Chapter 338: The Absence Of An Answer

Although Michael was a man whose composure rarely faltered, there were certain exceptions. This was one of them… standing face-to-face with Nicole and her piercing crimson gaze, which many found intimidating, yet had the opposite effect on him.

Those eyes…

“Ahem!” Michael cleared his throat. “Normally, I would argue with the idea that I’m popular… But since your help arrived at exactly the right moment, I suppose I’ll let the matter slide.”

“There is no need to be humble.” Nicole reassured.

Michael shook his head. “You can’t change my mind. Even if I’ve helped you in the past, it pales in comparison to the favors you’ve done for me and my faction. This has only increased that debt.”

Nicole giggled.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, shall we? What makes you think I don’t want something in return?”

Michael blinked slowly. “You do?”

She nodded, her eyes surveying the extravagant ball.

Whoever was unfortunate enough to meet her gaze felt a chill run down their spine, prompting them to quickly avert their eyes to the ground. The scene repeated dozens of times within a few short seconds, until her gaze settled on Michael once more.

He simply looked back at her with quiet, anticipated curiosity.

“Power… can be a curse.” Her eyes dimmed slightly.

“At first, the idea might sound enticing. Having everyone who meets your gaze shudder in fear and bow their heads in submission, too afraid to challenge you for fear of your wrath…”

Nicole paused briefly.

“Yet few realize that this kind of life is depressingly isolated.” She heaved a sigh. “People stop treating you like a human being, seeing you as nothing more than a monster. To the point that even I sometimes question my own humanity.”

Ironically enough, Nicole had no idea she was speaking to the one person who could understand her feelings better than anyone else. Still, something inside her urged her to confide in Michael. A quiet intuition that he might perceive what no one else ever could.

As she silently watched him with unspoken expectation, the gears in Michael’s mind turned one after another. Sensing something amiss.

’Oh…’

Revelation struck him a few moments later. He extended his hand with a warm smile.

“Of course, where are my manners? May I repay the aid you have shown me with a dance?”

Nicole smiled faintly, taking hold of his hand.

“Gladly.”

Michael tended to forget that, due to the experiences of his past life, few could endure the presence of someone with such power without flinching.

’Is his lack of self-preservation the reason he constantly occupies my thoughts?’ Nicole wondered, as the two pressed their bodies close together.

’No, being a madman shouldn’t be a quality only he possesses… then what is it?’ She pondered for a few silent moments.

Funnily enough, since the two rarely indulged in mundane affairs, their dance looked quite clumsy. Yet no one noticed. Anyone watching was too stunned by the sheer audacity of someone daring to ask Supreme Lord Nicole for a dance… and even more so by her actually accepting.

Sadly, recording devices and photographers were strictly prohibited. Otherwise, no one would have hesitated to capture the moment.

“What is it you wanted to talk about?” Michael exclaimed, barely noticing the growing number of eyes on them.

“First, I want to congratulate you. Who would have thought your faction would soar to such heights so soon after its creation?”

Her eyes shone brighter.

“And second… I meant to ask. Who are you really?”

He took a deep breath. “What prompted this question?”

“Women’s intuition, perhaps.” She replied softly. “But the more time we spend together, and the more you treat me casually, unlike the others, the stronger this feeling grows… that we have met before.”

“…”

He parted his lips, desperately searching for something to say, but his mind offered no assistance. Suddenly, his lungs burned. The air around him felt heavier, pressing down with crushing weight. It was as though someone had seized his heart and crushed it in a relentless grip.

Fortunately, he didn’t display any outward reaction. His movements remained fluid, and his face retained its natural color, showing no hint of pallor. Though for a heartbeat, his eyes seemed unfocused.

’Did I screw this up?’ He cursed bitterly. ’I never expected that question. How do I even respond? Yes, we actually were together, we almost had a child… but you died, and so did our race, so I had to reverse time? I was too hasty. I should have acted more timid rather than being so carefree around her… Goddammit!’

Abruptly, a breathtaking smile tugged at Nicole’s lips.

“I see. Thank you for the answer.”

Michael raised an eyebrow. “But I haven’t said anything yet?”

She shook her head gently. “The absence of an answer is an answer too.”

By dropping the topic, she eased the weight on Michael’s mind. Evidently, this was all she had wanted to discuss. The two then continued their dance in comfortable silence until the end of the classical music.

“Thank you for the dance.” Nicole said respectfully. “It certainly made this suffocating ceremony more bearable.”

Michael smiled charmingly. “I assure you, the feeling is mutual.”

After they parted, he immediately stepped outside for some fresh air. Night had long descended, and the looming golden tree shimmered in the surroundings more vividly than before.

Feeling Devil tug at his soul, he summoned the weapon in his sword form.

’Now that we’ve got some alone time, I have to ask. What are your plans for Nemesis? The man might have been arrogant, but he had a point. Facing more than a hundred Lords in the faction wars isn’t realistic.’

Michael leaned back with a sigh.

’You are completely right. Currently, every strategy we can deploy, even if we increase our numbers significantly, we still stand no chance.’

Michael’s eyes blazed crimson, settling on the sharp blade.

’So… I will cheat.’

He declared.

’What is set to happen in the upcoming week, I hereby forbid you to ever discuss, whether in verbal or written form… This is an order you are to uphold even after death.’

There was no doubt in Michael’s mind that, if the Devil weren’t in his sword form at this moment, he would be grinning from ear to ear.

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