Read Novel Full Chapter 325: Klaus vs Love [5]
Chapter 325: Chapter 325: Klaus vs Love [5]
Chapter 325 – Klaus vs Love [5]
"> <What will it be?>
Klaus and Love stared at each other, still separated by the table, neither moving, as though the question itself had rooted them to their chairs.
The most logical course of action, without a doubt, was for each of them to simply forgive the other for lying or withholding part of the truth.
Yet the mere thought of that possibility twisted both Klaus’s and Love’s expressions into indignation, and, surprisingly, a strange thread of fear.
From the very start of their relationship, no matter what they’d been through together, forgiveness had never once entered the equation.
Not a single time.
When Love had done as she pleased, discarding Klaus’s feelings and walking toward Emrys, Klaus had taken it personally and tried to kill her.
When Love got her chance to retaliate, she’d hired other students, cracked Klaus’s skull open, and staged a rape scene to blackmail him.
No forgiveness. Just the raw human instinct of "You hurt me, I’ll hurt you back."
Asking them to forgive each other now felt like asking a newborn to walk unassisted.
It was sudden. It was...terrifying.
The Rune spoke again, forcing them both to realize their time wasn’t unlimited."> <You have 3 minutes to reach a decision.> The Rune spoke again, forcing them both to realize their time wasn’t unlimited.
Klaus drew a deep breath, exhaling slowly, staring at her, "What happens if we want different things?"
"> <Then the first option is chosen by default. You’ll each impose a permanent punishment on the other.>
’I fucking knew it.’ Klaus cursed inwardly, then turned his full attention back to Love.
"What do you want to do?" He asked.
"No," Love shook her head, "the question is, what do you want to do? Trying to shift all the responsibility onto me again? When will you stop being a coward?"
"You’ve called me a coward enough times now that it’s starting to irritate me, bitch." Klaus growled, "And how is this me being a coward, when I simply asked for your opinion?"
"Klaus, Vorn take you, I know you." Love said, "Don’t try to gaslight me. You asked what I wanted, because you didn’t want to risk saying something I’d reject, and embarrass yourself in the process. You’re so easy to read."
"You’re overthinking this. And wasting our time doing it."
"Then tell me what you want." Love replied, "Or, better idea: I’ll tell you the truth I hid from the first question, and you tell me the truth you avoided in the second."
Klaus’s expression shifted instantly, darkening, "The questions are over, Love."
"Questions are never over. And I want that answer." She hissed, "What did you want from me that you never told me? I was honest, I said I wanted your respect, damn it! You, Klaus Silicin Handoff, I want your respect! Do you have any idea how much courage that took me, to say that out loud, to your face? You owe me the same."
"Why should—!"
"Because that’s how relationships work, you damned fool!" Love slammed her fist onto the table, furious, then rose from her chair and kicked it mercilessly out of her path.
Klaus stayed rooted, unmoving, eyes fixed on Love, now standing an inch away from him.
She leaned forward, close enough for her face to hover near his. Her pink hair spilled forward like a waterfall, brushing, almost caressing, his cheek.
Again, he didn’t move.
Both their hearts began racing dangerously, so much so that each could hear the other’s heartbeat, as though sharing a single pulse between two chests, feeling exactly what the other felt.
"I opened myself up. You need to do the same." Love said finally, "You have to, if you want this relationship to move past hate. Otherwise, Klaus, I will loathe you."
"You already do. What difference would that make?"
"This time it’ll be different." She replied, "In the past, I hated you out of contempt because I saw you as insignificant. This time, I’ll hate you out of disappointment, because of the good thing I was starting to feel for you."
She paused, heart pounding so hard her chest felt like it was vibrating.
"And that kind of loathing will be far worse, trust me."
Klaus didn’t know what to say. He understood her perspective, knew he’d have felt the same in her position, but he genuinely couldn’t do it.
He couldn’t voice what sat inside his heart, not in that exact moment.
"I can’t." Klaus said wearily, chest aching, "And notice I said ’can’t,’ not ’don’t want to.’"
Love’s face twisted with anger, disappointment settling back onto her aged features, "What’s the fucking difference?"
