Deflower Me If You Can Chapter 27

“I know, Mother. Don’t worry.”

Cassian quickly kissed the Duchess on the cheek and headed for the door.

“I’ll be back.”

His mother didn’t stop him any further. Alone in the hallway, he began to walk with long, rapid strides, almost running. The Duchess’s words weren’t wrong. He too wasn’t entirely without guilt toward Bliss, but he had his own side to the story. He was currently doing his utmost to satisfy both his own schedule and his consideration for Bliss. He’d promised that after today, he’d devote the entire next week solely to Bliss. It would be quite boring for him until then, but…

He’ll manage to play by himself, I’m sure.

Cassian thought that, while also thinking that if this chance made him completely sick of it and say he’d never come back, that wouldn’t be so bad either.

“You’re here. The luggage has been loaded into the trunk as instructed.”

A servant who had been waiting by the car in front of the entrance opened the driver’s side door and said. Cassian nodded and readily climbed into the driver’s seat.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Sitting in the driver’s seat, he operated the navigation system, set the destination, and started the engine. Cassian owned five cars, and among them, the Wrangler was perfect for occasions like this. As he passed the well-paved roads and began driving along the forest path, the car naturally jolted and shook his entire body. Nevertheless, a cheerful hum continued to escape his lips.

∞ ∞ ∞

“Cassian! Over here!”

One of the group who had been waiting first spotted him and called out cheerfully in welcome. Cassian took a moment to survey the guys who were already setting up camp, gave the man greeting him a light hug, and then spoke.

“I’m a bit late. It took me a while to get out.”

“What did the Duchess have to say?”

At another guy’s question, Cassian chuckled.

“My mother always worries a lot.”

He understood that it couldn’t be helped. After all, Cassian Strickland was the sole heir to the ducal house and her only child.

It’s just suffocating.

Thinking that far, Cassian changed the subject.

“How far have you all gotten? What should I start with?”

“Cassian.”

At the sudden call, he turned his head and paused.

“Aina.”

“Hey, how have you been?”

A woman who approached with a smile warmly embraced Cassian. Caught off guard for a moment, he soon smiled casually and embraced her back before letting go.

“I didn’t expect to see you here. How did you know?”

Aina was the youngest daughter of the Count’s family, had known Cassian since childhood, and they had even dated briefly. Because of her easygoing and straightforward personality, she held no grudges, and even after breaking up, they had remained friends and stayed fairly close…

So the person Jeffrey mentioned was Aina, of all people.

As Cassian directed his gaze, Jeffrey immediately turned his head away. Just as I thought. Cassian could only furrow his brow.

The people gathered here, including Aina, were all children from fairly influential families, and like Cassian, they had to live rather constrained lives due to the scrutiny and expectations of those around them. Thanks to that, tonight was a gathering where everyone’s aspirations and will converged, so naturally, the atmosphere was electric.

Probably the same reason Aina came here too.

At Cassian’s question, Aina let out a short laugh and said.

“When there’s an event like this, you should have called me. I’m hurt, Cassian Strickland.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I made a mistake. Forgive me.”

As Cassian apologized with a joke, Aina put on a deliberately grave expression.

“I shall forgive your error. In return, you shall start the fire.”

At her playful command, Cassian bowed his head and replied.

“As you command, Your Highness.”

And he immediately began gathering firewood to prepare for starting the fire. Aina also busied herself finishing the work she’d been doing before Cassian arrived.

With the five of them each taking charge of their own areas, the work was finished in no time. Looking at the rather decently arranged campsite, one of the guys said.

“Not bad at all. We can survive a day here.”

Then the others nodded and chimed in one by one.

“Anyway, we’re not going to sleep in the tents. We’re going to stay up all night drinking, right?”

“Don’t we need more alcohol? Everyone brought enough, right?”

“More than that, I’m hungry. Anything to eat?”

“Thought you’d say that, so I prepared more. Hey, everyone gather round. Let’s get started.”

Then everyone shouted in unison.

“Let’s drink! Till we drop!”

With a “Kyahaha,” they laughed out loud, took their seats, and began the ‘noisy night’ they’d been planning for weeks.

“Wait, I brought sausages.”

Saying that, Cassian walked to the car. Grilled sausages and beer—wasn’t that a pretty good combination? Opening the trunk to retrieve the items he’d instructed the servant to load earlier, he turned around and asked.

“Beer? Should I get it out now? Or later?”

“We still have enough. Let’s get it out later.”

“Besides sausages, what else is there? You bastard, you brought potatoes.”

“It’d be a shame without marshmallows. Here, skewer them one by one and roast them. Go on.”

Leaving the bustling, chattering guys behind, Cassian picked up the box containing the food, including the sausages. All he had to do was turn around and go back to his spot.

…Huh?

Carrying the box with both hands, he froze in place. Am I seeing things?

He blinked several times, but nothing changed. Completely unable to believe the situation, Cassian didn’t react immediately, just stared blankly into the trunk.

Why, in the world.

The small, curled-up body was rising and falling rhythmically with each breath. As children tend to do, his belly moved rapidly up and down with quick breaths, but he was fast asleep and showed no sign of waking. Cassian had already experienced just how deeply this little child slept. Whether all kids this age were like that or Bliss was special, he couldn’t say.

But why here, of all places?

Everything else didn’t matter. The question was, why was he sleeping here? How did he know Cassian would be going out in this car today?

A coincidence…?

Just as he thought that, someone sensing something odd rose from their seat and approached Cassian.

“Cassian, what are you doing? Need help?”

Even as the guy came right up beside him, Cassian remained standing there motionless. Tilting his head, the guy followed Cassian’s gaze downward, then startled and shouted.

“Aagh! What’s this?”

At the sudden scream, the others who had been laughing and chatting were startled and rushed over.

“What? What happened?”

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“What is it? What is it?”

They hurriedly shouted and quickly surrounded Cassian, going through the same process as the previous guy and, like Cassian, freezing in place. The boisterous laughter and chatter that had filled the air just moments ago vanished in an instant, replaced by an awkward silence. Everyone stood silently, mouths shut, just staring into the trunk.

“Mmm…”

Just then, Bliss mumbled in his sleep and scrunched up his face. As everyone suddenly held their breath, the child, who had been motionless, exhaled a “Hoo,” relaxed his brow, and fell back asleep.

“He’s adorable!”

Aina clamped a hand over her mouth and squealed quietly, and then comments started pouring in from all sides.

“Where on earth did this kid come from? Is he a fairy?”

“He might be an angel. So, so cute!”

“Can I hold him? I’ve never seen such a small kid before.”

“Careful, if a brute like you picks him up and he wakes up, he’ll get scared and have a fit.”

“Then I’ll hold him. You guys know, right? That I practically raised my late-born little brother.”

“You mean your legal slave?”

“Wait, everyone, calm down. First, listen to me. I said everyone be quiet.”

At Aina’s words, the chattering guys fell silent. After confirming the attention was focused on her, Aina finally spoke.