50 – Cypress Mosaic

He’s ​dated ​before?

When? ​No, ​more importantly, with ​whom? ​Does ​a ​human ​being who actually suits ​that ​man even exist? ​Surely he didn’t ​foolishly ​give ​his ​heart ​to ​someone who wasn’t ​even ​on ​his level?

Elian Bellotti ​was definitely a Beta. ​He was ​sure of ​it.

If he ​were an ​Omega, ​Lorenz ​would have detected ​his Pheromones ​and felt a sense ​of repulsion during the ​time they spent together.

However, ​just because ​he ​was a Beta male didn’t mean ​that everyone who hit ​on ​him ​was ​female. ​In the face ​of that ​level ​of beauty, what ​did ​gender matter? Yet, whether his ​partner had ​been ​a man or ​a ​woman, ​no ​one ​would have ​escaped ​the mockery ​of being a “mismatch” by his side.

To ​think that someone ​with such a ​detached aura, as if ​he lived ​a few steps ​removed ​from the secular ​world, had experience ​in dating.

Lorenz ​drained ​the remaining ​strong ​liquor in ​his ​glass in ​one ​gulp. ​He couldn’t calm ​his ​excitement.

Muttering curses, ​he ​struck ​the ​back of the sofa.

He failed to realize that he was feeling a profound sense of betrayal.

First, it was the embarrassment of being caught in a blind date with Elian. Then, it was the relief that Elian had no intention of marrying until he achieved his dreams. And now, a sense of betrayal over his past. In less than thirty minutes, a wave of incomprehensible emotions was surging within Lorenz.

Swept away by the impact, he didn’t even have the leisure to trace back to the source of those waves.

■

As he stepped out from the main house into the garden, a flawlessly sunny autumn day unfolded. Elian took a deep breath, inhaling deeply. He could feel the warm sunlight and the refreshing breeze, but he couldn’t smell the scent of autumn.

My sense of smell is definitely getting worse lately…

Elian recalled the words the doctor had told him at the hospital yesterday.

“Out of the 40 questions on the UPSIT, you got 13 correct. Your sense of smell isn’t completely gone yet, but it appears to be impaired, somewhere between moderate and severe. At this level, it will be difficult to distinguish most everyday smells.”

Elian had nodded heavily.

“Unfortunately, in Mr. Bellotti’s case, the decline in olfactory function appeared quite rapidly compared to the duration of your stabilizer medication.”

At the same time, the doctor cautiously asked if there was any possibility of him finding a partner soon.

“Periodic exposure to the Pheromones of an Alpha partner is the most certain and effective treatment. Since you have a constitution that reacts strongly to medication side effects, if you continue to rely on stabilizers like this… you could suffer permanent damage to your sense of smell.”

Every time he realized that smell and taste were disappearing, his sense of loss grew. The fear that he might have to live in a black-and-white world forever also increased. But right now, he had no room for romance. There was no guarantee that someone he was interested in would necessarily be an Alpha, and until the truth was revealed, dating was a luxury he couldn’t even dream of.

Do I really need to find a Pheromone Partner?

He let out a powerless laugh at the futile thought.

He walked straight across the garden toward the employees’ entrance. He spotted a figure lingering by the bicycle rack.

“Noah?”

Perhaps not noticing anyone’s presence, Noah started in [visit our site]surprise at the sound of [visit our site]Elian’s voice. unauthorized copyThe face that turned around brightened instantly.

“Ah, hello, Mr. Bellotti!”

“I told you to call me Elian.”

When Elian gave him a light reprimand with a smile, Noah’s healthy, glowing cheeks flushed red.

“Ah, yes, you did, Elian…”

Elian often chatted with Noah whenever they ran into each other. If entry to the annex weren’t forbidden, they might have had longer conversations while playing billiards or chess in the lounge, but in this situation, a brief greeting was the most they could manage.

“Are you going out for a ride?”

“I am. Today is my day off. Are you going out too, Elian?”

“Yes, I have an appointment.”

Noah’s expression, as he glanced at Elian’s attire—which was slightly different unauthorized copyfrom [visit our site]usual—was more serious and solemn than necessary.

“It looks like you’re going somewhere nice.”

“A friend told me he’s treating me.”

In truth, his outfit wasn’t particularly special. He had simply paired a thin knit sweater with beige chino pants. Although the place he was visiting was a luxury hotel restaurant, it was a buffet, so the dress code didn’t seem to be that strict.

