Dolls Chapter 2.3

At the research institute… I drank protein drinks every day and got nutrient injections…

And then?

That was my meal…

Noah’s expression hardened with disbelief at OE70’s mumbled words. No matter how you looked at it, they were still human, but it seemed the people at the institute truly saw them only as “test subjects.”

You’ve never eaten real food even once?

Real… food…

Like bread, meat, or fruit, things like that.

OE70 stood there, unable to comprehend as if it were the first time hearing those words, and Noah was even more dumbfounded. If they had lived without ever chewing food, the state of their teeth was obvious without even looking. No matter how much food Noah provided, with such weakened jaws, they probably couldn’t chew it.

Noah ran a hand through his hair and spoke in a voice mixed with a sigh.

Lionel.

Yes, Mr. Seyfried.

Lionel, who had been waiting nearby, immediately came to Noah’s side upon being called.

Replace all the food served to Alpha and Omega with soup. Soft bread is fine. They can’t chew salads or steak, so only soft things they can swallow without chewing.

Yes, understood, Mr. Seyfried.

As Lionel stepped back, Noah spoke to OE70, who was standing there blankly.

From now on, we’ll bring you food you can eat. Protein drinks aren’t food. You have organs that can feel “taste.” Your “tongue” isn’t just for speaking or kissing. It’s also for tasting. So when Lionel brings the food, try eating it. It’ll be food that won’t strain your teeth.

…

Answer.

…Yes.

As Noah turned to leave the room, he glanced back at OE70 and added one more thing.

If you eat well, I’ll let you meet your Alpha.

At Noah’s words, OE70 smiled brightly and answered.

Yes! Master!

Normally, he drove himself, but since he wasn’t feeling well, he couldn’t be at ease, so he took the car Adrian had sent to head to the research institute. As the lingering scent of osmanthus, which had been tormenting him like it was wafting through his nose, completely disappeared and his body felt refreshed, only then did he recall that Omega named “Joy.”

The way that Omega trembled, saying he smelled something as soon as they saw him, kept lingering in his mind. An Omega with the same face as Joy but with completely different eyes staring at him.

Joy Green.

His fiancé and a researcher who participated in the experiments with him, he was born frail and accustomed to being protected. The Green family, alongside the Perth family, was a conglomerate that held sway over the global economy, but their physical abilities were relatively poor, so most Greens couldn’t survive the virus. Those who did survive opposed producing Alphas or Omegas, claiming it went against the will of the “god” they believed in.

Joy was the last remaining bloodline of the Green family. The last Green. Despite their immense wealth, there was no kin to inherit it, the pitiful last heir of a fading, tragic family.

[They say the Perths would do anything to spread their seed, like beasts. Is Seyfried any different?]

When they first met, Noah gave a wry smile at his words. The last Green, crouching and trembling behind those sharp, prickly words. It was laughable.

[Well, what about the Greens? Are you lonely being all alone? Desperate enough to want to carry the seed of such beasts?]

Joy Green, who had also given a wry smile, extended his hand, suggesting they get along well from now on, and Noah took it without hesitation. Feeling the trembling in his palm and seeing the cracks in his eyes, which pretended to be bold, Noah curled up the corner of his mouth.

It was amusing. The pitiful sight of someone bristling with thorns like a hedgehog, yet desperately hoping someone would approach.

Joy Green didn’t expose himself so openly…

Recalling “Joy” with the same face but different eyes, Noah gently closed his eyes. As the research institute drew closer, the scent of osmanthus, which had faded, seemed to brush against the tip of his nose again.

—Again…

Upon arriving at the institute, Noah realized the osmanthus scent wasn’t an illusion. The deeper he stepped into the institute, the stronger the scent grew.

Is there… osmanthus in the institute?

At Noah’s words, the head researcher, Eric, shook his head. Noah frowned again as the overpowering osmanthus scent gave him a headache.

This way…

As Eric led him toward the examination room, Noah suddenly gasped, “Hup,” and collapsed to the floor.

Director, are you alright?

Eric approached with a startled look, but Noah, drenched in cold sweat, lifted his head and struggled to speak.

The scent… it’s too strong… what the…

The scent?

Eric tilted his head, puzzled, as Noah staggered toward the source of the overwhelming, syrupy sweet scent. It was a place where his brain felt like it was melting, the scent endlessly flowing out. That place was Jayce Miller’s lab.

Ah… Dad…

Joy, clinging to fading consciousness, writhed to escape from Jayce. The lavender scent brushing against his nose filled him with even more fear. Over Jayce’s face, strangling him, the face of Noah, who had left him alone, overlapped.

