Leon’s egg finally revealed its flesh. A savory aroma that only Clementina could smell filled the room.

The sticky black liquid dripped down, wetting the floor. Berche had said dragon eggs were magnificent, but Leon’s egg, now showing its true form, was utterly ordinary except for its changed color.

It was just white, like a giant peeled boiled egg.

“Done.”

Dion’s eyes were already full of anticipation. He rubbed his hands together and shrugged his shoulders. He walked over in one breath and carefully placed both hands on Leon’s white egg, holding his breath.

But soon he clenched his fists tightly and trembled all over.

“D＊mn it, d＊mn it, d＊mn it!”

Henry, who had been watching from behind, quickly approached Leon’s egg, knelt on the floor, and put his ear against the egg.

During the time it took Dion to take one deep breath, Henry clicked his tongue. Dion was holding the egg weakly.

“We barely figured out how to melt it with dragon fire.”

Henry pushed his hair back and lightly punched Dion’s shoulder.

⟨”Arm.”⟩

Dion nodded at Henry’s question and spread his left hand, muttering in a small voice.

Clementina closed her eyes as the surroundings were enveloped in bright light, just like what she had seen at the Siara Mine. She covered her eyes with her hands.

Dion exhaled briefly and muttered again. The light disappeared. But Leon’s egg showed no change.

⟨”How is it?”⟩

Dion’s shoulders slumped.

“Nothing has changed. It’s exactly the same as at the Siara Mine.”

His voice lacked strength.

Clementina shook her head vigorously. The savory smell in the room grew stronger. This was certain. It was exactly the same smell she had detected when first discovering Leon’s egg at the Siara Mine.

When Dion’s arm activated dragon magic, the savory smell became even stronger.

“Perhaps……”

She felt certain there was some connection. The nature of it seemed just beyond her grasp.

Should she speak while he was so frustrated? What if he thought she was strange?

At that moment, Henry stood up. Dion looked at Henry with desperate eyes.

Henry shook his head slightly from side to side.

⟨”There’s no life response.”⟩

“Ha, no way.”

Dion sighed deeply with his hand on his head.

“There must be another way.”

⟨”What other way? Your Grace has been deceived.”⟩

Henry’s cold gaze briefly touched Clementina before falling away.

⟨”Should we crack it open?”⟩

“Are you crazy? Don’t you dare try anything foolish.”

Clementina clutched her chest. She gripped so hard her hand turned white. She approached Leon’s egg with determined steps.

And sat down in front of it.

⟨”What are you doing? Get away from it right now, ugh.”⟩

When Henry growled lowly, Dion promptly covered Henry’s mouth with his hand. He shook his head with a sharp gaze and carefully observed Clementina’s actions.

Clementina gently placed both hands on Leon’s egg and closed her eyes. Then she slowly brought her face closer to the egg and inhaled its scent.

In Clementina’s mind, puppies with fluffy, soft fur jumped and played around her.

Or rather, yes, that’s it. A skilled baker making bread from freshly ground flour since morning. Yes, that smell. Aeskis Castle vibrating with the scent of bread. The kind of smell that makes you feel good just by inhaling it.

Eventually, Clementina opened her eyes with a satisfied smile. And looked lovingly at Leon’s egg.

“This egg isn’t dead. It’s definitely alive.”

Dion approached her on his knees. His eyes examined her beautiful expression while his voice whispered with the intention of not disturbing her.

“How can you be sure?”

Clementina dropped her head toward the floor. Her curly lemon-colored hair covered her face. Dion raised his hand and brushed her hair aside.

“I can’t explain how. But this egg is alive.”

Dion did not back down. Until now, he had overlooked Clementina’s evasiveness, but this time, the truth was essential.

After all, it was the reason he had forced the marriage. Dion demanded a clear explanation from Clementina.

The hero of war did not let Clementina escape his sharp gaze.

She could no longer deceive him. Even if she would be doubted, she needed to prove her worth.

“I can smell it.”

“Smell what?”

Dion’s tense face relaxed immediately. He tilted his head with a puzzled expression.

“A, a savory smell.”

Dion suddenly fell silent. Without any expression or words, he took Clementina’s hand. She felt his strong grip like prominent veins.

“Are you hungry?”

