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

Chapter 466: Who Will You Marry in the Future??

She leaned in a little closer, lowering her voice though her face remained unreadable.

"Are you really going to skip years?"

Nnenna didn’t break stride. "Yes. I am."

Ava’s mouth parted in a quiet gasp. She actually slowed down for a second, as if the answer was too absurd to process.

"You’re crazy," she finally declared, her tone caught between awe and disbelief.

Nnenna almost smiled, her steps lighter despite her exhaustion. "Maybe."

"I thought about doing it too," Ava admitted after a long pause. Her voice was soft now, as though she were confessing a secret. "When I heard you might try, I wondered if I could do it. But..." She sighed and glanced away. "I don’t think I’m that brave."

Nnenna’s brows lifted. For a moment she forgot all about Arthur’s cold gaze and Carl’s warm advises.

Ava, perfect, untouchable Ava, sounded almost...human.

"Well," Ava continued, brushing invisible dust from her sleeve, "I’ll cheer you on. At least one of us should be extraordinary."

Nnenna turned her head, offering an amused, inquisitive smile.

"Okay then. Thank you."

For the first time that morning, she felt a little lighter. Even if everyone stared, even if the rumors flew, at least she wasn’t completely alone.

Ava felt something odd twist in her chest when Nnenna smiled at her. It was such a simple smile, warm, genuine. Almost...familial.

Is this what it feels like to have a sister? Ava wondered.

She was about to say something else, maybe to ask Nnenna if she wanted to study together later, when a voice interrupted them.

"Hey, Nnenna!"

Emily came skidding to a stop in front of them, nearly tripping over her own feet in her excitement. Her hair was a little messy, and she looked like she had run all the way from the main gates.

"Have you heard the rumors?" she blurted, her voice echoing in the courtyard. "What happened yesterday is everywhere! People won’t shut up about it. About you knowing all these huge celebrities, and how you’re still so calm and humble, and oh, about Jana being exposed as a complete fraud who was trying to harm the true heiress while she was just a fake—"

Nnenna’s eye twitched so hard it almost hurt.

True heiress?

Where on earth did they get that from? She wasn’t a princess here. She wasn’t among the noble families in this kingdom talk more of this continent. Just a girl trying to be the best at everything she did.

"I’m not an heiress," she interrupted flatly, her tone clipped but not unkind. "I don’t know who started that, but it isn’t true."

Emily blinked at her, confused. "But...but everyone’s saying—"

"Well, everyone is wrong." Nnenna sighed, feeling her temples start to throb.

Ava glanced sideways at her, her expression carefully neutral, though the corner of her mouth twitched like she was fighting a laugh.

Nnenna had the distinct feeling her peaceful morning was about to get much more complicated.

But still regardless of what Nnenna said, Emily was relentless, her eyes bright with curiosity.

"You don’t understand. You’re not yet, but you will be in the futute." she insisted, wagging a finger playfully. "You can refuse all you want, but don’t pretend you won’t end up marrying one of those princes in the future and becoming a queen. From the way you interacted with them, everyone’s already speculating about who you’ll end up with. It’s quite exciting, you know! Personally, I’m rooting for Carl."

Nnenna nearly dropped her bag.

She stared at Emily, her mouth falling open in embarrassed disbelief. "Nothing of that sort is happening between me and Carl. Or Arthur."

Emily tilted her head, unconvinced.

"Carl is my big brother," Nnenna stressed, her voice growing firmer. "Arthur is Ava’s brother. And he’s also Carl’s best friend. That’s all."

Emily nodded slowly but wore the expression of someone humoring a child. "Mm hm. Sure. But who wouldn’t want a big brother like that? He treats you so well it’s honestly suspicious."

Nnenna’s brow twitched, her patience thinning. "Emily."

"What?"

"You know I hate telling lies," Nnenna said flatly, frowning hard enough to make Emily flinch.

Emily sighed, rubbing her cheek sheepishly. "You’re right. Fine, fine, I believe you. But seriously..." Her voice dropped to an exaggerated whisper. "You really hit the jackpot. Having a big brother that well connected... if it were me, I would never stop bragging."

Nnenna pressed her lips into a thin line, feeling both exasperated and oddly grateful that Emily still treated her like a normal person, even if she was relentless about gossip.

"And I may believe you," Emily went on stubbornly, "but other people definitely don’t. Honestly, I doubt there’s anything you could ever say to convince them. Most people know that any guy and girl who are as close as you two are and aren’t related by blood must be secretly in love. It’s either one sided or goes both ways."

Nnenna just sighed, brushing her hair back from her face. "They can believe whatever they want. It doesn’t matter to me. Only the people close to me knowing the truth, that’s what matters more."

Emily looked at her, studying her calm expression, then let out a breathy laugh. "You’re too sensible, you know that? Anyway, today is going to be so much fun. I can’t wait to see Jana’s face when she has to walk in here like nothing happened."

Before Nnenna could reply, Emily reached out and hooked her arm around hers, half walking, half dragging her down the hallway.

"Come on! You have to sit with me." noveldrama

Ava, who had been quietly watching them, felt a strange pang in her chest as the distance grew between her and the other two girls. The easy way Emily talked to Nnenna... the way Nnenna smiled back without hesitation... it looked so real.

She swallowed, her throat tight. How did I end up feeling like an outsider?

Just then, one of her friends hurried over, voice bright and deferential.

"Your Highness, are you all right? Class is about to start."