I Became My Son's First Love - Chapter 49

“So, it seems you played the role of the Countess well for three years.”

“Well, yes.”

It was only natural that Eve, as the lady of the Hound family, had learned what each family member liked or disliked through the servants. But even the servants hadn’t figured out that he disliked grapefruit tart.

‘Is that why he seemed surprised?’

Though the servants claimed that the young master wasn’t picky, Eve had noticed during their shared meals that Azazel was more particular than he let on. Perhaps that was why she remembered it. 

Azazel’s gaze, however, was intense, almost as if he wanted to kiss her right then and there. It wasn’t until she shot him a warning glance that he averted his eyes, though Eve still felt his gaze on her face from time to time after that. The uncomfortable silence between them persisted until Aeshath excused herself and disappeared into her office.

Once alone, Azazel dismissed the servants using Aeshath’s name and naturally took Eve’s hand, placing it on his arm. His playful behavior in private seemed a bit endearing, so instead of pulling away, she gently stroked his strong wrist.

Azazel, sounding more gentle than usual, whispered to her, “So, you weren’t completely uninterested in me?”

Eve looked up at him. As expected, his handsome face was as relaxed as his tone. He resembled a cat basking in the sunlight.

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

“You showed no interest in me until I approached you.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Eve didn’t deny it. As Azazel had pointed out, she had never been particularly interested in him. To her, he was just the eldest son of the Count and the heir to the House of Seratine.

“Can I ask what else you’ve observed about me?”

Today, he was showing expressions she wasn’t used to seeing.

Eve responded casually, “You don’t really enjoy alcohol, and despite appearances, you dislike bitter foods.”

His worldly, indifferent demeanor made his aversion to bitter tastes seem rather human, so it stuck in her mind.

“When food doesn’t suit your taste, you chew quickly and swallow without savoring it. The more you enjoy a meal, the slower you eat. You dislike lukewarm food, and you prefer fish over meat.”

He was good at hiding his preferences, usually eating everything on his plate, but he couldn’t completely conceal his tastes. When he ate something he liked, not even Dane’s provocations could disturb his calm as he enjoyed his meal.

Azazel, his face slightly flushed, looked at her with admiration. “How do you know all that?”

“I’ve been observing you.”

A soft, sweet laugh escaped him. Glancing at him, Eve saw Azazel smiling more brightly than she had ever seen before.

“Why are you so happy?”

Azazel’s eyes reddened slightly as he replied, “You’ve been watching me for the past three years. How could I not be happy?”

She hadn’t been watching him out of interest, but because he was the future Duke and someone she had to keep an eye on as the Countess. She had simply paid attention because she had to continue interacting with him.

Sensing her thoughts, Azazel quickly added, “Don’t say anything else. I want to hold onto this feeling.”

“Well, if that’s what you want.”

Humming quietly, Azazel continued to walk with her before speaking again. “I’m sorry I couldn’t greet you when you arrived. I had something to take care of.”

When Eve didn’t react much, merely nodding, Azazel glanced at her. “Aren’t you curious about what it was?”

“Am I allowed to ask?”

“You can ask me anything.”

For someone who rarely gave clear answers, he certainly spoke with confidence.

“So, what was it?”

Azazel answered readily, as if he had been waiting for the question. “It was some of the tasks the Duchess had forced onto me, and something related to Count Hound.”

“Dane?”

Hearing the name reminded Eve of the matter she hadn’t had a chance to address the day before.

“Come to think of it, he tried to gauge me.”

“He must be getting desperate.”

Azazel’s lips curled slightly. Eve could read a mix of displeasure, unease, and amusement in his smile.

“You seem to be enjoying it.”

“It’s a little amusing. But more importantly, he didn’t cause you too much trouble, did he?”

“I dealt with it, but yes, it was bothersome.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

He certainly should. Eve nodded coolly.

As they continued their conversation, they arrived at their destination, and Eve withdrew her hand from Azazel’s arm. She spotted Anna and the carriage in the distance and signaled with her eyes.

“I’ll be going now.”

