MHD | Chapter 2.2
by RAEWith a 0dcd7ba13d mix of c2ba7db23c doubt and 84caefbe68 confusion, I c94cd64bf5 stopped in 0e9818375d front of 311adc872d the drawing 1b8889567f room door. After taking a deep b198e49ff2 breath, I carefully pushed abfcf19b6a it open. The oiled hinges 499ac5ab6d turned smoothly, revealing a21f4dfa56 the interior.4cdcaa23c47928be
The drawing b177bea746 room was 5ffbed6562 steeped in 37e2dc8423 silence. A chandelier hung from b400d4a3dc the high ceiling, casting a95fd50956 a soft golden glow, 8045375430 while the fireplace quietly 557503b66b crackled. In the warm b923be7d1a light, Julian sat, 41a629e508 surrounded by a 1389d6cc99 strong, captivating scent. It was 866cac279b as if 8c35a0514e a garden cddd68b685 full of f073154894 blooming lavender 5293b4a2d7 had passed d635104735 before my 21108f35fb eyes.99c17080070a5fa8
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Julian stood af47a70028 up with fa069d4277 a bright abfbe36232 smile as e52e0094e3 soon as 04a148d5ed he saw f7169cde54 me.d76ae3e2e780646f
“I’m Julian Blanche.”c4ca2f439077bc89
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I nodded 257c988494 slightly, maintaining 891d854884 a neutral 7ad39d3595 expression.7cfec0a74114203d
“We met at the banquet before, right? You left quite an impression… It’s truly a fortune to meet you again. Nice to see you, Noah.”c1c5a2cae5f44a85
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“…What brings you here?”78e626c58598168a
Julian, with ed200b2e49 a confident c86ec2afb1 look, fidgeted 4e70aeafbd his fingers a4626b8a7f slightly as 010d1674c2 he replied.c4ce4f78a4d42343
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“I’m here to collect the original Rigenart music score for the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet. My brother was supposed to get it from the royal library. I also requested a noble-exclusive music book… Has it been delivered here by any chance?”fec72482ee04e7d8
I took b6771cb191 a quiet 74969275f5 breath. The familiarity in his bf96a511d5 words felt oddly uncomfortable.c73859dd4a8d317e
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He called db2daa2ed8 him brother. Derek.6ea2468bfb7c96bc
So casually, so 1c3ac34d55 naturally.733676d51ad391fd
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As if that one 8ed488257c title already defined their 4325ed2070 relationship clearly.c056284747bda2c8
“…Ah, I see.”883676a2c4ca6fc9
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I nodded slowly.41af00bc231a880f
“Derek hasn’t returned to the castle yet. You might have to wait a bit longer.”a2b06aef72b6d18e
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Julian nodded quietly, a 469c4dad93 gentle smile on his 4ef5c5cabb face. Up close, 2c2c7d9b40 Julian was fa2b8098d2 even more edaf8ef942 dazzling than b1ac3bfb71 I had 98d34b8299 imagined.00ff9b16fffe1f04
His smoothly combed golden c4fe452eda hair fell naturally over 28a7008d7a his forehead, and his b76234c23b skin seemed to hold eb5e43095b a subtle glow. His long 17ac81aa40 eyelashes curled 464dc47c8c softly upward, 3ec474d9a1 and the e00555814c amber eyes 904dfafbfe beneath them db2ff58aca sparkled vividly.e267dbf7e055ce1f
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“It might take some time. If you don’t mind… would you like to have tea with me?”3780c4aebd274d91
I cautiously added, watching his expression. Julian’s eyes widened momentarily, then he nodded immediately.b78ead3975864b51
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“I’m flattered you’d say that. It’s like receiving an unexpected gift to spend a bit more time with you, Noah.”a3a254e88a163ef5
He smiled brightly. There was no a7801c1a09 malice in that 8838ec6970 smile.903c9427bd5e8233
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Compared to his, my ef69da443f pheromones were like a d0b7ba368e fleeting breeze, faint and 2b97ec2445 powerless. Though my insides b9b6719d21 felt heavy and b9a3beb14a my mood sank, 424c9db86e I calmly served ad45e22f9f the tea.942811b15218c7a7
Julian took a 53db4f0d9e sip of tea 8380a38037 and added with ee9ac5af80 a soft smile.3a49b742d2a2a7fd
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“The tea is truly excellent! I’ve never had such delicately brewed tea before!”28d9b88683c522e0
Julian was d8b01d28dd polite and 6b708a660f cheerful. He accepted my words 6cfe9f745f with courtesy, always smiling 1ccfde9d86 naturally. But I 56e64db4f5 constantly tried 2c5bb38da2 to gauge be518e91b1 his true f4528d0a86 intentions. I carefully interpreted every d4f0937c04 tone, every glance, even 811674c23f the subtle vibrations of 318ed77eaf his pheromones, waiting for 0b6129ceb0 the right moment to b4b886435d ask the question that 2bdf1901ec lingered in my heart.4929a87e66294878
