They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System Chapter 664: Mommy!

Chapter 664: Mommy!

The faint hum of the elevator filled the silence between them as the floor number ticked down.

“You rembered sothing,” he said quietly, his tone calm but laced with concern.

Nnenna blinked, her breathing uneven. The golden light of the elevator felt too bright, the air too heavy. “Arthur,” she whispered at last. “I was in here with Arthur… about thirteen years ago.”

Carl’s gaze softened. “Go on.”

“I didn’t— I wanted to spend the day with him,” she said, her voice trembling between mory and realization. “Then we… we decided to hide f-from everyone.”

“Okay.” Carl nodded slowly, reassuringly. “That’s good. I an, it’s good you’re rembering.”

The elevator chid softly, doors sliding open to reveal the castle’s vast ground floor, sunlight flooding the marble hall. But Nnenna didn’t move. Her reflection wavered faintly in the polished doors, her expression caught between relief and frustration.

“Don’t be in a haste. It’ll co naturally, okay?” Carl reassured, noticing her frustration. His calm steadiness softened the edge in her voice. “Let’s continue with the tour. Maybe you’ll rember more as we move around.”

“Sure,” Nnenna nodded faintly.

The elevator doors slid open, and the sight that t her eyes stole her breath.

Elyndra Castle stretched far and wide, a place reborn from its ashes. The marble floors glead, the tall glass windows filled the halls with soft light, and the walls carried faint traces of the past, repaired but not forgotten. Every sound echoed gently, as if the castle itself breathed.

“It’s… bigger than I imagined,” she murmured.

Carl smiled beside her. “It’s one of the largest royal compounds in the continent. After the war, they rebuilt it to stand as a reminder that Elyndra still lives.”

They walked through the wide corridor, their steps echoing lightly. Silver railings lined the staircases that spiraled upward toward long galleries, and high above, crystal lights hung like frozen stars. The castle wasn’t cold, it was alive with quiet strength.

Now and then, Nnenna caught sight of attendants moving in the distance, their voices low and respectful.

Through wide archways, she could glimpse courtyards, fountains, and wide terraces that looked out over the city below. The world beyond was just as vast as within, sprawling roads, rebuilt bridges, and the faint outline of the hills that had once been battlefields.

As they walked, the air slowly changed, cool stone giving way to a faint, refreshing scent. They reached a broad passage with tall glass doors ahead, sunlight pouring through them. Beyond the glass, she caught a glimpse of green.

Carl paused and turned to her with a small nod. “The garden’s just beyond here. Commander Haru ntioned it was one of Somto’s favourite places.”

Nnenna’s fingers brushed the smooth fra of the door. The light, the scent, the feeling, it stirred sothing faint and familiar inside her.

“I rember this place,” Nnenna whispered, her fingers trailing softly against the glass door as she pushed it open.

The scent of fresh earth and blooming petals t her like a forgotten lullaby. Carl followed quietly behind, watching her every movent, careful not to interrupt whatever was unfolding in her mind.

They stepped into the garden. The air felt alive, filled with the hum of hidden life. Flower beds stretched in neat, endless rows, separated by winding stone paths.

Every color imaginable blood around them, golden irises, deep blue lilies, and silver leaved vines that shimred faintly in the sunlight. Yet, it was a small, secluded section at the far end of the garden that drew her in.

Nnenna’s steps slowed. Her breath caught.

Her gaze fell on a patch of flowers, vivid, delicate, and unlike anything she had ever seen before. The mory struck like lightning.

The world around her blurred.

—

A soft giggle echoed through the garden. Tiny feet pattered over the grass.

Three year old Anastasia, her brown curls bouncing with every step, ran barefoot across the sun ward lawn. She wore a light lavender dress, its hem brushing against her knees, the fabric speckled with faint soil stains from earlier play.

“Mommy!” her small voice rang out, bright and full of joy.

Ahead, a woman knelt in the garden, her back turned, long hair cascading down her back, swaying gently in the breeze. She wore soft gloves and a sun hat, and in her hand was a silver watering jug glinting in the light.

At the sound of her daughter’s voice, the woman froze for a heartbeat. Then she turned slightly, just enough for her profile to catch the sunlight. She smiled, though her full face remained hidden from view.

“Dew drop,” she called softly, setting the jug aside as the little girl ran into her arms.

The woman laughed as Anastasia collided with her, wrapping her small arms around her waist. She lifted the girl slightly, careful not to smudge her dress with the dirt from her gloves.

“You were supposed to be with your nanny,” her mother teased gently.

“I missed you,” Anastasia replied with a shy grin, nuzzling her head against her mother’s shoulder.

“Ah, my dew drop…” The woman’s tone softened, like a lody. “You always find , don’t you?”

Anastasia’s eyes widened as she noticed the flowers surrounding them. “Mommy, what are these?” she asked, pointing to the cluster of strange blooms.

Her mother crouched beside her, guiding her small hand toward them. “These,” she began with pride, “are Moonveil Orchids. They only bloom under a mixture of moonlight and frost.”

The little girl gasped in awe.

“And these,” the woman continued, pointing to another patch of crimson blossoms that seed to glow faintly, “are Solaris Hearts. They can survive only in places where sunlight lasts longer than twelve hours. I made them grow here using Elyndra’s reflective panels.”

Anastasia leaned closer, eyes wide and sparkling. “You made them?”

Her mother nodded. “Through a bit of science, patience, and love. See those silver leaves over there? That’s Lunaria Frostvine. It can freeze dew into tiny crystals overnight, so I call it the guardian of the garden.”