[ It'd quite transparent to Howl what Ciel's motivations are in inviting him here and speaking to him this way. To a large degree, he doesn't mind it, and actually enjoys it. Howl is so unaccustomed to people going out of their way to be concerned about his well-being that it feels good to have someone care. And he does know and understand that Ciel cares, even while he does not understand why or feel he deserves it.

He watches her pour the tea and studies the steaming brown liquid in the cup as he contemplates her subtly probing statements. There's no way to avoid the glaring topics at hand. Having accepted that, he reaches out with one hand to put a sugar cube into his teacup. Most of his hand and arm is covered by his coat, but his fingernails are much longer and more wicked than they had been a few weeks ago, and the skin is stained a greyish-brown hue. At the edges of his wrist, large feathers burst out of his skin. ]

I trust my retainer to bring me healthy meals. I have no reason to doubt anything he's served me.

[ After depositing a few sugar cubes, he reaches for some macarons, using his new claw-like nails to pluck them from the three-tiered stand. ]

...I assume you've heard the rumors. About how we captured two Pleroma.