They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System Chapter 685 - Capítulo 685: You Left Me No Choice

Capítulo 685: You Left No Choice

As Nnenna spoke, a knock ca at the door.

Little Sweetie turned, pressed her palm to the scanner, and the door slid open with a soft chi. A maid stepped in, curtsying gracefully.

“Princess,” she greeted, her tone respectful but warm. “A birthday gift from Prince Carl.”

“Oh?” Nnenna blinked, surprised. “I wasn’t expecting any gifts, he already planned the entire coronation.”

The maid smiled politely, set a small golden box on the dressing table, and bowed out.

Little Sweetie checked the seal carefully before placing it fully on the table. “It’s safe,” she said.

Nnenna tugged at the golden wrapping, curiosity sparking in her eyes. The mont she lifted the lid, her breath caught.

Inside, resting on a cushion of white silk, was a pair of gold heels, not just ordinary gold, but the kind that seed to breathe light. Each strap shimred softly, catching the reflection of the chandelier above.

Tiny, hand cut crystals traced the curve of the heel, glinting like morning dew. The soles were engraved with delicate patterns, the royal crest of Elyndra intertwined with a small, familiar emblem: Carl’s insignia.

“They’re…” Nnenna whispered, lost for words. Her fingertips hovered above them as though touching them might break the mont. “They are stunning.”

Little Sweetie leaned closer, eyes wide. “These… these are the first pair of handcrafted Auris heels I’ve ever seen in person!” she gasped. “I’ve traveled all over the world, and they only make these for royal ceremonies. The tal alone costs more than a carriage of diamonds!”

Nnenna’s lips parted in awe. “He really went this far… for ?”

She smiled faintly, that kind of smile that ca with warmth and disbelief. “Trust Carl to mix thoughtfulness and perfection like this.”

Little Sweetie grinned. “Her big brother clearly wanted the new queen to step into her reign in style.”

Nnenna chuckled softly, brushing her thumb against the golden straps. “He always knows exactly what I’ll love.”

“Where is Carl anyway?” Nnenna asked suddenly, glancing at the clock. Only a few hours left until the coronation. “I need to thank him myself.”

“I’ll check,” Little Sweetie volunteered. She quickly tapped a ssage to one of her colleagues.

[Sergeant Rory, you were supposed to et with Prince Carl today, right? Have you seen him?]

A few minutes later, the reply ca.

[No, ma’am. He canceled the eting.]

Little Sweetie frowned. Carl rarely canceled a eting. Ever. Sothing didn’t feel right. She decided to ask a few more people, but none could give her a useful answer. Carl was… nowhere to be found.

Finally, she turned to the surveillance room. “Please, send the footage from today. I want his movents tracked.”

The reply ca almost instantly. After all, who would dare refuse a request from the future Queen’s close friend?

Little Sweetie pulled a chair closer to Nnenna. “No one’s seen Carl today, so I had the security team send the footage. I’ll run facial recognition on it,” she explained, already working on her tablet.

Minutes passed, the faint tapping of her fingers on the screen the only sound in the quiet room. Then, a ping.

“There!” Little Sweetie pointed, her eyes wide as Nnenna leaned closer.

Nnenna froze, staring at the screen. Her brow furrowed, lips parting slightly. “I… I don’t understand. He left the castle?”

Confusion and a faint rush of worry coiled in her chest. Carl, missing on the day of her coronation? That didn’t make sense. Not him.

Few hours to my coronation… and he just left without telling anyone? Nnenna muttered to herself. It really didn’t make sense. But he had seed fine just yesterday, maybe he was just running a casual errand.

Trying to calm herself, she dialed his number.

Tutu… tutu… tutu… The call rang, again and again, but no one picked up. Straight to voicemail every ti. She tried again. And again. And again. Nothing. Not giving up, she kept trying.

anwhile, on the outskirts of Elyndra, the road stretched quiet and peaceful, bathed in the warm glow of the evening sun. The city itself was readying for the coronation; most people had either settled in or made their way to watch the long awaited event. The streets were almost deserted, a mont of calm after the storm.

Suddenly, the stillness was shattered. Zoom!

A car shot past, moving at a dangerous speed, yet every turn and shift of the wheel was precise, controlled. Behind the driver’s seat was Carl.

