I Became My Son's First Love - Chapter 2

Eve wouldn’t have normally paid attention, but the proposal arrived at just the right time. At that point, Eve was in desperate need of money.

Not long ago, her only family, her older sister Cynthia, had become pregnant. A maiden who wasn’t even married, pregnant. The father was the son of the viscount family Cynthia had been secretly seeing while working as a maid. Of course, it was a secret relationship, and marriage was out of the question. Who would accept a thirty-year-old woman from a poor family?

Eve, who had secretly watched her sister in distress, instinctively knew that the proposal she received was her last chance. Not for herself, but for Cynthia. Eve didn’t want her niece or nephew to be born as an illegitimate child, and she wanted to see her sister, who had always suffered, get married and live happily. So, without telling the Baron and Baroness of Jenna or Cynthia, Eve responded to the proposal.

For a month, to her surprise, nothing happened to Count Hound, and he didn’t break off the engagement. Eve, leaving behind her shocked parents and sister, got into the carriage sent by the Hound family and headed to the Count’s estate.

***

Before entering the room where the Count waited, Eve took a deep breath. She couldn’t show any signs of nervousness if she wanted to get as much as she could. The Count’s mansion, which she reached after a week’s carriage ride from the Jenna estate, was even bigger and more luxurious than Eve had expected. 

Upon her arrival, she was taken to meet the Count without even a moment to rest, causing her lips to feel parched from the tension. After quickly going over the things she had thought about during the carriage ride, she nodded at the servant who was looking at her.

Once given permission, the servant informed the Count, who was in the parlor, of her arrival. After a short wait, the door opened, and Eve followed the servant into the room. The man, whose reputation had even reached her small estate, was indeed handsome and looked young. The rumors about his womanizing seemed to be true as well.

In his arms was a woman whose clothes were so disheveled they were practically falling off. Eve’s eyes widened at the sight, but she quickly reminded herself of what she needed to say and didn’t let the shock show. Bowing with proper etiquette, she greeted the Count.

“I am Eve Jenna.”

When she raised her head again, the Count was staring at her with a strange look. Eve looked at the handsome, blonde, blue-eyed Count and the voluptuous woman in his arms, whose large chest was almost entirely exposed due to her loose dress.

The woman had a seductive appearance and a full figure. Seeing her breasts spilling out between the Count’s long, firm fingers, Eve felt a bit sorry for her. Before she could completely erase the pity from her eyes, the woman noticed and winked at her. It was rare to see a beauty like that in the countryside.

‘The capital is really something.’

Eve gave the woman a slight nod before turning back to the Count. The Count clicked his tongue and ordered the woman to leave. She giggled and gave him a deep kiss.

Eve stood there awkwardly, watching the two of them kiss, hearing the sound of their tongues filling the room. She tried to act unfazed, but it was slightly unsettling how they kept glancing at her even as they kissed passionately.

Cynthia had often told Eve that many nobles in the capital engaged in wild or strange activities, including some who enjoyed being watched while they had sex. Was the Count one of those? Considering his reputation for being a playboy, it wouldn’t be surprising if he had such sexual preferences.

‘Well, this is the capital, after all. No need to be too shocked.’

As Eve calmly observed the scene, the Count suddenly pushed the woman away. She stood up without complaint, as if she was used to it, and left the room gracefully without even bothering to fix her disheveled clothes. Once the woman left, Eve, without waiting for permission, sat in the empty seat opposite the Count, who chuckled at her audacity.

“Something strange has arrived.”

Though Eve thought the Count was the stranger one, she didn’t respond. The marriage hadn’t been finalized yet, and she couldn’t afford to get on his bad side. She needed the wealth of the Hound family.

The Count, who wasn’t pleased with Eve’s silence, looked her over with dissatisfaction before speaking again. “I’ve heard you’re a great beauty, but you’re not all that.”

That was a first. How could that be?

Eve knew she was beautiful. She had been born with good looks, and even though the Baron and Baroness of Jenna weren’t rich, they hadn’t hesitated to spend money to enhance Eve’s appearance. Not out of love, but because they hoped it would ensure a prosperous future for themselves in old age. In other words, Eve’s natural beauty had been enhanced by considerable effort.

Eve tried to make sense of the Count’s words. The woman in his arms earlier was certainly a different type. Eve was more delicate and slender, rather than voluptuous and seductive. She wasn’t short, but she had a naturally thin frame, and her body was slim and balanced rather than curvaceous. Eve was satisfied with her appearance, but perhaps she wasn’t the Count’s type.

‘Well, I guess that’s possible.’

Though it was the first time Eve had heard criticism about her looks, she reasoned that the capital was much larger than Jenna, with a wider variety of tastes. She couldn’t please everyone.

While trying to come to terms with this unfamiliar experience, Eve couldn’t think of the right words to respond. Before she could find something to say, the Count raised his eyebrows and spoke first.

“Don’t fall in love with me.”

Was he serious? Eve struggled to keep her face from twisting. She wasn’t the type to fall for a man who greeted her by groping another woman’s chest and then shared a deep kiss in front of her.

‘Are all people in the capital like this?’

Would the Count get angry if she said that? He certainly seemed confident in his looks. His attitude made it clear that no matter what he did, he believed women would still adore him.

Eve simply nodded. Cynthia had always told her that her one flaw was her tendency to speak her mind without considering others’ feelings. So, remembering her sister’s advice, Eve kept her mouth shut. The Count seemed to interpret her silence as agreement.

“Have you ever wondered why I sent a proposal to a nobody like you?”

Eve had a pretty good idea. Based on the gossip papers and news articles that made their way to Jenna, it wasn’t hard to figure out the ridiculous intentions behind the proposal. Most likely, the Count wanted a wife who wouldn’t bother him.

Eve recalled the previous Countesses of the Hound family, each of whom came from distinguished families in the capital. The first wife, in particular, was not only a noble but also the granddaughter of the current emperor and the only daughter of a duchess, now the current Duchess of Seratine.

The wives had been unable to tolerate the Count’s affairs, and all the marriages ended in divorce. Thanks to this, the Hound family was a consistent source of gossip in the Empire. So, unlike his previous marriages, choosing a lesser-known country noblewoman was a clear signal that he didn’t want to repeat the same mistakes.

The Count was looking for a wife who wouldn’t complain about whatever he did, and Eve Jenna was the perfect fit. Eve knew how to objectively assess herself.

“Yes, I understand.”

“You know?”

Eve sensed this was the right moment to say what she had planned throughout the journey. It was time to make her proposal.

“I’ll stay out of your way and not cause any problems.”

The Count looked at her with suspicion. Bearing the weight of his piercing gaze, Eve met his eyes and continued speaking.

“However, I hope we can have a mutually beneficial relationship.”

The Count laughed dryly. “A mutually beneficial relationship?”

His tone implied that he doubted she had anything to offer, but Eve straightened her back confidently.

“Yes, I’d like us to confirm that we can meet each other’s needs before we marry. It would be good to have everything clearly written down so neither of us can break our promises.”