Mey-rin had been called to assist Elizabeth in preparing for the party while Ciel had excused himself to continue working, stating that he would not take nearly as much time getting ready. That wasn't so much because the outfit was less complex, but more so that he had a butler that could work at inhuman speed to help. 

When Elizabeth told them she planned on having you accompany her, the boy hadn’t seemed surprised, stating that it was very in character for his fiance to extend that kind of charity. Sebastian, on the other hand, seemed discontented at the idea. You figured he just didn't want to keep more than one member of the Phantomhive manor in check. Though, given that you had joined the side that forced the young lord to go, you couldn’t refuse the invitation yourself.

Finding some spare time as you waited for the nobles to get ready, you thought back to the events of the episode. By your recollection, you would be somewhere in the third episode, but you were somewhat confused. In the episode, it had started out just like your day had, Grell caused a fuss and then Ciel and Sebastian went into town to pick up the cane. Unlike the episode, however, Elizabeth had not transformed the manor into a pretty pink mess, nor had she insisted the earl host a ball in the manor, instead she had implored him to attend a party she was invited to.

You had begun to recall the other details of the episode and your heart sank a little. You noticed as you were carrying in the lady’s gifts for Ciel that there was a small ring box, the one that, in the show, Elizabeth had gotten vexed at the boy for not wearing, causing her to throw his family ring to the ground in a fit of immature anger. You remembered how distraught it had made the boy, he had even raised a hand to strike his fiance and had it not been for his butler, he very likely would have followed through.

After some contemplation, you decided you would tell Sebastian. While he had not taken kindly to your suggestion that he protect the boy from witnessing the death of his aunt, this minor occurrence didn’t seem like some kind of character, or flavour, building the demon would miss. 

You made your way to the young lord’s office, knowing that was where the two of them were likely to be, and knocked, announcing your presence. 

“Come in.” the Earl instructed. 

You opened the door, excusing yourself with a bow. “Master.” You had almost begun to ask to have a private conversation with Sebastian, however, said butler was much quicker on the draw.

“Ah, perfect timing, miss [Y/N].” he said, shutting the pocket watch he held in his hand. “I was just about to demonstrate the waltz to the young master. Would you care to join me so he may see how it looks to dance with a partner?”

Oh fuck. 

You stared wide-eyed at the catty grin on the man’s face and then glanced at the frustrated look on the boy’s. Feeling your cheeks flush, part of you wanted to refuse out of sheer embarrassment, but an even larger part of you knew you simply couldn’t out of sheer attraction to the demon. “I-” you cleared your throat, finding it to be dry, “I’m not familiar with the dance, I haven’t done it before,” you admitted, feeling almost disappointed by the fact. 

Sebastian’s smile did not falter, he instead beckoned you to him with a tilt of his head and the rise of his brow, “I simply need to show the Master how to lead. All you must do is follow.” 

There was an expectant look on the boy’s face, and both you and he knew the alternative was the boy dancing with his demon servant. So you closed your eyes and sighed, trying to abate your nerves, as you walked over and stood awkwardly in front of Sebastian.

“Very good. Now.” He extended his left hand out to you, palm up while bowing slightly at the waist, “If you would do me the honor, my Lady,” he began, starting from the request, “May I have this dance?”

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It felt as though you had been dancing for hours, you were out of breath and felt sluggish by the time Sebastian was satisfied with Ciel’s waltz. Not only had you danced with the butler, but you had also practiced with the young lord as well, which went about as well as to be expected until the both of you had semi-grasped the moves. One thing you knew for certain, you would be finding fresh bruises on your shins when you went to bed.

After the practice had finished Ciel dismissed you and his butler, allowing you to finally speak to him about the reason you had sought him out in the first place. “By the way, Sebastian.” you began, watching as he turned to rest a soft gaze on you. Your words caught in your throat at the expression. 

“You have my thanks for how you kept Lady Elizabeth entertained whilst the lord and I were in town,” he told you, seemingly out of nowhere. As you looked into his eyes, your heart flooded with several positive emotions.

“Oh- um yes, yeah. You’re welcome.” You could feel your face change colour and had to focus on something, anything else to keep from looking into that captivating gaze for too much longer.

He looked away from you and furrowed his brows into a contemplative expression, “Had you not been there to keep her occupied like a true servant is supposed to, I fear her erratic personality would have gotten the better of this manor.” 

Right, erratic personality, just like in the show. The show in which she caused a scene over a ring. “Right, actually that’s what I wanted to talk about.” His attention shifted back to you and he hummed to assure you he was listening, “In this part of the story, Lady Elizabeth gets mad at Ciel for not wearing the ring she bought him and ends up smashing the Phantomhive ring.” At the mention of the family ring, Sebastian’s expression turned from attentive to, what you could almost describe as, confusion. 

