The Antagonist: The World Ends Theory
Chapter 64 - "I'll Keep Accepting You What It Is"

"Are you cold? Do you need an extra cape?"

After Jean became fully aware, she began to notice small things. Clara just doesn't want Jean to die from the cold. Plus, even though they were in a hole, Clara learned that the first snow fell this morning.

"What's wrong Miss, it's better that Miss worry about herself. We're the same anyway - we only have one cloak." Jean said, her face still pale and her voice raspy.

"Oh yeah, we should find Avrim as soon as possible and the horses, of course, after you feel better."

Jean gasps, realizing that she hasn't told the truth to her. Guilt was in his heart. On the one hand he could not lie to Clara, but on the other hand he was still unable to accept her brother's death.

This is Jean's internal matter.

However, Jean also does not want to lie to Clara for the next.

"Miss. I don't think it needs to be done."

"Hjp? What's?"

"That's..."

Clara became curious, but all the words Jean wanted to say seemed stuck in her throat. This lie must end, but Jean is unable to end it. If only the Emperor were here, he would say it without further ado.

"I mean, let's go find Aunt Avrim now. We can't waste time."

Jean with her still weak body tried to get up, therefore Clara helped him. He looked at Jean worriedly.

"Are you sure? You're still weak..."

"What's wrong Miss. I have to get used to it."

Why is this kid acting so weird? It was always wrong at first, then moody, and now...?

"Yes... Jean?"

In the middle of Avrim's search, Clara calls Jean slowly. As a result Jean placed her attention on Clara, she tilted her head a sign of curiosity and confusion.

"Yes, Miss?"

Clara stopped stepping, she started to play her fingers, she was always like this when she was nervous. "On last night.I'm sorry!"

"Eh? It doesn't matter Miss, I upset Miss first anyway. I should have focused yet..."

"It's okay what, I'm wrong."

Clara thought until when they would blame each other. It will never end if they continue a conversation that is just a waste of time.

"Then let's find Avrim!"

Clara led the way, she looked at the wall of land around her. They're looking for Avrim and they're looking for a way out.

When I get out of here I think, we're going to Freesia using what? Is it possible to go back to Hortensia to borrow a horse?? Hurry up, surely he'll mark me as a lousy weapon Eh? If you remember - remember again Your Majesty once said I was a broken weapon, right?

GREKS

"Huh?"

Clara looked at her feet, where she stepped on something. It felt hard yet on the other hand it was also fragile, something like... bones?

Clara hurriedly crouched down and took a closer look at what she was stepping on. "Eh? This is...?"

The faces of Clara and Jean turned deathly pale, looking at Clara who was beginning to dig. Automatically Jean helped him, should a graceful girl should not dig the ground.

Ah already, even Avrim is not surprised if the dress worn by Clara must be on the tip there is a stain of the ground. Avrim

DEG

Clara's gaze was fixed on the hand of a woman who had rotted. How did he know it was a woman? Of course because they had already clearly seen the face of the owner of that hand.

Someone they knew, buried by the ground. Although not too deep but still if it is called buried.

His wrinkled face appeared to have blackened due to the decay process. His servant's clothes were worn, how long had he been buried?

TEST

A single tear fell from Clara's eye patch.

Now...

Avrim is gone.

Clara wiped her tears roughly, continuing her digging. Likewise with Jean, seeing Clara's mental deterioration. He helps Clara to continue digging Avrim's body buried in the ground.

After some time, Jean was finally able to remove Avrim's body from the ground. Clara immediately hugged Avrim's decomposed body, no longer feeling warm but had become completely cold.

Clara sobbed, while Jean stared at Avrim's stiff body with grief.

"Acci..."

...❀...

CHIRPS

There were birds chirping outside her room, the little girl with a snow-white mane could only hear it. She won't be able to get out of her room because of that annoying sunshine, why is her skin different from everyone else's?

"I'm out. I'm sick of being in here. Whether it's in the West or the North, it's all the same. I'm kept in the room."

CRIETTE

The little girl glanced at the open door, where a middle-aged maid brought a tray of food and drinks for her to eat. The woman smiled gently at her car.

To be honest, this was not the first time she had gotten that smile. However this was the first time he had gotten a sincere gentle smile. Usually people around him, be nice to him just to take advantage of him.

But this time...

He knew that the maid was sincere to him. Even though the girl felt that there was something wrong with her.

The little girl appreciated him, unfortunately he was lousy in expressing his feelings. And also, all this time the girl wanted to ask something to the maid.

"Why are you always happy around me?"

"Hjp? Happy?" The female servant tilted her head, she was confused.

The little girl automatically frowned in surprise, "Aren't you smiling because you're happy? You smile every day, it means that every day you are happy. I wrong?"

The female servant chuckled at hearing that. No matter the little girl it was the greatest weapon ever invented. He's still a 10-year-old kid! He's been a year old, so he's 11 now.

