My Adorable Daughter Can't Be A Villainess - Chapter 21 - Mother

Count Aiden Blackwood had two wives.

One he married right after graduating from the academy, the first love of his life. His second wife was a woman he had saved during an ambush and later fell in love with.

The Count had three children—one from his first wife, Eric, and two from his second wife.

One might think that after having two more children, the Count’s love for his eldest would have lessened over time. But it didn’t.

Eric was still loved by his father and mother just as much as he was on the very first day of his life.

They adored him, not because he became a strong warrior and a respected researcher, but simply for who he was.

From his memories, Eric knew that he loved his parents just as deeply.

They never forced him to manage the county, even though as the eldest heir, he should have been the one taking on that role.

He was never ordered around. His life decisions were left in his own hands the moment he turned fourteen.

And in return, Eric never broke their trust or gave them any reason to feel ashamed or disappointed in him.

Every single person who met the Count always mentioned how envious they were of the harmony in the Blackwood family.

And Eric loved the way they all got along, too.

But… there were things that could not be ignored, even if the person responsible was his own mother.

…

“Eric!” His mother, Angela Blackwood, greeted him with a bright smile as she pulled him into a hug.

Angela Blackwood looked no older than thirty, despite having lived well past her fiftieth year.

Her violet hair fell in soft curls to her shoulders, framing a face untouched by time. Her eyes, the same deep shade, held warmth and quiet pride—the kind that came from a life spent standing above others without needing to prove it.

She was dressed simply, yet with clear refinement. Clean lines, rich fabric, nothing excessive. Every detail spoke of nobility and confidence, not show.

Her composure gently softened, and a bright, genuine smile bloomed on her face as she opened her arms and pulled her son into a warm embrace.

Charlotte, standing nearby, felt a bit nervous as she watched.

Eric hugged his mother back before saying, “Coming to visit me without any prior notice.”

The woman, despite her age, pouted playfully once she parted from him and said, “Does a mother need to tell her son when she wants to see him?”

Eric smiled briefly before he said, “Well, it’s cold outside, so let’s go inside and talk.”

Angela nodded in assent before she briefly glanced at Chloe, and then her gaze fell on Charlotte.

For the briefest, almost unnoticeable second, her gaze sharpened. Then she looked away and, holding her son’s hand, started to walk.

However, Eric didn’t follow her immediately. Instead, he paused and turned toward Chloe and Charlotte.

“Come,” he said, his voice gentle.

Chloe wanted to say something—to tell him she would rather stay outside or maybe return home.

But doing that would only make things worse for Charlotte later.

So she silently nodded and, under Angela’s sharp gaze, led her daughter into the mansion.

Angela kept watching Chloe enter her son’s home as if she belonged there, before her expression shifted and she asked her son, “A friend of yours?”

Eric made sure Chloe and Charlotte were already inside before he answered, “No, someone special. Come inside, we’ll talk about it.”

Angela’s expression froze. So, Chloe had told him, huh? It wasn’t something Angela hadn’t expected.

Not long after, the two of them entered the mansion as well.

Eric wasn’t surprised to find that Chloe and Charlotte were no longer in the reception hall.

“Maylie,” he called out, and the head maid rushed toward them at once.

“Ah, Lady Blackwood.” Maylie instantly bowed at the sight of the older lady beside Eric.

Angela smiled and took Maylie’s hand fondly. “It’s always nice to see you taking care of my little one. With you here, I can rest easy back home.”

Maylie gave another brief bow and said, “Your words are wasted on me, Madam.”

Angela huffed. “What nonsense. You deserve all the praise.” After a short pause, she added, “Well, for now, please bring me some herbal tea. I really want to talk to you more.”

Maylie lifted her head and asked politely, “Is there something concerning, Lady Blackwood?”

Angela hummed before responding, “We are expecting a special guest tomorrow. So I want you to personally look after all the arrangements, Maylie.”

“Guest?” Eric asked.

Angela looked over her shoulder and replied in a matter-of-fact tone, “Christina, of course. You couldn’t meet her last time, so I invited her over.”

Eric’s gaze hardened at her words as he realized exactly what she was trying to do.

Maylie nervously glanced at her master, but Eric gave her an assuring nod.

The maid then responded to the lady, “It will be arranged, Lady Blackwood.”

Angela smiled brightly and said, “I expect nothing less from you, Maylie.”

Soon, the maid excused herself to prepare the herbal tea for the lady, while the mother and son made their way to the resting area.

Angela took the seat beside Eric and said, “You are actually very mean for breaking your promise to meet Christina. That poor girl must have been waiting for you until dawn.”

Eric sighed and calmly told her, “I was busy here, that’s all. Anyway, it’s good that you called her here, Mother. I had something important to talk about.”

Angela hummed in question before asking, “What is it, son? Ah—don’t tell me you want to marry her earlier than planned.”

Eric slowly shook his head and answered without hesitation, “It’s the opposite, Mother. I’m going to annul this engagement tomorrow.”

Dead silence fell over the reception hall.

For the first time since her arrival, Angela’s smiling mask slipped, and her eyes turned sharp.

“Is this some kind of joke, Eric? Because if it is—”

“No, Mother. I’m not joking, and I can’t marry Christina, because I already have someone in my heart.”

The tension in the air thickened.

The day that had started with chatter and laughter would end on a bitter note.