“I’m afraid I cannot see that being a possibility,” he informed with a matter-of-fact tone, “Lady Elizabeth may be quite challenging to deal with at times, but given her status as a lady, I believe she is well trained in not expressing such fits of anger. Not only that, but to destroy something she is aware is incredibly precious to the earl, with whom she is betrothed, seems rather unlikely.”

Something seemed off, not only about the current impending situation, but about the whole day. Is it possible that the episode was wrong? But that just didn’t seem likely, how could it be wrong, it was how the story went. It was fact. Was it possible that you simply being around the main cast could change the story down to such small details? Would it affect the anime once you returned to your world?

Would you be returning to your world…?

Sensing your inner turmoil, the butler piped up, his tone light and airy, “Would you like to make a deal with me?” he asked, to which your immediate human reaction to a demon asking for a deal was to back away. He chuckled, “If you are correct and Lady Elizabeth does display an act of fury unbefitting of a Lady, then I shall grant you whatever your heart desires should it be within my power.” he said, waving an arm in the air as if he could materialise anything you’d want.

“And if I’m wrong?” you asked despite feeling backed into a corner. What could this demon possibly want from you that he couldn’t get for himself?

“Are you agreeing to this wager?” he questioned through sharp canines. 

“Not until you tell me what I owe you if I’m wrong.” You tried to hold your ground, but it was crumbling beneath your feet. You don’t believe you could have said no to anything he asked of you, not when he looked at you with pure carnal desire. 

He tilted his head to the side, like a panther masquerading as a house cat, “Nothing you would be unwilling to give me, I assure you.”

┈ ┈ ┈ ⋞ ⟨ ⏣ ⟩ ⋟ ┈ ┈ ┈ 

When you had agreed to his deal, placing faith in the demon that he would not take something you’d not want him to, you hadn’t really expected to lose the bet.

True to Sebastian’s word, Elizabeth did in fact keep her behaviour in check, even though you could see the disappointment in her eyes when she noticed Ciel wasn’t wearing the ring she picked out for him. She merely made him promise he would wear it another time, which he reluctantly agreed to. Playing the part of a stubborn child well.

At the realisation that you were on the losing end of the bargain, you looked to Sebastian who was staring right back at you with the face of the cat who got the cream. The look made you shudder. 

Moments after the non-incident, the two nobles were ushered into the carriage by the butler whilst you and he sat in the coach’s seat. Having found a pair of gloves and a coat resting on your bed that afternoon, you weren’t anywhere near as cold as you would have been without them. Though because the London frost was an unforgiving mistress, she still managed to snake her way under all your layers of clothing.

You made it to the party in relative silence, whilst you were eager to know what you owed the demon you weren’t game enough to ask him. Maybe you could hope that if you didn’t bring it up, he would forget. Fat chance.

Sebastian stepped down from the carriage to help Ciel and Elizabeth out, telling you to stay put. You were confused at first why you weren’t supposed to get down and enter with them until the butler informed you that servants were to enter from another door. So the two of you did just that after handing off the carriage to a valet.

The two of you made your way to the ballroom, following the sound of loud, live music and petty gossip. You had a hard time spotting the two young nobels, while their finery might have made them stand out amongst the common folk, in this room they just looked like every other person. That, and they were short children in a room full of adults.

Sebastian found them quickly, making his way around the room with you at his heels, keeping to the walls, until the two of you were by the side of your charges. Ciel was clearly out of his element. Whilst Elizabeth made light yet bubbly conversation with the people around her, the boy kept close by his servant’s sides, effectively wedging himself between you and Sebastian. You would almost say he was hiding behind the two of you.

“Young master, you would do well to actually engage with these people,” the butler suggested with a stern tone, eyes cast down upon the boy who all but gripped onto his coat tails. 

“Quiet. I am under no such obligation.” Ciel retorted, huffing as he crossed his arms over his chest. 

You felt the need to chime in, after all, technically your role as a member of the Phantomhive staff was advisor, “Master, might I suggest that you just walk around with Lady Elizabeth. You can let her do all the talking but it would be good for appearances, and possible business prospects, for you to engage in conversation with some of the nobles here.” The boy looked up at you, eye half lidded in apparent annoyance, and scoffed. 

“Fine,” he relented before turning to Sebastian, “When we get back to the manor, make sure to prepare something sweet for me.” With that, the boy strutted off to be at Elizabeth’s side, much to her delight. 

After a moment, you felt eyes on you and turned to look right back at the demon to your side, “What?” you asked. He smirked.

“It appears that the young lord listens to you more than his own butler.” There wasn’t malice in his words, it sounded like he was curious more than anything.

“I think he just did that to piss you off,” you admitted. As much as you would like to say that the boy listened out of a fondness he had for you, it was more than likely that he just wanted to irk the demon like he had that morning.

