I Became My Son's First Love - Chapter 5

“Hah.”

Eve had no qualms about being evaluated for her appearance. Even if she wasn’t to the Count’s taste, objectively, she was undeniably a beauty. It wasn’t surprising if, at times, he found her attractive.

“……”

Eve, noticing the Count’s continued silence, asked, “Do you have anything else to say?”

The Count, who had been staring at her in disbelief, suddenly contorted his face.

“You’ve never once come to see me?”

“What?”

The Count’s emotions were wildly unpredictable. Oblivious to Eve’s bewilderment, he continued, “I heard from the butler that you’ve never sought me out.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Why?”

Was this really a question? It seemed so obvious that Eve struggled to find the right words.

“Well… because I had no reason to see you?”

“Why?”

Because there was no need!

Eve had no reason to visit the Count. They had no business with each other unless she had something to request, but so far, Eve had no such need. She was surrounded by maids who attended to her without her asking, and financially, she was more than comfortable.

Why would we meet without a reason?

Suppressing her thoughts, Eve decided to appease the Count.

“Shall I make a habit of visiting you regularly?”

If the Count wanted her to, she was willing to visit him periodically.

‘He pays me well, after all.’

Perhaps her seemingly generous offer had irritated him. Whether it was out of frustration or something else, his face twisted even more.

Then, in a grumpy tone, he said, “Never mind. You don’t seem to have any plans today, so come to my room after the meal.”

Suddenly calling her to his room—Count Hound was truly impulsive and unpredictable.

“To your room?”

“Yes, my room. I’ll inform the maids ahead of time.”

Though she didn’t know why he was calling her, Eve nodded obediently. “Alright.”

The Count’s face softened as Eve nodded without protest. She still found it difficult to keep up with his mood swings. Earning his favor wasn’t easy.

As she swallowed a sigh, the Count glanced at the time and extended his hand to her. “Shall we head down?”

For the first time since their marriage, Eve was being escorted by the Count.

***

To be honest, Eve had been a little disappointed when she first met Count Hound.

It wasn’t only the Count who had been underwhelmed by their first encounter. Eve also found that Count Hound wasn’t as handsome as she had expected. Unlike the Count, her assessment wasn’t based on personal taste but rather on unmet expectations. Hearing that he had once been hailed as the most beautiful man in the Empire, surpassing all the noblewomen, Eve had expected a lot from his appearance.

Of course, Count Hound was indeed very handsome, and at forty, he looked much younger. But he hadn’t quite lived up to her expectations. Having never left the Jenna estate, Eve’s knowledge of the capital came from her etiquette instructors and the gossip that trickled in months late. Her instructors, all middle-aged women, had often praised Count Hound’s beauty with dreamy expressions. In their stories, he was like an angel descended from the heavens, a noble being far beyond their reach.

But the Count she saw in person, while undeniably handsome, didn’t quite match the legend. His body was more muscular than most noble youths’, and his every move exuded noble elegance. Still, the title of “most beautiful man in the Empire” seemed a bit exaggerated to Eve. She had concluded that perhaps the people of the capital were prone to overstatement or had a different sense of beauty.

That belief shattered today.

For the first time, Eve saw her stepson, Azazel, the eldest son of the Count, and he was as beautiful as an angel in a masterpiece painting. Escorted by the Count, Eve entered the dining room, where Azazel was already waiting for them. At first glance, from the side, Eve thought he resembled the Count.

But when their eyes met across the table, Eve finally understood why her instructors had praised the Count’s beauty. If Count Hound had looked like this in his youth, he truly would have deserved all the admiration. Though people often said that Azazel took after his father, he had an almost ethereal quality that made him seem even more unreal.

Azazel had slightly darker blonde hair than his father, sharp but refined eyes, a perfectly straight nose, full lips, and clear blue eyes. Eve loved her own eyes, which reminded her of a sunset sky, but Azazel’s were equally, if not more, beautiful.

In her mind, Azazel outshone the Count. Perhaps it was the privilege of youth. However, despite his striking beauty, there was no sign of the youthful vibrancy or liveliness one might expect from someone his age. Instead, he exuded a stillness, a somber atmosphere that made him seem much older than he was, like an ancient tree that had withstood the test of time. Eve’s overall impression was simple:

‘He looks like an old man.’

Though undeniably more beautiful than the Count, his lack of energy made his handsome face less appealing. Azazel was breathtakingly handsome, but not to Eve’s taste. Having quickly assessed him, Eve smiled and turned to the Count.

“Would you introduce us, darling?”

The Count, who had been looking at Azazel, turned to face Eve. Meeting her gaze, he introduced them, “This is Eve Hound, your new mother. And this is my son, Azazel Seratine.”

Eve smiled as she looked at Azazel, but he, in turn, stared at her with a strange expression and asked, “Eve?”

“You can call me Eve or simply ‘madam’ whichever you prefer. How would you like me to address you?”

Though the Count had said she could address him by name, Azazel was the heir to the Seratine family, and it didn’t feel right to use just his name.

However, Azazel didn’t answer her question. Instead, he stared at her intently, as if scrutinizing her, trying to uncover something. Eve didn’t avoid his gaze, but at one point, she noticed something flicker in his eyes. She blinked, but whatever she had seen was already gone.

‘Did I imagine that?’

As Eve continued to hold his gaze, Azazel looked away and asked the Count, “Who introduced her to you?”

“What?”

The Count responded, taken aback, and Azazel repeated, “I asked who introduced her to you.”

Eve, too, was curious. Indeed, without an introduction, the Count would have had no way of finding her. The Jenna family was obscure, far from the eyes of the capital.

The Count, gazing coldly at his son as though he couldn’t believe his question, mumbled incredulously, “Your mother.”

Eve’s eyes widened. It seemed that the Count’s first wife, Duchess Seratine, had found and suggested her as his fourth wife.

‘I’ll never understand the ways of the capital nobles.’

The Emperor had pushed for the remarriage of his former son-in-law, and the Emperor’s granddaughter had chosen her ex-husband’s new bride. It was incomprehensible to Eve. The capital truly was a world apart. She shook her head discreetly in disbelief.

Even Azazel, who had appeared emotionless, seemed equally surprised. He let out a dry laugh. When Eve turned to look at him, their eyes met.

Azazel asked her, “So, you’ve married this man?”

His tone made it clear that he found the whole situation absurd. Eve corrected her initial impression of him. His inability to hide his emotions made him seem more his age. Since she hadn’t expected Azazel to react positively to their marriage, she was able to handle his reaction calmly.

“Yes, we’ve had the wedding and completed the paperwork, so technically, yes. But how would you like me to address you?”

But it wasn’t Azazel who answered; it was Count Hound.

“You can just call him Azazel.”

Ignoring the Count, Eve continued to stare at Azazel. He sighed deeply, massaging his temples. His large hands gripped the edge of the table tightly, indicating he was still in a foul mood. The Count, standing next to him, called his name.