Chapter 21
Marion thoroughly sifted through the gifts and selected a dress for me to wear.
When she brought the gift boxes out of Illyae’s room, she looked utterly ecstatic.
By the time we finished getting ready to go out, with a cheerful Marion, our stomachs were practically stuck to our backbones.
“You’re hungry, aren’t you?”
“It’s alright.”
Dante replied quietly.
We were waiting for the food to arrive at the restaurant.
It was a brunch place that Dante seemed to frequent.
Soon, the food arrived.
When I poked the egg yolk, a savory aroma wafted up.
“Wow.”
I let out a small exclamation and glanced at Dante.
He began eating with an indifferent expression, as if he hadn’t heard me.
It was the first time I’d had such fresh eggs.
“You seem to know many delicious restaurants, Your Grace.”
Dante glanced at me and said, “If you stop saying ‘it’s alright’ from now on, I’ll let you try even more delicious things.”
“Really? Then I’ll try.”
I answered earnestly.
I’ve only been here for about a year, but I’ve completely adapted to Chloe’s life.
I didn’t live as messy as she did, but I could understand why she was like that.
Constantly yearning and resenting.
It’s only natural, being alive.
I just gave up on doing that.
But now that I’ve left Tyrannia, I don’t have to live like that anymore.
“So, did you come to pick me up today because of that newspaper?”
“No.”
Dante answered seriously.
“Today, we’re going to get your wedding dress fitted.”
“<i>… Cough.</i>”
I was startled while chewing on a mouthful of bacon.
Wait, we’re going to get the wedding dress fitted?
Then shouldn’t I not be eating like this?
I looked regretfully at my plate and was about to put down my fork when Dante asked, “Is it not tasty?”
“No!”
That would be an insult to this delicious and perfect brunch.
“You said we’re going to get the dress fitted. No matter what…”
“Lady Chloe.”
“Yes?”
“If any boutique tells you to lose weight, I’ll cut ties with them immediately.”
“<i>… Cough.</i>”
I coughed again.
“So, eat.”
“I’ll enjoy my meal.”
He seemed like someone who did what he said.
Considering how he stormed into Tyrannia today to bring me out.
Marion is probably happily packing our things right now.
Along with the lizard.
Meanwhile, at the Count of Tyrannia’s residence.
The countess watched disapprovingly as Marion packed the luggage.
“Wait. Are you taking that, too?”
“Yes, madam. His Grace said to pack everything that came from Petros without leaving anything behind.”
Marion smiled sweetly.
Noting the countess’ regretful expression, she swept even the last box into the carriage.
“Don’t worry about it, Mother. We can buy things like that anytime.”
Illyae comforted the countess.
“Oh, such a waste. Chloe doesn’t think about her family at all. How can she be so selfish?”
“You have me.”
Illyae hugged the countess’ shoulders with a bright smile.
Seeing the items loaded back onto the carriage made them feel envious.
They had already peeked through everything inside.
There were dresses from boutiques that were hard to get reservations for, shoes adorned with emeralds, and precious items like sapphire earrings.
“They wouldn’t even suit Chloe.”
The Duke of Petros really had no eye for things.
Only someone like Illyae, not skinny and skeletal Chloe, could pull off such items.
Moreover, after building some rapport at the accident scene, he left without even saying goodbye to her.
‘How could he be so impolite?’
Birds of a feather.
Chloe is the same.
I told her to take me as her attendant, but she didn’t say a word about it.
Illyae barely suppressed her dissatisfaction.
It’s fine. After Chloe gets married, I can just visit the duke’s house.
Besides, in three days, the Crown Prince is hosting a banquet.
I can subtly bring it up there.
After Illyae and the countess went back into the mansion, Marion, left behind, made a fist at the empty air.
“Get lost!”
Only after spitting did Marion climb into the carriage.
“Please depart!”
Marion cheerfully shouted and closed the carriage door.
“Ah, I feel alive.”
Yggdrasil flew up with a flap.
After circling inside the carriage, Yggdrasil sat across from her.
“The stench is gone.”
“Does Lady Illyae smell that bad?”
“Yes! Only those who’ve smelled it would know.”
Yggdrasil pulled out the tissue rolled up in its nose.
After finishing by burning the tissue with a breath of fire, Yggdrasil leaned back on the seat.
‘I’m curious about her true identity.’
Yggdrasil fell into thought.
Oddly enough, the one emitting the fresh scent of holy power was Chloe.
She must have had such power to summon Yggdrasil.
But it seemed that what Illyae used was also a type of holy power…
‘Could it be…’
Yggdrasil’s eyebrows twitched.
‘They are twins.’
An unexpected hypothesis came to mind.
If that’s really the case…
“She might have had her holy power stolen.”
Yggdrasil murmured calmly.
She had stolen her sister’s abilities while in the womb.
“If that’s really the case, I’ll personally punish Lady Illyae.”
Marion said coldly.
“If she’s been living lavishly with someone else’s abilities, she must pay the price.”
“Isn’t getting the abilities back the priority?”
“Is that possible?”
“Of course! With the great Yggdrasil here, what’s impossible?”
“Wow!”
Marion clapped her hands.
“You’re amazing, Lord Yggdrasil!”
Yggdrasil lifted its head proudly.
Standing its small body upright, it put its hands on its waist and even did a turn.
“Wow! You’re such an elegant and beautiful dragon!”
Marion exclaimed repeatedly.
Amid the cheerful atmosphere between the person and the dragon, the carriage arrived at Petros.
After finishing our meal, we walked to the boutique.
This was entirely my suggestion; I wanted to lose at least a bit of bloating.
It was the first time I leisurely walked through the shopping streets like this.
“So, you’re saying this accident wasn’t supposed to happen?”
I should have felt awkward, but the way Dante called me ‘you’ sounded sweet.
Indeed, it’s all about the voice.
“Yes. It was an accident that wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Dante murmured with a somber expression.
“Because you avoided the Vincent Bridge accident?”
“Most likely.”
“There’s only one person who benefited from this incident.”
I had guessed that, too.
Illyae Tyrannia.
When I nodded, Dante clicked his tongue.
“If this incident was really orchestrated by that woman.”
“She must pay the price.”
“…… Sometimes, I really don’t understand you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You asked me to marry you to escape from Tyrannia, right? Because you thought I had the power to protect you from them.”
“…… Yes.”
I nodded.
“But you don’t think I have the influence to reserve a boutique like this?”
“Oh.”
That’s right. He is the Duke of Petros.
When we entered the boutique, even the madam came out to greet us.
“We’ve been expecting you, Your Grace.”
Dante gently pushed me forward.
“Madam, I prefer a bride who looks lively rather than one who seems pitiful.”
“Excuse me?”
The madam’s eyes widened.
She didn’t seem to fully understand what Dante was saying.
“I like a bride with a bit of fullness rather than one who’s too thin.”
“Oh, yes, I understand, Your Grace!”