They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System
Chapter 354: Her Transformation

Chapter 354: Her Transformation

Somto emerged with quiet grace, the type that commanded respect without demanding it. He still hadn’t let go of Nnenna’s hand.

Nnenna followed, her feet touching the palace grounds for the first time in weeks, but her mind was elsewhere. The moment Somto stepped out, she had expected him to release her, especially now that they were back in the full glare of Lionara’s court.

But no, his hand remained clasped around hers, as though it were a lifeline. The situation, already weird back in Purlit, had slid into the realm of the abnormal, and now, she could no longer deny that it was bordering on the downright creepy.

Why the hell won’t he just let go? she thought, but she said nothing.

There was something off, not dangerous, but unsettling. She could feel it. It was not dominance or obsession in his grip. It was fear.

At first, it shocked her. Why would someone like Somto, the silent storm of Lionara, the man who had just put an entire kingdom back in order without breaking a sweat, why would he be afraid?

Then she realized, it was not fear for himself.

It was fear of losing her.

She did not know how or why she understood that. But the panic in his knuckles when she tried to gently pull away, or how tense he grew during the rare moments she left his side, like bathroom breaks, told her more than any words could.

He was terrified… that if he let her go, he might never get her back.

But why would he be afraid of losing her?

She told herself it had to be an illusion, something her mind had cooked up. None of this matched what had happened in her previous life. Nothing fit.

Could it be… she had changed their fate?

By knowing the future? By speaking different words, doing acts of kindness, earning goodwill, being braver and bolder than before?

Was it possible that the weight of her actions, no matter how small, had begun to tip the scales?

Nnenna felt overwhelmed. From the very first day she had woken up in the hospital, things had spiraled into the unfamiliar.

The director of the hospital, someone she had never even spoken to in her past life, suddenly became like an older brother to her. And her real elder brother, Somto, the one who had been cold, distant, almost invisible in her past life, was now… this.

So close. So attentive.

From the moment he had appeared when she woke up, helped her with the grand ball, identity problem and engagement incident, resolving her mess without hesitation, she had sensed something shifting.

Two of her siblings, Ebere and Abuchi were already acting like they loved her. Genuinely loved her.

As strange as it all felt, Nnenna had begun to understand, this was likely one of the effects of the love system. But it wasn’t just that.

There was something deeper she had realized.

Yes, the love system still worked quietly in the background, rewarding her with good points from even the smallest kind gestures or brave decisions.

But the fact that she had broken out of her old cocoon… that she had risen and shone in ways she never had in her previous life, that wasn’t the system.

That was her.

Her choices.

Her courage.

Her transformation.

It was proof that anyone willing to try, anyone determined to become better, could rise, even if the whole world seemed to stand in their way.

And now, in just a few days, possibly right after the coronation, she would be heading off to school. A new journey awaited her. It was already confirmed that a public holiday would be announced to mark the coronation, giving her time to prepare before leaving.

She would study hard. She would do her best in her chosen course. Every other thing could wait for now.

Nnenna sighed quietly as she made up her mind. The sound caught Somto’s attention, and he turned to look at her with a questioning gaze. But she simply shook her head and looked away.

Now wasn’t the time to unpack all the feelings she felt, not when she still couldn’t fully figure out what was going on with her so called “elder brother.” For now, she decided to let it go. After all, he couldn’t possibly hold her hand forever.

She was right.

The moment they reached the throne room, a group of high ranking officials and Obinna immediately intercepted him, launching into a flurry of discussions about kingdom affairs. Somto, though visibly reluctant, finally released her hand and allowed himself to be pulled away by duty.

Obinna didn’t even have time to caution his younger siblings. That would come later.

For now, the pressing matter was getting Somto caught up, everything that had happened in Lionara during his absence had to be reported. The kingdom needed its rightful king fully informed and prepared.

To be honest, Obinna was exhausted. Acting as the interim king had drained him more than he could have imagined.

There had been a time when he envied Somto for being the firstborn, the heir, the chosen one. But after months of shouldering the burdens of leadership himself, that envy had long burned out.

Now, all he wanted was to step back, to breathe, and finally hand over the crown to its rightful owner.

“Brother, where have you been?” Obinna asked, his voice low but heavy with the weight of months of anxiety. “The entire kingdom has been restless, waiting for your return. We couldn’t even release the news of Father’s death, not officially, because we were hoping you would come back and lead us through it. But it doesn’t matter now…”

He took a breath, steadying himself. “Let me bring you up to speed on everything that’s happened. Oh, and the coronation. It’s been scheduled for two days from now. Is that alright with you?”

Somto didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

The sooner the better.