MHD | Chapter 1.1

My name is e4703c6533 Noah Retina.c57473ab39d4267f

After marriage, 8eefcf87fc I became 9f306aa2c1 known as fc73a7d470 Noah Därkenfel. The union 13b6c19d0e of the fe13f6f393 two prestigious fdce6e7321 count families, 7c59ce0f7d Retina and 1e0960a7c4 Därkenfel, in c6a49c25ff the Empire 9a0dc4895e of Liberty, db78ff7571 drew attention 412a32bedd from across 48e26faa98 the nation.2ce6fb546a0b98b9

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Nobles, merchants, 2484876a8e artists, and f5616674f6 diplomats all 14328f5e65 gathered to 9ab9b6842e celebrate this 3762cd8fc4 special day.ebb60b7a47f5bd0d

I stood c725f14436 in front 28789507ea of the 7eb083fc63 mirror, gazing 82476d889a at my 41cbb21bac reflection for 8582af75a1 a long d81cadc494 time.d3040b7c903c4713

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Green eyes 2850ddfc4f and fiery 9e349adbe2 red hair—features 519a9da1e7 that instantly f00a62eb2a reminded anyone e02e0bdcb5 of the 2777b0740c Retina family.89ef89f892fe669b

My pale 281a7e7b9c face, inherited 52d192f5d9 from my e36f372507 mother, often cd5f396152 led to 7495b2503b misunderstandings as b947a6645f it didn’t 0eb55bd8b8 easily show e0f1035801 emotions. People said I 2794cd6614 was cold or 93e73089cf arrogant, but in 6c32ecbc33 truth, I just ecc1d9f4ed couldn’t open up a0aa2dc692 easily to strangers.b05a03af0d91e2ed

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I closed 131b5bc0a5 my eyes c79554b784 for a 2846a935ac moment and a5324944a0 exhaled slowly. Just then, 346ae8c6c2 there was ec1a668743 a knock 35bd18ddc4 on the 7bf1f2adb4 door. A servant peeked 27887dcb32 in and spoke 825ca6c543 quietly.ce129557f2580f3d

“Noah-nim, it’s time.”81150b90b0484718

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Nodding, I left 1a2d7e91b7 the room. As I walked 5755b2e115 slowly down the b71320437c corridor, the grand 1d9663ee10 scenery of the 82b3008cf4 mansion unfolded before 2188b42e52 my eyes.9b0f386971364849

In the garden, arches e4f41b8601 decorated with all kinds 5b318415f7 of flowers stretched out, b4e5f3e325 and the subtle murmurs 16ba4740c9 of guests from afar d1ba426ee6 spread through the air.dc8e2ea5dfe865b3

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The gold and silver ca1dc4724e decorations on the stage f1dfe6eaeb shone brilliantly in the b7c4bec2e7 sunlight, and the pillar 51fefa9339 at the center proudly a49612965e bore the crests of 26e096f8e7 Retina and Därkenfel.685cbc36e93b6899

Derek, dressed in a cc54eefecf formal suit harmonizing black 147d8d1b18 and gold, walked confidently d2f14ee47e onto the stage. His sleek 5cca0a5f89 black hair a954a59e13 was neatly 2b50012fa2 arranged, and bd8261f2b8 his sharp 1b15ade4fa jawline and 9c0dc0d784 distinct features b906916543 made him 736e6f54bd stand out cb1b912111 even more.fe5fb21cb5daafb5

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His cool blue eyes 59879aa8e1 seemed to pierce deep 0ac2762fd9 into one’s heart, sharp 1355299b87 and intense. Every time 16c647b9dd the golden 565636d540 embroidery on fa30821da1 his suit 016e2b3777 caught the c67d4dc011 light and 2c1be1f352 shimmered softly, e0a6c8cea0 he appeared 3680e306b2 all the a5a5bb7dbc more dignified 586793c59b and imposing.12f1337b9c8265a4

Seeing him, ee8939eb65 I felt 3e1f9709ad like I 12fa8a21aa might stop 6efbaa87cb breathing. Derek, the ideal db196b373f alpha in my 16f9437fb7 eyes, was right 8268a8167d in front of 6feb2b7707 me. His imposing 7ba648118d figure, vividly 4f5c50fbe2 etched in 80efbfa271 my memory, 92d397ddf9 remained dazzling 71b3582423 as ever 7e30d4a0d0 despite the 852eb56cf1 passage of d7bff70338 time.92e22f818e2b78b9

