I Became My Son's First Love - Chapter 26

Dane gritted his teeth.

His first son, the heir to the Seratine Duchy, and nominally a potential heir to the Hound title, Azazel had the intelligence and cunning that made him an invaluable asset to Dane. Because of his lineage, Dane had never suspected Azazel of coveting the Hound title, often entrusting him with important tasks, including giving him access to the family seal.

Of course, Dane couldn’t conclude that Azazel was guilty based solely on circumstantial evidence. But the coincidence of Eve receiving an invitation from the Duchess only heightened Dane’s suspicions.

It felt as though he and Eve were being manipulated, following someone’s plan. While it was just a hunch, there was no denying that something strange was going on. Whether it was the Duchess, Azazel, or even the Emperor behind it, Dane sensed that they were involved in some larger scheme.

That’s why Dane had decided to accompany Eve to the Seratine villa. He intended to investigate the situation firsthand, to see if there was indeed a hidden agenda, and to uncover what they were truly after. He doubted that Eve, with her humble background, was their target—it was far more likely that he was their focus.

With that in mind, he felt a deep sense of guilt toward Eve. She had no idea about the web of intrigue surrounding them, yet she seemed grateful to him, unaware of the danger.

Once again, Dane reminded himself that he wasn’t naive. It was clear that Eve harbored some affection for him, and he had no intention of revealing the truth and giving her a reason to push him away. Just as Eve had accepted his help out of necessity, Dane would remain silent for the sake of his own goals.

In a way, didn’t they make a perfect match?

‘I’ll treat her better if we get remarried,’ Dane resolved.

But first, he needed to win her heart.

He considered getting a facial treatment or something similar to improve his appearance. After all, he would be seeing Eve for two days, and he wanted to make the best impression possible. Dane rang the bell on his desk to summon a servant.

***

Eve, having finished all preparations, glanced at herself in the mirror once more before noticing the restless maids.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Gina, one of the maids, cautiously spoke up, “Are you really going to the Seratine villa with Count Hound? Is it alright?”

Gina seemed worried that her madam might get caught in the midst of two powerful families and suffer as a result.

“If things go well, they go well; if they don’t, it’ll still be helpful in some way.”

Eve had grown fond of Aeshath, but now that she knew she was Duchess Seratine, she wanted to keep her distance. However, if Aeshath continued to extend kindness, Eve couldn’t refuse. Thus, it would be best to make Aeshath want to withdraw from her.

The first card Eve played was Dane. A few days ago, Aeshath had casually invited him, but there was no telling what would happen if she actually brought him along. Aeshath was known for being kind yet cold in social circles. Though she gave people chances, she wasn’t generous enough to offer second ones. People often gossiped about how strict the duchess was, but Eve thought that was rather lenient.

Given her lofty position as a duchess, Aeshath was quite magnanimous. Even if Eve disappointed her, she would merely lose interest without seeking personal revenge.

It would be a welcome development if Aeshath decided to build a wall between them. If Eve stayed in the capital and continued her social life, Aeshath’s indifference would certainly have an impact, but for Eve, who would eventually move to a rural area beyond the capital’s influence, it wouldn’t matter much.

Noticing Eve’s composed expression, Anna, another maid, voiced her concern. “I know you have everything thought out, but I’m still worried. I know it’s rude to say this, but what if something bad happens because you’re mingling with people far too high above you?”

Seeing Anna nervously fidget after saying her piece, Eve chuckled softly. She wasn’t the type to get angry at someone just for worrying about her.

“Right. I’ll be careful.”

“Yes, my lady. But are you really not taking us with you?”

“No need to bring you along this time. Take this opportunity to rest. I’ll be fine with the Count by my side.”

Just then, Eve noticed the commotion in the garden through the window. The carriage had arrived. The first to send a carriage was the count’s household.

Dismissing her maids, Eve made her way through the first-floor hall and spotted Dane just as he was stepping down from the carriage. Despite having seen him only yesterday, he greeted her with a flowery smile.

“Dane.”

“You look as dazzling as ever, Eve.”

