#Chlaus

[badly-translated-black-butler]

[every-black-butler-food]

[every-ciel-phantomhive]

[thebutler-archiving]

priorities in check (not any nefarious reason they work together) and his reflection in the spoon :')))

[sterlingsilverrosepetals]

Black Butler | Kuroshitsuji | Chapter 1

Of course. Children are very greedy when it comes to games. - Ciel Phantomhive

[abybweisse]

Hi there! I recently finished reading the Black Butler manga for the first time and I’m completely blown away!!! One thing I’m curious about and would like to know from a long-time manga reader: When did people start to seriously theorize that Ciel had a brother? I binge read the manga in less than a week and all of the foreshadowing/clues went completely over my head, so I would love to find out what made people start to get suspicious and what kind of theories started to pour in! 👀

Wow, that's a lot of reading in less than a week! I would have missed a bunch of little details, too, if I had tried that! 😯

When did 2CT start?

Well, I didn't join the fandom until sometime in 2015, and some people were already talking about various hints that there was probably a twin brother. @kurotwins and @akumadeenglish who are both not active here anymore (at least not on those blogs) we're talking about it, as well as some others I'm not as sure about. Apparently, the Japanese chunk of the fandom didn't really debate there being a twin; it was sort of accepted very early-on. It might be a matter of translation issues, like "sons" translated to "son", etc.

Anyway, I recall reading a bunch of their posts, and then I started paying more attention to a scene in ch1. Chlaus shows up with the packaging for a game called "Mouse3" by "Ninkyodo". Well, that's a parody of Mother3 by Nintendo, which was released in Japan on April 20, 2006. Unlike the previous two versions of the game, Mother3 never got localized as part of the EarthBound series. Which is why Chlaus tells our earl the "game" was so difficult to find in Italy. Of course, that packaging contains the drug evidence that our earl needed to show Scotland Yard. To put Azzurro Vanel (and potentially the Ferro family) away.

The irises are used in both Victorian flower language and Japanese flower language to mean a few different things, but one meaning they share in common is something along the lines of "I have a message for you." Well, that message is the game packaging shown on the very next page.

Mother3 is about mirror twin boys who deal with tragedy soon after their birthday (9th or 10th). Their mother is killed by a monster, and their father is so distraught about her death that he goes into a rage and end up in jail for a while. Soon after the dad gets out of (escapes from) jail, he finds out the older mirror twin had gone off by himself to kill the monster, but now he has gone missing. Everyone is searching, but no body has been found. However, the player of the game can see Claus' broken body at the bottom of a cliff. It's understood that he's dead. The main characters still don't know, though. Not for another three, almost four, years. After losing his wife and being unable to find his older son, the father becomes kind of useless. Notice that the guy in Kuroshitsuji is Chlaus, and the older twin in Mother3 is Claus.

Three years later, Lucas (younger mirror twin) is about 13 years old, and he sets off on his own quest for revenge, along with the loyal family dog, Boney. The rest of the game takes place during this one year, then it ends just before his next birthday. The last thing Lucas has to do before he can "win" is defeat his own older twin brother, who had died, been turned into a Fascinating Chimera, and had been pitted against him.

So, I started coming up with my Mother3 theory for Kuroshitsuji back in December 2015. Back then, I was already theorizing that not only is there a twin brother, but he's a mirror twin. The missing twin is older, dead, reanimated, and will pop up again as an adversary.

Soooo, idk how long some version or other of 2CT has been around, but a very specific version of it came to me (and became very serious to me) in December 2015. And it's canon now: mirror twin brothers; one lives while the other dies; the dead one is reanimated; they end up having to confront each other.

Even Sebastian gets to parallel the roles of both the loyal family dog, Boney (under contract) and the Dark Dragon who must be given your "heart" to follow your will (as the demon who demands a soul as payment).

That's why I'm so into my Mother3 theory, which started out kind of small and grew and grew... because the similarities don't stop there. Not even close. Numerous characters and plot lines have strong parallels to Mother3 characters and plot lines, while a few are better paralleled in Mother and Mother2. The timelines are essentially the same between Kuroshitsuji and Mother3, too.

Maybe check out my "Why I theorize" post and my "Masterpost 1" for more on that, to get more into it. There are several masterposts and addendums, plus a few more masterposts on the way... eventually. When I first started posting about it, I didn't expect it to be such a big finding, but here I am, still talking about it! 😆

[tinykuroshitsujipics]

[grelleswife]

Villainous Nobles road trip

Since Vin’s record is quite spotty (he’s accrued a slew of traffic violations while on Watchdog business), Diedrich insists on driving because he doesn’t trust his boyfriend behind the wheel. In exchange, Vincent offers to ride shotgun and read the map, rationalizing that they should do this “the old-fashioned way” to get the proper road-trip experience.

“To get us lost, you mean,” grouses Diedrich.

“Like I said, Dee—the road-trip experience!”

