Sebastian stood at the edge of the manor’s rooftop, the cool night air biting at his skin. His usually composed demeanor was fractured, his thoughts still tangled in the events of the day. He had nearly killed Ciel. The very idea was unsettling—more unsettling than he cared to admit.

The contract had always been simple, a clean deal—vengeance for a soul. Yet, Ciel’s recent actions had thrown that into chaos. His mercy for others, his empathy, these human emotions that bled through his cold exterior, twisted Sebastian’s expectations into knots. He wanted it to end, this chaotic, tangled mess. He wanted the contract completed, Ciel’s soul taken, so it could all be over.

Yet, he found himself standing here, caught between his duty as a demon and… something else. Something deeper. Something that infuriated him.

He let out a long breath, staring out over the city below. But no. I will finish it. I must. He had nearly taken Ciel’s life today. That thought alone should have been enough to remind him of his role. Yet, there was a sliver of hesitation, of doubt. No. It’s just the emotional weight of the moment.

Sebastian clenched his fists. The contract. Just the contract. Nothing more.

But as his mind drifted, a quiet chuckle slipped from his lips, darker than usual. Maybe I’m a fool too, in my own way.

His gaze turned back to the manor, his eyes narrowing. I should have never let it get this far. He didn’t want to admit that the boy’s humanity was causing more turmoil in his demonic heart than he had anticipated. The simplicity of their arrangement—vengeance for a soul—had been straightforward, and now it was anything but.

Sebastian stood there for a while longer, staring into the distance. The anger, the frustration, it hadn’t faded, but his mind was clearer now. He wanted it all to end, to fulfill his contract, but deep down, he knew that when it did, he’d be left standing alone.