They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System
Chapter 368: Enemies Meet on a Narrow Path

Chapter 368: Enemies Meet on a Narrow Path

“Welcome to Lionara, Your Majesty,” she said warmly.

As she looked around, she realized she was the highest ranking member of the royal family present at the moment.

Her siblings were likely occupied with preparations for the coronation. That made her, for now, the face of Lionara’s royal household. The weight of that moment settled quietly on her shoulders, but she bore it with poise.

King Seungho studied her briefly before nodding in acknowledgment.

“Second Princess Nnenna,” he said in his deep, regal voice, “I trust you’ve been well.”

He was gracious, measured in both tone and presence. His words were polite, but not overly warm. Still, that was expected. After all, the alliances were still forming, and everything at this stage was careful diplomacy.

Once, Nnenna might have gone unnoticed in such circles. But now?

With her eldest brother about to ascend the throne, and with the visible support he had shown her during the grand ball, no one dared to treat her lightly, not even the kings from distant lands.

She could feel the difference already.

The deference. The attention. The subtle shifts in posture when she spoke.

It was surreal… and just beginning.

“Thank you for your concern, Your Grace. I am well,” Nnenna replied with grace. “We are honored that you were able to attend, especially on such short notice.”

Taking advantage of the moment, she turned to greet the rest of the Dixan royal family.

“Greetings, Your Majesty the Queen, First Prince Ji ho, First Princess Cha, Second Prince Minjun, Princess Bora.”

They each nodded politely in return, their faces unreadable but respectful. Even Minjun, who had been openly watching her earlier, offered a brief nod, though his eyes lingered longer than necessary.

Then came the part she had been dreading.

She turned slowly toward the next group of dignitaries, her gaze landing on a tall, imposing figure dressed in deep blue and silver, King Vladimir of Haran. The air around him felt colder.

Hers and Somto’s engagement with his children had been called off before the grand ball ended, and the king had taken it… poorly.

His pride had been bruised, and his ego deeply cut. Despite all his resources, finding a new match for his children on short notice had proved challenging.

But that didn’t mean he had forgotten, or forgiven. His expression when he looked at her now held no warmth.

Still, Nnenna kept her poise.

“Greetings, Your Majesty King Vladimir, to Your Grace the Queen, Crown Prince Alexei and to Princess Anya.”

The queen offered a polite smile, but King Vladimir barely inclined his head, his eyes sharp and distant. It was the kind of non response that could chill the air around them.

And then there was Prince Alexei.

He nodded curtly, the tension in his jaw betraying his restrained emotions. Though relieved that he no longer had to marry the adopted daughter of Lionara’s royal family, part of him was still stung.

He should have been the one to end things. He should have been the one to reject her, not the other way around.

That she had been the one to walk away, publicly, was something his pride refused to forgive.

Anya couldn’t care less about the cold greeting her father gave Nnenna. In truth, she was relieved that the engagement had been canceled.

Her father hadn’t found her a new match yet, not that she minded. Deep down, Anya still held a flicker of hope for Arthur. She didn’t know if fate would ever bring them together, but the future was long, and nothing was set in stone.

Besides, when she looked at Nnenna, she didn’t feel resentment. Unlike most noblewomen who would lash out at a rival, Nnenna had never done anything spiteful to her. On the contrary, she had been kind, genuinely kind.

How rare, Anya thought. Kindness between love rivals? Practically unheard of in royal circles.

As the last of the royal greetings wrapped up, Nnenna stepped forward again, this time addressing the entire group with polite confidence.

“If you’ll please follow me,” she said, her voice clear but graceful. “We’ve already made arrangements for your arrival. In thirty minutes, brunch will be served in the royal garden.”

She didn’t wait for the official in charge to announce it, she knew the protocol and had taken it upon herself to personally ensure their comfort.

It was her way of showing that she still took her role in Lionara seriously, even if some continued to question her place in the royal family.

Without another word, she turned and began to lead the entourage into the castle grounds, her posture poised, her steps steady, even with all the watchful eyes on her back.

The visiting royals followed various officials who respectfully led them to their quarters. Though everything was handled with precision and grace, many of them shared a silent thought: Why hadn’t the Crown Prince come to welcome them himself?

King Vladimir, in particular, frowned slightly as he entered his suite. “His father would never have been so casual,” he muttered. It was a sentiment that echoed among the others, though no one voiced it too loudly. After all, this was still Lionara, one of the five great kingdoms. For now, they would play along and observe.

The days passed in a blur of preparations, meetings, and anticipation. Before anyone knew it, the coronation night had arrived.

It was a grand affair, as expected. Banners bearing the royal crest fluttered across the city, and every screen in Lionara lit up with the livestream.

Citizens wore black ribbons in remembrance of their late king, but tonight, they also adorned themselves with royal blue, welcoming the new.

Prince Somto’s coronation was history in the making, and no one wanted to miss a second.

Inside the royal palace, the grand hall glittered with lights. One by one, the honored guests arrived, announced with regal flourish as they descended the golden staircase.

Nobles and foreign dignitaries alike walked in with practiced grace, their titles ringing through the chamber.

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We’ve started guys! This is the first of the promised ten chapters 🥳

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