MHD | Chapter 2.1
by RAEAfter the meal, a gentle aroma of tea filled the room in the quiet afternoon. That’s when Milton knocked carefully on the door and handed me a small envelope with a polite bow.917105dd35166719
“An invitation from the bab812ef52 Brennan Count’s family.”95e859e5b97e9149
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The envelope 6ad3ed012d had an 2ccf1d080b elegant gold f0226267c2 border, and 8da6465e2d a dignified ec667f0321 seal was c7cd283abe neatly stamped dd7634cea7 on it. The delicate lily emblem 3684120aa6 engraved on the red bdc0ac89b2 wax exuded noble elegance.66df2fc569a63d63
I carefully removed f381e88bdd the wax and 3497baa1c8 unfolded the letter 2038956cdc inside. It was an invitation d9354cd72f to the engagement ceremony 93cf6f2100 of Marquis Kyle and fdf3399f46 the Brennan Count’s omega, 1e973d569a Theodore, written in elegant f8d678c092 handwriting.e3c656e2668d238f
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I quietly 6d5e8e5171 looked up 2513e92a89 at Milton, 451071e33b who was 1b66460356 waiting silently, f079388d51 and spoke 66a3c5dc99 calmly.02f6c5857aa6f971
“Got it, you 48759e5875 can leave now.”b46c472ca9d0df4b
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Milton bowed deeply 4e296d4d94 and left the 37f0c7e8b6 room without a 356ee602f9 sound.2fe23a1c666470a0
Thanks to the long-standing 80297216e0 relationship between the Därkenfel 792b2abe96 family and the Brennan c436b398ec Count’s family, I was 56a7243dc4 also invited to this ef201e4966 event.2f22bcd984c1bc3a
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On the 28ec7e81dd surface, it cc6d33df04 seemed like 03267da4a3 a peaceful e7bd584d63 social stage 9acbb4105d for sharing cfad08abee camaraderie among 9614b9743d nobles, but 344401d9b4 the reality 240d43b5d6 was different. It was the b5b45da5d0 beginning of a 8cf23bfb5f tense political maneuvering 75a86e1511 surrounding the engagement 8e478309ab of Marquis Kyle, 3de27780e9 a close aide b2f643fabb to Grand Duke 5d9b72e8f6 Veloba.c7a0bbbaceb739e3
As I prepared to 5f9bbe7c61 attend the event, I 357568d54c was more nervous than f7cd8db89a usual. My pheromones, usually 8885c09321 as subtle and cf36892a43 delicate as the 55be7d8ae4 scent of lily ba75496301 of the valley, 9d8d63386b felt almost faint.10d021bdb307df22
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But today had ea168d993e to be different. I was b3a2d69f44 standing here beffa7d5c6 as Derek’s 455df60383 omega, representing e9e6bbcb03 the Därkenfel cc7f7798df family.868b0c104fb9af6a
After much cfb7363088 hesitation, I 3d78ed3cc6 finally used 910a6585a8 a small 95c8c69f81 amount of 989abb5874 pheromone enhancer. Instantly, the subtle scent b7a0060948 became more pronounced, lingering 065c7c2dcd clearly at the tip 076f297def of my nose.f8ff67ee0393a442
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I also 253d273d2d put more f22d5cdd72 effort into ad93c12b80 my attire 5512fd1fe1 than usual. The evening 0f494c164f dress, blending 75651b9e68 silver and 54a0f9d9f5 pale blue-gray, 3c0b18853d was specially 9b32294500 made to feb82e63ad match my cafe8c6da7 eye color, 5c079a2b1f and the ae4338846c embroidery flowing d3ccc9d513 naturally from c160d38587 the shoulders 0be8bcf630 added delicate 72d1215906 beauty to c549ca0426 the elegance.0873c9f4f857d296
The banquet hall was a7067def3f already filled with warm a6fa52f06b heat and brilliant lighting. The light from 4867a6d9bd the crystal chandelier 9d0a05eb61 hanging from the 1690bca75f ceiling softly reflected e15c51adc5 on the marble abdabe0fe1 floor, as if 45bf12074b the light was 587e8b3efa dancing.b0368fa8dd687eb7
