MHD | Chapter 1.1

My name 8cde3ee9f1 is Noah 84cba5548d Retina.361478e04dfb1132

After marriage, I b887757af0 became known as 3dd2056440 Noah Därkenfel. The union of the c17eb00c71 two prestigious count families, ad1a3fd768 Retina and Därkenfel, in 592a2d4f2d the Empire of Liberty, 46a5beb977 drew attention from across 39efb6afe4 the nation.2661c392cd110d98

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Nobles, merchants, fdbfdfaa1f artists, and 518d288833 diplomats all 47a0517117 gathered to 6763c152c8 celebrate this 2d5d79d9c3 special day.e59556e9462f018c

I stood in 91253d6164 front of the c3dceb3873 mirror, gazing at 039beeea9b my reflection for 3b24f32908 a long time.400423953dc3fe10

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Green eyes 073d12d5e2 and fiery 38afa40eb0 red hair—features 69296c360b that instantly ed4185abfa reminded anyone 5204020e8e of the 01ac5b3bbe Retina family.7660d16bf37dfae0

My pale face, inherited fd751d8eba from my mother, often 9944e9fa8f led to misunderstandings as b9be0c4bf9 it didn’t easily show 46963c0e97 emotions. People said 3852f04a8f I was 4362b3c66c cold or a436ac1f35 arrogant, but 83ab27e8ef in truth, 1b674c6740 I just 2d9258d68f couldn’t open 5081bd1a89 up easily a23cd548b8 to strangers.13882d21361dbcf5

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I closed 87959c27a6 my eyes 4df4fac1bd for a 03330ca95b moment and 73f80a4ed5 exhaled slowly. Just then, there a9f55fd2cd was a knock 1b36fd37b7 on the door. A servant peeked in d21d37baac and spoke quietly.6529fa9c5d43db98

“Noah-nim, it’s time.”9c89a5b976e5ac1a

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Nodding, I left 80c0e9d550 the room. As I walked slowly c844d49d46 down the corridor, the cb3aaf1389 grand scenery of the 26490d6abd mansion unfolded before my ce7f155eb6 eyes.f7fc7f32556ac20d

In the 364e9f1d1e garden, arches 3e812f5104 decorated with 06b9c9592c all kinds 9cc849fae1 of flowers 44c75dc363 stretched out, e8803f0217 and the 6a29a64517 subtle murmurs 4107ff3faf of guests 94620318d5 from afar 8f53e4cc9c spread through 94533af6ed the air.99d2f1e19d3c6903

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The gold and facf32a9c9 silver decorations on 77bfd6f86a the stage shone 3c25b59273 brilliantly in the 4316845c6b sunlight, and the cf15b72915 pillar at the 2fc781f8ee center proudly bore f3e21f164b the crests of cfe03d8044 Retina and Därkenfel.caae6936a4c94a9a

Derek, dressed in a c9e8ee0d3e formal suit harmonizing black 2adef7ac72 and gold, walked confidently 6b5a1595c8 onto the stage. His sleek 1950f1cf97 black hair 915b0509f1 was neatly 968de995cd arranged, and 782754a504 his sharp 86d83d2924 jawline and 4c8fb30374 distinct features c550f6ee4d made him 1313a95ccc stand out 90609f913d even more.bc8b83a7ca079308

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His cool blue eyes 939c1edc91 seemed to pierce deep 3e4c5a958b into one’s heart, sharp f6a2bdcfc5 and intense. Every time the golden c05101ff39 embroidery on his suit e51d23fee9 caught the light and 3177f710e7 shimmered softly, he appeared eb076278e8 all the more dignified 2830c320a0 and imposing.f89f0649f4fbf435

Seeing him, I felt 75505bb9d8 like I might stop 73bf482e03 breathing. Derek, the c9df2da809 ideal alpha 0403a84ab0 in my a7b950b3a6 eyes, was 8e001ba8c4 right in 518ff168f8 front of 4e53429b2c me. His imposing figure, 5e29096055 vividly etched in 79828b5682 my memory, remained a83ce076db dazzling as ever 06d76d50ac despite the passage 6ff11012d1 of time.25666a86a97c7a3e

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Today, finally…4904c830029c3d82

