The Person I Loved Hated Me - Chapter 15

The day after Franz’s wedding. Eivard had been summoned by his father.

Arriving at the House of Trulin at the appointed hour, he was instructed by the butler to change into attire befitting a member of the marquis household. Thus dressed, he was ushered into a drawing room where five people, including his parents, were waiting.

He realized from the gathering that this was an arranged marriage meeting, but Eivard had no right to refuse.

Without even exchanging greetings with his father Carnes and mother Marianne, he was introduced to the head of the House of Notoria, his wife, and their seventeen-year-old eldest daughter.

The daughter, who still retained some childish innocence, blushed the moment she saw Eivard. Though she shyly looked down, she kept stealing glances at him. This was a common occurrence, so he paid it no mind, but Lord Notoria happily remarked, “My daughter already seems quite taken with your son,” cutting the greetings short.

The House of Notoria had five daughters in total. It seemed they wanted Eivard as a spouse for their eldest. The fact that all three were here meant that within the House of Trulin, it was already decided that Eivard would marry into the House of Notoria.

He had anticipated this day would come eventually, but he never imagined it would be without any prior notice.

Having withdrawn from social life under the pretext of work, this was his first meeting with the young lady before him. He didn’t even know what kind of woman she was.

His parents and Lord and Lady Notoria chatted cheerfully. Eivard remained silent except for his initial greeting, sitting like a doll.

Having been born into the House of Trulin, it was Eivard’s duty to make a marriage advantageous to the marquis household. He had understood this for a long time and had never disliked the idea.

Thinking that noble marriages were simply like this, he would quietly nod with a slight smile whenever addressed.

From the conversation, it seemed a large gold mine had recently been discovered in the Notoria territory. However, the bedrock was hard, requiring considerable mining technology, and the House of Trulin would apparently provide that expertise.

I see. If Eivard became the son-in-law of the viscountcy, funds from the viscount’s house would flow in.

The House of Trulin worked closely with the royal family but likely needed substantial funds to gain even more influence. Lord Notoria was a provincial noble, apparently aiming to wield power in the capital through this opportunity, with the House of Trulin backing him.

Well, it’s a common story, Eivard thought, as if it were someone else’s affair. He sat with an inoffensive attitude so as not to cause trouble.

“What do you like, Lord Eivard?” the young lady asked him.

Ordinarily, Eivard should have initiated conversation, but she must have grown impatient. Her expectant gaze clung to Eivard.

“Nothing in particular. And you?”

Asked so vaguely what he liked, nothing came to mind. What does ‘what’ even mean? he wondered as he returned the question.

“I would like anything that Lord Eivard likes,” the young lady replied shyly.

Eivard felt a chill at her response.

How dreadful. This young lady seemed to have lost even her sense of self, so captivated was she by Eivard. She claimed to like his preferences without even knowing what they were.

So, what then? If he said he liked rotten fruit, would this young lady eat it? If he said he enjoyed cutting people, would she agree it was a wonderful hobby? If he said he loved Clara, would she love Clara too?

It was natural for a wife to obey her husband. Even Eivard’s mother never defied his father. That was the norm.

But even so, Eivard felt chilled and despairing at the young lady before him.

Even if it was the proper response for a noble young lady in a marriage meeting, it was something Eivard simply couldn’t comprehend now.

Had this been Eivard from a few months ago, before meeting Clara, he wouldn’t have felt such despair. He would have understood the House of Trulin’s intentions and obediently complied. But Eivard had met Clara.

Clara told him what she genuinely liked. When given something, she wished to share it and proposed doing so. For kindness received, she took initiative to express gratitude. She looked at Eivard with honest, sincere eyes. She had even made him aware of his shameful behavior. That “position befitting the House of Trulin” he had been so fixated on had become utterly unimportant.

All of this was what Eivard had experienced, learned, and repented of through meeting Clara.

Eivard too had fallen in love at first sight. With just one glance, he had been drawn to Clara’s eyes and fallen in love.

But now he realized he loved her.

He was attracted not by her appearance, but by the charm Clara possessed.

Though their birth and upbringing were different, he felt no contempt for her being a commoner. She was someone who made him happy just by being together.

Having known that, could he really live in this world now?

Marriage wasn’t personal freedom but a duty and work. If there was a special woman, he could meet her outside. The idea that this wasn’t faithful was itself commoner thinking—in noble society, it was normal. Even his father and brothers had women outside, and his mother knew but said nothing.

If he married the daughter of House Notoria and became their son-in-law, eventually Eivard would become Lord Notoria. The gold mine would be his. Using it to develop the House of Trulin would be his role.

The House of Trulin pushing this marriage was equivalent to telling Eivard to quit being a knight. The moment a commoner-born knight surpassed him in advancement, Eivard had been branded unfit as a knight.

Eivard’s future was to enter the House of Notoria and become the husband of this blushing woman before him.

How long would this last?

Days, years, decades. Until death, in fact. Was he to spend his entire life with this woman?

Envisioning this future, Eivard felt despair and simultaneously spoke.

“I will not marry.”

Amid the cheerful conversation of his parents and the Notoria family, Eivard’s low but firm voice cut through.

“Eh, what did you just say?”

As if he must have misheard, Lord Notoria smiled and asked Eivard again.

Eivard stood up and moved away from his seat, then turned his body not toward Lord Notoria, but toward his father sitting beside him, looking down at him.

“I will not marry.”

Father Carnes glared coldly at Eivard with eyes of the same color. Though Eivard had always found those eyes terrifying, this time he felt nothing.

“The House of Notoria has five daughters. If you don’t like this young lady, you can choose from the remaining four.”

“How can you—! I love Lord Eivard!”

The young lady protested Carnes’s heartless words but was admonished by her parents sitting beside her. Then Lord Notoria said, “Our second daughter comes of age this year. She’s lovely and clever—I’m sure you’ll like her too, Lord Eivard,” recommending his absent daughter as if it were perfectly natural.

“Lord Notoria, please forgive my rudeness. It’s not that your daughter is lacking. I have someone I love.”

“A mistress or two… no, three or four would be fine. With your distinguished looks, it’s only natural.”

“I have no intention of making the woman I love live in the shadows.”

Even with the gold mine as a trump card, there must be other ways. Yet Lord Notoria seemed determined to connect with the House of Trulin at all costs.

The House of Trulin had no other unmarried men besides Eivard. Not wanting to let this chance slip, the lord himself made statements accepting mistresses even before marriage was settled, while his daughter beside him covered her face with both hands and began to cry.

Hearing her sobs, Carnes scowled as if annoyed and spat out, “Who is this young lady?”

“She is not a noble. She is a commoner’s daughter.”

“Don’t be foolish. I would never allow it.”

“I don’t need your permission.”

“What did you say!”

Carnes raised his voice at Eivard’s unprecedented defiance.

“You wretch! Have you no pride as a member of the House of Trulin!”

Though Carnes, enraged, grabbed Eivard by the collar, Eivard received it with an unfazed expression.

“You disgrace! If you don’t want to be disowned, do as you’re told!”

“Then disinherit me. Thank you for everything until now. I take my leave.”

Brushing off his father’s hand, Eivard left the mansion where his only memories from childhood were of fear and constant tension.

As he passed through the gate, for some reason, his heart felt remarkably light.