>>22934458>>22934508Add in the fact that he carried the guilt of her death for literal centuries, since he's implied travelling to different continents to escape his past. When he finally meets her again, at first he's confused and in denial. Then he tries to keep her away. And finally he decides that, this time, he will protect her. But he's still not over his guilt, so while he's aware he has feelings for her again he wants to give her a chance to discover her own, which is why he's even more conflicted that she's always bantering with him and emotionally relying on him.
