Chapter 227 The Lost Feeling (III)
In a small camp nestled deep within the dark forest, four tents were neatly lined around a campfire. The surviving party members gathered around the fire, trying to restore peace and stability after the recent fierce battle.
Joanna, who typically took care of the group's well-being and health, was busy tending to the wounded patients from the battle. She carefully cleaned their wounds and provided the necessary care with great attention.
Akio and Justin sat close to the fire, enjoying the warm soup that Joanna had prepared. They laughed and joked, trying to distract themselves from the lingering tension.
However, Klaus appeared lost in thought, staring silently at Sylvia. Laplace's words kept echoing in his mind. While Klaus had never doubted the love he received from his family over the last 19 years, the love from a romantic partner was an entirely different matter.
As he watched Sylvia engaged in conversation with their friends, Klaus felt perplexed. He had forgotten what it felt like to be in love and to receive love from someone. This feeling led him to complicated and confusing questions that would affect his relationship with Sylvia in the future.
<My liege, are you still thinking about it?> suddenly, a soft voice resonated in his ears. Klaus simply nodded in response.
<I understand. Matters of the heart and feelings are not to be taken lightly.>
Klaus heard her response and chuckled, "Are you trying to counsel me? I've been living much longer than you. There's nothing I don't know."
<Apologies for my presumption, my liege. I know you're much older than me, but I don't see you having much history with women. That's why I think you're conflicted.>
"I am immortal, Laplace," Klaus replied, his face turning somber. "Marrying a woman and starting a family is something I cannot do. In the end, I'll only watch them die. Joanna, Steve, and Anna—they will leave me one day too. I'm cursed to be alone, Laplace."
Instantly, sadness enveloped Klaus. The fear he had ignored for so long haunted him. The greatest sorrow of a human being is separation, and Klaus would endure it forever. It would never end. That's why, in his previous life, he chose to become the Death Bringer. He wouldn't have to feel grief if he was grief itself.
<Forgive me, my liege. I didn't mean to make you sad.>
"It's okay. This is my fate," Klaus accepted the bitter reality.
"By the way, what should I do about her?" Klaus continued.
<Honestly, I can't help you, my liege, especially given your condition now. But I'll remind you, if you keep hanging onto Sylvia, someone else might win her over.>
Klaus furrowed his brow, wondering who Laplace meant.
"Like whom?" he asked.
<Like Justin.>
Klaus burst into laughter, as if the idea was too absurd to contemplate. But when he saw many eyes watching him, he tried to suppress his laughter.
"Is there something funny, Klaus?" Justin inquired.
"Sorry, I was just remembering something funny."
"Oh, okay."
Although Klaus had already given an answer, people still found it odd. They rarely saw Klaus laugh.
Klaus asked Laplace to explain further.
<Justin is a handsome man, and he has shown his maturity recently. It's not impossible for Sylvia to fall for him. When a woman goes through the worst moments in her life, she'll seek comfort from someone else.>
Klaus was in deep thought after hearing her explanation. If he thought about it, Justin was a former idol. He had a very loyal female fan base to this day.
<But more importantly, my liege,> Laplace continued, <You must give her an answer immediately if you want to reject her. The longer you delay it, the more extraordinary pain she'll endure.>
Upon hearing that, Klaus clenched his hands. He had to end this now.
"Thank you," he replied.
After receiving advice from Laplace, Klaus felt that he needed to confront his feelings and talk to Sylvia personally. He approached her cautiously, asking her to speak privately with sincerity.
"Sylvia, can we talk for a moment, alone?"
Sylvia was surprised to hear this and looked confused. The other crew members also watched them with curiosity.
As Klaus and Sylvia moved away from the campfire, the others began to whisper and speculate about what Klaus and Sylvia would discuss in their meeting.
"Do you think Klaus will accept her feelings?"
"Of course not. He's not that kind of person. Just seeing him makes me shiver."
"Sigh, Sylvia doesn't stand a chance."
Some of them may have already known what was happening between Klaus and Sylvia, and they were eager to hear the next developments.
Consumed by curiosity, Justin asked Akio what they were doing. Akio smiled and gave an answer that might sound a bit cynical.
"What are they doing?"
"Of course, Klaus wants to tell Sylvia not to pursue him anymore. Everyone knows the answer."
Upon hearing this response, Justin appeared to disagree. He still remembered the incident of Klaus's birthday party. On that night, Sylvia was killed in a terrorist attack, and Justin had seen Klaus bring Sylvia back from the dead with his own eyes. From this, Justin was sure that if Klaus didn't have the same feelings for Sylvia, he might not have resurrected her.
"No," Justin said. "Klaus would accept her feelings. He has done so much for Sylvia."
Akio chuckled. "How do you know?"
"That—"
Justin swallowed his words. He had promised Klaus not to tell anyone about this.
"I just know it," Justin continued. "And how do you know he'll reject her?"
Akio sighed. "You don't need to figure out the cold-hearted man's feelings. Anyway, do you know how Klaus looks at us?"
Raising an eyebrow, Justin couldn't provide an answer.
"Like insects," Akio continued. "The way he looks at us, as if everything around him is no more than insects. But don't misunderstand. It's not like he looks down on us, but more like he's being cautious not to kill us. That's how I see it."
Justin squinted his eyes. "What the actual fuck are you talking about?"
They both then engaged in a heated argument, trying to predict what would happen next. Failing to find a middle ground, they eventually made a bet.
"Here's the deal," Akio said. "If they end up in a relationship, I'll give you 50 bucks. And if my guess is correct, you'll be the one paying me. Deal?"
Without hesitation, Justin replied, "Deal."
They both agreed and shook hands, ending their debate.
...
Klaus and Sylvia walked through the dark forest, their footsteps echoing under the canopy of trees. For Sylvia, his presence walking beside her made her heart beat hard. She felt nervous, fearing that Klaus might be able to hear it. Her mind was filled with various questions and wild imaginings about what would happen.
As she imagined Klaus confessing his feelings, her face blushed. She found it hard to believe that it might actually happen. Perhaps Klaus had the same feelings for her. Thinking about it only added to the nervousness in her chest.
Suddenly, Klaus stopped walking.
"Sylvia," he said.
"Yes?" Sylvia responded spontaneously.
She was surprised, and her face turned even redder. Nervous, Sylvia wondered in her heart what Klaus would say. Would he confess his feelings?
Then, Klaus spoke loudly, "I won't beat around the bush. I know you have feelings for me. But I can't accept them. I'm sorry."
The words rang loudly in Sylvia's ears and seemed to momentarily stop her world. Startled, she didn't know how to respond, so she tried to force a nervous smile and said, "You're kidding, right?"
But the cold and emotionless expression on his face immediately made her realize that this was no joke. Klaus was dead serious about what he had just revealed.
At that moment, Sylvia felt her chest tighten. It felt like a punch to her heart. The feelings she had kept deep inside now had to be confronted, and it was so painful.
Klaus, on the other hand, clenched his hand as he watched Sylvia break down. She bowed her head, and her entire body trembled. Seeing her in this condition made Klaus feel guilty. However, this was the best decision for both of them.
He tried to explain and ease the situation, but before he could say anything, Sylvia uttered harsh and piercing words.
"Cut the bullshit! I don't need your pity!"
Those words hit Klaus like a direct slap to his face. He was shocked and couldn't find words to respond.
Suddenly, Sylvia raised her head and wiped the tears from her face. "This isn't fair. You didn't give me a chance at all. I can't accept this, and I'm not giving up."
After uttering those words, Sylvia quickly walked away, leaving Klaus with a puzzled expression. The situation turned out to be more complicated than he thought.
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