<h4>Chapter 558: Just Let Me Do This For Him</h4>


    Two Months Later


    Knock. Knock. Knock.


    "Come in," a voice came from inside the study.


    "Hey, Arthur. Have you seen Nnenna? She’s not in her room." Carl stepped in, shutting the door behind him.


    Arthur didn’t look up from the papers on his desk. "You’re no longer giving her space?" His tone was calm, almost too calm, matter of fact.


    Carl frowned. "First of all, I was neverfortable with that idea, clinically or emotionally. But she insisted that’s what she needed. Two months, Arthur. Two months is too much space. I decided I woulde over, stay here for a while... keep herpany, see how she’s really doing." His voice carried certainty, but also a quiet frustration.


    Arthur finally looked up, his eyes unreadable. "You should have called beforeing. It’s a wasted trip. She’s not here."


    Carl blinked. "Not here? What do you mean not here?"


    Arthur leaned back in his chair. "She signed up for another posting."


    Carl’s expression darkened. "Didn’t she juste back from one yesterday? Ava mentioned it. She said she was taking a break too. Why is Nnenna running off to another mission already?" His voice rose,ced with annoyance. "Why didn’t you stop her?"


    Arthur’s jaw tightened. His fingers stilled on the papers. "It’s what she wants," he said tly. Then he paused, the words catching in his throat. "And it’s... none of my business how she wants to deal with—" He stopped mid sentence, as if forcing the rest back down.


    Carl pursed his lips, unwilling to hear what Arthur had almost said. "You could have at least kept a better eye on her. I was hoping you would do that while I’m away," he muttered, his tone halfint, half concern.


    Arthur didn’t answer. His expression stayed cold, his focus fixed on the papers in front of him as if Carl’s words had never been spoken.


    Knock. Knock.


    The sound echoed again.


    "Come in," Arthur said without looking up.


    The door opened and the housekeeper stepped inside, bowing slightly. "Your Highness, you asked me to inform you when Princess Nnenna returned. She’s in her room now. She said she forgot something, the socks you told me to hide earlier. She’ll likely be leaving again in a few minutes."


    Arthur froze.


    Carl’s gaze slid to him, sharp and sarcastic. He said nothing at first, just letting the silence speak for him. Arthur waved the housekeeper away quickly.


    "Thank you," Arthur muttered.


    The old man left, shutting the door behind him.


    Carl crossed his arms, his lips curling faintly. "None of your business, huh?" he repeated Arthur’s earlier words slowly, deliberately.


    Arthur’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t defend himself.


    Carl stood, shaking his head with a faint, knowing smile. "I’m d you’re looking after her," he said simply, then walked out.


    Arthur sat in silence, his lips pressed together, the faintest hint of embarrassment in his eyes at being caught.


    "Hey, Nnenna."


    Carl pushed open the already ajar door.


    Nnenna stiffened at the sound of his voice. Too quickly, she shoved the papers in her hands into her desk drawer, as if hiding a secret.


    Carl’s eyes narrowed. "What are you hiding? Let me see."


    "It’s nothing. Just schoolwork," she said, her voice a little too fast, a little too forced.


    Carl didn’t buy it. "Since when do you hide schoolwork?" He stepped closer, his suspicion sharpening.


    For months she hadn’t answered his calls, hadn’t spoken to anyone, not even Queen White. That was part of the reason he hade back.


    Something was wrong, and the way she sat there looking guilty only confirmed it.


    Ignoring her weak protest, Carl pulled open the drawer. Nnenna froze, her hands curling tightly around the edge of her chair.


    One by one, he lifted the papers. The further he read, the more his face drained of color. His jaw locked, his hands shaking slightly as he turned another page.


    Finally, he mmed them back on the desk, eyes zing. "Have you lost your mind?!" he demanded, anger and fear mixing in his voice.


    Nnenna swallowed hard but lifted her chin stubbornly. "I know what I’m doing."


    Carl’s chest heaved, his frustration spilling over. He pped a hand on the papers. "This, this is a suicide mission! And you stand there telling me you ’know what you’re doing’?!"


    "I’ve been nning this for weeks, more than a month now," Nnenna said, her voice tight but steady. "I know what I’m doing. Just don’t stand in my way."


    She yanked her bag off the chair, snatched the papers from Carl’s hand, and stormed toward the door.


    Carl followed, his voice rising. "Killing yourself will not bring him back, Nnenna! Neither will it do anything good for you!"


    She spun halfway around, eyes zing, tears brimming but unshed. "It will do something for me, it will give me peace. And since none of you are doing anything about it, I’ll take matters into my own hands."


    Her tone cracked but her words remained firm. "I’m sure I’ll be fine."


    And she wasn’t just bluffing. Thest two months had been nothing but missions, postings, nonstop training. She had collected scars and skills, pushing herself further each day, earning more experience points than most year fours.


    Even though she was technically in year four, her ability was no longer that of a normal student. Plus, she had umted lots of good points too.


    This n wasn’t born from a reckless impulse, it was crafted through sleepless nights and calcted risks. Nearly two months of preparation.


    "I can do this..." Her voice softened now, trembling with emotion. "Just... just let me do this for him."


    "And then what?" Carl’s voice cracked, louder than he intended. "You go out there, and what, probably die? Most likely die?" He jabbed a finger at the papers clutched in her hands.


    "Why didn’t you think to ask any of us for help? Even if you wanted this, even if you felt you had to, at least we could have told you it wasn’t the right time yet. That you needed patience!"