I Give Up on the BL Novel's Male Leads - Chapter 168
Illein realized then. Just how powerful the effects of the love potion were. Her voice trembled as she called out to him.
“âŚMelias?”
Melias, just stepping down from the carriage, glared at Willai with an expression as cold as the northern winds.
“Young Viscount Wignum! What are you doing here?”
Willai, clearly startled by Meliasâs appearance, raised his voice sharply.
“I came to walk to the academy with Illein. But what brings the young Count Macintosh here?”
“No… I just…”
“Considering the trial is not far away, do you think this is the right place to be?”
Melias spoke with a tone unlike his usual self. He was always polite and gentle with everyone, but now he was showing his anger, clearly unable to hold it back.
“Donât come near Illein again.”
He even drew his wand and aimed it at Willai, as a warning. The force of Meliasâs anger would make one expect Willai to shrink away, but he didnât. Instead, he protested loudly.
“Young Viscount Wignum! This isnât right! Why are you interfering in Ilenasâs affairs?”
Melias didnât hold back.
“Ilenas is my fiance.”
In the blink of an eye, Melias stepped forward and aimed the wand at Willaiâs neck. It was an unspoken threat: cross the line, and Melias would act without hesitation.
Without anyone noticing, Meliasâs magic had already bound Willaiâs hands with earth, trapping him.
Willai, who was caught off guard, struggled to break free from the grip, but it was no use. The difference in their magical power was too great for Willai to break Meliasâs spell.
Realizing he couldnât escape, Willai shouted in frustration.
“An engagement hasnât even happened yet! How can you call her your fiance? It was just a discussion about it, wasnât it?”
Such things were common among noble families. No family would declare an engagement without a formal ceremony. Willai knew this, which is why he felt bold enough to shout.
“Willai! Melias is rightâŚ!”
But Illein quickly shattered Willaiâs argument.
“âŚWhat?”
Willaiâs eyes widened in disbelief. He was shaken to the core by a reality he couldnât accept.
“Donât be ridiculous!”
Illein shook her head at Willaiâs outburst and continued.
“Ilenas and Melias are going to have an engagement ceremony soon… the only reason they havenât had it yet is because they wanted to wait until after academy graduation.”
“Thatâs nonsense! Most people hold their engagement ceremonies during the semester!”
Illeinâs excuse was clearly flimsy. To someone like Willai, who knew the noble society well, it was an absurd explanation.
Illein knew better than anyone that using the excuse of waiting for the academy graduation to delay their engagement was just a flimsy excuse.
“Thatâs… theyâre planning to have the wedding right away instead.”Â
Illein knew this well. It was a weak excuse, but for some reason, hearing Willaiâs words made her feel an unspoken defiance. Without thinking, she blurted it out.
“Illein?”
Willai felt as if he were dreaming. It was also an incredibly bad nightmare.
The words he shouldnât have heard were now echoing in his mind, and he couldn’t seem to regain his sense of reality. The shock was too much, and Willai opened his mouth to say something but quickly shut it again.Â
The words Illein had spoken were a complete shock.
It was the same for Illein, the one who had spoken them. She couldnât understand why she had said such things. This wasnât her pure intention.
And then, as if instinctively, one word flashed into her mind.Â
âLove potion.â
There was no way she would have said these things on her own without it. Illein was now feeling a strange sensation.
It felt as though she were losing control. Her unsteady speech was one problem, but the light heat that spread throughout her body was much more concerning.
Her heart raced whenever she saw Melias, making it increasingly difficult for her to maintain her composure.Â
Was this what they called a love fever?
Though she had created it, the effects of the love potion were overwhelming. It made it nearly impossible for her to think straight.
Illein was thankful in a way. Now, she no longer needed to hesitate or feel guilty toward Melias.
“Ilenas said it… that if the engagement is delayed, they should just get married. Right, Melias?”
As she finished speaking, Illeinâs gaze at Melias grew calmer.
Melias, meeting her eyes, was able to calm the confusion inside him.
When Melias first heard Illeinâs sudden declaration, he had been so startled that he didnât know how to respond.
The unexpected words had left him stunned. But one thing was clearâhe felt immense happiness after hearing Illeinâs words.
As he looked at her warm, reassuring gaze, the confusion in his heart settled. Melias smiled brightly and nodded.
“Thatâs right. We… will get married right away.”