Clementina jerked her head up. Her thin nightgown made a rustling sound.

“Can’t Your Grace really smell it? Like the smell of baking bread?”

“The smell of baking bread? I don’t understand what you’re saying. If you’re hungry, just honestly say you’re hungry—”

“I told you I was special.”

“Yes.”

“Let me take care of it. This egg is alive. It’s definitely not dead.”

Clementina adjusted her grip on Dion’s hand resting on her knee and squeezed it firmly.

“You still don’t believe me, do you?”

Dion knew it. Though it felt like waves mixed with sand rushing into her mouth, Clementina did not avoid him.

“Is there anything to believe or not?”

“You rely on me but don’t believe in me.”

Dion, who had been kneeling on the floor, sat down with his bottom on the ground. He gently held Clementina’s hand, which he had been gripping tightly, and stroked the back of her hand with his finger.

“But I believe in you. Alright, take care of the egg.”

“……Really?”

“You’re the only one who said it’s alive.”

“Didn’t Your Grace bring it here thinking it was alive?”

“I hoped it was alive, but that’s not the same as believing. I only believe in what I can see for certain.”

Despite sitting on the cold floor, Clementina’s bottom fidgeted as if burned by fire.

“Yet you say you believe in me?”

Dion gently stroked Leon’s egg as if pressing it down firmly.

“But you must stay here with Henry.”

⟨”I hate that.”⟩

“He’s someone I trust. Listen to me.”

Henry glanced away as if he no longer wanted to exchange words and walked toward the window. He grabbed the handle of the leftmost window and opened it. A small window opened, and a cool breeze carrying the fresh scent of the sea entered.

“Are you confident?”

“Yes! This egg is definitely alive. It’s just sleeping. I’m sure.”

“No, not that. Are you confident you can hatch the egg?”

“What? That’s…”

She wasn’t confident. Clementina had never even hatched a chicken egg before. But to have her value recognized, she needed to do something. Even if it was a lie.

“I’ll do it. I’ll try. I can’t keep living like this anymore. In exchange, please let me get closer to the dragons. To hatch the egg, I need to know more about dragons, don’t I?”

The attractive corner of Dion’s mouth slightly lifted. He slowly stood up and headed toward the table by the wall.

Clementina followed closely behind him. Dion took a bottle containing a golden liquid from the shelf on the table and poured it into two glasses.

Dion filled a glass halfway with the golden liquid and handed it to Clementina. Then he filled the other glass completely with the golden liquid and drank it in one go. His Adam’s apple bobbed rhythmically.

Clementina gripped the glass tightly with both hands and did not take her eyes off him.

“I know you’re already doing plenty.”

“I know I’m useless. If necessary, I’ll even clean the dragon’s nest. I’ll do anything.”

His innocent boyish appearance was gone, replaced by a cold yet gentle duke standing before her.

“That won’t do.”

A smile hung on Dion’s lips. It wasn’t a heartwarming smile. It was a polite, artificial face that drew a precise line. Sweat beaded on Clementina’s forehead.

“……Why not?”

“Because a duke’s wife cannot be said to do such work. You haven’t forgotten, have you? For one year, you must remain as a duke’s wife.”

“I can’t just change clothes, eat meals, and sleep every day without doing anything.”

“I keep my promises. You must keep yours too.”

“If I live only as a duchess for a year, I’ll know how to do nothing after the divorce.”

“Don’t worry.”

“I want to be a useful person.”

Feeling frustrated, Clementina brought the glass in her hands to her mouth and gulped down the liquid. As the liquid smoothly went down her throat, she opened her eyes wide in surprise and lifted the glass again. A drop or two of the golden liquid fell to the bottom of the glass.

“It’s called Sunny Sherry. It’s sweet but quite strong alcohol, and it seems to suit you.”

Dion refilled Clementina’s empty glass halfway with Sunny Sherry. Clementina drank it in one breath this time.

“You’re doing well enough. You’ve already allowed me to have Leon’s egg. No woman is as valuable to me as you are.”

Dion leaned against the table and twirled his glass.

“Now it would be best if you went to bed.”

“But!”

“Henry, guide her to the main castle and come back.”

Dion drank the remaining alcohol in one breath and smiled at Clementina as he put the empty glass down on the table.