Deflower 113

He continued with an arrogant addition.

“I can handle weaklings like that easily. Don’t worry. From now on, I’ll teach a lesson to anyone who dares threaten you, Count.”

Hmph, who does he think he’s looking down on?

As Bliss looked up with a huff and a face full of spite, surprisingly, a wide smile spread across Cassian’s lips.

“Thank you for protecting me.”

At the soft voice, Bliss’s spirits were instantly lifted, and he completely forgot why he had been grumpy a moment ago. Furthermore, upon hearing the magic words ‘thank you,’ he couldn’t hide his overflowing joy.

“Don’t mention it. It’s only natural for the strong to help the weak.”

And with his mouth still hanging open in a goofy grin, he added,

“You may look the part, Count, but you’re actually quite fragile.”

…How on earth did he come to such a misunderstanding?

Cassian was momentarily confused. However, it wasn’t entirely baseless. Though it was due [unauthorized copy]visit our site-->unauthorized copyunauthorized copy -->to his insomnia, he did frequently lose consciousness in front of this fellow.

“Yes, you are quite reliable.”

Saying so, Cassian subtly pulled Bliss into a close embrace. The word ‘pervert’ seemed to flicker through his mind for a second, but it quickly vanished into the distance. Seeing Bliss looking up at him with a proud face, struggling not to miss a step, was so adorable that Cassian’s face remained filled with smiles throughout.

Watching them from afar, the Duke and Duchess, along with Marquis Manon, nodded with satisfied expressions.

“How lovely,” the Duchess spoke first, and the Duke soon agreed.

“Indeed, absolutely lovely.”

Marquis Manon didn’t miss his chance to chime in either.

“They are a most fitting couple.”

With a look of deep emotion, the Duchess clasped her hands together and said,

“Look at the way they gaze at each other. And those expressions. To anyone’s eyes, isn’t that the image of lovers deeply in love?”

“It is truly touching. Marquis, this is all thanks to you. My gratitude.”

As the Duke grasped Marquis Manon’s hand with both of his, repeatedly expressing his thanks, Read on Read BL Novelsdata-wm="stolen content" style="display:none;" aria-label="stolen content">stolen contentthe Marquis replied with a satisfied look.

“I failed to accomplish the task my grandson requested, but if the result is good, isn’t everything good? In any case, seeing those two dancing together so affectionately, it must be a grand success.”

“Moreover, they’ve already danced three songs in a row. I’m slightly worried that Bliss might collapse from exhaustion.”

Even as she spoke, the smile never left the Duchess’s lips. Seeing her try to cover her mouth with one hand to hide her widening grin, Marquis Manon responded with satisfaction.

“If he lets that boy go, another fellow will immediately snatch him away to dance, so Count Herringer won’t be able to stop. I guarantee that the two of them will leave the ballroom together. Once the boy says he’s tired, the Count will insist on escorting him back to his room.”

“Ho, and why is that?”

When the Duke asked with curiosity, the Marquis gave a confident answer.

“That way, there will be no room for other bugs to fly in, will there? If Count Herringer escorts him to his room, the rivals will have no choice but to give up.”

He then turned his gaze back toward Bliss and Cassian and declared boldly,

“Just watch. Soon, those two will descend from the floor together. I’d be willing to bet my entire fortune and title on it.”

The three of them stared at the dance floor with intrigued expressions. More accurately, they stared at the couple continuing to circle the stage. And after two more songs were played, as the third began, the Marquis’s prophecy came true.

“L-look! Look over there!”

Marquis Manon whispered excitedly. Just as he had said, Cassian was supporting Bliss as they stepped off the floor. The Duke and Duchess were also flustered, their faces even flushing red.

“Oh my, it’s true. They’re leaving together!”

“Marquis, amazing. How is your insight so keen? They are indeed leaving the party together!”

“Hahaha! Hahahahaha!”

At the continuous admiration and praise from the Duke and Duchess, Marquis Manon couldn’t suppress his satisfaction and burst into a hearty, loud laugh.

