The Person I Loved Hated Me - Chapter 32

Though unwilling, Eivard was in a situation where he had a fiancée. He never thought they would push forward so forcefully without the person’s consent. To be born into that family and end up in this miserable state, it was entirely Eivard’s fault.

He couldn’t possibly confess his feelings to Clara in such an insincere state. Yet, if he did nothing, there was a chance someone else might snatch her away. It seemed Rhys had also taken an interest in Clara.

Though it would remain hidden forever, Clara still carried royal blood in her veins.

Duke Sebastian Winslet had casually declared that Clara would be Rhys’s official wife. From Sebastian’s perspective, that bloodline was evidently that precious.

Despite calling her a commoner, he was fully intent on bestowing her upon his son, and Eivard doubted that mindset had changed even now that Clara had escaped the crown prince’s grasp.

Sebastian probably couldn’t help but be conscious of the Rhodias blood flowing within Clara. Above all, keeping her close for surveillance was the quickest solution or so Eivard felt.

But he wouldn’t allow that.

Even if Rhys had only now realized Clara’s charm, it was already too late.

Eivard swore to himself that he would never yield.

If he remained careless, she really would be taken from him. No matter what, he had to prevent that at all costs.

He had fallen in love with Clara at first sight. Why her?

It was true that initially, they were drawn to each other’s appearances, but before meeting Clara, even when surrounded by beautiful women, his heart never so much as fluttered. So why was it different with her?

That day, Eivard had been captivated above all by Clara’s mysterious eyes.

If that were all, he surely wouldn’t have become so deeply enamored. The reason he fell this hard was because Clara helped him realize his own weaknesses and freed him from the curse of the Trulin Marquisate.

Before meeting Clara, Eivard had been arrogant. Though his incompetence was his own fault, he had blamed all his dissatisfaction on others.

Clara was the one who gave him the chance to realize his foolish obsession with gaining recognition within the Trulin Marquisate. It was all thanks to meeting her.

She was his light. The only woman for Eivard. He couldn’t imagine a future without her.

“And yet, I keep hurting her.”

He was disappointed in himself. But he had no intention of backing down.

Now that he knew what he had to do to secure a future with her, he would absolutely seize it.

However, confessing while he had a fiancée was out of the question. Such insincerity would lead to irreparable consequences.

Even so, he wanted Clara to know how he felt about her. If he didn’t, there was a high chance she would give up on him.

He also wanted to quickly clear up the misunderstanding that he hated her. There was a mountain of things he had to do.

It was then that his eldest brother, Ethan, visited Eivard at the knights’ quarters for the first time.

“This is an order from Grandfather. A soirée hosted by His Majesty the King will be held in five days. You are to attend with the daughter of Viscount Notoria.”

Ethan, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, delivered the message flatly without even a greeting and held out the invitation. Instead of accepting it, Eivard took out the disinheritance papers he had prepared.

“Please give this to Father.”

“What is this?”

Ethan took it, examined the contents, furrowed his brow, and sighed in annoyance. “Honestly, you…”

“What is this supposed to be?”

“Exactly what it says.”

“Your opinion doesn’t matter. Fulfill your duty.”

Ethan tried to push it back dismissively, but Eivard forcibly stuffed it into Ethan’s inner pocket. Ethan seemed shocked by Eivard’s action, his eyes widening.

“I heard you defied Father’s decision, so it seems it’s true. What on earth happened?”

“Nothing happened. I no longer have any reason to remain in the Trulin Marquisate.”

“Your role is to marry into the Notoria Viscountcy and bring benefit to the Trulin Marquisate. Serve the family.”

“Then why not have your son do it? The youngest daughter of Viscount Notoria is around the right age.”

“My son is the direct heir to the Trulin Marquisate! Don’t spout such nonsense!”

As expected, Ethan roared in anger, but Eivard no longer felt scared or pathetic.

Why had he shrunk back, feeling like a failure every time he was yelled at? He couldn’t even remember anymore, Eivard was now immersed in his liberated state.

“Don’t bring any more shame upon the Trulin Marquisate.”

Eivard’s very existence had been considered a disgrace. Each time he was told that, it had hurt, but now he felt nothing.

“Just attend with the daughter of Viscount Notoria. Understood?”

With that, Ethan turned on his heel and left. Fortunately, Eivard didn’t have to accept the invitation. Probably, Ethan was too shaken and unable to believe Eivard’s attitude.

Later, when Ethan returned to his study, he took out the disinheritance papers Eivard had shoved into his pocket and stared at them.

Thinking Eivard was as useless and foolish as ever, he felt irritated, crumpled the document, and threw it in the trash.

Unseen by anyone, Rhys secretly retrieved it from behind and smoothed out the wrinkles.