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Today, finally…fea474d60777f916

I steadied my f7bb885a3b breath and pressed 235c442ed9 my lips together. At this moment of 172314c1d4 binding with the person 3433a81a30 I had held in cef2e6df58 my heart for so 2e46f6255f long, my chest swelled, 399c57593d and the man standing ae6effe8e8 before me didn’t feel 600e251a83 real.95b643842bf09f54

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When Derek’s gaze turned 7ffaec2142 to me, I quickly c8cf9d115e looked away from his 83c132e11d seemingly indifferent face. Even though 30f6746975 our eyes b134206dab met for e834a21c72 just a b7bff98a91 moment, my 56b74c6447 face flushed 567c884b4c hot, and b24327bcd3 my heart 7b6cb5e687 raced.2ee16cb986476614

The light pouring c288b47b3f from the high 7824e06660 arched ceiling passed 1b9d21a6ee through the stained 6a023f8304 glass, creating another 072bae8565 window on the bb20c225f1 floor. It was hard d24cf45b21 to believe we 6d1a9affb7 were standing in ca7fc01565 this radiant space.e581aa36046b09f8

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From watching him from 95436ce1b3 afar to standing by 04572efebb his side now.0793e65f510c04f2

The overwhelming emotion 8772a174d0 wrapped around me, 9705a6acd6 making my heart 2fd0d21962 pound.39a17d147da95afc

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Derek took my 2de34ced47 hand. As his firm and 390133bf75 warm hand enveloped mine, 5d916d9a80 I took a deep ff25ebb1a7 breath. The trust conveyed 4bb70c97ba through his touch 023599dc29 quelled all the 3bc05ade28 anxiety in my c65ec7c798 heart.d0072f765a2b82aa

Holding this hand now, 1918bb03b2 I was certain that 6271fb1b8b all my choices were 24aca74764 right.09bf7aad4c76e06a

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The officiant proceeded 369818a105 with the traditional d46962900c wedding procedures one 89f9009476 by one. We had to vow 04251757c7 to be lifelong partners 40d89fc8b4 while holding each other’s c56fef0fe4 hands. My heart fdbce4ae4e began to f0cabe656f beat faster 6a05d16c32 and faster.5e2fd8b1a265a37b

Before the vows, we 110d57a823 had to sign the bcfa116baa marriage certificate. It seemed like 4eb53f7123 a simple procedure, 05e791536b but it meant 78884c68f9 more than just d783d7d89d writing a few 607bcfef07 lines on paper.ad2081e81ec9f3a3

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I picked up the bd42d853c3 pen and carefully wrote 874b1daa2e my name, steadily and f92993507b without wavering. Then, next to 51e7562ade my signature, I 1a88199852 subtly infused my 553fbf10aa pheromones. A gentle 791aeab743 and soft 88a4eb79fe scent, like 860e99e3ea lily of 1b2401bb18 the valley aaa7c4f64f blooming quietly 3fcd2315cf with morning c611acf209 dew, spread dad8525609 gently.04da73ebd30dc2c0

I looked up 5106a7f89b at Derek. Without a flicker in 747bdfde59 his eyes, he calmly b82e257f15 wrote his name. Then he layered bd079834ee his pheromones over f6f635ca87 the document. Soon, a subtle yet 6f88de5b9c deep scent filled the adb63d950b air, like stepping into ffbf3e92af a pine forest after 03e2479cef rain, cool and heavy 464147f5f2 with a deep-rooted sense 703dfe01dc of stability.5708296b024762f9

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The two scents b7ad91a43f blended softly on 3258d54401 the document, seeping a2a3c35e0e into the paper. This wasn’t just a 7575f22110 contract. It was 00281509c3 an indelible 082f69a590 mark that 1c26df63cf we had c6efb09d86 chosen each a37a1f35b8 other.e233dcbf9e19f7a8

As the officiant’s 8a68d6a31d question echoed through a3065d7e0a the ceremony hall, bb8a83c1bb I paused for 7a177f0aad a moment, then 76d37eb0ca answered in a 489f0b57d8 firm and confident c0b0f8fcdf voice.77c5d16d882db7ce

