nataliaphantomhivesblog

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

i love the instances in the manga where Sebastian goes out of his way to be kind and offers compliments that genuienly reflect the person he's reffering to.

I think this "kindness" stems from the butler persona he's created, and how his servitude extends at times to benefit the ones that surround the young master.

I mean, a demon would've told Elizabeth that her efforts to make o!ciel happy is futile and feed on those insecurities. The one hell of a Butler Sebastian, however offers her compliments and reasures her.

And you know the most compelling part? his words are actually the truth.

He even ends up admiring and going on a limb by complementing Elizabeth's strenght (for a human lol). But he is totally correct and his words of praise truly do reflect on the blonde girl's character.

Let's not forget when Sebastian reassured Sullivan and complimented her job, saying she did her duty perfectly.

She saved Wolfram's life, and i'm sure that Sebastian is clearly impressed on her skills. ALSO !!! look at the way he is not only comforting her with words that carry complete truth, but also the comforting hand he placed on her back.

This is defiently not something a demon would do, but the action does carry the warmth of a human butler.

Now, I would be out of my mind if I don't mention the respect Sebastian holds for Agni.

Agni is literally the personification of a divinely light. And he's also the only character whom Sebastian has complimented the most and is actually sort of considered something "regular" for him to do as he genuienly came to admire him.

Again, all of Sebastian's compliments are genuine and positive. He finds the butler to be truly admirable, even gone as far as following his advice due to the grand acclaim he holds Agni in.

Isn't it ironic how, Sebastain, who consitantly mocks our Earl whenever he shows a bit of kindness and vulnerability, yet the demon is genuienly moved by Agni and goes a step further by fostering his advice.

He also offeres Agni not only sincerity in his compliments or admiration, but also kindness that's shrouded in genuine respect.

And let's not forget how Sebastian gave Agni the highest of respect even in death, softly holding him as he expressed one last time, his greatest compliment towards Agni.

Sebastian blurs the line between demon and butler a lot, getting lost in it in the process.

This extends to his treatment of the phantomhive servants too. He can be a terryfing boss, but he has also gone out of his way to be kind and gentle.

He compliments Finnian when he does his job well.

And tends to be gentle when handeling him, acknowledging he is an extremely sheltered kid.

He makes sure Mey Rin feels appreciated in the Phantomhive manor as he constantly compliments her sincerely about her skills.

And he also created a space for Bard to feel that his role is important and that he belongs in the manor too, his words giving Bard motivation.

Tanaka, as a former Butler, is someone Sebastian holds respect for as well, following most of his advice as he does so.

And last but not least, he currently is fostering our earl with motivation about how its a FACT he will reclaim his title again.

I mean, look at o!Ciel's shooked little face, and we know Sebastian isn't lying either and finds confidence not only that he will fullfill his duty as a butler to help our earl win, but he has confidence in o!Ciel himself.

soooo,,,, basically, while Sebastian is never to be trusted, I do like how his words of praise are not only rare, but befetting and a true reflection of whomever he's reffering too.

And while, this is defiently a manipulative ploy to make humans feel safe around him, it's intresting how most of these compliments just tend to be genuine.

Which raises the question—despite Sebastian’s ruthless and cold nature, isn’t it fascinating how he’s drawn to and even admires humans who embody values that stand in stark contrast to a demon’s morality?

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

I can't help but think about little o!Ciel, who didn't have any friends besides his brother, and how much he's been able to grow since then.

People in his life have learned to love him for who he is, instead of for the title he holds.

For starters, the phantomhive servants absolutely adore him, their gratitude running so deep they would willingly put their lives on the line for the earl.

Each of them proves their unwavering loyalty through their own arcs, showing a love so fierce they’d go through hell and back if it meant restoring their young master’s dignity and rightful title.

Unlike Sebastian, whose loyalty is bound by contract, the servants offer something far rarer: sincere care for o!Ciel’s emotional state, watching over him with loud, human devotion.

Every servant developed a unique and meaningful bond with our earl because he saw them as individuals: not just staff.

He valued their strengths, understood their roles, and treated each connection with respect, making their loyalty personal rather than just professional.

They are o!Ciel’s chosen family, the ones who see him not just as the Earl, but as a boy carrying more than he should. They offer a kind of love he’s rarely allowed himself to hope for.

And on a small side note: Tanaka, having known o!Ciel since before the tragedy of December 14th, he maintained deep affection for the young earl.

Their bond is so special to our earl if we consider he's the only person that o!Ciel genueinly ran to hug him after a month in captivity. He didn't hug madame red back, nor Elizabeth (considering that as a kid, he was sort of...pushed aside in comparison to r!Ciel.)

But he did hug Tanaka and that single, wordless embrace speaks volumes about the unique safety and unconditional acceptance the butler represented, perhaps the last remnant of true warmth from the world he'd lost.

I would contend that Tanaka harbored a particularly tender soft spot for the boy, his service always carrying undercurrents of paternal warmth and profound respect for him.

Even now, as Tanaka stands dutifully by r!Ciel’s side, his anguish is palpable; a silent testament to the boy he still honors in his heart. 

He clearly contineus to hold so much regard and respect for o!Ciel. (look at the way he proudly talks about o!Ciel's toy company im gonna cryyyy, it's literally the only time he's smiling as he works under r!Ciel)

Then of course, there’s my girl Elizabeth. Yeah, she stuck around because she thought o!Ciel was r!Ciel—but somewhere along the way, she connected with him. And that bond? It became something honest and deeply hers.

o!Ciel saw Elizabeth for who she truly was: fierce, dedicated, and far more than the delicate lady she pretended to be for his sake. He saw her strength, her loyalty, and the way she loved with her whole heart.

and he embraced all of who she is, there never was a single ounce of disgust in him as he did so. Only quiet admiration, maybe even awe, for the girl who never stopped fighting for him, even when he couldn’t do it for himself.

While Elizabeth was basically groomed into the title of fianceé and loving her betrothed blindly ,she genuinely grew to feel comfortable and connected with o!Ciel, despite his deception.

o!Ciel, who, albeit unintentionally, gave her the space to express herself and her feelings, even though he wasn’t who he claimed to be.

And even after discovering his lies, she understood why he’d kept them. Their connection was genuine even as their foundation was false 

Then of course, I have to add Elizabeth's brother, Edward, into the mix, who learned to truly see o!Ciel's hardwork and respect him for it

Though his approach is steeped in tough love, the blonde's deep regard for our earl shines through whenever he speaks of him. There's an unmistakable pride in his voice as he recounts his cousin's merits.

In a rare moment of vulnerability, Edward entrusts o!Ciel with his deepest fears about his own morality, and in turn, the young earl offers him something precious: reassurance.

With words that carry both wisdom and compassion, o!Ciel reminds Edward that he is, at his core, a good and respectable man.

Edward holds so much respect for o!Ciel and trusts him enough to ask for help as well.

And I want to make it clear, Edward didn't do this because of o!Ciel's name and who he believed he was, but because he’s witnessed firsthand what o!Ciel is capable of. This is trust forged in action, not obligation.

let's not forget Prince Soma!! he really is the first real friend in our earls life. He just waltzed in and molded himself into our earls heart so flawlessly lmao.

Prince Soma appreciates o!Ciel deeply and continously does everything in his power to make this boy feel safe and cared for, he's always offering and encouraging stability, care, and above all, a sense of security the young earl so desperately needs.

Soma’s loyalty to o!Ciel is simple, there’s no grand justification, no hidden agenda, not even the pretense of obligation.

He simply looked at this guarded, grieving boy and thought: You’re my friend now. No lies, no calculations. Just stubborn, sunlit devotion, offered freely because Soma decided it should be.

And though our earl would sooner swallow his own tongue than admit it aloud, he lets Soma care for him, grumbling all the while, but never with real venom. 

For all his bristling, he permits the prince’s relentless sunshine to shine quietly through the earl, and that silent permission speaks louder than gratitude ever could.

And even Soma's butler, Agni, deeply cares for and respects o!Ciel.

Agni is completely loyal to Soma first and foremost, but he also genuinely respects o!Ciel. Even though o!Ciel's dark nature troubles him, Agni still looks out for the earl's wellbeing.

His care for o!Ciel is real - he checks on him, protects him, and treats him with honor, not just because of his title, but because he sees value in him as a person.

The butler is always excited about the concept of Prince Soma and o!Ciel together as genuine friends. While part of this is because it's what Soma wants, Agni also recognizes that o!Ciel needs this friendship too. He understands that despite o!Ciel's tough exterior, having someone like Soma by his side is good for him.

We can't forget that one of Agni's final acts - just minutes before his death - was carefully intending to piece together a burnt photo of o!Ciel's childhood. He did this even after the earl had been harsh and confrontational with him.

This gesture proves Agni never truly held anger toward o!Ciel. Despite everything, he still cared deeply for the boy.

And last but not least I want to mention Sieglinde Sullivan, who is also another person that came to quickly harvest affection for o!Ciel.

The earl was her first ever friend, and while his intentions were always manipulative, you can't deny he really did inspire and motivate her in ways no one ever did.

He’s also brutally honest with her—warning her to watch out for people who might use her, even telling her to be cautious about trusting him.

It’s not cynicism, but a genuine attempt to shield her from the same manipulation she’s endured back in her village.

She saw him and tended him at his most vulnerable state, so he will always hold greatfulness for her even if he never admits it.

He formed that bond with Sieglinde simply by being who he is. The fact that he both encourages her and looks out for her in his own way—without pretense—naturally deepened their connection. It wasn’t forced; his genuine support created the perfect conditions for trust to grow.

IN CONCLUSION....

and there's many other characters whom adore o!Ciel who i wanted to add but...I think the tangent is long enough to get my point across :)

Our earl is genuienly so loved and cared for, and if it weren't for Sebastian and the contract hes bound to, he might have found real healing in this carefully woven safety net of devoted allies - a chance to recover from his pain rather than be consumed by it.

I think that's one of the biggest tragedies of our earl's character, he has so much capacity for love and warmth, yet the very darkness that forged him prevents him from accepting it.

