By Zephyria 
Hearing those words, Bliss tilted his head to the opposite side this time.
“Peanuuuut?”
“Yes, you.”
Cassian spat the words out through gritted teeth. Just wait until this brat gets his senses back. Just as Cassian vowed to throw him over his shoulder and give his backside a good spanking, Bliss grabbed his tie. Cassian leaned one cheek against his arm, resting it on the edge of the bathtub, and stared at him with a scowl. His gaze seemed to ask: So, what do you plan to do now?
“Hehe.”
Suddenly, Bliss began to beam with a bright smile. By the time Cassian had etched deeper wrinkles into his brow, wondering what on earth was happening now…
…Huh?
Abruptly, Bliss’s face drew closer. Cassian remained still, watching him. There was nowhere to run anyway. His back was blocked by the bathtub, and a capybara was perched on top of him. He watched, thinking that no matter what this peanut did, he could easily subdue him with one hand.
Then, a soft chu sound echoed. A sensation as soft as the sound brushed against his lips. Cassian froze, not moving an inch. It was strange. Bliss’s face was right before his eyes. He could see the long eyelashes of the closed eyelids blurred in his vision.
The boy slowly lifted his head. Only then did Cassian meet his eyes again. A rosy flush had risen on Bliss’s face as he looked down at Cassian.
“Hit.”
After letting out a short, giddy laugh with his mouth wide open, Bliss suddenly collapsed. Even as the boy’s head hit his chest with a thud, Cassian remained motionless. He could hear the sound of soft, rhythmic breathing against his chest. Bliss had fallen asleep—and right on top of Cassian’s body, no less.
Cassian, who had been frozen without even blinking until that moment, realized the truth as he listened to the peaceful breathing. Bliss Miller, that damn peanut crumb, had kissed him on the lips.
♪♬♬♪♪♩♪…
Penelope, who was just preparing for bed, was startled by the sudden ringing of her phone. Looking at the number, it was her employer. At this hour? She blinked in surprise. The Count was an aristocrat to his core, but he was a man who knew how to be considerate of others. He had never once summoned an employee this late at night, so Penelope felt an ominous premonition.
Could something have gone wrong with the plan?
“Yes, Count.”
As she answered the phone with a trembling heart, the Count’s voice came from the other end.
—Come to my room. Now.
Then, the line went dead. Penelope turned pale and accidentally let out an audible gulp. Something had happened. Something very big.
“Explain exactly what the hell this sight is supposed to be.”
Cassian muttered in a menacing voice, looking down at the butler who was trembling and pale. Bliss was sprawled across the bed, snoring in his sleep. However, the difference from usual was that he was grinning and mumbling something continuously.
“No, I mean, what on earth… he was fine until a moment ago…”
Bliss had seemed perfectly normal until Penelope had dressed him in Cassian’s shirt and left the room. Well, he had seemed excessively happy, but she had assumed it was because he was thinking about the time he would spend alone with Cassian. To Penelope, who was stuttering because she truly couldn’t find a reason, Cassian spat through gritted teeth.
“What the hell did you feed that brat? Why is he this drunk?”
Only then did Penelope realize. Ah. Could it be, though it seemed unbelievable…
“That is, well…”
Penelope swallowed hard and spoke with difficulty.
“It was a bit hot today. So I made him a Pimm’s Cup, and he liked it so much… I didn’t know he would get this drunk from it…”
A Pimm’s Cup? A Pimm’s Cup?!
For a moment, Cassian stared at the butler with a look of horror. Although it was a drink meant to be diluted, it still contained alcohol. So, it was possible to get drunk if one kept drinking it, but…
This brat is still a minor! How could you give alcohol to a minor!
He was about to scold Penelope, but…
“Just how old is this brat…?”
“He’s over eighteen.”
Cassian, who had just raised his voice, paused. Penelope had a guilt-ridden expression, but she didn’t seem nervous.
“…Eighteen?”
At the skeptical question, Penelope nodded. “Yes. He celebrated his birthday back in his hometown before coming here. He is a child who came all this way trusting me, so please forgive him just this once. I will take responsibility and teach him well…”
Right, that was the setting.
Cassian froze. He had forgotten. He had forgotten that Penelope had lied, claiming this brat was a relative.
“Haaa…”
To prevent the world-building from exploding, he needed patience once again. No, I can’t. I mustn’t. Cassian struggled to regain his reason. If he pointed out the flaw in Penelope’s story here, it would be revealed that he knew the peanut’s true identity. It was too early. Absolutely not until he uncovered the conspiracy of those capybaras.
Therefore, I must endure even this trial…!
Tilting his head back and closing his eyes, Cassian took a deep breath—whoosh—and turned toward the bathroom before he could make a mistake. However, even there, he faced another disaster. The bathtub suddenly entered his field of vision, and he couldn’t help but recall what had happened earlier.
“Count?”
Seeing Cassian suddenly freeze, Penelope called out to him in confusion. But that only had the opposite effect. Feeling as if his thoughts had been caught, Cassian’s face flushed bright red in an instant.
That peanut crumb…!
Covering his mouth with one hand and barely suppressing a curse, he hurriedly avoided the elderly butler’s gaze. Seeing her employer like this, Penelope began to offer excuses, not knowing what to do.
“I am sorry, Master. It seems he was very lonely after leaving his hometown. I will admonish him properly, so please forgive him just once. I will make sure he doesn’t drink any alcohol in the future. For my sake, please…”
Cassian remained silent, looking down at Penelope’s face. Based on her reaction, it was clear the butler knew Bliss’s identity, but she didn’t seem to know his exact age. That cheeky peanut must have lied to deceive this old butler. If he had honestly admitted to being a minor, Penelope wouldn’t have hired him in the first place.
Furthermore, looking at her reaction now, getting drunk hadn’t been part of her calculations…
Bliss was likely this drunk because it was his first time drinking alcohol. And Penelope, not knowing the peanut was a minor, probably gave it to him without a second thought. Since it was a common drink for hot days.
“…Fine.”
Eventually, Cassian spoke with a displeased expression.
“Be careful in the future. You may leave now.”
“Thank you. Um, please don’t be too hard on Bli—Blair either. It is all my fault.”
At Penelope’s earnest plea, Cassian simply nodded instead of saying he understood. After the butler left the room, still looking back with a worried expression, Cassian, left alone, shifted his gaze back to the bed.
Bliss was still sleeping, breathing softly. Cassian’s eyes, staring blankly, focused on one spot. As the slightly parted, plump lips came into view, he felt his face heating up again and covered his mouth with one hand.
I need to kick that damn brat out of here immediately.
“Whaaat? A party?!”
Bliss asked loudly, surprised by the sudden news. Penelope, who was pouring fruit juice beside him, also looked at Cassian with wide eyes. Cassian, who was looking at his phone screen while drinking his usual hot, strong black tea, answered indifferently.
“Yes, there is a social gathering. I’m taking you with me.”
Bliss! We did it!
Penelope screamed inwardly. Bliss also looked up at her, his eyes sparkling.
This guy is seriously head-over-heels for me!
Looking at the two capybaras facing each other with broad smiles, lost in their own little world, Cassian narrowed his eyes and scoffed inwardly. He could guess what they were thinking, but he didn’t particularly want to know. Only one thought occupied Cassian’s mind.
Once he gets a harsh wake-up call, he’ll probably run back to America in tears.