My Adorable Daughter Can't Be A Villainess - Chapter 20 - Past Grudge

Krik, Krik.

The flames slithered along the branch, cracking it down the middle as embers flew into the air.

The campfire flared brightly in front of them as Charlotte and Eric cooked the fish they had caught earlier in the day.

It was already night.

They had fun today.

Charlotte could not remember the last time she had laughed this much.

She could not remember if she had ever felt this happy before.

This felt like the one day she did not want to end.

Every single moment she spent with Eric and her mother had been carved deep into her memory.

She had made so many memories in a single day, and she knew she would not stop thinking about today anytime soon.

“Tired?” Eric asked, noticing the girl staring into the flames, her lips slightly curved upward.

Charlotte shook her head. “No, not at all.”

Eric smiled and said, “Even though all we did was play survival games, I hope you enjoyed yourself.”

Charlotte beamed. “Of course I did. I never thought being around someone other than my mother could be this fun.”

Eric’s smile widened slightly before he glanced at the carriage where Chloe was sleeping.

She had been quite tired, so she decided to take a short nap before they left.

Following his gaze, Charlotte asked shyly, “Were you and Mother close at the academy? Like…more than just friends?”

Eric hummed in surprise before asking, “And why do you think that?”

Charlotte sighed. “Well…whenever a man approached her, she always stayed wary. But with you, she seems hostile. She’s always glaring and responding sharply.”

After a short pause, she added, “She even says things just to hurt you sometimes.”

Eric sighed. So she heard their conversation when they arrived. That was not surprising. Like them, Charlotte was also a superhuman.

Leaning back against the log, Eric curled his left leg and said, “You could say we were close. She trusted me.” His gaze lowered as he added, “And I broke that trust. I did something a friend would never even think of doing.”

Charlotte watched him closely, noticing the grief and regret in his voice.

She could tell that whatever had happened, both adults still carried its weight.

Her mother was usually forgiving, someone who did not hold grudges for long. If she still viewed Eric so harshly, then he must have done something truly terrible.

“You don’t seem wary of me, even though your mother’s attitude should have warned you,” Eric said, raising his brows.

Charlotte smiled and shrugged. “Maybe because I can tell you made a mistake, and that you regret it.”

Eric sighed, his eyes drawn back to the flames. “If only I could go back in time, I would change nothing except what I did to Chloe.”

Charlotte looked at him fondly and said, “Keep trying, and you’ll earn her forgiveness.”

Eric glanced at the young girl. “Are you sure?”

Charlotte nodded. “I know my mother. She may look scornful, but if she truly hated you, she would never have agreed to stay with you.”

Eric’s shoulders relaxed as he said quietly, “I hope so too.”

The two fell into silence, simply staring at the dancing flames.

Meanwhile, inside the carriage, the woman who had woken up some time ago stared at the moon hanging in the sky, her eyes filled with complicated emotions.

….

Later, after cleaning up, they boarded the carriage and rode back to the mansion.

A strange silence filled the carriage as Charlotte dozed off, leaning against Eric.

Chloe sat across from them, watching Charlotte with a gentle expression.

Seeing the two getting along was both relieving and worrying for her.

For now, she pushed those heavy feelings aside and simply cherished these few beautiful moments.

After a brief pause, Eric spoke quietly. “Tomorrow, someone from the church will come to check on you.”

It would be the final inspection, just to make sure there were no remnants of the parasite left inside her.

Chloe sighed. “I suppose there’s no point in saying I don’t need any more check-ups.”

“This is mandatory, Chloe,” he said, his heavy tone leaving no room for argument.

The silver-haired woman shook her head slightly and turned to look out the window.

Eric continued watching her and asked, “What do you plan on doing?”

Chloe hummed in confusion. “What do you mean?”

He clarified, “Your future. You used to say many times that you wanted to become a Dawnward.”

A Dawnward was a special unit that worked directly under the Emperor, ensuring public safety and handling world-level threats.

They were chosen warriors, regarded as the pillars of humanity.

Chloe leaned back in her seat. “I’ve lost my edge and my passion. I don’t feel like doing much with my life anymore. I’ll probably open a small boutique and live quietly.”

Chloe had forgotten how it felt to hold a sword. The thrill of battle, the pounding heart, the rush of adrenaline, the scent of iron and blood. She had forgotten it all.

These fourteen years had been both beautiful and cruel.

While the world showed its ugliness, the only reason Chloe never gave up was the sweet, beautiful girl she had been blessed with.

Eric fell silent, simply watching her.

Chloe did not say anything more, and the carriage continued to roll forward.

Not long after, the carriage came to a stop in front of the mansion.

Since Charlotte was fast asleep, Eric lifted her into his arms and stepped down from the carriage.

Chloe followed soon after and saw Eric standing there, completely frozen.

She frowned and followed his line of sight, only for her mind to go blank when she saw the woman standing there.

It was none other than Countess Blackwood– Eric Blackwood’s mother.

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

Releases one day ahead on Kuupress.:

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