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

Chapter 551: This Whole Time... You Knew

Then her lips curved into something that was not quite a smile. "You know we are responsible for the assassins in Lionara," she said evenly. "You are good, better than I thought, and you still manage to surprise me every time."

Then a genuine smile returned, faint but tinged with steel. "You made one mistake, though. The killing part, that wasn’t me." She stepped back just slightly, her gaze never leaving his. "That was my idiot husband."

Somto’s gaze hardened as he studied her face. She did not look like she was lying, but he was not fooled by the practiced innocence in her expression either, so he held his ground.

Nnenna’s mind churned with questions, each one crashing into the next.

Who was this woman?

Why did they look so alike?

Why was she happy to see me, yet had apparently tried to kill me?

How did Somto know her?

And more disturbingly, how did she know me?

Her eyes flicked around the lavish dining hall. Which royal house was this? If they could kidnap someone from Prigrian, though it clearly took careful long term planning, just how powerful were they?

But this didn’t feel like the right moment to ask.

Arthur’s expression was unreadable, but there was a dangerous focus in his eyes that told her he had some of the same questions... just at a higher level. He didn’t wait.

"You’re Athena," Arthur said, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Queen of Reshmi. You’ve got some guts, extending your claws all the way from this continent to ours. And my kingdom, no less."

"This has nothing to do with you or your kingdom, Arthur," Athena said, her tone cool but carrying an edge. "And have some respect, I’m one of those that practically raised you."

lips curled in something that wasn’t quite a smile. "Yeah. Until you suddenly cut yourself off from everyone and everything when you married into this family. I’m sure you remember that day vividly. I don’t need to remind you of the exact words you used to sever ties with your loved ones, do I? Or how you refused to help

a whip. She gestured to the housekeeper. "You should

anywhere without them,"

still consider you family. Go on now," she

But Arthur didn’t move.

flick of her fingers. "But don’t blame

turned to Somto, her eyes narrowing. "Now, move over. Let

the same time, their voices laced with disbelief. Somto’s expression

do you look so shocked? He didn’t tell you I’m your aunt?" she

Nnenna said slowly, her eyes narrowing. "You’re related to

that made any sense to her, at

Athena scoffed, like the name itself tasted bad. "Oh, you mean that family who stole you." The bite in her tone made

whipped her head toward Somto. "Do

didn’t answer. He

cut in, her voice turning almost soft, like she was delivering something

landed like a

don’t understand." Nnenna’s brows knit, her

word was still ringing in his ears

Athena is Nnenna’s biological aunt, doesn’t that

mean... Nnenna’s

of searching, and the person he had been chasing ghosts for had been right here, right beside him,

shock on

No.

Arthur’s jaw tightened.