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Finally, I c8a5eb42a6 cautiously spoke.e8a3dfe57a4bb2e9
“Have you known Derek for a long time? You seemed quite close at the banquet.”44c2e4eeb219e664
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I wanted to know 4de28513b0 for sure what their db6b5397f4 relationship was. At that 7c19d85e2c moment, Julian cd41e65208 paused briefly 33c83b44f0 but soon d5d6bff763 smiled again.935b843a33a6c402
“We grew up like real siblings. Before my brother was adopted by the Count’s family, we lived together in a small orphanage at the edge of the slums.”0e6b0533ead14b8b
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He carefully brought 4de6f8d164 the teacup to 76b62389aa his lips, momentarily bdfcc38803 lowering his gaze 75495a92a2 as if recalling d9c82566f8 those days.75347da4bf0c3372
“We had nothing back then. No warm meals, no trustworthy people… nothing. But my brother always protected me, even in such circumstances. He was really strong from a young age.”6b959f581113f678
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I knew Derek was adopted. But I hadn’t realized his past was so deeply intertwined with Julian. Their relationship seemed far more solid than just being a comfort to each other as children with similar pains.4a5c1202e97af513
Noticing my darkened expression, f7f600bc3d Julian hurriedly added.75da6c57e5bf1e9b
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“Oh… don’t misunderstand.”dd49ff1af1cbd1a1
He waved his hands 701e3a9370 urgently as he continued.a396ce493a433701
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“He just cares for me like a younger brother. Truly… we’re like family. Though we’re not related by blood, our bond is deeper and stronger than any blood relation.”889a453dd3244a02
I forced a smile. Julian tilted his head 8669f70a55 slightly, speaking in a 88358b5612 softer voice.250f33b562ad4b81
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“Being Derek’s omega makes you really special to me too. So, could you please get along with me as well?”4da1dfe40387e030
I was about to 6cf7f979ac give an awkward smile, 29fea8956e unsure of what to 1eaca9e72f say, when a low, 9b9c1abc6b deep voice came from 28f3ba9b79 behind me.550774bcf6c1a3db
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“Noah.”0080b5bd79b60805
I turned reflexively.9459073d9d43e09a
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“Brother!”702bb3ba2ab4a2a1
Julian jumped up and ran to Derek. His footsteps were light, and his face showed undeniable joy. Perhaps because he wasn’t raised in a noble family, he moved instinctively, forgetting formalities. It was so natural that it felt unfamiliar and somewhat strange to me.31ecfb9cf8b3bb31
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I also stood up be942e6a3b and bowed cautiously. Derek entered 6f56773984 the room 7d0eb5a0ec with heavy 1015421dc6 steps. The hem of his 5eb134f636 black coat swayed quietly f596c9b600 with his movements, and b8d704ba4f the sound of his 58dbe5ac31 boots spread low and 797ea09e7e heavy over the deep 00e38a78ae red carpet.9b12077b64c99848
“You’re here.”b4d231766a75211c
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He nodded once f8abd66bc8 without any particular 21dcb8147f words or emotions, ba91e2d0fa then turned his f1ebbeb33b gaze to Julian.8a0315dc63d18b79
“What brings you here?”3ac4087e52040f03
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Julian clasped 00cb216dde his hands 3b9fe99d69 together and e124230b74 spoke.12ad06d66b2aeb57
“I’m here to get the Rigenart music book. I wanted to perform perfectly at the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet… I guess I was a bit impatient. I was going to leave, but I’m sorry for coming without permission.”09fd2d15f88a585e
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At those words, Derek 6167f74b94 let out a short e471056cdb breath and turned his 10c501ed63 head. Then he spoke indifferently 78bca357cf to Julian.e86f7cae4879bb40
“Follow me.”25ec23049436785d
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Derek walked 8624f173c6 towards the b78d6f3b40 door without cbfb4beb9e hesitation. Julian asked 70db83685e with a d81378609c puzzled expression.ee0156bbb3f36deb
“Why?”6d322fb994485d04
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Derek replied briefly da76aa150f as he passed ba3ddc203a through the door.3238ea5b345e0141
