By Zephyria 
“Everything is fine and all, but shouldn’t we start by figuring out where this child came from?”
And with that, she shifted her gaze stealthily toward Cassian.
“The fact that he was in your car suggests he’s related to you.”
“Uh, yeah. I think so too.”
As soon as one person agreed, another voice immediately followed.
“Of course I thought so.”
“Cassian, what on earth happened? Be honest, is he your kid?”
At the boundary-crossing question, Cassian’s face instantly stiffened, and he shook his head.
“What are you talking about? Absolutely not.”
He denied it immediately, but they didn’t care and continued to pour out questions.
“Where was he born? With whom, and when?”
“Does the Duke know? If the kid is this size, how old is he? Five? Six?”
“You didn’t bring such a small child here to abandon him in the forest, did you? I hope you’re not that kind of monster.”
“He couldn’t have. We caught him.”
“Cassian Strickland, I’m truly disappointed. To think you were such trash.”
At that moment, a thick vein popped up on Cassian’s temple. These bastards? Rage surged within him, but it didn’t end there.
“Does the kid have a name? What did you call him?”
“Would he have given him a name if he brought him here to dump him? You bastard. You cold-blooded monster.”
“Hey, you really can’t live your life like that.”
“How about we give him a name? And then let’s discuss a plan together.”
“Excluding that guy.”
“Of course. We shouldn’t let trash like him be involved.”
Before he knew it, Cassian had become a despicable piece of trash trying to dump his own child in the woods. This was the first time in his life he had ever felt so wronged and bewildered. Who the hell do these people think I am? Having reached his limit after listening to them whisper and condemn him at will, Cassian finally exploded.
“Everyone shut up! I said no, damn it, this kid isn’t mine! I said he’s not!”
Unlike his usual self, his face was fraught with anger, causing the group who had been chatting away to fall silent simultaneously. However, Cassian was still breathing heavily; he turned back toward the trunk and began to shake the child awake.
“Wake up, Bliss. Wake up.”
“Uuuung.”
“Cassian, we were wrong. Don’t bother waking him.”
One person spoke up bravely, but Cassian ignored them and continued to shake Bliss vigorously.
“Bliss, I said wake up. Open your eyes, hurry.”
“Uuuh….”
Bliss barely managed to lift his eyelids, blinking sleepily, and then gave a beaming smile. He had clearly recognized Cassian. Just as a slightly relieved Cassian was about to open his mouth, Bliss reached out both arms, hugged Cassian’s neck, and mumbled.
“Honey, Daddy.”
With those words, Cassian froze solid, and the onlookers began to scream in horror.
“T-t-that piece of trash!”
“You animal! You son of a bitch!”
“My god! Police, call the police! That—that—!”
The person who had been pointing fingers and foaming at the mouth looked around in a panic.
“What’s the charge for that bastard?”
At the question, the others hesitated for a moment, but soon provided an answer.
“Who cares! The prosecutor will decide that!”
“Right, the only thing that’s certain is that this bastard tried to abandon a child. You evil man!”
“Exactly, and such a cute child at that!”
“Boooo, you bad man! Boooo!”
“…Sigh.”
Cassian let out a deep sigh at the continuous barrage of resentment and jeers. A sudden, overwhelming fatigue washed over him. Is this all my credibility is worth to these people?
No, the biggest problem was this kid.
Cassian lowered his head and locked eyes with Bliss, who was looking up at him. The child gave a cheeky grin and said,
“Honey… mmpf.”
Quickly covering Bliss’s mouth before he could spout more nonsense, Cassian hurriedly looked back. Seeing the group still letting out incomprehensible shouts, Cassian finally closed his eyes and sighed deeply. Deciding to accept reality, he took the child in his arms and turned toward his friends.
“Alright, let me introduce him. This is Bliss Miller.”
At the name ‘Miller,’ the gathered group momentarily froze. The same thought crossed all their minds.
Surely it’s not THAT Miller. Miller is a common surname…
While they were half-doubting, Cassian added in a weary voice.
“He’s the youngest son of Ashley Miller, the representative of Miller Law Firm.”
A sudden, awkward silence fell. The people who had been pouring out jeers with all their might looked at each other with bewildered faces, then at Cassian, then at the child, and finally back at Cassian.
“…Whose son?”
As one person finally managed to speak, Eina picked up the thread and asked.
“Wait, so this child is—I mean, he’s the son of that Ashley Miller? Really?”
It was then that they noticed the child’s brilliant platinum blonde hair, which was practically the symbol of the Miller family. While everyone stood speechless, one person asked urgently, their face turning pale.
“Cassian, did you kidnap Ashley Miller’s son? Why on earth would you do that?”
At that moment, Cassian heard something snap inside him.
“You sons of bitches!”
No words were heard among the people sitting around the fire. Only the awkward sound of the fire crackling, snap, snap, filled the air. While everyone was walking on eggshells and unable to speak, only Bliss sat on Cassian’s lap, beaming.
“Hoo, hoo.”
Watching Bliss blow on and eat a deliciously roasted potato, Cassian spoke.
“What happened? Why were you in the trunk of the car?”
Bliss answered while diligently cooling down the hot potato.
“I happened to meet a servant, and they said you were leaving right away and were loading luggage into the car.”
“And?”
Bliss then said with a bright smile,
“I wanted to play too, so I hid in the car!”
Sighs immediately erupted from all directions. Cassian, rubbing his face with one hand, looked at his friends and said in a tired voice,
“You heard him, right? This kid followed me on his own.”
“Yeah, we get it now.”
“I get it, but how did it end up like….”
“Why is the youngest of the Miller family here? Ashley Miller should be in the States. Did he come alone?”
At the following question, Cassian chose his words carefully.
“That is….”
“I’m going to marry Cassian!”
Everyone’s eyes widened in shock at Bliss’s sudden bombshell declaration. Cassian hurriedly covered the child’s mouth.
“I already saw Cassian naked—mmpf!”
“There were some circumstances.”
He spoke hurriedly before further misunderstandings could arise, but the expressions on his friends’ faces already revealed exactly what they were thinking. Still, Cassian didn’t give up and added,
“I’ll explain in detail. Later, okay?”
Though bewildered by his desperate attitude, the friends nodded. Cassian then quickly handed Bliss a sausage he had been roasting to prevent him from saying anything else nonsensical.
“Here, you’re hungry, right? Eat.”
Bliss held the remaining potato in one hand and took the sausage in the other, then wrinkled his nose.
“I can’t eat things with too much pepper because they’re spicy. Are there no pancakes? With maple syrup….”
“There aren’t. Just eat what I give you, here.”
Under repeated pressure, Bliss reluctantly pouted and took the sausage. Eating the two foods alternately, Bliss suddenly coughed.
“Khek, khek-khek.”
“You have to eat slowly. Give it here.”
Tsk-ing, Cassian took the sausage away from Bliss and handed him a cup of water instead. Watching silently as Bliss gulped down the water, Cassian took the empty cup, returned the sausage, and asked,
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Thank you.”
Bliss nodded and gave a beaming smile. Seeing that, Cassian frowned.
“What? What is it?”
To Cassian, who was stealthily becoming wary, Bliss answered brightly.
“When we get married, we’ll keep playing together like this, right?”