By Zephyria 
“My goodness, Bliss. You’re sweating so much.”
Penelope, who had been lingering in front of Bliss’s room, spoke up in surprise upon spotting Bliss rushing toward her. Bliss, having run hard through the vast castle, tried to ask what was going on between gasps for air, but she continued before he could.
“I know, it’s alright, so let’s go inside and talk first.”
He didn’t know what she meant by “I know,” but Bliss followed her instructions and opened his door to go inside. Penelope naturally followed behind the bewildered young man.
“Haaa.”
Bliss flopped onto the bed to catch his breath, and only after his breathing had eased did he lift his head to look at Penelope.
“What is it, Penelope? Why did you call me so suddenly?”
As he asked, his breath still slightly ragged, Penelope—who had been peering into his wardrobe—quickly turned toward him with a giggle.
“It’s nothing major; I just have something to ask you.”
“Something to ask? Me?”
To Bliss, who repeated her words exactly, she replied in a tender tone.
“Yes, shall we say I need Bliss’s advice? Something only Bliss can provide.”
“What is it?”
Advice that only he could give? He couldn’t imagine what it could be. As he looked at her with a tilted head, Penelope lightly patted Bliss’s shoulder as if to reassure him.
“You don’t have to worry, it’s nothing much. Just a simple question—a survey, if you will, yes.”
“A survey?”
It was still nonsense to him. As Bliss frowned deeply, Penelope cleared her throat with an “ahem” and finally got to the point.
“Bliss, if you were to go on a date, what kind of events would you like?”
Before Bliss could repeat the question again, she quickly added:
“It’s just that it’s been so long since I’ve been on a date that I can’t remember well. Bliss, you’re still young, so you must know a lot, right? Of course, you must have experience dating a lovely lady.”
A date.
The moment he heard that word, Bliss’s mood instantly brightened. A date! The flower of romance, the vitality of dramas! What a wonderful word.
Seeing him become instantly enchanted and cup his cheeks in his hands, Penelope quickly pulled out her phone and prepared to take notes.
“Now, tell me, Bliss. What kind of date is good?”
“Well…”
Bliss thought back vaguely. A date, a wonderful date. In truth, he had seen them countless times in dramas and books, but he had never actually experienced one. Instead, he had imagined them countless times. The most wonderful dates, and conversely, the worst ones.
The Ferris wheel date from Love Me to Death was wonderful. The passionate confession poured out in the rain from The Tears of Your Seducing Wife was grand. The kiss shared against the sunset on a pirate ship in The Duke and the Pirate was historically impossible…
Wait? The Duke and the Pirate?
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. He flicked his gaze toward Penelope, who was urging him on with excitement.
“Hurry, what comes to mind? What do you want to do?”
Suspicious.
Bliss narrowed his eyes suspiciously, straightened his posture, and spoke cautiously.
“Why are you asking me such a question…? Penelope, by any chance, are you planning to go on a date?”
At that, Penelope jumped in surprise and waved her hands frantically.
“Oh, me? My goodness, how scandalous. There’s no way. Absolutely not. Not at all.”
After her urgent denial, she noticed Bliss staring at her with wide, bird-like eyes and hurriedly came up with an excuse.
“Oh dear, what are you thinking? I’m simply trying to give dating advice to a certain someone. But I’m far too old, so I have no idea what people these days think. It would be wonderful if Bliss could help me.”
At the request delivered with a lingering, trailing tone, Bliss became momentarily confused. Penelope, asking me? Suddenly, for what reason? Dating advice? For whom? Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed to be a very important person…
Penelope’s important person.
Suddenly, his brain cells fired. A thought flashed through Bliss’s mind, and he slowly opened his mouth.
“Is it perhaps… someone of high status?”
Hearing the hesitant voice, Penelope beamed a wide smile. Lovely Bliss, to be so cautious.
“Of course. A high, very high-status person.”
Another warning alarm went off in Bliss’s head. Could it be?
“Is that person perhaps the Count?”
“Oh my.”
Penelope was so surprised she covered her mouth with one hand. How could he be so quick-witted? Could this be the power of love?
Seeing Penelope’s reaction, Bliss thought, As I suspected, and a vein popped on his temple. But he wasn’t finished.
“And who is the date partner?”
The memory of Cassian disappearing with Eina right before his eyes resurfaced. Was it Eina after all? No, it could be someone else.
That arrogant brat, daring to seek my advice to go on a date with someone else.
Unaware of Bliss’s clenched fists, Penelope brought her second finger to her lips and whispered, “Shh.”
“I can’t tell you that. But one thing is certain: they are a very lovely person.”
Penelope would say such a thing about them?
He was so appalled he was speechless. Bliss, who could only gape, barely managed to squeeze out a response.
“Then would the words of someone like me even be helpful? The Count is a veeeery noble person.”
At the blunt tone that betrayed his emotions, Penelope hurriedly shook her head and comforted Bliss.
“Oh, no. It’s fine. What’s wrong with Bliss? You are more than qualified to give the Count advice. You don’t have to worry.”
She barely suppressed the urge to say, ‘Actually, it’s a date with Bliss.’ It wasn’t time to reveal that yet.
Don’t be heartbroken, Bliss. This is all for your sake.
Bliss will plan a date on behalf of his beloved Count without knowing anything, but once he finds out that the Count’s date partner is himself, he’ll be overcome with emotion. He might even shed tears. And then the two will finally share a passionate kiss…
That evil bastard.
At that exact moment, seeing Penelope’s radiant face, Bliss clenched his fists tight. Daring to use me. Not a chance. I won’t be fooled.
Because I am Bliss Miller!
Whew. After taking a deep breath to calm his emotions, Bliss finally spoke.
“First of all, the first thing to do is…”
Penelope pricked up her ears and stared intently at his mouth. And it was approximately thirty minutes later that Penelope requested Cassian to return home immediately, citing an ’emergency situation.’
“Is this for real?”
Cassian, who had received the report from Penelope, scanned the text in an instant and soon his face contorted. He read it again, but it was still an absurd list. Seeing his master’s face full of disbelief, Penelope answered modestly, yet with a tone of conviction.
“Yes, that is it. You must proceed exactly as written.”
“This is ridiculous…”
Barely swallowing the urge to call it ‘bullshit,’ Cassian frowned and fixed his eyes on the list once more. No matter how long it had been since he’d been on a date, this was a completely nonsensical itinerary. There are people who do this? Really?
“Is this even possible? In one day?”
“If you’re diligent, you’ll finish it within three days.”
Still bullshit. The travel time alone seemed like it would take two full days.
“Insane nonsense.”
“I wrote this after asking Bliss directly.”
At those words, Cassian’s hand, which had been about to throw the report away, paused. Seeing his reaction, Penelope nodded and continued.
“Yes, that’s right. It’s the date course that Bliss wants.”
Cassian’s eyes returned to the report. As he stared without even blinking, Penelope added a chirpy explanation.
“It might differ from your tastes, Count. Everyone has their own preferences, after all. If you think of it as Bliss’s tastes being a bit unique, there’s no reason you can’t accept it, right?”
Her words were quite persuasive. Besides, if it was a crazy capybara, it was entirely possible for him to think of such things. Thinking that way, the report in his hand seemed considerably more plausible. Penelope’s fuss about an ’emergency situation’ was also sufficiently understandable.
Sigh. Cassian let out a short sigh and finally nodded.
“Fine. Prepare the private jet.”
Then, he folded the report and put it in the inner pocket of his suit, saying:
“We’ll go to Mozart’s grave first, right now.”