By Zephyria 
“Ex—!”
He almost screamed. Bliss quickly diverted his finger, which had been pointing toward the man, to cover his own mouth and hurriedly hid behind Cassian.
Wait, why am I hiding?
Having hidden reflexively, he immediately felt annoyed. Wasn’t that guy the one who badmouthed and mocked Cassian behind his back? The other guy was the one in the wrong, so why was he the one hiding?
That’s right, the one who should be hiding is that bastard.
With a sharp intake of breath, Bliss took a large, crab-like step forward. After stepping with his other foot and whipping around, his eyes met the man’s once again. The man, who had the audacity to remain standing in the same spot, let out a visible gasp.
Clenching his fists and glaring at him, Bliss immediately grabbed Cassian’s arm and shook it. Following the silent signal, Cassian looked over, and when Bliss gestured to him, Cassian leaned down as instructed. Still glancing sideways at Edward, Bliss covered his mouth with his hand and whispered.
“It’s that bastard. The one who hurled insults at the Count at the last party.”
He had already heard this from the Marquis. However, Cassian frowned as if hearing it for the first time and mouthed a question to Bliss.
‘Really?’
“Yes.”
Bliss testified with a determined expression.
“He rambled on about you being an eunuch and a son of a bitch. He even called you a chicken-brain and a weakling.”
When Cassian pretended to be surprised, Bliss added firmly,
“That was basically the gist of it.”
“I see.”
Cassian nodded gravely.
“Thank you, Bli—Blair. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You’re welcome.”
Nodding along with Cassian, Bliss added in an even more energized tone,
“Don’t worry, Count. I can easily handle a weakling like that with one hand.”
Seeing him hold up his clenched fist for show, Cassian almost burst into laughter. By any standard, Edward was much taller and broader. And Cassian was far larger than Edward. To think this little peanut crumb was offering to protect him.
“Thank you. I feel very reassured.”
Barely suppressing his laughter, Cassian spoke softly and turned his head. The smile that had been spread across his face vanished the instant Edward entered his field of vision. With a cold expression, Cassian spoke.
“Edward. I asked if you had business with me.”
At that moment, Cassian saw it. Edward’s eyes darted around urgently before he let out a sigh of relief.
Is that bastard checking the surroundings because he’s afraid Bliss might swing something at him again?
Cassian let out a cold sneer at the obvious motive. He just had to stop doing stupid things.
“Hello, Cassian.”
Greeting him with a slightly calmer face, Edward stepped forward. Moving stiffly like an ungreased robot, he took three steps and managed a strained smile toward Bliss, who was glaring at him with the eyes of a wildcat.
“Hello… your name is?”
Edward looked at Cassian as if asking for help, but Cassian only frowned deeper.
“I asked what your business is.”
“I don’t have any with you.”
Edward spat out irritably and focused his attention back on Bliss.
“Hello, what’s your name? You know me, right?”
This bastard?
Cassian’s brow furrowed visibly. Was he trying to make a move on Bliss right in front of him? How dare he?
While it was absurd, an inexplicable feeling of displeasure arose. It seemed he hadn’t come to his senses even after getting beaten by Bliss. If Bliss said he wanted to hit the man, Cassian wouldn’t stop him. In fact, hitting that ignorant fool might hurt Bliss’s small hands, so he should find him a weapon. While pretending to drink wine, he quickly scanned the surroundings, but suddenly Bliss spoke.
“Of course I know you. You’re the mister who hurled insults at the Count.”
“Pfft.”
“What?”
In an instant, Cassian spat out the drink he was sipping, and Edward’s eyes widened in bewilderment. Cassian hurriedly pulled out his handkerchief to wipe his mouth and looked down, while Bliss puffed out his chest confidently and continued.
“I don’t know what you’ve come here to do this time, but you won’t get away with it twice. Because I’m here.”
Immediately after, Bliss looked around with those wildcat eyes. Seeing him clearly searching for a weapon, Edward startled and waved his hands frantically.
“No, no, no! It’s a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! I have no business with Cassian. I came to see you. Really, I have business with you! Only you!”
At the desperate cry, Bliss finally fixed his busy eyes on Edward. Even so, his gaze remained full of distrust, but Edward felt relieved that the search for a weapon had stopped and spoke with difficulty.
“I was wrong about what happened back then. I already apologized to Cassian, right? You forgave me too, didn’t you? Huh?”
When Edward looked at him seeking agreement, Cassian didn’t answer and instead looked away into the distance. That son of a bitch? Just as a pale Edward was about to shout urgently, Bliss glared at him with sharp eyes and warned,
“Don’t talk nonsense. Do you think a simple apology settles it after such terrible insults? And someone who does that once will eventually stab you in the back again. So don’t try any tricks, and…”
“Wait, wait! No, fuck, that’s not it!”
Driven by a suffocating sense of frustration, Edward finally snapped. However, the person who reacted to the curse was Cassian.
“What did you just say?”
It was his usual low voice, but the unusually slow cadence made Edward realize his mistake instantly. He hurriedly covered his mouth with his hand, but it was too late. Unexpectedly, Cassian looked down at him with a cold gaze and repeated,
“Edward Libertan. I asked you, what did you just say?”
“No, I mean. I-it’s a misunderstanding, Cassian.”
Edward shook his head urgently, but Cassian’s gaze did not change. Instead, he twisted his lips into a mocking smirk and spoke.
“A misunderstanding. Then is something wrong with my ears? I’m quite sure I heard the word ‘fuck.’”
Then, he leaned in and whispered while looking into Edward’s eyes.
“So you’re saying I’m hearing things, right?”
“Y… yes, that’s right.”
Edward broke into a cold sweat and forced a laugh.
“There’s no way I would curse at you, Cassian.”
“Not me, this way.”
Cassian tilted his head and pointed toward Bliss. Edward had no choice but to pull his lips into a wide, forced smile and say to Bliss,
“I did not curse at you, absolutely not.”
Cassian gazed at Bliss, as if asking what he wanted to do. Since Edward was trembling and reading the room, and Cassian had left the decision to him, Bliss felt quite satisfied and nodded.
“I shall accept the apology.”
Speaking quite maturely, he lifted his chin high and asked arrogantly,
“So, what is your business with me?”
At Bliss’s question, Edward took a deep breath. Proud of himself for finally making it this far, he spoke with difficulty.
“Uh, well, would you dance with me?”
If he had been drinking wine, he would have spat it out again. Cassian looked down at Edward with surprised eyes, and Bliss knitted his brows deeply, as if wondering what on earth his ulterior motive was.
30.
The voices of the people seemed to drift in from a distance. Bliss and Cassian were staring at Edward simultaneously. Amidst the awkward tension, only Edward was dripping cold sweat down his back as he waited for Bliss’s answer. Though the distance was far, he could clearly feel it—his Grandfather’s piercing gaze directed at him.
I have to pull this off.
He swallowed hard and spoke again.
“Please dance with me. Just one song is enough, please…”
“Hold on.”
Cassian stepped in front of Edward, who had hastily reached out his hand. With a face full of displeasure, he looked down at Edward and spoke in a low voice.
“What exactly do you think you’re doing right now?”