87 – Cypress Mosaic

“It ​can’t ​be ​helped… ​Still, it’ll go ​away ​if ​I ​just ​wait.”

“Fortunately, it’s the season ​where ​wearing a scarf ​doesn’t look out ​of ​place.”

As ​he ​finished ​speaking, ​Lorenz let the ​corners ​of ​his lips curl ​into a very slight ​smile. He ​then gripped ​his cutlery ​again and ​began ​cutting ​his food with ​graceful movements.

From ​the outside, he was ​a man of picture-perfect ​elegance. Having been raised ​under rigorous ​education, ​his every gesture was always flawless. ​His pale skin, contrasting ​with ​an ​appearance ​of ​restrained masculinity, created ​a strange ​harmony ​that gave credibility ​to ​his nickname, Count Dracula—a title ​that might ​have ​otherwise seemed ridiculous.

Perhaps ​sensing ​the ​gaze, ​Lorenz ​glanced toward ​Elian ​while cutting ​his food.

For a moment, Elian had the ​illusion that the ​object Lorenz was ​dismantling with his knife ​and fork ​to swallow was ​not ​the food, but ​Elian himself.

“About that ​day…”

Elian’s voice ​was ​husky, like ​someone ​who hadn’t ​spoken ​in a ​long ​time. ​After clearing his ​throat ​a couple ​of ​times, ​he ​continued.

“I am fully aware that it couldn’t be helped since you also went into Rut, Mr. Lockhart. I have no intention of pushing the responsibility onto you…”

“You’re wrong.”

“Wrong?”

“Not Lockhart. Lorenz.”

Lorenz drained the remaining champagne from his glass and stared intently at Elian.

“We discussed that before the Heat. Surely you aren’t suggesting we pretend that never happened as well?”

“……”

While an awkward silence lingered, the champagne glasses were removed and replaced with white wine. Soon, the pasta was served.

Ravioli stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach. The pasta was the same menu as their previous meal.

Why? Was it just a coincidence?

Or was it a dish that Lorenz Lockhart particularly liked?

He felt a bit puzzled, but it wasn’t something that posed a problem.

Since they were a bit too large to eat in one bite, he split a ravioli in half with his knife. As he put it in his mouth, the savoriness of the melting warm cheese was followed by the subtle scent of spinach. The flavor of the food, which he hadn’t been able to perceive at all last time, filled his mouth. It wasn’t just a matter of taste; it was the vivid sensation of being alive. Just as he reached for his wine glass while savoring the aftertaste—

“Elian.”

“……”

Elian’s hand faltered at the sound of his voice calling him by his first name rather than his surname.

The call naturally dragged back the memories of that night.

Elian. Elian.

The voice that had whispered his name repeatedly and tenderly, like a long-time lover. The affectionate kisses that had landed countless times on his eyelids, the tip of his nose, his cheeks, and his lips. Even the heat and hardness of Lorenz that he had felt deep within his most private parts were revived in an instant.

Elian hurriedly picked up his glass and swallowed the wine.

He wished that all the memories of that time would vanish along with the end of the Heat.

“Are you listening to me?”

“Yes.”

“How is the ravioli?”

“The cheese and spinach pair very well. The harmony with the wine is excellent as well.”

Lorenz gazed at Elian blankly once again. No matter how he looked at it, he didn’t seem simply curious about the taste of the food.

“Is there something you wish to say?”

“I wanted to see you enjoying your meal.”

“Yes… thanks to you, I am enjoying it.”

“Because you wouldn’t have been able to taste anything last time.”

“……”

Elian hesitantly set down his wine glass. No way… surely…

“What… do you mean by that…?”

His heart hammered against his temples, but Elian managed to maintain his composure.

It must be an unnecessary worry. He must have meant it in a different sense.

“You suffer from Pheromone Dependency Syndrome, don’t you?”

It wasn’t meant in a different sense. Lorenz stated his meaning clearly.

“How… do you know about that?”

“You must know that a pheromone test was conducted [stolen content]after you were [unauthorized copy]moved to the hospital. It was [visit our site]discovered during that process.”

“As you well know, as long as the medication is taken properly, Pheromone Dependency Syndrome is not a disease that causes problems through pheromones.”

“That’s true. Although there is the critical side effect of diminished olfactory function due to the stabilizers.”

“I don’t believe that side effect is a disqualifying factor for working as Lucas’s counselor.”

Lorenz tilted his head.

“I think you’re misunderstanding something; I’m not trying to fire you because of that illness.”

“Then why…”

If that wasn’t the intention, he couldn’t understand why Lorenz was bringing up the dependency syndrome. It was becoming increasingly difficult to grasp his motives.

