The adorable Villainess is mine - Chapter 13- Apology

Lia was nervous.

Tomorrow’s field trip was supposed to be recreational—an outdoor outing where students learned basic survival skills while enjoying some time away from the academy.

But that wasn’t why her heart was uneasy.

Her real concern… was Carter.

Beth had proposed something unsettling: the idea that Carter might be corrupted. And as much as Lia didn’t want to believe it, the theory held weight. After all, what else could explain the sudden spike in Carter’s strength? He had defeated Bruce in a completely one-sided fight—something that, even a few weeks ago, would’ve been impossible.

No one gets that strong overnight.

Which meant something was wrong.

Beth’s theory pointed to corruption.

Lia had heard of cases where individuals, desperate for power or purpose, gave themselves over to darkness. To demons. To forbidden forces. It was rare, but not unheard of.

Carter had always despised the dark side. That much she knew. He was the kind of person who stood firmly on the side of right, always clear in his values. But even so… people change. And possibilities—no matter how small—couldn’t be ignored.

That’s why she and Beth had come to a painful agreement.

If anything strange happened during the field trip—if Carter’s powers showed signs of corruption—they would report it to the Mage Tower.

Only the Tower had the resources to intervene in time. The earlier a corruption case was reported, the better the chances of saving the person.

But there was risk.

The purification process was dangerous. Depending on the depth of the corruption—and the nature of the demon Carter might have accepted as a patron—there was no guarantee he’d survive it. Or come back whole.

And if the purification failed…

Lia didn’t want to think about it. The Tower’s judgment was absolute. If Carter was deemed unsalvageable, he would be treated as a threat—and eliminated.

That’s why, more than anything, she hoped nothing out of the ordinary would happen tomorrow.

The very thought of losing Carter—a friend so close to her heart—sent a cold fear running down her spine.

‘Please… prove our assumptions wrong, Carter,’ she silently prayed.

…

Carter was currently in Grace’s room.

He had asked if he could join her for tea, and though she was shy, she nodded and agreed.

Fooling the wardens to sneak in wasn’t much of a challenge.

It wasn’t his first time here, but back then, his focus had been entirely on Grace. She had been injured, and all he could think about was making sure she was okay.

Today, however, he allowed himself to really look around.

The room was simple—but beautiful. And oddly comforting.

Soft blue curtains framed the window. A clean white bedsheet covered the bed. No fancy decorations cluttered the space. A plain mirror hung across from the bed, and the air was filled with a calming mix of jasmine and coffee.

It felt like the kind of place where he could truly relax.

“Sorry… the place is a bit untidy,” Grace said softly, quickly removing a used shirt from the bed and straightening the chairs.

She had rushed through her morning routine, knowing Carter would be waiting to walk to class with her. And now… she was regretting the mess.

But Carter simply smiled. “It’s really nice here. I feel at peace.”

He gestured toward the bed. “May I sit?”

“Y-Yes, please,” she replied, a little flustered. It wasn’t the first time he had come to her room, but the nervousness never quite left her.

Carter sat down, his posture relaxed. “Have you prepared for tomorrow?”

They would be leaving early for the field trip, and students had been instructed to pack enough for two days.

Grace gave a small nod. “Yes… I’ve packed a few changes of clothes. But…” She looked down at her hands. “I’m still not sure if I’m supposed to bring food. I wasn’t exactly… paying attention when they gave the instructions.”

She looked mildly embarrassed, and Carter could guess why—her mind was likely elsewhere that day.

He chuckled gently, “Don’t worry. I packed enough for two. I’ll share if it comes to that.”

Grace smiled, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little.

Soon, Grace stepped toward the small kitchen in her room to prepare tea for the two of them.

She filled the kettle and placed it on the boiler, the quiet hum of heat beginning to rise. As the water warmed, she arranged two cups neatly on the station, her motions calm and practiced.

That calm, however, shattered the moment Carter spoke.

“Hey, Grace… during the mid-term break… I want to meet your father.”

The cup nearly slipped from her hand.

She froze, fingers tightening slightly around the handle. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she turned around slowly. “Why?” she asked, voice softer than usual. “Did something happen?”

Carter wasn’t looking at her. His gaze was fixed on the floor, as if the weight of what he was about to say was anchoring him in place.

“I want to reestablish the connection between our families,” he said quietly. “But I don’t want to rush anything… so I’ll start with an apology.”

Grace’s heart skipped a beat.

There was a reason his words rattled her.

The last time Carter had met her father… it had gone horribly wrong.

Her father had nearly punched him.

Carter had said things about her—harsh, careless things—that her father simply couldn’t forgive. And just like that, the meeting had ended in disaster. Tense words. Raised voices. Slamming doors.

Not long after that… Carter had annulled the engagement.

That memory still lingered, like a wound that hadn’t fully healed.

And now, after all this time, he wanted to go back—to face the very man he’d once clashed with—and apologize?

Grace slowly approached him, her voice barely above a whisper. “You don’t need to force yourself… We haven’t even figured out where this relationship is headed—”

“But I have,” Carter interrupted, his voice firm yet tender, eyes locked onto hers with unwavering certainty. “I know exactly where I see us in the future.”

His words left Grace momentarily speechless.

Rising to his feet, Carter gently took hold of her shoulders and continued, “I understand it’ll take time for you to fully believe in my feelings. But this—this is different. Your father isn’t just my former father-in-law… he’s also my uncle. And I broke his heart. Let me make things right, Grace. Please.”

The sincerity in his voice pierced straight through her guard. Her shoulders relaxed.

“He’s still furious with you,” she murmured. “He might… say some cruel things.”

Carter let out a soft chuckle. “I probably deserve every single one of them. Don’t worry—I’ll take it all without saying a word back.” Then, quieter, more vulnerable, he added, “But I have a feeling… if you’re standing by my side, his anger might not last too long.”

A faint flush rose on Grace’s cheeks at his words. Flustered, she took a step back, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Th-The water,” she stammered, turning toward the kitchen, “It must have started boiling…”

Carter grinned at her reaction and let her go.

Looking at the family panting beside the bed, he muttered under his breath,

‘You have suffered a lot because of me, Grace…but not anymore.’

******

A/N:- Thanks for reading.