His phone buzzed repeatedly beside him, sitting in the little compartnt on the dashboard. He didn’t glance at it at first, as if he already knew who was calling without needing to see.

After the fourth ring, he finally reached over and picked up the phone.

Not surprisingly, it was Nnenna.

He sighed quietly, staring at her na on the screen. For a mont, his mind drifted, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a sharp honk pierced the quiet. Carl’s eyes shot up, heart skipping a beat. A car was barreling straight at him, almost colliding with his. The call on his phone cut off mid ring.

Without thinking, he swerved, trying to avoid the oncoming vehicle. But the driver wasn’t ordinary. In a smooth, almost effortless move, the other car twisted, positioning itself sideways, blocking the narrow road entirely. Carl’s pulse quickened, there was no way forward.

“What the—” Carl muttered, his gaze snapping to the driver’s seat.

Arthur.

He was on a call, completely focused, calm yet impossibly precise. Carl’s breath caught. Of all people…

Back at the castle, Nnenna finally stopped dialing, her fingers hovering uncertainly over the screen. Sothing clicked in her mind.

If no one else knows where Carl is… and I didn’t get a mo… maybe Arthur does.

Putting aside the unease she always felt when thinking about him, she dialed. Hurriedly.

As always, Arthur picked up on the first ring.

“I’m a little busy right now,” he said in his usual cold, clipped tone.

“This is more important,” she replied firmly, her voice leaving no room for argunt.

Concern sharpened his tone. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Nnenna answered curtly, not wanting to let him see any vulnerability.

“It’s Carl,” she added, her voice tightening despite herself. “He left the castle. No one knows why… and I can’t reach him.”

Even as she spoke, Nnenna resolved not to depend on Arthur. She wouldn’t let herself get attached, too much had already happened. Yet a twinge of worry slipped through, betraying her careful control.

“Don’t worry,” Arthur reassured her, picking up on the tension in her voice. “He’s fine.”

At the sound of his calm, steady tone, Nnenna visibly relaxed, her shoulders lowering for the first ti in what felt like hours.

“Listen, I’ll call you back,” he added, eting Carl’s eyes without cutting the line imdiately. “Is that okay?”

“It’s fine. Thank you,” Nnenna replied, feeling a little helpless, but comforted nonetheless. Unconsciously, her calm returned, despite her earlier resolve not to depend on him. So much for reducing attachnt, she thought wryly.

“Is everything okay?” Little Sweetie asked from the side, still concerned but noticing Nnenna’s composure returning.

“Yes. Everything’s fine,” Nnenna answered, her calm restored almost instantly.

“Okay, then,” Little Sweetie nodded. “It’s high ti you got dressed. The designers will be here in half an hour for the final fitting,” she reminded, checking Nnenna’s to do list.

“Okay, let’s dress up,” Nnenna agreed, standing and moving toward her wardrobe.

Back on the narrow road, Carl and Arthur stared at each other, eyes locked in unspoken communication. Every movent asured, every glance loaded with history and tension.

Finally, as if on cue, both car doors swung open. Boots hit the ground simultaneously, echoing against the asphalt.

“Going sowhere?” Arthur asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm, but his eyes sharp and calculating.

“As a matter of fact, yes,” Carl replied calmly. “So if you could just move out of the way, I would like to continue.”

“Well, you’re not exactly going in the right direction, So I can’t move out of the way.” Arthur pointed out, blocking the path.

“Arthur.” Carl said quietly, his voice gentle but carrying an edge of warning.

“What are you going to do, shoot ?” Arthur asked, stepping closer. “I know you always carry a gun. The fact that I’m still standing in your way should say sothing.”

Carl sighed, retracting his warning. “You don’t understand. I need to go tonight.”

“Why?” Arthur pressed, giving him a chance to speak the truth.

“I just need to go,” Carl repeated firmly.

Arthur turned his back briefly, then walked to his car. He reached in and, in one sharp motion, flung a file toward Carl.

Carl caught it instinctively and opened it, skimming the first page. His expression darkened imdiately.

“He investigated ,” he muttered, voice low, a hint of anger slipping through despite his usual composure. Anyone watching closely could see he was not pleased.

“You left no choice,” Arthur said coldly, eyes locked on him.