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

Chapter 585: Her Prison of Frustration

Nnenna’s heart pounded. No. Something about this confession felt wrong, forced, unnatural. The housekeeper was loyal, yes, but this sounded more like… a man cornered.

Carl’s jaw tightened, but his eyes never left the bowed figure in front of him.

“No… that’s not true.”

Carl shook his head slowly, almost as if trying to shake away the words themselves.

“It’s true,” the housekeeper insisted, his voice breaking. “I don’t want to look you in the eye and lie, Your Highness. I’m sorry.”

He finally lifted his face, and though his eyes were red and downcast, the sorrow in them was unmistakable.

“But why?” Nnenna’s voice came out sharper than she intended. Her chest tightened. What could possibly push him to this? What was his motive?

The question hung in the air, burning through every corner of the room. The servants leaned forward slightly, guards stiffened, even Daniel’s cold expression flickered with curiosity. Everyone wanted the same answer.

The housekeeper drew a shaky breath. “I did it… because someone paid me to do it.”

Carl’s expression darkened, his voice dropping like ice. “Who?”

“I’m not sure,” the housekeeper admitted, his lips trembling. “But… I recognized her face. The Queen of Reshmi. Athena.”

The name landed like a thunderclap.

Nnenna’s stomach lurched. Athena again? The sound of it echoed in her head, heavy and suffocating. That woman’s shadow stretched everywhere, first the kidnapping, then Somto’s death, and now… Carl.

Her fists clenched unconsciously. Why is this aunt of mine always behind the worst things?

Carl’s silence was louder than any outburst. His gaze lingered on the housekeeper, unreadable but sharp, weighing every word, every flicker of guilt.

Finally, his voice cut through. “The trial will be held, as Daniel said.” He straightened, his authority filling the space. “And I expect a better explanation by then.”

Though his words were firm, Nnenna could see it, he wasn’t shutting the door completely. He was still giving the housekeeper a chance, one last thread to hold on to.

“Come on. You need to go back to bed,” Nnenna whispered, her voice gentle yet firm as she tugged at Carl’s hand.

“I’m not fragile, you know,” Carl reminded her, his usual calm smile tugging faintly at his lips.

“I know,” she replied quickly, glancing back at him. “But let’s go back.”

him tighter and kept leading

“Wait,” Carl said suddenly.

to stall, pressed on. “You should rest,” she insisted,

Then it happened.

shaking as a deep cough tore through his chest. Before Nnenna could turn fully to him, hot wetness splattered

Blood.

blood all over her front, the sound echoing horribly in the wide room.

screamed,

she was holding, the crash drowned out

only for a moment before his instincts took over. He rushed forward, trying to pull

didn’t move. She steadied Carl as his body sagged heavily against her, her arms firm despite the blood soaking her dress. “Carl, stay with me,” she said, her tone low but urgent, eyes sharp and focused. She

knees gave way. He collapsed fully,

at once, the room erupting into chaos, servants shouting, nanny already crying, some calling for

push Nnenna aside, but before he could, the housekeeper’s calm, steady voice cut through the

eyes locked on Nnenna. “She knows what she’s

jaw tight, but he stepped

hand, her other

glance at the blood staining her. “His pulse is weak,” she said quickly, her

trembling so much she had

now!” Daniel barked, snapping

of hair from Carl’s pale face, her jaw tightening. “Hold on, Carl,” she whispered, her voice low enough only he could hear, even though

moment, despite the chaos around them, it was just her steady hands keeping him

with panic, but Nnenna didn’t let the noise reach her. Her hands moved

his chest. Her fingers brushed his neck, feeling his pulse again,

rhythm of his breathing. Then she checked his lips and gums, the pallor

face gave nothing away. No flicker of fear, no sign

for answers, but her silence was unshaken. Even the housekeeper, who always read emotions

lifted her eyes, calm, steady, and spoke, her voice

me

heartbeat he hesitated, as if expecting more, some explanation,

Carl’s other side,

lifted Carl’s limp body, his weight heavy between them. The servants parted at once, whispering, trembling, following with wide, worried

Nnenna’s

with tension. The servants and guards lingered by the closed door, whispering prayers under their breath though the people in the room didn’t hear

Carl’s hand tightly. His skin was clammy,

I don’t understand, she thought, her voice sharp in desperation. He said he could

I can’t

if you don’t help me figure