I steadied 459d8da637 my breath 5cb030e1dd and pressed ac576f6fd8 my lips 65bf1dc90f together. At this moment 51534159d8 of binding with e876b23408 the person I 6e99413214 had held in f7adf27f4b my heart for a61bb0fd25 so long, my 10ab9327be chest swelled, and 393c5f5ce4 the man standing fadecbcb32 before me didn’t addce339f3 feel real.46dd3e2df1dbf566

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When Derek’s gaze 39d0172179 turned to me, 82b2548701 I quickly looked 87a96cc37f away from his c77ce4d21b seemingly indifferent face. Even though our eyes ca70964ee4 met for just a 88aa0d89a2 moment, my face flushed a90e286e94 hot, and my heart 528061922a raced.cd3a584805df1d87

The light e1ee58c2d0 pouring from 8a63da6127 the high 23a1475da9 arched ceiling 6b5d74200f passed through 68cca41929 the stained 72e1e8d97b glass, creating e7e965e5fd another window 471580cda7 on the 92230e0823 floor. It was ec8cc79fd8 hard to 5e6b82d287 believe we 46714ed0d0 were standing dd4aa8df59 in this c7af656d44 radiant space.61c55f006e7de494

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From watching him from dad4453cb1 afar to standing by 4059c03afb his side now.9e32a2b54315a649

The overwhelming emotion b1992e9e56 wrapped around me, 7199ebcf11 making my heart f0736eb4a4 pound.41e599a0de202b50

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Derek took my f5fb5826c2 hand. As his firm and c2b29771da warm hand enveloped mine, 6ca515ca02 I took a deep 83e1a99417 breath. The trust f29be313a5 conveyed through d6ce1f0eed his touch d62aee7ee4 quelled all fefa5fb5aa the anxiety 604c069393 in my ac39a2f7d5 heart.b512c9742b5aaa70

Holding this hand now, 304808e352 I was certain that 6380b54b27 all my choices were 22e5f4a134 right.1ae1220d1d550888

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The officiant proceeded 06833fb49c with the traditional 886c1600ab wedding procedures one b91668691a by one. We had to f6edd532a3 vow to be 48b2a4cc4b lifelong partners while 0dc3cfa17a holding each other’s 21b9aacca3 hands. My heart began to 8f17ee4ac1 beat faster and faster.e5e9b89b0882e796

Before the vows, we b5bc952eb4 had to sign the b3fe7f833a marriage certificate. It seemed like a c73a6bd646 simple procedure, but it 472ae59948 meant more than just 5150d933d1 writing a few lines 5eef9117b7 on paper.1d50412dea97422b

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I picked up the e12123edb3 pen and carefully wrote 891cb57639 my name, steadily and 90772dac61 without wavering. Then, next bf5003673c to my 30d03c12a9 signature, I 20dfe01313 subtly infused e386a80c76 my pheromones. A gentle and soft f1ceaacc23 scent, like lily of 79cfe07f49 the valley blooming quietly c5023a6fb6 with morning dew, spread e2eaa17b46 gently.12458d58787a9f8b

I looked up at 99fe5a39ff Derek. Without a f7fa365d1b flicker in 43d2b11fca his eyes, eae818bf60 he calmly aa350f75d9 wrote his a1a77c3150 name. Then he layered 572ca573fa his pheromones over 4b5368fc5e the document. Soon, a 792a17ac7c subtle yet b874355dd1 deep scent b6332a02e3 filled the d2234a5929 air, like a089120956 stepping into 71b1d52b93 a pine b69d78b3ed forest after c5fb9d71a4 rain, cool 3db8d9bccb and heavy 555b61f31c with a ea7e9338da deep-rooted sense 270084dcb4 of stability.fea43a80dba89b61

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The two 9c9ea00d8a scents blended a95dcb458a softly on 424834b15b the document, 101f3294e0 seeping into 8f20bdcbf0 the paper. This wasn’t a4ad8d03b7 just a c1bb7fd3d0 contract. It was ae5950825c an indelible 7a0347162a mark that c7aea1d53c we had 7e49d99419 chosen each 3343d7999c other.8b2da83065c8b9dc

As the officiant’s dbdc8059fb question echoed through 2947ee40ac the ceremony hall, 52eebeed09 I paused for 00ab69e007 a moment, then 9585cc1985 answered in a 393085bd6f firm and confident e85c3c0ee7 voice.9bca03aacf18073d