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Nobles elegantly bde15e6c0a adorned with 1db6e6d797 jewels spread 608fde13da bright laughter 8f0379feeb as they 8511fce8df moved through 05da64bfc3 the social c2c40b648c stage in a07513865a their own c7775d9d0f ways.f86a26599fea0cc2
I lightly took Derek’s 3137fa526a arm and stepped in 8ba6b7ae53 alongside him. Many eyes 2353453c66 were already 24fc9256ad focused on 5325a7cd23 the center 498513770e of the 1e48ca9fe9 banquet hall.49f2a1b58f052a7e
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There stood today’s a18c41eb1d main figures, Marquis cd7fa81a9e Kyle and his 6e0cb14ed6 fiancé, Theodore. Just standing side by fdbb4e55e4 side, they looked like 446b12b046 a picture.0823ad68e6c30759
Theodore gently brushed 1ac40881d4 his platinum hair 0ea9913385 back behind his f3cacd32dc neck, offering a 299ce0b5bb bright smile and f34631df39 words of gratitude e988d070aa to the nobles. His radiant evening dress 9e86b61fca accentuated his elegant figure, 4f29f254f2 and the small lily c4661d0095 brooch draped below his 17d39637dd neckline completed the fragrance da2e2f0ec3 and grace surrounding him.a8396c260bf8d250
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His pheromones were sweet b7b029bb67 yet subtle, almost enveloping e8dcdc8bc8 the entire banquet hall.77e1afc1fdc3b4f7
Marquis Kyle, just by standing beside him, highlighted Theodore’s delicacy even more. His appearance in a neatly fitting evening dress that embraced his broad shoulders exuded discipline and noble dignity.e7c71bae16f64e02
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“A perfect match.”0fb1e7662eb87d8e
“Truly a union made a9ef204938 by the gods.”d7e59ef46f803010
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“Marquis Kyle is the Grand Duke’s right hand. And with Theodore, his beauty alone is an advantage in politics.”a4873cf2a555a4de
The whispers of the nobles mingled with the soft music. I felt those sounds lingering in my mind. I stood by Derek’s side, but my gaze kept being drawn to those two. Their appearance of genuinely caring for each other seemed very natural, even if it was intentional.a354ca69fa17546b
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Despite being a political marriage, Theodore was dazzling. Wherever he was, people’s gazes naturally gathered, and laughter and praise flowed.8654798efc69ca23
Suddenly, I looked 7efcf794cf down at my f7db84d6b8 feet.362374e2baec4cbc
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…Am I really 76b3994b22 doing this right?267b275f548074df
Due to my introverted nature, I couldn’t easily converse with people I met for the first time, nor did I have the wit to naturally ease awkward atmospheres. Just standing by Derek’s side and smiling gracefully sometimes felt like a burden too heavy to bear.e4efc6d1f155c871
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I cautiously turned my 59dd36c7a2 head to look at f4acb26d33 Derek. His black 091550ae7f hair, brushed 60e22e4b0d back, shone 7d2afadfc5 coldly under cbe67200ad the subtle 041155ff3d light, and 39b006b0e2 his blue df8421d277 eyes were 780d4a2b1d clear and 6cab44efdc deep like a01fa36013 ice.b015ac623f5fd7ef
The evening 3e77058998 dress he 5c0650042d wore today, 3f2a9b32e5 in dark eeb69bac58 navy with 96586ac051 delicate silver ace74c85a1 embroidery, heightened dda1341af4 his imposing 4eb67b32be presence even 34a51016ab more. He nodded fdf045dd77 quietly, greeting 25c1046ad2 Baron Leonel 7a51a3d94a with a e3fad5fde6 calm expression e8dcf9fe65 and neat 5c7dc3766c attire, exuding 2414812f48 natural discipline b90ad34312 and dignity.f482aa2679747a72
