I Became My Son's First Love - Chapter 66

“Yes, you’re not a demon.”

Dane, caressing the feather pen, sank into deep thought again.

***

A man, standing tall and noble in the darkness, was a striking figure exuding wild charisma. His fierce appearance softened with a single smile.

“I like you.”

Thinking about her flushed cheeks, the slight trembling of her pupils, and the unwavering voice, his body heated up. Azazel suppressed the rising power that surged in response to his emotions. The power, once tightly reined in for so long, now thrashed about violently, as if making up for all the time it had been restrained.

The more his power raged, the further his reunion with Eve was delayed. Knowing this, Azazel swiftly subdued the energy, forcing it back down. Just as the power settled deep inside him, a bright light, powerful enough to banish all the surrounding darkness, invaded Azazel’s world.

The light was familiar. Normally, Azazel would have attacked the white light aggressively, but in his weakened state, he knew there was no chance of victory. His power, ever cunning, retreated swiftly into him.

Azazel stood still, gazing at the source of the white light. It was none other than Gabriel—though he was in the form of Aeshath. Like Azazel, Gabriel had shed his human guise, revealing silver hair tied high and donned in armor, glaring fiercely at him.

“Deceitful and cunning as always.”

Azazel, still in a good mood, nodded leisurely. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Do you enjoy playing along to the tune of your own lies?”

“Of course, it was intoxicating.”

Aeshath, or rather Gabriel, clicked his tongue in disapproval as Azazel flashed him a sly smile. Azazel’s reply wasn’t an answer to the question but rather an introspective murmur, lost in the memory of recent events.

The moment Eve saw his eyes and realized that the Count of Hound had been spying on them, Azazel quickly devised a plan. He calculated how to gain what he wanted while swiftly removing the bothersome human and getting Eve for himself.

Though Azazel knew how much Dane Hound loathed him for being a demon, he still sent Eve to the man, hoping that she would ultimately choose him, Azazel, in the end. It was also a way to provoke Eve into facing her feelings, which she was avoiding due to societal norms, her personal safety, and some guilt over Dane Hound.

Confident in his strategy, Azazel sent Eve to Dane, but despite himself, he often imagined the worst. If his luck had been truly terrible, Eve might have gone down the worst path—doubting her own feelings for him. How could Azazel control Eve like that?

Azazel never wanted to win Eve’s heart through something as crude as mind control, nor could his power even affect her. While it might have worked on souls that were weak or completely under his influence, like the Hound family, someone with a powerful soul like Eve’s was immune to his abilities.

If it hadn’t been for the impulsive gift of the music box containing his inner thoughts, things could have turned out very differently. And if Dane Hound hadn’t resorted to stabbing him…

Azazel hadn’t followed Dane out of fear of the dagger at his throat. He wasn’t a demon weak enough to be defeated by a mere dagger. No, he followed Dane because he needed that dagger.

‘She said she couldn’t trust me…’

Azazel planned to place the dagger in Eve’s hand. If being stabbed would put her mind at ease, then enduring the pain a few times would be worth it. When Dane hesitated after the first strike, Azazel briefly considered forcibly taking the other dagger. But then Eve arrived, and Azazel changed his plan on a whim. He decided to let Eve see him being stabbed.

‘It was a good plan.’

Seeing Dane swing the dagger would make Eve, who had started to fall for him, forget her reservations and rush to his side. And if she didn’t? That would have torn his heart apart.

Azazel knew he had been a little unhinged at that moment. How could anyone remain calm after being rejected by the person they loved? Hearing Eve say it was time to end things had pierced him deeply. After witnessing the emotions she had been showing him—after seeing the tender feelings she had been gradually revealing—it seemed impossible.

Even though he knew he shouldn’t, hearing Eve call out Dane Hound’s name had caused a surge of power to break free. As cracks appeared in the dam that had been holding back the tidal wave of energy, the dagger in his chest began to take effect.

If Azazel didn’t keep his power in check, the body Eve admired would surely be ruined. So, he desperately suppressed his power, waiting for Eve to come to him. He wanted her to abandon Dane and come to him quickly. He needed her to find him, bleeding and in pain, and to cry for him. To hold him, to call him beautiful, to tell him she loved him.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Eve appeared. Azazel was filled with joy as he watched her brilliant soul approach, cutting through the darkness. The fruit of his long wait was indeed sweet and satisfying.

Gabriel, watching Azazel smile lazily like a sated beast, sighed.

“Why did you even provoke Dane Hound? Now your identity is exposed for no reason.”

Gabriel’s scolding poured down like accusations, and Azazel retraced his memories. He had been irritated by Dane Hound’s condescending attitude at the time, and when they sat together in the dining room, it reminded him of the fool who had once occupied that seat as Eve’s husband.

Upon hearing the name, he decided to check, just in case, and when he confirmed that the soul was indeed Eve’s, he had been so captivated by seeing that beautiful soul again that he lost himself for a moment.

But when he realized Eve was now married to Dane Hound, a surge of anger and murderous intent consumed him. In a fit of frustration, he had revealed his connection to Eve, only to erase her memory later, fearing her reaction.

“…There was no real reason to listen to him. Besides, he was annoying. It wasn’t like I went too far.”

Gabriel scoffed at Azazel’s response, still not satisfied. “You’re really sly, aren’t you? Even showing that painting of you and Eve was part of your plan, wasn’t it?”

“Of course.”

If Azazel hadn’t revealed his identity, it would have taken much longer to win Eve’s heart completely, even if he had claimed her body.

“Eve needs to know who you really are.”

Gabriel, tiring of the conversation, changed his tone, adopting a solemn expression as he delivered the message.

“Azazel. The punishment and the trials are over.”

This was a proclamation from the messenger of God.

“You should be the one to tell Eve about her past.”

“Yes.”

If Eve were the person Azazel knew, she wouldn’t dwell on the past. Still, she had the right to know.

Gabriel stretched his wings as if preparing to leave and asked, “You won’t wake up for a while. Do you have any message you want me to give her?”

Azazel knew that his weakened body would need significant time to recover after being exposed to such a strong force. Still, the thought of their first conversation after her confession being through someone else was intolerable.

He shook his head firmly. “I’ll do it myself.”

Gabriel, surprised, asked, “You know she’s leaving the capital soon, right? If you use your power again, you might not wake up before she’s gone.”

“I probably won’t wake up in time, even if I rest now.”

While not using his power might speed up his recovery slightly, it would still take at least a week before he could see her again.

‘That’s unacceptable.’

Azazel wanted to see Eve, even if only in a dream. He wanted to gaze upon her face again, to hear her confess her feelings once more. So, he dismissed Gabriel.

“Get out.”

“Is that any way to treat a friend who helped you?”

“Helped me? Don’t act like I don’t know what you’ve been up to.”

“Well, I’d better leave before you get angrier. Oh, and congratulations.”

“…Thanks.”

With a mischievous wave, Gabriel disappeared in a flash of light. Enjoying the sudden quiet, Azazel closed his eyes, savoring the stillness, before slowly opening them again.

The shadows at his feet stirred, and thin strands of energy spread out from his body like threads, expanding rapidly. In no time, a vast web had formed, ensuring that nothing could escape. As he had done many times over the past three years, Azazel’s web found its way into Eve’s dreams.

“Anything you want.”

As always, Azazel whispered sweetly, hiding the clingy, possessive emotions that clung to his heart.