I Became My Son's First Love - Chapter 65

Eve swallowed the emotions that were about to spill from Azazel’s lips. She bit down on her full lips, and as she delved roughly into his mouth, Azazel opened his lips as if he had been waiting for her, welcoming her eagerly. He clung to her like he was drinking the sweetest water to quench his parched throat.

However, the sweet kiss didn’t last long. As she instinctively moved closer to him, something caught on her shoulder, and a pained groan escaped Azazel’s mouth. Startled, Eve pushed him away and inspected him, only to find that the dagger had sunk even deeper than before.

“Azazel?”

Azazel gritted his teeth, trying to suppress the pain, and caught his breath.

“…I’m fine.”

Fine? Eve wrapped her arms around him as he staggered forward and collapsed to the floor. Her dress was stained with his blood, but she didn’t care. With a look of anxiety, she asked, “You’re not going to die like this, are you?”

Azazel had been standing just moments ago, but in truth, he had already lost a significant amount of blood. Despite her worried question, Azazel responded with an oddly bright laugh.

“I’m too greedy to die. You just told me you liked me—do you think I’d die after hearing that?”

It was reassuring to hear, but it didn’t ease her worry. As she watched Azazel’s trembling lips, Eve scolded him, “Then why do your eyes keep closing?”

His defiant words were at odds with his fluttering eyelids and increasingly unfocused gaze. Azazel grasped Eve’s hand, which had been caressing his face.

“Just for a moment, let me sleep… just for a moment.”

“What?”

“It’s alright. Gabriel… Gabriel will explain everything.”

“Gabriel? Who’s Gabriel? Azazel! Azazel!”

Azazel’s hand went limp. Eve stared blankly at Azazel’s closed eyes, as if he had fallen asleep peacefully.

‘What should I do now?’

As she absentmindedly stroked his handsome, bloodied face, Eve felt tears welling up. At that moment, a white feather drifted down onto Azazel’s body, and a refreshing breeze swept over them, clearing the stifling air. Eve closed her eyes against the wind, and when she opened them again, a woman with pure white wings stood before her.

“Aeshath?”

Aeshath greeted her with a familiar smile. “Hello, my friend.”

Tears welled up in Eve’s eyes once more.

***

Dane woke up half a day later. Blinking in confusion, he realized that he was no longer in the gallery and quickly tried to get up.

“Are you awake?”

“…Aeshath.”

“Does anything hurt?”

That wasn’t what mattered right now.

“What happened? Azazel… no, Eve! Eve came to the gallery. Is she alright?”

Aeshath nodded in response to his barrage of questions. “Eve is safe. You must have a lot of other questions. What’s the last thing you remember?”

“…I stabbed Azazel, and then Eve appeared.”

The image of Eve glaring at him angrily came to mind.

“Why did she look at me like that? It was as if… Eve loves Azazel.”

Was I out of my mind? Surprised by his own words, Dane clenched his teeth. Aeshath, who had approached the side of his bed, grasped his chin and turned his head to face her. When their eyes met, Dane was surprised to see that her once violet eyes had turned green.

“This is going to be a long story.”

Like Azazel’s, Aeshath’s sudden change in eye color could only mean one thing.

“…You’re not human either.”

“In a sense, yes.”

Aeshath didn’t deny it. Instead, she accepted it calmly. Dane let out a bitter laugh, his voice trembling with betrayal.

“…How ridiculous.”

Aeshath’s eyes filled with pity for a brief moment, but she didn’t stop speaking.

“I’m not a demon, though.”

“What? Then what are you?”

She didn’t answer that question.

“We used you. Azazel, myself, and even my father—we all used you. I apologize for that.”

“Your father?”

In response, Aeshath pointed to the sky. Dane instinctively realized that she wasn’t referring to the former Duke of Seratine.

Aeshath smiled bitterly. “He’s a rather cruel man. To complete the trial, he included you in the plan.”

“A trial?”

