They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System Chapter 635: Permission or No Permission

George shook his head, still reeling. "I never would’ve guessed you two were this close. No wonder people got it twisted. So already think you and Prince Carl are dating, or worse, having so kind of secret affair."

Nnenna blinked, then burst into laughter. George joined in, both of them amused at how far people’s minds could wander without knowing the truth.

"But wait..." George tilted his head, narrowing his eyes. "If you’re his younger sister, doesn’t that make you a royal?"

"Yeah... sothing like that." Nnenna gave a small nod, deciding he could be trusted with that much.

George threw his hands up. "You’re a freaking royal! And I’ve been addressing you so wrongly this whole ti. You should’ve told !" His tone carried playful rebuke, though there was a trace of genuine bla underneath.

"I don’t mind it," Nnenna said with a shrug, as if the matter was nothing.

"Fine, maybe you don’t. But I’m sure Carl does," George muttered, half grinning, half worried. "Thank God he hasn’t heard call you so casually. I would have ruined my chances with my ntor forever. He’s the reason I even went into dicine and surgery, you know."

"Don’t worry. You’re safe," Nnenna reassured, her voice light but steady.

"Yeah, right," George said, clearly not convinced. He waved her off with mock seriousness. "Go on then. Don’t keep His Royal Highness waiting."

"Sure, sure." Nnenna smirked, walking away amused at his dramatics.

--------

At Carl’s office.

"You’re here," Carl said once Nnenna walked in.

"Yeah. What are we doing today?" she asked, settling down opposite him.

"We’re revising," Carl replied firmly. "Your exam is in a month. Fortunately, over the past two months, we’ve kept up with your lessons. Once revision is out of the way, you can focus more on your other majors. Martial arts especially, your body still needs extra work after recovering."

"You’re right," Nnenna nodded. "But it’s not as bad as you think. I didn’t slack in those two months. I didn’t just study my first major, I also practiced my other majors. That way, it’ll be easier to focus on what I wasn’t able to do before when I regained the use of my legs, and also learn more."

She paused, then added, "I’ve already contacted Hannah, we’ll et this evening. And according to Arthur, a month is more than enough for him to teach what I need to graduate. I spent a lot of ti practicing back then, when I was fueled by revenge. It was the wrong motivation... but very effective."

As she spoke, she studied Carl carefully, trying to see if he still carried any obsession with that dark period. But his expression stayed calm, focused only on the present. Relieved, she continued, "The part that might be more difficult for is my fourth major, strategy."

"I found so very helpful books in Somto’s study after he died," Nnenna explained. "I’ve been reading them whenever I could, but I still need a teacher, soone with enough experience to turn theory into practice for ."

Carl leaned back, massaging his forehead like a headache was building. "Okay... I have soone in mind. But I’m not sure if I want to bring him in again."

Nnenna tilted her head, curious. "Who is it?"

"Darius," Carl said at last. "He also specialized in strategy. There is... soone better than him, but she’s been missing for years. Most likely dead. So the next best person I can think of is Darius."

"Why do you sound like you’re choking on the thought?" Nnenna asked, amused. "If he’s good at what he does, then he deserves a chance. I need all the help I can get, Carl. So, if you could please set aside whatever issues you have with him, I would appreciate it."

"I know," Carl muttered. "But rember, he always has sothing going on. I’ll have to ask him first if he’s even available. Then we’ll see."

"Okay. Thank you," Nnenna nodded. Then, with a knowing glance, she added, "And don’t forget to give Arthur a heads up. Sothing tells he’ll need more convincing. He seems to have it out for Darius... not that Darius makes it any easier."

"Yeah..." Carl’s voice trailed off, like he knew perfectly well why those two never saw eye to eye. "He’ll agree. It’s for your own good, after all. And I’m sure he wants the best for you."

"If you say so." Nnenna shrugged, brushing it aside. "So, revisions." She pulled out her exercise books. "Where do we begin exactly?"

"From the beginning," Carl answered gently.

Hours passed.

By the ti they wrapped up, Nnenna left for her dance lesson, and Carl finally reached for his phone.

Ring... ring... ring...

