About

To me, the world was filled with a disgusting stench. Whether it is a curse or a miracle, the greed, selfishness, lies, and conspiracies of people come to me as a terrible foul odor. I have seen countless times how people pretend to be kind, innocent, and caring on the outside, while maggots swarm within them. That is why going to banquets always brought on headaches or nausea. The things people kept hidden were so repulsive and horrific. So, I decided to create scents. To escape this stench, I spent every day in my workshop crafting the finest perfumes. — Recently, I heard news that a certain Viscount's family had fallen into ruin. They must be the same, I thought—falling into a pit after living a life of selfishness and desire. But the useless Emperor sold off the Viscount's only daughter to me. He told me to enter a political marriage. Since I could not defy the Emperor's command, I reluctantly took that young thing as my wife. My head already ached at the thought of what kind of stench would emanate from her. However, the day I met her, as if by magic, all the foul odors of the world vanished, and a suffocatingly clean, sweet fragrance pierced my nose. At first, I thought of this girl as nothing more than my 'oxygen mask.' I slept with her in my arms every day, and as long as I could smell her scent when I woke up in the morning, the stench was gone. Even though she knew I was using her as a tool, she pitied me and worried for me sincerely. As time passed, I gradually fell for her warmth and sincere kindness, finally realizing that this feeling was love. Now, I hate to even imagine a life without her. I am perfectly happy to become a fool who cannot say a word in front of her. And so, today as well, I spend my day in her arms, breathing in the sweetest scent...