My Adorable Daughter Can't Be A Villainess - Chapter 7 - I am a friend

Through the busy streets, Charlotte walked thoughtlessly.

Without those bandages around her chest and those boyish clothes, there was no mistaking it. She was actually a girl who had taken on the appearance of a boy so she could work at that eatery.

There had been many incidents in the past, which was why the eatery no longer took in female servers. However, since the pay was high and it saved her a lot of time, Charlotte created another identity.

Charton.

Her mother did not know she had gotten this job based on a lie, otherwise she would have been quite upset.

However, Charlotte had to go against her mother’s principles so she could gather the amount required.

Charlotte had been gathering funds for the past three years by working several jobs: newspaper distribution, porter work, sewer cleaning and many more.

She was desperate for money, not because she wanted to live a good life. The life her mother provided was good enough. That was not her goal.

She wanted to save the only family she had.

Her mother was suffering.

Charlotte had forced her to get diagnosed, but the local medic could not discern what was wrong with her. However, he told them that whatever it was, it was severe and draining her mother’s life at an alarming pace.

He suggested visiting the church in the capital. But when Charlotte heard the amount a Saint charged to treat someone, she nearly lost her balance.

Five hundred gold coins.

Working a whole month as a newspaper boy earned her a single gold coin. And here…

Her mother said she would be fine if she slept well, but Charlotte was not foolish enough to believe this illness would vanish just like that.

That was what pushed her to take the resolve. She would crush herself under work. Even if she could not sleep for days, it would not matter. She would gather the sum no matter what so she could save her mother.

Her mother was the only person Charlotte had in her life. She was her everything.

Just today, when her mother was not in the house, Charlotte felt her heart go heavy.

She knew her mother had gone to meet her friend from the academy, but just seeing the house empty, without her, made her chest feel tight.

The very thought of living in a world where she would no longer eat her mother’s handmade food, where she could not tease her mother and get reprimanded in return… it tore her heart apart.

The sadness weighed on her, but it also fueled her resolve to work harder.

And in just a few weeks, she would have reached the mark. She had already gathered four hundred and eighty gold coins.

Just twenty more and she could save her mother. Just a little more… a little…

Sniff

Before she knew it, she had stopped in the middle of the street, quietly weeping.

This job at the eatery was important to her. The chef paid her five gold coins, and now a sudden obstacle had appeared.

Someone had identified her and threatened her to come to his room if she did not want to lose her job.

Hick Tears continued streaming down her cheeks, her vision blurring, when suddenly she noticed a white handkerchief extended toward her.

Charlotte slowly looked up.

A pair of violet eyes looked at her.

The same shade as hers.

He was an older man with long violet hair. His tall height and broad build instantly drew attention.

Not to mention his expensive clothes. He stood out like a sore thumb among the commoners.

Charlotte stared at him for a few seconds, and suddenly the man pulled her wrist, saying, “Careful.”

Charlotte turned and saw a man pushing a heavy cart through the very space she had been standing in.

The man released her hand and offered the handkerchief again. “Here.” His voice was gentle despite his strict appearance.

Charlotte shook her head, not wanting to dirty such a delicate piece of fabric. She wiped her tears with her sleeve and said, “Thank you, but I am fine.”

The man slowly lowered his hand but did not walk away.

Charlotte blinked and looked up at him again.

There was something about the man’s gaze that confused her.

It was not like those lecherous bastards who ogled at her, nor was there the faintest speck of disgust that nobles usually directed toward commoners.

He appeared emotional. His eyes trembled slightly.

Finally, he spoke, his voice unsure. “I… I am not familiar with this place. Can you lead me to a good eatery?”

Charlotte thought for a moment and then nodded.

“I will take you there,” she said, gesturing forward.

The man nodded and began walking beside her.

Many people turned to look at them, or more specifically, at him.

Some had their mouths hanging open, others simply stared at him as if they had seen a living legend. Wait!

Charlotte’s eyes widened as she glanced at the man again.

Looking closely, she realized she had seen his face in the newspaper before.

Just as she turned to ask him, someone jumped in front of her. “Hey there~”

Charlotte froze on the spot. She recognized that voice.

Her entire body stiffened when she saw those dull yellow eyes and that lecherous smile.

“You…!” Her eyes narrowed in disgust. It was the same man who had humiliated her in the eatery and the very reason she might lose her job.

The bastard stepped closer. “You came at just the right time. This is my house.” He gestured toward the left.

Charlotte trembled in disgust as he grabbed her hand and said, “For the sake of your job, come with me.”

She was just about to slap him hard enough to make soup his only diet when a larger hand draped over the bastard’s shoulder.

“Why don’t you let go of her hand?” the man, whose name she finally remembered as Eric Blackwood, asked.

The bastard snarled, “Don’t come between us.” He tried to shrug off Eric’s hand but failed as the older man tightened his grip.

“Release her hand.” Eric repeated, his voice heavy, his eyes glowing faintly.

Suddenly everyone around them froze. The yellow-eyed man could only stare at Eric, an ominous sensation spreading across his chest as his trembling hand let go of Charlotte.

Eric then turned to Charlotte. His gaze softened as he said, “Please wait for me in the tavern across the street. I will follow right after. And do not worry, I am someone your mother knows, so you can trust me.”

Charlotte, stunned after sensing Arcane from him, nodded dumbly and walked toward the tavern.

Once she entered, Eric looked back at the bastard, who had already turned pale under the oppressive aura.

“You need to answer a few questions.”

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