"It's not like Miss..."

The lady's servant placed the tray on the table that was in front of the little girl.

NADA

"Miss rarely smiles." Answer it briefly.

The girl was even more confused, "So..what's the connection?"

The lady's servant widened her smile.

"I'll keep smiling until Miss smiles too."

...❀...

The body in Clara's lap grew lighter and lighter. Avrim's stiff body gradually turned into a flake of hellebore flowers.

Clara is not surprised by this incident, because in her novel has been explained. All the humans who died would turn into flowers, as a result of which there were no tombs in any region in the entire Herbras.

But there are special conditions where the person will not immediately turn into a flower, I don't know what. There's no explanation at all.

Clara's cry turned into a sob.

He could only embrace empty air.

Clara held back her cries, tightly hugging herself after there was no one she could hug. Jean was silent, her lips stiff enough to utter even a single word. He can't do anything to strengthen Clara.

Let it go, Clara does need to cry right now.

"Avrim.... before... He's gone, isn't he?"

"...!"

Jean, who had initially lowered her head, looked at Clara in surprise. But the girl still remained faithful to keep her eyes on the place where she found Avrim.

Jean was increasingly unable to say anything. His tongue felt faint, all of this was finally revealed. But why can't he tell Clara something? Should Jean explain it?

Clara had been suspicious since last night, when Avrim's body went cold. And not infrequently Clara found Avrim who was silent like an undead. Even the process of decay was too fast than usual. That alone means that Avrim is actually not really alive.

Jean clutched her clothes.

"Avrim's aunt was actually my brother. I didn't focus on the direction of the trip all that because Freesia was my parents' second home. And. My brother and I have a bad relationship with both of them, they treat us no more worthy than animals..."

Clara doesn't respond, she's still listening to Jean. Although his gaze was fixed on the ground.

"Until Brother gets sick and decides to kill them both. Strangely enough, if you do it at night, but the bodies of you and them haven't turned into flowers until the next day when I find them."

"..."

"Maybe this is the opportunity God gave me. I resurrected Brother back even though the effect was on Brother's aging face. After that, we met with His Majesty and swore allegiance to the Hortensian Emperor."

"Then Avrim who all this time...?"

"It was actually me who controlled the movement and whatever it was that he was talking about. I thought that Your Majesty might know the truth about us, but I still sent a letter through Avrim regarding Miss's development."

"so."

Jean becomes worried, she worries that after this Clara will hate her. Jean had lied, and it wasn't a small lie. He started biting his lower lip.

"Will Miss hate me for this? I lied to my lady as well as myself. By the time Miss showed up and treated me so well, I began to accept the fact that Brother was gone. But, I lied to Miss..."

Jean started sobbing, it was weird for her. Honestly, she had never cried again after her brother's death a few years ago. And now? She was crying just for fear of being hated by someone she had just met in mid-autumn.

Could there be something else that made him behave this way?

"I'm sorry Miss..."

"..."

"Hiks..."

"Although that's the case, I'll still accept you for who you are." Clara Mumbled.

Jean's eyes were round, she lowered her head as she dared not look at Clara. But after Clara's mutter just now, tucked happiness inside her. Well, even though he still did not dare to raise his head.

"Jean?" Call Clara.

This time Jean dared to look at Clara. The face that often looks pale now looks swollen because of the crying just now. A smile full of softness radiated from him, his sapphire eyes were glazed - glass.

"You are you, no matter what anyone else says. Jean is Jean in my eyes." Clara said, a tear is now back.

"..."

"Everyone has advantages, but those who have advantages must also have disadvantages. And that's no reason for you to worry that no one will accept your flaws."

"In the future there will be someone who will accept your shortcomings. When you find him, then don't let him go okay?"

"really?"

"Yes!" Clara nodded steadily. "You know? You only need to run to me when someone doesn't want to accept your presence. Because I will always accept whatever your condition. So, don't be pessimistic okay?"

"When you meet him, you'll know."

Jean nodded faintly, engraved a faint smile on her face.

Brother. I found him, someone I've been looking for all this time.

"You said everything Avrim did and said was on your orders, right?" Ask Clara.

"Yes..."

"Then I owe you one thank you."

"uh? What's for?"

"Thank you for being an excuse to keep smiling!"

Clara smiled cheerfully, showing off her row of white teeth. Jean glued, a sincere smile, which she rarely gets from others. She missed this happy feeling, a feeling that had been lost along with her brother.

Jean pulled the corner of her lips.

"Thank you also for being the reason for me to stay alive, Miss. Now let's find a way out of here."

"Sip!"

They then walked on, continuing back on their way to Freesia without a single horse. Leaving hellebore petals embedded in the ground. Maybe the flower will grow up there in the next few months.

Who knows?

TB

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See you in the next chapter~