They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System
Chapter 291 - 291 Feeling Awkward

Chapter 291: Feeling Awkward Chapter 291: Feeling Awkward His eyes widened.

Wait, wasn’t I here before all of them?

He looked around, confused.

I’ve been here all night!

Shouldn’t I be first?

He stood up quickly, still disoriented from all the quiet thinking.

His legs ached a little.

The cold had settled into his joints while he sat.

But now, now there was a small army of early birds blocking his way.

He blinked again as more people casually walked right past him and joined the line.

Some of them were even carrying stools!

Confused Abuchi “…” They brought stools?

Are you kidding me?

They must’ve been prepared from home.

Panic set in.

He hurried over, trying to edge into the line, but the front was already packed.

Every time he tried to slide in, someone gave him a sharp look like he was trying to cut.

Which, to be fair, he was.

Abuchi stopped mid step and slapped his forehead lightly.

“I was here the whole time,” he muttered under his breath.

“How did I mess this up…” He felt like a total amateur.

Of course.

Marka’s markets probably don’t work like back home.

You’re not supposed to just hang around near the stalls, you have to stand in line early.

People probably woke up at 4 a.m.

just to claim a spot.

He let out a quiet sigh.

This was what happened when a prince tried to blend in with the people and had no idea how local markets worked.

Behind him, Karen bit back a laugh.

She had been watching the whole thing silently, arms crossed, trying not to grin.

His confusion was oddly cute.

“I think you need to hustle next time,” she said with a teasing smirk.

Abuchi groaned.

“Next time, I’m bringing a stool and a sleeping bag.” But already, he was scanning the street, looking for another vendor, another option.

They couldn’t afford delays.

Supplies were essential.

Every wasted minute was a chance for his brother’s men to catch up.

There were other shops, yes, but something about that first one caught Abuchi’s attention again.

He paused, watching closely.

The people who had managed to buy from it were walking away with satisfied grins and heavy bags packed with the freshest goods.

Crates of bright tomatoes, clean sacks of rice, dried meat wrapped with care.

Even their pace had changed, they didn’t stroll; they marched off like victors.

That’s the one.

That’s definitely the one.

He looked at the other shops briefly, but it was obvious.

The crowds weren’t even looking their way.

This one vendor, this specific stall, had already won the people’s trust.

It was probably known for quality.

Reputation.

Just like everything else in the world… some names meant more than others.

He sighed and finally took a spot at the end of the line.

So this is it, he thought, folding his arms.

Standing in line… like a normal person.

It felt…

strange.

No, strange was an understatement.

This was borderline surreal.

Abuchi, third prince of Lionara, trained in swordsmanship, politics, diplomacy… now standing in line in a morning market, waiting for tomatoes and dried yams.

He looked around awkwardly.

People around him chatted casually, completely unbothered.

They were used to this.

It was part of their routine, their everyday life.

Some stood with baskets on their heads.

Others leaned on each other or sat on stools, yawning lazily as the line crawled forward.

And there he was, shifting from one leg to another, pretending like he belonged here.

What am I even doing?

He scratched his head.

I’ve literally never done this before.

Ever.

In my life.

Sure, he had faced political rivals, sword duels, assassination plots, but this?

This was a new kind of battle.

A battle of patience, social cues, and, God help him, queue etiquette.

He shifted again, looking around like someone might recognize him.

He was famous afterall.

Someone might walk up and say, “Wait, isn’t that the Nation’s Prince?

What’s he doing here, buying peppers like a commoner?” But of course, no one did.

Because no one knew.

None of them would have ever imagined that such a thing was possible.

Plus, his face was well covered.

He was just another person in the crowd.

Another early riser trying to get the best deal before the heat set in.

Still… the awkwardness didn’t go away.

What do I even do with my hands?

he wondered.

Should I put them behind my back?

Cross them?

Keep them in my pockets?

Why does everyone here look so relaxed?

And then, he laughed inwardly.

This must be how fans feel when they line up for my book signings back home.

He remembered them clearly, some would come hours early, just to be at the front.

Some would cry when he signed their books.

Others would talk nervously and ask him awkward questions.

He used to think it was funny.

Now, standing here like this… he got it.

The waiting.

The nerves.

The subtle war of who stood first and who tried to sneak ahead.

This is karma, he muttered under his breath.

This is fan karma.

Still, as the line moved forward slowly, he held his place.

Because even if he had never done it before, even if it was weird and a little humbling, he knew it was the right way.

He had to do this.

For Ruth and to learn this way of life.

And honestly?

A small part of him felt… grounded.

Like he was walking in the shoes of the people he once only imagined what their everyday life was like, but didn’t think he would ever experience it.

Maybe standing in line wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

Just weird.

Very, very weird.

He was getting used to it.

As the line crawled forward and the minutes trickled by, Abuchi looked around again.

No one seemed out of place.

No one fidgeted or acted like this was unusual.

Men, women, even an old woman with a scarf tied tight around her chin, all stood in quiet patience.