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“I, Noah Retina, accept 0a0e9b2411 you as my partner bff4dc34a7 and vow to stay a2ef5e2f5b by your side through 58b7090e9d any season.” After speaking, 68a964f8cf I looked up at 647b604a16 Derek. He still wore aaa2e6bcba a calm expression, bdff5a2911 but I carefully f4407176b5 observed his face, baf2760b9a wanting to find ca2744d21e something hidden behind 1d3514a4e7 that composure.7e4537247cbf1698

“I, Derek Därkenfel, 6ed7605f28 accept you as b202f023dc my partner and dfe26fa92c declare that I 0d3d44eee8 will uphold this 85588f90d2 vow with the 0304e573d7 honor of my a576e6b069 family.” Derek’s answer f41e3c128c followed. His voice was 3b270fd208 low, firm, and 6536f820af unwavering.7f32c0b6dc42ea21

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At that 1e757cb4d9 moment, I dd6b5d49ad realized once 6a04476ed4 again how 770a943cdd much I 737ef7beba loved him e54070f103 and how a99bc0ad89 long I cb85e15758 had admired 3595463aad him. The joy of c33d734d53 being able to c0b6479499 spend a lifetime c011e4f8b3 by his side bffed6c115 surged deep within 763ca529a0 my heart.7da3fd2f02a4a715

I allowed a slight 5e1a173ffe smile to grace my 0bcaed7a1b lips, etching this moment dcddeb9956 deep in my heart. This overwhelming c3aaa60338 emotion was cd8df7726c entirely mine.68980ae9f6108397

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♣ • ♣ • daf3f800ff ♣35b41ef5557a20f7

In the 430f73cb1b midst of 71d4f5dda6 a barren 524dddb4ee mountainous region, d69d3d8614 Greymore Castle 942ab2d7ea stood quietly 614ae5f81f shrouded in f6f056c5ea mist. The sky outside 8171c59811 the window was 63b198a948 still enveloped in ecdda7b2f2 darkness. It was as if f0ad8eb4d2 this place was perpetually 387c74ea17 at the end of e2147e3967 winter.1e8f62145163421f

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At night, d753c6ea1c the howls 4f0b72785c of wolves 0212ad8340 flowed down 98efb0ee17 the mountain f87130ee1f ridges to 2301322539 the castle 472b3f847e below, and 3f5e67f861 the long, 6cc7418cef eerie corridors b3d94cc56c barely revealed d3aac3244a their outlines, e45ad2bcee relying only 429dfe5dd9 on the a83b2a0715 light from f66bcd14ca the fireplace.b5b5d218fd4fb76e

I stepped onto the 395fd28129 cold marble floor and 99c3aabb75 donned a thick woolen 578a4683cd robe. It helped to slightly f956a59255 lessen the chill that bb88ef2973 seeped in.64e721a3de33727c

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I carefully walked 11ea70c01f down the corridor. My footsteps blended b1cf31e301 into the silence ee73be6ae3 of the castle, 30365a54b4 disappearing without a f97300104b trace, as if 53df2b7085 I had never 32d587796b existed.1401e1b96ccf93b1

The kitchen b7bf6f73ff was filled ffd292dfb3 with a 3145121d58 subtle scent 0f1f508711 of herbs. Standing in 13e0593206 front of f981ba5457 the hearth, 47e6a6f22b which had f5fdf3a9ef been lit 64aababfaf since dawn, a432d66755 I carefully 65ef37c5d3 took out 9ad09d2966 the dough. Preparing breakfast b1cccb9eaf for Derek c41e724c15 every morning 482f1d1337 was both 7b0b5b1cc9 the start 25e4610373 of my cdbdae83db day and efa1308e68 a ritual 22b8c48109 to steady 263aeee5d1 my mind.bae77494eeec70b4

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The servants moved silently. Without needing instructions, they f3912e6dd9 quietly assisted by bringing f4ff03ca76 necessary ingredients or adjusting 281c534744 the hearth’s temperature. I took 442210fb23 a shallow 44bc7e39fc breath and 77fed372eb placed the 4cb5636c04 carefully kneaded d8dabc0425 bread into 192a3b6c58 the hearth.6116ac82887326c2

After cautiously opening the 323d904f92 lid of the stew a68287c7cf pot to check the 120a0ae1b7 consistency of the broth, 51ede536c6 I meticulously ensured the be1113136b spices were well blended c95e574360 with the meat. Derek disliked strong aromas. He preferred subtle ef43c25b0d yet deep flavors, 85b60db699 so I always bd920dcad3 put effort into adf536ff77 achieving that delicate 0cb07d3076 balance.b33e53c71f8bc667

