I Became My Son's First Love - Chapter 58

“This is the first Count Hound. He was a reaper on the battlefield, known for his significant contribution to the founding of the empire. ‘The Hound of Hell’—a fitting name, don’t you think?”

Eve took a closer look at the portrait of the first head of the family.

“I used to think he was a great and admirable figure, but I was wrong.”

Dane turned back toward the bookshelf and, without hesitation, pulled out a book. Then, he looked straight at Eve.

“This story isn’t just about Azazel. It’s deeply connected to our entire family.”

Dane hesitated for a moment before asking, “It might be a truth too difficult to handle. Do you still want to know?”

“Yes, I want to know. Besides, you think I should know, don’t you?”

Dane’s face twisted in guilt. “Yes, I’m sorry, but I believe you need to know the truth, and the dangers lurking around you.”

Dane, who had been staring at Eve as if trying to read her thoughts, finally spoke again, “Our Hound family made a pact with ‘him’ to revive our family’s fortunes, and in return, we surrendered our humanity.”

Was this the answer she had been waiting for? Even though Eve had somewhat expected it, her heart began to race, possibly due to the gravity in Dane’s tone.

“Who is ‘he’?”

Dane’s lips moved several times as if the answer was too terrifying to say aloud. After a long pause, he finally replied, “We call him a demon.”

A demon. It was exactly what Eve had anticipated. She barely held back a smile. This wasn’t a situation to laugh about, but why did it feel so amusing? As she suppressed the urge to smile, Dane misunderstood her silence and handed her the book he was holding.

“You may not believe these records, but I do.”

Eve flipped open the bookmarked page, displaying the reaction of an ordinary person who might not know what to think.

“Why?”

Dane smiled crookedly as he watched her point to a passage in the book.

“Because I’ve manifested the symptoms.”

It was a passage describing symptoms passed down through the generations in the Hound family. Eve held her breath.

“It happened after I met Azazel. His eyes changed color. When I saw his turquoise eyes, my memory of everything afterward completely disappeared. That’s when I started going through these records, and I discovered the truth. I finally found the name of the demon that the first head of the family made a pact with.”

Eve already knew the answer. Dane, his face filled with anguish, squeezed his throat before forcing out the name.

“Azazel.”

“Azazel, is that correct?”

The same name left both their lips at the same time. Dane, startled, looked at Eve cautiously and asked, “Do you think I’ve gone mad?”

Most people wouldn’t believe such a story. A demon? Who would easily believe that such a creature existed?

“…If there’s no other proof.”

Dane nodded as if he understood, though he smiled bitterly. He glanced around, searching for something, then turned and walked toward his desk.

“These records could be false, and the name could be a coincidence. After all, only the head of the family knows the name.”

Dane stopped in front of the desk and pulled out a small box, slightly larger than his hands. Inside the box was a white dagger that looked strangely familiar, a bottle smaller than her palm, and a withered quill.

“This dagger is said to purify evil.”

Dane looked down at the dagger before turning his gaze to Eve.

“That shop where you encountered Azazel…”

“…Yes?”

“I was there too. And the shopkeeper splashed what they called holy water on Azazel.”

Dane pointed to the small bottle inside the box. Eve suddenly remembered Azazel’s chest, which had seemed like it had been burned. As he recalled the incident, fear crept into Dane’s expression. Yet he continued speaking.

“Azazel was in pain, and his eyes changed color. Then, he controlled the shopkeeper and extracted all the information he wanted.”

It seemed as though the growing fear would soon consume Dane entirely.

“He learned everything the shopkeeper knew and erased his memory. It was flawless. The man didn’t even realize he had been controlled. He didn’t think it was strange that his memories had been erased either.”

Dane met Eve’s eyes again. “In fact, I wouldn’t have noticed if I had missing memories, either.”

“…What do you mean?”

Dane raised his hand to press his temples as he explained, “According to the records, realizing that there’s a gap in your memory depends on the people around you. You wouldn’t notice on your own. It’s those around you who would find it strange.”

“But just now, Dane… you realized there was something wrong with your memory.”

“I sensed that something was off. Though my butler helped me realize it, I did feel a sense of unease. But that’s rare. Most people in the records, and even the shopkeeper, didn’t notice anything.”

Suddenly, everything Dane said began to feel distant. The stories she had heard so far were unsettling, but they hadn’t frightened her. However, the thought that memories could be manipulated brought a sudden rush of fear. Engrossed in his own tale, Dane didn’t notice Eve’s change in demeanor.

“There was a gift I received from Aeshath.”

Eve, struggling to shake off her fear, focused on Dane’s words.

“…A gift?”

“Yes, it was a quill made from pure white feathers. And on the day I lost my memory, the quill, which had been in my coat pocket while I was talking to Azazel, had faded.”

Eve’s gaze fell on the withered quill that lay beside the dagger.

“I’m sure it’s connected somehow. Aeshath gave me the quill just before I spoke with Azazel.”

Dane ran his fingers over the quill as he continued, “Aeshath named her son after the demon our family made a pact with, gave me this quill at the precise moment I needed it, and she’s been searching for this dagger.”

Dane gripped the white dagger tightly. “This dagger is part of a pair. Aeshath has the other one. There’s plenty of reason to suspect that Aeshath knows something.”

Dane’s suspicions were valid. Eve had begun to suspect both of them as well.

Why hadn’t she been afraid of Azazel, even knowing he wasn’t human? Was it because he knelt before her and declared his love?

Eve scoffed at herself. If Azazel could manipulate minds and erase memories, none of that mattered. And now, to think that Aeshath might know everything… Eve didn’t want to believe it. But it made sense. Aeshath’s easy acceptance of her relationship with Azazel now seemed perfectly logical.

Dane, seeing Eve’s confusion, pulled her into a hug. Though he had lost some weight, his embrace was still warm. Eve blinked, stunned.

“I’m sorry, Eve… this must be so overwhelming.”

Dane gently patted her back. Instead of pushing him away, Eve held him tighter. She needed human warmth at this moment.

The thought that all the intimate moments they had shared—the kisses that made her blush, the nights filled with passion, the tenderness with which Azazel had held her—could all be lies made her blood run cold. Eve gripped the fabric of Dane’s clothing with her cold fingers.

“I know this sounds insane, but there’s only one reason I’m telling you all this.”

Dane’s heartbeat echoed loudly.

“I want to protect you. You’re in great danger.”

Dane met Eve’s gaze. His dark blue eyes, unlike Azazel’s, were warm yet sharp.

“Stay away from both Azazel and Aeshath.”

“Why is this happening to me? Why did they come into my life in the first place?”

Eve knew Dane didn’t have the answer, but she asked anyway. And Dane, instead of answering, apologized.

“I’m sorry. Your marriage to me, and even our divorce, may all have been orchestrated by Azazel. No, I’m sure our divorce was all his doing.”

Eve froze. Azazel had told her something about their divorce. He had claimed it was because he loved her. But if that wasn’t true…

Dane gently cupped Eve’s face. “I’m sorry.”

Eve couldn’t find the words to respond. As she silently opened and closed her mouth, Dane slowly moved closer to her. She knew what he was about to do. His slowly closing eyes and the way his breath neared her made his intentions clear. Eve didn’t stop him, nor did she move away.

Was it the bond they now shared after learning the overwhelming truth? Or was it the sense of betrayal? Perhaps she just needed someone to warm her frozen body. Dane’s rough lips met hers, unusually dry for him. But that wasn’t the only thing about him that felt different.