<h4>Chapter 580: What Do We Have Here??</h4>


    It all made sense now. So that’s why she suddenly stepped inpletely... to protect him. To make sure nothing slipped through again.


    But the realization left a bitter taste. Nnenna had been at least seventy percent sure nanny was the culprit. Now that certainty crumbled.


    Why did I ever think this would be simple? she wondered, her chest tightening. This is getting trickier by the second.


    Still, she didn’t lose hope.


    "Who’s next on the list?" she asked, turning to Christopher.


    Seeing that she had seemingly admitted defeat, the tension in the room eased. Shoulders dropped, expressions softened, and everyone shifted their attention back to Christopher.


    The meeting dragged on for hours. By the end, four names stood out, four people whose actions, patterns, and positions gave them both motive and opportunity.


    Surveince footage, personal ess, the authority they held, and even the trust they had been granted all painted a damning picture.


    Four suspects. Four shadows circling Carl.


    And the noose was tightening.


    "We’ll keep an eye on these four," Daniel dered, pushing back his chair and rising to his feet. His tone brooked no argument. "The housekeeper, the private secretary, the head chef, and his sous chef."


    His gaze swept the room like a de.


    "Christopher, you’ll take the housekeeper. Rick, the private secretary. Elin, the sous chef. I’ll handle the head chef myself. The rest of you, stay alert. Eyes and ears open. Understood?"


    "Yes, Captain!" they chorused in unison.


    Nnenna pressed her lips together, forcing herself to stay quiet. On the surface, it was neat, organized, four suspects, four handlers. Case closed.


    But her gut still nagged at her. Nanny might look more like a mother hen fussing over her chick than a schemer capable of poisoning Carl, yet... something didn’t add up. Instinct refused to let her walk away from it.


    Fine, she decided silently. They can y by Daniel’s rules. I’ll y by mine.


    She wordlessly pushed back her chair and left the hall, her quiet exit drawing every pair of eyes. Murmurs of surprise rippled behind her. They had expected her to argue, to fight formand like before.


    Daniel watched her retreating back and gave a low scoff, unseen by the others.


    Good riddance.


    Inside the main castle, Nnenna realized lunchtime had already passed. Not that it mattered, she wasn’t in the mood to eat anyway. She headed toward the elevator when the housekeeper’s voice called out behind her.


    "Your Highness, you haven’t had breakfast or lunch yet. Should I ask the kitchen to also prepare something for you? Maybe a brunch?" His tone carried genuine concern.


    "No need," Nnenna replied, brushing past him. But then she paused, her words trailing as a thought struck her. "Wait... who else is the kitchen preparing for?"


    "Well, His Highness’s dinner is being prepared right now," the housekeeper answered.


    "I see..." Nnenna murmured, her mind sharpening. A secondter, she forced a small smile. "Actually, I think I’ll have that brunch after all."


    "That’s wonderful, Your Highness. I’ll have it arranged at once," the housekeeper said with a relieved smile, bowing before hurrying off.


    Nnenna nodded back politely, her smile fading the moment his back turned. Instead of going her way, she followed quietly.


    If Carl’s dinner was already being prepared, then this was her chance. Walking straight into the kitchen would only make the staff alert and cautious, but slipping in unnoticed? That might reveal something useful.


    Her pulse quickened. If the poison really hade from the food, then tonight’s preparations were the key.


    Nnenna trailed behind the housekeeper, careful to keep her distance while weaving past passing servants. When she finally reached the kitchen doors, she stopped short.


    Love System, I’m not familiar with thisyout. Where can I possibly hide to observe what’s going on inside? she asked silently.


    Let me check... The system paused for a beat before answering. There’s a small storeroom you can ess from the hallway.


    "Which hallway?" Nnenna whispered under her breath, ncing left and right. "There are so many of them."


    Obviously the one you just passed, the system replied tly.


    "Oh." Heat crept up her neck. "That... makes sense." Feeling a little embarrassed, she spun on her heels and retraced her steps.


    She found the hallway and pushed open a in wooden door. Sure enough, it was a storeroom, though disappointingly empty.


    Nnenna frowned. "How am I supposed to see what’s happening in the kitchen from here?"


    You can use the vent system, the system suggested.


    Her eyes darted up to a small, square vent tucked into the wall. She lit up. "Brilliant! That’ll work perfectly for me."


    But then the thrill evaporated as quickly as it came. She froze, tilting her head back at the vent’s inconvenient height.


    "...It’s too high. I’m not tall enough."


    Her little victory ended prematurely.


    "I need a stool."


    Ding!


    100 Good Points deducted. Reminder: you can only use it for five minutes, the love system warned in her mind.


    As the sound faded, Nnenna spotted a stool leaning against the wall. "Five minutes is more than enough," she muttered, dragging it into ce under the vent. She hitched up her dress and climbed on top, wobbling slightly before steadying herself.


    From this new angle, she finally had the perfect view of the kitchen. Her eyes scanned the room quickly, chief chef, sous chef, nanny, and the housekeeper. All ounted for.


    But... nothing. No odd movements, no whispered exchanges. Everyone looked perfectly normal.


    Her frustration grew as the seconds ticked by. She was about to step down, annoyed at wasting her points, when something flickered at the edge of her vision.


    Her gaze snapped to the housekeeper, just in time to see him discreetly pull out a small bottle from the cab.


    "Well, what do we have here..." Nnenna whispered, narrowing her eyes.


    She stayed utterly still, watching. The housekeeper shifted his stance, his body angled to block the view from others as he leaned over the steaming pot of soup.