I Became My Son's First Love - Chapter 3

“Are you suggesting a contract?”

That was the gist of it, though Eve had explained it more elaborately.

She nodded in response. “Something like that.”

An uncomfortable silence followed before the Count asked, “And why should I agree to that?”

“Because if I become your wife, your life will become much more convenient.”

The Count sneered and asked, “Do you even know what you’ll want from me?”

“If my terms don’t satisfy you, then there’s no need for us to marry.”

Eve wondered if she had been too bold, considering she had little to offer. However, she maintained her composure and met the Count’s gaze without flinching.

He chuckled coldly. “This is truly strange. Alright then, what are your demands?”

Though he seemed to be testing how far she would go, the conversation was progressing as Eve had hoped. She pressed down her lips to hide her rising smile and calmly laid out her conditions. It was too early to feel victorious just yet.

After about an hour of back-and-forth negotiations and tense exchanges, they reached a set of conditions that satisfied her. As Eve smiled genuinely, the Count uncrossed his legs and adjusted his posture.

“Now, let’s get a proper contract.”

“Yes.”

Eve half-listened as the Count summoned a servant with a bell, her focus on reviewing the terms of the contract.

1. Neither party shall interfere in the other’s personal life. (However, Party B must not engage in any conduct that would damage her dignity as the Countess.)
2. Party B’s rights as the Countess shall be acknowledged. (However, these rights are restricted to matters within the estate.)
3. Party B is free to use the funds allocated for maintaining her dignity and other allowances. (The money will be provided on the 1st of each month, and any additional funds must be approved by Party A.)
4. Party B must attend any parties requested by Party A. (However, Party A will provide additional compensation for such events.)
5. Party B shall not exert any influence over the selection of the Count’s heir.

Of course, the Count was Party A, and she was Party B. There were other minor clauses, but the most notable were these five.

The first clause was one the Count insisted on, primarily to ensure his freedom with his extramarital affairs, though the clause didn’t apply to Eve herself.

The second clause was one Eve had added to ensure her comfort within the household. Even if her position as Countess was just a title, she needed to be treated with respect within the estate to live a comfortable life. The caveat about her social activities was something the Count had added; he didn’t want Eve participating in any social activities beyond what was necessary. Eve had no interest in such activities anyway, so it wasn’t a condition she cared much about.

The third clause, on the other hand, was the most important to Eve. It was the reason and purpose of her marriage. After asking the Count how much the monthly allowance for a Countess would be, she drafted this clause. As it turned out, the allowance she would receive as Countess was far more than the Jenna family earned in an entire year. It would be more than enough to provide a dowry for Cynthia, with plenty left over.

Suppressing another smile, Eve moved on to the fourth clause. This was also one the Count had added, but from the attached note, it seemed that accompanying him to these events would come with a nice bonus, so she had no reason to reject it.

The fifth clause seemed to be intended for the Count’s grown children, though it was more likely aimed at ensuring the Count maintained control over his legacy. This was probably another reason he had chosen to marry someone from such a modest background.

Without any connections of her own, Eve would be unable to influence anything in the Count’s estate without his help, so the clause wasn’t particularly concerning to her. If she ever had a child, things might change, but Eve had no intention of having children, so the clause about the heir wasn’t an issue for her.

As Eve reviewed the contract one more time, her eyes lingered on the last line. If either party violated the contract or requested a divorce, they would have to pay the other party 100 million gold in compensation.

100 million gold! Eve’s monthly allowance was 2,000 gold. Even if she saved every penny for an entire year, she would only have 24,000 gold. 100 million gold was an impossible amount for Eve to pay, but this clause was clearly a warning from the Count, meant to remind his future wife not to cause a fuss or ask for a divorce like his previous wives.

But it wasn’t much of a threat to Eve. She had no reason to seek a divorce. With a hefty monthly allowance and no need for tiresome social engagements, why would she?

‘Why would I ever want a divorce?’

Eve dismissed the warning as she looked up to see the Count’s aide enter the room.

The Count asked one last question, “So, are you really going to sign this contract?”

“Yes, but before that, about the fifth clause.”

The Count’s eyes flashed sharply. “…The clause about the heir?”

Eve understood why the Count seemed on edge, but she wasn’t suggesting anything threatening.

She nodded. “Yes, I’d like to add an additional condition to that clause.”

“What?”

Irritation began to creep into the Count’s expression. Eve double-checked the contract before speaking.

“The clause about me not being able to influence the decision of an heir means that even if I have a son, he won’t be considered an heir, right?”

“That’s correct.”

The Count’s reply was firm, as though the clause would never be altered.

Eve smiled brightly. “In that case, is there any reason for me to have children?”

“What?”

For the first time, a crack appeared in the Count’s cold demeanor. Eve took advantage of the moment. “I don’t see why I need to have children.”

The Count blinked a few times, staring at her with a somewhat confused expression, before asking, “So, you’re saying we should remove that clause?”

Eve corrected him. “No, I’m saying we should use contraception.”

The Count, eyes wide, stared at Eve in disbelief as she made her point clear.

“One of us needs to use contraception, either you or me.”

The Count frowned, as if the idea was incomprehensible. “Is that part of your terms?”

“Yes.”

Without hesitation, Eve’s answer made the Count chuckle dryly. After a long moment, he gestured to his aide. Eve looked at the newly added note beside the fifth clause, feeling satisfied.

***

Eve woke to the sound of a maid gently rousing her. As she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the elegant ceiling. Sitting up, she let the maids tend to her soft limbs, allowing them to wash, groom, and dress her as they pleased.

In just one month, Eve had fully adapted to the lazy, luxurious lifestyle of a capital noble. After signing the contract, everything moved swiftly. The wedding was held privately, and she used half of her first month’s allowance to help cover the costs of Cynthia’s wedding.

Though her sister’s fiancé, and soon-to-be father of her nephew or niece, was the heir to a viscount family, they, too, came from a small rural estate. A dowry of 1,000 gold was more than enough for a country noble’s marriage, but Eve planned to continue helping Cynthia in the future. Cynthia, although concerned for her sister, accepted the dowry with gratitude, and Eve was content with her current life.

When Eve and Count Hound first married, the capital’s people were curious, expecting some new gossip. However, because Eve kept to herself, there was little to talk about. Once rumors of her beauty, heard only around Jenna, died down, there was nothing else of interest. Without fuel, the gossip naturally faded, and now people’s interest in her had all but disappeared.

With no worries and a life of comfort, Eve had never been happier. Her room as Countess was just as grand and luxurious as the Count’s. The clothes she wore, the food she ate, the hobbies she pursued within the estate—all of it was incomparable to her previous life.

“You’re so beautiful…”

As she relaxed, letting the maids work on her, Eve glanced at herself in the mirror and noticed something different. Though the maids always did their best to make her look stunning, today she was even more beautiful than usual. Startled by her own reflection, Eve asked the maid, who was staring at her in awe.