Ep 4. His Butler, Capricious

In Black Butler season 1 episode 4, titled "His Butler, Capricious," we follow the young earl, Ciel Phantomhive, and his loyal butler, Sebastian Michaelis, as they attend a costume party hosted by the Queen of England. The event is held at an abandoned abbey on the outskirts of London and is attended by the most influential people in the city, including Lord Kelvin, the head of the British Library. As Ciel and Sebastian mingle with the guests, they soon discover that the party is more than just a simple celebration.

Lord Kelvin approaches Ciel and requests his help in finding a valuable book that was stolen from the library. He suspects that someone at the party is the thief and asks Ciel to investigate. Ciel agrees to help in exchange for a valuable piece of information that could aid him in his search for his parents' killers. Lord Kelvin warns Ciel that the thief is dangerous and may stop at nothing to keep the book.

While Ciel searches for the thief, Sebastian is occupied with fending off the advances of Elizabeth Midford, Ciel's fiancé. Elizabeth is smitten with Sebastian's charm and insists on spending time with him throughout the night. Sebastian humors her but is aware of his duties as Ciel's butler and tries to keep her at bay. However, when Elizabeth is put in harm's way, Sebastian must intervene and protect her.

As the night wears on, Ciel narrows down the list of suspects and confronts the thief. The thief turns out to be none other than Lord Kelvin himself. He had stolen the book in order to prevent its contents from being revealed to the public, as it contained information about individuals in power that would tarnish their reputation. Ciel, with the help of Sebastian, retrieves the book and returns it to the library.

The episode ends with Ciel and Sebastian returning home, with Ciel reflecting on the lessons he learned throughout the night. He realizes that those in power will stop at nothing to maintain their dominance and that he must always be vigilant in his pursuit of justice. Sebastian, ever the dutiful butler, reassures him that he will always be by his side to protect him and guide him in his journey.

"His Butler, Capricious" is an episode that showcases the dynamic between Ciel and Sebastian, as well as their unwavering loyalty to each other. It also highlights the corruption that exists in positions of power, even in seemingly innocuous events such as a costume party. The episode balances humor and suspense, with Sebastian's interactions with Elizabeth providing comedic relief amidst the serious investigation. Overall, "His Butler, Capricious" is a strong episode that builds upon the previous ones and sets the stage for the rest of the season.