The Butler's Kitten -Black Butler

Bonus Chapter- A Christmas Special

Sebastian POV

One might expect that at the end of the year life as it typically is may slow down. That the holidays are an opportunity to savor the quality time of those closest to them. At the Phantomhive estate, however, there would be no such luxuries. Especially not for the head butler.

"Honestly," I muttered to myself, whipping icing for the young master's Christmas desserts. "The end of the year is always such a bother."

Setting aside my bowl, I unrolled my sleeves to make myself presentable. I had spent most of my day cooped up in the kitchen, prepping for the yearly Christmas feast the ever-gracious young master held every year. With no other options, I was forced to rely on the other servants to hold up their end of planning and decorations, but I could hear their chattering and complaints even from the kitchen.

"I sent them out to decorate outside hours ago." Pulling on my tailcoat, I glanced at the kitchen window. The outside was blocked from view due to the heavy December snow that had piled up outside in the last few days. "Utterly useless."

Sure enough, when I found the three idiot servants outside, they were wailing miserably about the bitter cold and had hardly strung up a single decoration.

I felt my eye twitch as I watched Finny attempt to hang some streamers, only for his foot to catch on a patch of ice and slam into the floor.

"Have you managed anything?" I sighed, looking boredly at Baldroy.

"You try doing this!" he yelled back at me. The cook and all the rest of the servants were bundled from head to toe, but their human bodies still showed the effects of the cold. His face twinged pink as he yelled at me for my lack of compassion. "We had to clear out like five feet of snow by ourselves! Not to mention, it's nearly impossible to even hang these high enough on the outside of the manor!"

Bard continued on but I merely glanced around. The words 'by ourselves' caught my attention and I quickly did a headcount. Tanaka was inside and accounted for, which left me with three useless servants outside in the snow looking at me pathetically. I was missing one.

Stifling a sigh, I was unable to stop myself from pinching the bridge of my nose. "Do you need Alexandra?"

"We'd get done alot quicker with her." Bard's reached his gloved hand into his pocket to pull out his cigarettes. He seemed to be thinking before he huffed in annoyance. "But good luck flushing her out."

And the holidays are supposed to be a jolly time, they say.

"I'll deal with her." I clapped my hands twice and got the attention of Mey Rin and Finny, who had taken this time to abandon their decorations and play in the snow. "In the meantime, continue this duty. You have many more awaiting you when you're finished, and there's no guarantee I'll be able to drag her out here. Don't slack off!"

I ignored their boos and complaints as I spun on my heel and marched back into the manor. This would be the hardest of my duties today.

Thankfully, the little demon hadn't taken the precaution to hide her presence from me so I instantly sensed her in the drawing room. She had been noticeably absent all day, which usually was a blessing from not having to deal with her attitude, but today I need her competence more than ever.

Opening the drawing-room door, I found her in the same position she had been in for the last few days. She wasn't splayed on the couch or even lying on the ground. No, the demoness was tucked perfectly inside the lit fireplace, texting away on her phone while the flames lapped at her. She didn't burn, of course, using her powers to keep her perfectly protected. Instead, she giggled contently at something she was looking at while skirting all her responsibilities.