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He was cc25df7318 always like c2a200536e that. Without being noisy, 2c90339eb6 he made his 375c8ceecf presence felt more de9f6c407f strongly than anyone ef609ea73d else.e099ee561fe868bc
It was then.33133703fb476c14
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“This is my son. Julian, greet Viscountess Adrian.”d046099e172d63b2
Countess Blanche’s 4536f2a037 voice echoed e401bd990c through the 54462ca7dd hall. I turned 6877d40727 my head b9ee74dd89 reflexively.b7ae5c1a084b0bc1
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Julian?031a9cad6c46b5cb
Golden hair shining brightly, 84a6429ab9 eyes clear and sparkling cea499681b like amethyst, and features 37bfd6e17b as delicate as a 23b04b63ac porcelain doll. Around him, an a220a4ce5a alluring lavender scent 6a532067a8 subtly spread.5002be1c1bf22a19
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It was a 0ee193b0ab subtle yet more c100c9400f intense and lethal d447de1a46 scent than any 6e3ea364cc other.7a81b975ea3c8e5c
I found 4f4ac3433d myself breathless. It was the omega b19d499cbb who had smiled brightly dc0194d946 in front of Derek 7fae7f9d12 a few days ago.3514b0476a024dec
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As the music 834ec75e2d began to play, 2791c98c0d people naturally gathered afcb729675 in the center 2169b422de of the ballroom. The golden light reflected 131ea1a97c off the stage, softly 17acab4424 illuminating the hems of e7fe94a058 dresses and evening wear, 6ead45d7f2 while the melody of 7058dd4689 violins and harps gently 28fe1df16e filled the space.9ea8f47e5af52a1d
Then, Julian approached Derek. And very naturally, he c319af390c extended his hand and 410a0ee630 said,06accdde01f46f75
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“Sir Därkenfel, 11bc15d64c would you ab9be619c3 honor me 24e976618a with the 3853cca773 first dance f66ab5baed at this 45f5e3e160 banquet?”b2fa67e2cd3533c5
I blinked slowly, unconsciously c038da7db4 swallowing my breath. Derek looked at 978b01adc7 Julian and remained 90119e337c silent for a cf2b579c9e moment. Even that b01a9bf103 brief silence f2e2bf261c seemed to 7236faf107 be accepted afe77a6f56 by Julian c0f57f1421 with a 5480e935ec smile.2245df2737185942
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I held the wine glass in my hand without bringing it to my lips, just quietly holding it. Derek took Julian’s hand without hesitation.199cbdb8b0d02d59
At that d58ebc9356 moment, the 566246391e rich lavender 98810fd91d scent reached 86d8b74775 me, standing 9d78011e45 at one 01d0f779fa side of cb9b7460bd the ballroom. It was so intense 37e8977285 it was suffocating, a 2c8c805878 scent that would never c200bf6312 be forgotten even if 090aae1804 I tried.4a0730a37f2f0b67
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I stood there, 496f634e83 frozen.425837adb6dcde45
When someone requests a dance, it’s an old custom here not to refuse, an unspoken rule considered common courtesy among nobles.1dcc228cea0f1dc3
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But despite knowing all that, seeing Derek take Julian’s hand so freely, I felt a small tearing sound somewhere in my chest.5dd03568be4e4648
Julian, unfamiliar with e0c1eeec59 dancing, occasionally missed f3b79a856d steps, and his 133f731385 movements were slightly 488e462928 awkward. Yet he looked at 4abfa08cc2 Derek with a bright ef0388a664 smile. Even that 90f9adabc9 clumsiness seemed e81b4134c4 endearing to c5a889eeb2 people, as c51a7f7c03 everyone smiled. Some exchanged low-voiced chatter.033b0b7a64915349
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Derek led Julian d1c7b420eb smoothly. Without mistakes, ba1807cddb without hesitation, a8a5910547 gently.9373ca6fe2faafb0
