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

Chapter 511: The Alternative Was Just As Painful

No way... Was Arthur worried Somto wouldn’t approve of him?

That’s too petty, Carl thought.

He shifted slightly, trying to ease the growing tension.

Arthur’s one of the best people we know. If he loves Nnenna, really loves her, then isn’t that a good thing?

Shouldn’t Somto be glad? One more person to protect their precious little sister?

Carl decided to speak up, hoping to ease the pressure building in the silence.

"Don’t look so angry, Somto," he said with a small smile. "We all practically grew up together. And honestly... I think Arthur would make a good match for Nnenna."

"Plus," Carl added with a light chuckle, "when you finally win over that heartbeat of yours you mentioned during your coronation, Nnenna will have someone her age to hang out with too."

Arthur’s eyes snapped open.

Surprise shot across his face so fast he couldn’t even hide it.

Carl... doesn’t know?

He quickly glanced at Somto, still silent, still unreadable. His expression hadn’t shifted once. Still dark. Still distant.

But Arthur’s mind was racing now.

So Carl doesn’t know that Somto likes Nnenna?

He pieced it together quickly, Somto must have told Carl about liking someone... but left out who. That much was clear.

But why?

Carl was their closest friend. He would’ve supported Somto, probably even helped. So why hide it?

And then there was Nnenna.

Arthur’s chest tightened slightly.

She likes Somto. That much is obvious. The way she looked at him, listened to him, relaxed around him, it wasn’t subtle. At least, not to Arthur.

Yet... she hadn’t told Carl either.

That’s new.

kept anything from Carl. She confided in

what was

Why all the hiding?

at the

tangled web was forming right under their noses, and they had all been too close to see

his place to

belonged to them. And when they were

his own, Arthur finally turned back to Carl. Somto still hadn’t spoken, and Carl

took a breath

say anything before because... I don’t plan to act on

caught off

he was explaining it

gave. A good chunk of my

down, hands resting on his knees.

pause, just long enough to

words. Her spirit." He shook his head

dipped softer now, full

the way she

was thick, but Arthur wasn’t

gaze. "I’m going to eliminate these feelings. Let them go. And focus

tension loosening just

one I

those words, for Carl,

of all, for

didn’t sit right with Arthur when

anything, it

Why?

Nnenna from him. That I’m not acting on my feelings. Doesn’t he trust

brows furrowed slightly, his chest tightening with a

that when I say something... I mean it? I’ve never gone back on my

it

Was Somto jealous?

do anything, maybe it’s still hard for him to accept that I ever felt that way about Nnenna in the

looked down, shame washing over

have said

honest... because he’s my best friend. I didn’t want to hide something that important from

But now...