“You came for the music book, didn’t you?”e89d8a9c22eef362
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Julian paused 071cf3ea96 for a 61e1d97978 moment, then 0429876873 smiled as 35cea9a1b7 if realizing 61394870c6 what he 7e73a9ba57 meant.63e54b8710b99ee1
“Brother, let’s go together!”3286f844cbd1143d
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He hurried his steps 57a41db0fc but then turned to caa17c3ee4 me and spoke politely.d4a06431ea86cfa8
“Sorry for the trouble. I’ll see you next time.”9e7651a526a97f24
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With those words, ee2a72e925 Julian bowed deeply e761b145ae to me. As the door closed, c5f50b33d5 silence settled back into a079ae84eb the drawing room. I tidied c443947890 up and 444a793b15 slowly headed 458f41ee68 to my aff71ae876 bedroom.b5c7e120f12cc06c
The warm scent of a5b3318be0 wood lingered in the fd07727c6b room. Fatigue washed over me 16554e3543 all at once. I collapsed onto c26ca83a3b the bed, the 703d1347b6 sound of the ac84a19104 fire dying in ad846d362f the fireplace gently ebfc8ce83e filling my ears.a2c57616c8f3b5bf
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I fidgeted with the edge of the blanket and turned over. Even with my eyes closed, Julian’s image lingered in my mind. His bright smile, the subtle lavender scent, and the familiar tone he shared with Derek…637a42d3b4d804cf
Eventually, I pushed the 018b8d30f6 blanket away and sat aac819c611 up. It seemed better to d046e00d07 calm my mind by a4064b7f26 reading a book.2ee0c6ca6ef6c11f
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The evening bell had f310ac5525 long since rung, and 4b82210031 the entire castle was 20e817bee0 steeped in deep silence. Only the e4c3e9e2fe lanterns placed d7f3f30af3 here and 5610ef2434 there in 15594e724f the corridors f6bf696a8c flickered faintly 1c0358003c in the cb094cc248 darkness. I quietly made a68e666285 my way towards f7c54b0a30 the study.873157ce69fb6e78
Then, from 447da2616a somewhere at ccf8fe7146 the end 774bec86ff of the f408c36a36 corridor, a 363c8578c1 very low, e741a42bd4 quiet melody 8aa9f59e30 reached my f8cc8ad185 ears. At first, I 6f2e64b111 thought it was 6f7696ac03 my imagination. But the 14bba32652 sound grew 5505c11a09 clearer, and c2ebe420f9 I realized ff9b95bb02 it was 64cc2b44a3 the sound 0506275fe8 of a d6a915ba4c Rigenart.c32e22c4a8beb333
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Rigenart was a noble 0ecb2b70cd instrument, played only by 655e888805 those with exceptional musical b76cbbc0d9 sense and delicate touch 158d46d260 among the nobility. I had never 82b0881b0c properly handled it. I always 3bc5aa9b3c listened from ac7f2f4232 afar at a452e11a51 banquets, admiring 0592b1be18 it only 4d57c0d854 in my 27f88cec77 heart.20782d87515b0184
The melody fb91cfc641 gently touched 5490777677 the center 0938cd50c7 of my b26ccb48db heart like 9a16fd3410 a calm 243b87312f wave. My body moved on cb7eda4d89 its own, as if 7ce7424559 enchanted, towards the source acde188027 of the sound.565a446113286323
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At the end 440208472f of the corridor, 77e88dabb2 the study door f32dead5e8 was slightly ajar. I held e5520beb8b my breath 1f1b503114 and cautiously c01839c573 peeked through d44820ef52 the crack.6322dda4ea813fbe
Julian’s golden hair, reflecting the candlelight, shone softly as he sat in front of the Rigenart. He pressed the keys with a light yet precise touch, his expression peaceful as if dreaming.213ac0acf30ffabe
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Derek sat quietly on a vintage leather sofa, arms folded. His gaze was fixed on Julian’s fingertips flowing over the piano keys.97b7a820957dd981
When Julian’s hand trembled delicately, reaching a high note, Derek’s eyes followed the subtle movement as if not to miss a single nuance.df38f9d2c51dd758
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Though no 74d8568f37 clear emotion 651d7de2cb showed in 8a349e74c5 his eyes, 6b6eadaccb there was 897c485af1 a faint 2815a52835 softness in 9a8defb504 his calm 021f865c12 gaze, neither 09ab3766b6 sharp nor 08892b891b indifferent.cc10bbc19d62e850
Julian carefully 7437df7c0e placed his d739c05776 white fingers 424d32d32e on the 9e6cebc454 keys and 6150c5258e continued to 24fccef3bd the next 6ab08e3e65 passage. His eyes were half-closed, 29d74ef09a but occasionally he glanced a60b6259fc at Derek. Finally, at the end aaa8cc34f4 of a passage, their c0f0f38e50 eyes met.de992f7c72d97168
