The Person I Loved Hated Me - Chapter 38

After releasing the man who had been restrained—Cissle—Lillia let out a relieved sigh.

Eivard sat her down on a bench and stood before her. Cissle stood behind the bench, at Lillia’s side, glaring at Eivard, but he decided to ignore it.

Lillia glanced back once to confirm Cissle was there, then began speaking before being prompted.

“Two years ago, a gold deposit was discovered on our territory. The bedrock was too hard, so we had given up on mining it, but we thought that if we could get the technicians employed by the Marquis Trulin household, we might be able to manage it. Just as we were trying to make a connection, we were approached by the Duke Winslet.”

Marquis Trulin owned gold, silver, and iron mines. Due to the nature of the land, the bedrock was hard, and as a result, their mining technology was arguably the best in the kingdom. However, their peak had passed, and now only a small amount was being produced, making it unprofitable.

“Duke Winslet was looking for someone he could approach in order to weaken Marquis Trulin’s power.”

“What is the relationship between Viscount Notoria and Duke Winslet?”

“I heard that in his youth, my father served Duke Winslet as a spy.”

As expected, it seemed Viscount Notoria had once served as a spy. Even if he was still active, it didn’t matter to Eivard.

Eivard urged her to continue with a look.

“Using the provision of mining technology as a pretext, my father proposed a marriage between me and you, Lord Eivard. After that, it unfolded as you know.”

“The engagement was a measure to avoid suspicion, correct?”

“Yes. Rather than simply receiving the technology and paying in return, it would be less suspicious if it appeared that my father was eager for power. To strengthen the bond, he also wished for you to be adopted. This was to make it seem as though the gold mine could be freely used by the Marquis Trulin household.”

“I see.”

On the day they met as fiancés, there was no hint whatsoever that Viscount Notoria was scheming like this. One could say he was truly a spy. Eivard, too, had been completely fooled.

“You intend to break off the engagement, correct?”

“Absolutely. I acted rudely so that you would reject me. I am very sorry.”

Claiming to like the same things Eivard liked, making empty statements. Calling herself his fiancée and barging into the knights’ barracks, then shouting loudly. Despite being in a position where she should be escorted, dressing up and going to her escort’s workplace to meet him. Pretending to be tragic and crying. So, all of that was an act after all.

Still…

“One can fake an attitude, but blushing isn’t something you can consciously control. Impressive acting skills.”

“Ah, that wasn’t acting.”

“Hmm?”

Thinking he might have misheard, Eivard furrowed his brows. Lillia looked down, embarrassed.

“You, Lord Eivard are very beautiful. I was captivated. Just making eye contact made my heart race.”

“Even though you have a man you love, that still happens?”

“That’s separate… Huh?”

She must have wondered if she had mentioned having a man she loved. Lillia tilted her head.

“You mentioned Cissle. Is he your lover?”

“How did you know!?”

Both she and Cissle, standing behind her, were astonished, but it would be stranger if he hadn’t figured it out.

“You wanted to be rejected by me even if it meant lowering your value as a lady? I believe your unladylike actions were nothing but a precaution to ensure I wouldn’t possibly take a liking to you, correct?”

All of it was because she had a lover.

“I truly am sorry!”

“It’s not the young lady’s fault!”

As Lillia stood up and bowed deeply, Cissle stepped between her and Eivard and raised his voice.

“The young lady is intelligent, kind, and wonderful. Yet there are such terrible rumors about her. It’s all my fault!”

“Stop it, Cissle! We’re in front of Lord Eivard!”

“But, young lady! I hate that you’re thought badly of when it’s my fault!”

“Cissle!”

The two firmly grasped each other’s hands and gazed into each other’s eyes. They seemed to be getting worked up, but he wished they’d do it elsewhere.

Watching them, it seemed Lillia’s rudeness, even at the cost of her value as a lady, wasn’t solely to make Eivard dislike her.

“Does Viscount Notoria not approve of your relationship?”

At Eivard’s question, the two jolted, then both made a pouty face and looked down. It was good to see they got along so well.

“Cissle is the son of our steward and my childhood friend. In exchange for me becoming your fiancé, Duke Winslet was to arrange for Cissle to be adopted elsewhere.”

It seemed he was to be adopted by a suitable noble and then marry into the Viscount Notoria household. Eivard didn’t know if he had the ability to support the viscountcy, but perhaps Lillia, as the eldest daughter, intended to handle the territory management and household affairs herself.

Regardless of the reason, breaking an engagement leaves a stain. In return, Lillia wished to marry Cissle.

Furthermore, she likely resorted to gaining a bad reputation in high society to ward off suitors.

She was laying a precaution to prevent being forced into a new engagement with some noble’s son after breaking off her engagement with Eivard.

“But it’s all come to nothing.”

Lillia’s shoulders slumped dejectedly.

“Why?”

“Because you’re going to tell Marquis Trulin, aren’t you?”

“No, I won’t tell him.”

“Huh?”

Lillia and Cissle both widened their eyes in shock.

“Miss Notoria. Don’t you remember what I said on the day we met?”

“Huh? You don’t mean about the person you love?”

What else could it be…? When he remained silent, Lillia exclaimed, “What!?” in surprise.

“You can’t possibly mean to become the head of a marquis household and marry a commoner woman!?”

“No. My wish is to be removed from the noble registry and marry her.”

“Then that means…”

“I have no intention of interfering with your relationship with him. So, I want you to promise not to interfere with mine either.”

“I promise!”

Lillia impulsively grabbed Eivard’s hand and looked up at him, saying, “I swear to God I won’t interfere.”

And then, right before his eyes, her cheeks flushed bright red.

Eivard gently withdrew his hand.

“I-I’m sorry. But why? This is too convenient for us.”

“For my own future as well, I don’t want to make an enemy of Duke Winslet. Even if I’m accused of betraying my family.”

“I don’t really understand. I could never abandon my family.”

“That’s probably normal. I’m just different.”

It was natural she couldn’t understand, given their different upbringings. At the very least, Viscount Notoria loved his daughter. That’s why he couldn’t approve of her marriage to Cissle, the steward’s son, yet he couldn’t deny his daughter’s determination to marry him even at her own expense. In the end, he would probably relent and accept them.

“You were raised in a warm family. It’s fine if you don’t understand. For you, that’s a good thing.”

She possessed something Eivard did not.

He didn’t envy it. If he wanted it, he just had to seize it himself. For Eivard, the Marquis Trulin household was merely the environment he was born and raised in. It was something entirely different, not something he could call family.