They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Chapter 342: I Put Her in Danger

“I did it to save our lives! Why can’t you see that?” Karen cried, her voice breaking under the weight of guilt and desperation.

“No!” John shouted, his voice sharp with fury and heartbreak. “You did it for yourself!” His eyes were burning now, not with anger alone, but with betrayal. “Take me back to the prison,” he said, turning to the guards, voice suddenly quiet, drained. “The air there is better.”

The throne room went still. Even the guards hesitated.

King Eglon gave a small wave of his hand, casual yet cruel, like brushing away dust.

The guards stepped forward, and John didn’t resist. His eyes never met Karen’s again, but hers clung to him, desperate, pleading, breaking.

She watched until his silhouette disappeared behind the heavy doors. Her lips trembled.

“I did it for the team…” she whispered.

“I did it for us…”

Over and over again, like a broken charm meant to heal a wound too deep to reach. But even she didn’t believe it anymore.

A low, amused sound echoed in the vast chamber. King Eglon chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mockery.

“You’re quite cold hearted,” he said, the sarcasm slicing sharper than a knife. “Maybe even more cold hearted than me.”

His smile faded as he leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing with dangerous curiosity.

“Tell me, Karen… how does betrayal taste when it comes back around?”

“You knew this mission could end in death, yet you still agreed to it.” King Eglon’s voice echoed through the throne room like a slow rolling storm. “But the moment you saw a chance to save yourself, you took it. I wouldn’t have even blamed you… if you could just admit the truth. That you were scared of dying.”

lips tightened, her breathing shallow. The fear from earlier had settled, replaced by something

she said, her voice low, trembling slightly, but firm. “But you’re worse. You’re planning to execute your own brother

the difference between you and me.” His tone was calm, almost playful. “You still pretend to be good. You want others to see you as noble… selfless. I gave

each movement calculated and regal, the weight of his presence

that.” His voice dropped into a whisper, just loud enough to

paces, then turned back to her with

of your people who want to live may go with you at

in surprise, but he wasn’t

enough to choose death… and insist on standing with my brother and his cursed bloodline—” he paused, gaze dark and cold, “—then I won’t stop the axe from

you would let them go! It should stand whether they want to

His back was to her now, hands clasped behind him as he walked slowly toward the edge of the

force a man to live when he’s already chosen death?” he said calmly. “That other young man… I’ll wait for his

not what we agreed

already turned to the

“Take her away.”

guards moved toward her, Karen stumbled backward in disbelief. She wasn’t just losing control, she had never had it

dragged toward the side doors. His tone was quiet now.

my word. You just don’t want

if you do…” he paused, turning his head

saving anyone but

no mocking smile this

His face was blank.

Empty.

a second… it felt like he was not talking to Karen

to the ghost of