Black Butler (黒執事)

Darkness...

Darkness...

Darkness.

Darkness coils its implacable fingers around me.

I am ever ensnared by it...

Its dark blades pierce me to the core...

I can feel them drawing out every last drop of warm blood...

slowly.

Even so...

Even so...

I choose this.

So now...

I'll scream it.

Rend the darkness with your voice.

I want this!

I want you!

Here we are, Master.

This morning's tea is Her Majesty's blend from Ridgways...

Most excellent.

Aw, annoyed now?

No.

Please excuse me.

Hannah...

don't you find fried eggs rather pathetic?

Nakedly exposed for all eyes to see.

Indeed, they almost look like eyes themselves.

But they'll never become eyes, of course,

or anything but my breakfast.

All that possibility, wiped out by me.

Hannah.

Yes, truly pathetic indeed.

Hasn't Claude taught you any better...?

A maid mustn't look directly at her master.

It's rude.

Do forgive me...

Claude will be most upset if I don't punish you...

so...

Clean this up at once.

Master, we're receiving a have a guest today.

Arnold Trancy will be dining at the mansion with us.

Only because he wants my money.

This time a priest will be at supper as well...

It seems he has certain doubts about your time

"held hostage by the fairies."

No, Claude!

What do I do?!

I changed all the old loon's decorations...

The nasty curtains, the ugly rugs, the old knick-knacks!

Please don't worry yourself...

I'll take care of it at once.

Everything.

Really?

Yes... my young highness.

One, two, three...

And now...

I transform day into night, sugar into salt,

creatures into corpses...

and in this case, I transform navy into golden.

"That's what makes a Trancy butler." As you say.

That's my Claude.

As long as I have you, I don't need those other useless clods.

One thing...

I prefer my roses displayed like this.

O-lé!

The morons arrive...

I am deeply honored that you made time in your busy schedule

to come today, Father...

Also...

I appreciate the presence of the Viscount Druitt.

Of course. It was the least I could do...

I am happy to oblige.

I owe dear Uncle Trancy a great deal... Yes.

He lent me help in trying times...

and when someone does that, the Viscount Druitt

pays him back twofold...! My devotion gives rise

to generosity!

Yes, quite.

At any rate, you asked me to accompany you today because

you find the current head of the Trancy house suspicious?

Yes.

My nephew, Alois Trancy, was kidnapped soon after

his birth under mysterious circumstances.

Out of despair, my sister-in-law killed herself.

My brother searched for his son.

He looked everywhere...

And one day, Alois returned home.

He had a new butler in tow.

But shortly afterwards, my brother died

of a horrible infection...

Alois succeeded him as the Trancy family head.

I see.

And the concern is there's no proof that

he's Earl Trancy's legitimate son?

That's exactly right...

but I know your holy eyes will see the truth Father...

And you, Lord Druitt, had close ties to the previous earl.

I would like you to uncover who that child really is.

Uncle Arnold!

How good to see you!

Yes, Alois.

Oooh...!

But surely, God, thou has made a most grievous mistake...!

Placing such great beauty in someone so young as this boy?!

Yet I shall persevere...

and forgive thee for this transgression, Lord...!

Amen.

Erm... uh, well...

Oh, my!

It all remains as it was when Uncle Trancy

still lived among us!

The mansion's glittering gold...! Bringing the legend

of Cipangu springs to life again!

Yes...

I haven't changed a thing.

I've preserved it all since Father's time...

I had to.

I couldn't lose the warm essence of him the mansion contains.

I can tell you loved him very much.

For a very long time, I lived in a village...

The memory sickens me still.

To this day, I do not know what it was called.

I don't even know how long I remained there.

They worked me like a slave...

They didn't even let me go outside.

You poor boy.

There was one other child who was treated

in the same way I was...

It sounds silly, but I thought of him as a younger brother.

And then one night...

one dark night...

What's happening?

What is it?

Inside the rippling flames...

the horror of dying screams...

there could only be one thing...

darkness.

There you are!

C'mon wake up. What's wrong with you?

You can't be...

No...

Please, no...!

Don't leave me alone!

Please don't!

What happened to the village that night?

That's something I may never know...

But...

at least my father came to take me home, finally!

I thought: "At last I'm not alone...

I have a family to love me!"

Then he...

he left, too.

How terrible for you.

O Lord, I take it back!

I cannot forgive you after all!

Come now, Lord Druitt, Despair is a sin.

Young man, I pledge to help in any way I can.

I pray you find solace in this world.

Thank you very much, Father.

But I know I'll manage.

Because I still have Uncle Arnold after all, don't I?

Yes of course you do.

Uncle Arnold, if I may say...

Yes, what is it boy?

Don't lean your face so close to mine.

You have disgusting old man's breath.

I can't stand that damn brat!

Wait...!

Come back Uncle Arnold.

I know you only came here because you want money.

So here, you can have this!

I have no use for them.

I wouldn't feed a goat with these moldy old notes.

Let's see, deeds to some land...

Here, and horses, too.