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

Chapter 575: Did I Just Walk into a Trap??

Men and women in uniform moved briskly, voices low, papers exchanged, boots thudding on the floor. Not a single one paused to acknowledge her. No greetings, no bows. It was as if she were invisible.

And Rick, looming behind her, made no effort to correct them.

Nnenna’s lips curved in the faintest smile. Interesting.

After a quick sweep of the room, she turned sharply to face Rick. Her eyes were steady, her tone firm.

“Gather everyone involved in the investigation. Ten minutes. It’s almost nine o’clock. Anyone who misses this meeting can meet me in the dining hall at lunch. And I take, no excuses.”

She let the last two words fall like stones, each syllable carrying weight.

Rick’s brows furrowed. Dissatisfaction flickered across his face, but not alarm. They already had their “functional plan,” and he was banking on it.

“Your Highness,” he began cautiously, “protocol demands that you—”

“No excuses.”

Nnenna cut him off, her voice razor sharp. She took a step closer, tilting her chin up so her gaze met his squarely.

“Either you get them here,” she said slowly, every word deliberate, “or you follow protocol… and accept your punishment for defying a royal. Your princess.”

Her eyes, sharp as glass, locked onto the man who stood three times her size. And in that moment, Rick understood, she was not bluffing.

That’s unusual.

He was taken aback by her boldness. For a moment, his mind scrambled. This is vicious… in subtle ways? Using quiet methods to punish?

Assistant Head Captain Elin’s voice spat in his memory. What

Daniel or Elin mentioned that she wasn’t a pushover? They must have underestimated her

do? A flicker of worry stabbed through him. But slowly, after a few seconds,

guards, one of the strongest fighters in the crown prince’s inner circle. His rank might not shine next to the others, but right now, those others weren’t here. He

he had earned this position with

came power. Authority. Respect. Even His Highness acknowledged

here she was… this girl… threatening

nerves faded. The more he thought, the clearer it became, if worse came to worse, they would simply cut her

him if she couldn’t see

thought. One day, His Highness will thank me for this. Once he sees her for what she truly is, an ungrateful little pretender, already itching to grab

not summon the others,” Rick finally said, his voice

original plan had been to fake obedience, to deflect quietly until she got

was when they assumed Nnenna relied on subtle tricks. Since she had chosen to be direct,

judging from the murmurs of agreement rippling through the

the

Then his stomach dropped.

was smiling. Brightly. Too brightly. Almost

wondered, unease flickering, but there was no time to unravel

closer. Her

stepped back. Only when his boot scraped the marble

The girl walking toward him radiated something far beyond what he had heard in whispers or seen in her earlier defiance. Her aura pressed against

be this

And then, unbidden, a single name

Carl.

terrifying blend of

around the lobby as

retreat?” one guard muttered, eyes