The Person I Loved Hated Me - Chapter 14

Many knights from the same squad and others had gathered for the friend’s wedding celebration. While chatting and laughing with them, Isaac kept an eye on Clara and Eivard.

Clara was happily talking with her female colleagues from work. Eivard, whether intentionally or not, didn’t approach Clara or invite her anywhere.

At the dinner party the other day, Clara had said, “This might be the last time.” She must have realized on her own that it was futile. It pained Isaac that he couldn’t bless his sister’s love, but he wanted to avoid making her live in the shadows at all costs.

Until meeting Eivard, they hadn’t been able to build a friendly relationship, but the reason for that had been explained along with an apology. As a result, thanks to Clara, they even had opportunities to share meals, and their relationship was progressing smoothly. In the knight order, rumors spread about his sudden change in attitude.

It had been Eivard’s jealousy? Feelings? All along. Isaac, who had accepted the apology and wasn’t the type to hold grudges, also recognized Eivard’s abilities, so he didn’t particularly mind the past outburst.

He just felt sorry for Eivard, who had honestly confessed.

If only he weren’t a noble, Isaac could have been happy about his relationship with Clara. As an individual, Eivard was qualified both as a knight and as his sister’s partner. It was truly a shame about his high noble status.

When Isaac paused his conversation with friends and glanced around, Clara was gone. Just moments ago, she had been surrounded by women, happily chatting—what had happened?

Startled, he stood up and scanned the area, spotting her at the counter’s corner, sharing a drink with an unfamiliar man.

“What the… Who is it this time?”

The young man, though dressed like a commoner, was unmistakably a noble even from a distance. He looked much older than Clara, who was only eighteen. Was she looking for someone to have fun with? Imagining Clara falling prey to such a man, Isaac charged forward with intent to intervene.

As he pushed through the crowd with long strides, someone grabbed his arm. He tried to shake them off, thinking they were in the way, but not only was he unable to break free, he was forced against the wall.

“Let go!”

“No, even if you tell me to let go. What are you planning to do?”

It was Eivard. He held Isaac’s arm, frowning deeply.

“What do you mean, what am I planning… Clara’s drinking with some stranger!”

The man’s gaze was fixed on Clara the entire time, there was no doubt he was interested. What was a noble who wasn’t even a knight doing here? Frustrated, Isaac tried to wrench his arm free  but Eivard wouldn’t release him.

“Are you serious?”

“About what? Weren’t you the one who liked Clara? Are you just going to let some guy snatch her away like that!?”

“Calm down.”

Eivard pulled his arm firmly and whispered in his ear.

“That’s Crown Prince Dian.”

“Huh?”

“Him. Haven’t you ever seen him before?”

The Crown Prince?

There’s no way he’d have seen him. Well, maybe he had, but Isaac was a knight of common birth, so if he had, it would only have been once or twice from a distance, just enough to recognize his presence. He didn’t even remember.

No, since he didn’t remember, he’d never seen him. This was the first time. If he had seen him, he would have remembered him as a person of interest and definitely not forgotten.

“He’s incognito. You can’t interfere.”

“I won’t allow it either. No way. The Crown Prince is worse than you. This is the worst!”

“I’m telling you to calm down.”

In his confusion, Isaac was dragged by Eivard to the back of the shop. Even amid the noise, his voice had been too loud. He was taken outside and pressed against the wall.

“Do you have any idea what would happen if you were punished for disrespect? To put it bluntly, nobles and commoners face different levels of severity. I already recognized him. ‘I didn’t know’ won’t cut it for you. This is common sense. What’s gotten into you!?”

He knew. He knew that, but that man was off-limits.

If that man had taken an interest in Clara, it wouldn’t be strange for her to be taken to the castle. That man had that much power. He absolutely had to avoid that.

But faced with this unexpected situation, Isaac was so flustered he could only think of separating the two right then and there.

“His Highness isn’t that kind of person. If, by any chance, she strongly desired it, it might not be impossible, but…”

“She wouldn’t desire it! Clara has feelings for you!”

He cut off Eivard’s words.

While urging him to deny their relationship and give up, he used that as a reason to reject the possibility of “by any chance.”

“Disrespect or whatever, some things are just unacceptable. This is the worst. Let go, Eivard!”

Physically, Isaac should have been stronger, but he couldn’t push Eivard away. In his confusion, even though he had the advantage in strength, he couldn’t utilize his skills effectively.

“So, you… Can’t you hear me telling you to calm down!?”

Finally, he was punched hard in the left cheek. He tried to retaliate with a punch, but it was easily dodged.

“Fine. Fine, I get it. I’ll find a reason to separate Clara and bring her here. So please, you wait here.”

“The other party is the Crown Prince, right? Can you, a noble, manage that?”

“It’s better than you attacking him. You’d both be punished, Clara included. Think before you act.”

Not only punched but also lectured, Isaac regained a bit of composure and spat out the saliva and blood that had pooled in his mouth.

Then, “Isaac?” a lovely voice called, and his shoulders jerked. Eivard in front of him also looked surprised.

“Lord Eivard, too. What are you doing here?”

“Clara, why…”

He hadn’t noticed her presence. And it was an amateur girl’s presence at that. The blood that had rushed to his head receded, and he reflected on how unfit he was as a knight.

“I saw you two heading to the back, so I followed. What happened to your cheek?”

Clara looked anxiously between Isaac and Eivard.

“Ah! I got a bit drunk and came outside. I stumbled and hit it here.”

“You drank that much?”

Under her suspicious gaze, he felt his eyes waver, but Eivard affirmed, “That’s right,” so he managed to avoid detection.

“We were just discussing escorting him since he’s unsteady. Clara, if it’s alright with you, shall we go now?”

As if to say “impressive,” Eivard, quick to adapt, wore a gentle, kind smile on his beautiful face.

“I was thinking of heading home soon too. May I accompany you?”

“If Isaac here hits his head while stumbling, it’d be dangerous. If he collapses, you wouldn’t be able to support him alone.”

“That’s true. I’m sorry to trouble you, but please.”

Relieved by her happy expression, Isaac felt at ease. Clara’s feelings weren’t for that man hiding his status; they still lay with Eivard.

“Is it alright with the person you were with at the counter?”

“That incognito noble? I explained about the commoners’ celebration, so I think it’s fine. More importantly, Isaac, can you walk properly?”

“I’m fine. I can walk.”

For now, he was relieved, but it was unlikely that man hadn’t noticed Clara’s eye color.

After safely arriving home, Isaac, as he parted with Eivard, proposed, “I have something to discuss.”

Eivard, who seemed to have plans tomorrow, agreed to meet in the evening or later, then complimented Clara’s clothes and hairstyle before returning to the celebration.