This is his cruel paradox: A boy who kindles fire in others' hearts

while his own soul burns for the demon's feast.

He was made to be loved, but his fate averts him from keeping it.

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

Hey OP!! *blows dust off my 16 y/o self’s theory about Prince Soma returning during o!Ciel’s mission slip out, written in glitter pen and raw delusion*

I totally see where you're coming from!! But with how unclear the silhouette is and how early it still is to tell, I’m not quite sold on the idea that it’s our beloved Prince.

HOWEVER!!! You caught such a small yet striking detail that no one else had pointed out—o!Ciel ordering Darjeeling tea?! Thank you for that, seriously. My brain did a little somersault.

You said it yourself, this tea is grown in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India.

O!ciel, the white boy who always orders white english little boy teas: (eg. Earl Grey, Assam black tea, blends from Fortnum and Mason, etc.) suddenly chooses Darjeeling?

A tea not just from India, but specifically from Bengal?

Prince Soma is literally the prince of Bengal. The 26th child to the Raja of Bengal. This isn’t just a casual tea choice—it’s a loaded sip. Too specific to be coincidence.

o!Ciel choosing Darjeeling: a tea from the very region Soma hails froml....I know it looks like i'm grasping at straws but LISTEN!!!!

Guys, this isn’t the only time o!Ciel has ordered Darjeeling tea.

He’s done it twice: once in the latest chapter, and trace all the way back in Chapter 23, which just so happens to be the final chapter of the Indian Butler arc (aka the arc where Soma and Agni are introduced and central to the narrative).

I know it might seem like overanalyzing, but if you’ve read Black Butler, you know Yana Toboso loves weaving hidden meaning into the smallest details, what looks like a throwaway line now could be major foreshadowing later.

And I have one last thing that ties to this whole thing, going back to the curry arc, the way Prince Soma barges into o!Ciel's home for the first time, is while our earl asks for tea, and Soma suggest "instead of english tea, lets have chai" and ciel agrees before he realizes that Soma is there, in his home, which ends up catching him off guard as he gets startled at the intrusion.

Prince Soma's introduction into the Phantomhive household and narrative is symbolically intertwined with tea.

Tying this to the current chapter, could o!Ciel ordering Darjeeling tea be a subtle nod to Soma’s eventual comeback? Just like at the beginning, Soma might once again catch Ciel off guard—arriving unexpectedly, shifting the story in his own prince Soma way.

or....maybe i'm just insane. who knows.

I know it might be Vladis,

I know it might be Joker,

I'm very aware it might be Undertaker,

Or even one of the shinigamis.

But I think (and really hope) it's Soma.

And before you start to booing me and throwing tomatoes at me let me explain you where I got that crazy idea 😭

When Sebastian asks Ciel to wait in the lounge while he is going to ascertain the real number of guests rooms Ciel asks to the waiter for one Darjeeling tea, which is grown and processed in Darjeeling district or Kalimpong district in West Bengal, India.

Also, when Ciel and Sebastian realize there's a play of The Tempest by William Shakespeare, the actors appeared and the actress who's playing Ariel is a girl who looks like she is from India.

And this is all i got.

I know these aren't enough proofs and it could sound pretty ridiculous atm because, why would Soma be dressed like that? He doesn't need to be in disguised but that was enough to make me believe these little details on the chapter it might be Yana giving us a little spoiler about that misterious man keeping an eye in Ciel and Sebastian at the end of the chapter.

Maybe the actress recognize him as the Prince of Bengal wandering through the streets and decided to help him and tell him about Nectar Springs as a place where he can stay and that's why he was watching the play and then Soma recognized the duo, idk :(

Chapter 148 (six years ago) was the last time we knew something about him and I miss him.

Yana, just let us see Soma one more time and let us know he's okay. Please, i'm begging you 😭

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

Season 5 of Black Butler has been out for a bit now, so what better time to gush about one of my favorite parallels from the Green Witch arc?

Sullivan and o!Ciel's emotional journeys run parallel in a way that deepens the arc.

1. The shared burden of survivor’s guilt over the deaths they caused.

When o!Ciel is trapped in his own mind, we get to see the inmense amount of guilt he holds due to the sacrifices he has made in order to stand where he is.

Beyond the visual depiction of the ghosts of his pasts taunting him while he's caged, I think the narritive itself textually provides us with enough evidence to understand the burden he carries.

o!Ciel is fully aware that the contract he made with Sebastian set off the chain of events that led to many of the deaths he now feels responsible for, and when he was emotionally scarred by the mustard gas, the feeling of remorse intensified tenfold.

As for Sullivan, she indirectly caused the deaths of many through actions she believed were magical. Manipulated by her mother into thinking she was a true witch, she was unknowingly creating weapons of war under the illusion of wonder and power.

And she is clearly distraught when she finds out, feeling incerdibly betrayed and guilty about what she's done.

Anyways, both o!Ciel and Sullivan, for different reasons, carry incredible survivals guilt but both were shaped by manipulation and the haunting weight of lives lost because of their actions.

2. Both characters deal with suicidal ideation due to said survivals guilt.

o!Ciel's suicidal thoughts tend to manifest in a more metaphorical way. The twin brother in our earl's head keeps implying to "stay here forever", which basically translates to, "why don't you just give up? nothing will hurt you if you die."

o!Ciel is wrestling with this decision deep inside his mental palace, while r!Ciel softly coaxing him to consider the offer of death.

r!Ciel keeps pushing o!Ciel to “stay here forever” and give up on revenge, revealing just how drained our Earl is from bearing that heavy burden.

But asking him to give up revenge, the very thing he lives for—speaks volumes about the depth of his despair, and the dark implications it has, closely tied to thoughts of suicide.

And we know these suicidal thoughts tie from o!Ciel’s raw pain and regret tied to the “proof of sin” (Sebastian ) who is the driving force behind so many lives being lost.

Sullivan’s wish for death parallels o!Ciel’s survivor’s guilt, but unlike o!Ciel’s more metaphorical struggle, she expresses it openly and verbally, giving us clear, direct textual evidence of the pain she carries.

She wants to die because of the heavy responsibility she bears for creating those deadly, war-inflicted gases.

3. Both of them get a wake up call and inspiration to keep living.

Here is when things get intresting *rubs hands together like a sly little fly*

Sebastian is the one who pulls o!Ciel out of this fragile, guilt-ridden mindset by reminding him of the true nature of their contract: revenge, the very reason our Earl keeps going.

The demon "wakes him up" aggresievly by taunting him and almost killing him by eating his soul as a result, forcing o!Ciel to confront the harsh reality of his situation and cling to the one thing that gives him purpose.

Sebastian’s tactic essentially jolts o!Ciel awake by numbing his emotional turmoil—he pushes him to dismiss his pain and focus instead on the fact that this revenge is for “his own sake,” not anyone else’s.

In doing so, Sebastian helps o!Ciel dissociate from his survivor’s guilt and bury that crushing weight deep down.

while Sebastian’s approach is effective at snapping o!Ciel out of his spiral, it’s not exactly healthy for his emotional growth.

It basically encourages him to shut down and bury his feelings instead of truly processing and healing from them, but for a demon who thrives on a deeply scarred and traumatized soul, it’s the perfect mentality: keeping o!Ciel trapped and dependent.

And while our Earl runs to Sebastian, passing by the deaths he feels guilty for, the visuals show those memories fading away like petals, highlighting how he’s trying to leave those emotions and his past behind.

This coping mechanism holds up for a while, as we can see in o!Ciel’s cold and standoffish attitude at the start of the Blue Cult arc. (before Agni's death and r!Ciel's reveal)

Anyhow, the key point is that Sebastian forced o!Ciel into a life-or-death situation, putting him in a position where he had to reclaim his purpose to live again.

How does this tie to Sullivan? Well...

Interestingly enough, in this moment, o!Ciel steps into Sebastian’s shoes, pushing Sieglinde Sullivan into a life-or-death situation to force her to rediscover her own purpose for living.

But instead of threatening to consume her soul like Sebastian would, o!Ciel points a gun at her.

Something I love because it really highlights how Sebastian has shaped him. After all, this demon has been raising the kid for about three years, so it makes perfect sense.

To quote Yana really quickly: "Sebastian, a demon by nature, and Ciel, who has a twisted personality due to said demon’s education."

Anyway, o!Ciel’s use of Sebastian’s demonic tactic gradually works on Sullivan, as he slyly suggests that if she keeps living, she can atone for those deaths by creating the ultimate medicines to save lives.

I love how o!Ciel gives Sieglinde a purpose—harsh as his method may be, and even if it mirrors that of a demon. What sets it apart is that, unlike his own revenge-fueled path, he urges her to find a reason to live that isn’t rooted in getting back at those who used or hurt her.

Instead, he pushes her to recognize the power she holds to save others.

While Sebastian urged o!Ciel to shut off sentimentality completely in order to move forward, our earl pushed Sullivan into a path filled with hope.

You can see it clearly in the way Yana draws her, her eyes wide and bright, sparkles surrounding her.

She’s found something o!Ciel hasn’t: genuine hope, and a reason to live that isn’t rooted in pain.

And that is what sets Sebastian and o!Ciel apart, because at the end of it all, our earl is still human. He may use ruthless tactics and mirror a demon’s cold logic, but deep down, he still understands the fragile need for purpose beyond revenge.

Both of them were able to snap out of their suicidal state, but while o!Ciel's purpose is emotionally numbing and dark, Sullivan's is filled with light and hope.

4. o!Ciel and Sullivans respective guardians and how they fuel their reason of living.

I don’t think I need to go too deep into how Sebastian drives o!Ciel down the dark path of revenge; after all, that’s the entire foundation of their contract and the core of the story.

What’s important to note is how clearly the Green Witch Arc highlights this dynamic, especially in the moment where it’s Sebastian who has to remind our Earl of his motivation for revenge.

Sebastian doesn't nurture healing or growth; he sharpens o!Ciel into a weapon, one forged in pain and aimed at retribution.

