Deflower Me If You Can Chapter 26

At that, the child naturally wrapped his arms around his neck and buried his face in his shoulder. Not forgetting to let out a small “Mmm” sound.

A child raised with an abundance of love.

Whenever he saw Bliss, that phrase always felt real. Cassian himself had grown up without lacking anything. The Duke and Duchess were, unusually, a loving couple, and they showered their child with affection, so he’d never had any particular complaints.

But Bliss was different somehow. A child who returned more love than he received. That was why, even though his insides churned every time, he ended up forgiving the child in the end.

This time was no different. Even as he walked to take Bliss to his room, a smile lingered at the corners of Cassian’s mouth.

“Mmm, Cassian…?”

The child mumbled his name, having woken from sleep. Cassian patted his back as if to tell him to sleep more and headed toward Bliss’s room.

That aside, letting him sleep in my room is out of the question.

Quietly laying Bliss down on the bed, he tiptoed carefully back to his own room so as not to be discovered. Not forgetting to lock his own door, Cassian was able to get a good night’s sleep for the first time in a while that day.

∞ ∞ ∞ 

Bliss’s face at the breakfast table was positively swollen. The Duchess, seeing the child sitting there with his mouth pushed out and cheeks puffed up, asked in puzzlement.

“Bliss, what’s wrong? Did something upset you?”

“Yes, there was. But it’s a secret.”

Even as he said that, Bliss’s resentful eyes were fixed on Cassian without pretense. The Duchess looked at her son as if demanding an explanation, but Cassian, with a fresh face, had already cleared three plates and risen from his seat.

“I have work again today, so I’ll be excused.”

“Hey…”

Just as the Duchess was about to say more, Bliss hastily wiped his mouth with his napkin and jumped down from his chair. Realizing belatedly that he’d been rude, he quickly turned back and stood to bow to the Duchess.

“I’ll be excused too. Cassian, wait for me, Cassian!”

Watching the child hurry after him, the Duchess let out another sigh.

∞ ∞ ∞

“That’s so mean, locking the door!”

Bliss, who had immediately chased after Cassian, cried out indignantly. Waking up early in the morning, he’d instantly realized which room he was lying in. And it wasn’t hard to figure out who had moved him there.

But it didn’t end there. Hurrying out of the room and heading to Cassian’s, he’d found the door locked and felt a great sense of betrayal. And now.

“I just wanted to say good morning, but you locked the door!”

“Coming and going from someone else’s room without permission is a serious breach of manners, Bliss.”

Cassian lectured the child with an air of utter composure. But that wasn’t the end of it. He had plans again today. And there was much he needed to prepare in advance to carry them out.

Of course, first he had to shake off this little squirt.

“Bliss, remember what I told you before?”

“Uh, what?”

As Bliss, who had been about to protest again at the sudden change of topic, hesitated, Cassian continued.

“I said we’d go see the birds. How about tomorrow?”

“Birds?”

That’s right, he had said that!

He’d forgotten, since it had been almost two weeks ago. Looking down at the child whose expression had instantly brightened, Cassian thought, ‘Kids are easy,’ and spoke.

“I’m busy today getting ready for that, so let’s go together tomorrow, alright? Today you can watch the rest of that drama with Mother or something.”

The day before, he’d been caught by his mother and lectured for nearly an hour. About where on earth he kept running off to every day, leaving the child behind. Thanks to that, he’d also found out what the two of them had been up to while he was gone…

Actually, he had his own side to the story. He’d been busy in his own way, trying to smooth over the foolish things he’d set in motion. He’d been so frantic, having to reschedule or cancel plans entirely and meet with people. Instead, he planned to devote the entire next week to Bliss.

Since he’d be leaving soon anyway.

“Looking at birds is boring.”

Bliss pouted and said. He was clearly sulking. Cassian laughed and gave his nose a light tap.

“It’ll be fun, you’ll see.”

“It’s not fun!”

“Alright, Bliss. I’ll be going now.”

Bliss was still angry, but Cassian just left with a farewell. In the end, Bliss had to stand there alone, pouting heavily.

∞ ∞ ∞

Hmph, you jerk.

Even as the sun was beginning to set, Bliss still hadn’t cheered up and was lying in bed. Cassian still hadn’t returned. He’d had to endure another boring day.

…I’m lonely.

Just as he was suddenly missing his Papa and Daddy, his sister, and his brother, sniffing, “Sniff,” he heard an unfamiliar sound.

Rumble, rumble. At the sound coming from outside the door, Bliss, who had been punching his pillow for no reason, tilted his head. What’s that noise?

Unable to resist his curiosity, he didn’t hesitate to jump out of bed and dash across the room. With a “Hup,” he opened the door and stuck his head out, seeing a servant pulling a suitcase down the hallway.

“Oh.”

Blinking in puzzlement, Bliss immediately ran over to him.

“Excuse me! Over here! That thing!”

At the urgent call, the servant stopped and waited for Bliss. Stopping in front of the suitcase, Bliss examined the luggage from all angles and asked.

“What’s this? Is it Cassian’s luggage? Where are you taking it? Did Cassian tell you to?”

To the barrage of questions, the servant replied in a calm voice.

“The young master has gone to see the Duchess. He instructed me to load this luggage into the car, as he will be leaving shortly.”

“Leaving shortly? Right now?”

Startled, Bliss asked, and the servant answered “Yes,” before giving a short nod in lieu of a bow.

“Then I shall carry out my orders…”

Bliss watched the man’s back as he turned and walked away with long strides. Cassian is meeting the Duchess right now. So he’s in the Duchess’s room, then? Bliss glanced back for a moment, then turned his head back in the direction the man had gone. Anyway, Cassian is leaving soon. Even if I go there now…

That’s right, of course!

Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck him. And Bliss wasted no more time, dashing urgently in the direction the servant had disappeared.

∞ ∞ ∞

The Duchess was looking at her son’s face with an expression of displeasure. She had called her son, who had just entered, to her room immediately, but he was intent on leaving again.

“How can you keep going out when you’ve invited a guest?”

As his mother scolded him, Cassian replied as if he’d been waiting for the chance.

“I told you, I can’t help it because of commitments. They’re pre-arranged schedules. Besides, that kid’s visit wasn’t planned from the start. I’ve done my best.”

There was nothing wrong with his words, but it was also true that every single answer displeased her. The Duchess continued with a still dissatisfied expression.

“And on top of that, you’re going to spend the night outside. That’s the kind of thing a vagrant would do…”

“Think of it as a survey of the estate. I’ll be staying within the estate grounds.”

That, too, was not incorrect. The only problem was that the lakeside forest on the outskirts of the estate was practically abandoned land.

“Hah.”

Ultimately failing to break her son’s stubbornness, the Duchess furrowed her brow and changed her tone.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright, Cassian? It’s not dangerous, is it?”

To his worried mother, Cassian replied nonchalantly.

“Don’t worry, I’ve prepared thoroughly.”

“If that’s your decision, I suppose I can’t help it. Do take care and be careful.”

Having finally conceded, the Duchess added with a stern expression.

“Still, let today be the last time you run around like this. Bliss has been terribly lonely. Seeing him so dejected and alone was just pitiful.”

She paused with a short sigh and addressed her son.

“Please, give Bliss some attention for the remaining time at least. Spend time with him.”