"The difference is I’m not ready to say what you want to hear. And I get your point about reciprocity, don’t look at me like I’m an idiot. I’m actually quite a smart one." He said, irritated by her doubtful expression, "But you also have to know people process things differently, at different speeds. I need time. And if..."
He paused, hesitating, then shook his head.
’Fuck. At least have the courage to finish this, Klaus!’
He forced himself onward.
"...if you care at all about not letting this relationship become just hate," both their faces flushed crimson, "then you’ll understand my position — since you claim to know me — and give me the time I need to open up."
"I’m under no obligation to wait, Klaus."
"You’re not."
"Then why should I? Especially if that wait could stretch out indefinitely with excuse after excuse."
"Aren’t you tired of all this hate?" He smiled faintly, "I’m tired of it too. Maybe this is the way forward. Forcing me will only breed resentment. And I don’t handle resentment well."
He shrugged, "I have this habit of paying people back." He looked at her seriously, gathering his courage once more, "That’s why, this time, even though I desperately want to know the truth you hid, I’m choosing forgiveness for both of us."
Love froze completely, unable to believe what she’d just heard. She studied Klaus closely, checking if she’d misheard.
But no.
He was dead serious.
"You’re actually being serious right now?"
"Don’t make me repeat myself. I told you I hate stupid girls, and you’re not proving me wrong."
"Fuck you. I can play that game too, I hate cowardly men. And you’re every bit a coward."
"I don’t think we have time to keep arguing, Love."
And indeed...
[1 minute remaining.]
Both their expressions grew even more serious.
Love’s face twisted with conflict. Because, truthfully, she’d planned to choose punishment, saddling Klaus with something permanent that would haunt him until he confessed the truth he was hiding.
Right up until now, that had been her plan. She hated being the only one who’d opened up, and...and she desperately wanted that answer.
What could Klaus possibly want from her, that he refused to say.
Certainly not her body. Klaus had never struck her as a pervert, despite every bad thing she could say about him.
’Is it my love? Does he want my love?’
But even then, if that were true, Love didn’t think he’d be this reluctant to admit it.
Surely he wasn’t that prideful.
Was he?
She had no idea, and feared this unanswered question would haunt her for a long time.
But things had changed now. Klaus had clearly made an enormous effort, proposing they forgive each other.
She’d never imagined hearing those words from him.
Never.
And rejecting him now, choosing punishment instead, would likely erase whatever had pushed him to be, for once, neither spiteful nor petty.
Was it worth it?
Love groaned inwardly, torn, lost, again, as she’d been so often lately.
[30 seconds remaining.]
"Love," Klaus called out seriously, "Choose."
She looked at him, stared deep into his eyes, and remembered, once more, everything they’d lived through together.
Only bad things. Only merciless choices and actions that had pushed them both to the edge.
So, for once...
’Vorn take my soul. I hate whatever it is I feel for him.’
"...I accept." Love said slowly, embarrassment and anger tangled in her voice, "I choose forgiveness."
Klaus exhaled in hidden relief.
The Rune declared, and the world around them began to crack,
"> <For that, the Rune wishes to part with you both, offering a reward for accomplishing something never done before.>
"Huh?" Both Klaus and Love echoed, rising, struggling to stay steady as the world crumbled around them.
Then, suddenly, something began to glow at the left side of each of their necks. An intricate, beautiful rune.
"> <This rune will grant you strong resistance against illusions, and against the compelling power of Truth that others might wield against you.>
The two exchanged uncertain glances. Love, in particular, was thoroughly stunned. She’d never once encountered a Forbidden Rune behaving this way, in all her research at the Tower of Runes.
But there was no time to dwell on it, as the scenery around them dissolved into pale grey fog, their minds gradually returning to their bodies in the real world.
As they faded away, the Rune’s voice echoed one last time in their minds, cold and ancient.
"> <Pride is the sin the Fallen Angel committed, Prince of Wind. I wish you success on your journey, and hope to one day see you crowned as the first King of Spirits.>
"> <And you, my lady, you are anything but worthless. You are chosen by all of us — the Mortal, the Divine, and the Forbidden Runes alike. Forgive me for taking a portion of your life, but you remain too weak for me to take anything else. Do not use me, or my siblings, until you reach the Third Rank. And remember well...>
Everything went blank.
"> <...you are Love de Bayard, The First Rune.>
—End of Chapter 325—