Sullivan’s guardian, on the other hand, Wolfram, though initially distant and harsh, offers her genuine care and loyalty. He doesn't see her as a means to and end, or a weapon of war, he sees her as an ordinary girl.

While o!Ciel’s guardian deepens his wounds, Sullivan’s helps her begin to heal.

Sullivan's newfound purpose is to save lives, and the very first life she saves is, fittingly, Wolfram himself.

And while it’s o!Ciel who urges her to take that step and save him with her own hands, it’s Wolfram, the one constant in her life, whom she feels the grand need to save.

Which beautifully closes the loop: the man who once protected her becomes the first person she protects, solidifying her shift from a weapon of destruction to a healer with purpose.

So while Sebastian is a taunting, ever-present reminder of o!Ciel’s darkness and the path he’s bound to, Wolfram stands as a constant reminder of the light Sullivan carries within her.

And what’s especially powerful is that this mindset, the belief that she could use her gifts to save rather than destroy, was first planted by o!Ciel.

It was his words that nudged her toward the idea of redemption, and it was Wolfram who later nurtured and strengthened that belief.

And I think that says a lot about our Earl: despite being trapped in a cycle of revenge, grief, and manipulation, there's still a part of him capable of inspiring hope in others, even if he can’t quite give that same grace to himself.

To close all of this off...

Both of these characters parallel each other in their emotional journeys, but while one walks the path of self-destruction, the other chooses the path of healing.

o!Ciel, burdened by guilt and driven by vengeance, continues to suppress his pain and descend deeper into a life defined by trauma and control.

In contrast, Sullivan, though similarly scarred, begins to embrace hope and transformation, choosing to turn her regret into a force for good.

all in all, I love my cute little children !!! <3

thx for reading hehe

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

It will always stay with me that Joker and Ciel never resented each other, they understood one another too well to even blame each other for how things fell apart. (Confirmed by Yana herself btw.)

Joker and o!Ciel are in a way, to sides of the same coin, both of them sacrifice and strample on others in order to gain the goal they long for.

While Joker resorts to extreme measures, kidnapping children to fulfill Kelvin's demands and, in turn, protect the kids back in the workhouse, o!Ciel similarly crushes lives beneath him in pursuit of his vengeance.

The imagery speaks for itself: the young earl is often portrayed atop a throne of corpses, a chilling symbol of the destruction left in his wake.

And it's quite intresting, that during the main confrontation in book of circus, our earl was cruel to Baron Kelvin (as he mf should!!) yet he refrained from mocking Joker.

As Yana Toboso notes: "However, he didn’t say anything about Joker. He neither called him stupid nor foolish. He just calmly confirmed the facts with him. This is because Joker and his crew were aware of their own foolishness - and so was Ciel. Thus he didn’t say anything that would rub salt into the wound."

I really like that o!Ciel "calmly confirmed the facts with him." especially considering that his first response after Joker admitted he knew what he was doing was wrong was to directly challenge that reasoning. And no, I’m not saying our earl condones the kidnapping of children—but he does understand where Joker’s morality and intentions come from.

Joker doesn’t want to kidnap children; he feels trapped by a toxic sense of duty to repay the Baron’s debt. On top of that, without Kelvin’s financial support, neither the circus nor the workhouse would be able to survive.

In a way, o!Ciel sees a reflection of himself in Joker: someone bound by duty, guilt, and a sense of debt. He too is trapped, only his chains take the form of a contract with Sebastian, forged in the aftermath of unimaginable trauma and fueled by the need for revenge against those who destroyed his family.

And I think it’s clear that, just like Joker, o!Ciel doesn’t necessarily find any thrill in trampling over others. However, unlike Joker, who still clings to a sense of family, emotional bonds, and the illusion of doing the wrong thing for the right reason, o!Ciel has learned to detach himself emotionally.

He justifies cruelty as a necessity, a tool for survival and justice. Where Joker hesitates, burdened by conscience and affection, o!Ciel acts decisively, even ruthlessly, because he’s already accepted that innocence and morality were luxuries stolen from him the moment his world fell apart.

It’s bittersweet how, in his own way, o!Ciel tries to console Joker by telling him not to cry. There’s a quiet kind of empathy in the way he states that the world isn’t kind to anyone. And in that moment, when Joker looks at him with a faint yet sorrowful smile, it’s clear he understands, perhaps better than anyone, that the earl isn’t just talking about him. o!Ciel is speaking from his own tragedy, his own loss.

There’s something so human in the way they mirror each other: both bound by duty, both driven by grief, and both trying to find meaning in a world that’s taken too much from them.

In that small exchange; Joker’s smile, Ciel’s words, they meet not as enemies, but as mearly two people who saw through each other.

They also share a quiet kind of sympathy for one another, as if both recognize the foolishness in the paths they’ve taken. Deep down, they both know that the cost of their choices is far heavier than they’d like to admit.

And that was their last exchange, a softly deafening mutal understanding.

Joker knew about o!Ciel’s past—Baron Kelvin had told him. He was aware of the horrific abuse the boy had endured, of how deeply he’d been dehumanized. Our earl was treated as an object of exploitation by older men, just as Joker and the rest of the circus troupe had been used and abused by Kelvin.

In that shared history of being used, manipulated, and discarded by those in power, there’s a grim reflection. They were both victims of the same cruelty, forced to survive in whatever way they could.

And after eliminating the circus, o!Ciel chooses to visit the orphanage: the very place Joker and the troupe had fought so desperately to protect. Despite everything, he intends to ensure its survival, even planning to secure a sponsor to fund it.

Joker protected his brothers and sisters back in the orphanage while kidnapping children for the baron, feeling extremely guilty in doing so, o!Ciel parallels this by perserving the workhouse in order to ease his guilt for killing Joker and the circus trope.

And when he arrives to the workhouse, well, we know what happens. There orphange was empty, provong Joker's sacrifices futile in the end. In the same way, o!Ciel’s quest for revenge will prove meaningless.

Both their struggles, though driven by pain and hope, lead to hollow victories in a world that keeps taking more than it gives.

It's important to highlight that before o!Ciel spirals into a maniac laughing tangent about how corrupt humanity is, his thought's immedietly flash to both Doll and Joker, two people in the circus trope whom he connected with in different ways.

As he recalls them, he envisions their screams and cries, desperately trying to protect the orphanage that, as we already know, no longer exists. This haunting image fuels his fury and despair, a raw reminder of all that was lost despite their sacrifices.

In that moment, his rage is not just aimed at the world’s cruelty, but also at himself, for failing to save what mattered, for being trapped in a cycle of destruction and vengeance.

The memories of Doll and Joker become ghosts that both torment and motivate him, pushing him deeper into his chaotic spiral while silently mourning the innocence that slipped away.

That loss of innocence is what i still, to this day, believe that o!Ciel's ribbon that got blown away from the wind symbolizes, this also explains why Sebastian, the ever-so-perfect butler, lets his instincts take over and doesn’t even try to catch that single strand of innocence.

As a demon who takes a twisted pleasure in o!Ciel’s suffering, he’d rather see the boy lose that innocence completely than hold onto it.

Besides Yana's commentary on Joker and o!Ciel's quiet connection, I really do like how Yana specifically highlight's that o!Ciel feels incredibly guilty about what went down in the circus. Specifically how the memories of Joker and Doll continue to haunt him and even influence some of his choices.

If he couldn’t sustain Joker’s vision for the workhouse, then taking in one of Joker and Doll’s beloved family members into his household was his way of holding onto something meaningful, an attempt to preserve a connection to the people he feels responsible for.

Also I want to point out how despite o!Ciel's refusal of being called Smile by Joker, stating how "a servant shall not speak to him with such familiarities"

yet...

here is Snake (a servant) reffering to o!Ciel as Smile. And our earl allows him to, and i think this acceptance of the name represents sort of a fresh start for o!Ciel, a way to make some sort of amends with the past.

But even after employing Snake, his past actions continue to mess with him, no matter how tightly he holds his composure, the past keeps finding ways to slip through the cracks.

During the Green witch arc, Joker tourments o!Ciel with the words, "do you want everything to be yours?" forcing him to confront the selfishness and moral ambiguity of his goals.

Joker, even in death, lingers as a voice of guilt and conscience, reminding o!Ciel that the path he walks is paved with sacrifice.

o!Ciel will never seem to let go of the weight of Joker and Doll's deaths, he just continuously represses them as a coping mechanism.

To finish this all up, I just want to say how much I adore the way Joker and Doll (characters who only appear in a single arc) continue to bleed through the cracks of the story, seeping into o!Ciel’s psyche in such a compelling way.

Their presence lingers like a ghost, not just in memory, but in the way they quietly shape his guilt, his choices, and the parts of himself he tries so hard to suppress.

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

It means so much when you realize that Soma is o!Ciel’s first real friend.

When our earl was a little kid, he was sheltered due to his asthma, which prevented him to make genuine social connections beyond his familial ones.

Even with his brother by his side, there was still a sense of isolation, like the world around him, intentionally or not, kept pushing him to the side. He was present, but never quite part of things.

And then, after the tragedy, when he returns under his brother’s name, things become even more complicated. Elizabeth still loves him deeply and tends to him with all the care in the world, but she doesn’t realize he isn’t truly Ciel. That unspoken truth becomes an invisible barrier between them.

Even in her affection, he’s alone, carrying a secret that keeps him at a distance from the only people left who still care for him.

Then there are the servants, utterly loyal, unwavering in their devotion. Their respect for our earl goes above and beyond, but it isn’t friendship. Their bond is bound by the roles they play. They serve him not out of companionship, but because they feel indebted to him—because they owe him their lives. That sense of duty creates another kind of distance.

But Prince Soma is a different case, he was a wildcard in o!Ciel's life. He didn’t tiptoe around the earl’s walls; he barged right through them. Uninvited and unstoppable, Soma didn’t just enter o!Ciel’s home, he settled in, pulling him into a rhythm that felt disarmingly normal.

He annoyed his way into o!Ciel's life, treating him like the kid he was, falling into playfull rythms and a routine that contrasted o!Ciel's usual darkness.

