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.”

onto him tighter and kept leading

“Wait,” Carl said suddenly.

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

Then it happened.

tore through his chest. Before Nnenna could turn fully to him, hot

Blood.

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

screamed, clutching

tray she was holding, the crash

before his instincts took over. He rushed forward, trying to

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

gave way. He collapsed fully,

voices echoed at once, the room erupting into

before he could, the housekeeper’s calm, steady voice cut through

eyes locked on Nnenna. “She knows what

tight, but he stepped back

lowered Carl carefully to the floor, cradling his head with one hand, her other already checking his pulse with practiced precision. Her expression was

is weak,” she said quickly, her calmness

Nanny was trembling so much she had to grip a chair for

Daniel barked, snapping the

her jaw tightening. “Hold on, Carl,” she whispered, her voice

the chaos around them, it was just

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

chest. Her fingers

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

flicker of fear, no sign

unshaken. Even the housekeeper, who always read emotions easily,

steady, and spoke, her voice cutting clean through the

Help me take

heartbeat he hesitated, as if expecting more, some explanation, some reassurance, but none came. Nnenna’s tone had no space for

said quickly, dropping to Carl’s other side, not

body, his weight heavy between them. The servants parted at once, whispering, trembling, following with wide, worried eyes as the two

Nnenna’s

with tension. The servants and guards lingered by the closed

Carl’s hand tightly. His skin was clammy, his pulse

voice sharp in desperation. He said he could slow the poison.

sorry, Nnenna. I can’t tell you

He’ll die if