My Adorable Daughter Can't Be A Villainess - Chapter 12 - Recognition

Eric lived close to the Academy, choosing to commute to the Obsidian Spire instead of staying within its grounds.

He owned a mansion of his own, one different from the Blackwood Estate which was located about ten minutes from the main buildings of the Academy.

The Academy itself sat in a valley, surrounded by thick greenery that naturally formed a training ground for the students.

Three major checkpoints guarded the entire area. These were known as the Triagon Sentinels, forming a triangular perimeter around the Academy. The academic buildings stood at the center of this formation.

Because of Eric’s close relationship with the headmaster, he received rare permission to build a mansion within the Academy’s boundaries. No other professor had ever been granted this privilege.

His house stood near the northern tip of the Triagon Sentinels’ formation.

As the carriage came to a halt at the checkpoint, Eric told Chloe and Charlotte, “Stay here. Someone might come to check. I’ll deal with it.”

The mother and daughter exchanged a glance before nodding.

Eric glanced at Chloe before he opened the carriage door and stepped out.

As he did, Charlotte turned towards her mother and asked, “Mother, how do you feel now?”

Chloe exhaled a sigh before replying, “I feel much better. It feels like a weight has been lifted off my chest.”

Charlotte held her mother’s hand and said, “After I heard exactly what happened, I realized what a big fool I was. I didn’t know that I needed to save up that huge amount in order to save you. If I just knew then…”

The parasite extraction would have required a whole team of Saints to perform absolute healing on her mother.

Besides the huge amount of money, Charlotte would have needed a powerful backer just to gather those Saints in one place.

The thought of her accomplishing something like that was nothing but absurd.

“Don’t say that, Char. You showed courage and went through such hardship for me. That matters a lot to me, baby.” Chloe pulled her into a hug, gently caressing the little one’s head.

Charlotte sighed in relief, feeling her mother’s warmth wrapping around her.

This assurance…she couldn’t even begin to imagine how she would have survived without it.

After a brief pause, Charlotte asked, “Uncle Eric is nothing like what the rumors said about him. He is so kind and selfless that I never thought there would be a human being like him. My faith in humanity has been restored.”

Chloe could only smile and froze at those words.

She knew that Eric and kindness went together about as well as a wolf and a sheep pen.

However, her daughter didn’t need to find out the reason for his kindness…not yet. Maybe she will in the near future. That was likely why Eric was showing such gentleness toward Chloe too– to make a good impression on his daughter.

But Chloe believed it would hurt Charlotte more if he were the one to break the news to her.

Chloe had given Eric fifteen days.

If he didn’t tell Charlotte that he was her father within those days, she would take Charlotte and leave.

And if he confessed, and Charlotte agreed to live with her father, then Chloe would also leave in fifteen days.

She knew better than anyone what problems might arise if she stayed with him too long. She had suffered once; she wasn’t going to repeat that mistake.

=============

As Eric stepped outside the carriage, the soldiers instantly straightened up and saluted him.

The whole checkpoint was like a fortified wall that prevented any ambush, big or small, from penetrating the defenses and threatening the Academy.

Thanks to the lush greenery of the hills surrounding the Academy, archers could easily hide in the trees and keep an eye on the establishment at all times.

There were war machines and traps lying around the border section too. If someone didn’t follow the designated route to reach the border, they might never reach the Academy.

Weapons, potions, artifacts– funding for all of it came directly from the Empire, given that the students graduating from the Academy were considered valuable assets.

These soldiers were under the command of the Headmaster, so the chances of corruption were almost zero. Plus they had been rigorously selected from a lot of soldier candidates. 

Eric first looked around before he nodded in response to their salute and turned toward the one who wore three stars on his chest.

“Captain Russo,” he said as he offered his hand.

The soldier seemed slightly surprised but didn’t make the violet-haired professor wait before shaking it.

“Good to see you back, sir. I thought you would be spending the rest of your vacation with your family?”

The semester break was the only time when the teachers truly got to live their lives freely.

That was why no teacher remained within the Academy around these times.

And even though Eric was a workaholic, he himself didn’t stay at the Academy during the semester break.

Eric hummed before responding, “I had some work left, so I returned early.”

The captain of the battalion gave a nod before he turned toward the carriage and asked, “Is there someone else traveling with you, sir?”

Naturally, the 3-star soldier was trained well enough to sense their magical presence even though the carriage was a little far from them.

Eric knew how tight the security was, plus he didn’t have any reason to hide it from them, so he said, “Yes, there are people with me. I don’t have the permit to take them in right now, but if you give me half a day, I’ll have someone bring it to you.”

Eric knew that if he asked the Headmaster, Chloe and Charlotte would be allowed to live within his premises.

And there was no need to lie. He would simply tell the connection he had with Chloe and Charlotte. So he was confident he could easily get permission.

The soldier gave a faint smile and told him, “Since it’s you Professor, there’s no need for that urgent requirement. You may proceed. Thank you for your patience.”

Eric was slightly surprised that the soldiers didn’t check the passengers. But again, it may also be influenced by his name being Eric Blackwood.

He soon returned to the carriage, and continued their journey to their new home.

=============

As the carriage continued along the stone path, Eric’s mansion came into view.

Charlotte could only stare in awe at the three-story building, so wide it barely fit within her field of vision.

