Y/N POV

I stretched my arms upwards and leaned backwards over the back of the chair with a grunt. Finally done. I've been sitting at this desk for... I don't even know how long. What time was it even?

I looked at the grandpa clock that stood between the two windows. Seven past six! I promised I'd be down for dinner.

Giving my soar back one last stretch, I got up from my seat and fixed my dress. Because of the way Mey-Rin had tied it, it kept bungling up at the waist.

Turning the cold, metal handle, I pulled the wooden door open and...

"Oh," I gasped, seeing Sebastian right in front of me. His fisted hand was raised to his eye level, as if he was just about to knock on the door. My eyes traveled to the hand - the one that I so mercilessly slapped away. Obviously, it was gloved, so there was no way to see if the marks were still there.

The butler put his hand down to his side and I shifted my gaze up to his face. Only now did I notice his slightly furrowed eyebrows and the absence of a smile. He stared me down with heavy eyes.

Be sincere, huh?

I took a breath in, "Sebastian, I'm so sorry, please don't be mad at me. I admit it's all my fault, I don't know why I did it, but I'll never, ever hit you again."

Never. That's a promise.

I bit my lip to keep the tears from returning. I searched for the slightest sign of forgiveness in the butler's face, but it remained just as grim and cold.

I got scared.

"Can you forgive me?" My voice cracked.

Standing before him now, I felt so small and frail.

"Tsk," Sebastian clicked his tongue, "this is simply unjustifiable," his voice was stern.

"Huh?" My fear returned.

"Turn around," he told me.

Confused and reluctant, but left without much of a choice, I slowly turned my back to him, now facing the study.

I flinched when a pair of strong hands began undoing my dress.

The fear was settling inside me. What was he about to do? I hugged my arms around myself. Was he really going to...

"Mey-Rin is completely incapable of dressing somebody," noted Sebastian, dragging me out of my thoughts.

"Just look at these knots," the butler continued, keeping on working on the back.

Relief washed over me. So that's what was going on.

Did that mean he wasn't mad at me?

As if reading my thoughts, he said in a silky voice, "you keep forgetting that I'm not a human, Y/N. I'm not bothered by such pity things as the previous incident."

I bit my lip. Do you care that little about yourself, Sebastian? You deserve better.

"Well I'm human and I feel bad," I muttered back.

"Don't."

Suddenly, Sebastian spun me around by the waist. I grabbed his arms to keep balance, but immediately released them, taking a step back.

The demon slid his glove off his right hand and held it up, "see? It's all long healed."

I grunted and watched him put the glove back on.

"I meant what I said, I'll never hit you again," I promised him.

He just smirked.

I was glad to see his old self return, it made me warm inside.

I returned the smile, and some invisible spark passed between the two of us.

"Didn't you come here to invite me down to dinner?" I asked in an accusing matter, but with a smirk.

"Yes, my Lady," he said, taking a small bow.

All of a sudden, Sebastian held out his arm, offering to escort me downstairs.

Getting carried away by the moment? 

I raised an eyebrow at him.

"What's this? You're still just a butler," I turned him down with a wave of my hand and, turning on my heels, strode down the hallway, snickering to myself.

If I was being honest, that small gesture of his set butterflies off in my stomach, but I couldn't bring myself to admit anything to Sebastian just yet.

First, I needed to know what the demon thought of me.

Sebastian's POV

Sebastian was truly happy.

Things couldn't have turned out better.

Maybe there was still hope for him after all.

________________________________

Ok, this was too cute to write 🥰

Are you guys enjoying so far? I don't know what to think when the views go up, but the likes and comments don't 😬 Are y'all just shy? 😂