The Person I Loved Hated Me - Chapter 19

When Isaac returned home, he found flowers arranged on the table. The vase full of red roses particularly caught his eye.

“Where did these flowers come from?”

As he took off his coat, he casually asked Clara, who was standing in the kitchen, pretending nothing was wrong while the thought crossed his mind—could it be from Eivard?

Eivard had promised to show that he no longer had feelings for Clara, but human emotions aren’t that simple.

Isaac had been bewildered when Eivard directed his anger at him without cause, and he was certainly indignant when Clara was insulted, but Eivard had repented and apologized.

They were comrades in the same knight order who had shared hardships and entrusted their lives to one another. Isaac wasn’t the type to hold grudges, and he had already forgiven Eivard.

Still, Eivard was a high-ranking noble. Even if their feelings were mutual, when he thought about the future, he couldn’t bring himself to approve.

“A customer gave them to me.”

Clara answered without turning around. She seemed to be in a bad mood.

Right, if it were from Eivard, he would have rushed to brag about it as soon as Isaac got home. Knowing both of their feelings made Isaac feel guilty.

Isaac washed his hands to help and stood beside her, watching her closely. Clara was expressionlessly chopping meat into small pieces. The thumping of the knife against the cutting board was annoyingly loud. Yep, she was definitely in a bad mood.

“What’s wrong? Was it an unpleasant customer?”

Clara often got approached by men because of her looks. Because of that, she’d apparently become skilled at handling them, but preparing these many roses would cost a considerable amount. He couldn’t help but wonder if some wealthy customer had proposed to her.

“Yeah, it was unpleasant. I think he’s a noble, but he didn’t seem as trustworthy as Lord Eivard.”

Hearing the word “noble” gave Isaac a bad feeling.

“Nobles wouldn’t show up at a town workshop, would they?”

“He didn’t tell me his family name or title, but his manners and attire were refined. That wasn’t just some rich person, he was definitely a noble. He didn’t care about my circumstances at all and seemed used to giving orders. He was someone who came to the shop during Franz’s wedding.”

When Isaac heard “Franz’s wedding,” he felt the blood drain from his entire body. There was only one person who came to mind.

“…Did he propose to you?”

When he cautiously asked, Clara shook her head. “No.”

“But I could tell he’s obsessed. He invited me to lunch, and I couldn’t refuse, so I went. Even though I acted cold, he kept smiling. The dessert was delicious, but I couldn’t taste anything else. Even though it was a high-class restaurant, being with him it was kind of scary.”

“He didn’t even give his name?”

“Dian. He said he works at the castle.”

That’s his real name!

Isaac was stunned into silence.

“Isaac, will I be okay?”

Clara looked up at him with a furrowed brow, her eyes—purple with flecks of gold and red wavering anxiously.

“You’ll be fine. I’ll protect you, so it’ll be okay.”

When he put his arm around her shoulder, she leaned into him. She must be worried that something she didn’t want might become reality. It’s difficult for commoners to oppose high-ranking nobles.

If both parties were willing, that would be one thing, but forcing an unwilling girl would be a scandal even for a noble. Especially for the Crown Prince, whose future is assured. If it were to happen, Clara would undoubtedly be hidden away and confined.

There was no doubt the Crown Prince had taken an interest in Clara. The difference in status was so great that Isaac never thought this future would come. Just to be safe, he hadn’t even let her near the knight order close to the castle. And yet…

Isaac held Clara tightly as she continued chopping the meat, leaning her weight against him.

Even though he said she’d be okay, Isaac himself was unbearably anxious.

Starting the next day, bouquets began arriving for Clara without pause, filling the room with flowers. Even as they wilted, new ones kept coming, so the number never decreased.

Moreover, the sender’s card was signed “Dian.”

Clara didn’t realize Dian’s true identity, but having them sent under his real name was probably meant to make sure Isaac understood. It was a declaration that he intended to take her eventually.

During these agonizing days, a saving grace arrived for Isaac. Thanks to Eivard, he was granted an audience with Sebastian, the Duke of Winslet.

He would have preferred to consult with the previous generation’s Ortol, who knew everything, but he didn’t have the courage to leave Clara alone and go to his territory. He was too afraid she would be taken away in his absence.