They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Chapter 373: I Won’t Force You

Outside the grand coronation hall, the velvet lined doors closed behind them with a soft, echoing thud, silencing the murmurs and music of nobility within.

The torch lit hallway was quieter, cooler, but the tension between Abel and Jane burned hotter than ever.

Abel didn’t say a word at first. He just kept walking, his grip on Jane’s wrist firm but not rough, his jaw tight. Jane, still fuming, tried to shake him off.

“What are you doing?” she snapped. “You saw how she was eating and hiding, how can that be a princess?!”

Abel finally stopped and turned around, his eyes dark with something Jane rarely saw on his face, disappointment.

“Do you even hear yourself right now?” he said, his voice low but cutting. “That was the second princess. Nnenna. And you humiliated her, in front of the entire continent.”

Jane flinched.

“But, but I thought she was—”

“You thought?” Abel scoffed bitterly. “You thought, so you screamed at her like a market thug? You made a scene in the crown prince’s coronation ball, Jane. Do you even understand what that means?”

“I was just trying to help! I didn’t want anyone to get in trouble for bringing some, some impostor!”

Abel dragged a hand through his hair in frustration. “You weren’t helping anyone. You were loud, rude, and wrong. I regret ever letting you come.”

Jane’s eyes widened, stunned. “You… regret bringing me?”

He looked at her, no longer angry, but tired.

“Yes. I do.”

Jane took a step back, like the words had struck her physically. Her voice was smaller now. “You’ve never said that to me before.”

“Because you’ve never embarrassed me like this before,” Abel said, turning away. “You don’t listen. You never stop to look or think. You just act. And tonight, you humiliated yourself, and me.”

again, muted by the doors but still echoing with grandeur. Inside was a world Jane no

shame crawling up her

away, not cruelly, but clearly done with

the tension from the earlier commotion melted into whispers, then faded into the music and soft clinks

assuming that whatever the Crown Prince had to deal with

Somto, it wasn’t over

was standing near a tall, golden pillar lined with climbing roses, clearly ready to disappear again. She hadn’t

sensed him approaching, her eyes flicked up,

stopping just close enough for her to hear, yet far enough not to trap her. “May

gentle, but

But before she could bolt again, Somto reached out, not to grab her, but to gently take her

Their fingers touched.

was light, respectful. But it burned with unspoken

piqued, was that the Crown Prince asking

siblings talking, since they weren’t moving towards the dance floor. Maybe it was a casual chat to check if she was okay. After all, that brute girl was so uncultured. Nothing worth eavesdropping

almost drawing into

at his face. Somto’s expression was unreadable,

just a dance right, she

it seemed like it wasn’t.

what made it

began, voice barely a whisper, “I

The rejection stung more than she

go immediately, as

course,” he said. His voice was even, but clipped. “I won’t

the crowd. Guests watched him curiously, waiting for the music to change, waiting for the

stop at

walked right past

the room fell quiet again,

the Crown Prince