By Zephyria 
What—what, what, what is with that bastard!
Bliss thought frantically as he ran away in a total panic. What was he doing all of a sudden? I told him to beg for forgiveness, so why on earth did he suddenly ki—ki—ki… on my hand…
“Aaaah!”
He couldn’t even bring himself to repeat that word in his head. Instead, he let out a desperate scream that nearly stole his breath, then covered his face with both hands in sheer embarrassment. Of course, that was a futile gesture.
“Ugh!”
Letting out a different kind of scream this time, he momentarily floated into the air. Then, with a loud thud, he fell flat on his face, and a heavy silence descended upon the hallway. Bliss remained motionless, face-planted into the floor. He lay there, letting out short, ragged breaths, before taking a deep breath and lifting his head.
His whole body throbbed with pain, but it was actually for the best. It snapped him back to his senses, though his cheeks were still burning. He rubbed his face against the cold floor to cool the heat, then sank into thought while still lying flat.
I already knew that bastard liked me, so why was I so surprised? It’s not like it’s new.
Bliss frowned, punching his own head repeatedly. But in that brief moment of distraction, ‘those words’ popped back into his mind.
‘I like you.’
“Aaaah!”
He rolled across the hallway floor, kicking his legs wildly in the air. What, what is this? Why did he suddenly confess? And what was that thing on the back of my hand? Why, why did he do that? It was my turn to make him beg for forgiveness, so why on earth did he suddenly li—li—li…
“Gah!”
Eventually, he clenched his fists and bolted upright. Get it together, Bliss Miller. Don’t forget why you came here. You have to get an apology out of that bastard. Even if that bastard ki—ki—ki… on my hand!
Shaking his head vigorously as if to shake off the memory, Bliss scrambled to his feet and looked back in the direction he had run. To be precise, he glared toward the room where Cassian was and vowed:
“You think I’ll fall for that?”
He had failed this time because he was too surprised, but he would seize another opportunity soon. Next time, he would definitely make that bastard beg in tears!
‘I like you.’
“Shut up!”
Bliss swung his tightly clenched fist into the air with all his might. His face was still flushing, but forcing himself to ignore it, he hurried back toward his own room.
27.
The journey to the Duke’s castle took quite some time. Inside the quiet carriage, Cassian and Bliss sat without uttering a single word. Bliss, stubbornly keeping his mouth shut, pretended to look out the window while stealthily shifting his eyes to peek at Cassian. Seeing him staring at the back of his own hand resting on his lap with a blank expression, as if lost in thought, Bliss couldn’t help but scoff.
Hmph, after confessing that he likes me.
The more he thought about it, the more audacious it felt. To do such a thing and then act as if nothing happened, playing innocent. Two days had passed since ‘that incident.’ Since then, everyone had been incredibly busy preparing for the Count to move to the Duke’s estate. Bliss also spent his time frantically helping Penelope organize the Count’s clothes and choosing items to take to the estate. Since they only had one day, it was a blessing that he didn’t have the leisure to think about other things.
Though the situation was different now.
Throughout the trip to the estate with Cassian, Bliss remained restless. While Bliss’s mind was a chaotic mess, Cassian seemed relaxed, as if ‘that matter’ didn’t bother him at all. That attitude only made Bliss more furious. However, reflecting on the event calmly, the fault lay with Bliss.
The order was wrong!
When he realized his fatal mistake, Bliss turned pale and clutched his head. He should have revealed his identity first, detailed exactly how grave Cassian’s sins were, and then told him to kneel. But he had demanded he kneel right off the bat.
Idiot, idiot.
Bliss had been punching his head again when he suddenly snapped out of it. He peeked sideways to find Cassian looking at him with surprised eyes. He whipped his head back to stubbornly stare out the window, and that’s when Cassian asked.
“Are you okay?”
That clueless bastard.
Unable to even rub his stinging head, Bliss continued to stare out the window and replied.
“Of course I’m okay, hmph.”
Cassian gazed at him silently as he kept his head turned away, then quietly looked back. Like Bliss, he fixed his gaze on the window, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
What is that peanut doing?
