Illyae pointed at herself with her finger.

“Me, me? Did you just say I smell bad?”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

Before I could say anything, the dragon snapped back.

“Yes, you! You smell terrible! Get away from me!”

Illyae’s face turned pale as she looked at me.

Seeing that made me feel better.

“How can you say that to your sister, Chloe! Apologize immediately! What kind of prank is this? Where is that voice coming from?”

Mother looked around and then patted Illyae.

“Oh, Mother. Do I smell?”

Illyae asked with a shocked face.

It seemed to be quite a shock to her.

Honestly, I was also surprised that the lizard reacted like that.

“Of course not, Illyae! Don’t worry about it. Chloe, you need to…….”

“No.”

I bluntly replied.

What could Mother do to me anyway?

She certainly couldn’t hit me recklessly.

Soon, I would be the Duchess of Petros.

“You wicked girl!”

Mother cursed.

Her eyes were filled with hostility as she looked at me.

“Your sister took care of you, and you can’t even do that for her!”

“No, Mother. It’s alright.”

With a pale face, Illyae murmured and pulled Mother’s arm.

It looked like she was stopping her, but it was actually encouraging her.

She had deceived people with such cunning acts until now.

Really impressive.

Meanwhile, the dragon continued to fuss about the smell.

“You stink, Illyae, so please leave.”

I blurted out in an exhausted voice.

“Chloe!”

I pushed the two bewildered people out and slammed the door shut. From outside, I could hear Illyae’s sobs and Mother’s comforting voice. Locking the door, I let out a deep sigh. Marien, who had been pacing nervously by the wall, rushed over.

“Are you alright? You’re not hurt, right?”

“You saw that I wasn’t hit. Don’t worry.”

“But……..”

On the verge of tears, Marien finally calmed down after confirming I was safe.

“Who said someone smelled? Is there a new talking toy?”

“Toy!”

The dragon had been curled up and suddenly jumped out, flapping its wings with its fingers shoved up its nostrils. The sight of the dragon’s back was, well, majestic.

“I am the great Yggdrasil! Show some respect!”

Marien stared at the dragon in a daze, then looked back at me.

“……Can I hold it?”

“No. I’ll hold it first.”

I denied her and hugged it tightly myself. This cute little thing, so adorable! And remembering how it shouted that Illyae smelled right in her face made it even more charming.

“Squawk! You rascals! How dare you try to kill the mighty Yggdrasil! Let go!”

Though unintentional, it had helped to embarrass Illyae. Just thinking about her expression made me feel like I could digest even the ramen I ate thirty years ago.

“But what is it exactly?”

“I don’t know, it says it’s a dragon. It just appeared suddenly.”

“It said it wasn’t sudden! It claimed you summoned it!”

After exchanging introductions, I confirmed with the dragon that it said I had summoned it. According to the dragon, there was no other reason for it to appear right in front of me unless I had summoned it.

That I could do such a thing was news to me. Apparently, it was a dragon summoned by abilities that I didn’t even know I had. Since I didn’t know how to send it back, it had to stay here for now.

“Oh my, our lady did that?”

“Yes, that’s what it said.”

Marien laughed heartily.

“Whatever it is, it’s really cute. Instead of Yggdrasil, maybe a name like ‘Squirmy’ would suit it better.”

“Yaaaah!”

Yggdrasil spat out tiny, adorable flames. But there was something more important than Yggdrasil being cute.

“What exactly is the smell?”

“I don’t know either. It smells like something rotten. Ugh, not even the devil’s feet would smell this bad.”

Yggdrasil grumbled. I lifted Yggdrasil up. Its eyes were really bright and lively. It was clear that Yggdrasil was a sacred being. But it claimed to smell a stench from Illyae?

“Illyae is a saintess though?”

“Impossible.”

Yggdrasil puffed out smoke, perhaps because of the flames.

“A saintess wouldn’t smell like that! How could a saintess have such a demonic stench!”

Yggdrasil flapped its wings and shook its head. But Illyae’s holy power was real. What on earth was going on? It seemed necessary to keep an eye on this. I gently scratched the lizard’s nose, which had discovered something important. The lizard squirmed and curled up. A strange, uneasy feeling crept over me.

<b>* * *</b>

Illyae sighed as she looked at her pale face. She had scrubbed her body in the bath for the past two days. She must have bathed at least seven times.

“Do I really smell? Are they crazy?”

That nasal voice was truly shocking. Countess Tyrannia continued to console Illyae, but she couldn’t forget it.

“Do I smell?”

“No, my lady!” 

The maid had become swollen from assisting Illyae with her baths and now answered with a tired face. Illyae pouted, glaring at the maid, and patted her cheeks. She didn’t have time to dwell on this today.

‘I must do well.’

She took a deep breath. She had poured all her money into today’s event. She couldn’t afford to fail. But if she truly became the crown princess, such expenditure would be insignificant.

Illyae spoke brightly, 

“Pick the best outfit for me. Something pastel… No, white would be better.”

“Yes, my lady.”

She looked around at the items on the dressing table. After a moment of hesitation, she reached for the perfume. She sprayed it generously all over her body. The scent that already filled the room grew even stronger.

<b>* * *</b>

At that time, a coffee house near the temple was filled with nobles. The saintess had declared she would lead prayers, so they had come to see her. However, mingling with the common folk was beneath them, so they took over an entire establishment.

Werner and Dante sat together on the second floor of the coffee house. With a weary expression, Dante fiddled with his lips. The past two days had been exhausting for him as well, as he had been dragged around by Mrs. Lestro.

<i>“The house feels too cramped and gloomy. It’s unacceptable for a new bride to move into such a place.”

“What kind of wedding venue is this? <Sigh> it’s absurd that this is the best we could find on such short notice. <Tsk.>”</i>

They even went out to look at new dishes. When asked if Chloe could accompany them, Mrs. Lestro frowned slightly and clicked her tongue.

<i>‘That child’s legs would break after just a few steps.’</i>

Unable to resist Mrs. Lestro’s determination, they had even raided the duke’s food storeroom to send supplies to the Count of Tyrannia. This implied that the situation was more serious than expected. What on earth had Tyrannia done to Chloe? The thought alone gave him a headache.

“Look, Dante! It seems like the whole world is gathered here!”

Why was Werner following him around, bothering him again? Dante muttered dryly.

“Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Haha, the Empress has chosen that adorable saintess to be my bride.”

Werner’s eyes gleamed as he looked back at Dante.

“So I thought I’d take an interest.”

Werner’s lips twisted into a smirk. Amid the attention of the crowd, the saintess appeared. As Illyae made her entrance, the crowd’s cheers grew louder.

“It seems she has more recognition than me.”

“That cannot be, Your Highness. She is merely a saintess.”

Dante replied stiffly. However, scanning the event, his eyes were dark and hardened. The saintess’ laughter reached even up to where they stood. Accompanied by her knights, Illyae ascended the podium. Werner leaned closer to the window, while Dante watched Illyae with a dark gaze.

Unlike Chloe, she had a bright face, a graceful demeanor, and natural movements. Chloe, who had been amazed by everything outside, contrasted starkly. Moreover, those awkward eyes, ill-fitting clothes and forced smiles, bore no resemblance at all.

‘The more I look at her, the more nauseating she is.’