Recalling what he had heard from Koi, everything fell into place. Overlaying the image of the child from the day before, fuming and shouting at the other boys, Cassian continued,
“This is a badge of honor, isn’t it?”
Bliss merely knit his brows and stared at him. Perhaps that was too complicated. Thinking so, Cassian added,
“I heard about it. At the party yesterday, some other boys picked a fight over your eye color, right? And your eye ended up like that because you hit it yourself.”
Only then did Bliss grasp the situation. Papa or Daddy must have told him. But that did not lessen his wariness toward the boy in front of him. On the contrary, remembering yesterday made Bliss immediately raise the corners of his eyes.
“So what? Are you going to call me stupid too?”
It was something his other brothers said to him often. Grayson had even openly laughed at him yesterday. One more person would not change anything. But that did not mean he would let himself be mocked. He could endure being called stupid, but he could not endure being told he was not a Miller.
‘Shoot their mouth with a gun. Then no one will dare say that kind of thing to you.’
He could not shoot a gun, but there were other ways to retaliate. Recalling Grayson’s words, Bliss clenched his fists.
If this guy tells me I’m not a Miller, I’ll smash his mouth right away.
“No, absolutely not.”
Bliss, who had been ready to throw a punch at any moment, froze. Looking down at the child standing awkwardly in surprise, Cassian continued,
“You fought for your honor, didn’t you? Honor is important to men. It’s worth risking your life for.”
Once again, he said something unbelievable. Dumbfounded, Bliss repeated his words.
“Men?”
“Yes.”
Cassian nodded readily, then narrowed his eyes and gave Bliss a once over.
“You’re not a girl, are you?”
At that, Bliss jumped and shook his head vigorously.
“I’m a boy! I’m a boy!”
He shouted loudly, his cheeks already flushed red. The words Cassian had just spoken kept echoing in his head.
Boy. A boy? A boy.
I can’t believe it. Everyone always calls me stupid or a runt. They just look down on me.
“R really…?”
Bliss asked cautiously, still half doubtful.
“You really think so? That I’m a boy?”
“I do.”
Cassian repeated the same answer again. At the same time, something overwhelming filled Bliss’s chest, and his breathing grew rough on its own.
He means it. He really thinks that.
He acknowledged me, Bliss Miller, as a man for the first time!
“Wow.”
Before he knew it, Bliss had loosened the fist he had been clenching and instead clasped both hands beneath his chin, looking up at Cassian. Letting out an excited exclamation, he asked the first person to recognize him as a man, his eyes sparkling,
“What’s your name?”
At the overly excited voice, Cassian answered with a faint smile.
“Cassian. Cassian Strickland.”
“I’m Bliss Miller.”
As Bliss responded immediately, Cassian burst into laughter.
“I know.”
Even after laughing loudly, he spoke with a face still full of amusement, and Bliss shouted without caring,
“Let’s be friends!”
Cassian paused at Bliss’s outcry. He seemed slightly surprised, but soon nodded as if it were nothing.
“All right.”
“Good.”
Bliss nodded firmly in return, then lowered his gaze. Knowing he was looking at the jar of snacks he was holding, Cassian handed it to him.
“Here.”
“Thanks.”
Bliss received it with both arms and hugged the glass jar to his chest. With his other hand, he carefully opened the cork lid. Taking out a large cookie packed with chocolate, he held it out to Cassian.
“Here, it’s a gift.”
In truth, Cassian did not particularly feel like eating sweets. But seeing the child’s flushed cheeks and expectant face as he looked up at him, he could not bring himself to refuse.
“Thank you.”
With no choice, he took the cookie and bit into it. Only then did Bliss grin proudly, reach into the jar, and pull out another cookie for himself. He opened his mouth as wide as possible, but only managed to scrape a small mark off the edge. Even so, he seemed satisfied and lifted the cookie he had just bitten into the air.
“Cheers.”
Where had he learned that? Though baffled, Cassian lightly raised his cookie to match him before lowering it again. Bliss, clearly in high spirits, brought the cookie to his mouth and began crunching away. Hugging the precious jar to his chest without letting it go, he ate enthusiastically, smiling brightly.
When he had woken up that morning, he could never have imagined something this good would happen.
After discreetly setting aside two more chocolate chip cookies, he returned the jar to the shelf with Cassian’s help and planned the perfect crime. They did not forget to smack their palms together at the end.
“You’re here, Mr. Strickland.”
Just then, the butler discovered them. Bliss had already climbed down to the floor, and Cassian was putting the chair back in place. The butler, who had apparently been searching for Cassian, brightened upon seeing him, but then looked startled when he noticed Bliss hiding behind Cassian’s leg. Acting as if nothing were wrong, Bliss said to the butler,
“Cassian got lost, so I was showing him the way!”
It was, of course, an obvious lie. The butler stared at the crumbs piled around Bliss’s mouth, then murmured, “I see,” before turning his gaze to Cassian.
“The duke is looking for you. I will guide you to the drawing room.”
Behind the butler, who turned and walked ahead, Bliss gave Cassian a thumbs up, as if to say he had fooled him brilliantly. Instead of telling him the truth, Cassian simply smiled and raised his thumb in return.
He had assumed Bliss would go back to his room, but unexpectedly, the child followed them. Meeting Cassian’s questioning look, Bliss declared boldly,
“We’re friends, so I’m going to greet your parents.”
His newly made friend had completely captured Bliss’s heart. Watching the child look up at him with a constant grin, Cassian could only laugh in disbelief. The butler, having no idea what had transpired between them, merely walked silently, though he looked puzzled.
Even as they walked, Bliss diligently nibbled on the chocolate chip cookie in his hand. He wanted to hold Cassian’s hand, but since Cassian was over six feet tall, his hand was far too high to reach. Instead, he stuck close at his side and walked energetically, breathing hard with excitement.
At last, they reached the drawing room. The butler knocked, opened the door, and stepped aside. Following the unspoken signal to enter, Cassian stepped inside, and Bliss trailed behind him.
Koi, who had been seated on the sofa, turned around—and was startled by the small shadow visible behind Cassian. He rose abruptly without realizing it.
“Bliss, how—”
Koi, who had been about to greet him warmly, stopped short. Seeing that not only the corners of his mouth but his entire face was smeared with dark chocolate and cookie crumbs, he hurriedly pulled the child into his arms and pressed down on the back of his head, covering his face. He tried desperately to hide his son’s disastrous appearance, but things did not go as he wished.
“Oh my, is that Bliss?”
At the duchess’s voice from behind, Koi squeezed his eyes shut.
What do I do now?
Countless thoughts ran through his mind, but there were only two choices. Either run out while holding Bliss—or—
“Ahaha.”
Sweating nervously, Koi turned toward the duchess. Choosing the only option left, facing it head on.
“It seems he was eating a snack. Just a moment…”
He quickly found a napkin, turned his back, and vigorously wiped Bliss’s face before turning back toward the duke and duchess.