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

Chapter 604: We Had to Make a Choice

He exhaled hard, voice tightening. "I don’t fault you for trying to shoulder everything yourself, we’ve always lived that way, handling our own battles until there’s no other choice. But when it involved her... you should have called me."

Carl shook his head slowly. "I thought I could handle it. And I’m not blaming you. I won’t. I’m the one to blame, Arthur, not you, not anyone else. I won’t share the guilt." His gaze softened but didn’t waver. "But you constantly reminding me of it doesn’t help. I already live with it."

He pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down, the weight of exhaustion pressing on his shoulders though his face betrayed none of it.

Arthur, however, didn’t let up. "You know," he said, his voice tightening as he finally glanced at Carl, "if you weren’t still recovering... we would be at your training grounds right now."

Carl understood instantly. That was Arthur’s language, combat as a release when words and choices failed him. It had always been the way he dealt with matters he couldn’t control, especially when it came to Anastasia.

A faint smile tugged at Carl’s lips. "I thank you for your consideration," he said evenly, nodding in acknowledgment. "But you should know... even if you did challenge me, I would gladly accept it."

doing everything I can. You know that." Carl pushed himself up, his tone firm but not unkind. "The best thing you can do now is be here for her." He walked

too still. Her face was calm, peaceful even, unaware of the storm raging in the hearts of those who had

low, almost unsure if he wanted her to hear him or if he was just talking to himself. "The first time I saw you like this, I wasn’t even there for you. I was curious about the one that kept bringing Somto to the hospital every month. He wouldn’t say your name, wouldn’t explain. But he had that look, that look he gets when someone means more to him than

Somto. Compared to now, that version of me barely cared at all. How could I? I was too busy searching for you, Anastasia. And you

dropped, hoarse with ache. "Unlike that day... now, every time I see you like this, my heart

both weight and worry. "I can’t know what you would have wanted if you could decide for yourself. I know you’re strong... and I’ll be here to help you face whatever comes next. But sometimes, I wonder if you would rather

the hesitation in his tone betraying the burden he carried. "I guess it doesn’t matter now. We’ve already made the choice for you. All I can do is hope it’s what you would have wanted... and

be mad at him, sure. But I would

he began recounting everything that had happened in Prigrian while she was in Riverum.

a few months. You’re already ahead of your class and can challenge

well, she would probably abandon everything she’s doing and rush over here. My parents too... but even if they came, they can’t help much. I