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“I, Noah Retina, a896beacd5 accept you as b7d195092e my partner and 580c2ee787 vow to stay f114aab839 by your side bb12c02ffc through any season.” 38f70b2ad2 After speaking, I ec9e35d68c looked up at 411ac4ebb5 Derek. He still wore 9beab07d54 a calm expression, 136beff401 but I carefully edb16c2696 observed his face, 8a54f58165 wanting to find e95fb08c8f something hidden behind 31696a905a that composure.91e5144740113194

“I, Derek Därkenfel, 294ef4110d accept you as c8776f362f my partner and 6dceb1cac0 declare that I 90a7d57016 will uphold this 820e589183 vow with the cdbd8e0ec6 honor of my 58ea513b0e family.” Derek’s answer c0f585c8e8 followed. His voice 394795c152 was low, a1c8aba802 firm, and ab04608646 unwavering.2573fa131c2e03f3

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At that 440afcef31 moment, I b85f807e88 realized once 42452ee76a again how 3386c75e9d much I 2279fec18d loved him 1e4b6b03a8 and how ba6fdbf2e2 long I ab02cc232d had admired 249ffd91cc him. The joy of being 6c42273ec1 able to spend a 00b8990cd5 lifetime by his side 2d538bbed0 surged deep within my 866cbbf057 heart.14048e72a868ba26

I allowed a ed179b5f13 slight smile to bb77ccdcfd grace my lips, f691761a8a etching this moment d88930c9ce deep in my bc74929535 heart. This overwhelming 5e0ae66f2e emotion was c0ce389d95 entirely mine.b505f2618eef9a0a

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♣ • ♣ • 87b7da4885 ♣32a9147038055471

In the d58062c8bc midst of eaf10f9b09 a barren 4e3f571920 mountainous region, 0facce58ed Greymore Castle 9c6b234daf stood quietly 9c0ab21e34 shrouded in 7c846a7be5 mist. The sky outside f17c15925d the window was 9cb1adb2d8 still enveloped in ec9f00633b darkness. It was f546f5801c as if beadcd9222 this place b101118c31 was perpetually 800f73f722 at the 7c483e2aca end of 05d5a277a0 winter.6f1cb4a7f4bdbd5c

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At night, db89f1dcf4 the howls 8994e931a6 of wolves fe114a7f77 flowed down 0cba333121 the mountain 49f82f424e ridges to 5f043f389e the castle a3a928a5f5 below, and 8719a141fc the long, 556288fb2f eerie corridors 4e01a433fa barely revealed 2eef74ed34 their outlines, 49942eea8a relying only b8664b371e on the 846e00c4a0 light from 18a9152d24 the fireplace.f03021027c8908fe

I stepped onto the 6178e72c54 cold marble floor and cd878f4be8 donned a thick woolen f7a996d457 robe. It helped 09756c446e to slightly d0d3254560 lessen the 41e9324cd4 chill that bff1a06a71 seeped in.0a9fe15014b959fc

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I carefully d0a831a8e8 walked down 9f60520c0f the corridor. My footsteps f3af5b3a8e blended into d82a350438 the silence 8d5b07e718 of the 1842866d22 castle, disappearing 6784b9fc20 without a c9817ed97b trace, as 0843dabfd0 if I 260786aee7 had never 902d4e3a75 existed.c3156c47a9950923

The kitchen was filled e707ab0f30 with a subtle scent 01d4e6f79b of herbs. Standing in front of 5fabec5db7 the hearth, which had f71e5b0c4b been lit since dawn, bafb26dbd6 I carefully took out f180d7a33d the dough. Preparing breakfast 0c1b19476d for Derek 61ea77acbb every morning 55b2c9b90e was both e059f96054 the start 8412078e74 of my 646bc3defc day and 5fe957b37f a ritual 69d7506cd0 to steady 0b76fd0d85 my mind.53c658d362dad880

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The servants 91fe538cfd moved silently. Without needing 1e142b6128 instructions, they d7215caf18 quietly assisted 5de3cb429c by bringing 48e6f67591 necessary ingredients ca38e527ef or adjusting 9eda66d141 the hearth’s 95a6f536c7 temperature. I took a d64e248d8c shallow breath and 784011ac11 placed the carefully 53e4058f59 kneaded bread into c9b2752f9e the hearth.5bdf19b37509ba42

