My Adorable Daughter Can't Be A Villainess

“Why did you bring me here?” Chloe asked.

If I told her directly that I wanted her to get treated, she’d refuse without a doubt. She didn’t trust me – that much was clear.
And honestly… given everything old Eric did, I couldn’t blame her.

So, I had to take a different route. A complicated one.

“I told you… If you want me to look after our child, you’ll have to grant me one wish,” I said calmly.

It made me sound greedy, like I was demanding payment just to fulfill my role as a father. From her point of view, I probably looked like a selfish bastard.

Great. Nothing like starting a conversation with maximum villain energy.

Her face turned serious. Tired eyes, sharp voice. “How can I trust that you’ll keep your word?”

I had been waiting for that question. Chloe was once a noble and a respected knight. She was one of the best raid captains. She always thought ahead. I remembered seeing her once, barking orders during a subjugation mission while swinging a blade heavier for her physique.

Knowing me since our knight days, she had every reason to doubt me.

Luckily, an opportunity presented itself to earn her trust.

“I’ll sign a Scroll of Binding with you,” I said.

Her eyes widened when I pulled out the thick document, glowing faintly violet with slow, swirling runes.

In this world, contracts weren’t just about money or forcing someone into slavery. At higher levels, breaking one could mean death.

Her reaction was expected. She knew what it meant. And no sane man, especially someone like me, Eric Lockwood, would offer to sign one unless they were serious.

But I know. Not because Chloe’s child would one day become a villainess, but because she was my daughter. It was my duty to care for her.

Please, please… just trust me this once, Chloe.

Maybe Chloe saw how sincere I was… After a brief pause, she turned to face the cathedral ahead and muttered, “Let’s just get this over with.”

We began climbing the cathedral steps. Cold stone. Silence around us.

But Chloe, in her condition, could barely walk. Climbing stairs? Almost impossible.

On the fourth flight, she stumbled. Her legs trembled violently. Her breath hitched, and she reached out in a panic.

I stepped forward and lifted her into my arms.

“W-What are you doing?! Put me down!” she protested, squirming.

If I put you down now, you’re rolling all the way back to the carriage, you know?

I didn’t say a word though. I just kept climbing, holding her close until we reached the cathedral doors.

Two guards stood at the entrance.

Their eyes flicked from Chloe to me. The guards looked at us in recognition, confusion, a hint of unease. Eric Lockwood showing up at a holy cathedral with an unconscious woman in his arms wasn’t something they saw every day.

“Tell Father Robert that Eric Lockwood is here,” I said.

Before either of them could move, the doors opened on their own. A few church workers stood inside.

“Professor Lockwood… It’s a surprise to see you here,” one of them said. His eyes then shifted to the woman in my arms, lingering with concern.

“Yes… I need your help, Father,” I said, cutting to the point.

He took one look at Chloe and nodded. “Bring her to the altar.”

Without another word, I followed him into the recovery room. A stone platform stood in the center.

“Is there no mattress?” I asked, frowning and instinctively pulling Chloe closer.

The priest gave a small, apologetic smile. “Considering her state right now, she won’t feel the discomfortness. Hurry and place her .”

I nodded and gently laid her down on the cold stone.

A few nuns stepped forward, wiping her forehead. Then the priest came closer, his hand glowing faintly with magic.

He ran it slowly along her body until he stopped at her chest. His face stiffened.

“…A parasite,” he muttered, voice heavy.

My breath caught. A knot tightened in my chest. Damn, no…

“Father?”

“A very peculiar parasite has latched onto her heart. It’s draining her vitality… slowly, bit by bit.”

“Can Chloe… can she be saved?” I asked, my voice trembling without meaning to.

“There are two ways,” the priest hesitantly replied. “I can perform an operation and remove it myself. However… there’s a big risk. If the parasite senses danger, it may react violently. And that could endanger her life.”

Guilt pressed hard against my ribs.

“And the second option?” I asked.

“A Saint-rank healing spell. We cleanse her entire body at once. It’s safe, and there’s no risk involved.”

“Then please use the Saint-rank spell.”

The older priest’s eyes widened. He then exhaled a deep sigh. “Since it’s you, I wouldn’t have charged you anything. I owe you that much… If other priests do this, they might take heavy fees for performing the ritual on short notice.”

Charge me double. Triple. I don’t care.

Eric shook his head. “It doesn’t matter, Father. Please save her life.”

The Priest kept looking at the man before him with slight surprise in his eyes.

Who would’ve guessed that the apathetic, indifferent man actually had a soft side?
… or so Father found himself thinking.

“Okay. Sister, please call everyone.” Father then turned to the patient before voicing a small chant and soon, Chloe’s body glowed.

Her face regained some redness and her breathing became somewhat normal.

Relief washed through me. My shoulders loosened, a sigh of breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding finally came out.

“For now, I have eased her pain. It would take a few hours to gather everyone so be with her until then.”

Eric nodded before the Priest walked out.

Eric slowly approached the altar and found Chloe looking at him with her eyes half closed.

“Just a few hours,” Eric whispered. “… and the pain will go away.”

Chloe couldn’t say anything but the confusion was evident in her eyes.