In a life shaped by shadows, Soma became a burst of color the earl never saw coming.

Soma doesn't owe o!Ciel his life, he didn't stick by because of his title or name either. He simply befriended the earl because o!Ciel challenged him, inspired him, gave him a different lens through which to see the world.

Through their clashes and contrasts, Soma grew, not because he was forced to, but because their dynamic naturally pushed him to mature.

The prince is probably the first person in o!Ciel's entire life that considered him a friend, a best friend. Our earl, once a quiet, sheltered boy, so unsure of his own worth that he felt the need to live behind someone else’s name, somehow gained a friend simply by being himself.

No masks, no manipulation, just the reluctant honesty that came from being seen and chosen anyway.

o!Ciel could be harsh, distant, even cruel: pushing people away again and again. But Soma didn’t give up. He kept showing up, kept breaking through the walls, because he saw who o!Ciel truly was beneath it all, and he genuinely cared.

And what makes this so soft is how the earl grew so accustomed to the prince's antics.

He got used to playing games with him the way friends do: competitive, yet always teasing and playful.

He got used to getting embraced (even though he despises physical touch, he slowly accepted and allowed this affection from the prince.)

It's so important to highlight the safety he feels around Soma, even when he's all over his personal space. The prince isn't just anybody anymore, he became someone the earl grew familiar and comfortable around.

That kind of vulnerability isn’t in his nature. But beneath the pride and distance, there’s a quiet care that runs deep. It’s subtle and unspoken, born from a platonic bond that means more than words can express.

Before Soma, o!Ciel had never truly known what it meant to have a friend of his own.

And that’s why the fact that r!Ciel deliberately jeopardized that friendship, by killing Agni and making Soma believe it was our earl’s doing, showing us how this act was made to knock o!Ciel off his feet and shake the fragile bonds he’d built.

r!Ciel’s possessiveness over our earl runs deeper than mere jealousy, it’s rooted in an intense, almost pathological need for control. It’s as if he can’t tolerate the idea of o!Ciel forming bonds outside of himself, because those connections threaten his fragile sense of identity and power.

But I’m sure that if Soma could weather o!Ciel’s calculated, harsh, and sometimes manipulative moments, he’ll still find a way to come around, and stand by his best friend.

For true friendship is not the absence of flaws, but the quiet courage to remain, even when shadows fall.

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

Hi hi!! Idk if you remember me but we had a discussion in one of your analysis comment section! You're still one of my fav kuro people honestly.

Anyway! I wanted to know what you think about Modri Vladis in the newest manga chapters? There has been a lot of theories and speculations about him. Do you think he's going to be a key piece of the current arc?

Hey there! I do remember you, thanks so much for engaging with my content and going as far as sending in an inbox :)

I think it's still very early to come with a very defining conclusion about Mordi Vladis, but I do think he will be a very key piece in this arc, and definitely a threat...or a distraction from something more sinister beneath the surface.

What I really like is how this character seems to be more of a rock in the way for Sebastian, than to our earl.

So far, there's been many theories:

some fans speculate that Mordi Vladis is confusing Sebastian with Vincent.

others believe he truly is one of Sebastian's past contractor , lots of fans on tik tok adopted the concept that Mordi and Sebastian were possibly lovers in a past life (likely manipulated and used by Sebastian if that was the case)

then there's also the theory which i believe is the closest to the truth, which is that Mordi Vladis is possibly just a bizzare doll whose memories got altered in order to give the demon a hard time.

Again, i think it's too early to have a proper concept/conclusion, but one thing i'm sure of and it's that Mordi Vladis as well as the hotel in general is going to give Sebastian a hard time.

So far, it's intresting that ever since they arrived to the hotel, Sebastian has been getting slight jabs and quiet insults about his job. I dare say they sound like quiet threats about Sebastian's position, considering they want to "relieve him from his duty."

One confirmed fact is that Undertaker oversees these facilities. What’s another thing we know for sure about him?

This grim reaper does NOT like Sebastian and the way he makes the earl miserable, he literally attempted to get rid of him because he is aware that the demon's presence is slowly draining the life out of o!Ciel.

The message in book of atlantic was clear and simple, Undertaker doesn't want to harm o!Ciel, he just wants Sebastian gone.

So isn't it intresting how the hotel keep making a clear separation from "master and servant" as the staff is going to basically take over Sebastian's duties.

A moment free from inconvenience’—what an interesting way for Yana to place emphasis on that particular word.

Especially if we consider, that's quite literally how Undertaker views him.

Though their methods and motives differ, both Sebastian and Undertaker have their sights set on O!Ciel—one intends to devour his soul, the other to preserve it.

The Grim Reaper is clearly searching for a way to break the contract. He shares a special connection with the Phantomhive family, and if he went as far as bringing one of them back to life, it’s likely because he doesn’t want the one still living to fall into the demon’s claws.

Given that Undertaker has no real intention of hurting O!Ciel, it becomes increasingly clear that his real aim is to bring harm to Sebastian, and most likely, getting him elimanted.

(which i think is clear, if thats UT plan, it's not going to work lol)

Both of them continously clash, and Sebastian seems to be not just an inconvenience to not just o!Ciel, but Undertaker as well.

And isn't it quite riveting that the moment Sebastian has stepped his foot into that damn hotel....

He is met with someone who directly affects Sebastian NOT o!Ciel and is possibly a threat, a distraction or maybe just an inconvenience.

So while I don't have a real idea who Mordi Vladis is, I think it's clear that the hotel is built to mess with Sebastain.

I don't think we are getting a Sebastian backstory, Yana herself said it's not relevant to write it in the story considering that all we need to know about him is his newfound identity as a butler.

I doubt we’ll get a full deep dive into Sebastian’s past, but I do believe we’re heading toward an arc centered on him—one that will unravel his butler façade and place him in a conflict where the emotional and mortal stakes are dangerously high.

Tysm for reading !! :)

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

Hi there!

I have a request for a Viscount Druitt (Black Butler) analysis.

I've never seen an in depth analysis on his character before and would be curious to hear your thoughts.

Feel free to deny/ignore this ask if you aren't comfortable with it.

Hello! Just wanted to say thanks for enjoying my analysis enough to trust me with a character deep dive!

I’ll be honest, Viscount Druitt isn’t a character I can analyze in great depth, given how little canon material we have on him. However, I feel like i can make a hopefully well thought out piece with what we have of him so, i can only wish you a happy reading as we get into this!!

Also I want to point out: I do NOT endorse Viscount's character or his actions, I believe it is still valuable to analyze his character. This is done out of respect for Yana Toboso's writing, which intentionally crafts such figures to critique real-world systems and moral decay. Exploring characters like Druit can open up meaningful discussion about power, vanity, corruption, and societal rot, especially when viewed through a psychological or literary lens.

Aleister Chamber is a walking contradiction: charming yet predatory, elegant yet grotesque.

So Aleister Chamber, famously known as Viscount Druitt, is presented to us as an incredibly conceited and arrogant individual with an inflated sense of self-importance, often given to theatrical and exaggerated outbursts.

The Viscount's literal introduction to the series is as a part-time semi-antagonist for our earl and butler. He was suspected as Jack the Ripper, so o!Ciel and Sebastian go undercover to catch him.

We quickly find out the messed up part of this character, as o!Ciel had to literally "lure" Druitt by flirting with him, quickly gaining the man's attention.

May I remind you all, o!Ciel is 13 years old and even if he's crossdressing, he clearly looks like a child, Druitt finds the "girls" youthful apparence much more appealing.

At o!Ciel's insistance, Aleister guides him to a concealed room, where he releases a soporific gas that causes the kid to lose consciousness.

It is then revealed that Aleister is a host and important piece for underground auctions, he addresses the crowd, unveiling our earl bound and blindfolded, as the highly anticipated item up for bid.

He presents various disturbing options: the "girl" could be kept in a cage, toyed with, used in a ritual, or even dismembered and sold piece by piece, depending on the buyer's desires.

As we know, Viscount is proven to not being Jack the Ripper, yet his "hobby" doesn't get him off the hook, he's still a clearly horrible person. I personally think he's a personafication of the corrupt aristocracy of Victorian society.

Even after being arrested for his heinous crimes, Viscount Druit manages to buy his way out of legal consequences. This detail, while frustrating, feels intentional.

Rather than being a narrative oversight, it serves as a sharp critique of the Victorian nobility’s corruption: a class drenched in power and wealth that even the gravest crimes can be brushed aside through bribery and influence.

Anyways, Druitt is revealed to be a judge in the curry fair, he gives very theatrical and dramatic reviews. Sebastian's curry, reminds the Viscount of o!Ciel when he cross dressed to lure him (lol).

And while this bit is funny, i think the fact he's rambling about a young "girl" he literally drugged and attempted to sell is well....disturbing.

The fact that he speaks of this memory so fondly and publicly without recognizing its horror highlights how morally bankrupt and deluded he is.

Yana Toboso plays this for dark comedy, but beneath the humor is a chilling commentary on how trauma and abuse can be minimized or romanticized in elite circles.

amidst the theatricality of Viscount Druit’s judging, there's a brief, easily overlooked panel where o!Ciel visibly shudders at Druit’s offhand comment about the “beautiful girl” from a past party.

To readers familiar with the context, this moment is chilling: o!Ciel is reminded, in public and without warning, of a time when he was drugged, bound, and nearly sold into human trafficking.

While Druit reminisces with comical flair, o!Ciel’s body language signals genuine distress.

And I think it's very important that yana's writing style ties comedy with deep layers of darkness with sometimes even foreshadowing.

comedic moment that serves as a nod to foreshadowing a dark event e.g n1:

From this comedic moment of Agni’s over-the-top devotion to the prince:

To Agni genuienly risking his life for him:

Comedic moment that sets up as a dark reality e.g n2:

from this cute and silly pannel of o!Ciel finding out Santa isn't real:

Jumping to o!Ciel relating this story to him renouncing his faith in God due to the abuse him and his brother have endoured:

So back to it, Viscount's over the top and whimsicaly funny jokes come with a dark or disturbing price.