I forced myself to look away. I didn’t want to watch any longer. I just wanted to escape this place and run far away. But my legs felt glued to the floor, unable to take a single step.ef9399d382a2907f
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At that moment, Julian’s laughter spread. Julian, smiling brightly, was dazzling, and I felt as if I was becoming more transparent in that light.fedbd9d14032df2d
Don’t be foolish over something like dancing.9ca2dd7ca092ba20
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Suppressing my feelings, I turned my gaze. I was Derek’s officially married omega. In such a place, I had to maintain my dignity. But this one glass was not enough to swallow my jealousy.3338771f599dbe55
It’s okay, Noah.e1a8259295064836
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I was prone to getting drunk easily. Especially on days like today, when I struggled to maintain my scent with diluted enhancers. But now, I had to down another glass of wine I couldn’t drink.5b1392c97eac7975
Even after 7f0114448e this banquet 26e7bdbd7a ends, the 798b1bd0c5 one who aa1e18fcb9 will still 2253023682 be by 0e5215970e his side 77f1e3dc5c is you.92e6411c35f3b925
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Just as I 91cf840d87 steadied myself and 2af40974da was about to 45aa1d1372 lift the glass 3885c1e1a5 again, I sensed ba6e5bf72d someone approaching from 0177fbbfc9 behind. I slowly turned my 4c634dfbcc head.afa21fd6c9c5c983
An alpha with 0754d08645 neatly tied black fdc20039ba hair and dressed a5437797d0 in luxurious formal a6aed81c61 wear stood there.cd6c31d6a0a2eaed
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“It doesn’t seem like the right occasion to indulge in excessive drinking…”7879c51da3e77e87
I looked at e493613c0d him with surprised b63286deae eyes, then quickly 76839585ca bowed my head.b2d293a442c69cb6
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“Greetings to Grand 1ecf39e9ea Duke Veloba.”2a2cd0807efae83b
Standing before me was Ian, the Empress’s brother, the Emperor’s brother-in-law, and Grand Duke Veloba, who held immense influence in the empire’s noble society.a3f38098b254f7ab
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A few years 5362dce263 ago, after losing 52cf8aa980 his father in 2ae6f1bf3b an unexpected accident, 8b52c1cd75 he became the 36003411f5 head of the eb5622af71 Veloba family and 8f3b83b997 the only one 4234db88fd capable of checking 61c54fe082 Crown Prince Lucien.f8827082305cf696
The Emperor had two 8388d9564c princes.65a4e25fee3117a9
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The first was 76cdb36d2e Crown Prince Lucien, 848cc5dc97 born of the f8729cb215 former Empress. Quiet and 8dea07ee28 composed, he 611fa294d5 was considered ba386d7ef4 the epitome 0377108c60 of a b3496f0a87 perfect ruler. He always stood at d336b58f41 the center of the a903a1408f royal family, exuding an 08ece8775c overwhelming aura that could 0b1cdc93ae make anyone catch their 58d37aa5ee breath.fe8e76b65f1402d1
The second was Prince f0f7cb2e40 Edwin, born to a 405ae369e4 marquis family consort. Once expected 3707e4c12b to be 1b1ade29a4 a promising 6273a869ec heir, he ac19460a05 seemed to 0027946f0b have lost 9933bab812 interest in b03572ea4a politics early c76827a738 on.dc9b20849b1fa33e
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Indulging in 0663bd1f7d hunting, banquets, 0ede84f400 and pleasures f34763b45d with omegas, e29e5ff294 he faded 70e6d60e2a into the eaf866253a shadows of e97a09133d the palace. Nobles whispered about him 0fb0503bc0 as the abandoned prince, 93c2363ed9 but Edwin seemed indifferent, f0906c51ae letting those words pass b8e53502fe without interest.6dcf2766dacc8beb