Azazel, staring at his now-empty arm, asked with a disappointed expression, “Aren’t you leaving a bit too easily?”

“What more should I do here?”

“…I think you’re a little oblivious sometimes.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. Can I visit the day after tomorrow?”

“Do as you like.”

At the carriage, they exchanged formal goodbyes as the young Duke and Lady Jenna.

“Take care.”

“Thank you for today, young Duke.”

“Oh, and this is a gift from my mother.”

At Azazel’s signal, a servant standing by the carriage handed Anna a beautifully wrapped box.

“It’s a grapefruit tart. I hope you’ll enjoy it.”

“Please thank Aeshath for me.”

“I will.”

Though he could have offered to escort her home, perhaps due to Anna’s presence or because he was genuinely busy, Azazel simply handed over the gift and stepped back. Eve, watching his faint smile, climbed into the carriage.

Chapter 5: The Forbidden Fruit

The day after Eve’s visit to the Seratine villa, Dane was preparing to meet his guest, arms crossed as he stared at the quill on his desk. It was a gift from Aeshath, but he had yet to figure out the meaning behind it. After contemplating it for a long time, Dane checked the time and hurried out, still holding the quill.

The butler’s voice was unusually cheerful as he greeted Dane. He had been looking forward to this meeting even more than Dane, hoping the relationship between father and son might improve.

But when Dane entered the dining room, he was met by the stony-faced Azazel. The young man had a beautiful face, much like his own, but Dane could never warm to him. Contrary to the butler’s hopes, the meal was consumed in utter silence, like a gathering in a tomb.

“So, how’s the food?”

Azazel pushed his plate away and dabbed at his mouth with a napkin.

“You’ve sent away the servants, which suggests you have something to say. Go ahead.”

His brilliant son certainly wasn’t unaware of the situation. Yet his relaxed attitude—was it a sign of disdain for his father, or was he simply so lost in his infatuation that he’d abandoned all sense of reality?

Testing him, Dane asked, “Didn’t you come here to say something as well?”

“That’s right. I’ll speak first, then.”

Azazel’s cold eyes met his as he continued, “If you have any sense, you’ll keep quiet. I’m not interested in spreading this around.”

Dane gripped the arms of his chair until his knuckles turned white. He hadn’t expected Azazel to beg for forgiveness or kneel, but he also hadn’t expected this level of brazenness.

“You’re in no position to talk to me like that.”

At least his voice was steady as it left his mouth.

“We’re both in the same boat.”

“What?”

“Neither of us is exactly an ideal choice for Eve.”

“…Are you saying we’re on equal footing?”

“Yes. You’re the ex-husband, hated by the Emperor, with too many children, barely a month out of a divorce. And I’m the stepson. Neither of us stands out as a great option.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

It was a raw, unfiltered reaction. Even though he knew he wasn’t the best match for Eve, he was still far better than Azazel. The fact that Azazel was his son alone disqualified him from ever being with her.

“I won’t go around flaunting this, so you’d better keep your mouth shut as well.”

Azazel’s comment made Dane let out a derisive laugh. “Were you so blatant that others started to notice?”

Now that he was aware of the situation, it was clear just how often Azazel had smiled in Eve’s presence.

“Well, maybe you noticed, but not everyone else did.”

“Surely…”

Did that mean Azazel had deliberately been obvious about his feelings?

“…If it comes to this, I’ll have no choice but to inform Aeshath.”

“You really think she doesn’t know?”

Azazel’s face remained impassive, but Dane no longer trusted that cold facade. Behind it lay a madman, his rational exterior hiding the tumultuous obsession boiling underneath.

“She doesn’t know how far gone you are.”

If Aeshath knew, she would never have let things reach this point.

“Even if your mother is a free spirit, this is beyond that. This isn’t good for either you or Eve…”

Azazel interrupted, standing up. “This has nothing to do with you.”

“Azazel!”

Azazel sighed, turning cold eyes toward his father. But the face that should have been so familiar looked strangely alien. Dane blinked in confusion, realizing for the first time that his son’s eyes had changed color to a turquoise. As Dane blinked again, he suddenly found himself back in his chair.