MHD | Chapter 1.1

My name is Noah bf44346827 Retina.378951afb81ed2ce

After marriage, I became 2ec520c605 known as Noah Därkenfel. The union of 43580733a7 the two prestigious fed249ca17 count families, Retina 9a222962b6 and Därkenfel, in e05807771b the Empire of 47ad61bfd8 Liberty, drew attention 3658417f2c from across the 74e5848b79 nation.9d26ce4e5d09dce2

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Nobles, merchants, artists, faa067fdf8 and diplomats all 2d2b578f0d gathered to celebrate 311f5a909f this special day.1d014719e7221521

I stood in 09dbec59d1 front of the 1647902101 mirror, gazing at 6193fe13c2 my reflection for 278f46e72a a long time.b855c8a61627d276

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Green eyes and fiery 58ef4fcc5d red hair—features that instantly 210d31c158 reminded anyone of the b0322d9a45 Retina family.4a3fa876a852cc9b

My pale face, inherited 9976e11400 from my mother, often 236d15224b led to misunderstandings as d3c0e4abd3 it didn’t easily show 73da6600eb emotions. People said af56160c13 I was bd4a8651ed cold or eb498790c9 arrogant, but 76cc1892d4 in truth, c4684db679 I just d5371931a8 couldn’t open e62ce3aa23 up easily fab78a62ec to strangers.b4293332242b93da

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I closed 2abf2834b3 my eyes 6b31fec19a for a ee1af5b379 moment and 9fc513b077 exhaled slowly. Just then, e40961dc2f there was 4f4a8d18a4 a knock 6d47786011 on the f19cf2f224 door. A servant peeked in bf1fcf41fb and spoke quietly.b13210211751529a

“Noah-nim, it’s time.”0bd00ff7a02d97d2

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Nodding, I left the 26cb4e7a3d room. As I c57e0caae6 walked slowly fafa0893f3 down the e84da14fd3 corridor, the 00e38e8bbb grand scenery 44cd43fb02 of the d5623f6bf7 mansion unfolded 4ce4eb6c17 before my 1f5158cca1 eyes.734f5774f8e5550f

In the garden, arches 8055b03f01 decorated with all kinds 587900c8b9 of flowers stretched out, 04de55e2e3 and the subtle murmurs e2bf5c7c72 of guests from afar 0eaeca6afe spread through the air.fc4dfc3296147344

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The gold and silver 0b2d884213 decorations on the stage b5593fbe39 shone brilliantly in the 65dfd99906 sunlight, and the pillar a7c3c82738 at the center proudly f86524e7f4 bore the crests of 45af04d0e1 Retina and Därkenfel.9772c77c78f89d9a

Derek, dressed in a 23ca85fbe9 formal suit harmonizing black 5861b87682 and gold, walked confidently 4d83428fc4 onto the stage. His sleek black hair 77a37ad7cd was neatly arranged, and 82bb060280 his sharp jawline and 2d9a5200a8 distinct features made him ba8c795a05 stand out even more.dc8af4524b8694a1

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His cool 1bc71d2626 blue eyes 9f7c797062 seemed to 27788bbffd pierce deep 484fa95f1c into one’s b147306883 heart, sharp 609f760620 and intense. Every time the golden f156397980 embroidery on his suit 4e458205b7 caught the light and 4e7930b7f5 shimmered softly, he appeared de71a46464 all the more dignified 7dbc54cbbb and imposing.2f20e2348f77c7ba

Seeing him, I df8c0f2a2f felt like I 3bc32cd755 might stop breathing. Derek, the ideal alpha 5507e74af8 in my eyes, was 01a86e2210 right in front of 63217de905 me. His imposing figure, vividly ea60858d37 etched in my memory, 9faca959a0 remained dazzling as ever 63701133da despite the passage of d719f02a8e time.aa7db2aca1b0e4b9

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Today, finally…4f38b1f4cd510022

I steadied my breath a54bf5d4e6 and pressed my lips 7289c8fbe9 together. At this moment e216ee027c of binding with 58fa8e1665 the person I 67b0ad07f6 had held in 78665ac76e my heart for 204c711484 so long, my 0281c47761 chest swelled, and edb0adc6ff the man standing 991d4cc7a1 before me didn’t 77fbad361e feel real.517b12c7f8565272

