I Became My Son's First Love

Chapter 36

"Dane."

"Yes, call me Dane."

It had been four days since she met Dane.

Although it was the same day she met Dane, the Duchess, and Azazel, the events with him felt distant.

Dane's confession shocked Eve, but it was most likely because the subsequent meeting with the Duchess upset her even more.

When Eve called Dane and said nothing, Dane was the first to respond.

"Is there something wrong? You don't look good. I was completely prepared for our encounter at the house."

Eve was not managing her expression well, but it did not imply she had failed to prepare for her guest.

Eve asked again.

"Fully prepared?"

The Count smiled slyly.

"Yes. I was completely prepared for bed."

Yes, it was characteristic of him.

Eve cut him off with a cheerful giggle.

"That was a really funny joke. It helped me feel slightly better."

"It wasn't a joke?"

Eve's smile deepened.

She wasn't laughing because it was humorous.

"It was amusing."

Dane coughed awkwardly as he realized Eve's warning was too late.

"...Right. It was a joke."

It seemed ludicrous that he was the one who made the mistake of appearing so downcast.

However, because Eve had a favor to ask of him today, being a little friendlier was not terrible.

Eve smiled fondly.

"You said you liked me, correct? Then how much can you bear for me?"

Despite the mild tone, the query was deliberate.

Frankly, it was a silly question, like a young girl asking her new boyfriend how much he loved her.

She expected mockery or the clichéd answer of being prepared to do everything for her.

However, Dane does not find Eve's question to be stupid or ridiculous.

Instead, he started to consider it truly.

"I wanted to hold you, but since you like watching, showing you me sleeping with another woman is within my limits, right?"

It was a highly particular statement.

Eve, who was more aware of his unrestricted sexual life than anyone else, was surprised.

It wasn't simply his serious mood a moment earlier; it appeared the Count liked her more than she realized.

Of course, she couldn't understand why he would pretend to like her while openly dating others.

"...I see. What an honor."

"But why?"

Nonetheless, Eve immediately moved on to the main topic.

"I've been invited to a noble's villa."

Dane's face flushed with worry as he heard Eve's comments.

"Is this because of our divorce? If that's the case, I'll handle it."

That was not it, yet it was still relevant to him.

Dane was unable to solve the situation.

"You could make the other party uncomfortable."

"Who is the other party?"

Eve wondered how his serious expression would alter.

"Duchess Seratin."

"...What?"

Dane's jaw dropped open.

It was the first time she had seen him with such an expression, as he was generally self-centered.

However, she felt relieved.

That reaction was typical.

Eve had been concerned about their last meeting.

She wondered if, like Ashers, he would dismiss this subject.

But, thankfully, Dane was more normal than Ashers or Azazel.

"Duchess Seratin and Azazel, no, the young lord, invited me to the Duchess's villa."

"Are you joking?"

"I wish it were a joke."

Eve shakes her head.

"Unfortunately, that is true. I met them in an art gallery, and it appears she took a liking to the painter I was sponsoring. She invited me to her estate to view the paintings with the painter."

Initially, Eve wanted to connect with Rose's new sponsor, but she chose not to mention it.

Dane's expression became even odder when Eve explained.

"I don't understand how things ended like this, but isn't that strange?"

That was precisely what Eve intended to say.

She nodded firmly for the first time since meeting Dane, expressing deep agreement.

"Right. It's a very unusual circumstance. So I used you as an excuse to deny the offer, but she said to bring you along, too."

She sounded overconfident when she used his name as a justification, but she assumed he would put up with it because he liked her.

However, Eve hadn't anticipated Ashers to go that far.

Dane's expression became even more odd when she responded.

He massaged his eyes wearily.

"Ashers has gotten even stranger since I last saw her."

It was Azazel's doing, but Eve simply nodded along.

At this juncture, Azazel and Ashers were nearly identical in their refusal to intervene.

"I don't want to be the only one feeling uncomfortable."

That was Eve's goal.

She would not have mentioned the Duchess's offer if she hadn't intended to accompany Dane to the villa.

Dane might have easily made up an excuse to deny the invitation.

However, Eve wished to bring him to the estate if possible.

She had always been frustrated with being pulled into situations.

If she genuinely brought Dane to the villa, wouldn't it be unpleasant for both of them?

She couldn't take being the only one disturbed by the circumstances.

Dane chuckled in disbelief.

"Is that why you want us to go together?"

"Yes, your substantial part in fostering this uneasy connection with the Duchess's family is the cause. I am confident you will get through it."

She understood it was a stretch, but she was honest.

These relationships had been made due to her relationship with Dane; therefore, they could be attributed to him.

Despite Eve's reasoning, Dane chuckled without an expression of disgust.

****