They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System
Chapter 217 - 217 His

Chapter 217: His Chapter 217: His To Carl, Nnenna’s engagement was never going to happen.

He turned slightly, scanning the crowd until his eyes landed on her.

She stood still, her face blank, but he knew better.

He had spent enough time around her to recognize the restrained anger in the tight press of her lips, the stiffness in her posture.

She was furious.

Of course, she would be.

Carl sighed.

He did not know what everyone was thinking, assuming he had come all this way just to be engaged to Nnenna.

That had never been his intention.

Not even once.

But they wouldn’t understand.

They would twist the story however they pleased.

Still, this situation was ridiculous.

Alexei?

His gaze drifted to the first prince of Haran, and his expression darkened.

Carl knew Alexei wasn’t thrilled about this either, but that wasn’t the issue.

The issue was that Nnenna didn’t want him.

She was meant for someone better.

The engagement was temporary.

He was sure of it.

He would take her away eventually, giving her a better engagement at the right time.

That was what she deserved.

So for now, there was no need for her to be burdened with someone unworthy.

His decision settled in his mind.

He would not allow this engagement to stand.

For now, he wouldn’t say anything.

He wouldn’t embarrass her father, and he wouldn’t cause unnecessary commotion.

But when the time came, he would go against this arrangement.

She wouldn’t marry Alexei.

Not now.

Not ever.

As King Ikechukwu’s speech ended, the ball was no longer about dancing and celebration, it was about reactions.

Somto’s gaze kept drifting to Nnenna.

He told himself he was just checking if she was upset.

That was the only reason.

Anya swallowed her disappointment, but her heart still longed for Arthur.

Obinna accepted his fate.

Cha was still a princess of Dixan, and that was good enough.

Cha, on the other hand, simmered in frustration but forced herself to accept it.

Abuchi and Ruth stole another glance at each other, this time with something softer, something real.

Ji ho, though outwardly composed, still mulled over what could have been.

And Alexei?

He was not thrilled with this arrangement, but it was useful, and that was enough for now.

The ball gradually came to an end as the reality of the engagements set in.

While the guests whispered among themselves, waiting for extreme reactions, the children of Lionara stood frozen in varying degrees of shock.

None of them had known.

Not a single one of them had been told about this except Abuchi.

Somto, remained impassive.

His face gave away nothing, his posture relaxed, arms loosely folded as if this entire affair had nothing to do with him.

He didn’t even spare Anya, his newly betrothed, a glance.

But his indifference was not out of surprise.

Because it didn’t matter.

No one could force him to do something he did not want to do.

And more importantly, he would not allow them to force Nnenna either.

His jaw twitched as his dark gaze flickered to her.

She was quiet, too quiet, standing still, but the tension in her shoulders was unmistakable.

He knew her well enough to recognize it.

She was furious.

He exhaled slowly.

But he wouldn’t say anything, not yet.

He would handle things his way.

Obinna, was still struggling to process the fact that he had just been bound to Princess Cha of Dixan.

He swallowed, his eyes darting to her.

She didn’t look happy either.

Of course she wouldn’t be.

Few days ago, she had spent the early hours of the hunt fawning over Carl, humiliating herself in front of everyone, and now she was expected to marry him, a second prince?

She probably thought she deserved better.

Obinna clenched his teeth.

Fine.

She wasn’t the only one disappointed.

Unlike his siblings, who were still reeling from the unexpected engagements forced upon them, Abuchi already knew about his.

And he was happy.

His heart beat a little faster when he heard King Ikechukwu announce it to the entire hall, his engagement to Princess Ruth of Purlit.

His Ruth.

He turned immediately, his eyes searching for her again.

She was standing stiffly among the Purlit royals, hands clasped in front of her.

Her head was slightly bowed, cheeks flushed with color as whispers rippled around them.

Even though she wasn’t looking at him yet, he could tell she was thinking about him too.

She looked just as overwhelmed as he had been when his father first told him about the arrangement.

But he had asked for this.

He had wanted this.

Abuchi had never been the type to get swept up in palace politics or royal expectations the way his older brothers did.

He wasn’t a crown prince.

He wasn’t burdened with the same responsibilities, the same pressures to make alliances that Somto and Obinna had to face.

That gave him a little freedom.

And he had used that freedom to choose the one he wanted.

Princess Ruth had caught his attention from the very first time they met.

She was brilliant, sharp, witty, intelligent in a way that made him want to listen to her for hours.

She was composed, elegant, but not in a cold way.

There was warmth in her voice, in her presence.

She wasn’t like the other princesses who lived for court gossip and fake smiles.

She was different.

And he wanted her.

His father had agreed, seeing the logic in the match.

Purlit was a strong second tier kingdom, powerful enough to be respected, but not so powerful that his third son needed to be tied to someone of even higher standing.

It was perfect.

So as the announcement settled over the hall and eyes began turning toward them, Abuchi took a slow breath, steeling himself.

Then, Ruth finally lifted her gaze again.

Their eyes met.

A slow, shy smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

It was small, hesitant, but it was there.

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