Just as the call was about to end, soone picked up.

"I didn’t expect to hear from you this soon," Darius’s voice ca through, teasing as always.

"Well, I didn’t think I would have to call you this soon either," Carl replied evenly, choosing not to be offended.

"What’s up?" Darius asked after a pause.

Carl’s tone shifted, serious now. "How long has it been since you last practiced strategy? I know your career’s in psychiatry now, but I need to know if your strategies are still sharp."

"It’s been a while," Darius admitted, voice thoughtful. "But I wouldn’t say I’ve forgotten everything overnight. Why are you asking this?"

Carl exhaled slowly. No use circling around it. "I need you to teach Nnenna."

The words landed heavy, reluctant, but honest. Deep down, he expected Darius to agree imdiately, after all, when he was treating her, he never left her side.

But what Carl heard next surprised him.

"I’m sorry I can’t," Darius replied almost imdiately.

"I’m sorry—" Carl frowned. "I don’t think I heard you right."

"I said, I’m sorry, I can’t teach her." Darius repeated, firr this ti. "Is that all?" His voice had lost its relaxed edge, growing clipped, as if ready to end the call.

"Wait, hold on." Carl stopped him quickly, sensing he was seconds from cutting the line. "What’s this about?"

"It’s nothing," Darius replied flatly. "I just don’t have the ti to teach. I’m busy."

"Busy?" Carl pressed, disbelief creeping into his tone. "Busy with what? I haven’t heard of anything happening that could keep you that occupied, not even enough to guide her through calls."

He paused, then added quietly, "Is this about the way we treated you in Riverum? Co on, Darius, you have to understand. You crossed boundaries with Nnenna, my little sister. Put yourself in my shoes, no one would be comfortable with what you were doing, saying and thinking. She’s not one of those girls you date and dump after a few months."

"It’s not about that," Darius replied, his tone hardening. "I’m serious this ti. And whether I have your permission or not, I’ll still try to woo Nnenna. Respectfully, yes, but I’ll try. Because she’s worth it."

Carl expected anger to rise in him at those words, but instead, silence. He just listened.

So Darius continued, voice steady. "I’m busy with sothing for now. So I can’t teach her."

"I really doubt that," Carl cut in, suspicion sharpening his voice. "What are you busy with?"

"...It’s none of your business," Darius replied, still serious.

"Fine. I’m asking you as a friend," Carl said at last, pulling the one card Darius rarely ignored. "She needs a teacher. And we need a strategist for consultation."

"Carl..." Darius hesitated. His serious tone slipped. "It’s not that I don’t want to help you. You’ve helped countless tis, I would do almost anything for you. But not this one. I just... can’t." His voice sounded tired. Almost pleading.

Carl frowned, unsettled by the tone. What could make Darius, cocky, stubborn Darius, sound this helpless?

"Are you in trouble?" Carl asked carefully, leaning forward as though he could bridge the distance through sheer will. "If you are, tell . I can help."

"You can’t help this ti," Darius said softly. "I’ll figure it out." A beat of silence. Then, almost reluctantly, "I should go now. Tell Nnenna I said hello."

"Tell her yourself, when you co over." Carl insisted, refusing to let him slip away. "Co over, and we’ll figure out a solution to whatever you’re tangled in. Two heads are better than one."

There was a pause on the line.

"...Does she know I’m coming?" Darius asked at last, hope creeping into his voice. "Does she... want to co?"

Carl froze. He didn’t like where this was going. But it wasn’t his place to stand in their way. If sothing was to happen, he had to trust Nnenna to make her own choices.

"Yes," Carl admitted finally. "She knows I planned to call you. And yes... she wants you to teach her. You’re already her friend, so it’ll be easier to learn from you than from a stranger."

"...Okay." Darius’s voice shifted back, strength returning, like a mask slipping over his earlier vulnerability. "I’ll book a flight for tomorrow." He stopped. Then his voice broke into sothing rawer, more reckless. "No. I miss her too much. I’ll get on the next flight."

The line went dead.

Carl stared at his phone, his expression darkening into sothing between frustration and inevitability. I knew it.