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At that moment, 9b609d4b86 Julian smiled quietly.35e57c4c322708bc
“This is a piece called ‘The Birth of Love.’ It’s famous for being dedicated to a loved one.”ee634c4e6a8de4cb
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I watched them from db2c8d9718 the crack in the d474081504 door, unable to breathe. Derek merely shrugged without 361dd18bfe any particular expression. But Julian asked with 464e7823c5 a playful smile.5ae644dfb352971c
“You’re already married, but let me ask you one thing. What kind of person are you drawn to?”760c08b5cf41b138
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It was a 275ffe0113 question I had 87ef487ea4 never heard before. Only Julian 651118508d could ask 5a49e2f0b3 such a 4fb56a9e3d question so 57d9055963 casually.0abfc21e5e560944
After a f3d7a307d0 long silence, cbfec43e54 Derek answered b952b70461 briefly.1ce556bc6edf76f7
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“Someone with a nice scent.”ff452ba390278c69
“…What?”d1d7c74e3fbe701d
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Julian burst into 3ad180075c laughter.5361f5c26f5afb27
“That’s too vague! What kind of scent exactly?”f3eff98f97338016
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“Just keep playing.”c5865551ac13411f
Derek cut him off firmly, turning his gaze away. Julian’s fingers trembled slightly at the words, causing a note to slip and momentarily disrupt the melody. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.991e7c517ec02a51
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“With mistakes like this… can I really do it…?”61ae78f763be1f78
At that moment, Derek silently stood up and gently placed a hand on Julian’s shoulder. He looked down at Julian with warm eyes and spoke briefly.32f170583826a494
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“You can do it.”0e6dd3b8c7742696
With those words, Julian slowly nodded and resumed playing. Even when the notes wavered slightly, he didn’t stop this time. It was as if Derek’s belief quietly seeped into his heart.ec6e91ac303d91ec
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I had never even touched that person’s fingertips…9f1b0bc00b7211bb
I had 26713e17c3 never told 9a0e793459 him he 78ecab0967 was wrong 4c639604ea or comforted b0fd173a85 him by 8bff51c293 saying it 1159acd281 was okay.d69511e070f49240
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He had never 3ed28b2c0d even been curious 28a77c3c82 about what scent ce30977ee7 I carried.e4383ea6720ef6fb
I quietly turned 1d3ac177dc away from the 9d33787a62 door and walked c05d6cf556 back to the 61cc959a95 bedroom. Sitting at 52ab176e92 the edge dde96e410a of the 3be7473971 bed, my a111d50d64 feet touched 231751b87e the floor, 1ba28e66cb but my 55645ca434 heart felt 78ac3ae550 like it aeecb75bf5 was sinking 0096af7ec3 into deep 613b691f5e darkness.8081ef262ac8eea9
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It hurt as if my heart was burning. The affection in Derek’s gaze at Julian, the care in his casual words, was so clear that watching it made me feel miserable and small.023eba2f30bf1799
Uncontrollable jealousy surged 7842310432 from deep within 3faf76e6e5 my chest.1caeba96f1f38f52
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I once believed that I would bond with him and become each other’s only partner.28035be08bed38a6
The names on the edc2ea5f5b marriage certificate, the ring 44781045c3 on my finger, the 9ed13733d8 days spent together at b5eb308878 Greymore Castle, handling big f1459b2da2 and small matters.4744c3d6358b5a90
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All of it made me Derek’s omega, but it couldn’t make his heart mine.16c2036eb9891127
In the darkness, I 96d7e46161 reached for the side 8c89252a31 table. I fumbled 37be327d47 through the 7b6f617252 drawer and 353e710b35 pulled out c865a4ad27 a familiar 8acb8e1377 glass bottle. The small, solid 7c389566d1 bottle fit into 14f515bf90 my hand. It was 5b8364e920 an enhancer 8a3f64b11e that amplified 0d00c16014 pheromone effects.61b35b3d7601da08
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“Someone with a nice scent.”eae55d5026326960
Those words 8741c1f880 etched into 34ed37c995 my heart, 2941345899 painfully.e5ee50be0daa2de0
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My pheromone scent was clear and delicate. It easily faded, easily forgotten, leaving no trace in anyone’s mind. To hide my identity as a recessive omega, I had to rely on this substance. Every time I stood before people, and especially when I was with Derek.fb9b78cbfdbf036d