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.”

held onto him tighter and kept leading him

“Wait,” Carl said suddenly.

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

Then it happened.

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

Blood.

front, the sound echoing horribly in the

Nanny screamed, clutching

servant dropped the tray she was holding, the crash drowned out by the shocked

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

knees gave way. He

into chaos, servants

aside, but before he could, the

said firmly, his eyes locked on Nnenna.

froze, his jaw tight, but he

her other already checking his pulse with practiced

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

much she had to grip a chair for support, whispering

barked, snapping the guards

a strand of hair from Carl’s pale face, her jaw tightening. “Hold on, Carl,” she whispered,

them, it was just her steady hands keeping

but Nnenna didn’t let the noise reach her. Her hands moved with quiet precision, steady as if she

the rise and fall of his chest. Her fingers brushed his neck, feeling his

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

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

servants leaned closer, desperate for answers, but her silence was unshaken. Even the housekeeper, who always read emotions easily, found her expression

steady, and spoke, her voice cutting clean through the

Help me take

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

Carl’s other

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

Nnenna’s face never

heavy with tension. The servants and guards lingered by the closed door,

bed, gripping Carl’s hand tightly. His

she thought, her voice sharp in desperation. He said he could slow

I can’t

clenched. Please. He’ll die if you don’t help me figure this