I Became My Son's First Love - Chapter 57

“…I saw the young duke’s eye color change. I tried to act like I hadn’t noticed because I was caught off guard… but I must have been mistaken, right?”

Dane’s lips trembled as he asked in an anxious voice, trying to hide it by covering his mouth with his hand. “Azazel, does he know you noticed?”

Eve tilted her head innocently, pretending not to know anything. “I’m not sure? He didn’t say anything. He just told me to come and see you.”

Dane leaned his chin on the armrest of his chair and let out a heavy sigh, lost in thought. It seemed like he had forgotten that Eve was even there. However, contrary to her concerns, Dane hadn’t forgotten about her. After organizing his thoughts, he met her eyes.

“…Eve.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll think things over and get back to you. You should go for now.”

His tone left no room for refusal. Though his posture was upright and his face calm, Dane’s hands were gripping the chair tightly. His knuckles were white from the pressure. Seeing this, Eve realized there was no point in pushing him further today. She nodded reluctantly.

***

Eve returned home with a sense of guilt and found Azazel waiting for her in her room. Startled, she quickly closed the door and scolded him.

“What if you get caught? Why are you here at this hour?”

Azazel, however, seemed calm compared to her. “I didn’t think I’d have time if not today.”

“Are you busy with something?”

“I upset the Duchess a little. Now I have a lot to deal with.”

Eve, more surprised by this than when she had first seen him in her room, asked, “Aeshath gets angry?”

“To be precise, she’s sulking.”

Azazel smiled warmly and changed the subject. “Anyway, did you get the information you wanted?”

“I’ll figure that out, so don’t worry about it.”

“You haven’t given up, have you?”

“Of course not.”

Though she felt guilty toward Dane, Eve’s curiosity about Azazel’s true nature outweighed her guilt.

“What did you do to Dane?”

“What do you mean?”

“He got so worried when I mentioned your name. Did you do something dangerous?”

Azazel, his expression thoughtful, shrugged casually. “I don’t usually spare those who strike first.”

Eve’s eyes widened in shock. “Did you do to him what you did to that other man?”

Azazel’s gentle eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at her cautiously. “Would it disappoint you if I did the same to my father?”

“Maybe a little.”

Though her relationship with Dane wasn’t perfect, the idea of Azazel threatening him the way he had done to the shopkeeper didn’t sit well with her.

Azazel quickly reassured her. “I didn’t use physical violence.”

“That sounds even scarier.”

Azazel’s voice grew soft as he asked, “Am I frightening to you?”

Though the question followed naturally from their conversation, it felt like he was asking about something else. It was about his eyes. Eve looked at him silently.

“……”

He was waiting for her answer. His clear blue eyes reflected both affection and anxiety. It was slightly amusing, and a bit pitiful, that he would worry about her response after asking such a question. When Eve remained silent, simply staring at him, Azazel pressed her gently.

“Eve?”

Eve gazed steadily at Azazel as she finally spoke, “It’s strange.”

“……”

His lips, trembling with unease, pressed tightly together. Eve continued to watch him.

“From what I’ve seen, and from Dane’s reaction, you are a dangerous person.”

There had been a moment when she had felt a flash of fear while watching him look down at the shopkeeper.

“But when I’m actually facing you, you don’t seem dangerous at all.”

When they were together, all she felt was a slight awkwardness and curiosity. It was obvious to her that Azazel wouldn’t harm her. If there was no real threat, why should she fear him? Others might be in danger around him, but Eve, who had grown up in a poor, powerless noble family, didn’t have the luxury of worrying about others. Besides, these were just excuses.

Eve let her gaze drop from Azazel’s now-relaxed face to his chest, and she reached out, poking his chest lightly before tracing her fingertips over it.

“Was it because you were hurt that I felt that way?”

She had been more surprised by the fact that he was injured than by any fear of him. As she looked back up at Azazel, who now appeared unharmed, she noticed his gaze had darkened slightly.

Pretending not to see it, Eve asked, “Are you all healed?”

“…Yes.”

His slightly hoarse voice was appealing.

“I’d ask you to open your shirt, but now doesn’t seem like a good time.”

