They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System Chapter 394: Just righteousness… right?

Chapter 394: Just righteousness… right?

King Vladimir of Haran stood, his towering fra casting a shadow that stretched far beyond the table. His expression was unreadable, stone cold, but brimming with suppressed fire.

Somto’s eyes narrowed.

Here it cos.

“King Somto,” Vladimir said, voice smooth but laced with venom, “we appreciate your… emotional explanation of your father’s death.” He stepped forward, his thick cloak dragging slightly behind him. “Tragic, truly. Heroic, even.”

He paused, letting the sarcasm simr in the air.

“But surely you don’t expect the entire continent to believe that a king in peak health, one of the most powerful n in the realm, just so happened to die in a spontaneous assassination attempt… all to save a single girl?”

Gasps echoed.

Nnenna froze.

Somto kept his sharp gaze on him, but said nothing yet.

“E-Especially” King Vladimir stamred a little under Somto’s intimidating gaze then he steadied himself and smiled slightly. “Especially a girl who, according to public knowledge, wasn’t even blood.”

Tension snapped tight again. It felt like the walls themselves were listening now.

Online, the sparks ignited:

@RoyalExposeHQ: “OH he’s calling Nnenna a liability???”

@CrownDebate101: “King Vladimir’s had beef since the engagent was called off.”

@WolvesOfHaran: “Finally soone’s speaking TRUTH.”

@TeamNnenna: “He’s just bitter his son and daughter got dumped. Sit DOWN, Vlad.”

Back in the hall, nobles glanced around nervously. So were shocked. Others smirked, secretly pleased soone had the guts to say it out loud.

Even Queen Chioma’s lips curled in amusent. But because this would ruin Nnenna’s reputation. As for Vladimir trying to sar dirt on her son, she was furious about that and already was making plans to get back at him.

Vladimir continued, “All I ask is that we use logic, Your Majesty. Emotions cloud judgnt. And your story, while heart wrenching, conveniently clears the two people who benefited the most.”

He let the implication linger.

Somto and Nnenna.

A perfect target.

But Somto finally smiled, a slow, cold smile that sent a chill through the room.

The tension in the room snapped taut like a pulled bowstring.

King Vladimir took a step forward feeling the support of the crowd. “Who in this entire continent would dare send assassins into the palace of Lionara?” His voice rose. “You must be joking!”

A wave of murmurs swept through the hall like a crashing tide.

Offline whispers stirred:

“Is he calling the new king a liar?”

“He has a point, though… assassins inside Lionara’s palace? That’s unheard of.”

“Unless soone inside helped them…”

“Maybe this king Somto is just covering for his little sister.”

“He’s trying to tie a pretty bow around a bloody ss.”

Online, the comnts were flooding fast:

@DramaFromTheThrone: “Vladimir’s NOT pulling punches today.”

@RoyalTeaTi: “He’s saying what people are afraid to say.”

@NnennaLoverForever: “Ugh, he’s just mad his daughter and son got rejected. Sit down, war king.”

@SwordAndSlander: “Maybe Vladimir knows sothing. Haran is always watching.”

@Peacekeeper07: “If true, this ans even the royal palace isn’t safe. Terrifying.”

Somto didn’t blink.

His golden eyes remained on King Vladimir with such piercing sharpness, it was as if the very air turned to ice.

The hall went silent again.

Vladimir felt it.

That gaze, it wasn’t just royal. It was dangerous. Predatory.

A strange chill crept down his spine. How could this boy, this boy barely older than his own son, make him feel this… small?

What is this presence? he thought, swallowing.

Vladimir tried to et Somto’s eyes again, tried to hold his ground like the war king he was.

But he couldn’t.

He blinked, faltered, and looked away.

And the entire room noticed.

He shifted uncomfortably, stamring now, “W-what I an is… perhaps… we should, ah, further investigate before clearing anyone so quickly.”

King Vladimir knew, this was the point of no return. There was no turning back. His voice hardened as he stepped forward, the weight of the mont pressing down like a storm.

“You’ll need to provide sothing more than words,” he said, eyes narrowing. “Verbal claims aren’t enough. Even if everyone present that day stood by your story, they could still be in league with you. You need evidence, real proof.”

Somto finally smiled, calm and composed, his eyes glinting with sothing cold and sharp.

“So, you’re Mr. Justice now?” he said, almost amused. “I didn’t know you were so close to my father… Close enough to be this determined to uphold justice for him. Strange, he barely ever ntioned you except in normal politics and trades. Not among his friends, not even his political allies.”

Vladimir went silent.

For a mont, the room was thick with tension. Everyone could feel it. Somto’s words hit their mark. He was right, and Vladimir knew it. But he wasn’t about to admit that, not here, not now.

“I’ve spent ti with King Ikechukwu,” Vladmir continued, more solemnly now. “Lionara is connected to Haran through trade and diplomacy. In those etings, I’ve co to admire his courage… his wisdom. I won’t stand by and let a man like that die without fighting for justice.”

A murmur spread through the onlookers. The balance was shifting.

Was Vladimir hiding sothing?

Why hadn’t the late king ever ntioned him a lot?

Could Somto be exposing cracks in the truth?

Even so of the guards exchanged glances. Suspicion, once just a whisper in the shadows, was beginning to take shape.

But Vladimir stood tall, his expression unreadable.

Inside, however, he could feel the pressure building, slow, creeping, dangerous.

“Oh, so that’s it,” Somto said, his smile still faint but no longer playful. His voice didn’t waver, it cut like a blade through the charged silence. “That’s noble of you, truly.”

He took a step forward, eyes never leaving Vladimir’s face.

“I just assud… after the cancellation of the engagent between and Anya, your daughter, and my second sister and Alexei, your son, you might’ve been looking for a chance to get revenge on Lionara.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

“This has nothing to do with revenge, right?” Somto asked, tilting his head slightly. “Just righteousness… right?”