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When Derek’s 6bd946390c gaze turned 58906c75fd to me, 2ce69b6d32 I quickly 085f3de0d0 looked away 4e9643fc13 from his b62f399f6e seemingly indifferent 28b6f665ee face. Even though our c18857796b eyes met for 6f23c2f98c just a moment, 5d7c78a60f my face flushed ffd8853b5c hot, and my 9d5407783a heart raced.b5ac0025effba3d7

The light pouring from 571111e2c0 the high arched ceiling b4c31cc8ea passed through the stained 9bd077d55f glass, creating another window 2e0268479d on the floor. It was hard c8ee1fb546 to believe we 1aa1eeb39b were standing in 924341a245 this radiant space.c0c6bcec9de17dc2

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From watching d1692df675 him from c2a6402537 afar to b08acbc657 standing by 25a16e19b1 his side c7e5d17c50 now.4737f87e1a13b67a

The overwhelming emotion 659f140256 wrapped around me, 153ea4dc1f making my heart 91ba1e8c5b pound.501d090308f2adfc

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Derek took 127f63e1ea my hand. As his firm bde2b4cbfc and warm hand 7434e831fd enveloped mine, I 2bdcdc7329 took a deep 5018620bb3 breath. The trust conveyed a5a7684e0d through his touch 74fa5feb5d quelled all the bd9822a003 anxiety in my e4e7838ef3 heart.92072222076cd8ea

Holding this hand cd935683f0 now, I was 3eba524bf6 certain that all 147c8f5080 my choices were 894c60eaeb right.6f44b460bd2163c4

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The officiant proceeded with 112ed3e522 the traditional wedding procedures 4e79e8241c one by one. We had to vow 32a736d9e3 to be lifelong partners 4da72c9e41 while holding each other’s b2cae75890 hands. My heart began to b02a184965 beat faster and faster.cd9264e41a4ff98f

Before the vows, we b773e0a56f had to sign the e33c83a4c8 marriage certificate. It seemed c31861bb54 like a 84b01f73f4 simple procedure, 0afea5cd3d but it 5180e68a13 meant more 84027d7685 than just 0f8f4ea0cf writing a f3236ae3b8 few lines 89e586913e on paper.c991f9291a297be1

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I picked up the 7ba345f13a pen and carefully wrote 25c9ae0df2 my name, steadily and b882a15702 without wavering. Then, next 49e53dab14 to my 810e482885 signature, I 7647e366f5 subtly infused 08a9277fcf my pheromones. A gentle and 39e65b3817 soft scent, like c0d64cdf19 lily of the e587c92451 valley blooming quietly 2400e7791f with morning dew, 1ef3508e6d spread gently.8b25bae2a531ab22

I looked up at add4dd761d Derek. Without a flicker in 291359b689 his eyes, he calmly 05a71ad973 wrote his name. Then he layered ea8c436bdf his pheromones over 32296e481e the document. Soon, a subtle yet 0334035ba2 deep scent filled the a452933a11 air, like stepping into c7a973c409 a pine forest after 4edbb6bc2b rain, cool and heavy d1c0d2b5da with a deep-rooted sense 392986da01 of stability.c2be2c1c24ae5c7f

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The two 07c7e0c6ee scents blended 079e4730f4 softly on 95933d44df the document, 277333fb33 seeping into e721ece42e the paper. This wasn’t 0d425dd956 just a 92e3af5f4a contract. It was an 27f0a222ef indelible mark that 47b2ff475e we had chosen 86fb53efde each other.081f7214f768de97

As the d1f71a5d3f officiant’s question d436984b56 echoed through 0f41fb5428 the ceremony 7134abdb60 hall, I b41a602df2 paused for e36a346307 a moment, 78ee5f98f5 then answered 30f7ea1d32 in a e664cc3d2e firm and 50230e0f9a confident voice.db44737110a5f82e

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“I, Noah Retina, accept d63d12a793 you as my partner ab0d3f07a6 and vow to stay 81caca225c by your side through ea430285f6 any season.” After speaking, 26bf0e0048 I looked up at c10650a262 Derek. He still c5b5bae4c4 wore a 1da994e359 calm expression, e55c1161d6 but I 552719cbb5 carefully observed 38b307d862 his face, 90932534bf wanting to 74450363d0 find something d62cb964c9 hidden behind e329901c9f that composure.65a7518317b21c3b

