I Give Up on the BL Novel's Male Leads - Chapter 143
“Anyway, I used a distortion spell, so they can’t see anything here.”
“Ah…”
At that moment, Illein noticed a thin veil covering the entire rooftop they were on.
While they often playfully touched each other, attempting to sit her on his thigh felt like crossing a line in her eyes.
It felt strange, almost as if he was acting like someone who had romantic feelings for Illein.
“Why are you doing something you never do?”
Unable to suppress her curiosity, Illein blurted the question out to Damon. Her voice was slightly stiff as she spoke.
Damon, sensing the seriousness, dropped his playful demeanor and responded with a serious expression.
“Illein, I want to hear your answer. I need to! Absolutely!”
For a moment, Illein was taken aback by Damon’s intensity and could only ask timidly.
“Is it really necessary to hear?”
“If it’s difficult to talk about, should I give you a truth serum?”
“You carry something like that?”
“Well, despite appearances, I have my ways.”
“That’s nonsense. Everyone likes you. You have no reason to be worried about what others think.”
“I have my own circumstances. Not everyone likes me, and I really don’t care who does.”
Illein envied Damonâs confidence. She always thought that part of him was really cool.
“Youâre lucky. I find it hard to be that way. Even though I know I shouldn’t care about it, it’s just not easy.”
She said this with a bittersweet smile, a pure expression of envy for what she couldnât attain.
“What matters to me is how my people see me. What anyone else thinks is irrelevant.”
“Damon.”
“Because my people are extremely important to me. I would do anything for them. Thatâs how Iâve lived and how I plan to continue living.”
Illein felt her heart warm at Damonâs calm yet caring words.
“And youâre one of my people.”
“…Damon.”
“So, I hate that youâre in a tough spot because of someone else. I don’t want to see you struggling. But I also worry that if you see me trying to help, you might think I pity you.”
“Damon?”
“I don’t pity you. I just always want to help. But I think you might mistake me wanting to help you as pity.”
Illein was taken aback by his words and looked straight at him.
“What if thatâs the case…?”
He said this while waving his wand to unveil the lunchbox. Then, he lifted the food inside into the air, maintaining eye contact until she picked something up.
Unable to withstand the unspoken pressure any longer, Illein eventually grabbed a croissant sandwich.
Only then did Damon seem satisfied and continue speaking.
“….I want to say you’re misunderstanding.”
Illein paused to think for a moment before responding,
“I never thought you felt pity for me.”
“Then why do you always refuse my help?”
“I’m not refusing. I’m just worried I might burden you. I’ve had very few friends since I was a child. Right now, you’re the only childhood friend I have left.”
That was the truth.
The Thierry family had gone bankrupt, and Illein was left to fend for herself, raised by parents who were drowning in debt.
If she hadnât lost the memories of her past life, she might not have been able to endure that time.
Damon was the only connection and friend she had from her childhood.
So it was only natural for Illein to feel something special for him.
“That’s why you’re important to me.”
“…Illein.”
“I didn’t want to be a burden to you. I know you’re worried and want to help me. But I was afraid that if I leaned on you too much, it might ruin our relationship.”
Illein answered honestly.
If it had been her usual self, she wouldnât have been able to be this open.
However, with so many troubles weighing on her lately, she didnât want to hold back even from Damon.
“In fact, the best thing about entering Bellaine Academy was that I could see you often. Everyone else kept their distance from me… but you always looked after me.”
“…Illein.”
“Even through the third year, it was the same. You always walked home with me, helped me with my assignments, and spent time with me. To me, you are truly precious.”
So, Illein poured out the feelings she had been holding back, as if she couldnât keep them in any longer.
“Youâve already done so much for me. All I can offer are these expressions of gratitude. So… I couldnât ask for anything more.”
“Illein, thatâs…”
“I want to become an adult quickly. Then I think Iâll be able to repay you for all the kind things youâve done for me.”
“I’ve already been sufficiently repaid.”
That wasnât just words.
Damon genuinely felt he had been compensated enough by Illeinâs confession, even if it wasnât explicitly stated as a confession.
So, while he smiled brightly, he still remembered that he hadnât yet achieved the purpose for which he had brought Illein here.