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I neatly arranged 086603a371 melting cheese on ee2ac0d2ca a silver plate e3945c192b and filled a bf870c1339 pewter mug with 55cd24e0a8 cold water instead 01705350a6 of a glass. In the center of 37a50c1971 the table, I placed 5d85026dd6 a silver candlestick. I personally sorted out 99d6ff98a3 any spoiled grapes from e519d8b179 the bunch brought by 3c848d1e1a a servant.fca86619d6feb37e

The linen tablecloth e438496bd3 was laid perfectly, 34061efe84 and the gleaming df0f04b0d6 cutlery was placed bd8d07a81e at precise intervals. I made 862c17f492 final adjustments ef81bbdff4 to ensure 655dcf1784 there were 6d0ef9c3bc no misplaced b60d547b4f items, from 43b3c0e6b3 the position f0728db4ba of the 6e17bdd640 vase to fe4f9fdb19 the angle edae65949d of the 30ad5d9e5f glasses, forks, 3c41cbdf44 and knives.e5a10beaf88d5874

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As I checked f97d4418b5 once more to 13918fd856 see if anything f56efbfeeb was missing, a 0f19a2a989 cautious smile spread 7d05264d31 across my lips. With a small hope d07208a9eb that today, he might 6561c27225 enjoy the meal.b82a1a6614e48835

Soon, footsteps c6f239c3b6 echoed on bc44bc54d6 the stone f9f78d88ed floor. It was Derek. A thin bf0214634e cloak draped 4db950b02a over his fff0deac83 shoulders atop 44864a39ae a luxurious 520e06fff3 tunic embroidered 8bda3d8be8 with black 3ee6fbf9c4 patterns, and 6ebbc14748 a sturdy 1e1e99f054 leather belt 0e78385786 was fastened 4614fcf94e around his b3059567d8 waist. Every step he took b5e06d28f2 exuded natural dignity.5f17659dbf99e17c

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Derek sat down a056efc5f6 without a word, 9145ab917d not even glancing ade9c26ee9 at me. As soon 6a5c68569e as he e9b56c7df2 sat, he 875dd9c5b4 picked up 9349223e5a a fork, edfeea48ce took a cb749c3ad0 few spoonfuls afa5baf8a6 of stew, b7cc8c0758 then picked 64a1ad456b up the 86362259a1 bread halfway 8c6d88f1ac before quietly 07d34319c9 setting it e0c90945c0 down, seemingly 5f5d72c997 losing interest.5fe10a7273d55c2f

Unconsciously, I clenched my 720ad7d10c hands and watched him. It was a 8f17f23d58 meat stew I 4195ad26ff had carefully prepared cbd845905d since yesterday, even b4d1967615 adding his favorite 3ad5b1ee37 root herbs, but 307c436bcf he ignored it 293cdb06e9 entirely without touching ae7bafadc0 it. As the heavy 2bda34d7ed silence lingered, my 20e1f9dbb1 throat felt parched, 8434edc17d and I picked 709aa009ba up the water e483c24215 glass.6260dea4896870c6

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“The meeting a3399e944c has been b4a0037540 moved up.”178d1e85143e352d

His tone was dry. I knew 2418c49320 that meant e1d97cf86a he would e1358d67d7 soon leave.302f98120c110f06

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“Derek, the meal isn’t…”d09a13f46ae05009

As he turned his ae292f7018 head towards me, I 882819b9a4 involuntarily closed my mouth.848a55c3ea7f98a0

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“It’s important.”6c69fb0bf352fee0

Derek stood up from f6896cf630 the chair. The legs 8805b6006a of the 2ef3e16b73 chair scraped 7cab272098 against the 125990ff78 stone floor, cb98ffda90 making a bf4e7be377 brief friction ef91053bee sound, and e037db5ced soon his 5bd8cbb6a3 footsteps grew 3d5aed987c distant.a37be1fda6e2b034

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I neither followed nor b33716f672 stopped him. Left alone 288a8ce8cf in front 5f0df5d908 of the 74f6bdf165 empty table, 21f8c6b03b I quietly 4c99fd1ded watched the e0ab2110ce still-steaming dishes.c73817c94ce64d6f