Said demon turned his head to look at his master, smirk still in place, “I believe you may be right.”

┈ ┈ ┈ ⋞ ⟨ ⏣ ⟩ ⋟ ┈ ┈ ┈ 

You had been at the party for hours, as dutifully noted by Sebastian who had remained by your side the whole evening. The two of you had stayed standing by the wall most of the time, moving only to bring refreshments and food to the two young nobels. You had also watched, with a smile you couldn’t contain, as Ciel and Elizabeth had shared a dance. The boy was taking it far too seriously, concentration etched on his brow as the young lady giggled and twirled around.

“There are few things in your world that I enjoy,” piped up the man to your side, “Ballroom dancing happens to be one of those things.” You must have looked surprised when you turned to acknowledge him, because he continued, “Was that not something you knew?” You shook your head and he turned his away, “I see.”

You weren’t exactly sure what you were supposed to say to that, was that supposed to be common knowledge? Like how it was fairly well known that he liked cats, to the point that even Mey-rin had mentioned it once while the two of you were doing the washing. 

After a brief pause you asked him what his favourite dance was. You remembered that in the show he had mentioned being a regular guest at some fancy palace, saying that his specialty was-

“The Viennese waltz.” When he looked at you, there was desire in his eyes. You could feel needles under your skin. “Yes, I find that particular style to be rather enjoyable.” When he faced forward, his smirk stretched across his cheek, displaying those sharp teeth. “I have decided what I want.”

You couldn’t draw your gaze away and when he looked at you from the corner of his eyes, you noticed his irises had that faint fuchsia hue to them. Your mouth twitched into a smile of your own that felt distinctly unnatural and, as your jaw clenched tight at the realisation, the sounds of music and chatter became nothing more than dull mumbles in the back of your mind. 

“Regarding our deal from earlier,” he began, his words echoing through the fog now clouding your mind, “I have decided that my prize shall be a dance.” He turned to you fully with his hand offered to you, palm up. “That is what I desire.”

Blinking seemed to take you out of your own head, breaking direct contact with his eyes, “What. Wait, what, a dance?” you stammered, looking down at what he offered you, “You want to dance, not, I don't know, eat my soul or fu-... have uhm-...”  your words died in your throat, left unsaid for fear of embarrassment that you were misunderstanding that whole lust thing he’d mentioned earlier in your stay. 

The demon’s smirk grew even more sinister with the added quirk of his brows, “I will gladly take whatever you offer me, [Y/N]. As for now, all I request of you is your company on the floor.” 

You hesitated, under any other circumstance, you would have been jumping at the chance to dance with an anime guy, but you were at a party for the upper class and both of you were just servants. Besides, given your mediocre performance when learning a basic waltz with the earl, how could Sebastian expect you to not make a complete arse out of yourself when doing whatever the Viennese waltz was. 

“You need not worry about the others in the room. I can assure you they will not notice us.” He took your hand in his own and pulled back, drawing you closer, “As for the dance itself, all you need to do is follow my lead.” 

You didn’t need much convincing after that and Sebastian pulled you out onto the dance floor. True to his word, no eyes landed on the two of you and when you asked why, “The mind of an intoxicated human is far easier to manipulate,” was the response you’d gotten.

His grip on your left hand tightened and as the heel of his right shoe hit the floor, the music changed. A brisk tempo had taken over the steady rhythm your ears had become accustomed to. “Now,” the demon said, lightly gripping your left hand from where it was awkwardly plastered to your side, “Your left hand will rest on my shoulder.” 

You felt reluctant to remove your hand from the grip he’d had on it, which he noticed, letting loose a low chuckle as he brought your hand up himself and rested it on his right shoulder. “As for me.” His hand came around to your back to rest on your left shoulder blade and you shuddered at the light pressure. His eyes, flared fuschia, were trained on yours and with an expression that bordered on salacious, he took a step to the side.

For the main steps, he guided you through them only a handful of times with words of instruction and, after a while of looking down at your feet so as to not step on his, you felt like you had gotten the gist of it. Though you had a strange feeling that the pace at which you were memorising the dance was not natural. Best not dwell on that you supposed. 

Your reluctance to look away from his shoes made him pipe up, “As charming as that concentration of yours is,” he began, drawing your attention to his face instead, “It’s not needed. As I said, you need only-” His grip on your hand tightened and the gap between the two of you was closed, “follow my lead.”

They captivated you, those eyes, hard and intense with a pink glow like undulating magma. A show of such beauty and destructive power. You’ve heard people say eyes are the window to the soul, but what of a demon’s soul? Does Sebastian even have one, or is what you were seeing the result of the hell he hailed from? 

You couldn’t tear your gaze away from his face, your body, melded so tightly to his, moved on its own and you couldn’t see anything but those long, dark lashes. Those enchanting pink irises. Such... beautiful...