I Became My Son's First Love - Chapter 20

“You just need to meet me with a light heart. And if, before you leave, you decide you like me, we can meet again. If, in the end, you still don’t like me, I won’t hold on to you.”

That overly confident attitude might be helpful after all. Eve didn’t bother hiding her weariness as she responded.

“…You must keep that promise.”

Recalling the incident with Azazel, it was difficult to coldly push Dane away. Even though it had been a one-time encounter, it still stirred feelings of guilt. And no matter how much she tried to ignore that guilt, there was still the matter of the alimony she had already accepted. With a casual nod, Dane affirmed her request without hesitation.

“If we continue to meet like this without you seeing any other women, it’s just going to keep fueling more rumors.”

Eve was starting to feel that her time in the capital over the next month might not be as pleasant as she had hoped. Her discontent was clear on her face.

“For that, I apologize.”

“Every time we meet, there will be more and more nobles bothering me, and letters will keep piling up at the mansion.”

As Eve listed the things she would have to deal with, the guilt weighing on her seemed to lighten a little. She continued with her complaints.

“I’ll take care of the nobles for you.”

Dane’s matter-of-fact response left Eve momentarily speechless. But having learned that her ex-husband’s thinking was even more unpredictable than she realized, she couldn’t easily take his confident promise at face value.

This was a man who might just cause more problems rather than solving them. And yet, it seemed too tempting to reject his help outright. During her time in the capital, no one could predict what might happen to “Eve Jenna,” the subject of such intense attention.

Hadn’t she come to realize over the past few days just how heavy and powerful the name “Hound” truly was?

The Hound family was even more prestigious than Eve had imagined. And she missed the weight of that name now that it was gone. However, she didn’t want to show Dane that she might need his help. If she inflated his ego, he would surely become even more of a nuisance.

Eve straightened her back and looked Dane in the eye. While she couldn’t behave as she had when she was Countess Hound, she could at least maintain a semblance of that demeanor. After all, he was trying to win her over now.

“Can I decide how to handle it?”

After a moment of thought, Dane nodded. “As long as it’s something I can agree to.”

“First, I’ll observe how the rumors unfold before deciding.”

“Alright, that seems reasonable. …Now, how about enjoying some dessert?”

Eve glared at his nonchalant suggestion, and he quickly tried to placate her.

“It’s a famous place. The desserts are delicious. Maybe it’ll lift your spirits.”

Given how entangled she had become with Dane and Azazel, the news of tasty desserts was a small consolation. With Eve’s approval, Dane grinned and snapped his fingers.

The servants swiftly set the table, bringing out an array of desserts and tea. The vibrant, ornate confections were enough to stimulate her appetite.

The server’s face was tinged with unease, undoubtedly having overheard their earlier conversation. If even Eve herself didn’t fully understand this ridiculous exchange, how could they? At least there was some comfort in knowing that this bizarre conversation wouldn’t leave the café.

Ignoring the gazes directed at her, Eve quietly picked up her fork. For now, calming her frazzled nerves with some sugar was the priority.

***

Once all the desserts were cleared away, Dane didn’t linger and instead bid her farewell.

“I wouldn’t want to lose the points I’ve just earned. Shall we call it a day?”

“I don’t mind parting ways, but I disagree with that first part. You haven’t earned any points with me.”

“How could that be? Wasn’t it a delightful experience for both the eyes and the palate?”

Eve stared at him, incredulous. Did she hear him right? Dane’s shameless grin was all the answer she needed.

“Are you seriously suggesting that ‘delightful for the eyes’ means what I think it does?”

“As always, you’re so clever.”

Eve stared at Dane, who continued to beam confidently, his well-honed features fully on display. She had always known he was bold, but now she realized just how thick-skinned he was. After a few more verbal sparring rounds, Eve decided that it would be better to simply stop talking to him.

“I liked the dessert. Goodbye for now.”

“Alright, Eve. I’ll write you again soon.”

Eve declined Dane’s offer to wait with her until her carriage arrived and sent him off first. Having Count Hound standing outside the café with her would only draw unwanted attention and cause more problems.

