"Happy birthday, young master."
Ciel glanced at his butler, who—although hadn't missed the glare that came with it—was still smiling. "You know very well that I despise my birthday, Sebastian. Yet, you never have let one pass without reminding me of it."
"Birthdays are an essential part of growing up," Sebastian said, the same grin never leaving his devilish face.
"Sebastian, I'm one hundred and thirty eight years old. I can't 'grow up' more than I already have," Ciel muttered, unable to comprehend as to why his butler insisted on doing this every year.
"And there you prove you're still only a child," Sebastian sighed, his indifferent-butler façade dropping only for a few seconds, but it was still long enough for Ciel to notice.
"Are you tired, Sebastian?" Ciel asked suddenly.
Sebastian blinked in confusion. "I am a demon, we never-,"
"That's not what I meant." Ciel interjected, slightly annoyed. "I meant, are you tired of the contract?" Sebastian stayed silent, his expression growing ever strained. Ciel however, would have none of it. "I will repeat myself only once. Do you regret it?"
The other demon still said nothing.
"Sebastian, I orde-,"
"No. I don't regret it, even now," the demon-butler admitted, interrupting his master.
Now it was Ciel's turn to be confused. "Why is this?"
There was an odd expression on the demon's face, revealing that he was slightly uncertain in what he was about to say, causing Ciel even more confusion as Sebastian usually kept his emotions well under wraps. "Because in all my years, I have never had a friend such as you."
Thanks Ebaz for beta-ing!