They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System Chapter 630: Seeing Things More Clearly

His voice was cold as ever, but there was a faint warmth beneath the edge. "We could never hate you. You hear ?"

Nnenna looked from him to Carl, who nodded imdiately, his eyes full of conviction. Slowly, she returned the nod. "I hear you. Both of you."

"Good," Carl said, straightening at last. His lips twitched into the first hint of a smile. "Now that we’re all soaked to the bone, I think it’s ti we went inside."

Arthur allowed the corner of his mouth to lift, amused despite himself, as Carl retrieved his umbrella. He picked his own back up as well, and for the first ti that night, the air around them felt lighter.

"I’m so going to need a hot bath," Carl muttered as they walked back toward the castle, rain still dripping from their clothes. "Our flight back to Riverum is in a few hours. I still have leftover work to finish...and we need to go over our strategy to reclaim your kingdom, Nnenna."

He shot her a sideways glance. "Somto docunted everything. I would like us to end this. The sooner, the better. Now that they not only know you’re alive but also know where you are, it’s too dangerous to let this war drag on. You’ve been hiding for years, and I don’t want you living like that again."

His voice softened slightly. "Plus, you’ll be eighteen in less than five months, the exact legal age to rule. And for , the best ti to take back your kingdom."

Arthur’s brow furrowed. "We still need a strategy to deal with that black thing Athena is working with. Sothing tells it’s not dead."

"We don’t even know what it is," Nnenna pointed out quietly. "We need to find out first. We can’t fight sothing we don’t understand." She hesitated, then added with quiet conviction, "But one thing I’m sure of, we can defeat it."

"How?" both n asked at once.

"I don’t know yet..." Nnenna admitted, eyes narrowing slightly as if steeling herself. "...but I’m sure of it."

They walked a few more steps before she spoke again, her voice softer but firm. "In the anti, once we get back... while you’re working on strategies, I would like to go to a general rehabilitation center."

Carl stopped, surprised. "What? Are you not comfortable with helping you with your rehab?" he asked carefully.

"No, it’s not you," Nnenna shook her head. "It’s just...sothing I need to do. I feel like I can help more people if I’m there. Seeing others trying to get back on their feet, sharing experiences with them...it can help rebuild too. They’ll know that I truly understand what they’re going through."

"Are you sure about this?" Carl asked, concern edging his tone. "It’s sweet that you want to help others, but you know your case isn’t exactly the sa as theirs. The chances of you walking again are...very slim. And we could really use your help strategizing for the coming war. Somto’s not here anymore, but he passed down a lot of experience and knowledge to you. I think it might be more beneficial if you stayed and planned with us than disappearing into a rehab facility for two weeks, or more."

"I know that," Nnenna replied, calm but determined. "But this is sothing I need to do. Trust ...by the ti I co out of there, I’ll be walking again."

Her words made both Carl and Arthur stop in surprise. Walking again? She had been told the paralysis was permanent. Was this wishful thinking? Blind hope? Or sothing else entirely? Neither of them wanted to crush her confidence, not now.

"...Alright," Carl said finally, giving a small nod. "If that’s what you want, I’ll check you into the best rehab facility in Riverum. Two months is good, right?"

"Yes. Two months is good," Nnenna confird with quiet certainty.

Carl exhaled, then rembered sothing. "Oh, and, Darius ntioned he has sothing urgent to take care of. He’s leaving tonight. Do you want to find soone else for you? Preferably a female this ti?" His tone carried a hint of irritation, clearly, he was tired of Darius trying to woo his sister every chance he got.

Nnenna chuckled softly, shaking her head. "No, there’s no need. I promised myself two months ago that I would move on. And I am. Because I realized...I can. That’s what Somto would have wanted."

"And as Darius said, it’s going very well too. The first day he ca, rember?" Nnenna asked.

"Yes, I rember," Carl nodded, while Arthur stayed silent, listening closely.

"The only thing that was holding back," Nnenna continued, "was what happened that day... I’m really glad I finally got to take it off my chest." Relief softened her voice.

" too," Carl agreed softly. " too," he repeated, this ti with more gratitude.

"But if you think I need soone to talk my ears off, sure, get soone else. Though...I prefer Darius," Nnenna added, half lost in thought.

"You’re kidding," Carl said in disbelief. He tried to keep his tone light, but it was clear he didn’t like the idea. "Don’t tell you’re falling for Darius?" he asked carefully. He didn’t want to show too much disapproval, if she really was falling for him, the last thing he wanted was to push her away.

"Falling for Darius? Nah." Nnenna shook her head, amused.

Still, neither of them looked like they believed her. Arthur’s fists tightened at his sides, the thought gnawing at him, have I missed my chance?

Was Nnenna about to be taken again?

"Calm down, you two," Nnenna finally said firmly, noticing the subtle tension building around her. "I don’t have feelings for Darius. He’s just a friend." She emphasized the last words with quiet seriousness.

"...Okay," Carl exhaled in relief, not noticing how Arthur’s clenched fists slowly released.

"It’s good that you made another friend," Carl added. "Don’t get wrong, Darius might be a casanova, but he has a good heart. I just don’t think he’s the right man for you. But if sothing ever were to spark between you two, I won’t stand in your way. Just... be careful, okay?" His tone carried genuine concern.

"I will," Nnenna nodded seriously. Then her gaze shifted to Arthur, sharp and deliberate. "And what do you think, Arthur?"

Her eyes lingered on him, piercing, as if she were trying to see past that calm exterior he wore so easily. Lately, she had begun noticing things she used to overlook, his longer than usual gazes, the sudden increased warmth in his tone, the way he seed more determined than ever to protect her.

And then there was Darius. Arthur never used to lose his cool, yet sohow, Darius managed to drag him into an argunt almost every ti, especially if it involved her.

The signs were small, subtle shifts, but they didn’t add up. Ever since she had woken from the coma, it was like her perception had sharpened, making it harder to ignore.

She had heard him that day. She heard everything.

She hadn’t believed it then. She still couldn’t believe it now. Somto’s death had been her distraction, her wall against thoughts too dangerous to face. But now... now that she had started to heal, Arthur’s words from that day were seeping back into her, creeping into her mind one by one.

She rembered every word.

"The first ti I saw you like this, I wasn’t even there for you. I was curious about the one who kept bringing Somto to the hospital every month. He wouldn’t say your na, wouldn’t explain. But he had that look, that look he gets when soone ans more to him than his own life. That’s when I knew. Sothing was different. Sothing was important. So I ca. Though I didn’t stay long enough to even register your face. I cared... but only because you were connected to Somto. Compared to now, that version of barely cared at all. How could I? I was too busy searching for you, Anastasia. And you were right there, in front of , that day. I wish I had known. Unlike that day... now, every ti I see you like this, my heart feels like it’s being squeezed to death."

Her heart pounded as the mory echoed, and yet, her gaze never left Arthur.

Those words could have been dismissed as normal, sothing a friend or brother might say. But the tone that day, the emotions behind them, had been different. Too different. It wasn’t like Abuchi, or Ava, or any of the others who cared for her.

No, those words carried the sa weight, the sa rawness, that she had only ever heard from Somto who apparently loved her.

At the ti of her coma, she couldn’t place it. She had brushed it aside, laughed at Darius’s theory when he teased later. The thought had seed impossible. But now, now that she was seeing everything more clearly...