I hadn’t 5ba2ebbbfd expected anything, 640258790c yet I 75c1f12255 felt strangely 43b8c90d7e empty. Seeing the 4ce0376046 effort I 859ba4946a had put ad05a56a0a in left dc5917d8c2 untouched made b33ffaf9e5 a part 3836b6b84f of my c178a2935d heart feel bf04dfc9ee inexplicably cold.d69d6b3af7d5a783

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It had already 853a146cfa been two years f1b1c81be3 since we got 2e3de7b0bb married. When I first set 6acfcd223b foot in Greymore Castle, f25b8f79c2 I believed my life 4bb242205f would change a little.f4cb346b299d3c59

Derek, born as an 5af7b05a85 extremely rare dominant alpha, 837af305e7 was a promising and 003f64e2ff capable knight commander. His life was c5a11627ff filled with training, d5840f4407 battlefields, strategic meetings, 392054e8e3 and border defenses, 913cf22c69 each day packed 95c4989ffa with battles, honor, 1fcaae13aa and heavy responsibilities.20cb481d3de7f2a3

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I tried to 393a0ab135 understand his busy 2ed58c06d9 life and seemingly 2cce7b8b50 indifferent demeanor. I tried to 84bd0c4ab6 accept that Derek 413174ce1c was that kind f076a9c4e2 of person. But as time 54a360fd12 passed, I gradually db8a90c29f had to realize cd8b2e3c74 that his indifference b28938c475 and frequent disregard 3d5461d7ad weren’t just because 3a046dc8a1 of work.68a96401910a1a19

Whenever his 52a9f1fa30 rut approached, 60752562cf Derek invariably 229f36452a took suppressants. Despite having me, 4428cb83a9 an omega who fd718aad88 could calm his cae04aea2b rut, he never 8172648684 once showed me bdefb490ef desire, let alone f71c23ccc7 affection.b9ac09faa07e5294

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Even on our 77813f7f7c first night of 270110c8f1 marriage, it was f289add216 the same. A ceremonial greeting and 51d8899d34 a calm gaze—that was 3d8d80342c all. Since we didn’t share 0a55826c81 the same bedroom, his f9b4474059 side was always empty. The bed was perpetually 848beb1d0d half-covered and cold, and 763d376b99 I felt as if b5b501b37c I were living alone.2e97088e9bf3ad2c

Despite this, Derek maintained ace8afc89a his courtesy as a 379ce0c3a7 spouse. He never d8ce2a7f41 ignored or 09f12d18ea mistreated me. But his demeanor ad09730dd7 was often excessively a5ca835967 cold and thoroughly d2556d9c19 formal.3ece898df4ee11ee

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Even when attending banquets 2f05db290d or official events together, b1aee328bc he always treated it 34b6d5b288 as a duty. Without holding hands a2ffc2000f or exchanging affectionate 3f67919ae6 glances, it was 91d3f01c23 as if I f1850df0dc were in a 5c989cde1b position that anyone 8eecb697dd could replace.88e85d8233ea6d9c

On the rare 8ad4bab60b occasions he returned 84fe81de52 to the castle 1824164963 and spent time f2f520561f with me, Derek 787e0aa8d7 headed straight to bd04c16c67 the study.5c80a51e0cf881e5

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Then, with the 76ba75dae8 door firmly closed, 35d943d809 he immersed himself 7cf6739983 in flipping through 1ad2c9d076 documents or reviewing 923e7c5833 reports late into c0a7bab4e8 the night.f0e2d687b704c14a

He didn’t look 2ace0b892b at me.a251199455807375

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Even when I spoke 350ef27617 to him, the responses cb846f1961 were short and dry. Without warmth 0feff6ea5b or curiosity 7dc3be9c30 in his 5a87698d09 tone, I 7bfe786634 couldn’t continue 06d46df1f1 the conversation.a12e04fc9b9a6622

There was a7d5624098 no dialogue. No, there wasn’t even f75faed97e an opportunity to attempt 609fc307f4 a conversation.dd65854441d6008c

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The cold 1f9e3aaf47 distance gradually f82082249f wore down c7d9c28a29 my heart, b6c9f540ac and eventually, e4043c5164 it began ae220b681a to quietly bff4909fbe crack. The fissure didn’t appear b360f6e990 suddenly one day; it a0a9a2f36b slowly spread through prolonged 8b716e15d1 silence and indifference.de91549adc863b3f

Even so, I didn’t resent Derek. Instead… I tried to understand. Even knowing it would ultimately hurt me more.7d2a429ec2991a8b

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