The Person I Loved Hated Me - Chapter 17

Late at night in a deserted church.

The small church stood in a corner of the town, a lively space during the day where local people gathered regardless of their faith. But at this hour, though the gates remained unlocked, it was empty. After the church’s caretaker had refilled the lamp oil and left, Eivard was alone.

It was the very place where Franz’s wedding had taken place just days before.

Here, Eivard was waiting for Rhys.

It had been difficult to get in touch with Rhys. After all, Eivard’s two older brothers worked at the same place as Rhys. As someone from the Trulin Marquisate, which sought to replace the Winslet Ducal House, Eivard didn’t want it known that he was contacting Rhys.

With Eivard working outside the castle and Rhys inside, they had no points of contact, so Eivard had to lie in wait for Rhys to finish work and head home. But since Rhys, like other high-ranking nobles, commuted by carriage from his mansion rather than staying in a dormitory, that attempt failed.

So instead, Eivard staked out the archives room inside the castle during breaks in his duties. The room housed an enormous collection of books. Hiding among the shelves and watching for several days, he finally managed to spot Rhys, make contact, and secure a promise to meet.

Rhys showed up about an hour late.

The sound of the door opening echoed through the dimly lit chapel. As the lamplight illuminated Rhys, Eivard rose from the chair he’d been sitting in.

“Thank you for answering my call.”

He had considered the possibility that Rhys might suspect a trap and refuse. Rhys was the only one he could contact without anyone from the Winslet Ducal House finding out. Eivard bowed his head in gratitude, and Rhys walked up to him, saying, “Well, if you say it’s confidential from the Trulin Marquisate, I guess I have no choice.”

“So, what is it? I may not look it, but I’m busy, you know. I’d rather be working right now.”

He seemed irritated at having his work interrupted and urged Eivard to get to the point quickly.

“There’s a man who says he wants to meet with Duke Winslet.”

“Who?”

“A man named Isaac, who serves as a squad captain in the knight order.”

“Isaac… Oh, that guy.”

“You know him?”

From his tone, it was clear Rhys wasn’t fully aware of the situation, but Eivard was still surprised he knew one knight among so many. Impressive, or something like that he thought fleetingly. A few years ago, he might have been jealous.

“Know him? He’s the guy who got promoted in your place, isn’t he?”

“In my place?”

“Don’t play dumb. There’s no way you wouldn’t have noticed.”

Rhys made a disgusted, sarcastic face, but Eivard was completely lost. When he honestly said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Rhys shot him a scornful look and said, “Stop pretending.”

“Your family’s old man was bribing the knight order’s leadership, wasn’t he?”

“Bribes… My grandfather?”

“The old man was trying to extend his influence into the knight order, so on the chancellor’s orders, I put a stop to it. Your promotion was all set, but because of his meddling, your future promotions won’t match your achievements. It’s all the old man’s fault. You didn’t know… Wait, you really had no idea?”

Shocked by the unexpected information, Eivard covered his mouth with his hand.

Bribes? Did he try to buy Eivard’s promotion with money to gain influence in the military? Because of that, Eivard’s planned promotion fell through. And apparently, to avoid Trulin Marquisate influence, it would affect his future promotions too.

He hadn’t known or even suspected such a thing until this moment. No, he had been furious when accused of pulling strings behind the scenes. He should have realized then. And because of that, he lost his chance at squad captain promotion. Not because of Eivard, but because of his grandfather. And yet, Eivard had blamed Isaac—not anymore, but back then, he’d been so cornered he could only hold onto that belief to keep himself together.

So that’s why. That must be why the marriage into the Notoria Viscountcy was arranged. The scandal of trying to buy a promotion with bribes would follow him for life, no matter how much he achieved.

Eivard or rather, the Trulin Marquisate’s goal of controlling the military had become impossible.

That left only Eivard’s strikingly handsome face as his remaining asset. Looks fade with age. So, they must have decided to use it while they still could.

If he couldn’t make a name for himself as a knight, he’d be discarded as useless. Eivard’s own wishes didn’t matter. Everything was according to the plans of his grandfather, the family head, Raihaints.

“Um… It feels wrong to apologize since it’s not my fault. The blame lies with the Trulin Marquis. But really, you didn’t know? If you’d thought about it a little, you’d have figured it out, right? How could someone like you not notice? Hey, don’t get mad. Please don’t think about cutting me down with that thing on your hip.”

Rhys was saying something, but Eivard was in no state to listen. He was too shocked to speak. Of course, he was upset about what his grandfather had done, but more than that, he was filled with guilt over Isaac having to accept an unwanted promotion because of it.

Isaac had only Clara as family. He’d once turned down a promotion, probably for her sake. And yet, because of Eivard, he had no choice but to accept. And because of that, Eivard went on an expedition, and Clara was attacked by thugs.

“What have I done?”

“Seriously, what have you done.”

“No, that too, but I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I won’t take it out on you or draw my sword, so don’t worry.”

“Right, it’s your fault for not noticing. It’s strange that someone far more capable than me wouldn’t realize.”

As if genuinely afraid Eivard might draw his sword and cut him, Rhys kept repeating, “It’s your fault.”

“Spare me the flattery. It’s also true that I never once beat you.”

“That’s because I worked desperately, afraid you’d surpass me.”

“No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t. You know it, I’m the failure of the Trulin Marquisate.”

He’d only become able to admit his own shortcomings after meeting Clara. Even facing his former rival, whom he hadn’t spoken to in years, the bitterness of those days didn’t resurface. Seeing Eivard like that, Rhys laughed and said, “What nonsense are you talking?”

“Then your two obnoxious brothers are incompetent, aren’t they!”

Rhys laughed cheerfully, brazenly saying rude things.

“My brothers, like you, were always top of their class.”

“That’s only because you and I weren’t there.”

“No, I’m nowhere near their level.”

Though he stated the fact, Rhys clutched his stomach, laughing, and said, “Are you serious?”

“Working with them, I can tell you’re the most capable of the Trulin Marquisate siblings. Back in the academy, you were training to become a knight. You pushed your body to exhaustion during the day, rarely showed up in class, yet your grades were nearly perfect, and you were second rank. I was always on edge, afraid you’d overtake me. I thought you were a monster, but you were just honest.”

Finally calming his laughter, Rhys wiped tears from the corners of his eyes.

“If we’d talked more back in the academy, we might have built a good relationship. Oh well. So, about Isaac wanting to meet my father. What’s the reason?”

“He wouldn’t say, so I wasn’t told.”

“Huh? And you think that’s enough to take up the chancellor’s extremely busy time?”

Rhys widened his black eyes in disbelief, a natural reaction.

“I heard he’s acquainted with Lord Ortol. He said he was told to rely on the duke in times of trouble.”

“Is that true? No one’s pulling strings to have him assassinate someone, right?”

“Nothing like that.”

“Can you say that even if you disregard him as a comrade or someone close?”

He was being told to view Isaac as completely unrelated, and Rhys knew Eivard couldn’t answer with absolute certainty.

“I’d like this kept confidential.”

“Of course. I’ll keep our contact secret too, especially from the Trulin Marquisate.”

Trusting Rhys, Eivard nodded once and spoke.

“The other day, Prince Dian, while incognito, approached Isaac’s sister. She’s a very beautiful woman. Isaac seems afraid his sister will become the prince’s plaything.”

“Hmm, I see. Isaac, his father’s unknown, right? Even if he doesn’t want his sister to become a mistress, why come to us… Wait? You said he knows the old man, right?”

Rhys’s black eyes met Eivard’s blue ones.

Neither of them spoke the words that came next.