<h4>Chapter 604: We Had to Make a Choice</h4>


    He exhaled hard, voice tightening. "I don’t fault you for trying to shoulder everything yourself, we’ve always lived that way, handling our own battles until there’s no other choice. But when it involved her... you should have called me."


    Carl shook his head slowly. "I thought I could handle it. And I’m not ming you. I won’t. I’m the one to me, Arthur, not you, not anyone else. I won’t share the guilt." His gaze softened but didn’t waver. "But you constantly reminding me of it doesn’t help. I already live with it."


    He pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down, the weight of exhaustion pressing on his shoulders though his face betrayed none of it.


    Arthur, however, didn’t let up. "You know," he said, his voice tightening as he finally nced at Carl, "if you weren’t still recovering... we would be at your training grounds right now."


    Carl understood instantly. That was Arthur’snguage,bat as a release when words and choices failed him. It had always been the way he dealt with matters he couldn’t control, especially when it came to Anastasia.


    A faint smile tugged at Carl’s lips. "I thank you for your consideration," he said evenly, nodding in acknowledgment. "But you should know... even if you did challenge me, I would dly ept it."


    "Look, I’m doing everything I can. You know that." Carl pushed himself up, his tone firm but not unkind. "The best thing you can do now is be here for her." He walked toward the door, opened it, and paused only a second. "And let me work." With that, he stepped out and closed it behind him.


    Arthur didn’t move. His gaze never followed Carl, not even for a breath. Instead, his eyes lingered on Nnenna, lying so still, too still. Her face was calm, peaceful even, unaware of the storm raging in the hearts of those who had been left behind in the waking world.


    "You know..." Arthur’s voice came low, almost unsure if he wanted her to hear him or if he was just talking to himself. "The first time I saw you like this, I wasn’t even there for you. I was curious about the one that kept bringing Somto to the hospital every month. He wouldn’t say your name, wouldn’t exin. But he had that look, that look he gets when someone means more to him than his own life. That’s when I knew. Something was different. Something was important. So I came. Though I didn’t stay long enough to even register your face."


    He swallowed, his jaw tightening as regret edged his whisper. "I cared... but only because you were connected to Somto. Compared to now, that version of me barely cared at all. How could I? I was too busy searching for you, Anastasia. And you were right there, in front of me, that day. I wish I had known."


    Arthur leaned forward, his hand hovering as if he wanted to touch her but couldn’t bring himself to. His voice dropped, hoarse with ache. "Unlike that day... now, every time I see you like this, my heart feels like it’s being squeezed to death."


    "I... we had to make a choice for you," Arthur said, his voice low, carrying both weight and worry. "I can’t know what you would have wanted if you could decide for yourself. I know you’re strong... and I’ll be here to help you face whateveres next. But sometimes, I wonder if you would rather just... end it all, knowing what’s ahead."


    He paused, swallowing hard, the hesitation in his tone betraying the burden he carried. "I guess it doesn’t matter now. We’ve already made the choice for you. All I can do is hope it’s what you would have wanted... and promise you this, I’ll be here, every step of the way. All of us will. Even that infuriating Carl," he added, a faint, reluctant smirk breaking through the seriousness.


    Arthur’s eyes softened, a rare vulnerability shing in them. "I might be mad at him, sure. But I would never downy his goodness, his loyalty... or the love he carries for you, Nnenna. Not once."


    Nodding to himself, he began recounting everything that had happened in Prigrian while she was in Riverum.


    "Ava says you’re not missing any schoolwork. The academy hasn’t resumed yet, but honestly, I wouldn’t worry even if you missed a few months. You’re already ahead of your ss and can challenge your seniors, your lecturers know that, including Carl and me."


    He hesitated for a moment, then continued. "Ava wanted me to tell you she misses you. I didn’t tell them what happened... because, well, she would probably abandon everything she’s doing and rush over here. My parents too... but even if they came, they can’t help much. I didn’t want them to worry, I’m sure you understand that."


    "Oh and I thought about going to Lionara to inform your family about... Somto," he admitted quietly. "I mean, it’s time, right? It’s already been six months since that day, and someone should tell them. But it didn’t feel right going alone. They’re your family... and telling them that their eldest brother and King is gone... well, it wouldn’t feel righting from me. They barely know me. It shoulde from you. Especially because you knew him better than anyone else in your family. If you tell them the truth that... he was happy... they’ll believe you, and it’ll mean moreing from you."


    "You have a lot of missed calls from your friends, both the ones in Prigrian and Lionara," Arthur said gently. "I told them you were fine. Hope you don’t mind. News about you has to be kept confidential for your safety."


    "As for our ns to continue Somto’s life work and recover your kingdom... well, that is still on hold. At first, we wanted you to recover mentally, but now you also have to recover physically. Don’t worry, it’s been managed well....


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