“I, Derek Därkenfel, 2f0c24d6e1 accept you as ba73ed678f my partner and 76e80f83d9 declare that I 4dfca22c19 will uphold this be90c10ac5 vow with the 28094a5e47 honor of my 36952eb9ea family.” Derek’s answer 9cc9175958 followed. His voice was 83e87a60e9 low, firm, and fca7d6aaed unwavering.697cfc94979db7b3

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At that moment, 6e8f015db4 I realized once f19de669f3 again how much b27d3395f2 I loved him 7531c20bf5 and how long 73404ae9ab I had admired 9bdda5855c him. The joy 31ed1b9d42 of being caf4d1bb25 able to ffff6a5b8f spend a d438936ccf lifetime by e0cf6a0407 his side db144f71e0 surged deep 52f8e3d1ee within my 20557ea24e heart.17e86804b1ddf944

I allowed b1ff5fd6c0 a slight 934a2f8716 smile to ccda4abb6c grace my 0d512e73f4 lips, etching 330f4ee012 this moment 1bd5f198ee deep in d91a7161eb my heart. This overwhelming emotion 715c847947 was entirely mine.752702c7cbfcadd7

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♣ • 532c92af20 ♣ • 726a9e7adb ♣b984f3e3adde5c12

In the d0bf8370e1 midst of 69db4f54c2 a barren a69420c481 mountainous region, 3f978da110 Greymore Castle f68158ac3a stood quietly 2ef4424a91 shrouded in 2205af461e mist. The sky outside the 643ebe1db2 window was still enveloped 419de08da5 in darkness. It was 639bcaaad2 as if fbf73393c3 this place badfe09b9a was perpetually d5c8cc8865 at the 01222ce7a5 end of 85ea120e92 winter.eff9b260c9dff56a

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At night, the 538a10e705 howls of wolves 01d20498d8 flowed down the 62e93271fc mountain ridges to abf40f5edd the castle below, 1d639e615c and the long, cea9db1642 eerie corridors barely ab5bb14233 revealed their outlines, b0780a4176 relying only on 0dbc0428d7 the light from 47651d38a8 the fireplace.6b873ec7c815da9c

I stepped onto the 33c90782bf cold marble floor and d445ec99a5 donned a thick woolen 012776120b robe. It helped to slightly 5fe171a42b lessen the chill that 510ebb7d38 seeped in.47a3d3ed7a0e6f0b

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I carefully 3655406ced walked down c3e4fbc86f the corridor. My footsteps blended bee21d5926 into the silence 912fb7a3f0 of the castle, 4afec691a4 disappearing without a 204f5276c3 trace, as if 1cf9455ce3 I had never f354a0bd02 existed.e4c9bf82a042bd2b

The kitchen was filled 1146ebdd9f with a subtle scent d84ffe87e2 of herbs. Standing in front of 23a9da7347 the hearth, which had a3b2fe2a4a been lit since dawn, d06eba5a5e I carefully took out 58c57cc4b5 the dough. Preparing breakfast for Derek 954decdf89 every morning was both 00d30b4495 the start of my 2078d85168 day and a ritual 50cd2cd2b5 to steady my mind.4334070cf2bc9d14

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The servants moved silently. Without needing 37a0eda307 instructions, they b09731f513 quietly assisted 57bb8ed494 by bringing 288b520cc2 necessary ingredients 92ca21ec76 or adjusting 2c917c896f the hearth’s a284cc1023 temperature. I took a8c47ce736 a shallow 22ec7e21cc breath and 46d1cc9e17 placed the 8535e8f34b carefully kneaded 3af8528c8c bread into 04d7e6351d the hearth.bb4cd33ab6512aad

After cautiously opening 8d92b208cd the lid of 5df07d8aea the stew pot 5d6e51b1c6 to check the 31f8b626cb consistency of the 9fe52f351a broth, I meticulously cd81f242b5 ensured the spices 2e5669df9f were well blended 013cd8c1dc with the meat. Derek disliked strong 6fdb1bbf84 aromas. He preferred 7eab695c7c subtle yet b9c41a846a deep flavors, 246d001367 so I dab43abba8 always put 3aa28a2e5d effort into 7a8ef2da10 achieving that 600db6e6cb delicate balance.646d5ad3dc5cec57