Although these exaggerated outburts are meant to be portrayed as humorous, it is important to consider the context behind them, here's an example of one of Druitt's "funny" moments:

That wierdly drawn out of pocket sexual scene of Harcourt shitting his pants, I’m still convinced to this day that Druitt was the one who saw Harcourt’s... “issue” in an erotic and overly romanticized way.

That’s why there’s that little image of him putting on his glasses to get a closer look, blushing as he comments on how “nice” this implied 13- or 14-year-old boy is.

Maybe im reaching but, it frames Harcourt’s incredibly vulnerable situation through an oddly romanticized and sexualized lens, and it makes so much sense for this to be especially from Druitt's perspective.

Aleister views people: especially women and underage individuals he finds attractive, as objects for entertainment or exploitation. I feel like this "comedic" moment captures that disturbing element.

Despite his outward charm and refinement, he is ultimately seen as a fool by the major characters in the series:

Francis, who possesses keen intuition (her dislike towards Sebastian as an example) and a strong aversion to men who cause trouble, clearly dislikes him and harbors deep distrust toward him.

Sebastian, o!Ciel, Grell, and Ronald—three of whom are supernatural beings—harbor such intense annoyance toward Viscount Druit that they openly express a desire to kill him.

What’s particularly intriguing is that Undertaker, a character known for his discerning eye, disdain for shallow aristocracy, and preference for the "beautiful" dead, actually vouches for Druit, even going so far as to physically protect him.

While characters like Sebastian, Grell, Ronald, and Ciel express open contempt and even murderous annoyance toward the viscount, Undertaker finds him amusing enough to keep alive.

But then begs the question, why would Undertaker want to keep such a grotesque, ridiculous, aristrocrat alive?

Well, he answers this question, in a way:

Undertaker might see Druit as a kind of walking joke, a grotesque caricature of the rotting nobility, and thus a living symbol of everything that’s wrong with Victorian society.

Much like someone keeping a grotesque but rare artifact, Undertaker could find Druit’s unique blend of foolishness, depravity, and theatricality too entertaining to discard.

Ultimately, this odd dynamic invites us to question how value is measured in the eyes of someone like Undertaker, and whether entertainment, unpredictability, or strategic utility can outweigh morality: even when it involves a man as loathsome as Aleister Druit.

So here he goes again, Druit goes scot-free despite deserving harm and this time, without bribes.

Yana Toboso portrays Druit not merely as comic relief or a grotesque semi-antagonist, he symbolizes the moral rot hidden behind polished high-society refinement. The ease with which he evades justice reflects the systemic protection of the elite.

His survival may not be justified within the story morally—but it is realistic in the most infuriating way. The same way he didn't face consequences for literal human trafficking.

All in all, Alister is the embodiment of everything rotten about the elite class: vain, self-obsessed, theatrically ignorant, and wildly disconnected from reality.

Through Druit, Toboso satirizes how aristocrats in Victorian England (and honestly, still today) could commit horrifying acts with impunity, so long as they maintained the appearance of class and contributed to elite social circles. He exists in a decadent bubble, where wealth and name shield him from accountability.

He’s not punished by the system: he is the system.

Druit’s involvement in the human auction, where children and women are sold as commodities, is not just a plot device, it’s a bold commentary on the historical reality of how vulnerable groups are exploited by the rich.

Even more disturbing is how no one in his social circle seems surprised or outraged, and when he’s arrested, he simply bribes his way out.

The narrative reflects the painful truth that many real-world abusers and traffickers in high places face little or no consequence, especially when they wear the mask of civility.

Despite openly committing horrible crimes and being disliked by virtually every major character (many of whom are supernatural beings who could end him instantly), Druit keeps popping back up—alive, free, and more absurd than ever.

Even Undertaker, a character who sees the beauty in death and the flaws of the living, finds Druit too entertaining to kill. This isn’t mercy: it’s mockery.

It suggests that Druit is so pathetic, so far gone, that death would be too serious a punishment for him. He is the walking punchline to a cruel joke about power, survival, and the failure of justice.

In keeping Druit alive, the narrative emphasizes the horror of normalized corruption: we laugh at him, recoil at him, and yet... he persists. And that’s the point.

Viscount Druit may be ridiculous, but he is far from harmless. He is a grotesque exaggeration of very real societal failures: how power shields predators, how appearances excuse exploitation, and how the worst people often face the fewest consequences.

By satirizing him so sharply, Yana Toboso doesn’t excuse his existence: she condemns the world that allows it.

Viscount Druit is a flamboyant aristocrat whose vanity and hunger for admiration hides a hollow, dangerous core. His character critiques both the performative nature of high society and the moral rot hidden beneath its polished surface.

He is ridiculous, vile, and ultimately pitiful: a useful minor villain who reinforces the series’ darker themes through satire and shock.

Andddd that's all folks, thanks for reading! :)

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

SEBASTIAN AND HIS ROLE IN THE PHANTOMFAM RANT

Heyyy kurofans!!!

Just dropping by to talk about the Phantomhive servants and their complicated little family dynamic with the demon butler!

I just find it intresting how Sebastian tends to morph his personality depending on which servant he is directing to, and there is a reason for each.

(Btw im only gonna focus on Finny, Bard and Meyrin on this post btw, sorry Snake lovers he just didn't interact with the demon much for me to talk about him here!!)

Finnian and the demon who took in the role of his teacher and subtle caretaker.

I have to say, Finnian definitely looks up to the butler. While he fears him, it always comes in flickers, what never leaves is his appreciation and care for Sebastian.

It's worth noting that Sebastian adopts a gentler approach when training Finnian: marked by patience and restraint.

The demon recognizes the blonde's fragility, so he tends to be kinder to him than with the other servants.

Bard gets sarcasm, Mey-Rin gets teasing, Snake gets cryptic warnings, but Finnian? A simple sigh and a patient redemonstration.

I love how in the picture below, Sebastian lets Finnian embrace him, giving him quiet comfort while gently reminding him of his strenght.

Now, I know Sebastian does these things in order to gain obidience and trust from Finnian, but i love to see how he really does treat him like the child that he is. (look at the way he quietly tucks him in bed.)

While no doubt, Sebastian can get frustrated by the gardeners antics, he also sees the potential in Finny and respects him as a servant of the phantomhive household.

Also yes, I know what Sebastian did to Finny in the green witch arc, but he could've killed him so yk what i think throwing him to the ground is a better outcome lol. Also!! Sebastian literally warned Finnian to get out of the way before doing anything, so yk for a demon, I do deem that as a wierdly good deed. And even when he threw the blonde out of the room, he acknowledged and thanked him for taking care of the young master.

In that scene, Finnian was confused by Sebastian's behavior, showcasing how the blonde truly isn't used to the butler being rough with him in a way that would truly hurt him. To the gardner, Sebastian was "acting wierd".

All in all, Sebastian doesn't take the roll of a abusvie tyrant who attempts to make Finnian obey him into submission.

And the reason for it is quite simple: Finny, the kid who was deprived of movement and sunlight when he was young, got employed by the young earl with the promise of freedom and sunlight as exchange for his loyalty.

So if Sebastain where to completely restrain Finnian, the blonde's loyalty to the phantomhive household would've wavered. That's why the butler takes a gentle and caretaker approach towards him, which explains Finnian's love, greatfulness and attachment to the butler.

He doesn't see him in the same light as those cruel men in the lab who abused him, i dare say that he views him as family.

Sebastian allows the child to embrace him, even after mistakes that anger him greatly. Still, the boy feels safe enough to admit his wrongdoings and finds solace in the butler's presence.

He scolds him gently, and gives him the liberty to choose which plants to buy to design the garden. Respecting Finnian's position as he does so.

Sebastian praises the boy when he performs his tasks correctly and even takes the time to teach Finnian about the plants in the garden.

His approach, as I’ve mentioned, is entirely gentle: he never belittles Finnian for his lack of knowledge but instead patiently guides him.

Finnian doesn’t know what Sebastian is, only that he’s the one who taught him how to hold a teacup without breaking it. And for a boy who was once a lab experiment, that kindness matters more than fear.

Soldier to Soldier: Bard’s Tactical Recognition of a Superior Force

Sebastian's way of gaining Bards obidience was...intresting to say the least. (lol)

God, that pannels never fails to make me laugh.

Anyway, Bard was rebellious at first. He had no respect for Sebastian or his commands. The cook couldn't stand the "pristine, high-class butler" act.

After spending so much time in war, that polished demeanor doesn’t just irritate Bard, it unsettles him.

And the butler sees through that and so he decides to switch tactics.

What does Sebastian do in order for Bard to obey him? He bitchslaps him across the face.

He resorts to the same amount of violence that a higher rank officer would use on a disobeying soldier.

Sebastian creates an enviormennt Bard was used to in order to ease him into the mannor.

(As a small side note: Sebastian initially refused to call Bardroy “Baldo” out of professionalism — much to the cook’s annoyance. But once he realized that the nickname made Bard feel more comfortable, he eventually gave in and started using it.)

Mey-Rin worships Sebastian, Finnian adores him, but Bard? Bard’s the only one who sees through him, and that’s exactly why Sebastian respects him for it.

Sebastian said it better himself, Bard is the only one in that manner who is afraid of death,he’s sharp enough to notice what Finnian and Mey-Rin overlook.

The Butler doesn't have that humane quality in order to guide MeyRin and Finnian to not be too careless about their feelings and lives they hold, so he needs Bard to teach them instead.

And in time, Bard rises to the task, becoming their anchor, their unshakable rock.

Before long, the cook felt comfortable enough to open up and share his own backstory with the butler.

This is a huge turning point for Bard and his relationship with Sebastian.

It was the aftermath of Bard’s recruitment test that made the cook feel he truly belonged at the manor. And it was Sebastian who carefully crafted that sense of normalcy and comfort that allowed Bard to settle in.

It wasn’t just the sense of comfort Sebastian carefully built around him or the feeling of belonging that followed the recruitment test, it was the butler’s quiet, deliberate speech, “You are afraid of death,” that truly resonated with Bard.

