By Zephyria 
“Trait?”
Bliss asked back, his eyes widening. Cassian answered, “Yes,” but in his head, he was already anticipating what would happen next.
He’ll obviously say he’s an Omega. Then I’ll naturally ask about the medication…
“I’m a Beta.”
“Right, then… what?”
Cassian, who had been about to speak while pretending to be indifferent, froze. Looking down at Bliss, who hadn’t even tried to hide his flustered expression, Cassian heard him repeat the same words.
“I’m a Beta, a Beta. My trait is Beta.”
Though he heard the same word three times in a row, Cassian still couldn’t believe it. Of course, that was a natural reaction. Because…
Don’t lie to me. I clearly saw you manifest, so what the hell are you talking about?
He barely managed to swallow the words he had almost shouted instinctively. Instead, he pressed a hand to his forehead and grit his teeth, suppressing a curse.
Damn this cursed world-setting.
After letting out a frustrated sigh, he looked down to see Bliss still staring up at him, his eyes darting around. After gazing at the “peanut” in silence for a moment, Cassian spoke.
“…A Beta, you say.”
He muttered it in a voice much lower than usual, almost as if talking to himself, and Bliss nodded.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Once again, Bliss gave the same answer. Whether he was lying with a straight face or truly believed he was a Beta, it was hard for Cassian to judge. He simply stared at the impudent peanut.
“…Fine.”
In the end, he had no choice but to back down. To smooth over the situation, Cassian turned away, tossing out a cliché phrase half-heartedly.
“Then I’ll come get you when the party starts. If you need anything, call someone… and rest.”
Without waiting for Bliss’s response, he stepped outside. Bliss might have said something, but Cassian was too lost in his own thoughts to hear it.
Now what do I do?
Once he was alone in the hallway, he began to walk with a serious expression. Could it be that Bliss doesn’t know he manifested? That shouldn’t be possible. He’s almost an adult; shouldn’t a heat cycle come before then? Or not?
“Damn it, what is going on?”
In a fit of frustration, he ruffled his hair messily. Since there were no other trait-possessors around, it was difficult to gauge the situation. The method of asking directly—whether it was a lie or a lack of self-awareness—had failed for now…
Does that mean there’s only one way left?
Cassian stroked his chin, thinking of the elderly butler’s face. He should check through Penelope, and if that wasn’t certain, he’d have to search the room. If Bliss was taking medication, there would be hidden suppressants.
The option of asking Ashley Miller wasn’t even on the table. It was clear that coming here had been Bliss’s unilateral decision. There was a one-in-a-million chance that Ashley Miller would have agreed to the absurd idea of ‘getting a job to meet someone he likes before getting married,’ so there was no way that man knew about Bliss’s current situation.
Since there would have been no need to hide his trait at the main house, he likely wouldn’t have taken medication there. If he had started taking it, it would have been since arriving here, so the only remaining option was to investigate on-site.
What a headache.
Feeling a sudden wave of fatigue, Cassian opened his door and collapsed onto the bed. Since there were still a few hours left until the party, he could take his time getting ready. It was okay to rest for a bit.
“Sigh.”
He let out another deep sigh from the bottom of his chest. Suddenly, the ceiling of the old castle entered his field of vision. As he stared blankly at the faded painting from hundreds of years ago, thoughts began to drift aimlessly through his mind.
Why do I have to protect the world-setting?
I could just tell him the truth—that I know his identity, that I pretended not to know at first because I wanted him to get lost, and that I continued to play dumb because he helps with my insomnia. I could just sternly tell him that if he’s taking medication, he should stop it because I already know who he is, and that taking too many suppressants is bad for the body.
But what if he leaves this place because of that?
At the thought that followed, Cassian’s expression stiffened. He sat up abruptly, sinking deeper into serious contemplation.
If he finds out his identity has been exposed, he’ll definitely run away.
A deep frown etched itself into Cassian’s brow.
…Wasn’t that what I wanted?
Looking back, it was exactly what he had wished for. He had wanted Bliss to leave this place, to disappear from his life forever. So why, why now…
Why am I hesitating?