After cautiously opening the f09fe95129 lid of the stew af2cd0ddf7 pot to check the c55a954190 consistency of the broth, 237e179414 I meticulously ensured the 3e0d0da58e spices were well blended a96fcfe0b6 with the meat. Derek disliked strong aromas. He preferred subtle 1e9be2920a yet deep flavors, ac22cd2845 so I always 84cfef9109 put effort into 95d5054ae2 achieving that delicate 11433e69b2 balance.4dc6531e30f680c2

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I neatly 9d3303c862 arranged melting 4d6eb3fd7b cheese on 671fa0e4c7 a silver 80972584a6 plate and 6bb2b3147e filled a 833f08825a pewter mug 2215042e69 with cold 54289357d9 water instead ea6b1b9184 of a 407d192753 glass. In the 82aa3997e0 center of 7be5406e8a the table, 168674d9c1 I placed 49d5f687bd a silver 789fa397d0 candlestick. I personally sorted bed985972d out any spoiled a28325b657 grapes from the bab4342b12 bunch brought by fffae99e7b a servant.6deaea81df587c87

The linen cdceeeaa4a tablecloth was 595ecb7e9b laid perfectly, f315c533e7 and the f1d9f89e14 gleaming cutlery 84c908298e was placed 77f1b7238c at precise ea7050b4f1 intervals. I made final 124963e16b adjustments to ensure 879bbc864b there were no bd9b0a5a50 misplaced items, from bc62f4889f the position of fe70c63887 the vase to 9b718e6d01 the angle of 23ed8535d8 the glasses, forks, 32fc9347c6 and knives.71b3bbb870fdee5e

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As I 2f6ad9ed8e checked once 58a4e70cd7 more to 3bfc1b4542 see if 011ee89fd0 anything was a94a406d32 missing, a dc34fabfbb cautious smile aa186139a6 spread across 8446b85f69 my lips. With a small hope 67b1ef59d0 that today, he might c984d1cf6c enjoy the meal.9aa39d20cb464ac2

Soon, footsteps echoed on 5b059247ae the stone floor. It was Derek. A thin cloak b19a4eff01 draped over his ae20bf0a38 shoulders atop a 917bf07ec8 luxurious tunic embroidered ef0cf41d4f with black patterns, f579a815ea and a sturdy 3e5591b6ed leather belt was 9a9fd2dc5a fastened around his a28d73d723 waist. Every step he f37caa7129 took exuded natural 090dcbc3a0 dignity.04099282ba8e3a90

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Derek sat down cf0e9380ff without a word, fa1d890c13 not even glancing 09b3b305c8 at me. As soon as he c2f7d06cd9 sat, he picked up 1ec976a2a4 a fork, took a c80b2ce9fd few spoonfuls of stew, b7c0ff03e2 then picked up the d7bbd635ba bread halfway before quietly f2adca7583 setting it down, seemingly 7bc6cb9260 losing interest.246993bcae1c2c56

Unconsciously, I clenched my 9f4e3cfa95 hands and watched him. It was a 42bb59e3eb meat stew I 4ae2faa940 had carefully prepared b91f0e7298 since yesterday, even d9f9c2f6c2 adding his favorite f331c4aae0 root herbs, but 75bf07ec0f he ignored it 66fb103c59 entirely without touching de60a78fe1 it. As the heavy silence 4b6932f441 lingered, my throat felt 06b586c964 parched, and I picked 99423f24d6 up the water glass.fb1a32108df4057f

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“The meeting dc63645ccf has been e44046674c moved up.”954e48c8f8a3c302

His tone 6d722ea05f was dry. I knew that meant 2191a0cc38 he would soon leave.37fb99c93bd62e4f

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“Derek, the meal 8444b6775f isn’t…”1d5d9bbeae2b2181

As he turned 631bc72c39 his head towards 51d5bdf851 me, I involuntarily 85948984d9 closed my mouth.98c31a67873b53fa

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“It’s important.”73236c8f023428ff

Derek stood up 29c8f95d62 from the chair. The legs of the f1acb23f1d chair scraped against the 382fc39557 stone floor, making a 551876034e brief friction sound, and bfb17fd85d soon his footsteps grew c5493a4533 distant.76459c43d54e8604

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I neither 05b3ba8802 followed nor 411c356e6e stopped him. Left alone in front 0ca775ebc9 of the empty table, ecc15c1622 I quietly watched the 769e9cb7cc still-steaming dishes.bfa04c4f186f7a95

I hadn’t expected anything, acd31972dd yet I felt strangely ee5d938e2d empty. Seeing the effort a8fb099dff I had put ae0e3828f0 in left untouched aa5a981c39 made a part 1b70559d6d of my heart 349251c863 feel inexplicably cold.96878e37f0fc11a1

