<h4>Chapter 571: Where Were We?</h4>
The fact that Carl himself had asked the steward to introduce them showed how much he valued them.
On the surface, they looked trustworthy, if she ignored the tantck of respect. Respect, after all, had to be earned. To them, she was just someone who appeared out of nowhere, undeserving of the regard they gave Carl.
She gave them one more look, while they openly studied her in return, waiting for drama. Their eyes seemed to say: This little girl, still wet behind the ears, must be itching to run off and report us.
Let her try. His Highness would never believe her over us. We’ve been with him for years; many of us even served his parents. And she? She only showed up in his life about a year ago.
Their thoughts were practically written on their faces as they watched her sitting in the high seat reserved for the prince. How uncultured, their expressions whispered.
They weren’t worried about consequences. In their minds, they had already dismissed her, this so called gold digger who appeared out of nowhere.
Probably an orphan who tricked His Highness into adopting her. Low ss, undisciplined... they had already heard enough about the way she had broken protocol within hours of arriving. Disturbing His Highness.
But they were dead wrong.
Nnenna couldn’t care less about their acknowledgment. She scanned them onest time, unbothered that they had been left standing.
So they think my only power is to run crying to Carl? Too bad. Whatever punishment he would give them would be mildpared to what I have in mind. Carl would likely just dismiss them. But where’s the fun in that?
"You may all go now, except Daniel and Elin," she finally said.
Just as expected, the small crowd traded knowing nces. Here ites, they thought. The tantrum.
They looked at the two left behind with a mix of pity and anticipation, as though saying farewell. Riverum Castle, once peaceful, was about to know troublesome days. A tyrant had arrived.
Daniel and Elin, however, weren’t shaken. They stood firm, returning the others’ looks with reassuring confidence. To be the heads of security, they weren’t pushovers.
Once the dining hall cleared, only four remained: Nnenna, the housekeeper, Daniel, and Elin.
"Housekeeper, I’m suddenly hungry," Nnenna said calmly. "Bring me some fruit, please."
"Fruit?" The three exchanged startled nces. This wasn’t what they had expected. Wasn’t she about to throw a tantrum?
Still, the housekeeper obeyed. Within five minutes, a servant returned with a tray of assorted fruits.
"Thank you," Nnenna said politely.
That simple courtesy earned a surprised look from the servant, and muffled scoffs from Daniel and Elin. Nnenna, unconcerned, picked up a slice of pineapple and took a bite.
"Wow, this is so good. It’s not sour at all," she said aloud, savoring the taste.
And she kept on eating, leisurely.
Ten minutes passed.
Then fifteen.
With each passing minute, Daniel’s and Elin’s faces darkened.
The housekeeper had already slipped out, since she hadn’t asked him to stay, though not before giving the two security heads a subtle look, a silent reminder: Show some respect to the new princess. His Highness clearly values her.
Discipline kept the guards rooted to the spot for the first ten minutes. That silent warning stretched them another five.
But on the sixteenth minute, patience ran dry.
"Princess," Daniel finally spoke, voice taut.
"Yes?" Nnenna replied, popping a grape into her mouth.
"You instructed us to wait behind. Do you have any instructions for us?" he asked, dragging up thest of his patience.
"Oh, I remember." Nnenna popped another grape. "But it’s not polite to talk while eating. I’m sure that’s one of your precious protocols here, right?" She turned to Elin.
"Yes," Elin admitted reluctantly. Dining rules did say so.
"Great!" Nnenna’s smile beamed, and she resumed eating, slower this time, deliberately savoring each bite.
Another five minutes crawled by. Daniel’s jaw ticked with every second until he snapped.
"Your Highness, your servants will return after you’re finished eating," he said, already turning to leave with Elin.
"Did I say you could leave?"
Her voice cut cold and sharp through the hall, freezing them mid step.
"...No, Your Highness," Daniel forced out between clenched teeth.
"Then where are you going?" Nnenna asked, tilting her head with innocent curiosity. Her big eyes blinked twice, almost childlike, the cold edge gone as quickly as it came.
For one dangerous second, both guards just stared.
She was... cute. Adorable, even.
The thought startled them, and they quickly snapped out of it. Cute? This tyrant? No. Impossible.
That had to be the trick.
That must be how she was deceiving their prince.
"I just thought, since Your Highness is busy, we coulde backter so you can better enjoy your... fruits. We wouldn’t want to be a nuisance," Daniel said smoothly, weaving the words into what he thought was a clever excuse. For a small girl like her, she would probably nod in agreement and even thank him.
"I see..." Nnenna tilted her head, as if giving it deep thought.
Daniel and Elin exchanged a nce. So na?ve.
"No," Nnenna said suddenly, her voice bright. "You can stay. It’s not a nuisance at all."
The two stiffened, shock shing across their faces. With no excuse left that wouldn’t look like open defiance, they silently returned to their ces.
Thirty agonizing minutes crawled by.
Nnenna leisurely picked her way through every fruit, her appetite oddly improving as she ate.
The housekeeper popped in every five to ten minutes, each time checking discreetly. By the second visit, even he realized she was stalling on purpose. Still, he quietly arranged for any empty tes to be cleared and left again.
Finally, Nnenna swallowed thest bite, dabbed her lips with the napkin, and turned toward the two guards whose expressions were now as ck as a soot kettle.
"Now..." she said lightly, as though nothing had happened. "Where were we?"