By Zephyria 
“Hah… Hahaha…”
The Duke let out a laugh as if he found the situation absurd. The Duchess also wore a bitter smile, Ashley remained silent with his mouth shut, and Koi let out a deep sigh.
But the most bewildered person among them was, of course, Cassian. That damn brat. He wanted to grab his head and give it a good thump, but unfortunately, the child was safely and snugly nestled in Daddy’s arms. Cassian glared at the smug little devil for a moment, but soon let out a weary sigh, haa.
Now everything was just a bother. The only thought left in his mind was wanting to go back and collapse into bed. But to do that, he had to deal with the devil first. Amidst all this, Bliss was still struggling and shouting, “Let me marry Cassian!”
“Bliss.”
When Cassian, who had remained silent until then, called his name and approached, Bliss, who had been thrashing about in Koi’s arms, stopped and looked back at him. Cassian put on the most tolerant smile he could muster and spoke to him.
“I’m also very sad that I have to go back like this. But how about we stop playing for today, and you come visit my house next time?”
At the calm voice, Bliss tilted his head.
“Next time? You want me to come visit your house?”
“Yes.”
Cassian continued speaking to Bliss, who was repeating his words.
“My house looks completely different from yours. Don’t be surprised, it’s an ancient castle that’s over 1,000 years old.”
“1,000 years?”
Bliss, who had widened his eyes and exclaimed, then tilted his head the other way and asked.
“What’s 1,000 years?”
Seeing Cassian momentarily freeze, Koi whispered awkwardly.
“Bliss can only count up to 100 so far.”
…Is this kid an idiot?
Cassian was exasperated but suppressed his boiling anger and forced a smile.
“It means it’s very, very old. It was built way, way longer ago than any ‘old’ you know.”
At those words, Bliss’s eyes widened and he shouted.
“What? So a dinosaur made it?”
No, that’s too far back.
Cassian was taken aback but quickly changed his mind. What does it matter anyway. It’s not like I’ll ever see this kid again.
“That’s right. It’s a castle made by a Tyrannosaurus.”
When he carelessly threw out any name, Bliss frowned. As Cassian felt uneasy inside, wondering what now, Bliss opened his mouth.
“That’s weird. Tyrannosaurus has small hands like mine, so how did it stack the bricks?”
…Why did he suddenly get smart?
Cassian, momentarily speechless, forced another smile and quickly changed the subject.
“You can come and check that out. Anyway, Bliss, I came to visit you this time, so isn’t it fair that you come visit my house next time? That’s only fair, right? So let’s say goodbye for today and you come visit my house next time. We can have lots of fun there too, okay? Got it? Good, let’s do that.”
Before Bliss could raise another question, Cassian unilaterally concluded the matter. Cassian and everyone else waited anxiously for Bliss’s reaction.
If he still insists, we’ll have no choice but to take him away by force.
…That’s what Koi was thinking when.
“Okay!”
Bliss suddenly spoke. As everyone looked at him, Bliss stared at Cassian and continued.
“Alright, I’ll come visit your house next time. Fair and square!”
Seeing the adults’ reactions, Cassian inwardly sighed in relief. So we’re getting past this hurdle, he thought, but.
“Then since we’re getting married, I can just go to your house now, right?”
“No, no no, no, absolutely not.”
At Bliss’s innocent question, the color drained from Cassian’s face once more. Faced with this sudden new crisis, Cassian frantically shook his head in denial, then let out a deep sigh and pressed his fingers to his forehead. Seeing his actions, Bliss asked curiously.
“What’s wrong? You said it yourself, to come to your house.”
Having said that, he then narrowed his eyes suspiciously and muttered.
“Don’t tell me… you’re lying to me…”
“Of course not.”
Cassian immediately continued with a smiling face.
“I was completely sincere, but Bliss. It’s a bit difficult to invite someone over to your house so suddenly. When welcoming a guest, we need to prepare on our end too… you know, things like a room for you to use.”
As he spoke, Cassian frantically made eye signals towards his father. Don’t just stand there, do something! Fortunately, the Duke, who caught his son’s distress signal, belatedly stepped forward and backed up Cassian’s words.
“That’s right. The castle is old, so there are many places that need fixing. So please give us some time.”
Bliss still looked suspicious, glancing back and forth between the Duke and Cassian, then quietly opened his mouth.
“How long? About five nights…”
“A year.”
Cassian quickly cut him off. Seeing the look of disbelief instantly spread across Bliss’s face, who had held up five spread fingers, Cassian continued nonchalantly.
“I’m graduating soon, Bliss. I’m going to university. Then I’ll be too busy to play with you like this. So wait until the holidays, okay? You can do that, right?”
At those words, Bliss put on a serious expression and fell into thought. Cassian waited anxiously, thinking what if this kid doesn’t fall for it? If he says something nonsense again, then…
“Alright, I guess I have no choice.”
“Good thinking! Thank goodness, I knew you’d understand, Bliss.”
The moment Bliss finished speaking, Cassian exaggeratedly sighed in relief and beamed brightly. Then Bliss confidently lifted his chin and said.
“If that’s a friend’s situation, then of course I should yield. That’s what a man does, right?”
“Exactly. That’s Bliss for you, a man among men.”
Cassian laughed, giving two thumbs up and continuing to praise Bliss. Just as Bliss’s nose was about to pierce the ceiling with pride, the Duke and Duchess timely wrapped up their farewells.
“Then we’ll be going for today. Goodbye…”
“Thank you for coming. Please take care.”
“Take care, Koi. Thank you for today.”
“The pleasure was mine, Madam. I hope to see you again.”
“Bye, Cassian. I’ll come visit during the holidays.”
“Yeah, I’ll look forward to it. Take care until then.”
Only after each of them said their piece did the Duke’s family finally get into the car. Just as the Duchess was about to get in first, followed by the Duke, and finally Cassian, Ashley Miller approached, pretending to hold the car door, and whispered in a low voice.
“You have a talent for politics.”
Looking up at him involuntarily, the platinum-haired man added with a faint smile.
“That’s a compliment.”
Saying this, he readily stepped back. Cassian hesitated for a moment, then got into the car, and immediately a bodyguard closed the car door. And the cars, just like when they arrived, filed out of the garden in a line.
“Phew.”
Finally convinced it was all over, Cassian leaned his head back against the seat and let out a deep sigh as if he’d been waiting for this moment. Seeing this, the Duchess smiled sympathetically and spoke.
“You had a tough time today, Cassian.”
“Don’t even mention it.”
He spat out through gritted teeth, then added in a tired voice.
“Anyway, it’s resolved well, so it’s fine.”
“I never imagined you’d get a proposal.”
The Duke burst out laughing. The Duchess also laughed, but Cassian found the situation not funny at all.
“By the way.”
The Duke spoke to his son, who was wearing a sullen expression, in a casual tone.
“What did Ashley Miller say to you in front of the car earlier?”
Cassian, who had looked at the curious Duke and Duchess with an expressionless face, opened his mouth.
“He said, ‘See you next time.'”
“Well, we are in-laws now.”
The Duke laughed again, and the Duke and Duchess both laughed. Cassian pretended to laugh along with them and looked out the window.
In that brief moment, he came up with a pretty good excuse. Ashley Miller’s words probably carried that meaning too.
A compliment, you could say, for managing to slip away so well.