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.

table sat King Somto, still in his ceremonial robes, looking every inch the

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

To his right…

were confident, his posture straight. As the king’s closest brother, this seat was meant

reached the chair, Somto

Nnenna gently by the wrist, and guided her

he

She blinked. “M-Me?”

mid step.

around the

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

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

The whispers began immediately.

just his

her? Why not

something happen

is this because of

Online, it was worse.

“surprises”

of cloth

something is FISHY

it’s love but… yeah I’m saying it’s

giving a small, practiced smile as he slid into the next seat without protest. But the way he adjusted his

Queen Chioma’s smile faltered.

lap, slowly clenched together. Her gaze rested on Somto, who was

on her regal face,

livestream on

just upset. Understandable, his siblings had been injured. That must be why he reacted

was simply angry, maybe furious because Nnenna and Abuchi represents Lionara. Hurting them was

But now…

replayed the signs in her head with chilling

refusal to dance,