grabbed her chest and stated shaking.

However no one paid attention to her because Ash started speaking, "Sebastian, chef of Funtom Company. Her majesty desires a curry bun. Would you be so kind as to bring one here?"

People including the judges gasped after hearing that.

Sebastian brought one over and handed it to Ash, to which he handed it to the Queen. She carefully took a bite and said something to Ash.

Ash straightened up and said, "Her Majesty bids me to tell you: 'You were considerate enough to make this easy even for a child to eat, requiring no knife or fork. Treating all equally, rich and poor, adult and child, it embodies the ideal I strive for: a kind and noble country.' Her Majesty is deeply moved by your kind attitude in treasuring our children... our future."

"Don't make me laugh!" Suddenly, a voice loudly shouted out. Everyone shifted their attention to the owner of the voice- Mina. She somehow seemed to be surrounded by a black aura- an aura of pure hatred. She continued in a malice-filled voice, "How you flatter yourselves! Equality? The future? The Queen of a wealthy country like this who's never done any hardwork has no place saying that!" She swiped plates of curry off the table in front of her, and stared right at the Queen's direction with eyes of insanity.

I sideway glanced at Ash and I saw him hiding a smirk.

Harold West ran up behind her and attempted to restraint her, "Mina, stop! You are in front of Her Majesty!"

However, the attempt was unsuccessful as Mina in her current state, heavily under the influence of Angela's spice, she was many times stronger than any mortal man. She pushed West away without needing to put in effort, and easily defeated the Scotland Yard's officers who tried to stop her rampage.

While she was fighting the officers, some others who had tasted the French chef's curry began to loose their mind. They randomly started attacking anyone in their way. It is apparent that people who were uninfected were confused yet panicking at the same time. It was total chaos.

Sebastian rushed to protect his young master, who were surrounded by a couple of infected people who were saying something along he line, 'sniff out the unclean'.

Suddenly I bumped into a person while walking backward trying to avoid this mess of a situation. My herd jerked around and I realized that the person I bumped into, was no other than one of those spice-infected ones. I didn't dare to move in case he would harm me if I do. He slowly lurched towards me while I was frozen in place. He started sniffing me as if a dog sniffing its food. Unexpectedly, he turned away as if I was not there. I stayed in place trying to figure out what just happen. Ah, I don't have a soul, so just like Angela, they can't 'smell' anything in me.

Knowing that, I ambled to the area near where Queen Victoria and Ash were, where the fighting was kept off bay from, where I could regain my personal space.

I looked at Ash and he seemed to be closely watching this situation. Finally he said something to Ciel, who was nearby, "Don't you think it's a bit odd, if this is all due to a spice, why are only certain people affected? If the price is right, I would think far more people would go berserk. After all, there are no ordinary human with a truly pure heart, no one who is perfect..."

I tilted my head in confusion. Why would Ash help Ciel figure out how to cure the people from the spice?

Suddenly Ciel looked up as if he'd figured out something. He shouted across the room, "Sebastian, the curry buns! Feed them your curry buns!"

"Certainly." Sebastian then carried out his master's order. The scene soon became much calmer, the chaos of spice-influenced people was replaced with the confused questions that those who woke from it asked.

Ash spoke when everyone quieted, "Her Majesty bids me to tell you, 'These curry buns full of kindness defeated the demon spice and even healed those who had became devils. The winner of the Royal Warrant is decided.' "

The Queen personally awarded the Warrant to Sebastian and Ciel. Later, Scotland Yard began their process of cleaning up after the incident.

As Ciel watched Mina and the others who were infected being taken away, he said, "I wonder how they will be handled."

"I do not believe they will be treated badly." Ash said walking up to us, "Lord Phantomhive, I congratulate you on your remarkable work today and obtaining a Royal Warrant. Her Majesty has expressed her gratitude. She bids me to tell you, 'I apologize for causing you trouble.I have been watching your work closely. I am in the light, and you are in the shadow. Though our positions are different, I trust we wish for the same thing.' "

What is this 'light and shadow', Kuroko no Basuke? No, but in all seriousness was the Queen involved in this whole spicy situation? Pun intended.

He turned to me and handed me a letter sealed with the royal stamp, "This is the official invitation to the investiture confering the noble title of baroness to you. I give you my sincerely congratulation." He then said to both me and Ciel, "Please continue to aid Her Majesty. Goodbye, then." And he walked away back to the side of Queen Victoria.

"Congratulations!" Mey-Rin said running up to me.

"Why, thank you!" I said.

"I congratulate you on your achievement. And I hope we work well together." Ciel said walking away.

While Ciel was exchanging words with Soma, and Sebastian with Agni, I saw Harold West and Mina stumbling out of the Crystal Palace.

Lau noticed as well, "Well, I shall take my leave now, my lord and lady. Come, Ran-Mao." He then exited the Crystal Palace, and went the same way which Harold West went.

I also noticed another person following them out of here: the French chef that I threatened. I smiled. Good, he's doing his job.

-------------------------------

I am back.

Lesson of the chapter: People change.

An Inspiring quote: "You were offered up to us as a sacrifice... by the very church you have such faith in. Follow me down to Hell. No one has been saved by their faith before." - Raito Sakamaki, Diabolik Lovers.