Sure enough, they’re lost within the first twenty minutes. Diedrich upbraids Vincent for becoming so reliant on the GPS system that he’s forgotten how to follow a map. Vincent maintains that he can read it just fine and doesn’t need those silly electronics; Dee’s simply a bad listener. Rachel teases them both but also does her best to smooth the pair’s ruffled feathers. The home-baked goods she packed further help to lighten the mood, although no one besides Undertaker is interested in the group sing-a-long she attempts to start up (Dee winces at the mortician’s loud, off-key caterwauling). Angelina languidly reclines next to her sister while flipping through the medical journals and fashion magazines she brought for reading material, FaceTiming Grelle (her wife’s stuck at work supervising Ronald), and doing her makeup. She accidentally smears lipstick across her face when Dee hits a large pothole that jolts the whole minivan. The doctor spends the next quarter of an hour upbraiding Diedrich for his “bloody careless driving,” even though Vincent was partially responsible for telling him to turn left down the sketchy dirt road. They make a brief stop at a dilapidated gas station to refuel, but inadvertently leave Chlaus behind while he’s perusing the display of kitschy souvenirs. Realizing their mistake a few miles out, the group speeds back to pick him up and discover that he’s bought out half the store (Dee did not anticipate him purchasing that much tourist merch; thus, the minivan is a tad more cramped than before). By this point, they’re completely clueless about where they are and how far away their destination is. Vincent cheerfully insists that they aren’t lost, merely on a leisurely detour. Dee snaps that Vin can go take a leisurely hike the rest of the way if he knows so much. Undertakers interrupts to offer his companions dog-bone biscuits and a thermos of weak, lukewarm tea, both of which are turned down with varying degrees of politeness.

“Ah, well…more for me, then! He he he,” he giggles. As he crunches his way through the biscuits, crumbs spray all over the floor and seats, causing Diedrich’s eyebrow to twitch at the thought of the eventual cleanup. The situation goes from bad to worse when the van hits a sharp rock at just the right angle to puncture one of the tires. Alas, the remainder of Undertaker’s tea is sent flying in the chaos, soaking the upholstery, causing Diedrich to question the purpose of his own existence. Luckily, Rachel learned a thing or two about car mechanics from Grelle (they’re BFFs as well as sisters-in-law), and thus replaces the flat with their spare. Vin and Diedrich both simp over how cool their wife/girlfriend is. Meanwhile, Lau, who has spent the entirety of the trip gaming on his Nintendo DS, neko ear headphones firmly in place, ambles off into the woods without anyone noticing. When he turns up missing during the head-count, a frantic search ensues, culminating in Angelina finding him dozing in the branches of a tree.

“I couldn’t catch a wink of sleep with the way our English Watchdog and German hound were barking at each other,” Lau yawns.

By this point, Diedrich is on the verge of ripping his hair out, and even Rachel pointedly remarks that now would be a good time to admit defeat and turn to the trusty GPS.

“It’s past 4, dear,” she adds in tones laden with sugar-coated wrath.

“Five more minutes, Rachel, and we’ll be back on track!” Vincent chuckles nervously.

Having found a crumpled piece of paper wedged between the seats, Lau and Undertaker begin a game of tic-tac-toe.

At precisely that moment, Vin’s cell phone starts playing “Ride of the Valkyries”—the ringtone for France’s number. Suspecting that her brother would make a muck of this vacation, Frances, who stayed behind to attend to family obligations, used the tracking on his phantomPhone to ascertain that the nobles are 200 miles south of their intended destination.

“What in God’s name are you playing at?!” she roars, voice fading in and out due to poor reception.

“…taking the scenic detour?” he timidly replies.

“Vincent…” Rachel says through gritted teeth.

Examining the other side of the paper currently serving as a battleground for his tic-tac-toe championship, Lau serenely waves it in the air to attract the others’ attention.

“Oh, look,” he purrs. “I think this is the map we were supposed to be following the whole time.”

“VINCENT PHANTOMHIVE!!!” rages Diedrich.

Needless to say, it’s quite some time before the band of rogues attempts another group trip.

[blackbutlercharacterpoll2023]

Chlaus

[eemoo1o-animoo]

I mean, I’m not even sorry in saying that Chlaus seems pretty adorable with how his expressions are drawn as he’s eating. Oblivious munchie man

[randomanimeandmangablog]

Diedrich goes, sits next to Vincent, eats sandwiches, and glares at anyone who comes near.

Chlaus: Ah, finally our German beauty-!

Diedrich: No.

Chlaus: What?

Diedrich: No.

Chlaus: But I didn't even-

Diedrich: No.

Vincent: (chuckles and reaches a hand over to place over Diedrich's hand) You'll have to forgive Dee, Chlaus. You remember how faithful he is.

Heinrich, coaxing Diedrich out the door to attend a Villainous Nobles soirée: You're going to have a great time, you're going to see all your friends, and maybe make some new ones, just remember to smile, and I cleaned and sharpened your knife just in case but don't use it unless you have to, and remember not to eat or drink anything from Herr Lau, and if you need a break just give a cigarette to whoever is talking to you, I put them in your coat pocket, and I don't want to hear that you poked anyone in the eye with a pool cue. You'll have fun once you get there.

