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 | could handle it. And I’m not blaming you. | won't. I'm the one to blame,

Arthur, not you, not anyone else. | won't share the guilt." His gaze softened but didn’t waver. "But you constantly

remindingof it doesn’t help. | 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 cto 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, | would gladly accept it."

"Look, I'm doing everything | 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 toward the door, opened it, and paused only a second. "And

letwork." With that, he stepped out and closed it behind him.

Arthur didn’t move. His gaze never followed Carl, not even for a breath. Instead, his eyes lingered on Nnenna,

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

had been left behind in the waking world.

"You know..." Arthur's voice clow, almost unsure if he wanted her to hear him or if he was just talking to

himself. "The first t| saw you like this, | wasn’t even there for you. | 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 his own life. That's when | knew. Something was

different. Something was important. So | came. Though | didn’t stay long enough to even register your face."

He swallowed, his jaw tightening as regret edged his whisper. "I cared... but only because you were connected to

Somto. Compared to now, that version ofbarely cared at all. How could I? | was too busy searching for you,

Anastasia. And you were right there, in front of me, that day. | wish I had known."

Arthur leaned forward, his hand hovering as if he wanted to touch her but couldn’t bring himself to. His voice

dropped, hoarse with ache. "Unlike that day... now, every t| see you like this, my heart feels like it's being

squeezed to death."

"Il... we had to make a choice for you," Arthur said, his voice low, carrying both weight and worry. "I can’t know

what you would have wanted if you could decide for yourself. | know you're strong... and I'll be here to help you

face whatever comes next. But sometimes, | wonder if you would rather just... end it all, knowing what's ahead."

He paused, swallowing hard, 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 | can do is hope it's what you would have wanted... and promise

you this, Ill be here, every step of the way. All of us will. Even that infuriating Carl," he added, a faint, reluctant

smirk breaking through the seriousness.

Arthur's eyes softened, a rare vulnerability flashing in them. "I might be mad at him, sure. But | would never

downplay his goodness, his loyalty... or the love he carries for you, Nnenna. Not once."

Nodding to himself, he began recounting everything that had happened in Prigrian while she was in Riverum.

"Ava says you're not missing any schoolwork. The academy hasn’t resumed yet, but honestly, | wouldn't worry

even if you missed a few months. You're already ahead of your class and can challenge your seniors, your

lecturers know that, including Carl and me."

He hesitated for a moment, then continued. "Ava wantedto tell you she misses you. | didn’t tell them what

happened... because, 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. | didn’t want them to worry, I'm sure you understand that."

I" :

Oh and | thought about going to

Lionara to inform your family about...

I : : [1

Somto," he admitted quietly. "I mean,

anD 2 g f g

it's time, right? It's already been six

months since that Py andsemsine

should {ql dere Bubit didnt feel

. 5 )

ri oing alone. They're your

family... and telling them that their

eldest brother and King is gone...

q ) q 3

well, it wouldn't feel right coming

from me. They barely know me. It

should cfrom you. Especially

because you knew him better than

anyone else in your family. If you tell

them the truth that... he was happy...

) : PY)

they'll believe you, and it'll mean more

q " q

coming from you." The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

I" :

You have a lot of missed calls from

your friends, both the ones in Prigfian

: u [i

and Lionara, Arghuh&éid gents.

aiden you were fine. Hope you

) q

don't mind. News about you has to

5 . n

be kept confidential for your safety.

I" . )

As for our plans to continue Somto's

life work and recover your kingdom...

well, that is still on ROIEALirSY We

or re

wanted to recover mentally, but

now you also have to recover

q , and

physically. Don't worry, it's been

managed well... The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

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