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I neatly arranged melting 812ed3b6bd cheese on a silver d0bb784e3d plate and filled a a114bdae9c pewter mug with cold af45ea8a7c water instead of a b2ed5ea810 glass. In the center a9b2d73fad of the table, 109cb30e50 I placed a beb22ec3d9 silver candlestick. I personally d8e8140f71 sorted out 859e86b409 any spoiled e8039bad70 grapes from c7254adfc4 the bunch a11828a4a1 brought by cd5266bee8 a servant.7fc16c5ab00772a0

The linen tablecloth 54382336ee was laid perfectly, 2a66460230 and the gleaming 73bd2f79a1 cutlery was placed 64bbc6f76d at precise intervals. I made final adjustments 2cc1c95618 to ensure there were f29a9adb62 no misplaced items, from df4adf8c42 the position of the a1d87cc467 vase to the angle 3433465d88 of the glasses, forks, 92464579ea and knives.b430e44ce8acd87c

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As I checked 767f172690 once more to e8f97e3e6f see if anything 5f172613c9 was missing, a 99ee93d153 cautious smile spread 91b5450aa2 across my lips. With a small f86fbe6bd2 hope that today, b02d615fd9 he might enjoy 3d7b550887 the meal.3235d23ee4b9c8a0

Soon, footsteps 2d7efaaf94 echoed on fb0087058a the stone fa694390bd floor. It was Derek. A thin cloak draped 472a6dbc7c over his shoulders atop f12d2ed86c a luxurious tunic embroidered 3a687eb080 with black patterns, and 162140f297 a sturdy leather belt bcdeabf7d9 was fastened around his 1e832bf42f waist. Every step he took e9958eb1c4 exuded natural dignity.7024badc9da40c19

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Derek sat down without 3751af1197 a word, not even 33ceadfff0 glancing at me. As soon as ab01ed2fb6 he sat, he b3e3f74c91 picked up a b1c8828891 fork, took a 7b0d4c6327 few spoonfuls of 234900c9cf stew, then picked 64f28dd198 up the bread ddafd530ca halfway before quietly db0b3d3d85 setting it down, 0e453d95fe seemingly losing interest.2af1a6ca3ee30d2a

Unconsciously, I 091b4ecdaa clenched my 7fb77c0cb6 hands and b8568b6d3d watched him. It was a 6ba9a83cf7 meat stew I a5653c7c39 had carefully prepared f253debfe1 since yesterday, even 8ecf4ba94e adding his favorite 6ba35a27dd root herbs, but f3b6951261 he ignored it 9114333b35 entirely without touching d13d0a4bc8 it. As the heavy silence 975c21d969 lingered, my throat felt a002846b1c parched, and I picked 8a585bd939 up the water glass.7c31eb632a66ac26

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“The meeting e304ccd373 has been 00cb46a5f4 moved up.”86dc2d47a0274cb8

His tone was dry. I knew that e13e2d581e meant he would d731616712 soon leave.8f4b4929730d2aab

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“Derek, the meal isn’t…”07c04d4ff703399c

As he d66e602f8e turned his b4f5020c24 head towards a454643ed5 me, I c980534dd8 involuntarily closed f5d1779142 my mouth.f2309808ebd6c48c

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“It’s important.”c25734825c03e5a3

Derek stood up from 3e16243d0f the chair. The legs 05bcec31eb of the ffb505b88b chair scraped a0750a7f14 against the ae3300518e stone floor, 53b35ead86 making a b7acd361ce brief friction a10f41834f sound, and e4a3bb8023 soon his 9541770386 footsteps grew f7a105448c distant.ad7fda218d58454c

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I neither d09676e5d4 followed nor 1a3d95f073 stopped him. Left alone 24b04b837a in front 92d613e423 of the 8c211b4234 empty table, fc2ac90786 I quietly 01a75871ff watched the ece4419b7e still-steaming dishes.4c6abbabc46c9cf7

I hadn’t expected anything, 7dfa236f1d yet I felt strangely 35d42cfe54 empty. Seeing the c7dbb296b8 effort I 306dbffa12 had put 213c26678f in left 08fce5b960 untouched made 27976fbd8c a part 31b60faa55 of my d9e793e423 heart feel 4d69fb69b5 inexplicably cold.648b0c895f51a541