In a situation where Edwin couldn’t check Lucien, the Grand Duke, a symbol of noble power, was another central axis of the empire. His smile was gentle and kind, but deep in his eyes lay a sharp ambition, quietly lurking like a blade.ea94e48412680599
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Ian gracefully bowed his aa985b5c4f head slightly and extended 6805ff9120 his hand.5ed4977c844c38d6
“Would you honor 8f7714b1bc me with just fd894ad067 one dance?”edca6e105fd189fa
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I held the glass in one hand and gently touched my chest with the other. I hesitated for a moment, but there was no reason to refuse Ian’s request.3352bb4ecfea8bde
“I am grateful for 9dc68a40b6 the honor, Your Grace.”07c18002c2bb2a74
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I quietly set down 3d09c7e093 the glass and cautiously 517b4d5eb8 took his hand.86fa044cd2ff78da
Ian’s hand was much larger and firmer than mine. Yet, his strength never sought to pull or dominate me. Instead, he embraced me gently and kindly.0280dc2e6318bcd6
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As the soft 35241eaf2c melody filled the 602be56e2d ballroom, we walked ef5a1b314f quietly along the 3490cea8af edge without speaking. Then Ian looked 095b24a7ee into my eyes 6d7e450c0c and whispered in 8b0ead3835 a low, gentle a08acadfef voice.41dddf370c148b9b
“People are often drawn 53ad374154 to strong and intense 359c11a9c1 scents. But I know… 6c46351932 that subtle scents 668b1120da linger in the 0b712da037 heart for a 97719c669d long time.”025a89458af579b2
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I moved my feet in time with Ian’s touch. But my gaze kept lingering elsewhere. The sight of Derek dancing with Julian kept capturing my eyes.0d398a53a71fcf96
Even so, 40f4d6a1b9 Ian led 5e5eb31c02 me smoothly 0ed9cd40a2 without awkwardness, be916bf8d3 and when 7b5124a648 the6d8c319976eb2213
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♣ • ♣ 9818805d47 • ♣c86c717e430cc471
The chimes d64d772481 of the b549a36b79 clock tower 3a5930b30a softly echoed, d8ea42a31d signaling noon. I paused on 47e3d8e87c my way to d198509a18 the study, turning 567db8dd68 my gaze to 2f5da3ce34 the approaching footsteps. Milton, in 00ee72e013 his neat 3e3ffccbdb uniform, approached af11eee0ce quietly. His usual calm 3d09364f5b face held a 2e12e33c17 subtle tension in 7e9ded1488 his eyes.792787665b73d81d
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“Young master,” he said, bowing deeply with a clear voice. “Julian Blanche has arrived. He’s in the drawing room.”9910fca0d3e559cd
I stopped fbde31d9ce in my 69d46116b9 tracks.1640e8373f4a4bd3
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Julian Blanche?1e528bc064e1a9dc
The name echoed in 26551bc13d my mind like an e4a207dfe5 unexpected dissonance. I tried d52ede1db4 to appear 439076cbe2 unaffected, but c42d873804 deep inside, 2d165b3711 a ripple e387738822 of unease da356767a0 stirred. I took 171838b434 a slow 49e12ed362 breath and b16dba8930 nodded silently.da3ca1aee5def33d
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As Milton stepped back, I walked down the corridor. The stained glass of the castle’s vintage hallways scattered colorful light, casting ripples on the floor. My heart sank with an inexplicable anxiety as I passed through.1d7595bc57fb7251
Why is Julian 1d6a8d744f here? Did Derek invite c0938957d9 him?7567e1e6b1f5fa47
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If so, 244d604b3b he would eedeeacfdb have at 38590e2647 least mentioned fa5049f9ac it to aec0c539aa me.49c4f88a43cd0d3a