The Person I Loved Hated Me - Chapter 8

I wish this were some kind of mistake.

Isaac, who had been holding the lovestruck maiden in his arms, placed his hands on her shoulders and slowly pulled her away. He bent down to look at her directly from the front, but there was no doubt. His sister’s cheeks were flushed and dreamy.

“Sorry, it’s no good.”

“Eh? What’s no good?”

He had always expected that one day his precious sister would fall in love and leave her brother’s side. Their father had been absent since birth. After their mother died, Isaac and Clara became a family of just the two of them.

As her older brother, Isaac had always hoped that Clara would end up with a capable man who would cherish her and only her. In the past, he had even subtly introduced her to Franz, his colleague and friend.

Clara grew attached to Franz, and Franz seemed to like Clara too, but contrary to Isaac’s hopes, no romantic feelings developed between them. The reason lay in Franz’s preference for older women, but since Clara had been beautiful and mature beyond her years since childhood, Isaac had thought Franz might be swayed. He had been deeply disappointed.

Several years passed.

Due to Clara’s lack of interest in romance and being pestered by Ahim, there had been no rumors of her being involved with anyone. She apparently received many confessions, but Clara never reciprocated.

And yet suddenly, love had come from a direction Isaac never expected.

“Eivard is no good.”

“So, what exactly is no good?”

Clara tilted her head in confusion. Isaac took Clara’s hand and led her to sit beside him on the sofa, turning to face her directly. Calming his own heart, he told her, “He’s a noble.”

“I know that.”

“There’s no future in it, you know?”

He spoke carefully, as if instructing her, delivering each point calmly without letting emotions take over.

Eivard was a high-ranking noble. The third son of the Marquis Trulin family, close to the royal family. To Isaac, he was the last person he wanted Clara to be involved with.

Even if they fell mutually in love, at best she’d be a mistress. The Trulin family would likely interfere, and in the worst case, she’d be cast aside.

Clara should know this well. After all, their own mother had been a mistress in name only, and their father never once came to see them.

Though they hadn’t struggled financially, it seemed some support was provided even after their maternal family abandoned them. When Dietrich died, not a single related person showed up, and the funeral was a lonely affair.

Isaac learned the reason for this sometime after becoming a knight, which only reinforced why Eivard was unacceptable.

He had taken great care to keep Clara away from the knight’s order, so why did it have to be someone from the Trulin family, close to the royal house?

No, it wasn’t a matter of why.

Clara had been assaulted and nearly abducted when she was rescued by a handsome knight. The conditions for a maiden to fall in love were all too perfectly aligned.

“I know there’s no future in it.”

Unlike the dejected Isaac, Clara wore a bright expression.

“But I’ve fallen for him anyway. I’m not saying I want to date him or marry him, but I want to confess and have him feel the same way.”

“No! If he feels the same, you’d date, wouldn’t you?”

“I know my place. Even if we have to part sadly because of status, the memories will remain, right?”

Her words were just like those of a maiden in love with love itself. Isaac wanted to support his cute sister’s first love.

But Eivard was no good.

Absolutely no good.

He wished Eivard weren’t a noble, but since he was, there was nothing to be done.

“Clara. Actually…”

Isaac looked straight at Clara, determined to make her give up.

“We’re disliked by Eivard.”

“We? Eh? Me too!?”

It seemed Clara already had an idea.

“Did he say something unpleasant?”

“No, just a feeling. When he found out I was your sister, he seemed shocked in a bad way. But he dislikes me too?”

It must be a shock to be disliked by the man she loved, but Isaac hardened his heart for Clara’s sake.

“Yeah, you could say he hates us. It’s not your fault. But because you’re my sister, Eivard dislikes you too.”

Clara’s face visibly paled.

It was terribly pitiful, but there was no other way. To keep Clara out of danger, this was the only option.

“Disliked! Hey, Isaac. What did you do to Lord Eivard?”

“Well, I’m not really sure but anyway, we’re disliked.”

“I see…”

Clara hung her head, speechless. As her brother, Isaac felt a pang in his chest for hurting his precious sister.

But it couldn’t be helped. He told himself it was necessary to prevent her from getting involved in unnecessary trouble.

After a while, Clara lifted her face, having regained her usual brightness.

“But Lord Eivard treats me kindly.”

“Kindly?”

“He worries about me, concerned I might get attacked again.”

“Concerned? You’ve been meeting him?”

“He talks to me when I’m heading home from work, and he’s given me pretty sweets. Oh, and I met Franz again after a long time. I heard he’s getting married.”

“Let’s leave Franz aside. You’ve been receiving sweets from Eivard?”

Would someone give sweets to a person they disliked? Isaac was utterly flustered.

“I don’t mind if he dislikes me. It’s an unattainable love anyway. So, I’ll enjoy these feelings a little longer. You have to cooperate, Isaac!”

Faced with his sister’s innocent demeanor, Isaac found himself unable to say anything more negative.