<h4>Chapter 619: A Shoulder For a Pillow</h4>
That earned augh from Darius, genuine, disarming. "Now that’s an image I would pay to see." But when his eyes flicked back to Arthur, the humor dimmed, reced by the quiet challenge he wasn’t saying aloud.
With that, the training session finally came to an end. Despite someone hovering around trying to distract them for the past two hours, Nnenna and Arthur simply ignored it and walked back toward the main castle, still caught up in their own discussion.
"We should go to Lionara," Nnenna suddenly said, her tone steady but thoughtful. "It’s been seven months already. They should know."
Arthur slowed his steps, studying her expression. "You’re right. But we felt it best to wait until you recovered first. Are you sure you want to go now? They may not be ready for the... changes. Not just about Somto, but you too. They might react or say something that cuts deeper than you expect."
Nnenna gave a smallugh, though there was no humor in it. "What could possibly hurt more than losing a loved one and rehabilitation with Carl?" She sighed, determination recing the brief flicker of vulnerability. "It’s alright. We’ll all go, as soon as you guys are ready."
"Alright," Arthur agreed after a pause. "There’s nothing I’m doing here that can’t be done in Lionara. We’ll check with Carlter."
"Can I tag along?" An all too annoying voice broke in from behind, snapping them out of their moment. Darius.
"No," Arthur replied instantly, not even giving Nnenna the chance to answer.
"I wasn’t asking you," Darius shot back, sharp butced with that mocking charm.
"You don’t have to ask her. The answer is still no," Arthur countered, his voice colder this time.
Seeing he was getting nowhere with Arthur, Darius shifted his gaze to Nnenna, searching her face for an opening. But she only shrugged, her expression not reluctant at all. She clearly had no ns to plead on his behalf.
"Ouch," Darius finally muttered, pretending to be wounded. But just as quickly, that sly smile of his returned full force.
"I hope you gained something from this session, Nnenna," he said smoothly.
"All you did was try to distract us. How’s that therapy?" Nnenna asked, genuinely confused.
"I’ll exin another time. I have something to do. See youter." He slipped away before she could reply, leaving her frowning at his retreating figure.
"I wonder what he’s up to now..." she murmured.
---
The next day, three people stood at the runway of Riverum Castle.
"Let me help you with that." Arthur quickly stepped forward, taking Nnenna’s luggage from herp. His brows pulled together. "Why didn’t you ask one of the servants to carry it? You shouldn’t be handling this yourself." There was quiet rebuke in his tone.
"It’s fine," Nnenna answered calmly, though her voice carried a hint of teasing as if telling him to rx. "I figured I could just bnce it on myp. It’s effective."
Arthur’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he said nothing.
Carl, who had been listening to the little exchange, only gave them a side nce, expression gentle.
"What are we waiting for? Let’s go," Nnenna urged.
"Wait," Carl finally spoke, his tone deliberate. "We’re still waiting for one more person."
"Who?" Nnenna blinked, surprised. "Wasn’t the trip just supposed to be the three of us?" She turned to Arthur, who looked up as well, his eyes silently asking the same question.
"Yes," Carl admitted slowly. "But I thought it wise to bring one more person. He’s running a bitte."
"Don’t worry, I’m here now."
The unmistakable voice carried across the runway. Darius strolled up with his luggage rolling behind him, a grin stered on his face like he owned the moment.
"Looks like you managed to talk your way intoing. Nice job," Nnennamented, a little impressed despite herself.
<fn74d4> Official source is fin?novel</fn74d4>
She peeked at Arthur, knowing well enough by now that he seemed to have something against Darius, something deeper than simple dislike. She didn’t know why, but she trusted Arthur enough to believe he had his reasons.
Sure enough, she found him staring at Carl, silently firing questions with his eyes.
"I have my reasons," Carl answered gently, as though he had heard the unspoken demand. "You would’ve never agreed if I had told you. Let’s just go. I’ll exinter." He finished briskly, moving toward the ne.
"Yeah, Arthur. He’ll exinter," Darius taunted as he strolled past, his smirk deliberate.
He didn’t waste time before gravitating toward Nnenna. "We meet again," he said smoothly, his voice carrying that easy charm.
Nnenna only gave him a small polite smile and wheeled away. Like a stubborn ma, he followed, filling the air with chatter, even if most of it was one sided.
Then he suddenly paused mid step, tilting his head toward Arthur with feigned innocence.
"If you don’t want to go anymore, I’ll help Nnenna carry her luggage," he offered, his tone light but his grin sharp enough to sting.
Arthur stopped for a beat, his silence heavy. Then, with calm precision, he walked past Darius without a word, not even sparing him a nce.
--------
The journey back across the continent to Lionara felt all too familiar to Nnenna. The first time she had made this trip, the one she actually remembered, was with Somto.
Back then, she had carried so many hopes, so many fears about what she would face in this new world. But not once, not even in her darkest imagination, had she thought she would return one day only to announce the death of the very person who had been by her side on that unforgettable day.
Seated at thest row of the ne, she stared out the window, the clouds blurring past like restless ghosts. Probably sensing she wanted to be left alone, no one disturbed her.
"I could use a shoulder for a pillow right now," Nnenna whispered to no one in particr, her voice barely louder than a thought.
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