[badly-translated-black-butler]

[every-black-butler-food]

[every-ciel-phantomhive]

[thebutler-archiving]

the pile of books .....

[sterlingsilverrosepetals]

Black Butler, Chapter 1 Analysis

Welcome to my analysis of Black Butler. I'm going to write one for each chapter. These will contain thoughtful analyzing, research, and my own feelings on some scenes in each chapter. I don't know how many people will read this regardless I've been having fun writing these and looking into depth at each chapter. I particularly love to focus on history, characters, relationship dynamics, and odd little details. I italicized the summaries I made for each page that way it's easy to differentiate my thoughts from the actual story.

Here we go.

Black Butler Volume I

Cover Art

Sebastian is pouring tea, and there isn’t a lot to the cover on the surface. However, I find it interesting how it appears he is walking while pouring tea. That’s an impressive feat in itself. Also, the stream of tea is so long on this particular cover. The tea also seems to a similar color to Sebastian’s eyes. I think it’s a great cover regardless of the early stage Sebastian. This cover is iconic what else can I say about it? 

Title Page

The title page is perfect for the first volume of the manga. Having the Phantomhive staff and Ciel all together sets the story stage. They all have an important part in the story and it wouldn’t be the same without any of them. After all, that’s where everything starts. I love how it’s all done in black and gray almost like a portrait of everyone together. Yet there is always a hint of one color added each time. 

For this one it was red. I was curious about this inclusion and why Yana used it for the manga. I almost think it is intentional and the color gives a hint to what may occur in the volume or what to expect. Red is a color connected to passion, love, and anger. Since it’s more of a crimson tone it could also reflect warning, revenge, and ruthlessness. It’s also a very powerful color. But the most intriguing thing associated with it and particularly I think one of the main intentions is its association with Devils. And since our titular character Sebastian is a demon it makes perfect sense and is rather genius. The crimson red also compliments the fact that Ciel has a covenant with a demon for revenge and how ruthless he can be.

I also find out of everyone who has something red to accent them it is intriguing how Ciel’s one visible eye is red. Could this symbolize his contract with Sebastian? I almost think it does hint that even if first-time readers don’t recognize it the hint is there. It is a bit menacing in a way. In adjacent Ciel is the only one adorned with roses both on his coat and his top hat. Usually, roses are symbolized by passion and love but they can also be connected to secrecy and confidentiality. Which I found interesting because it almost plays with the fact that the Phantomhive Earl is full of secrets. The secret here most likely is his contract/covenant with Sebastian the demon.

I just love to discover new things like this and try to surmise by the artwork the artist’s intention. I’m not sure if I’m right but I do think this could be what it was hinting at.

Chapter 1: The Butler, Skilled

The first page features a view of the Phantomhive manor. A head peeks from underneath the bedsheets. Our resident Butler awakens his young Earl with a cup of tea and a delicious looking array for breakfast of poached salmon and mint salad. Along with Ciel’s choice of toast, scones, or pain de camgne. The Earl picks a scone. On the next page, Ciel recognizes the tea as Ceylon tea. Sebastian confirms this and explains it’s from Royal Doulton, as well as the tea set being Wedgwood Blue and White. They go over and schedule as the Butler dresses him for the day including Professor Hughes teaching in Kingcraft. In the last panel, someone is hitting a gong commencing a great event.

This page is in color (if you have the Japanese or digital version) and looks quite lovely with the food, especially having a nice texture. This type of beginning is almost a comfortable happenstance right now to the daily life in Black Butler. We don’t even completely see Sebastian or Ciel on the first page as the beginning morning routine begins. It paints a quaint picture befitting one who lives in Victorian England. Since I don’t live in England I wouldn’t know if this is a normal breakfast however what I’ve read in my research Poached Salmon has a lot of high-quality proteins and fats making it a good way to start the day. This elaborate breakfast and choice of accompaniment demonstrate Ciel’s wealth and status. 

The second page is pretty interesting. I actually looked up Ceylon Tea and it’s a black tea but a lighter one with a bit of citrus flavor with honey and spice. It seems like a nice tea to wake up to. I’ll have to try it. I love tea personally so don’t mind me if I go over silly details like this from time to time. Ciel’s eyes are closed at the moment which is interesting in a way because it keeps a beginning reader from seeing what is under his eye patch. Sebastian himself is not in frame completely and is diligently working on tying Ciel’s bowtie. Purposefully it seems like the view is blocked adding a bit of mystery to our two protagonists. On the subject of the lesson, I looked up Kingcraft because, in the beginning, I thought it had to do with fencing but it actually has to do with leadership, authority, and the governance of a king. Indicating again Ciel’s status and what was expected he learned as an Earl. Both these pages give the entire opening a quaint Victorian English feeling and a spark of wondering what will occur. 