The carriage continued its quiet journey, and after about an hour, they arrived at the Duke’s estate.
“Welcome back, Cassian.”
Seeing the carriage enter the garden, the Duchess had hurried down and immediately opened her arms to welcome her son as he stepped out.
“Mother, it has been a while. I am glad to see you are doing well.”
As Cassian greeted her with a warm embrace, she nodded and stepped back from him.
“Yes, you look healthy as well.”
The Mother, speaking tenderly, suddenly tilted her head. She had seen her son throughout his life, but something felt different. After scanning him from head to toe, the Duchess asked with a smile still on her face.
“Did something good happen?”
For years, her son’s daily appearance had been a pale face with a furrowed brow due to chronic insomnia, but seeing him after a long time, his face was surprisingly flushed. Moreover, seeing him actually smile left her bewildered.
“Are you really my son? You aren’t a ghost, are you?”
“Hahahaha.”
Cassian burst into laughter at her half-joke. Goodness, such a cheerful laugh. Surprised once again, Cassian leaned in and gave his mother a tender kiss on the forehead before answering.
“Of course I am your living son. Please don’t imagine such absurd things.”
The Duchess gave a wry smile, acknowledging her nonsense, and nodded.
“Right, let’s go inside first. He is waiting for you.”
“Ah, Mother. Just a moment.”
Cassian called out to his mother as she turned to enter the castle. The Duchess, who had walked a few steps ahead, turned around in curiosity and paused. Beside her son stood an unfamiliar boy. Looking at the boy with surprised eyes, the Duchess turned her gaze back to her son. Cassian cleared his throat and spoke.
“This is Bli… Blair. He will be staying with me while I am here.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Duchess.”
Bliss bowed politely. He pretended to be composed, but his heart was pounding wildly. What if the Duchess recognizes me? What if she screams in shock? No, there’s no way she’d recognize me, right? How long ago was that?
While bowing, Bliss shifted only his eyes to glare at Cassian. That bastard didn’t think at all about how dangerous this situation is. I only realized it the moment I saw the Duchess, but it’s already too late. Please, please let the Duchess have forgotten me…!
“Welcome, Bli… Blair.”
Bliss, who had been praying with his eyes shut tight, startled and looked up at the soft voice. She was smiling at him with a serene expression. Repeating the name her son had introduced, the Duchess added casually:
“Welcome. I hope you have a wonderful time during your stay.”
After the conventional greeting, she gave a light nod as if telling him to follow and turned around. Bliss stared blankly at her back, his mouth hanging open belatedly. She doesn’t know! She has no idea!
The Duchess doesn’t remember me!
He barely managed to stop himself from jumping for joy. As he breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he had overcome a great crisis, Cassian offered his arm.
“Here, take it.”
Bliss looked at the arm and then looked up to meet the eyes of the man looking down at him. The moment he saw Cassian’s faint smile, his face suddenly flushed hot.
‘I like you.’
“Ahem, hmph.”
Pretending to cough urgently, Bliss lowered his head and carefully placed his hand on Cassian’s arm. Cassian began to walk, and Bliss followed. Though he had stepped into the castle he had feared so much, he was no longer afraid. Instead, feeling a ticklish sensation in his heart, he matched his pace with Cassian—who was walking unusually slowly—and followed the Duchess.
“Then I shall see you later at mealtime, Bli… Blair.”
After personally guiding Bliss to the room where he would stay, the Duchess said her goodbyes and stepped back. Bliss smiled brightly and bowed to her once more.
“Thank you. I will see you later.”
“Very well.”
Cassian closed the door for the smiling Duchess. Finally alone, Bliss let out a deep sigh of relief and flopped onto the bed.
“I survived…!”
He shouted in a hushed, exhaling tone, thinking happily. I’m so glad the Duchess’s memory isn’t that good. Staying here won’t be too dangerous.
The Duchess didn’t recognize me at all!
“By the way.”
Once they had left Bliss’s room and were finally alone, the Duchess urgently brought up the question she had been holding back.
“How did Bliss come to be here?”