The Person I Loved Hated Me - Chapter 4

Clara, who had been escorted home, still had flushed cheeks long after seeing Eivard off.

Completely ignoring her pain, she lay sprawled on the sofa in a daze, hugging a cushion and squirming with emotion.

“To think such a wonderful person exists in this world.”

He had saved her when she was attacked by thugs, spoken to her gently as if she were something precious, and carried her in his arms. Though she’d been so giddy she felt like she might get lost in his direct blue gaze, she impressed herself by remembering everything clearly from their meeting to their parting.

“If Lord Eivard knew Isaac, why didn’t Isaac ever tell me about him?”

Clara could tell from his demeanor that Eivard was nobility. Perhaps he’d hesitated to casually introduce him as “a friend I get along with” like Franz would have. Even if it wasn’t problematic for a knight to interact with commoner Clara, there were social barriers – so she supposed it couldn’t be helped.

Even if they weren’t that close, with Eivard’s striking beauty, Isaac must have known about him. He could have mentioned something like “There’s this wonderful person…” or “There’s someone like a prince…” – though Isaac would never use such phrasing, he could have at least mentioned there was an incredibly handsome knight popular with women.

The popularity part was Clara’s imagination, but with that face combined with his remarkable kindness and consideration, he couldn’t possibly be unpopular.

When he offered to escort her home, they’d ridden together on horseback. His strong arms held her securely as she sat sideways in front of him so she wouldn’t fall, and he’d asked about her in that captivatingly low, pleasant voice.

They were meeting for the first time. There was no way she wouldn’t be nervous riding with such a beautiful, wonderful knight. The fact that she hadn’t actually been nervous wasn’t because Clara was thick-skinned, but because Eivard had been so considerate in making conversation.

It had been dreamlike and wonderful.

Clara had been working as an engraver since turning fifteen, and had only recently been entrusted with handling everything from design to production. When she mentioned she’d made earrings set with purple crystals matching Isaac’s eyes as a gift, he’d gasped in surprise and said “That’s wonderful,” then bought her dinner to replace the ruined one.

She’d wondered if there might be some bad blood between him and Isaac, but he seemed to treat her favorably.

“It must just be my misunderstanding,” Clara thought, savoring the happiness of meeting such a wonderful person.

“I wonder if it would be inappropriate to give Lord Eivard earrings to thank him for today?”

She’d confirmed Eivard didn’t wear earrings. Nobles, both men and women, often wore accessories. If he didn’t like them, he probably wouldn’t wear them. But being kind, he likely wouldn’t refuse them or throw them away even if he didn’t care for them.

“Oh, but would he even wear something I made?”

At Clara’s skill level, her work wasn’t fit for nobility. Besides, jewelry seemed too extravagant as a thank-you gift.

Though Eivard was kind, with that level of beauty, he must frequently receive advances from women. The women he’d undoubtedly helped before probably tried various ways to get closer to him and offered gifts.

“Hmm… I should probably consult Isaac. But he won’t be back for three more weeks. What should I do? If I wait, I’ll miss the chance to properly thank him.”

Clara wasn’t so presumptuous as to imagine becoming Eivard’s lover. Having grown up scorned as a mistress’s child, she fully understood their social standings were mismatched.

Still, she’d fallen in love at first sight. Even if her feelings were hopeless, wasn’t it alright to indulge in them just a little?

“Homemade sweets probably wouldn’t suit his tastes either. Rich and noble people have refined palates.”

Besides, even if she made something, where would she take it?

Isaac had forbidden Clara from visiting the knight corps near the royal castle. According to Franz, family and lovers often brought food and gifts, but Isaac said to avoid mixing personal and professional matters and not to come except in emergencies.

Of course, Clara had obeyed Isaac’s instructions, and she’d never had reason to visit anyway.

“When he helped me, he mentioned a nearby outpost, so Lord Eivard probably isn’t stationed at the place I went today.”

Besides, Clara was just one among many.

She sighed, but her cheeks remained rosy (though the bruised side was swollen). Even when negative thoughts surfaced, her heart remained light.

Clara had completely forgotten about being attacked by Ahim, lost in fantasies about her wonderful encounter.

The next day, her whole body ached so she took off work, but while lounging in bed reminiscing about meeting Eivard and enjoying her happy thoughts, as dusk fell, someone knocked at her door.

“Coming!” she called cheerfully as she opened the door, and there, to her astonishment, stood Eivard.