Chapter 123: Explained Everything to Charlotte, and Seeked Her Help
“Concocting a potion to regain your power? Daddy, what do you mean?” Charlotte blinked as her curiosity piqued.
Leon smiled as he sipped his coffee once more. Then, instead of answering, he posed a question.
“Charlotte, do you know why I wasn’t around for any of your births or after you turned three years old this time, only to show up not long ago?” Leon inquired as he set his coffee cup back on the table.
At this question, Charlotte immediately furrowed her brow, her small, round face displaying a puzzled expression.
If there was one question she desperately wanted an answer to, it was the one her father had just posed.
Why had he never been present when she and her two sisters were born, or even in the three years following?
What was the reason for his prolonged absence?
These questions left her yearning for answers, yet she hesitated to ask her mother at that moment.
She feared that if she asked, her mother would scold her or grow annoyed, as her mother’s expression darkened whenever the topic of her father arose, as if he owed her millions of gold.
Fortunately, the father, who had been absent, eventually entered her and her two sisters’ lives.
Nevertheless, the curiosity about his previous absence still lingered, though not as intensely as before.
Now that her father had broached the subject, her curiosity had inevitably reignited.
With a shake of her head, Charlotte replied in confusion, “I don’t know, Daddy. But I really want to understand why you never showed up. Can you please tell me?”
Charlotte’s golden eyes locked onto him, brimming with an intense desire to unravel the truth behind his absence.
Leon chuckled slightly at her excitement and affectionately stroked her little head as he fell into contemplation.
The reason he called Charlotte to his room at this hour was, in fact, because he needed her help.
Starting tonight and for the next few days, he would be secluding himself in his room to concentrate on concocting an antidote for the devouring poison.
Concocting an antidote with a success rate below one percent, even lower than the likelihood of accidentally eating sh*t, would undoubtedly demand a significant amount of time.
Leon himself was uncertain when he would achieve success and complete it, whether it be one day, three days, seven days, or perhaps even a month later.
During that period, it would naturally be impossible for him to spend time with or be present for his little girls.
Moreover, Liliana was also absent from the inner palace, further enhancing the atmosphere of loneliness.
Therefore, he called Charlotte tonight to take care of her two younger siblings during his impending absence.
However, he needed a valid and sensible excuse to enlist Charlotte’s assistance, ensuring that this little girl wouldn’t be burdened with unnecessary thoughts and speculations.
And, of course, Leon’s compelling reason was to disclose the poison inside him to Charlotte.
Although it seemed a bit out of place to share this with her, Leon truly trusted Charlotte’s maturity, which exceeded that of a child her age.
Naturally, he wouldn’t immediately reveal his intentions but would instead initiate conversation about other matters first.
Snapping out of his reverie, the smile on Leon’s lips gradually faded, and he adopted a helpless expression, letting out a small sigh.
“To be honest, the reason I never showed up and only came to you and your sisters recently isn’t because I did it on purpose or because I don’t love you, but because I genuinely didn’t know that your mother was pregnant and carrying you and your sisters,” Leon explained calmly, his words causing Charlotte’s eyes to widen in surprise beside him.
“What!? You didn’t know Mommy was pregnant with us?” Charlotte exclaimed, disbelief evident in her trembling pupils as she looked at her father.
She hadn’t expected her father’s prolonged absence because he hadn’t realized he had three daughters who were quite different from what she had imagined.
Initially, prior to his arrival, she speculated that her father harbored animosity towards her mother or towards herself and her two sisters, hence his absence.
However, as he appeared and became part of their lives, Charlotte’s perceptions shifted. She began to entertain the notion that perhaps her father was experiencing difficulties, which could explain his prolonged absence.
Yet, upon hearing his explanation, her conjectures and daydreams were swiftly shattered, leaving her slightly shaken.
Leon nodded, his expression gradually calming.
“Yes, I truly didn’t know your mother was pregnant with both you and your sisters; it all happened by accident,” Leon replied lightly and casually.
Then he continued, “Honestly, if I were to trace it back, it’s because your mother and I had a relationship that wasn’t founded on love.”
“In the beginning, your mother and I weren’t lovers, but rather two individuals who despised each other and were fated to clash. Our existence was like fire and water, unable to unite.” Leon paused for a moment, lifted his coffee cup, and sipped it with a slightly melancholic expression, as if reminiscing about Liliana’s extraordinarily beautiful yet cold face.
Next to him, Charlotte, upon hearing the story, was immediately dumbfounded, her gaze fixed on her father with astonishment.
