They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Chapter 472: | Don’t Remember Asking For An Explanation

The young man went on, his voice gaining confidence. "It's obvious you won't go far in life if you keep behaving

this way."

His words hung in the air, sharp and heavy.

Elder Knox's expression darkened ever so slightly, a faint crease appearing between his brows. It was clear he

did not approve of his grandson’s arrogance, but he didn’t speak up yet.

"Oh?" Carl's calm voice broke the charged silence. He shifted in his seat and turned to look at the young man,

his gaze unreadable. "You think my sister will not go far in life?"

His tone was so mild, so matter of fact, that for a moment it almost sounded like he was simply curious. The

tension eased, just a little, because everyone guessed Carl couldn't possibly be angry over something so trivial.

After all, she was just a girl, and the people being disrespectful were the celebrated children of the Minister of

Foreign Affairs and Elder Knox's grandchildren. No one would expect Carl to care enough to—

"Get out."

The words fell into the room like a boulder dropped into still water.

For a heartbeat, no one moved.

Everyone, except Elder Knox, stared at Carl in disbelief, including Nnenna herself.

She hadn't supported the rude behavior, and she also hadn't planned to "humble" herself before them either.

She was just prepared to stay calm, maybe ignore them, and if they pushed too far, she would deal with it in her

own way, without causing any trouble for Carl.

But Carl hadn't even hesitated.

He was throwing the young man out like it was the easiest thing in the world. Openly offending them in front of

their celebrated grandfather, like it meant absolutely nothing.

The young girl, Stephanie, was the first to snap out of the stunned silence. Inside, she cursed her idiot brother

for speaking out of turn, completely forgetting she was the one who started all this in the first place.

They could not afford to offend Carl, even if they were the children of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Elder

Knox's grandchildren. Carl was the heir to Riverum, a dominion just as powerful as Prigrian itself. Even His

Majesty treated him like an equal, not a second generation youth.

The one mistake she had made was underestimating how much this girl meant to him.

Her mind raced as she scrambled to salvage the situation. She needed to backtrack, but she had to do it

carefully, without humiliating herself or her brother further.

"Nicholas," she said softly, her tone suddenly composed. "It's alright. Let it go."

She turned her calm gaze on Carl and inclined her head just enough to show respect without appearing

submissive.

"I understand," she continued smoothly, her voice measured. "She doesn’t know any of us yet. Being newly

taken in by you, there are many things she hasn't learned."

Her words were polished and diplomatic, an elegant attempt to smooth over the tension while subtly excusing

her behavior.

"She's still learning etiquette, and the importance of rankings," Stephanie went on, her tone smooth but slightly

forced. "Ignorance is not punishable when we consider this."

She paused delicately, measuring Carl's unreadable expression.

"So really, if you say it's alright for her to be here, then let her stay," she said, offering a refined, practiced smile

that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Maybe she can learn a thing or two from us...elites."

She turned fully to face Carl now, her chin lifting just enough to show quiet confidence.

"My brother was only concerned," she added in a careful voice. "This conversation is sensitive, after all. He didn’t

mean any disrespect to you."

Her words were chosen precisely, each one designed to cool the atmosphere without sounding like an apology

she didn’t want to give.

Stephanie made sure to emphasize the "you" because she suspected that Carl's reaction had little to do with this

girl. She was almost certain it was about him being disrespected as well when Nicholas spoke ill of the girl he

was shielding.

Before you beat the dog, you must first consider the owner, right?

That had to be it.

So she dipped her head, the gesture perfectly measured, respectful but never servile.

Inside, she felt sure that Carl would weigh her grandfather's powerful position, her own long years of

camaraderie with him, and their shared history, which surely counted for more than any sibling like fondness he

claimed to have for this girl.

Or so she hoped.

She was confident in her calculations, certain her measured retreat would soften the situation.

But what happened next proved she was very, very, extremely. wrong.

At first, silence filled the office. Carl didn’t look at them. He simply bent over his desk and began writing

something in a thick leather bound book, as if their presence no longer mattered at all.

For one tense moment, Stephanie felt a flicker of relief, thinking he had decided to let it go.

Then, without lifting his pen, he spoke.

"I don’t remember asking for an explanation."

The calmness in his voice made the words land like cold steel.

He finally looked up, his eyes landing on the siblings with mild surprise, as if he were genuinely puzzled to find

them still sitting there.

"Get out," he repeated, soft, almost casual.

But in that quiet tone was an unbending finality that made Stephanie’s stomach twist.

Nicholas felt his face heat in shand disbelief. He had thought himself clever, born into power, raised among

the highest nobility. But right now, none of that mattered.

Beside the siblings, the two elders averted their eyes, pretending to study the floor. Inside, they sighed. This

brother and sister were undeniably talented, but they had overreached. How could they have thought they were

qualified to test Prince Carl's patience?

Even their father’s influence, and their intelligence, combined was nothing compared to the man sitting behind

the desk.

And Elder Knox himself? Everyone knew he never presumed to control Carl.