They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System
Chapter 389: Before it Grew Teeth

Chapter 389: Before it Grew Teeth

From high rise balconies to dusty village roads, heads tilted skyward as the skies above Lionara bloomed with color.

Fire blooms shaped like crowns, lion emblems, and stylized “S”s lit up the night. Each explosion was met with cheers, claps, and confused barking from neighborhood dogs.

Online viewers who had exited the live stream out of secondhand embarrassment for the guests were now flooding back in.

@PyroFanGirl: LIONARA SAID “LET’S DISTRACT THEM WITH EXPLOSIONS”

@FireworkKaren: That is MY tax money. I want it in handkerchiefs now.

@SomtoStan69: I left for TWO MINUTES and now there is fireworks and a romance arc????

@BreadMan420: Just saw this from my farm. Do I kneel to this man now or what?

@EmotionalOnion: The fireworks are crying for the CEOs.

Back in the castle, people turned to look out the massive glass walls at the sky bursting in radiant celebration. It was clearly a scheduled royal display, but now, after that gift moment, it looked like the kingdom itself was celebrating… the handkerchief.

One noble whispered, “This man… this man just hijacked a national event for a scented rag.”

And still, Somto watched the sky, that tiny cloth peeking from his breast pocket like a flag of victory.

The crowd? They decided to just be happy regardless of the previous ridiculous scene.

Once the spectacle ended and the last sparks of the fireworks faded into the night, the royal ushers guided the guests toward the grand dining hall.

The mood was a strange mix of excitement and confusion. People were still reeling from the chaos of earlier, some blinking in disbelief, others whispering under their breath as they walked.

The doors to the hall opened with a soft creak, revealing a room that looked like it had been pulled straight from a dream.

Golden chandeliers glittered from above, casting soft light over polished marble floors. The long banquet table was covered in crisp white linen, with gold rimmed plates and diamond cut glasses shimmering under the glow.

Everyone took their seats according to royal ranking.

At the very head of the table sat King Somto, still in his ceremonial robes, looking every inch the monarch.

To his left, as tradition demanded, sat Queen Chioma, his mother. She held her head high, her face unreadable.

To his right…

Obinna had already stepped forward, adjusting his sash. His steps were confident, his posture straight. As the king’s closest brother, this seat was meant for him. Everyone knew it.

But just as he reached the chair, Somto moved.

Without a word, he reached out, took Nnenna gently by the wrist, and guided her forward.

“Sit here,” he said softly.

She blinked. “M-Me?”

Obinna froze mid step. So did everyone else.

Gasps echoed around the hall.

Somewhere, a fork clattered to the ground. A nobleman coughed and forgot to stop. Even the palace cat poked its head through the curtains.

Nnenna hesitated, but the warmth in Somto’s eyes gave her no room to argue. She slowly sat down beside him, in the second highest seat in the kingdom.

The whispers began immediately.

“She’s just his second sister… right?”

“Why her? Why not Prince Obinna?”

“Did something happen behind the scenes?”

“Wait… is this because of the handkerchief?!”

Online, it was worse.

@TeaIsBoiling: He said “surprises” and meant THIS?!?

@KnightShade: What kind of cloth gives royal privileges??

@QueenInTraining: Nahhh something is FISHY and it smells like scandal.

@OfficialShipCaptain: I’m not saying it’s love but… yeah I’m saying it’s love.

Obinna quickly masked his shock, giving a small, practiced smile as he slid into the next seat without protest. But the way he adjusted his collar three times said otherwise.

Queen Chioma’s smile faltered.

Her fingers, perfectly manicured and laced over her lap, slowly clenched together. Her gaze rested on Somto, who was now quietly speaking to Nnenna, his expression soft, open… too open.

A deep frown began to take shape on her regal face, darkening her features like a passing storm cloud.

She had watched the livestream on Purlit. Every moment of it.

At first, she thought Somto was just upset. Understandable, his siblings had been injured. That must be why he reacted that way.

She assumed he was simply angry, maybe furious because Nnenna and Abuchi represents Lionara. Hurting them was a challenge to Lionara.

But now…

She replayed the signs in her head with chilling clarity

His cold refusal to dance, his energy dark and unreadable.

His sudden change of mind, the instant Nnenna asked.

The way they danced. The world had faded around them. She had felt the energy shift across the ballroom, even through a screen.

That handkerchief. That handkerchief, simple, unplanned, and yet one of the few gifts he touched with his own hands. And the only gift he kept. Not even the Queen Mother’s own was treated with such care.

Her thoughts spiraled.

And then… one word flashed across her mind.

One single word that hit her like a slap.

Love.

Her eyes snapped open, wide, panicked, disbelieving.

No. No, no, no.

This could not be happening again. Not to her. Not while she was still alive.

She had lived this story before with her late husband and Nnenna’s mom. She had seen how it ended.

She married the late king but never got his heart even until he died. It was a disgrace she would live with for the rest of her life.

Now it was happening again! She planned to rekindle the marriage alliance with Haran. Yes, her late husband and Somto agreed to cancel it, but she could not find anyone better so she planned to pressure Somto to marry the girl.

But now. Now he was drifting towards the daughter of that pain in her elbow!

Her breath hitched.

History, that history, was circling back like a vulture.

Her voice stayed calm, her posture queenly, but inside, a vow was made.

Never again.

Whatever this thing was between Somto and Nnenna…

It would end. Quietly. Quickly.

Before it grew teeth.