“…You’re right. I picked a bad time.”

“What can we do? We’re in the middle of a secret meeting.”

As Eve teasingly traced her fingers over his chest, Azazel grabbed her hand. “Eve, don’t provoke me. I’m holding back for your sake.”

Eve shrugged and pulled her hand back.

“I hope you stop being afraid of me.”

“Unless you’re hiding some terribly ugly secret, I don’t think there’s anything to fear.”

“That’s not it.”

“Good. Now, show me your eyes again.”

“My eyes?”

“The ones that changed color.”

Azazel looked at her as if he didn’t understand. “I thought I made it clear it’s dangerous. You’re really not normal, you know that?”

Eve responded lightly, “I’m not that different from you. So, are you going to show me or not?”

Azazel, realizing he had no choice, closed his eyes and then opened them. Eve watched his eyes change instantly. She raised her hand and gently touched his beautiful eyes.

“Hm, it really does look familiar.”

Last time, she had thought she might have imagined it, but now she was sure. She recognized these eyes. As she gently rubbed her thumb across the corner of his eye, Azazel asked, his eyes drooping sleepily.

“Who do I remind you of?”

Eve’s red lips curled into a smooth smile as she lowered her hand from his eye to his neck, pulling him down. Azazel followed her lead without resistance, bowing his head. Eve’s lips brushed lightly against the corner of his eye before she whispered in his ear.

“It’s a secret.”

She blew softly into his ear, and Azazel shuddered, pulling his head back.

“You should have at least one thing you don’t know. And until I figure out everything about you, nothing’s going to happen between us.”

Azazel frowned as she brushed aside his reaching hand. “Isn’t that a bit unfair?”

At the same time, his eyes returned to their original color.

“They’re back to normal.”

“They’re not something worth looking at for long.”

Behind his firm demeanor, Eve could see the fear hidden there. He still feared her reaction. It was clear now that his bravado had been an act. For the sake of this frightened man, Eve decided to give him a little more time.

Azazel stared at her for a moment before quickly pulling away. “I should leave now. Staying any longer would be a bad idea.”

He moved toward the wall and opened the secret passage.

“You’ll receive a letter from the duchy soon. We’ll meet again then.”

With that, Azazel disappeared through the secret passage. As if on cue, a servant knocked on the door shortly afterward.

“My lady.”

As Azazel had predicted, he was always one step ahead. Eve couldn’t help but smile at the thought as she let the servants into the room.

It was becoming increasingly clear that her secret lover wasn’t an ordinary human. Eve found it a bit amusing that she herself was unfazed by this realization. But as long as Azazel continued to seek her affection, the balance of power in their relationship would always be tilted in her favor.

***

Two days after her visit to Dane, he sent a letter inviting her to the mansion. Eve happily accepted his invitation. Upon arriving at the estate, she checked on Dane’s health with the help of the butler, then followed him to Dane’s study. Once the door was closed behind her, their eyes met, and Dane greeted her.

“Eve.”

“Thank you for inviting me, Dane.”

Eve offered a polite greeting as she glanced around the study. It wasn’t her first time in the room, yet it felt unfamiliar. The study was messier than usual. Papers had been pushed haphazardly to one side of the desk, books were scattered from the shelves, and pens were rolling around with ink bottles left open. There was also something she had never noticed before.

‘Was that bookshelf meant to conceal something?’

The shelf that had once been in its usual place was now pushed aside, revealing what seemed to be a hidden space. As Eve’s gaze lingered on the unfamiliar sight, Dane turned slightly, showing her the hidden compartment.

“It’s a secret place, passed down only to the head of the family.”

Eve raised her eyebrows and asked, “Are you sure it’s alright to show me this?”

“Yes, you should know about it too.”

“Is it related to the question I asked last time?”

Dane nodded and gestured for her to come closer. “Come here first.”

Dane led her to a corner of the study, where a portrait hung in a spot untouched by sunlight. The man in the painting, like Dane, had striking blond hair and blue eyes. His name, Chase Hell Hound, was written beneath the portrait. The unfamiliar middle name caught Eve’s eye.