As the familiar carriage whisked Dane away, Anna, who had been holding the parasol for Eve since they left the café, asked, “Shall we cancel your next appointment, my lady?”

Anna’s words reminded Eve of the engagement she had almost forgotten due to being swept up in Dane’s nonsense.

She sighed and shook her head. “No, the exhibition shouldn’t be over yet, right?”

“No, we still have time.”

Eve settled into the carriage that arrived just in time. The engagement she had planned before arranging to meet with Dane was to attend an exhibition by an up-and-coming artist she was sponsoring.

Although she was tired, and today wasn’t the only day she could attend, Eve knew that skipping the event would only lead to more gossip. With people already following her every move, the last thing she needed was to give them more material. She signaled her decision to Anna with a small nod, and Anna relayed the instruction to the coachman.

“Proceed as scheduled.”

As the carriage began to move, Anna, seated opposite Eve, looked at her with concern.

“You seem very tired. Wouldn’t it be better to go home and rest?”

“I’d rather go now that I’m already out.”

“Understood. Though the schedule has been slightly delayed, it’s still a quiet time, so you should be able to enjoy the exhibition without too many people around.”

“That’s a relief.”

Eve had been adamant about keeping the appointment short, but her plans had been somewhat derailed by Dane’s antics. She pressed her lips together and turned to gaze out the window, determined to push thoughts of Count Hound out of her mind for the rest of the day.

***

The artist Eve was sponsoring, Rose, was a talented painter of commoner origins. During her debut exhibition, which featured works from various artists, Rose’s paintings had caught Eve’s eye, leading her to become a patron.

Supporting artists had become one of Eve’s hobbies. Initially, it had simply been one of the few respectable pastimes available to a Countess from the countryside—something that wouldn’t harm the family’s reputation. Fortunately, her taste had proven to be discerning, as the artists she sponsored began to make a name for themselves, and the paintings they gifted her started increasing in value.

As her sponsored artists gained recognition, other patrons naturally stepped in, allowing Eve to move on to new, less-established talents. She saw no need to keep supporting artists who no longer needed help. And so, several artists had passed through Eve’s patronage.

But none of them had captured her attention as much as this one. Eve smiled back at the middle-aged woman who greeted her warmly.

“Rose.”

“Countess.”

“I’m not a Countess anymore, so you can just call me ‘lady’ or ‘madam.'”

“Then, madam.”

Truthfully, Eve felt a bit guilty toward him. The artists she had previously supported had all benefited greatly from the Hound family name. But now that she had divorced Dane, Rose no longer had that advantage.

‘But it’s still my money, so I shouldn’t feel too guilty about it.’

Noticing the people with him, Eve motioned for Rose to attend to them. “Take your time and show them around. It seems you have guests.”

Rose shook her head, refusing to leave her side.

“You must be exhausted from all the attention. I’d like to look around on my own.”

Her voice was gentle but firm, leaving Rose no choice but to withdraw. With a slight smile, Eve turned to Anna.

“Let’s go, Anna.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Eve began slowly making her way through the gallery. The quiet atmosphere of the museum in the late afternoon was peaceful, allowing her to fully appreciate the art. Although she had already seen all the paintings before the exhibition, the change in setting and lighting gave them a fresh feeling. As she leisurely took in the artwork, the tension that had been building throughout the day began to ease.

From time to time, Eve stopped in front of a painting to study it. One of the reasons she had decided to sponsor Rose was her ability to blend vivid colors into harmonious compositions, and this painting, capturing a sunset sky, featured Rose’s signature use of bold colors that had initially caught Eve’s eye.

When Eve glanced back at Anna, the maid swiftly signed her name on the tag next to the frame, using a pen she had borrowed from the gallery staff in advance. Pleased with her purchase, Eve moved on to admire the next piece, when a voice suddenly called out to her.

“Are you planning to buy that painting?”

Turning around, Eve found herself face-to-face with a woman whose platinum-blond hair was elegantly pinned up. Appearing to be in her thirties, the woman smiled softly as their eyes met.