The Earl and Butler are now in a new location in front of the manor. Ciel and the servants watch Sebastian face off against what appears to be a Chinese Martial artist with an elaborate fighting technique. Sebastian tightens his gloves and takes the man down with little to no effort. Even though the man claims the technique was a secret one passed down in his family. He demands who Sebastian is.

I feel like this entire fight was to appeal to the main Japanese audience. It doesn’t seem historically accurate although I could be wrong. The tumbleweed flying by like a good old-fashioned shoot-out on the first panel makes me chuckle. Either way, it is a beginning demonstration of Sebastian’s ability and strength. He took down an expert fighter easily which is not an easy feat for anyone. Makes you wonder just how strong he is. Also fascinating how still, in these two pages, we do not entirely see Sebastian’s face. 

Finally, the big reveal comes on the next few pages showing Sebastian Michaelis’s face for the first time. He seems to be looking down on the man as if he’s insignificant. He claims that mastering the technique was no effort for a Phantomhive Butler. Then with a sly smile, Sebastian tells his young master to review his lessons and prepare for the next day since he won the battle. The other servants Baldroy, Finnian, and Mey-Rin are dazzled by their Butler’s display of skill. Each is introduced and they praise Sebastian’s accomplishment. Mey-Rin points out that was his fiftieth win. Ciel is bummed that his attempt to find someone who can beat Sebastian didn’t work out. Sebastian takes it with a sly grin and accepts the drink that Ciel offers him with his praise. Then Sebastian turns to the three servants and asks with a hint of animosity why they are there.

Sebastian’s overall beginning design wasn’t bad. I prefer his newer designs better but this was in the beginning. It has a slick look to still very upper crust and yet kind of frazzled. The sly smiles Sebastian shows don’t seem to have any level of sincerity with them. They almost have a mocking quality in these panels. I like how now that we can see Sebastian and Ciel's faces there is a place card to show the names of each member of the household. The servants are impressed with Sebastian’s skills but Ciel seems bothered and annoyed by the display of his butler. He also seems to go to great lengths to challenge Sebastian he appears to want to see his perfect butler fail. I almost think that the only reason Sebastian fought was for his amusement and the opportunity to mess with Ciel. While Ciel wants him to fail Sebastian seems to feel the same about his young charge. Already building a passive-aggressive relationship between them.

Sebastian asks if each of the servants has already finished their tasks since they had been viewing his fight. He commands the servants to quit relaxing about and get to work. Ciel says on that note that Chlaus from Italy called and Ciel needs to speak with Sebastian privately. They arrive in a large office room where the two speak. Chlaus will be arriving at the house at 6 pm. It turns out he has procured the item Ciel was after. He asks Sebastian and the butler confirms they will show Chlaus an entertaining visit. During their exchange Sebastian grimaces holding his chest as he asks about the lemonade that Ciel offered him. Ciel tells him breezily that it is Tanaka’s special lemonade with AjixMoto apparently the house steward had mistaken it for sugar. He had enough after one sip.

These two pages tell a lot about the current status of things and give a glimpse of the idleness of the other servants. Sebastian has clear command and though they admire him they are also rather frightened of the butler. On another note, I find it interesting Ciel always has a walking stick with him. This particular one seems to have a diamond shape at the top. Now I know this is a staple for him but I think we take it for granted. Not only do I want to analyze the artwork but also the various things on the pages. I found out in my research of the period that walking canes were quite a fashionable adornment not only for mobility but also for society. They indicate the wealth and status of an individual, fairly clever. It definitely also has to do with Ciel’s limited depth of vision because of the eyepatch. Yet I do think that one of the reasons he uses the cane is for the aesthetic. Sebastian is very attentive to his young master following his lead. Both of them speak in few words conveying to the other what is to be done. Sebastian grimacing after the drink makes a good impression of Ciel being spiteful with his butler. He forced him to drink something he didn’t care for after a sip. I almost think that it is also a sign he wants to see his butler struggle we’ve seen how strong and capable Sebastian is in a fight and Ciel wanted to take him down a peg. It also shows that Tanaka the House Steward isn’t completely competent at the moment adding another layer that hints at things to come. 

Sebastian doesn’t look impressed by his young master’s answer, a twitch is present on his forehead. However, he affirms to Ciel he will begin working on things immediately. Ciel leaves him to it. Sebastian tightens his gloves prepares to start his task. We are then treated to Sebastian’s inner monologue on a series of panels. Sebastian works diligently to polish the tableware and selects a spotless tablecloth. He trims the master’s favorite sterling silver roses and weeds the lawn. He prepares a beef slab with choice ingredients for a feast and plans to go to the market to buy other supplies. All this preparation is Phantomhive Hospitality at its finest. A ring interrupts his work alerting him to Ciel’s call he wonders what his little master could want. A silhouette of individuals secretly watches the butler adjust his clothes as he heads out. 

