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

Chapter 478: What He Really Felt

Carl must be curious what she thought of him, and of the other two.

She took a breath, smoothed her hair back behind her ear, and organized her thoughts carefully, because she already knew he would catch her if she tried to wriggle around the question again.

She let out another small sigh, pressing her lips together as if weighing every word with care. She looked down for a moment, then lifted her gaze to meet Carl’s.

"Alright," she began, voice soft but clear.

"If Arthur is an iceberg, recently steadfast, massive, impossible to ignore, then Somto is...like a mountain range."

She paused, searching for the right image. "Strong in a different way. He feels like something that’s been there for thousands of years. No matter what storms or earthquakes come, he doesn’t really move. He has this...quiet certainty about him. It makes you feel like if he says you’re safe, then you really are, no matter what."

Carl listened without moving, though inwardly he felt a small tightening in his chest. There was a different warmth in her tone when she spoke about Somto, so subtle most people would miss it, but he had learned to hear those delicate shifts.

Still, he kept his expression neutral, only tapping his pen lightly against his notebook as if to encourage her to continue.

She went on, voice taking on a thoughtful lilt. "Arthur is colder, more distant, but it doesn’t feel uncaring. He has this focus...like nothing can distract him when he decides something matters. He’s intimidating, but also comforting in this very strict way. Like if he’s watching over you, he’ll never waver. You can rely on him."

Carl’s eyes softened at that. Yes, Arthur always had been unwavering, a quality he respected deeply.

shy smile curving her lips.

flickering in his

and bright on the surface, so much that people can forget how deep you really are. You make everyone feel welcome, like your warmth is just...endless. But there’s so much going on beneath all that light. You can be playful or serious, gentle

a little shrug. "It’s...hard to describe better than that. You feel safe, and alive, and...impossible

believe this. I

and something unreadable flickered across his face before he tucked it away behind a

he felt an ache he had long taught himself to bear. She saw him so clearly.

couldn’t help but wonder if she was already beginning to love

she was, he pitied her quietly. Because Somto’s heart, as far as

let any of that show. Instead, he gave her an approving nod, letting only

lightly. "I’m flattered you think I’m the ocean under light. I’ll try to remember that next

embarrassed by how much she had said, but the tension in her

with a fondness so practiced that not even she, so

and kind. "I suppose I can let you

more closely

move toward Somto, he needed to be sure she

always be her family. And sometimes, family meant quietly carrying the sorrows

wasn’t telling me to choose a