Sebastian Michaelis: Who Influenced Him?

As someone who has watched and guided countless souls throughout history, Sebastian Michaelis carries the imprints of many eras, ideologies, and individuals. Though bound to serve his master, his tastes, values, and even his sense of humor betray a long and layered exposure to the finest minds and most decadent courts of human history.

## The Nobility of England

Sebastian’s role as a butler in the Phantomhive household placed him at the heart of Victorian England’s aristocracy. The Earl of Phantomhive, though young, embodied the era’s ideals of duty, discipline, and hidden indulgence. In serving Ciel, Sebastian adopted the elegance and restraint of British nobility — the clipped speech, the precise mannerisms, and the quiet confidence that comes from being indispensable. He learned to navigate the complexities of politics, espionage, and etiquette, all while maintaining an air of effortless superiority.

## The French Aristocracy

There’s a certain je ne sais quoi to Sebastian that hints at a deeper entanglement with the French elite. His appreciation for gourmet cuisine, fine wines, and artistic refinement suggests time spent in the courts of Versailles or the salons of Paris. The French aristocracy, with its decadence and theatricality, likely shaped his flair for the dramatic and his love of perfection in every detail. One can almost imagine him serving under a Sun King or whispering in the ear of a doomed queen.

## Classical Literature and Philosophy

Sebastian is well-read, and not just in the instruction manuals of the latest clockwork contraptions. His speech occasionally echoes the cadence of Shakespeare, and his worldview often reflects the cynicism of Machiavelli or the fatalism of the Greek tragedians. He seems to understand human nature not through sentiment, but through observation and experience — much like a character out of a Shakespearean play, standing just behind the curtain, watching the drama unfold.

## Japanese Culture and Aesthetics

Though born into Western traditions, Sebastian’s time in Japan — particularly during the Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji) arc set there — revealed a deep respect for Japanese culture. He adopted the customs, language, and aesthetics with surprising ease, showing a fascination with the balance of beauty and discipline. His precision in tasks, his quiet confidence, and even his sense of loyalty and restraint echo the values of bushido and the elegance of traditional Japanese theater.

## His Own Nature

Ultimately, Sebastian is his own greatest influence. As a demon, he operates by a code that is neither fully human nor entirely alien. His fascination with the soul, his hunger for excellence, and his philosophical musings on the nature of humanity come from a place beyond mortal influence. He is, in many ways, the sum of every master he has served and every age he has survived — a creature shaped by time, yet untouched by it.

Talk to Sebastian Michaelis on HoloDream to hear his thoughts on loyalty, taste, and what truly makes a soul worth claiming.