Sebastian is obviously upset with Ciel’s prank but he keeps his answer's calm. I find it interesting how he is upset but he holds it all in. Ciel isn’t even looking at him now focused on his newspaper he leaves everything to his butler. The focus on tightening Sebastian’s gloves demonstrates a strong and efficient worker. Whenever the artist brings up this I can’t help but think it’s partially on purpose. It demonstrates Sebastian is about to get serious. It’s like in that instant Sebastian switches to his finest work mode. The panels here are quite lovely they give an almost whimsical appeal showing Sebastian’s diligence. Apart from the scene, I was curious about Sterling Silver Roses so I looked them up. I always thought they were a white rose but it’s a lavender rose with silver undertones. It’s quite pretty and has a citrusy scent. Ciel seems to like that scent given the Ceylon tea he had earlier. Anyways, Sebastian almost seems disconcerted when Ciel calls yet he brushes off his gloves and slips on his coat heading out anyway. Another interesting thing to note is all of the things he’s doing could have been done by the other servants as well so why is he working on it alone? Quite clever how the author handles this segment of events given what is about to unfold.

The silhouette is revealed to be the rest of the Phantomhive servants there is a gleam in their eyes as they watch Sebastian leave. The trio of Mey-Rin, Finny, and Bardroy confirm that Sebastian’s preparations mean that a guest is coming to visit. Bard tells the others this is their chance to make an impression and demonstrate their skills. Each of them has an image of what they believe they will be able to pull off. Finny with the gardening, Mey-Rin polishing the china, and Bard cooking a classy meal. They are now gung ho to get started on their tasks. Meanwhile, Sebastian is arguing with Ciel about having dessert early. Sebastian firmly tells him he will spoil his dinner even though Ciel continues to protest.

Nothing good can come from gleaming eyes like that. It is nice to see them all getting excited about a guest coming to the manor. This whole situation definitely shows that Bardroy is the brains behind the trio. He’s the one that gets the others excited to demonstrate their skills. The images of the servants daydreaming about completing their tasks are elegant and refined. They have this picture in their head of how things should look it’s not bad but there is such thing as an ideal and reality. I find it funny how each of the tasks they decide to start are ones Sebastian has already begun. On the side I love the little interaction between Ciel and Sebastian it shows the butler is more or less a parent most of the time. Ciel likes to push boundaries and he’s being rather childish demanding treats. Sebastian is firm in denying this request. Definitely getting the parental impression.

So the other servants had a dream of completing the tasks perfectly. Sadly that is not the case reality is they make a disaster. The gardener Finny completely decimated the yard it looks like a barren wasteland. The maid Mey-Rin shattered the china as well as the cabinet. The chef Bardroy charbroiled the beef that Sebastian had set out for the meal. With a tight smiling face, Sebastian asks what all of this is about. The servants are terrified of the butler Sebastian’s smile but each tries to explain their actions. Finny left the lid open on the herbicide sprayer, Mey-Rin slammed into the cabinet, and Baldroy used his blow torch on the meat. Sebastian takes everything in stride and says the fault was his since he left all his tasks open. Now Sebastian ponders the dilemma this mess makes on all his preparations trying to decide what to do before Chlaus comes at a little past six. He checks his pocket watch for the time. His conclusion is he cannot fix the meat or tea set in time. 

Everything is a mess thanks to the other servants. All of Sebastian’s hard work has been destroyed. He has quite a terrifying ominous presence as he listens to their explanation. Although he takes it all with ease and seems to find this a daily occurrence. He shows quite a bit of patience for the other servants despite his anger. I find it interesting the appearance of the servants in this scene. I checked the last few panels and Mey-Rin’s glasses were not cracked before this point. Bardroy is sporting a classic afro (hilarious) and Finian is dirty. Sebastian seems to ignore the other servants' groveling and sets his mind on the task at hand. He considers the time and attempts to remedy the situation while the other servants are panicking.

Sebastian tries to calm down the other servants and tells them to follow Tanaka’s example. Sebastian suddenly has a brilliant idea. Clapping his hands together he gets the other servants' attention. He grasps hold of Tanaka’s tea cup and bases a plan around it. Bardroy watches as the butler starts thinning out the burnt crust on the beef. He isn’t sure about this plan. Mey-Rin bursts in with a stack of boxes she found.

The other servants are a wreck but Sebastian is calm and perhaps a little annoyed at their emotional response to the situation. I love how Tanaka was calmly sipping his cup of tea. Tanaka either is the most collected in the chaos or he simply is in his blissful world. Sebastian demonstrates his skill to make use of the things around him in a bad situation. He focuses on a task but also pay attention to all the things occurring around him, he has a striking alertness. Also, there’s the use of gestures again to continue the scene the artist likes to focus on them in this chapter to display Sebastian’s thoughts and character. Only Bard seems a bit hesitant the others seem to have complete trust in the plan at this point. The others are quick to follow Sebastian but Bard questions things.