No… don’t…

As his vision flickered white, the lavender scent grew stronger, overwhelming him.

What… are you doing, Jayce Miller!

At the sound of Noah’s voice ringing in his ears, Joy felt his blocked airway open and let out a ragged breath. Cough, cough. As he coughed dryly and crawled on the floor, a thud echoed, and Jayce collapsed beside him.

Cough… ah… Dad…

Joy, lying on the floor, followed Jayce’s dazed gaze toward the door with a blank stare. Noah, breathing heavily, glared at Jayce with a clenched fist.

No… ah…?

Why is that man so angry again…? What did I do wrong this time? More than that, why is he here again?

Joy’s face turned pale with fear. The sound of his swallowing echoed through the silent room. Noah, who had been glaring at Jayce with murderous intent, turned his gaze to Joy. A chill ran down his spine at Noah’s cold blue eyes.

After staring for a while, Noah’s icy eyes softened into a gentle curve, taking Joy in.

Grab it.

…What?

Let’s go.

Noah extended his arm toward Joy. Though he was a frightening, terrifying person, he felt compelled to take his hand. With a trembling hand, Joy reached out. Noah, still expressionless, led him outside. The sweat on his forehead sparkled dazzlingly in the sunlight. The hand holding his was as warm as the sunlight. The overpowering lavender scent that had been battering his senses had somehow faded, now lingering faintly at the tip of his nose.

It was strange. To so casually take the hand of a person he still feared.

Joy stared at Noah’s profile for a long time. The faint lavender scent, mixed with the cool breeze, tickled his heart.

Why did you bring that one along?

Adrian furrowed his brow, looking at Joy, then asked Noah.

It seems the institute needs to manage its resources more thoroughly, Chairman.

Noah responded in a stiff tone, and Adrian raised the corner of his eyebrow, gesturing for him to continue. Noah went on calmly.

On my way to the examination room, I witnessed Dr. Miller strangling this test subject. Not only is he misusing company assets for personal purposes, but damaging them is something I, as a director of Perth Corporation, cannot accept.

…And?

Adrian turned his gaze to Joy and asked. Joy, feeling a chill down his spine as Adrian’s unfathomable purple eyes pierced through him, lowered his head.

I’d like Dr. Miller’s personal research privileges regarding OE01 to be revoked so he can no longer access this test subject.

At those words, Joy looked up at Noah in shock. His large, tearful eyes gazed at him pitifully, but Noah’s focus remained fixed on Adrian. Adrian, saying nothing, simply stared at Joy.

Joy, without taking his eyes off Noah, bit his lip nervously before hesitantly reaching out with a trembling hand to tug lightly at Noah’s sleeve. Feeling the faint vibration from his trembling fingertips, Noah turned to look at him, and a tear fell from his eyes.

Why are you crying?

Noah asked, and Joy, rolling his eyes nervously and biting his lip, finally lowered his head and spoke.

I… don’t want to.

Don’t want what?

It was Adrian who responded to Joy’s words. Overwhelmed by the fact that such a high-ranking person was addressing him, Joy, who had been nervously picking at his cuticles, hesitated under Adrian’s pressing gaze and spoke.

I don’t want to be separated from Dad.

At Joy’s barely audible words, Adrian’s brow furrowed.

Dad?

Ah…

Joy opened his mouth, flustered, then added.

Dr. Jayce Miller.

Why is Jayce Miller your dad?

Why…

He had never thought about it. They just told him to call him Dad, and all the researchers at the institute were his dads and moms, so he called them that. Why?

At the institute, everyone is a dad or a mom…

Adrian let out an incredulous laugh. Though he funded the institute and fully supported its research, he wasn’t informed about the finer details. As he laughed in disbelief, his assistant, Kim, spoke up.

It’s said to be a measure to give test subjects born without parents a sense of familial warmth, even if temporarily.

Warmth, for what? To achieve what?

To produce Alphas and Omegas with gentler dispositions.

At Kim’s words, Adrian let out another chuckle and nodded.

Well, that’s none of my business. Alright, OE01. Why do you want to stay with your “dad”? He tried to kill you.

At Adrian’s sharp words, Joy swallowed dryly and said.

No, he didn’t try to kill me.

Then what?

I don’t know why, but… no, he didn’t try to kill me.

As Adrian stared at him with amusement, Joy, unable to withstand his gaze, lowered his head and picked at his cuticles again. When a bit of blood seeped out, Noah took his hand.

He shook his head at Joy, who looked up as an unfamiliar hand entered his view. Joy stopped picking at his cuticles and looked at Noah’s hand holding his. His pale, slender fingers, without any curves, wrapped around his small hand. Though it looked pale, it was an incredibly warm hand.