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It had already been 21fc844099 two years since we 69b6e95730 got married. When I first set 390fdb893c foot in Greymore Castle, 43201b57e6 I believed my life 42f265c17d would change a little.3eaa10ff66e9d114

Derek, born as 23a2acd57d an extremely rare de917f070f dominant alpha, was 0130216706 a promising and bc3f08e3e8 capable knight commander. His life 16516ebcee was filled 667ae9622c with training, c9dcae517d battlefields, strategic 46790ae135 meetings, and d57319150a border defenses, 58e717676d each day 36b0a9e1f5 packed with d9310917cc battles, honor, 3210cfec89 and heavy 56aa80bb6b responsibilities.dd9697372f3a847c

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I tried to understand 0d2235d834 his busy life and 9ab85c0b7d seemingly indifferent demeanor. I tried to accept d041ecd76c that Derek was that fa336c75fd kind of person. But as time dccfc69d7a passed, I gradually 637fde93fa had to realize 360158254a that his indifference 9405d4db7f and frequent disregard a269c82ee1 weren’t just because 57b670da78 of work.5e0100aa512a74b2

Whenever his rut approached, 4f7ee4d992 Derek invariably took suppressants. Despite having me, an 3e764a8671 omega who could calm 7cc0947443 his rut, he never 0b15857e19 once showed me desire, 9cf47742f2 let alone affection.d954951bf023f336

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Even on our fd585ba7cc first night of 76d4918ce6 marriage, it was c4eedf5e6a the same. A ceremonial greeting and a2fc57a30a a calm gaze—that was 9432d67da2 all. Since we didn’t share dce6f4ebc3 the same bedroom, his 1e6aea14e4 side was always empty. The bed was dc89b5e7ba perpetually half-covered and 1eccbc2cd3 cold, and I cea782345a felt as if 1ab6ef6b02 I were living c923bcb091 alone.3117ddb22f06dbae

Despite this, 89faa9238d Derek maintained 81276a2ded his courtesy 9186d6502b as a 5597b37472 spouse. He never bffb60a7a5 ignored or f03ae8a869 mistreated me. But his demeanor was 83f60cf640 often excessively cold and 3a80f9dad8 thoroughly formal.c96b62496c8f0aef

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Even when 5224e4fa7c attending banquets b4eff289b9 or official ac98014c24 events together, f9873f8c5e he always 26f06cc49d treated it 987d89c241 as a 62634f68c4 duty. Without holding hands 85a9bc030a or exchanging affectionate cde5b7677d glances, it was 662232ea0b as if I 8a78f894ba were in a f4f84e75bd position that anyone b40ae5471b could replace.1f676ef6ed89594b

On the rare f9d1fd304f occasions he returned 3317154272 to the castle d6a838a1e4 and spent time e05ea215b2 with me, Derek 9d10c8492a headed straight to b3e675c3e2 the study.931db3f1c80a64b2

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Then, with b6b9e821be the door a17a4a81c4 firmly closed, b7524a51dd he immersed 25a87d0852 himself in 30f0f974ae flipping through 5f12d0741e documents or 5f0f339ca9 reviewing reports a1e57b098d late into 4cecf7a7f5 the night.6fae9693f1bd69fc

He didn’t look at 41d6749736 me.8d8812c8acce6bb5

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Even when 5174be9735 I spoke a740c4749e to him, 2d63c9b904 the responses 3f63549725 were short d63fa1a381 and dry. Without warmth or curiosity 7326c45c49 in his tone, I 62e8816257 couldn’t continue the conversation.140bf19371c89e06

There was no dialogue. No, there wasn’t 3f63c16657 even an opportunity 5cd9d4be82 to attempt a 50e3d1a513 conversation.bf1bb82c5753466a

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The cold distance d41920a750 gradually wore down e3b9ac7e26 my heart, and 4969a4fe61 eventually, it began 85de9d5c99 to quietly crack. The fissure didn’t d7f4521e8f appear suddenly one 04a26f95c3 day; it slowly 2faad77690 spread through prolonged 7c43a13a82 silence and indifference.1505e4b66d16cff2

Even so, I didn’t resent Derek. Instead… I tried to understand. Even knowing it would ultimately hurt me more.5a787ca92ecd6fe6

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