By Zephyria 
Neither of them spoke a word during the transfer from the car to the plane. Bliss stubbornly kept his head turned away, trying his best not to make eye contact even by accident, and Cassian did the same. The flight attendants looked on with curiosity, cautiously gauging the awkward and strange atmosphere between the two.
“Is there anything you need?”
A flight attendant approached Bliss immediately after he raised his hand, and he answered firmly.
“I need a meal.”
“Pardon? But….”
The flight time was barely two hours. To the attendant, who looked at Cassian with a troubled expression, Bliss spoke as if it were a nuisance.
“Do as he wants.”
“Understood.”
The flight attendant replied instantly and addressed Bliss with a professional smile.
“I will prepare your meal. What would you like?”
As the most veteran attendant handed him the menu book, Bliss scanned the booklet with hawk-like eyes.
Hmph, he thinks I’m going to lose.
“This, this, this, and this—give me everything.”
Bliss pointed out every single dish listed in the menu book and then straightened his posture with a hum.
I need to eat a lot and sleep deeply to keep my strength up.
Unlike Bliss, who aggressively devoured the food before him and fell back into a deep sleep, Cassian sat wide awake, neither eating nor sleeping.
I mustn’t let my guard down.
He could not endure the humiliation of being bewitched by that crazy capybara again. He stubbornly stared out the window, ignoring Bliss, who was fast asleep across from him, snoring softly. And shortly after, as scheduled, the plane reached its destination.
Once again, the sun began to rise while they were driving in a car. Bliss frowned deeply at the dazzling light of the sunrise and let out a huge yawn. Where on earth were they going now? He had eaten heartily and slept whenever possible with the determination not to lose, but he couldn’t help feeling exhausted.
Please, let it be a hotel this time…!
He hoped fervently in his heart, but heartlessly, the car passed by several dazzlingly luxurious hotels. Still, he clung to a sliver of hope, wondering if, when he suddenly felt the surroundings change. They were driving over a plaza, not a road. What is this? What’s going on? While he blinked in bewilderment, clinging to the car window, something unexpected entered Bliss’s field of vision.
A palace?
At that moment, the car stopped, and a bodyguard opened the door on his side. Bliss hurried out of the car and his eyes widened at the sight of the massive building standing before him.
“Wha-wha-what is this?”
Buildings that were indescribably luxurious and massive were lined up, not just one, but many. Countless windows and roofs were decorated with gold, and the marble pillars and statues decorating every corner were the pinnacle of luxury, enough to make one’s mind go blank. It was truly a palace where a king would live.
Huh? A king?
The moment the thought occurred, Bliss’s mouth fell open. No way, this is. At that exact moment, a man approached them with a welcoming look.
“Welcome, Count. We have been expecting you.”
Seeing him, Bliss was startled once again.
Another bald man?
Feeling a sense of déjà vu as he looked at the man’s bald head glistening in the sunlight, a bald man with a different face than the previous one began to chatter in a similar manner.
“Everything has been prepared as you requested. Security personnel have been stationed throughout, so please look around comfortably without any worries. It is an honor to have you visit. On behalf of the government, I would like to….”
Cassian let the tedious greetings go in one ear and out the other, responding half-heartedly. Behind him, the capybara was pacing back and forth, not knowing what to do. After finishing his speech, the man glanced at Bliss and lowered his voice to ask.
“Um, Count. Is that the person? The one you mentioned….”
As the man hesitated, unable to finish his sentence, Cassian nodded.
“That’s correct. That child.”
“Ah, I see. My, he looks so young.”
The man looked at Bliss with a pitying expression and then looked back up at Cassian.
“We will provide every convenience possible. Therefore, I hope you both enjoy yourselves comfortably.”
And then, he added something surprising.
“Right here, at the Palace of Versailles!”
“I knew it!”
Bliss shouted simultaneously. I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! It really was. The king’s palace, the space where the queen lived, the very Palace of Versailles where the nobles’ balls were held!
And where the king and his mistress had their affairs…!
“Haaa.”
Bliss cupped his cheeks with both hands and let out a sigh of excitement. I can’t believe I’m here! Numerous dramas and documentaries flashed through his mind. The Queen’s Bedroom, The Sun and I, It’s Okay to Have a Husband, and so on. How many masterpieces were born with the Palace of Versailles as their backdrop!
While he was so excited that his heart felt like it would burst, Cassian looked back at Bliss.
“Hey.”
Startled by the indifferent voice, Bliss looked up to see Cassian flicking his finger with an expressionless face. As if telling him to follow.
That bastard, what does he take me for!
Bliss was seething with anger, but his feet moved automatically to follow Cassian. It couldn’t be helped. This was the Palace of Versailles. His anger vanished quickly, and he tried to follow with steps that felt like they were floating, thrilled for the adventure ahead, when the bald man waiting there suddenly spoke to Bliss.
“If you happen to feel unwell while sightseeing, please tell someone nearby immediately. We will take immediate action.”
“Huh? Oh… thank you.”
As he answered, bewildered by the sudden remark, the man let out a short sigh and made the sign of the cross.
“May God’s grace be with you.”
What was that?
Bliss was puzzled, but he couldn’t linger any longer. Cassian was waiting with a frown on his face. As he hurriedly ran to catch up, Cassian turned and began walking again. The bald man watched their retreating figures with a pitying expression.
“Tickets are this way.”
Following the guidance, Cassian took out his card, paid, and bought two admission tickets. A ticket booth at the entrance of the palace? This is different from the documentaries I saw before. Bliss tilted his head, but soon dismissed the question. Systems are bound to change frequently.
More importantly, the fact that this was Versailles was what mattered. Filled with anticipation, Bliss followed Cassian inside.
“Wow!”
At the same time, an excited exclamation burst from Bliss’s mouth. The corridors, with endlessly high ceilings, walls filled with paintings, and giant chandeliers lighting the way, had statues placed at regular intervals that looked as if they were guiding him forward. He wanted to walk slowly through this luxurious and grand long corridor like the protagonist of a drama, but of course, that was impossible. This was because many people were already buzzing and sightseeing inside the palace.
It can’t be helped, it’s a famous tourist spot.
Thinking this to himself, he walked patiently, when suddenly an elderly woman passing by stole a glance at him. When their eyes accidentally met, she smiled and approached him to speak.
“Hello, are you enjoying the sights?”
“Uh, yes.”
Bliss gave an ambiguous smile at the sudden situation. He was anxious about losing sight of Cassian, but she didn’t leave immediately; instead, she rummaged through her handbag and held something out.
“Take this. These are cookies I baked myself. Rest assured, there’s nothing strange in them.”
Holding Bliss’s hand to make sure he took the small wrapped bag, she added kindly.
“I am praying for your luck. You are a strong child, so you will be able to overcome it. Do not worry.”
“Pardon?”
After saying something completely incomprehensible, the grandmother left. While he was just standing there bewildered, a sharp voice descended from above.
“What are you doing? Why aren’t you following me?”
“Uh, well.”
Flustered, Bliss looked up to see that Cassian, who had been ahead, had come back. Looking past Bliss’s face to the bag he was holding, Cassian frowned and asked.
“What is that?”
“Ah.”
Bliss followed his gaze down to the bag, then looked up again and answered.
“A grandmother I’ve never seen before gave it to me.”