“Damn it, I’ve lost my mind.”
Cassian intentionally cursed out loud. He didn’t slap his cheek this time, but he needed to snap out of it. He headed straight for the bathroom and splashed cold water over himself, rubbing his face vigorously to cool his head.
He’s going to leave this place eventually anyway. Whether it’s sooner or later, it’s a predetermined result. So there’s no need to struggle to keep it from that peanut.
Cassian steadied his heart and reached a conclusion. Right, once today’s party is over and I return to my castle, I’ll reveal everything then. And then I’ll kick him out. I’ll figure out the insomnia somehow. If I can’t, I’ll think about it then.
He pushed aside the fundamental question of why he had gone through the trouble of visiting someone’s grave and traveling to another country’s castle in the first place. Leaving only the conclusion, Cassian finished his shower and stood before the vanity. For some reason, his own face reflected in the mirror looked unfamiliar. He paused for a moment upon seeing himself glaring back with knitted brows and a menacing expression.
…I don’t feel good.
“Whew.”
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and looked forward again. It was slightly better than before, but his expression was still unpleasant.
“Tsk.”
He clicked his tongue in irritation and headed straight for the dressing room. The Duchess’s birthday party was drawing near.
“Welcome, Baron. I am glad to see you looking healthy.”
As the Duchess greeted him, the Baron gave a light kiss to the back of her hand and smiled.
“Thank you for inviting me. You are as beautiful as ever.”
After exchanging a few more words, the Baron moved on. Throughout the process of greeting the guests, the Duke and Duchess maintained their wide, practiced smiles. It wasn’t long before the guest they had been waiting for arrived.
“Marquis Manon! I am truly grateful that you came.”
The Marquis shared a bright smile and shook hands with the Duke, who welcomed him with exceptional enthusiasm.
“I am the one who is grateful for the invitation. Madam, happy birthday.”
“Welcome, Marquis. You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting.”
The Duchess added suggestively to the Marquis after he kissed her hand.
“I have high expectations for your performance today.”
“Leave it to me. I have prepared a grand operation for this very day.”
After giving a wink to the Duke and Duchess, the Marquis returned to his usual tone and continued.
“I have come with my grandson. Edward, come here.”
At his words, a man standing a few paces away approached with an awkward smile. The Marquis pulled him forward by the shoulder and spoke to the ducal couple.
“This is my grandson. He is lacking in many ways, but I ask for your kind favor.”
Right on cue, Edward greeted the couple in turn.
“Greetings, Duke, Duchess. Happy birthday. Thank you for inviting me….”
“Thank you for coming, Edward. You used to hang out with Cassian often, didn’t you? It’s been a long time.”
Marquis Manon immediately picked up from the Duchess’s words.
“Indeed. It seems they haven’t met often lately. Come to think of it, where is Count Herringer?”
Though his tone was casual, the Duke and Duchess immediately recognized it as a ‘signal.’
“He is over there with his ‘partner.’ Do you see him?”
“Oh, I see.”
Thanks to his exceptional height, Cassian’s position was easy to find. Marquis Manon nodded and pushed his grandson’s back.
“Now, go and exchange greetings. I have things to discuss with these two.”
Edward looked back at him with a reluctant face, but soon slumped his shoulders and disappeared into the crowd. Once she confirmed Edward had moved far enough away, the Duchess quickly lowered her voice and asked Marquis Manon.
“Marquis, has the operation begun?”
“Of course. As expected, you noticed immediately.”
Seeing the Duchess smile back with satisfaction at his pleased expression, the Duke asked.
“So, what exactly is this operation? Can’t you tell us in advance?”
As he asked, unable to hide his impatience, Marquis Manon replied with a grin that grew even wider.
“This is an operation that has never failed since the dawn of time. No lovers can ever escape this trap.”
“So what is it, exactly?”
“Tell us already, quickly!”
At the repeated urging, Marquis Manon cleared his throat, looked between the Duke and Duchess, and opened his mouth.
“It is the ‘Jealousy Operation’!”