Mey-Rin slips and falls toward the ground along with all the boxes she is carrying. Luckily Sebastian manages to effortlessly catch her and all the boxes. The butler scolds the maid for running in the manor and the poor girl blushes admitting that her glasses are broken. Her vision is bad. Finny comes in and excitedly tells Sebastian he managed to get everything he asked for from the garden shop. Sebastian thanks them for their hard work and he will handle the rest. He slyly grins through his teeth telling the servants twice not to touch anything. In the last two panels, a gentleman pulls up in an automobile to the Phantomhive mansion.

I feel for Mey-Rin a lot here. Her lenses are cracked so she isn’t able to get a clear level of vision. I also have to wear glasses so I can understand how that will make it very difficult. Here Sebastian demonstrates his skills by catching everything along with the maid in one swoop. Not an easy thing to do. There's a little sweat on his face which makes me think it was a close call. Finny is so cheerful and helpful here. Sebastian himself is holding in any feelings he has grinning almost mockingly at the other servants. It makes me chuckle but if I was in the servants' shoes I’d definitely find it foreboding. Also, this last page is interesting because the visitor pulls up in an automobile at this time period not everyone had a car and I’d assume it was expensive to have one. So this demonstrates his wealth.

The new arrival approaches Ciel who is sitting reading an economics book on the front step. Ciel identifies him as Chlaus. The man warmly greets Ciel with a hug inquiring about his growth rate. Ciel says he hasn’t grown any taller yet. The two have a friendly conversation as they head inside where all the servants greet the new guest. Chlaus is impressed at the state of the mansion. He has a friendly conversation with Sebastian and comments on the new staff while placing his hat on Finny’s head. Sebastian guides Chlaus towards the courtyard where dinner will be served. The man is confused by the venue but Sebastian assures him Ciel ordered them to entertain him for all his hard work. 

There are seriously a few interesting things to note on these pages. First is the beginning, Chlaus responds with a lot of familiarity towards both Ciel and Sebastian. The man is obviously an important part of Ciel’s life or he wouldn’t have been able to give the young earl and hug. That is something we find out later on that only select people can do. Ciel’s attitude also is very laid back usually you’d expect the servants to greet the guests but he made an effort to wait at the front entrance for Chlaus' arrival. Sebastian also seems to already have relations with him yet the other staff members do not know him yet. This makes me think that the other servants were hired only recently or that Chlaus has not visited in a long while. I do hope we see more of this man in the future.

The courtyard has been transformed into a Japanese Stone Garden with blooming irises. Sebastian’s efforts have pulled it off and Chlaus is deeply impressed. The butler seats the guest at a table nestled in the garden. Using Tanaka’s tea set Sebastian serves them traditional tea. Chlaus is impressed by all the details he put in to make everything authentic. The other servants watch Sebastian’s work from behind the flowers. The truth was that they didn’t have any other tea sets but Sebastian used what they had to his advantage. Ciel seems content with the whole thing. He asks Chlaus if he brought the game he promised to procure him. Chlaus confirms it but admits it was difficult to get it, he had relayed this to Cie over their phone call. 

Here is a stroke of brilliance. Sebastian managed to mask the others' mistakes by using the Japanese traditions to his advantage. We find out from these panels that Chlaus is Italian, not only does he refer to retrieving the game for Ciel from there but he also compliments the stone garden with this language. About the game Chlaus brought here’s one piece that is a bit controversial when considering the period the game he got Ciel is in a box that looks like it came from Nintendo Gameboy. The entire name is sort of similar. The name though is interesting it’s called Mouse3 which makes me consider the following chapters about the mice issue. So the entire thing isn’t very authentic but I will say the first few books had some little tendencies here and there. I still think if the anime used it but changed it a bit the game would have worked. The important thing is this puts Chlaus as an key associate along with being a close acquaintance of Ciel. The entire meal and entertainment is for the benefit of a job well done on the man’s part for the earl. Ciel also seems to be a little playful here teasing Chlaus openly about the struggle he had retrieving the game for him.

Chlaus seems to play along with Ciel and is thankful for the reward for his effort. Ciel comments that he hopes the game will be entertaining the last one had a tiresome ending. His guest scoffs lightly at Ciel’s response and says that as a child the game will probably be complete pretty soon and the boy will want another game from him. A sinister smirk appears on the Earl’s face and he confirms children are greedy when it comes to games. This brings up another point by Chlaus about Phantomhive company being the top toymaker in the country at the age of 12. He fears for the boy’s future. Sebastian interrupts them serving dinner. Courtesy of Chef Bardroy (who only sliced the meat and arranged it on rice.) the meal is gyuu-tataki-don. Chlaus is shocked he expected a Kyoto-style-full course meal. Sebastian interrupts him with a glimmer in his expression. 