“Did I not tell you so? I knew it would be like this. I can read the signs instantly. After all, a story must follow a certain order, must it not?”

“Truly impressive. I am sincerely in awe.”

Following the Duke, the Duchess asked in a highly excited voice,

“Then what’s next? Marquis Manon, please give us your next prophecy. Is there anything else you can see?”

Like the Duchess, the Duke was also looking at the Marquis with anticipation. Marquis Manon, acting quite boastful, stroked his beard and cleared his throat with a hem-hem.

“Well now. I wonder how much an old man like myself can see into unauthorized copyEND: unauthorized copy -->the thoughts of today’s youth.”

At that, the Duchess gave him a gentle, playful glance, pretending to be surprised.

“Oh, such humble words. With your insight, Marquis, generations do not matter. Please tell us—when should we start preparing for the wedding?”

As she slipped in her true intentions, the Duke also added a word from the side.

“You must tell us so we can prepare. Don’t keep the information to yourself; share it with us, quickly!”

Now, they were completely captivated by Marquis Manon’s ‘love prophecies.’ Marquis Manon, seemingly very pleased with the situation, flushed and cleared his throat again.

“Well, I cannot give a definitive answer, but I suspect it will be six months at the earliest, and a year at the latest.”

“Six months?”

“You mean six months?”

Seeing the Duke and Duchess exclaim almost simultaneously, Marquis Manon became flustered, thinking, Ah. Did he set it too long? Should he have said three months? While he was inwardly anxious and breaking into a cold sweat, the Duchess spoke with a frown.

“That’s too far away. Six months? We have to wait half a year?”

“Pardon?”

The Marquis asked in surprise, but the Duke’s reaction was no different.

“Indeed. And to think we might have to wait up to a year—that’s far too long. That son of mine is just so sluggish, honestly.”

Seeing the Duke click his tongue and even scold his son, the Marquis finally felt relieved and let out a generous laugh.

“But six months to a year until marriage is quite fast. Most couples wait several years after getting engaged.”

“Wait several years? What on earth do they do during that time? If they’re engaged, they should marry immediately. Hmph. These young people.”

“Dear, calm down. Come to think of it, that’s not so bad.”

At the Duchess’s sudden remark, the two men turned their gaze toward her at once. To them, who had no idea what she meant, the Duchess explained with a bright smile.

“It’s a year until the wedding, right? Six months at the earliest. We can just get them engaged first and then prepare for the wedding. We can’t skip the engagement, after all.”

“Can’t they just do the engagement and wedding all at once?”

The Duke seemed to have come up with a good idea, but the Duchess did not agree.

“We cannot rush through a precious, once-in-a-lifetime event like that.”

And this was an event for the Duke and Duchess as well. The one-and-only engagement and wedding of their only child—how could they miss this opportunity?

“That makes sense. I understand.”

The Duke nodded, having realized her train of thought. The Duchess gently placed her hand on her husband’s arm and said,

“It will be a very joyful event for us as well.”

“Indeed, I think so too.”

The two looked at each other and smiled happily. Facing the affection-filled sight of a couple who had spent their lives looking only at each other, the Marquis spoke up.

“By the way.”

As the couple turned to him, the Marquis asked with a wide grin,

“When would be a good time for the child’s christening? I must attend as the godfather, after all.”

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Huuu.

Bliss walked down the hallway, staggering. [stolen content]style="position:absolute;left:-9999px;font-size:0;">[unauthorized copy]copy" style="display:none;" aria-label="unauthorized copy">unauthorized copyAlthough Cassian was supporting him from the side, he couldn’t help the trembling in his legs.

“Are you okay?”

Cassian asked from above. To a question that had already been repeated several times, Bliss gave the same answer.

“I feel like I’m going to die.”

At that, Cassian laughed out loud. This, too, was a repeated pattern. Eventually, Bliss burst out in complaint.

“Why on earth do nobles love dancing so much?”