Nnenna's heart pounded. No. Something about this confession felt wrong, forced, unnatural. The housekeeper was loyal, yes, but this sounded more like… a man cornered.
Carl's jaw tightened, but his eyes never left the bowed figure in front of him.
"No… that's not true."
Carl shook his head slowly, almost as if trying to shake away the words themselves.
"It's true," the housekeeper insisted, his voice breaking. "I don't want to look you in the eye and lie, Your Highness. I'm sorry."
He finally lifted his face, and though his eyes were red and downcast, the sorrow in them was unmistakable.
"But why?" Nnenna's voice came out sharper than she intended. Her chest tightened. What could possibly push him to this? What was his motive?
The question hung in the air, burning through every corner of the room. The servants leaned forward slightly, guards stiffened, even Daniel's cold expression flickered with curiosity. Everyone wanted the same answer.
