Chapter 621: You Killed Him, Didn't You?
Murmurs rose again, hushed and uneasy. Somto had not cwith them.
And at the center of it all sat Nnenna, upright in her chair, her expression unreadable as she met their stares
head on.
Obinna broke the silence. He straightened his shoulders and moved forward, it fell on him to greet them, since
Somto... hadn't come.
"Welcto Lionara, Prince Carl, Prince Arthur, Dr. Darius." His voice was steady, respectful.
The three gave him brief nods, acknowledgment without ceremony.
Then his eyes found Nnenna.
A soft smile touched his face, not betraying his surprise at sight of the wheelchair. "Welchome, Nnenna. We
missed you."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHer chest pinched. For a second, she froze. But then she remembered, Obinna had already begun treating her
differently before she left for Lionara. Kinder. Gentler. She never understood why.
Still, respect deserved respect. She dipped her head slightly. "It's good to be home."
"Welcback!" Ebere stepped forward and bent down to wrap her in a hug, warmth cutting through the heavy
air.
Abuchi grinned and gave her shoulder a light pat. Playful as always, but careful, aware of where they were.
Nnenna'’s lips curved, her voice slipping out before she could stop it. "I missed you guys."
"Where's Somto?" Queen Chioma cut in sharply, her tone almost rude. Her eyes narrowed on Nnenna, the
disdain in her voice barely hidden. She had never been a fan of the girl.
Carl stepped forward, answering before Nnenna could even open her mouth. "I think we should go inside first,"
he said gently, though the tightness in his jaw betrayed his irritation at Chioma’s attitude.
Recognizing who had spoken, Queen Chioma lowered her gaze, the edge in her voice softening.
Obinna, however, felt the tension spreading. He quickly dismissed the remaining members of the court, ending
the formal welcome.
The absence of their king's return already weighed heavily on them, Somto’s closest friends were here, but
Somto himself was nowhere to be seen.
A sharp unease coiled in Obinna’s chest. Somto had promised him he would help guide the kingdom, even from
afar. But for more than six months now, his phone had remained switched off.
Worry had gnawed at the family daily. Still, it wasn’t the first time. Sometimes, Somto disappeared for years. Yet
one thing had always been true: whenever they truly needed him, he always returned.
The family led Nnenna, Arthur, Carl, and Darius into the dining hall, insisting they must be hungry after the long
journey. But when they arrived, no one took their seats. The food remained untouched.
"There's something | need to tell you all," Nnenna said at last, her voice low, her hands gripping the arms of her
wheelchair as if drawing strength from them. She had braced herself for this moment, but as silence wrapped
around the room, her throat closed. The words refused to come.
Minutes stretched.
Finally, Carl placed a steady hand on her shoulder and stepped forward. "I'll say it," he murmured, taking the
weight from her trembling voice.
"Let's sit first." he guessed at the dinning table and walked forward. Everyone else followed suit.
The dining hall was unusually still. Even the faint clink of cutlery had been muted, as if the family themselves
knew what was coming. Carl drew in a breath, his tone steady, though his eyes carried the weight of memory.
"Seven months ago..." he began, deliberately leaving out the parts no one outside their circle should know. "He
was one of the most loyal people I've ever met. He fought when others would have run. And though he’s gone,
Somto will never be forgotten."
The words fell heavy.
Arthur's gaze, usually sharp, dropped to the table. His fists clenched at his sides, knuckles pale, though his face
remained unreadable. The discipline in him wouldn't allow his grief to show, not here, not yet.
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