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

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.

the very head of the table sat King Somto,

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

To his right…

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

reached

a word, he reached out, took Nnenna gently by the wrist,

he

She blinked. “M-Me?”

mid step. So did everyone

echoed around the

A nobleman coughed and forgot to stop. Even the palace cat poked its head through the

gave her no room to argue. She slowly sat

The whispers began immediately.

his

her? Why

happen

is this because of the

Online, it was worse.

“surprises” and

What kind of

is FISHY and

I’m not saying it’s love but… yeah I’m saying

practiced smile as he slid into the next seat without protest. But the way he

Queen Chioma’s smile faltered.

laced over her lap, slowly clenched together. Her gaze rested on Somto, who was now quietly speaking to

deep frown began to take shape on her regal face,

the livestream on

his siblings had been injured. That must be why he reacted that

because Nnenna and Abuchi represents Lionara. Hurting

But now…

replayed the signs in

cold refusal to dance, his energy