She hadn’t anticipated such a tale in her parents’ lives, leaving her truly surprised.
‘No wonder Mommy got so angry whenever I mentioned Daddy before. There’s a story behind them both!’ Charlotte muttered to herself, finally understanding everything.
Nevertheless, for some reason, listening to her daddy’s story brought to mind a fairy tale from the library about a female demon lord and a hero who were destined to battle but instead fell in love.
In that tale, the female demon lord and the hero were fated enemies, like fire and water, yet they ultimately ended up together.
It was her favorite story, and she couldn’t help but notice the similarities between her father’s story and it.
Her own mother was the Demon Emperor, formidable and powerful, and her daddy… Eh!? Could he possibly be a hero!?
At this thought, Charlotte froze for a moment but quickly shook her head, dispelling all her conjectures.
There was no way her father could be a hero, as she herself was aware of the eternal enmity between the demon race and humanity.
Her own mother often expressed contempt for humanity’s heroes, her eyes brimming with animosity whenever she mentioned them.
Therefore, Charlotte promptly dismissed her suspicions.
Meanwhile, snapping out of his daze, Leon redirected his attention to Charlotte, noting the complexity of her emotions with a slight smile.
“Are you upset with me after hearing this?” he inquired, his hand gently caressing Charlotte’s small face.
Charlotte pursed her lips and remained silent for a few moments before finally shaking her head.
“I’m not upset, Daddy, but I’m just surprised to hear this.” Charlotte smiled at Leon, her response sincere.
She was genuinely taken aback by her father’s explanation and the unexpected story about him and her mother, but she harbored no anger.
From her father’s brief narrative, Charlotte deduced that he might have been going through a difficult period or something similar, which could explain why he was unaware that her mother was pregnant with her and her two sisters.
Therefore, there was no anger or resentment; the most crucial thing for her now was that her father was by her side.
Observing her remarkably mature demeanor, Leon let out a small sigh.
At times, he truly doubted whether Charlotte was indeed just a three-year-old girl.
If he were to share this with Fiona or Iris, their reactions would undoubtedly be vastly different.
Shaking his head, Leon ran his fingers through his white hair and said, “Well, I’m responsible for this, but you must remember that I love you, your two sisters, and your mother very much. Do you understand?”
“Um! I understand!” Charlotte smiled sweetly, eliciting a smile from Leon as well.
“By the way, Charlotte, do you recall what I mentioned earlier about ‘Making potions to regain my power and also that I’ll be occupied for the next few days, so I won’t be leaving my room?'” Leon inquired.
At his question, Charlotte immediately recollected and nodded.
“I remember, Daddy,” Charlotte replied with a nod.
Leon smiled and explained, “Actually, the reason I’m going to seclude myself in my room is because I need to brew an antidote potion for myself.”
Charlotte’s face instantly froze, her eyes widening in disbelief at Leon.
“Daddy, do you mean…” Charlotte’s voice trailed off, her small mouth closing as the words caught in her throat.
Observing her shock, Leon nodded and began to explain everything about the poison inside him.
However, he didn’t delve into the details, framing it in a way that made it sound less dangerous.
Despite his intention to inform her, he didn’t want to incite panic or excessive worry.
After a brief explanation, Leon paused, only to realize that tears were streaming down Charlotte’s face, unnoticed by him.
In a sudden burst of emotion, she threw herself into his arms, tears flowing freely.
“Wuu~ Daddy~ Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Wuu~” she cried hysterically, clinging tightly to Leon.
Observing her distress, Leon embraced her, gently rubbing her small back.
“Don’t worry too much. It’s just a mild poison, and I’ll be fine soon. Please don’t cry, okay?” Leon comforted her affectionately, wiping away her tears.
Listening to Leon’s reassuring words, Charlotte’s sobs gradually subsided, and she looked up at him with her reddened golden eyes.
“Can the poison within your body be cured?” she inquired, her voice catching with a slight hiccup.
“Certainly, it can be cured, and that’s precisely why I will seclude myself in my room—to concoct the antidote. However, it might take some time, and if that’s the case, I’ll need your help later.” Leon smiled warmly, gently pinching her chubby cheeks.
The moment the words ‘Need your help’ left Leon’s lips, Charlotte’s eyes immediately lit up once more.
“Please tell me, Daddy. I’ll help you!” Charlotte declared firmly, wiping the tear marks from both corners of her round eyes.
Leon nodded in satisfaction at her prompt response and composed demeanor in handling the situation.
Gently, Leon leaned close to Charlotte’s small ear and whispered, “What you need to help me with is…”
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