Eric, having transmigrated into this world recently, was also seeing the huge mansion for the first time. Yet, perhaps because Eric’s original personality had influenced him, he didn’t show any surprise.

In his previous life, he had been a gym trainer, earning just enough to meet his basic needs. However, even knowing that he owned this humongous place, he didn’t show even the slightest change in his expression as compared to what his past self might be doing right now.

Soon, the carriage came to a halt, and Charlotte was the first to hop off, making Chloe sigh at her daughter’s enthusiasm.

The walls were dark stone, rough to the touch. A steep roof sat above, tall chimneys breaking its silhouette against the sky.

Rows of windows lined each floor, some narrow like watchful eyes, others wide enough to spill light into the halls within.

Even in daylight, the mansion carried a quiet, shadowy presence– as if countless stories were still hiding behind its many windows.

Charlotte marveled at the sight before her. She had never seen a house this big; for a moment, she even believed it was one of the academy buildings already.

Eric, seeing the amused Charlotte, urged her, “Should we go inside, milady?”

Although Charlotte was excited herself, she didn’t dare take the lead when she herself was a guest, so she said, “Uncle Eric… I-I will follow you.”

Eric smiled softly at her cautiousness before nodding and led the two ladies into the mansion.

The guards at the door saluted Eric before opening the huge door– only for a woman to rush toward them and bowed.

“Young Master Eric? I, I’m sorry I was never informed about your early arrival.” The woman had ashy-grey hair tied in a tight bun, and her black-and-white uniform clearly signified that she worked here as a maid.

From Eric’s memories, it looked like she was quite close to him. She was also the head maid of the mansion.

With a subtle nod Eric replied, “I had to.” 

Then he turned toward Chloe and Charlotte before telling the maid, “They are my guests, Maylie. Please take care of them and prepare a room.”

The maid named Maylie stared at Chloe for a moment, then her eyes briefly showed that she recognized her.

Chloe’s chest tightened. She also recognized the woman who was serving Eric way back when they were just students.

Naturally, the maid recognized Chloe too. Despite how different she looked now, her vibrant silver hair and those droopy eyes instantly told the maid that this special guest of her master was someone closely connected to his past.

But since Eric didn’t introduce her to Maylie like usual, she remained silent on that matter and simply said, “It will be arranged, Young Master. Would you like to have your usual tea?”

“No, first please arrange a room for her. She is recovering and needs rest.”

Maylie gave a nod and said, “Please give me a few minutes, Young Master. Since we weren’t expecting any guests, I sent all the servants back to their hometowns.”

“Understood. I will take that into consideration.”

The maid bowed, gave one last glance at Charlotte, who wore an uncanny resemblance to the younger version of Chloe, then made her way to the inner side of the mansion.

Charlotte was still looking around the place– not by turning her head, but only with her eyes.

The mansion was not overly decorated, but there were several pieces of antique on the tables, beside the sofas, and on the shelves across from the resting area.

The curtains were dark-shaded, as if the owner of the mansion loved to spend his time in isolation.

The chandelier hanging over their heads looked quite beautiful, with all the tiny star-like crystals dangling from its frame.

The reception hall alone was three times bigger than their whole house.

‘Nobles really do live so differently from us…’ she muttered under her breath.

Chloe felt a pang of guilt seeing her daughter overwhelmed by the riches around her, reminding her how badly she believed she had failed as a mother.

Eric read the room, understanding both sides fairly well. He then suggested, “While your room is being prepared, how about you tour the house?”

Charlotte blinked in surprise before she hastily nodded. “Alright, Uncle Eric…”

Although hesitant, Charlotte’s curiosity got the better of her and reluctantly agreed.

Eric smiled faintly– a sight which still surprised Chloe. “Explore to your hearts’ content. If you get hungry, find the kitchen and ask for some treats. Just say that you are my guest.”

Charlotte was taken aback by that suggestion before she turned toward her mother, silently asking for approval, “… mother?”

Chloe exhaled a sigh before she nodded at her, “Alright. Just don’t cause any troubles.”

Charlotte bowed slightly, with a suppressed happy smile before getting up and hesitantly going out in the same direction where the maid had left.

Eric and Chloe now were alone in the reception hall. The two remained quiet for a few moments before Chloe asked, “I am sure Maylie recognized me… What should I say if she asked why I am here?”

Eric gestured to her. “Hold on Chloe. First, let’s sit down comfortably.”

Although hesitant, Chloe took a seat while Eric picked up the glass on his left, turned it upright, and poured some water.

After Eric offered the water to Chloe, he also sat down and told her, “You don’t need to worry about Maylie or anyone else questioning you or Charlotte. Treat these fifteen days as a relaxing vacation.”

Chloe gave a wry smile at those words.

She knew that staying here would attract a certain person. 

And that certain person would flip this mansion upside down.

With what’s happening now, that woman will surely rage, considering what’s currently happening.

However, unlike the previous, Chloe wasn’t going to just listen to her– not when that woman would surely target not only her but Charlotte too.

If anything else, Chloe could tolerate anything aimed at her. But not to her precious daughter.

===============

Releases one day ahead on Kuupress.:

https://kuupress.com/read/my-adorable-daughter-cant-be-a-villainess