They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System-Chapter 78 - Birthday Phobia

The king’s smile faltered, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face.

He didn’t appreciate being interrupted, especially by her.

Nnenna had grown bolder, and while he found it inconvenient, he couldn’t deny she had a point.

It was her birthday too.

If they were inviting distinguished guests from within and beyond the kingdom, it would be impossible to ignore Nnenna entirely.

The event had to appear fair, at least on the surface.

Suppressing his irritation, King Ikechukwu sighed.

“You’re right,” he admitted reluctantly.

Nnenna’s steady gaze remained fixed on him, her expression giving nothing away.

Her unspoken challenge lingered, reminding everyone at the table that she was no longer willing to be ignored.

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“Indeed, it’s your birthday too,” King Ikechukwu replied, his tone even but laced with a faint edge of authority.

“I was going to get to that if you had let me finish.

Both of you will be celebrated on that day.

So, make sure you’re ready, and take all your etiquette classes seriously.

Learn how to act appropriately for the occasion,” he added firmly.

Nnenna let out a small scoff, though she quickly masked it with a sip of water.

‘So, he did know I was supposed to be taking etiquette classes.’ The thought burned in her mind, accompanied by a wave of bitterness.

For years, she had watched Ebere’s etiquette lessons through a small window, silently mimicking movements and posture in secret.

She had no teacher of her own, no one had ever bothered.

For nearly a decade, she had been excluded from every ball, every royal event, as if her existence were an afterthought.

And now, suddenly, they cared?

Now, she was expected to condense ten years of etiquette training into a few short weeks just because they wanted to display her to the world at this ball.

The sheer absurdity of it made her clench her fists under the table.

It wasn’t about preparing her or giving her a fair chance; it was about appearances.

They needed her to look presentable so the kingdom wouldn’t question why the adopted princess had been hidden away for so long.

But Nnenna didn’t let any of this show.

Instead, she took another bite of food, her face calm, though her mind churned with resentment and determination.

‘If they think I’ll just nod along and play their perfect doll, they’re wrong.’

Fortunately for Nnenna, she was a fast learner.

Years of watching Ebere’s lessons through the window had paid off.

She had quietly mastered every movement, every rule, and every gesture, and, if she were honest, she was better at it than Ebere herself.

But no one knew this.

So, when King Ikechukwu made his remark, she simply smiled and nodded.

“I’ll pay attention to the teacher,” she said, her tone respectful and calm.

The king, satisfied with her response, nodded in approval.

He seemed pleased that she was being obedient.

Queen Chioma, who had remained silent until then, took the opportunity to speak.

Her voice was sweet but carried an edge that Nnenna knew all too well.

“Remember to help with the preparations for the occasion,” she said, glancing briefly at Nnenna before returning her attention to her plate.

To the others at the table, the queen’s words seemed normal.

Helping out was part of being a member of the household.

But Nnenna knew better.

She knew exactly what “helping” meant in this house, doing almost all the work herself.

It was one of the many things that had drained her spirit in her past life, chipping away at her bit by bit.

The memories flickered in her mind like a cruel reminder, but she quickly shook them off.

After dinner, everyone excused themselves and returned to their rooms, most with half empty stomachs.

The atmosphere at the table had killed their appetite.

But not Nnenna.

She had eaten to her heart’s content, savoring every bite.

If she was going to face whatever storm awaited her, she would do it on a full stomach.

Back in her room, Nnenna shared her small victory with the Love System, her voice smug as she leaned back on her chair.

“See?

I didn’t even have to use a single Good Point.”

“Well, I’m glad,” the Love System replied, its tone calm but carrying a note of caution.

“But you do realize that what you just did might bring even bigger trouble your way, right?”

Nnenna’s smile faltered for only a second before she straightened, her expression turning serious.

“Whether I do something or not, they’re always going to target me.

So, I might as well fight back.” Her voice carried a quiet defiance, one that had grown stronger with every challenge she had faced.

“Fair enough,” the system replied, its tone thoughtful.

There was a brief pause before it spoke again, its voice suddenly more mysterious.

“Your birthday is coming up, isn’t it?

You should be careful.”

Nnenna sat up straighter, the hint of unease creeping into her chest.

“What do you mean by ‘be careful’?

Do you know something that’s going to happen that day?” she asked, her voice laced with both curiosity and fear.

The Love System didn’t respond immediately, and that silence only heightened her anxiety.

Despite all her preparation, despite how far she had come in changing her fate, Nnenna couldn’t shake the fear surrounding her birthday.

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