In that moment, something shifted.

A validation of the life Bard had lived, the pain he carried, and the grit that had kept him alive through war. For the first time in a long while, he felt seen for who he was, not just what he could do.

And in that moment of clarity, he finally understood his place in the manor: not just as the cook or a soldier, but as someone who mattered and could make a change.

And in time, we can see various ways in which Bard tends to guide Finnian and MeyRin in ways Sebastian (a demon) fails to do so.

Not only that, but Sebastian's role as a harsher and less romanticized teacher is also what made Bard trust him and create a space for him to feel emotionally secure around him.

Bard learned to truly respect Sebastain.

Sebastian had to struggle to get Bard not only to adjust to the manor, but to trust him as well. And if that meant landing a punch and delivering a symbolic speech about Bard’s strengths, then so be it.

Mey-Rin and the superior who she has a crush on.

Sebastian’s approach to winning Mey-Rin’s loyalty and trust is quite interesting, a delicate balance of gentleness and firm command.

When Sebastian first set his sights on recruiting Mey-Rin, his approach was enthusiastically forceful.

He wasn’t about to let her slip away easily; every word and gesture carried the weight of his conviction, compelling her to see beyond her own doubts and recognize the role she was meant to play.

however, Meyrin suprisingly, didn't give in to Sebastian's offer (it was o!Ciel's later strategtic food bribe that made her accept the job).

it is important however, to highlight just how crucial Sebastian is to Mey-Rin’s drive and dedication within the manor.

His compliments and subtle affirmations fuel her determination, giving her a sense of purpose and worth that she deeply craves. Without his steady presence and approval, Mey-Rin’s motivation would falter, but with him, she feels empowered to face any challenge the manor throws her way.

Mey-Rin ends up developing a crush on Sebastian and while I am certain it wasn't the demons intention for her to fall for him, he expertly plays into her feelings, carefully weaving just enough sweet words and gestures to keep her longing for more, deepening her attachment while maintaining an inscrutable distance.

Look at Sebastian's use of words in this pannel, the way he refers to her as "lady".

After a life spent surviving with grit and grit alone, being seen as more than just a weapon feels like a quiet luxury.

She clings to the little moments—wearing pretty dresses, adjusting her ribbon just right, blushing at a compliment—because in them, she rediscovers a softness she thought she had lost forever.

And with Sebastian, who sees her not just as a sharpshooter but as a lady worthy of poise and praise, that desire to indulge only grows stronger.

I daresay that out of the three original Phantomhive servants, Mey-Rin holds the deepest affection for the butler.

While Finny adores him with wide-eyed loyalty and Bard treats him with begrudging respect, Mey-Rin’s feelings run deeper: tinged with romantic yearning and idealization.

While Sebastian never explicitly encourages it, he certainly doesn’t shy away from feeding into her idealization. A well-placed compliment here, a soft smile there: it all adds fuel to the fire of her feelings.

And for Mey-Rin, who had lived so long without kindness or softness, the fantasy of him becomes a refuge she’s not quite ready to give up.

IN CONCLUSION

It’s compelling to observe how Sebastian interacts with each of the servants, his approach carefully tailored, almost tactical, to draw out their loyalty.

At this point, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to believe they’d take a bullet not only for the young master but for Sebastian as well.

He didn’t simply harvest loyalty, he nurtured love.

Sebastian is an integral part of the familial bond that ties the Phantomhive servants together—whether he likes it or not.

This one hell of a butler will forever be family to Bard, Mey-Rin, and Finnian in their own unique ways.

No matter the chaos, the orders, or the secrets they carry, Sebastian remains at the heart of it all: not just as their superior, but as someone they’ve come to trust, admire, and quietly love.

To them, he isn’t just a servant of the Phantomhive name—he’s home, just as much as Ciel is.

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

I was bored and re reading the curry arc and no one talks about these pannels enough !!!

In essence, o!Ciel confronted the prince, bluntly stating that he didn’t care about Soma’s feelings regarding Mina’s disappearance, telling him that once you loose something you could never get it back.

In that moment, o!Ciel was clearly projecting his own grief and loss onto Soma.

The prince represented the innocence o!Ciel might have retained had he not lost his family, a sentiment the later acknowledges in later chapters of this arc.

As the day went on, however, o!Ciel began to feel guilty about his harsh words, recognizing that he might have gone too far with the prince. In a small attempt to make amends, he offered to play with him.

While o!Ciel's words are denying he's doing this out of remorse, his actions say otherwise.  This moment offers a subtle yet telling glimpse of the emotional maturity our earl holds.

And how does Soma respond to this once in a lifetime kindness from the earl? well...

The prince doesn't care to acknoweldge this act of kindness, shoving him off and leaving our earl behind.

Soma by this time, hasn't learned to appreciate the love and care infront of him because he was too fixated on Mina.

And honestly? I find this segment ironic because we know that the Soma from later chapters would've bitch slapped the fuck out of his past self for deminishing o!Ciel's compassion and rare benevolence.

Just take a look at how the prince’s gratitude toward o!Ciel shifts:

And what caused this change? well i think we all know what it was.

It wasn't Sebastian's demonic attempt to "discipline" the prince.

If anything, the demon only dragged Soma deeper into despair. Already trapped in a cycle of self-victimization, Soma didn’t just need harsh truths, he needed compassion.

The true catalyst for Soma’s transformation was o!Ciel.

By revealing his scars, not as weapons, but as proof of survival: he made Soma feel understood.

By sharing his life’s mantra (“I must keep walking forward, no matter what”), he did more than offer advice; he handed Soma the very scalpel that had carved his own resilience.

Where Sebastian’s words made Soma want to disappear, o!Ciel’s confession made him want to prove himself.

That fragile admission: ‘This is how I live with my pain’ became Soma’s first real weapon against his own despair.

Because of the earl, Soma grew emotionally and became more perceptive of others, and this growth is what eventually made the prince understand o!Ciel's psyche to almost perfection.

And what makes it all the more nauseatingly sweet is that what he learned from the Earl made him selfless enough to stay by o!Ciel’s side, not because the earl wants it, but because he knows the kid needs it.

In the end, o!Ciel's calculated words birthed something he never intended: a love strong enough to see through his facade, yet tender enough to stand by him anyway.

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

Do you take character requests for analyzing?

Yes! requests are totally fine by me, just take into account the fandoms im in so that you can base your requests on those! :)

Have a good day and thx for the ask<3

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

people are entitled to their own opinion, but genuienly thinking Elizabeth is a selfish character missed the whole point of her character and it actually drives me lowk insane.

I know that the introduction of her character can be harsh to digest because of how overbearing she can be and because she broke Ciel's ring that holds deep importance but:

She wasn't aware about the importance of the ring, and when Sebastian pointed out, she immediatelytook accountability and started to apologize.

She cried profusely, realizing how much history and emotional importance the ring held, her pain was as sharp, literally suffering in o!Ciel's place.

Even when o!Ciel tells her that it's okay, she cuts him off with a "but" again, fully willing to admit her mistake.

Elizabeth always goes an extra mile to make our earl smile, and she admits to Sebastian that sometimes she can be overbearing, but thats such a human mistake and her heart and intentions are always in the right place.

She is constantly attentive of o!ciel and worried about his wellbeing, she is able to tell when something is off with him.

She also struggles with crippling insecurities.

As a young lady of the Victorian era, Elizabeth finds herself torn between society's expectations and her family's ideals.

Desperate to appear beautiful and graceful for o!Ciel’s sake, she deliberately wore low-heeled shoes (a choice deemed childish for a girl her age, looked down upon by other girls) knowing full well that he wished to be seen as mature.

In quiet devotion, she diminished her own stature beside him, all to lift his pride.

But her lineage demanded strength. Forced to train with a sword, she carried the weight of duty, yet secretly loathed her own power, fearing it made her less of the delicate noblewoman she longed to be.

Her insecurities are so complex because while they root from how she feels her fiance needs to percieve her, they also stem from the expectations and oppresive ideals of society of how a woman should be.

Her sword training, a secret defiance of gendered expectations, should have been a source of confidence. Instead, it became yet another fracture in her self-worth.

Every swing of her blade felt like a betrayal of the "perfect lady" she was supposed to be, even as her lineage demanded she master it.

She hated her own skill, not because she lacked it, but because possessing it meant she could never fully be the dainty, unburdened girl she thought Ciel needed.

But when our earl is in danger, she doesn't hesitate, pushes away her deepest insecurties, all for o!Ciel.

She shows him her "uncute" apperance, she unravels infront of him completely.

A girl laid bare, willing to be seen as uncute, as flawed, if it means protecting him.

And when o!Ciel sees her strenght, obviously, he reacts positively to it. He doesn't see her as less, he doesn't hate her for it, he quickly accepts this part of her.

Literally zero disgust in his bones as he does so. (he's so gentle with her augh i love them)

And since o!Ciel accepted her, she started to unravel her strenght and didn't hide it as much.

Can we also talk about how Elizabeth was ready to resort to violence when she thought o!Ciel was cheating on her with Sieglinde? But when Sebastian steps in and explains the real reason behind their situation, not only does Elizabeth apologize, she immediately takes Sieglinde’s side

we love a girls girl !!!

She even goes a step further, offering her help and friendship.

Something worthy of mention is that she is never limiting herself to just her bond with Ciel, but always reaching out to form genuine connections with others.

And now everyone assumes she's selfish because of this....

And now they call her selfish? A traitor? As if she hadn’t spent her entire life bending over backwards just to make o!Ciel feel safe and happy.

Imagine dedicating three whole years to someone, selflessly, without expecting a single word of praise...only to discover it was all built on lies. How could anyone blame her for feeling betrayed?

On top of that, her entire life, since infancy, was shaped around the role of being a fiancée, just as r!Ciel was forced into becoming the Phantomhive heir. (the role o!Ciel took over instead).

Not only does she feel hurt by o!Ciel lying to her, she feels lost. Identity wise she is is crushed and feels she failed as a fiance for not telling the difference between the twins.