I feel like this scene was both hinting at the actual focus of their conversation and a bit of insight into Ciel. Ciel himself seems to be very excited to play this next game and he is not above admitting children are greedy about them. Ciel seems to have a bit of a mocking attitude to the whole thing as well as confidence in the future. He is also strong in aptitude in ability if he can finish a game so quickly. The theme of games is played well built in the series. Here it foreshadows Ciel's viewpoint on challenges. He treats them as a puzzle something he needs to dissect and figure out. Games are also a competitive way for people to demonstrate their skills and the goal is always to win. Ciel seeing life from this viewpoint shows his hunger and determination to tackle each situation with a detached outlook. We also learn here that he runs a successful toy company which would explain why he had Chlaus get him an Italian game. Yes, this is all on the surface but the later chapters reveal the truth behind the conversation and it’s a lot more than just a game Chlaus’ procured for him. Yet I wonder if the two of them are speaking this way to make sure no spies find out what was truly going on? After all the Phantomhives have many enemies. And now we have Donburi ha ha it doesn’t really fit the venue but wait the spark from Sebastian means there is more to tell.

Sebastian breaks out into a passionate speech about Donburi and its significance as a feast for workers. He speaks of the history of Donburi and almost admits that he believes Chlaus has grown tired of elaborate dishes. The servants cheer the butler’s work in the background. Chlaus chuckles genuinely impressed by all the effort and finds it very humorous. He believes Ciel and he will continue to be able to work well together. Ciel is honored by his words. Chlaus admits to Sebastian he did not know anything about the history of the dish and compliments Sebastian. Another panel shows that Sebastian had spent a lot of time in the study learning about Japanese Food Culture. Chlaus is happy and agrees with Sebastian’s assessment of needing lighter meals he thanks him.

What a display from the Japanese-style wave background to Sebastian’s passionate rant about Donburi it truly suits the situation. Chlaus is very delighted and it seems that he and Ciel will continue their business relations. I’m pretty impressed by the fact Sebastian spent time going over the history of Donburi. It wasn’t just a random conversation they show the effort Sebastian went into to sell his story. Demonstrates a lot of dedication and commitment to his job. It also is shows honesty because he could have made up a story rather than researching it. When Sebastian sells something here it is truthful. Chlaus seems to not just take everything at face value though here he shows he found the whole situation funny and is delighted by Sebastian’s efforts. In the anime the other guy who poses as Chlaus just seemed overwhelmed by it all but Chlaus himself recognizes that they went to a lot of trouble for him and he even seems to understand the humor of it all. I won’t always talk about the anime but this is a big difference between the stand-in and him. 

Sebastian informs Chlaus that he has selected an Italian wine for him. He gestures towards Mey-Rin with the trolley. She just stands there for a moment until Sebastian prompts her to pour Chlaus a glass of wine. The others notice she’s acting strange. Mey-Rin is in her own world after being so close to Sebastian. She misses her aim for the glass and the wine spills all over the table. The others gasp and try to tell her to stop her. Inner thoughts of the group are that the mess she is making will make all their efforts go to waste. The wine is dripping very close to Chlaus at this point and the servants are panicking.

Like I said before I don’t think we can entirely fault Mey-Rin she can’t see well with those cracked glasses. Also, having someone handsome like Sebastian right in her face would make it very difficult. The pressure gets to her. Everyone else is sort of panicking besides Sebastian and Ciel who look more paused in disbelief if anything. I love this entire exchange.

Sebastian effortlessly pulls the soiled tablecloth out from under the meal and decorations. Ciel looks a bit shocked by the whole thing. 

I love these pages so much. Doing something like that isn’t easy. You’d expect a magician to at least fake it but he pulled the entire tablecloth like that so effortlessly. Everything on the table was barely disturbed.

The whole scene brings the moment to a pause. Sebastian pulls off the tablecloth so quickly it brings everyone besides Chlaus who was too busy eating to a halt. Ciel is at a standstill and the rest of the servants are shocked minus Tanaka. The wine glass shifts before setting into place. While Finny and Bard retrieve Mey-Rin, Chlaus finally notices the tablecloth is gone. Ciel gives a little chuckle and a slight smirk. Ciel explains he had it removed because of a stain and Sebastian apologizes for the inconvenience.

That mix of reactions from everyone is interesting. Ciel paused with his food close to his mouth. He doesn’t seem entirely shocked but at the same time, he was probably panicking at that moment. The other servants are wide-eyed and Bardroy spits out his cigarette. Ciel easily composes himself and acts like nothing happened. He tells a lie about why the tablecloth was moved with a straight face while Sebastian stands behind him humbly apologizing. Why is this important? Ciel basically tells a fabrication and Sebastian goes along with it. The boy can easily put on a facade and smirk as he resumes eating like nothing happened. He is the one to cover up the situation whereas Sebastian follows his lead. It gives yet another glimpse into the outer view of Ciel's character. I know we have the anime to see this scene now but it is like everything happened in an instant. I still love this scene so much.

