Black Butler X (Malleus) Reader

Chapter 14

-3rd POV-

"My...family was murdered, my home burned to ash...and I myself was subjective to humiliations unfit for even a beast. I was a powerless..." Ciel clenched his hand, "...child. Thus, I returned to Phantomhive, so that I might inflict the same humiliation upon those who made me and mine suffer."

"If Phantomhive was an obstacle to those who dispatched its previous head three years ago, they will eventually target me again if I stay in as earl. I'm waiting...for them to come here and make an attempt on my life."

"Why...would you go that far..." Soma slowly said.

"Despairing, grieving, standing still...What good will they do? Even the dead can stand still. But here I am...alive and standing on my own two feet, with my own strength." He walked, "If I'm going to die at some point anyway, I'd rather do so without regrets. I won't make any lofty claims about trying to avenge the previous head."

"I'm simply doing this for my own diversion. Them or me, earl Phantomhive. This is all just a game to see who wins. Even if I'm made to stand on the edge of despair in a hellish place...I won't give up. I'll grab the spider's thread if it'll help me crawl up out of there. We humans possess that kind of strength."

"To grab that thread or not, however...is your own decision, and your alone." The earl walked towards the door, grabbing (Y/n)'s hand, "Enough of this prattle. Sebastian, I want to talk to you about West. Come." He said, walking his free hand as they walked off.

"Yes, sir." Sebastian bowed, following.

To grab that thread or not, however is your own decision, and yours alone—

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"Ciel...!" A familiar voice called out, making the three turn and see Soma, who panted since he ran after them, "I...! I am ashamed of myself. I'm seventeen, but I'm still an unseasoned fool next to you. I was a spoiled child in the nest that my parents granted me...and never even once tried to understand others. I knew Agni was trouble, but I didn't even try to talk to him about it."

"But now I want to know. I want to confront them and ask them why they left my side. So please!" He looked at the three, "Please let me join you in—"

"I decline." Ciel flatly said, putting his hand up, silencing the other, who blinked with dotted eyes, "I have no desire to babysit a charge as naive as yourself." He started to walk off, "See yaaa. That said...My parlor door has never been locked."

"Oooooo." He then ran up to the teen, hugging him from behind with a wide grin, "Ciel!"

"Uwah!" He exclaimed, "I should've kept my mouth shut." He muttered.

"Oh, yes." He let go of him and made him turn, "Ciel, I apologize for breaking the cups earlier when I snapped. Please forgive me. And..." He looked at the butler, then scurried off behind the fae, "I...I apologize...to you too..."

"How amusing." The butler muttered, "Not at all..." He smiled.

-----

"—Now then. Let us continue our little chat from before his highness's interruption." Lau smiled, before looking at (Y/n), who slightly flinched, recalling earlier.

Sebastian narrowed his eyes slightly at her reaction.

"First, West must have put Agni up to the aforementioned incidents. With his physical abilities, it would be easy for him to do everything alone. West mentioned..."

Soma turned his whole body away from the butler, as he set down the cup of tea in front of him.

"...A "three-year plan" that "the successful execution of that plan will take place in one week," and that "Agni's right hand is absolutely necessary." That was all. The most important factor here is the "one week later" deadline." Ciel said.