How is that fair? She spent years dedicating herself to his happiness, only for the foundation of her existence to be ripped away.

And even after "siding" with her fiancé, she is clearly unhappy. Not only because she knows r!Ciel and Undertaker are up to no good, but because she also understands why o!Ciel lied to her all those years.

She questions herself, she realizes the very reason why o!Ciel kept his identity a secret.

And when she realizes that if o!Ciel would've been honest about his identity back then, she would've expressed dissapointment, and that immediately makes her drown in that guilt.

And now, that truth consumes her: not only does she fail as a fiance, she feels she fails as a human too.

It is pretty clear to me that Elizabeth is torn and confused, heavily manipulated by r!Ciel and a lifetime of being groomed into the "perfect fiance"

Her entire sense of self was scripted for her, and now that the lie has collapsed, she’s left drowning in the wreckage.

I can’t claim to know Yana’s exact intentions, but this much is clear: Elizabeth is intelligent, fiercely compassionate, and, when the moment demands it: fully capable of making the right choice.

Will she forgive o!Ciel? Almost certainly. While the pain of his lies may never fully fade, the story makes one truth undeniable: Their bond, though built on deception, became real through those quiet moments of understanding and mutual acceptance.

Lets not forget that where r!Ciel weaponized Elizabeth’s deepest insecurities, o!Ciel was starting to dismantle them. 

one exploited her fears of inadequacy as the "perfect fiancée," while the other, despite his own deceptions, gave her the space to simply exist as herself.

And Elizabeth? That brilliantly perceptive girl currently drowning in betrayal? She will remember. She’ll piece together the truth, not just about them, but about herself. 

Anyways, I love Elizabeth and y'all should too!

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

I know that when it comes to the book of circus arc, Doll and Joker's character deaths tend to pull on our heartstrings, and while I agree that the ends they meet are completely devastating—I believe that the tragedy of Beast's character as well as her demise is completely overlooked by the fandom.

She is shown to have the initiative to part from Baron's Kelvin's orders. While she complies for Joker and to protect the children back in the orphanage, she can't stand to keep hurting innocent children in return and watch as Joker's spirit crumbles.

Not only do we clearly see her moral ground, we also see how deeply painful this situation is for her because of how it hurts the people around her, especially Joker.

During this discussion, Joker is completely dissmisive of her feelings, pushing her away. She is emotionally upfront and when she was about to tell Joker that she loves him, he cuts her off.

He basically tells her that they have no choice but continue to uphold Kelvin's orders, and leaves her behind.

Beast is completely torn, and Sebastian, being the demon that he is, takes advantage of this, sexually coercing her in the process.

She needed Jokers comfort and reasurance. And just like Joker and the rest of the circus trope—she was a victim of Kelvin and needed to seperate herself from that dark world just as much as the rest.

Beast’s moment of vulnerability with Sebastian is especially tragic, not just because he manipulates her, but because it underscores how utterly alone she truly was. In that scene, she’s desperate for comfort, for someone to listen, and Sebastian, ever the predator, exploits that need.

But what cuts deeper is the realization that what she actually needed was simple: an outlet for her pain, and the reassurance Joker failed to give her.

Her trust in Sebastian is misplaced, yet painfully understandable. After a lifetime of obedience and unrequited love, she’s never had the chance to voice her fears or doubts.

When she finally does, it’s to a demon who weaponizes her honesty against her. There’s something uniquely cruel about that, her one moment of emotional openness becomes another step toward her death.

Something about the way Beast calls herself and the rest of the troupe Kelvin's possesions is so twisted, but it gives us the grasp of the abuse they went through by the hands of their "father."

Kelvin quite literally owns them, and Beast (as well as the rest of the trope) allows him to do so because not only do they feel like they "owe" the man for saving them, the lives of the other kids back in the workhouse are at stake if they don't please him.

When she finds out Sebastian indeed used her to get information, she feels awfully guilty. The circus trope blames Doll for befriending Ciel, but beast knows that deep down, it was her who fell into the trap of the enemy.

The scene where Doll apologizes, only for Beast to immediately cut her off with ‘you are not to blame.’ reveals so much about Beast’s crumbling psyche.

Her guilt isn’t just over the mission’s failure; it’s the crushing weight of knowing she allowed Doll, the youngest and most innocent of them, to shoulder the blame first. In that split-second reaction, we see Beast’s self-loathing collide with her protective instincts.

That fleeting moment of raw honesty where Beast reassures Dollis instantly smothered the second Doll presses further. With a hardened ‘It's nothing,’ Beast slams her mask back into place, retreating behind the role of the Circus’s unshakable strongwoman. But this isn’t just deflection; it’s self-sabotage.

She’s trapped between the need to be heard and the terror of what might happen if she truly is. 

Sebastian’s former act of ‘kindness’ is so insidious because he exploits this very contradiction. He offers her the illusion of being seen, only to weaponize her feelings for further gain. Meanwhile, Doll, the one person who might have understood (considering she was decived by Ciel too.) is brushed aside. 

Beast’s death scene is a masterclass in narrative cruelty: not just for its violence, but for how it mirrors a lifetime of being stripped of her humanity.

When Dagger throws himself in front of her, taking the fatal blow, her raw, guttural screams aren’t just grief, it's also the sound of someone who has always been forced to watch others suffer for her survival.

And then Bard, speaks up, he says:

The line isn’t just tasteless; it’s deliberately degrading. In her final moments, Beast is reduced to the very things that defined her suffering:

A Tool for Others’ Use: Just as Baron Kelvin weaponized her loyalty, Bard reduces her to a tavern fantasy, erasing her pain under the male gaze.

An Object of Exploitation: Sebastian’s manipulation (feigning intimacy to extract secrets) is echoed here, she dies as she lived: a thing to be used, never seen.

A Martyr Without Witness: Dagger’s sacrifice is framed as noble, but Beast’s agony is met with indifference. Even in death, her grief is trivialized.

The arc denies her any dignity, the narrative itself treats her as expendable. The fandom overlooks her, the characters dismiss her, and the world ensures she dies unheard.

This is why Beast’s tragedy lingers. It’s not just her death, but the way the narrative denies her even the smallest mercy: no one truly sees her. Not Joker, who dismisses her; not the other circus members, who are trapped in their own cycles of abuse; and certainly not Sebastian, who treats her vulnerability as a game.

Her story is a quiet scream in a arc full of louder tragedies, and that’s what makes it so devastating.

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

I think it's really powerful that Snake's last action before death wasn't something that favoured the phantomhive cause OR Doll's/the circus cause.

He died stepping in to shield a child.

In the end, he didn't have the chance to pick a side, but he did what he felt was right. His decision was his own.

But what influenced him to be such a loving and good person was the families that shaped him.

The circus trope gave Snake so much hope and belonging in a world that caged and abused him.

These people gave Snake, who was once, emotionally stunted and abused, the feeling of love.

When he lost them however, he lost a part of himself. And was ready to avange the people who took them from him.

However, due to certain events, Snake gets employed by our earl. And he quickly adapted into the Phantomhive manor:

He wasn't just learning to embrace his individuality, he was also finally feeling another sense of belonging.

A sense of family.

And in the end, when he realized that both families lie to him. He crumbles, he cries, he screams, he is hurt.

But past that hurt, he mantained the love and care that he learned to harvest thanks to both familial experiences as he put his life on the line for a child.

Honestly? I love that we never got to see Snake pick a side. However, in the end, he wrote off his own faith the moment he steped in to protect the kid.

But it was his decision, his choice to mantian the image of Doll as he did back in the circus—someone who would never hurt people. His choice to not betray Finnian either, even after finding out he killed Jumbo.

Snake died as the accumulation of the expiriences he lived with both of his families.

He died...as Snake.

Not a pawn, not misled.

Just Snake.

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

BLACK BUTLER ENDING

Okay so honestly, since we are reaching the climax of the manga, i can't help but realize how after the climax, there's the falling action...and then finally, the ending. We are getting so close to it and honestly I still can't even begin to elaborate how anxious I am about how it will all wrap up.

There is still many characters and plotlines that are yet needed to wrap up, so I do think building to the climax AND falling action will take a few years (give or take...5-10 years? maybe more if the chapters continues on being cut down and overall slow).

But no matter, I will put my trust in Miss Yana (as i have for years), and she's rarely let me down, so I can only count on her and believe that she will continue to raise the stakes and expectations for Kuroshitsuji.

Now, as for the ending, there's many theories out there, and i'm not in the mood to fully fledge out my theories at the moment, but I do want to talk about what I would wish for the ending of Black Butler as someone who has stuck by this story for years.

For starters, i think the majority of the fandom can agree that the most predictable and plausible ending is o!Ciel fullfilling his revenge, and Sebastian to be able to consume his soul at last.

Honestly, I think if that’s how it ends, it might feel a bit disappointing to some readers—especially since it’s what everyone expects. But there’s also an inevitable tragedy in knowing from the beginning that o!Ciel was always doomed to face a bitter end.

If Yana goes to the safe route of Sebastian eating o!Ciel's soul, here's some elements that I think could add so much nuance to the narrative:

The revenge while being climatic for the readers, being unsatisfying for our earl.

A recurring theme in Black Butler is the inescapable downfall that comes from sacrificing others for your own ambitions.

The BOC arc completely solidifies this ongoing narrative and message:

Ciel isn't laughing mockingly, if anything, he's spiraling.

The circus trope was kidnapping children in order to protect their own, in the end however, it is revealed that Baron Kelvin had already killed these children.

The futility of all their efforts stands out, and you can see a clear parallel between them and their goal, as well as o!Ciel and his pursuit of revenge.

Each of them strayed down a dark path, driven by desperation to achieve something they once believed in—resorting to actions they likely never imagined themselves capable of. Just for it to all be for nothing.

o!Ciel must sense that this might be his own fate too—that when his revenge is fulfilled, it may leave him with nothing but emptiness.