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It had already 3c75b5898f been two years 941eb51072 since we got 2082c58ddf married. When I first 31e5918b45 set foot in 66a5bdf419 Greymore Castle, I b75ff03c95 believed my life f487acf144 would change a a53c24c351 little.706bbcf85bf1920f

Derek, born as an c46e13e5fb extremely rare dominant alpha, 3d9c52b126 was a promising and 247902eda8 capable knight commander. His life was filled 62eaec3e87 with training, battlefields, strategic 84f18369ad meetings, and border defenses, 1da9735906 each day packed with 5ef0542450 battles, honor, and heavy b7b32d93df responsibilities.150e5d726ceb4b6a

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I tried to understand 16c6883698 his busy life and 7ef0a3a572 seemingly indifferent demeanor. I tried to fde3bd7c20 accept that Derek 3d81f08fbb was that kind ceaf74fde3 of person. But as time passed, fdc0b260ce I gradually had to 8cc3ed4966 realize that his indifference 3f283e31f3 and frequent disregard weren’t ddb23f45ec just because of work.464db27fcba0e770

Whenever his rut 1898438f88 approached, Derek invariably b144fd7842 took suppressants. Despite having 8272c88575 me, an 74a8a0f874 omega who 90f3d369dc could calm c13244696c his rut, 86c23ab128 he never a76ae28696 once showed eefc94e250 me desire, 7a6a36583d let alone 258f1d9b13 affection.dc3e8e24d576ffc7

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Even on our first a475c6780a night of marriage, it 6dcc2053b6 was the same. A ceremonial greeting 72614a9bf6 and a calm 3eba2eebb4 gaze—that was all. Since we didn’t c09d297a88 share the same 9f3cee3ee8 bedroom, his side 84a3878ed6 was always empty. The bed was 5dcf667552 perpetually half-covered and 65c62f0c24 cold, and I cb44516fe4 felt as if 46b77a3b91 I were living 1663279c5d alone.bcce6b7aa9a01550

Despite this, Derek maintained a4987be7d9 his courtesy as a 6c3f6fb1fe spouse. He never ignored 9e349580b7 or mistreated me. But his demeanor 68e89b414a was often excessively f285ab2d3d cold and thoroughly b7068f49f9 formal.60dfb9b6938556a7

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Even when d25d6192ac attending banquets baefcacfe2 or official 0053bc181d events together, 98d8347964 he always ddadafff89 treated it 1948f316ca as a bd8bf0004a duty. Without holding f54be961cd hands or 4f2c905efb exchanging affectionate 25e0e70786 glances, it 4331656ebd was as efeb54c758 if I e806b4681e were in d078a80078 a position 557ccaf15c that anyone 168aa2f421 could replace.94417f35542c97a6

On the cafc320d5c rare occasions 539de8bb52 he returned b9a73ade58 to the a4a9b46ffa castle and ea1b10a85c spent time b867ebce8d with me, 3fc5ccc080 Derek headed c6220fc705 straight to d200124614 the study.d2d6e04e70be8c84

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Then, with the door 9ff9239aa6 firmly closed, he immersed 70f41dbd11 himself in flipping through e09ff6e903 documents or reviewing reports e7d56bb2ec late into the night.9b8eda2b9db78ee5

He didn’t look at 9588e14491 me.93d652b5f93d24d2

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Even when f5b2286b2f I spoke 79bc3303b2 to him, 32539fb8f0 the responses ed539de44a were short ddc8ee0523 and dry. Without warmth or ea389bc122 curiosity in his 67532f98c4 tone, I couldn’t d5f807c37d continue the conversation.fa68baae1c493f85

There was 6c8f1796dd no dialogue. No, there wasn’t even 6ecb53818a an opportunity to attempt be55fb8985 a conversation.58d8ec640b80fa2e

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The cold distance 91d1407de1 gradually wore down 43fba53d18 my heart, and aed5d3cf5e eventually, it began 68442946f8 to quietly crack. The fissure didn’t 4fa5ef48f5 appear suddenly one 550fb3cdb7 day; it slowly 021563e4df spread through prolonged 96904a2d8d silence and indifference.b2503069c2be46f8

Even so, I didn’t resent Derek. Instead… I tried to understand. Even knowing it would ultimately hurt me more.288d1ca9f894a298

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