They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System
Chapter 348: How He Said It

Chapter 348: How He Said It

Because loving her from a distance felt safer… until now.

Until it wasn’t.

Across the seas, Somto sighed to himself as he hurried over.

But even with his fierce actions, even with his sudden urgency to rescue Nnenna himself, it didn’t mean he was ready to bring all those confusing emotions to light. Not yet.

And not while she was still just sixteen.

When she turns eighteen… he mused. Maybe then, these feelings, whatever they really are, will matter.

But until then, he would guard her like a soldier guards a sacred treasure. He would fight her battles from the shadows. He would protect her, no matter what it cost him. And not because anyone ordered him to.

Because he chose to.

On the other side, Little Sweetie was still in deep thought.

This, and countless other things, Somto had done for Nnenna, but almost no one knew. Not even Nnenna herself.

He had moved mountains for her in silence.

Now, for the first time, he was no longer hiding. The man who had sworn never to intervene unless it was necessary was now burning with the need to step in fully.

The fire in his eyes was no longer hidden. He was no longer shielding his feelings behind duty or formality. Something inside him had shifted.

Little Sweetie could see it.

She had seen the signs before, but this time, it was undeniable. She couldn’t help but wonder… Was this all just for his adopted sister? Or was it something more?

He had never done this much for Ebere, not even close. In fact, among the inner ranks, whispers floated like smoke: that the general might be in love with Nnenna. But was just waiting for her to grow up.

Somto never addressed the rumors. He never confirmed or denied them. He simply carried on, unreadable.

But now…

Now he was charging into the heart of a foreign rebellion just to rescue her. Personally. When he could have easily sent backup. When he should have sent backup.

Little Sweetie’s mind raced as she watched him take charge, his aura a storm waiting to be unleashed.

He’s coming himself… to save her, she thought, her heart pounding.

This is more than duty. This is personal.

When Nnenna finds out the truth, what will she do with it?

Little sweetie was confused about the whole thing. It didn’t help matters that she couldn’t read the general’s mind either. The only thing she could point out was his abnormality which showed that he might be in love with Nnenna.

But then… they had known each other for ten years.

So when exactly did the feelings start?

That was the question no one could answer. Not even Little Sweetie, and she had been watching him closer than most. The privilege of being the chief caretaker of Nnenna gave her the opportunity to see more interactions of the General and Nnenna.

When she was first sent to watch over Nnenna she had no clue why her, an elite will be sent to watch a princess until she discovered a huge secret. From that day, she took her job much more seriously. But still saw Nnenna as her friend and the second princess of Lionara.

In all those years, General Somto had never once behaved abnormally. He was calm, composed, focused. Nnenna was always just his mission, important, yes, but still a duty.

Only recently… things had changed.

Drastically.

The signs were small at first, too subtle for most to notice. But now? He was acting nothing like the general they knew. Rushing to another continent for a rescue he could’ve easily delegated.

Losing control when he saw Nnenna hurt. Holding her hand and refusing to let go. There was nothing “normal” about that.

Were the feelings always there? Little sweetie wondered silently. Buried? Dormant? Waiting to awaken?

If only she knew…

To Somto, Nnenna had once been nothing more than a mission. A girl he had to protect. A task. A responsibility.

But something shifted.

It started, quietly, powerfully, six months ago. She had fallen into a coma after the fall down the flight of stairs in the castle. He had visited the hospital, just to confirm she was safe. But then… he stayed longer than he planned to.

Talking to her even when she couldn’t respond. Watching her breathe. Listening to the beeping machines.

He hadn’t planned on visiting twice due to his busy schedule but he ended up visiting at least once a month until she woke up.

And when he heard that she was awake, something inside him stirred, slowly, then all at once. Feelings he didn’t even recognize. Things he didn’t have words for.

Even now, Somto didn’t fully understand it. He hadn’t dared name it.

So he buried it. Again.

He stayed away, hiding behind missions, duties, military reports. Telling himself this was just protection. Nothing more.

But the truth was harder to ignore: he wanted to act normal… but he wasn’t. Not anymore.

His actions were slipping out of his control, step by step.

And somewhere in that unraveling, feelings once dormant had begun to bloom.

Dangerously.

After making that phone call to alert him of the new development, and hearing him say that he was coming over himself, little sweetie was beyond shocked.

What exactly is going on? Little Sweetie wondered, staring at the now dark screen of the secure phone.

She didn’t know the full story, not yet. But one thing was clear: General Somto had spent years burying his emotions deep, almost too deep. Whatever he felt, whatever he was hiding, he had never let it show.

Until now.

“…Yes, sir,” Little Sweetie finally replied softly as the call disconnected with a faint click.

She held the device a second longer, then slipped it into her coat.

Present Day

“I’m sorry I didn’t come earlier.”

The words were soft, but they hit harder than Nnenna expected.

She blinked, stunned, not just by what he said, but how he said it.

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Thank you so much for the consistent powerstones Emade! I appreciate the support ❤️