And I don't even need to spell out how deeply the boc arc haunts our earl and the overall narrative: Snake becoming a Phantomhive servant, Joker and Doll resurfacing in The Green Witch arc to taunt o!Ciel’s psyche, Doll’s tragic return as a Bizarre Doll… the echoes are constant.

It's clear that the themes and consequences of BoC don't just linger—they bleed into nearly every arc that follows, casting long shadows over the entire story.

And i dare say that the message boc conveys was slightly shown even before said arc: (i.e: in the red butler arc, madam red killing prostitutes driven by grief and anger, forcing her to confront her own nephew and getting killed in the process by the one reaper who was fueling Red's blood lust.) So Yana has had this theme loom over the story for years, but in my pov it became fully prominent in the boc arc as stated before.

So i can only hope, that while the revenge that o!Ciel is able to obtain is satisfying for the narrative, I hope it leaves our earl the same way it left the circus trope and many others he has trampled: empty and with a desire to continue living.

It's lowkey crazy how much I want this to be portrayed for this particular ending considering o!ciel is lit my favorite character and I want him to be happy, but at the same time, I am a sucker for tragedy, and if this story will end with o!ciel's demise, I can only hope it follows one of my favorite theme's of the story.

2. Sebastian regretting taking o!Ciel's soul to parallel our earls lack of satisfaction with revenge.

Guys I swear I don't mean this in a uwu s*baciel way or in a "awe bassy is so soft !! I want him to cry after eating his soul in regret!!"

What I DO mean however, is Sebastian to be hit with the realization that his whole motivation of wanting to acquire and eat the most delicious soul meant nothing in comparison to the life he led as the butler, as Sebastian.

We know that this demon actually enjoys his life as a butler, i mean in the GWA he literally states how he prefers it over unleashing the beast:

He also takes into consideration advice from human!butler's and even goes an extra mile and compliment a human butler if they do their job in an admirable manner (albiet, he only does this with human butlers whom he deems respectable, like Agni and Tanaka):

Sebastian takes his role as a butler very seriously, sometimes im convinced he gets lost in it:

Sebastian in this pannel teases o!ciel about how he needs to eat well in order to grow up, the irony is that our little lord will never get the chance to, considering the butler himself will cut his time short.

That's why he stares at Sebastian like this, and what I find intresting is that the demon butler genuienly didn't catch or understand why o!ciel is looking at him this way. If he was really taunting him about never growing up, there would've clearly been a smirk on his face, but he looks actually confused.

(I got this interpretation and example from another post, i can't recall if it was twitter or tumblr, I really wish I could give credits to OP. If you find the original post, please link it down in the coments)

So i think it's safe to say that overtime, Sebastian really started to enjoy and have fun with his butler life, and he will loose that the moment he gains o!Ciel's soul.

I don't want him to miss o!Ciel persay, I want him to miss the life he led as the butler Sebastian Michaelis.

If Sebastian has shaped the boy into what he is now, then maybe the boy can, in some small way, reshape the demon too.

And not just the young master—I want the entirety of Sebastian’s butler life to leave its mark. The loyalty of the Phantomhive servants, Agni’s unwavering warmth, the chaos and quiet of every mission, every case, every twisted corner of human nature he’s come to know.

I want all of it to shape him. I want the accumulation of these experiences to shape Sebastian, not just as a flawless servant, but as a demon who cannot come out of this unchanged.

all in all, I want sebastian to feel miserable and bored as karma for eating my childs soul/hj

3. For the story to not just end the moment Sebastian consumes o!Ciel's soul.

I mean, yana herself has told us how Sebastian is the true protagonist of this story. So for it all to end with o!Ciel’s death and nothing more would feel incomplete.

If they do end up showcasing signs of regret from Sebastian after eating our earls soul (fingers crossed), I want the weight of his actions to loom over the Phantomhive manor, over the servants, Elizabeth, Prince Soma, and everyone who’s been touched by Ciel’s life. The loss is universal, not just limited to Sebastian, and I hope they do showcase that tragedy.

But more than that, I want Sebastian's longing to be palpable. After devouring Ciel’s soul, I want the demon to be trapped in a kind of haunting limbo, unable to shake the life he once had as a butler. It should feel like he's yearning for what he lost—his purpose, his role, that delicate balance between master and servant. His regret would not be just a burden, but a twisted kind of desire for what came before.

To wrap all this ranting up:

If we’re not getting a fluff ending for this manga, then the tragedy better hit so deeply, so irreparably, that it even shakes the protagonist demon we first met as cold, calculated, and entirely unfeeling.

I want the grief to linger in the silence of the manor halls, in the absence of a young master’s voice, in the routines that no longer have purpose.

Because if Ciel’s story ends in devastation, then Sebastian’s should end in the quiet, unbearable echo of everything he can’t unsee, unfeel, or undo. I want the tragedy to crack through that perfect façade—and leave something raw beneath it.

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

MORAL OREL MOVIE??? IN 2025???

Guys please go to dino's insta post and give it love and attention!!

We have to make this movie happen, I need to see my child Orel on screen again.

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

Prince Soma: possibly being the key that causes Ciel to have a conflict with Sebastian?

I don't know if im the first one to notice how Anime!Abberline and manga! Prince Soma have some very striking parallels when it comes to their relationship to O!Ciel, which made me realize a few things.

First of all, I do think that some concepts of season 1 in general do parallel to the manga. Here's an excellent analysis on the topic if you want to dive deeper on that area.

Alright, let's start with me drawing some parallels to make this analysis more digestable, and then explaning how this will theoretically give us a conflict between the demon butler and our petty child.

Basically, Abberline drawing the similarties with our earl due to a shared trauma/tragedy: They both lost their families, but one learned to heal from the event, and the other completely refuses to accept happiness. (guess who's who, lol)

Fundamentally, O!Ciel is creating a hypothetical comparassion: If he hadn't gone through his personal tragedy, then he would've been as naive and innocent as Soma.

Something to consider about this parallel: The narrative in both cases textually highlights the similarities between Ciel and Abberline/Soma.

O!Ciel saying he only needs pawns, and that he has no time to have real emotional connections with people.

O!Ciel saying he uses people as pawns and doesn't see Soma as a friend, he doesn't need him by his side.

Notes to take here:

In both of these instances, o!Ciel refueses to form real human connection.

Both of these convesations spark up due to confrontation about o!Ciel's true intentions and nature.

His face is turned on both scenes/pannels, making us question how genuine o!Ciel's words are.

"Keep your distance from me, or you'll get killed" - Ciel to Abberline, season 1 episode 20

o!Ciel explicitly stating why he kept Prince Soma at arms lenght. He didn't want him and Agni to get hurt/killed in result of their closeness to our earl.

Things to point out:

o!Ciel's entire reason to push people away is because he doesn't want them to get hurt, so his earlier refusal to cut ties with others is due to fear and hestiance to accept love.

Abberline got hurt because of his relationship with o!Ciel, likewise with Soma. Causing our earl to display emotional reactions in both cases, demostrating he does care for the people close to him.

While Abberline ended up dying due to his closeness to our earl, Soma did survive the attack in chapter 125, but a part of him died with Agni as shown in the image below:

Remember when o!Ciel said that he would've turned out like the prince if it weren't for the amount of abuse and grief he went through? Well, isn't it ironic that Soma is turning out exactly like o!Ciel after losing Agni: Turning his back to salvation, his heart longing for revenge after the injustice he was put through.

(I also want to point out, Yana had made a statement that Prince Soma was originally going to die instead of Agni, but changed her mind in respect for Agni's character.)

Now, lets run back to the title of this post:

"You do have a chance to move forward, to build a brand new future for yoursef. Don't ever forget that, promise, you won't." - Abberline, Black Butler season 1, episode 20

Before our dear investigator dies, he states that he wants o!Ciel to open up his world despite his desire for revenge.

How does this connect to Soma's resolve and his relationship to Ciel? Well...

Here, our prince boasts that he wants to become o!Ciel's "Agni." In other words, he wants to provide his friend with love and protection, creating a positive worldview for the earl, who continues to turn away from the light.

It's important to note that this was before Soma thought o!Ciel killed Agni! But of course, I feel like his initiaal intentions to help o!Ciel will come back when he finds out o!Ciel isnt the true killer. (also, Soma now has Agni's powers, so atleast physically, he already has his strenght that he will hopefully use to protect the ones around him.)

So, now what?

Anime!Abberline and Soma having a similar resolve for o!Ciel, as well as their relationship with him. (as if it isn't clear enough, Abberline died protecting o!Ciel, making the earl realize his own life has value).

Prince Soma has his back turned away from the light, and o!Ciel will witness this eventually. I think it's crystal clear that our earl wouldn't want the prince to make this decision, but wouldn't that make him doubt his own quest for revenge?

Circling back to Yana intending for Soma to die, there could be a chace for him to die while becoming o!Ciels "Agni", causing o!Ciel to realize how Soma died protecting him due to love and not bc of revenge, making him question everything about his own resolve??? Plus, if o!Ciel willingly gives his life now, then that would make Soma's sacrifice worthless.

There could be a slight chance, Prince Soma survives this whole ordeal, and completes his mission of protecting o!Ciel without dying. In this hypothetical, he would then decide to florish again and go back to india, which could give o!Ciel a similar relazation that maybe, his life is worth living, just like Soma's.

In the anime, Abberline's sacrifice causes our earl to truly question his contract with Sebastian, as well as his need for revenge.

This causes the demon to feel obvious anger towards his master. And throughout the following episodes, he desperately attempts to make the earl feel hopeless again. (he clearly doesn't want to lose the meal he has been working on for years).

In conclusion:

Theres plenty of textual evidence that Soma and the earl have lots in common, especially now that the prince lost someone and vows to get revenge.

o!Ciel and Soma's relationship with revenge as of now are in a similar stance, but Soma's initial idea of protecting o!Ciel and living for love instead of revenge will come in fruition soon enough.

What would be the point of having glaring obvious parallels, and not taking advantage of them to further create a long awaited conflict between the two main characters, additionally developing them?

Anyways, that's all I have to say folks! I hope you enjoyed my take and please, let me know your thoughts:)