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

Chapter 459: Does This Mean She’s Better Than Me?

Or anyone for that matter? But he let it go and turned back to Nnenna.

"This means you have a lot of work starting today," he continued. "The board exams for the third years are no joke. But fortunately, I studied the same course. I’ll teach you everything I know."

"That’s exactly what I was hoping for," Nnenna said, her face brightening with relief. "Thank you."

But Carl wasn’t finished. He leaned forward, his voice more serious.

"Nnenna...Omniora Academy isn’t just about academics. You already know that, but let me remind you: you must have a second major. And you have to show real progress in at least two talent skills. All of them have lectures, practicals, and exams you must pass to advance."

Nnenna’s smile slowly faded.

Her shoulders slumped. She hadn’t realized it was going to be this intense. It suddenly felt like year one had been nothing but a lazy stroll compared to what was coming.

"How am I going to learn all those things?" Nnenna asked quietly, her voice sounding a little lost. "I don’t have anybody to teach me... Do you know them yourself?"

Carl looked thoughtful for a moment. "Not everything," he admitted honestly. "I specialised in surgery, marksmanship, emotional intelligence, and playing the piano. Later, I added other fields, general medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, networking, negotiation, a lot more. Most recently, I’ve been studying psychiatry."

Her eyes widened a bit. Just how many things can one person master?

He continued, almost like he was reading her thoughts. "I also practiced martial arts and a few other areas, but I’m not the best there. In fact, I’m only second to two people when it comes to the things I didn’t specialise in."

"Who are they?" she asked curiously.

"That would be Somto...and Arthur."

At that, Arthur glanced over, but said nothing, simply listening with a calm expression.

"If I remember correctly," Carl went on, "Somto specialised in strategy, communication, and martial arts for his extracurricular work in school. His main course was Political Science and International Relations. So, if you want to go in that direction, he’s the best person to teach you."

Nnenna felt her heart start to beat a little faster. Martial arts, strategy, marksmanship... and then all my academics on top of it?

Ava was stunned as she listened, her heart thumping in disbelief. Nnenna wanted to skip years, just like that, and Carl didn’t even hesitate to agree?

He knew better than anyone how brutal Omniora Academy could be. Even surviving as a year one student was already a battlefield.

Moving to year two was something most people sweated blood over. But skipping straight to year four? That was as close to impossible as sprouting wings and flying into the sky.

And yet, here was Carl, the same Carl who had once shattered records with his talent, nodding like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Ava’s mind spun. Only three people in all of Omniora’s long, storied history had ever managed such a feat, Carl, Arthur, and Somto. Legends. Icons. And now he was acting as if Nnenna could simply do it too.

Did Carl really think Nnenna was that extraordinary? That she could stand shoulder to shoulder with prodigies who had been raised in the lap of privilege, power, and relentless training?

Ava swallowed hard, a knot forming in her throat. Even she, Princess Ava of Prigrain, wasn’t bold enough to try skipping years.

She could easily top her classes, yes, but she still planned to finish her first semester and the second before daring to sit for the advancement exam to year two.

Her gaze shifted to Nnenna, who looked calm, determined, as if she didn’t even realize how outrageous her plan sounded to everyone else.

Does this mean... she’s actually better than me? Ava wondered, her pride pricking her chest. Better than me, a princess who has been groomed for this life since birth?

No. She clenched her jaw. Impossible.

But even as she told herself that, a small, cold doubt crept under her skin, refusing to leave.

Carl must be out of his mind, Ava thought, watching them with a tight frown. But it wasn’t her place to say anything, so she forced herself to keep quiet and mind her own business...even though her ears were glued to every word.

Nnenna, on the other hand, looked thoughtful, not the least bit nervous about what she was asking for.

She was more surprised about what she had just learned about Somto. She honestly had no idea he had such an impressive list of skills. Not to mention the ones she didn’t know yet. noveldrama

Does anyone in the family even know this? she wondered. They probably only think he studied Political Science and International Relations.

"Well," she said, her voice steady, "I only need one main course, one side course, and two talent skills, right? That should be manageable. But..." She paused, her eyes bright with determination. "I really want to learn martial arts. It feels essential. I would like to take it as my second main course."

Carl listened without interrupting, studying her face to see if she was serious. When she didn’t waver, he nodded slowly.

"All right," he agreed in that calm, decisive tone of his. "I’ll handle your main course myself. When Somto comes back, I’m sure he’ll be happy to train you in martial arts. And once you decide which two talent skills you want, I’ll hire the best tutors to teach you privately."

Nnenna felt warmth bloom in her chest. Just like that, so simple. Carl always had a way of making everything seem easy, no matter how impossible it sounded to anyone else.

She nodded gratefully, her lips curving into a soft smile.

They were just about done finalizing their plans when someone cleared his throat beside them.

"Ahem!"

They turned as one to find Arthur standing there, his expression darker than a thundercloud.

"What?" Carl asked, raising a brow in challenge.