By Zephyria 
Has Penelope truly gone senile?
That was the first thought that popped into Cassian’s head. Otherwise, there was no way she would say something so absurd.
As soon as it’s light, I’ll have to call the primary physician first thing and have her examined.
Under the gaze of his master, who was looking at her with a grave expression, the butler let out a hum, took a deep breath, and nodded firmly.
“Think about it, Count. He came all the way from far-off America just to meet you. And alone, at that! Imagine how many expectations he must have had. This kind of thing, and this, and—see? Even this!”
Penelope flailed her arms up and down and puckered her lips, gesturing enthusiastically before quickly scanning Cassian’s reaction. However, seeing that his gaze remained entirely unimpressed, she hurriedly straightened her posture and continued solemnly.
“Yet, despite recognizing Bliss at first glance, you’ve continued to pretend you don’t know him, and you’ve even showered him with insults. Moreover, you’re sleeping in the same bed, but you’re really just sleeping. It’s only natural that Bliss would be disappointed. How agonizing must it be? The sorrow of having the person you love right before your eyes and being unable to do anything… just thinking about it breaks my heart…”
Penelope dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief once again, but Cassian was not fooled. More importantly, he was preoccupied with how much of the butler’s words he should actually accept.
Penelope wasn’t entirely wrong. If Bliss had come all this way because he liked him, he would naturally have such expectations.
However, there was a very significant constraint. It was a sorry thing to say to Penelope, but he couldn’t grant those expectations. Bliss was a minor.
Come to think of it, when was that brat’s birthday?
Cassian did the math in his head. There were still about two months left…
Suddenly, he shook his head urgently. Wait, what does that matter? There is absolutely no way I’ll ever kiss or do anything of the sort with that brat.
“Count?”
Seeing the Count’s blank face, Penelope called out to him in confusion, but Cassian remained lost in thought, his mind racing.
Think rationally. That brat is just my insomnia cure. Like a security blanket. No, a security peanut.
He took a deep breath and returned to the previous topic. Regardless, Penelope’s idea wasn’t bad. Since he couldn’t force anything if Bliss said no, it might be a good idea to soothe him a bit.
“…Fine.”
Penelope’s eyes sparkled at Cassian’s voice. Unaware of her reaction, Cassian muttered, lost in thought.
“I’ll make some time tomorrow, so have things ready. I’ll call you.”
“Yes! You certainly should. You’ve made the right decision, Count. Truly a wonderful decision.”
Responding fussily, she sprang up and added excitedly,
“Then I shall take my leave. Please get some deep sleep, Count. Tomorrow is a very important day.”
Penelope scurried toward the door, looking back one last time before exiting.
“You must succeed. You have to make Bliss very happy to ensure a peaceful night.”
After she disappeared, having given her advice with a face more solemn than ever, Cassian poured some wine and brought it to his lips.
Now, shall I try to sleep?
He could think about tomorrow’s matters tomorrow. Lying down in bed, he closed his eyes and waited for sleep to come. He could definitely sleep today. His migraine would vanish too. His mind was gradually becoming hazy…
…He should be falling asleep.
After some time had passed, Cassian snapped his eyes open. Why can’t I sleep? It was incomprehensible. Clearly, the peanut was asleep beside him, snoring. Glancing to the side, Bliss was indeed in a deep slumber. If that were the case, shouldn’t he be asleep as well? He closed his eyes and waited again, but the result was the same.
“Damn it, what on earth is this?”
Sitting up in a burst of anger, he clenched his fists and looked beside him. He was suffering through a sleepless night, so why was this brat sleeping so soundly? Why, exactly?
…Could it be.
At a sudden thought, Cassian froze. First his pupils moved, then his head turned. At the end of his gaze was Bliss. The sight of him sleeping soundly with his back turned to Cassian.
Surely that’s not the reason.
It was unbelievable, but there was only one possibility that came to mind. With a heavily distorted face, Cassian stared at Bliss, remaining motionless for a moment. Only the sound of Bliss’s snoring reached his ears.
Is that really the only way?
Cassian grit his teeth and cautiously reached out. His long fingers hesitated, as if reluctant, as they moved toward Bliss. He flinched for a moment at the soft sensation against his fingertips, but there was no other way.
“Damn it.”
Ultimately, with a curse, he grabbed Bliss and pulled him close.
“Uuung.”
Bliss let out a small, grumbling mumble, but fortunately, he soon sank back into a deep sleep. Cassian let out a sigh of relief and embraced Bliss.
…He’s soft.
Along with the warm body heat, a sense of stability filled his arms. He felt as if he caught a pleasant scent. Unconsciously, Cassian buried his nose in Bliss’s hair and took a deep breath.
It felt as if the nerves that had been anxious and sharply on edge until now were instantly calmed. He exhaled a satisfied breath and closed his eyes.
His memory cut off there, and when he woke up, he felt more energized than ever.
“Hmph.”
Facing breakfast, Bliss was puffing out his cheeks. To anyone, it was a face full of dissatisfaction, but neither Cassian, sitting opposite him, nor Penelope, who was pouring juice, seemed to care at all. Cassian had his usual obnoxious expression, and Penelope looked as if she were about to burst into a hum, beaming continuously.
You were in on it after all, Penelope.
Bliss glared at the two of them alternately with intensity and gulped down his juice.
When he opened his eyes, he was suddenly on Cassian’s bed. While he was looking around in confusion, he absurdly heard that obnoxious fellow singing in the bathroom. At that moment, Bliss’s brain cells began working rapidly. Fortunately, the answer came easily.
He kidnapped me while I was sleeping?
There was no other answer. There was no reason for him to be here unless that brat had kidnapped him.
No doubt it was because he couldn’t sleep.
And yet, he was sitting there so brazenly, pretending to be elegant.
The more he looked at the man before him, the more anger welled up. But he was even angrier at himself. Everyone in the Miller household had envied him for the fact that once he fell asleep, he never woke up, but to think that would become such a fatal flaw.
No, the cause of all this is that brat.
Following what he had learned from dramas, Bliss tried to splash the juice on Cassian. However, the moment he gripped the cup and looked down, he paused with a realization. The juice cup was empty.
I drank it all!
While he was flustered by his own mistake, Cassian took the opportunity to stand up. Bliss watched in frustration as Penelope immediately followed after him.
“You remember what I told you last night, right?”
When Penelope closed the door and whispered in a low voice, Cassian replied as if it were a nuisance.
“I know. I’ll call later, so have things ready.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Penelope followed him with a wide smile, walking briskly.
“Count, fighting!”
After cheering him on one last time before the car door closed, she quickly stepped back. After seeing off the car as it sped away, Penelope hurried toward the Count’s room.
Now, next is…
“Bliss, did you enjoy your breakfast?”
As the butler entered the room energetically, her mind was already filled with the lavish events planned for the two of them throughout the day. It’s okay. The Count will surely plan a wonderful event. He’s someone who used to have endless, extravagant romances!
A humming tune escaped her lips, excited by anticipation. Completely unaware of Bliss’s fierce glare, Penelope remained deeply immersed in her romantic fantasies.
What should I do?
Sitting in the back seat of the car, Cassian was lost in thought with a serious face. Recalling Bliss’s heavily swollen face during breakfast, he realized he could delay this no longer. There wasn’t much time left. He had to quickly think of something to soothe that peanut…
The problem was that not a single idea came to mind. After all, it had been over ten years since Cassian had last gone on a date.