<h4>Chapter 567: What Made You Change Your Mind?</h4>


    She faltered, the words catching in her throat. For months, just saying his name felt heavy.


    But she was healing now, she had to push forward. She clenched her fists and forced the words out.


    "My strategy was personally taught by Somto. I can handle myself, and I can be a big help to you."


    "You’re being stubborn again," Carl said quietly, his gaze narrowing. It felt like déjà vu, the same reckless determination that had led to their big fight three months ago.


    Didn’t she just admit minutes ago that he had been right back then? Why was she throwing her life away again?


    "This isn’t stubbornness, Carl," Nnenna countered, her voice steady. "It’s confidence. You’re one of the few people who knows me best. When I say I can do something, it’s because I can. There’s always risk, but if I let fear stop me, I’ll never grow."


    Her eyes met his, unwavering. He still didn’t look convinced. So she reached for herst card.


    "Please," she whispered, voice trembling now. "I can’t lose another brother."


    That broke him. Carl’s insistent expression wavered. He was confident he could find the culprit and even a cure, but what if he failed?


    What if the poison stole his life before he got the chance to say goodbye? If Nnenna was close, at least he would see her onest time. It was selfish, but for once, he allowed himself to be selfish.


    And besides, this was his territory. With all his resources, he could keep her safer here than out there by the time she still does what she wants.


    He didn’t believe for a second that she would obediently return to Prigrian.


    After a long silence, he finally spoke.


    "You can stay. But you must listen to my instructions, and those of the people loyal to me. No running off on your own. Understand?"


    "Yes, yes, I will!" Nnenna broke into a radiant smile, hugging him tightly. "Thank you, Carl."


    Painnced through his chest, and he winced. Nnenna immediately pulled back, rm shing in her eyes.


    "I feel like you’re only staying to finish the job," he joked weakly, as if the pain was nothing, just to ease her worried look.


    Nnenna tried to smile back, but it faltered before it reached her eyes. No matter how much she wanted to reassure him, she couldn’t hide the weight pressing on her heart.


    "Ask the housekeeper to take you to your roomter," Carl said, deliberately trying to shift the heavy mood.


    "My room?" Nnenna blinked. "I’ve never even been here, how can I have a room?"


    "You were going toe eventually," Carl exined with a faint smile. "So I took the time to design your room. Great distraction for me. Tell me what you thinkter, alright?"


    Nnenna’s lips curved slightly. "Okay."


    "Go on now," Carl urged, waving her away.


    "Now? I can goter."


    "You just had almost a twenty four hour ride from Prigrian to Riverum. You must be exhausted."


    "I am," Nnenna admitted with a smallugh. "Alright, I’ll go." She took onest lingering look at him before standing up.


    But Carl’s voice stopped her.


    "What made you change your mind?"


    Nnenna turned back, puzzled.


    "You went to Purlit knowing it was dangerous. I don’t doubt your ability to rush into danger," he said, his eyes fixed steadily on her. "So whatever changed your mind this time, it must be something. I’m curious. Why did you change your mind?"


    Nnenna let out a soft sigh. "It was Arthur. He kind of gave me a talk that... weakened my resolve. Heavy emotional blows." Her lips twisted like she was holding a grudge. "Dude’s really an iceberg."


    But then she remembered the hug. The words he had whispered. Her expression softened despite herself.


    "Sometimes... he’s an iceberg. But not all the time."


    "I see," Carl replied with quiet amusement. "Maybe I’ll have to ask him for one of those speeches someday."


    Nnenna shook her head quickly. "Trust me, it’s not fun."


    Her tone grew more thoughtful as she continued. "After that, Arthur gave me a ne ticket to Riverum. It felt like... he was trusting me to make my own choice, but only after really considering all the facts. I got to the airport with my destination clear, still Reshmi—"


    "But after locating the flight to Reshmi... I just stood there," Nnenna admitted. "For minutes. And I couldn’t move forward anymore. I didn’t have all the answers, but I knew I was most likely not thinking clearly. I mean, how good can a n be if I came up with it while I was grieving?"


    Her gaze fell briefly, then lifted again. "It didn’t ur to me before, but as I stood there, I realized it. I looked at the two tickets in my hand and it hit me, Arthur knew I had to go somewhere. But he wouldn’t dictate where. He gave me a choice. He trusted me to make the right one. So... I changed routes, verified my ticket to Riverum, and came here."


    Carl stayed quiet, watching her.


    "I wasn’t even sure what I would do once I got here," Nnenna went on. "Finding your residence wasn’t a problem, you made me memorize your address, remember? But getting into the castle? That was another thing. Who knew that once I came close, the gate just... opened. Your housekeeper walked out, didn’t even treat it as strange. I told him who I was, and he brought me in. Then that door—" she pointed at Carl’s room door—"it opened on its own before we even knocked."


    Her eyes narrowed slightly, realization dawning. "Now that I think about it, it’s just like your office at the academy, isn’t it? You programmed my face in, so the door would open whenever I got close. Didn’t you?"


    "Yes, I did," Carl admitted.


    "So Arthur sent me here because he knew you were sick?" Nnenna asked, trying to piece it together.