My Adorable Daughter Can't Be A Villainess - Chapter 28 - Two Favorites

Eric and Charlotte were inside the infirmary, with Charlotte seated on the bed as the nurse treated her injuries.

There was a small cut on the back of her head, caused by her head hitting something hard during the scuffle.

When Eric gently asked what had happened, Charlotte told him everything from the beginning.

Seeing a girl being assaulted had pushed her to confront the students, who were now confined to their dorms, packing their belongings.

Why?

Eric had expelled the one who caused Charlotte’s head injury. The other two were suspended from attending classes for the rest of the year and would have to repeat it.

Some people claimed Eric had been too harsh. But the truth was, the fact that he had not laid a hand on those brats was already mercy.

After hearing how Charlotte had been treated, Eric had wanted to forget about his reputation entirely. He had wanted to smash their faces into the concrete, break their limbs, and make sure they never forgot this day.

But if he had acted violently, any further punishment would have been rejected by the headmaster.

So Eric restrained himself and chose a punishment that would hurt them far more than any punch ever could.

“No, I’m fine now,” Charlotte said when the nurse asked if she felt dizzy.

The nurse nodded and turned to Eric. “Sir Eric, I’ve cleaned and wrapped her wound, but you’ll need to change the dressing in a few hours. If you see fresh blood when you remove the bandage, bring her back to me immediately.”

Eric nodded and thanked her.

The nurse was slightly taken aback by the sincerity in his voice. After giving Charlotte one last look, she moved on to another patient.

Charlotte could tell Eric was still upset. His arms were tense, his brows drawn together, and the anger in him was obvious.

That made her smile.

She held his large hand and said, “I’m fine, really. It doesn’t hurt at all.”

Eric turned to her, his jaw tightening. “How can you say that? A head injury is serious and painful. And yet… you were trying to hide it from me.”

His voice was rough with emotion.

At her age, most girls would have cried from such injuries. But Charlotte had lived a life where pain like this barely registered.

That realization hurt him deeply.

Without saying a word, Eric pulled her into his chest.

Holding her close, he muttered, “I’m sorry… for not being there for you.”

Not today. Not ever.

He truly felt guilty for everything Charlotte and Chloe had endured because he was never there to protect them.

Charlotte froze, her eyes slowly closing.

The same girl who did not cry while being beaten now felt tears fill her eyes as Eric held her.

She quickly wiped them away so she would not worry him further.

“I think we should head back now,” she said softly. “Mom must be waiting for me.”

Eric hummed, holding her just a moment longer before letting go. “Are you okay to walk, or should I arrange—”

“No, no,” she interrupted, quickly standing up. “I’m fine. I don’t feel any different than usual. Let’s go.”

She marched ahead, clearly not wanting to be carried through the academy like a little girl.

Eric sighed and followed her in silence.

…

On the way back to the mansion, Eric’s thoughts drifted to the one who had informed him about the incident and identified the culprits.

“I know where they are. I can take you there.”

He had not forgotten that moment.

The protagonist.

The prophesied savior of the world, blessed by the heavens.

The one meant to stop the Dragon from destroying everything.

But he would fail.

Charlotte’s rage would spiral out of control after she learned of her mother’s death, and after discovering that the protagonist had used her to track down the other Generals.

Betrayal. Rage. Frustration. Regret.

All of it would boil over.

Charlotte would become something even the Dragon King could not.

She would become one with the flame, sacrificing her humanity to burn everything she hated.

She would come to hate the world itself.

“Uncle.”

Charlotte’s voice pulled Eric out of his thoughts.

“Yes?” he replied, turning to her.

Looking out the window, she said, “There are a lot of shops here. Can we buy a new dress so I can change? There are footprints on this one, and if Mom sees it, she’ll know I fought someone.”

Eric smiled warmly. “Are you scared she’ll scold you?”

Charlotte slowly shook her head. “I… I don’t want her to think badly of you. Mom is already wary of Uncle. That’s why I think we shouldn’t tell her what really happened. At least, not the truth.”

Eric fell silent, staring at the girl who was barely fourteen, yet thought like someone far older.

She did not want Chloe to dislike him any more than she already did.

That was why she was willing to lie.

Eric lowered his head and asked quietly, “Why do you care about me so much, Charlotte?”

She looked at him with innocent eyes and answered, “Because you’re the only person besides my mother who does things for me without wanting anything in return. To me, you’re just as precious as Mom, Uncle Eric. That’s why I don’t want my two favorite people to fight.”

Eric’s heart softened completely.

Those words, those honest eyes, were something he knew he would remember for the rest of his life.

He gently squeezed her hand. “You don’t need to lie to your mother. I promise she won’t be mad at me, okay?”

Charlotte looked uncertain, but since it was Eric saying it, she decided to trust him.

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