They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System
Chapter 161 - 161 Familiar

Chapter 161: Familiar Chapter 161: Familiar Somto.

Smiling.

But not the good kind.

The kind that made people think, ‘I might not survive the next five minutes.’ The comedian swallowed.

For the first time in his career, he actually felt nervous on stage.

“…I see I have made a mistake.” He nodded solemnly.

Then, he turned to the audience and gave a small, awkward chuckle.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to take this moment to thank you all for coming to my final performance before I’m murdered.” Laughter erupted across the room, tension breaking in an instant.

He didn’t dare look in Nnenna’s direction again.

From then on, he stuck to safe topics, making jokes about how Gigangum warriors struggled with fancy dining etiquette and how royal speeches were so long that he once grew a beard while waiting for one to end.

The crowd loved it.

When he finally left the stage, his back was already drenched with sweat.

After that one mistake, the three men in front didn’t let him off through out his performance.

How petty!

As the grand ball’s first night drew to a close, the energy in the hall began to shift.

The dazzling performances had left everyone entertained, but now the time had come for departure.

Arthur and Carl, the two most distinguished guests of the night, stood up without waiting for any formal announcement.

Their actions caused a ripple of silence across the ballroom.

Without hesitation, Somto also rose from his seat, as if it was the most natural thing in the world to follow them.

“Goodbye, Nnenna,” Carl said with an easy smile, his golden eyes glinting under the ballroom lights.

Arthur simply nodded, his piercing gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary before turning away.

The three men walked out in perfect sync, their regal presence undeniable.

The King watched them go, his lips pressed into a thin line.

He felt out of place in his own kingdom.

No one had given him any real attention throughout the night, not even his esteemed guests.

His first son was still recognized, which was a small consolation, but that was it.

Even his Queen, who usually had plenty to say, remained silent beside him.

With the main guests gone, the rest of the ballroom gradually fell into motion again.

Nobles rushed forward, eager to introduce themselves to Nnenna, who had unwittingly become the center of attention.

They showered her with pleasantries, desperate to secure even the smallest connection with her.

She handled it all gracefully, but her patience wore thin.

When the first opportunity presented itself, she slipped away, moving swiftly through the corridors of the castle toward her chambers.

The moment she closed her door behind her, a deep sigh escaped her lips.

Only then did it strike her, she hadn’t seen Ebere since she stormed out earlier.

Nnenna frowned, but the thought barely lingered.

What could she do?

She would not diminish herself just to make someone else feel superior.

If her sister wanted to sulk in bitterness, that was her choice.

With that, Nnenna turned away from the door, letting the night finally come to an end.

That night, Nnenna slept peacefully, unaware of the restless minds still awake in the castle.

Arthur, Carl, and Somto, however, found no such peace.

Once Somto had settled Arthur into one of the grand royal guest chambers, Arthur leaned against the heavy wooden bedpost, arms crossed.

His mind was ÿa whirlwind of thoughts, but one question burned the most.

“Your sister is adopted, isn’t she?” Somto, who had just dismissed the servants, turned to face Arthur, his expression unreadable.

“Why do you ask?” Arthur’s sharp gaze never wavered.

“She was brought into this household at the age of six.

Where was she before that?” Carl, lounging lazily on a nearby chair, suddenly perked up at the shift in atmosphere.

Somto studied Arthur for a moment, then shrugged.

“She was adopted from an orphanage here in the kingdom.

What of it?” His voice was laced with suspicion.

Arthur’s fingers clenched slightly, but he remained composed.

“And before the orphanage?” Somto’s expression darkened.

“She doesn’t remember.” His tone was final, warning Arthur not to pry.

Carl let out a low whistle.

“Now this is interesting.” Somto turned back to Arthur, arms crossed.

“Don’t tell me—” he narrowed his eyes “—don’t tell me you think my sister is the girl you’ve been searching for.” Arthur didn’t answer immediately.

His mind raced through the possibilities.

The dance, the way she moved, the familiarity in her steps.

it was uncanny.

Too much to be mere coincidence.

Somto took a step forward, his voice a dangerous whisper.

“You must be joking.

Don’t bring your stubborn quest into my household and start claiming that my sister is the one you’ve been looking for.” Arthur remained silent, but deep inside, he knew he couldn’t ignore this.

If there was even a chance… He would find out.

Arthur knew he had no solid proof, at least, not yet.

He let out a slow breath, forcing himself to relax.

“You’re right,” he finally said, his tone neutral.

Somto narrowed his eyes, as if waiting for Arthur to push further, but when Arthur said nothing more, he simply nodded.

“Get some rest,” he muttered before leaving, closing the door behind him.

The moment Arthur was alone, he let out a deep sigh and ran a hand through his hair.

Rest?

That was impossible.

He sank into the chair in the study corner of his lavish guest chamber, a room fit for a king.

His mind refused to be still, spinning back to the moment he danced with Nnenna.

The way she moved.

The way she followed his lead effortlessly, as if they had practiced together for years.

That wasn’t normal.

That wasn’t something just anyone could do.

There was no way they hadn’t danced together before.

He replayed the moment again and again in his mind.

Every step, every turn, every beat.

It was seamless.

Familiar.

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