Noah’s lips parted several times as if debating whether to speak. While pretending to inspect the bicycle saddle—which had absolutely nothing wrong with it—he tossed out a question, trying his best to sound uninterested.

“Ah, is it perhaps a date?”

However, his voice trembled slightly as he asked.

“No, it’s an old friend.”

Only then did a bright smile return to Noah’s face.

“I see! Friends are as important as family! Have a great time.”

The affection he showed was so simple and direct that Elian didn’t even feel uncomfortable. It felt closer to the admiration a younger brother has for an older brother. Or perhaps similar to the longing of an adolescent boy for an actor or singer. He was the type who wouldn’t dare touch a single finger if Elian didn’t want him to.

“Let’s find a time to go for a ride together. I’ve only been riding in Central Park lately, so I’d like to go somewhere further.”

Noah’s reaction became even more intense. His cheeks, sporting a wide grin, looked like they might burst, and he seemed ready to leap into the sky.

“I’d love to! Anytime is fine with me! I’ll check when my next day off is and let you know! The weather is so nice lately that everywhere is beautiful—Brooklyn, or the road crossing the George Washington Bridge!”

“Then I’ll leave the course to you, Noah.”

Leaving Noah’s enthusiastic farewell behind, Elian stepped out onto the street.

It took about 30 minutes on foot to reach the hotel, the meeting place with Vincent. It was a short walk while enjoying the clear autumn weather.

He began walking with Central Park to his right. After walking down five or six blocks, Vincent called.

“Yeah, it’s me.”

[Why is everything here so grand? Everyone is dressed so flashily. Do rich people all dress like this even if they aren’t celebrities?]

“You’ve arrived already?”

[Yeah, just now. Should I have dressed up more? I’m feeling intimidated.]

The grumbling, which was unlike Vincent, made Elian smile. As far as Elian knew, he wasn’t the type to be intimidated by such things.

“I’m sure you’re dressed neatly.”

[I am dressed neatly. My father practically jumped out of his skin saying sneakers were absolutely out of the question, so I wore dress shoes. He called me a disgrace to Italian men… I don’t know how long it’s been since I last wore dress shoes. My feet are suffocating.]

“That should be fine. I just dressed tidily.”

[Your face is flashy. People won’t even care what you’re wearing.]

There wasn’t a hint of playfulness in Vincent’s voice, but Elian simply laughed.

Over the phone, Vincent suddenly asked cautiously.

[But… are you really okay with going to eat?]

“What do you mean, okay?”

[You’re going to such a nice restaurant… but you can’t even taste things properly.]

Feeling apologetic, Vincent added hesitantly.

[If you really want to treat me, just let me change my bike lights.]

“Going to that hotel buffet was one of your wishes.”

[It’s not like I didn’t go because I lacked the money.]

“I know. I just want to buy it for you. And unauthorized copyeven if I can’t smell well, I still get hungry. stolen contentSo let’s go and enjoy the meal.”

He stopped at a traffic light. The grand main entrance of the hotel came into view.

“I’ll be there as soon as I cross the light.”

[Okay. I’m in the lobby in a spot where I’m easy to see, so you’ll find me.]

■

As expected of a weekend lunch hour, the hotel lobby was bustling with a variety of people.

Seated at the lobby coffee shop, Lorenz repeatedly checked the lobby entrance while reviewing documents on his phone.

Because he had arrived about 20 minutes early to avoid being rude, waiting here was inevitable. Public spaces where various scents mingled made Lorenz anxious. He couldn’t predict when his condition would worsen and the Pheromones of Omegas would attack him. Today, as well, his physical condition, which had been fine when he left the house, was already beginning to crumble.

Lorenz was waiting for Adriana.

Since she had mentioned she liked the buffet restaurant at this hotel, he [visit our site]had chosen this as the location for their second meeting. However, unauthorized copyhe simply couldn’t tolerate dining in a crowded space. Like last time, Lorenz had suggested [stolen content]dining in a suite. Instead, the signature dishes of the buffet restaurant were to be served directly to the room.

His phone had switched to the standby screen, and Lorenz checked his wristwatch with a furrowed brow.

I should have said I’d wait in the room.

She could have arrived 15 minutes early. Does she intend to show up exactly on time?

Just as he was about to withdraw his irritable gaze from the main entrance, the depth of Lorenz’s eyes changed.

A presence that brightened the space the moment he entered.

An otherworldly beauty that drew the gaze of passersby despite his modest attire.

Elian Bellotti was entering the hotel lobby.