Eve let the compliment wash over her, barely acknowledging it, as she scrutinized his face. Despite the destination, his face showed no signs of worry or unease. In fact, he looked more radiant than he had yesterday.

“Thank you. You look good today, too, Dane.”

“Glad the effort paid off.”

Surprised by his confident response, Eve’s eyes widened. “You took care of yourself?”

“Of course. Can’t you tell?”

His innocent expression was so unexpected that Eve couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yes, it looks good.”

“Since I’ve been complimented, I should reward the person in charge.”

“Did you spend all night grooming yourself after yesterday?”

“I also took care of any tasks that needed handling while I’d be away.”

At that, Eve thought of the butler who had managed Count Hound’s affairs for the past three years.

“Didn’t your butler say anything about today’s plans?”

“He was a bit concerned.”

It was clear that his butler’s “concern” had come in the form of nagging. Eve smiled softly as she glanced behind him. The count’s carriage had only one coachman with no other attendants.

“You didn’t bring any servants?”

“Didn’t the invitation say they weren’t necessary?”

“…Well, yes, that’s true.”

Eve hadn’t expected Dane to follow that instruction so obediently. She quietly kept the thought to herself. Frankly, she had expected him to be as confrontational with the Duchess as he was with Azazel. However, judging by his current demeanor, Dane seemed to bear no ill will toward Aeshath.

‘Is he not on bad terms with the Duchess?’

His relationship with the Emperor seemed strained, and he didn’t get along with Azazel, but apparently, he wasn’t on bad terms with Aeshath or the Seratine House. The more she considered his current attitude and Aeshath’s willingness to invite him, the more puzzled she became. It was a complex web of relationships.

‘Why does he have such a bad relationship with Azazel?’

While Eve was still contemplating the connection between Dane and the Duchess, the carriage from the Seratine household arrived. Fortunately, the carriage bore no family crest, as drawing more attention was the last thing Eve wanted.

A luggage cart also pulled up slowly in front of the house. The servant of the Seratine household, upon seeing Dane, skillfully loaded his belongings onto the cart without any surprise.

Eve calmly accepted Dane’s escort into the carriage. Once he took his seat opposite her, the coachman expertly guided the carriage away.

“Is there anything I should be mindful of?”

“Are you worried?”

“Of course. We’re heading to the Seratine Ducal House. Even if it’s just a villa, it’s still intimidating.”

She was, of course, nervous about visiting a family with power second only to the imperial family. Dane, on the other hand, seemed surprised by her reaction.

“You didn’t seem nervous when you met the Emperor at the ball.”

“I tried hard not to show it. Do you have any idea how nervous I was back then?”

“I thought you were quite composed.”

Taken aback by his reaction, Eve lowered her gaze and asked softly, “Are you disappointed by this softer side of me, which differs from what you expected?”

“No, I find it quite charming.”

Matching her playful tone, Dane reassured her with a lighthearted comment, “Aeshath is not the type to get angry at someone she’s taken a liking to, so don’t worry. The fact that she invited you to her villa is a clear sign that she’s genuinely fond of you.”

Eve wasn’t sure whether she should be pleased or not.

“What’s the Duchess’s villa like?”

“I hear it’s a beautiful place where Aeshath goes to relax from time to time, or so the rumors say.”

His assessment sounded more like speculation, causing Eve to tilt her head.

“You’ve never been there?”

“I’ve never been invited. Besides, the Seratine salon is always held at the main mansion. The villa is Aeshath’s personal retreat.”

“It’s a personal place, so I’m a bit concerned about bringing you along.”

“Worried about how Aeshath will react? It’ll be fine. She’s not the type to say things she doesn’t mean.”

It truly seemed Dane harbored no ill will toward Aeshath.

“Is your relationship better than I thought?”

“Well, yes. Even after the divorce, we still see each other occasionally at social events. Come to think of it, the three of us have never met together, have we?”

He was right. Perhaps it was because Eve rarely attended social gatherings, but she had never once encountered Aeshath at any of the balls or banquets in the past three years.