“You remember Dr. Carver’s explanation, right?”

“……”

“The reason the Heat occurred despite the consistent use of suppressants.”

Dr. Carver had spoken of pheromone compatibility. He explained that the reaction rate between the two people’s pheromones was exceptional. No matter how much medicine advanced, much of the realm of pheromones remained an unknown territory. Pheromone compatibility was the same. Nothing had been revealed about which properties of pheromones showed high reaction rates with one another.

Elian nodded slowly.

“Elian’s olfactory function had deteriorated to a severe level.”

“……”

“But now, it has recovered significantly. Enough to taste food.”

“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”

“Even if a powerful Pheromone Exchange occurred during the Heat and Rut, it is by no means common for olfactory function that had deteriorated so severely to recover to this extent after just one instance.”

“……”

“I believe that is sufficient proof that our pheromone reaction rate is high.”

Elian licked his lips.

He felt suffocated, unable to guess why Lorenz kept bringing up the illness while claiming he had no intention of firing him.

“As I said, I have no intention of holding you responsible for that night, Mr. Lockhart.”

“I know.”

“……”

“I expect that from you, Elian.”

“……”

“But I am not the same.”

“Not… what do you mean…?”

“I want you to take responsibility.”

“What… responsibility…?”

Seeing that there was only a little wine left in the glasses, a servant refilled them. Lorenz gave a signal for them not to be disturbed for a while. Once again, only the two of them remained in the dining room.

Lorenz looked Elian straight in the eye and spoke.

“I am also a patient with Pheromone Dependency Syndrome.”

“That can’t be…”

For a moment, Elian felt dizzy despite sitting down. He unconsciously shook his head.

“It’s not that common of a disease. That is…”

“It’s a rare disease that appears in about one in ten thousand people. But that doesn’t mean such a coincidence cannot occur. There are about 800 patients in New York alone.”

Elian felt a severe thirst. The fingertips reaching for the goblet were trembling slightly.

Lorenz Lockhart is a Pheromone Dependency Syndrome patient…

If those words were true…

“Last time, I was carried home unconscious.”

“……”

“That was also because of Pheromone Dependency.”

“Ah…”

A small gasp escaped Elian’s lips as he set down the glass he had drained of water.

“In my case, the symptoms are somewhat complex. The side effects from the stabilizers aren’t as severe as they were for Elian, but instead, I suffer from severe headaches. Occasionally, I lose consciousness.”

Elian’s heart began to race.

Is this man really a Pheromone Dependency patient?

There would be no reason to lie to me about such a disease. Whether true or false, it would be his secret and a weakness.

The problematic clinical trial that had led his mother to her death was aimed at developing a cure for Pheromone Dependency Syndrome.

The most likely suspects behind the trial were the two Lockharts who owned the burgundy-colored Rolls-Royce Wraith—Lorenz and Joshua.

If Lorenz was a Pheromone Dependency patient, the possibility that he was the mastermind increased. Assuming he had carried out illegal trials to cure his own illness, the context was natural to anyone.

Feeling as if his wildly racing heart might jump out of his chest, Elian gripped the area near his left breast tightly.

“I have canceled the marriage with Mr. Wesley.”

“……What?”

Elian couldn’t even hide his reaction to the succession of shocking statements.

“Why… why would you…”

“You told me not to get married.”

“I did?”

It was an absurd shift of responsibility. Elian’s large eyes grew even wider in indignation.

“Didn’t you cry and tell me not to marry?”

Elian narrowed his eyes and looked closely at the face of the man sitting before him.

“Are you… joking right now?”

“Do I look like I am?”

Transparent green eyes without a hint of amusement and deep wine-colored lips. No part of his features looked like those of a person telling a joke. However, Elian didn’t want to believe it was the truth.

“You’re distorting my words too much.”

“Didn’t you cry, saying you couldn’t allow penetration because I had someone I was going to marry? Is my memory incorrect?”

“Mr. Lockhart.”

“Call me Lorenz.”

That wasn’t the point. Elian shook his head.

“Regardless. What you’re doing right now is the distortion.”

“I am simply stating exactly what I saw and [unauthorized copy]heard. [unauthorized copy]visit our siteAnd that night, I promised I wouldn’t marry, and as promised, I called off the marriage.”

A player who played by his own rules. Lorenz seemed to have returned to the version of himself from their first interview, when communication had been completely impossible.

“However, I still need a spouse to be selected as the successor.”

No agitation could be felt in Lorenz’s gaze or expression. But Elian’s mouth kept going dry from a bad premonition.

“That is why I want Elian to take responsibility.”

“Surely…”

“Take responsibility, and become my fiancé.”