Kelvin is a mysterious figure whose body is entirely wrapped in bandages, leaving only his left eye and mouth visible. His face and body are concealed, creating an air of intrigue and discomfort. As a baron, he dresses formally in a well-tailored suit, befitting his high status. However, his physical appearance is strikingly unusual, as he is bound to a wheelchair due to the loss of both his legs, which were surgically removed by a doctor.

In his previous life, before undergoing drastic plastic surgery, Kelvin had hair and wore glasses, and he was able to walk. His obsessive fascination with the Phantomhive family and his desire to enhance his appearance for their sake led him to seek extreme medical procedures. His transformation into a more visually appealing figure was driven by a warped sense of vanity, which ultimately resulted in his current, unsettling appearance.

Kelvin’s attire includes his signet ring, which he wears on the little finger of his left hand, a subtle yet significant detail that connects him to his aristocratic heritage and his pursuit of a more refined image. The bandages, along with his formal suit and the ring, create a disturbing contrast, emphasizing his obsessive, self-destructive tendencies and his fixation on beauty.

Kelvin’s personality underwent a drastic transformation over time. In his earlier years, he was known for his philanthropy and kindness, particularly toward abandoned or abused children. He took in children from the streets, rescued them from harsh circumstances, and provided them a home at Renbourn Workhouse. These children later became the core group of performers in the Noah’s Ark Circus, and Kelvin was regarded as a compassionate and caring figure by many, including Vincent Phantomhive, who respected him for his timid and respectful demeanor.

However, after encountering the Phantomhives, Kelvin’s obsession with them grew to an unhealthy and dangerous extent. His admiration for them quickly morphed into an all-consuming fixation, leading him down a darker path. He became vulgar, depraved, and perverted, driven by an uncontrollable desire to be closer to the Phantomhive family, particularly Ciel. His twisted thoughts and actions reflect a profound disregard for basic human decency, especially when it comes to children. Kelvin finds amusement in the gruesome deaths of children and even strives to replicate the events surrounding Ciel’s sacrifice during the cult’s ritual.

In his corrupted state, Kelvin no longer sees the children at the Renbourn Workhouse as individuals, but as tools to further his manipulative agenda. He uses them as hostages to maintain control over the first-string members of the Noah’s Ark Circus, coercing them into doing his bidding. His power over Joker, in particular, is rooted in the threat of harm to the children, although he is unaware that they had long since been killed by the doctor’s experiments.

Despite his depraved nature, Kelvin remains oblivious to how his actions are perceived by others, including Ciel, who openly expresses his disgust for Kelvin’s behavior. This marks the tragic shift from Kelvin’s once noble and philanthropic personality to a dark, self-serving individual whose obsession with beauty, power, and the Phantomhives led him to commit heinous acts without remorse.

Kelvin began his life as a philanthropist, dedicated to supporting disadvantaged children. He subsidized Renbourn Workhouse and rescued several children, including Joker, Beast, Dagger, Jumbo, Peter, Wendy, and Doll, from the harsh conditions of the East End. These children were given shelter and care at the workhouse and later formed the core of the Noah’s Ark Circus, an itinerant circus troupe. Kelvin initially appeared to be a kind and selfless benefactor, providing these children with a better life.

However, everything changed when Kelvin met Vincent Phantomhive and his son, Ciel, at a party. He quickly became captivated by the Phantomhives, seeing them as “special” and “beautiful.” He began obsessively researching them and uncovered the identity of the “Aristocrats of Evil.” This discovery only fueled his obsession, leading him to believe that only people like Vincent and Ciel were worthy of his admiration, while he, by contrast, was insignificant and unattractive. This self-perception of inferiority led him to undergo drastic measures in an attempt to change his appearance and become worthy of their attention.

To achieve this, Kelvin turned to plastic surgery, undergoing multiple procedures, including the removal of his legs. He believed that if he could transform himself physically, he might one day be deemed as “beautiful” and perhaps worthy of the Phantomhives’ acknowledgment. His obsession with physical beauty consumed him to the point where it alienated his wife, who left him due to his fixation. Despite her departure, Kelvin remained indifferent to her departure, as his singular focus was on improving his appearance to suit his ideal of “beauty.”

During this time, Kelvin handed over the remaining children at Renbourn Workhouse to Doctor, a twisted individual who performed grotesque experiments on them, using their bodies to create prosthetic limbs for Kelvin. This dark turn in his life revealed the depths of his depravity, as he began to view the children as expendable objects to be used for his benefit.

Kelvin’s obsession took a darker turn when he learned of the deaths of the Phantomhive family in a fire. He believed that with their demise, his purpose was lost. However, his despair was short-lived when he received news that the twins, Vincent and Rachel’s children, were alive and would be used in a sacrificial ritual. Despite being unable to attend the ritual due to his recent surgery, he became fixated on recreating the sacrificial chamber where Ciel had been nearly killed. This became a three-year project in his basement, as he sought to recreate the events of that fateful day.

When he learned that Ciel had survived the ritual and killed the cultists, Kelvin’s obsession with him deepened. He viewed Ciel as the epitome of beauty, a “cold moon” wrapped in thorns. To draw out Ciel and satisfy his obsessive desires, Kelvin used the Noah’s Ark Circus to kidnap children, hoping to lure Ciel into a trap.

Kelvin’s descent from a once-respected philanthropist to a depraved and obsessive figure reflects the catastrophic consequences of his twisted obsession with the Phantomhives, and particularly Ciel. His desire for beauty and approval from the family ultimately led him to commit horrific acts, showcasing his complete moral decline.

Baron Kelvin created and financially supports the Noah’s Ark Circus, recruiting individuals with tragic pasts to serve as performers. He manipulates them by presenting himself as their savior while exploiting their loyalty for his own dark purposes.

Kelvin becomes a central figure in one of Ciel Phantomhive’s investigations, as the circus’s activities tie into a series of child abductions. His actions and motivations clash directly with Ciel’s role as the Queen’s Watchdog.

Kelvin uses the circus as a front to conduct grotesque experiments and acts of cruelty, reflecting his depravity and lack of moral restraint. His obsession with perfection leads him to view others as mere tools in his pursuit of his warped ideals.

First-String Members of the Circus
The first-string members of the Noah’s Ark Circus refer to Kelvin as “Father,” a term that signifies both their loyalty and his control over them. Despite their reverence for him, Kelvin’s treatment of them is manipulative and self-serving.

Ciel Phantomhive
Kelvin’s actions bring him into direct conflict with Ciel, whose investigation exposes the baron’s crimes. Their confrontation highlights the stark contrast between Kelvin’s depravity and Ciel’s ruthless pursuit of justice.

Baron Kelvin serves as a chilling example of the darkness lurking beneath Victorian society’s veneer of civility in Black Butler. His creation and control of the Noah’s Ark Circus, as well as his role in the child abductions, reveal the depths of his depravity and obsession. Kelvin’s actions and ultimate downfall underscore the series’ themes of justice, power, and the consequences of unchecked desires, making him a haunting and memorable antagonist in the story.