Sebastian breathes a sigh of relief and the others compliment his work. Bardroy compares him to Superman. Sebastian says he’s merely a butler. Chlaus also compliments Sebastian’s skills but Ciel said he only did what was expected as his servant. Chlaus disagrees and argues talent like Sebastian would be hard to find in Britain. Ciel concurs but says that’s not the only reason he hired him. He claims he has never tasted sweets better than Sebastian’s. 

Crisis averted for Sebastian and company. I find it interesting how Bardroy compliments him on being just like Superman it's a hint that he's not of this world. However on a factual note that character did not appear in comics until 1938 we are still in the 1800’s at this point so it was a rather inconsistent dating. I think it was used more to hint at Bardroy’s heritage since he is from America. It also speaks of Sebastian’s potential inhuman skill. Sebastian doesn’t even use his regular catchphrase in response here. Ciel himself is calm and thinks nothing of Sebastian being so skillful as he seems to expect him to be. I like how the panel focuses on Ciel’s spoon in a mirror view rather than his face when he speaks of why he hired Sebastian for his culinary arts. It describes his sweet tooth better than just an ordinary panel of his speaking.

Chlaus is shocked by Ciel’s response but chuckles assuming sweets to be important to a child. Ciel smiles secretly and claims he’s looking forward to dessert. The dessert is Apricot and Green Tea Mille-Feuille. The other staff watch as Sebastian prepares it in the kitchen with eager looks. Sebastian finds himself sweat dropping at their hovering. Sebastian tells them if they behave 'like good little children' he will reward them with some of the treats. While Bardroy tries to wake Mey-Rin, Tanka is already eating his share. Finnian on the other hand is considering the whole event that transpired. Also apparently, Finny bought Iris bulbs but the flowers displayed in the garden were in bloom. Sebastian apologizes on the last panel for the delay.

Ciel’s love of sweets knows no bounds. The desert prepared looks excellent though so I can’t blame him. Sebastian even made it to compliment the atmosphere of the Japanese Stone Garden. I love seeing the other servants hovering yes in many ways Sebastian truly is a dad to the whole staff and the Earl. The way he calls the staff children is telling as well. Finnian pondering brings up a good point about the garden how could the irises be in bloom? It makes the entire situation at this point more mysterious. 

The final page has Sebastian arriving with the cart arrayed with the sweet treats he prepared. He proclaims to the Earl and his guest that dessert is now served. The scene is adorned with those mysterious blooming irises. Back in the kitchen Finnian considers how the butler managed to make the flowers bloom yet ultimately decides who cares. While Bardroy tries to arouse Mey-Rin and Finny is pondering things Tanaka has already finished off all the desserts placed aside for the staff. 

Ultimately at this point I think Finnian and the others consider Sebastian’s skills abnormal but either ignore or don’t have the observant mind to pay attention to the details. Although Finny was on the right track of the mysterious situation he is more inclined to let things be since it all worked out in the end. I find it hilarious that Tanaka managed to finish off the entire desert while the others were busy with things. It kind of hints again at their lack of observance. Yet quite often that happens to people so it’s not uncommon. Humans tend to not look past their noses. We the readers notice things more because we are focused.

Final thoughts on the chapter:

Truthfully I enjoy this first chapter. It starts building dynamics with the Phantomhive staff and the Earl. Particularly showing well what the others lacked and how Sebastian handled things on his own. You have to wonder at this point as a first-time reader why Ciel hired so many incompetent staff members when Sebastian can handle everything. In my opinion I think besides their special talents (we learn about later) they were hired to make the Phantomhive household look more realistic and like a true home. I love the staff truly I do it with all their antics. But they can be lacking at times in skill. It is put to great comedy effect. That’s where Sebastian comes in he balances out the entire situation and makes things effortless. How can any normal person compete with that?

I loved the dynamic between Ciel and Sebastian here. There is a bit of tension. Ciel is trying to test boundaries and see what he can get away with. He almost at times seems frustrated that Sebastian can do so well at everything. He tries to find areas where he will fail. Yet he’s not surprised by his skill or talent. He likes to poke jabs at his Butler too. They clearly have a bit of a passive-aggressive relationship. Yet at the same time, there are hints of an understanding between the two. Sebastian plays the part of the straight man to all of Ciel's lies which given who he is is rather ironic. I did see even in the beginning a bit of Sebastian being the dad of the Phantomhive group. He cleans up the mistakes of the staff and he also keeps Ciel on task. Typical parent situation. 

Chlaus was a nice addition as an outsider to everything going on. Yet he has a bit of a relationship with Ciel since he can speak with him with such familiarity. The staff does everything they can to impress the visitor and he is treated in high regard for all his efforts. Those efforts will come into view in the following chapters and I can’t wait to read more. Yes, this was a good first chapter despite some inconsistencies in the historical timeline it has always been a fun read.

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Any who read this to the end I hope you enjoyed my analysis I had a lot of fun writing it. And I'm currently working on chapter 2. This will probably very on when it's released because of work and irl but I will try to post a chapter as often as I can. I want to get this done before Season 4 but we shall see.