“My father is deeply interested in Eve. She is one of the souls he cherishes most in this world.”

The scale of the story was growing too large to comprehend. Dane muttered quietly, “My ex-wife must be loved by many, then.”

“Azazel was being punished. He stained a once-radiant soul with evil.”

Dane’s face reflected his confusion. Aeshath could easily imagine how overwhelmed he must feel after everything that had happened, but she didn’t stop. She didn’t want Azazel to suffer any longer. Her long-time friend had endured too much for too long. He had suffered and been punished enough. Although she couldn’t defy her father’s orders, she wanted to help Azazel.

“It was pure coincidence that Eve, a human, was offered as a sacrifice to Azazel in hell. It was also pure coincidence that the two fell in love. Azazel never intended for Eve’s soul to be tainted by evil.”

To comfort the pitiful human, Aeshath recalled the distant memories.

“When Eve was corrupted by evil, God separated them. Azazel spent a thousand years wandering this world in search of her, while my father ensured they wouldn’t meet again until Eve’s soul was purified. Finally, after a long wait, Azazel found her.”

Dane, who had been silent, asked in a weak voice, “Was it pure coincidence that I married Eve?”

“…No. Your family’s connection to Azazel is why you were chosen.”

“So, the saying that people who make pacts with demons are punished isn’t entirely false.”

That was true. Aeshath’s father had no qualms about using the descendants of those who had made deals with demons. Even if it was the sin of their ancestors, the descendants had grown up enjoying the fruits of that sin.

“…Yes.”

Dane twisted his lips. “I was nothing more than an obstacle in this grand love story.”

He sighed, his face hollow, as he muttered, “Is there anything else I don’t know? Was the Aeshath I knew even real?”

“Ever since Aeshath awoke from the brink of death after giving birth, it’s been me.”

“…So, it’s been you since the changes started.”

Dane closed his eyes tightly, trying to suppress the emotions bubbling inside him. After a moment, he asked in a calm tone, “Did Eve and Azazel choose each other again? Did Eve…?”

Aeshath knew that this question would hurt Dane deeply, but for Azazel’s sake, she had to tell the truth.

“…That part was their choice. Not even my father can control love.”

Aeshath’s father had entrusted Eve with the power to forgive Azazel’s sins. If Eve chose Azazel, then her father would have no choice but to forgive him. If she didn’t, that would be the ultimate punishment. But Eve had chosen Azazel. After a long period of suffering, their punishment had finally come to an end, and they could now be happy. There was just one person who wasn’t happy.

Dane couldn’t believe it. Was this really happening? The story was so absurd that he couldn’t even respond.

‘Destiny? And I’m just an impurity in the mix?’

Dane laughed, wondering if it was even possible for him to stand between them. He was furious with himself for even entertaining the thought.

Gripping the blanket tightly, he muttered, “Azazel made a pact with my family to keep Eve’s soul from being corrupted by evil again, didn’t he?”

His conversation with Azazel came flooding back. From start to finish, Azazel had done everything for Eve.

“Ha. A happy ending, huh? You don’t need to explain any further. Isn’t this your way of telling me not to interfere with them?”

The real demon was someone else, yet here he was, cast as the villain. His stomach churned with bitterness.

“Don’t hate them too much.”

“That’s for me to decide.”

Dane turned away, signaling that he didn’t want to talk anymore. Aeshath didn’t push him. Instead, she stayed by his side.

Gabriel—Aeshath—stood beside the human who was in pain from an unattainable love, watching over him. As the sun began to set, casting a reddish glow into the room, Dane finally spoke again.

“How long are you planning to stay? Just go.”

“Alright, if that’s what you want.”

Aeshath, who had been sitting still, rose from the chair. Before leaving, she left a gift for Dane, filled with both apology and sorrow.

After the door closed behind her, Dane picked up the item left by his side. It was the same white-feathered quill that had protected him not long ago. Stroking the brightly glowing quill, Dane muttered softly.