I Give Up on the BL Novel’s Male Leads

Melias was caught off guard by Illein’s unexpected reaction and was about to apologize immediately.

But then, he noticed the playful glint in her eyes. Taking this as an opportunity, he decided to open up more.

“I want you to depend on me, Illein.”

“…Ah!”

“I want to be the person who can be the most helpful to you.”

Illein, taken aback by how serious Melias’s words were, couldn’t help but feel flustered.

Unable to hide the trembling in her eyes, Illein closed her mouth, unable to respond.

They sat so close to each other that Illein started to worry that her heartbeat would be loud enough for Melias to hear.

“Melias.”

After a brief silence, Illein still looked at Melias with those uncertain eyes.

“Illein, I believe that’s the kind of person I should be if I am to become your husband.”

If this had happened under normal circumstances, Illein might have found his words overwhelming, but because of the potion she had taken, his words sounded surprisingly comforting.

“Do you want to take responsibility for me, Melias?”

“Yes, I do.”

There seemed to be no doubt in his words, which made Illein even more surprised.

“What if I lost my water magic abilities?”

“If it were before… if that happened, I probably wouldn’t have seen you again.”

“Ah!”

In that moment, Illein felt a mix of disappointment and an odd sense of liberation. It was a strange feeling.

“But that’s not the case now. Even if you had fire abilities instead, or even if you couldn’t use magic at all… I still want you to be my wife. That hasn’t changed.”

When Melias naturally pulled her into an embrace, Illein remained still. She found it strange that she could feel not only her own heartbeat but also his. While she attributed it to the effects of the potion, it seemed different with him.

Melias’s reaction, in a way, made her feel good.

As she felt her own heartbeat mingling with his, she found calm she had never felt before. It was the first time she had felt this way since meeting him. She had always felt overwhelmed, but now her heart was fluttering with happiness.

“Melias…”

Illein’s voice trembled with a hint of excitement as she called his name..

“Yes, Illein.”

“Can you hear my heartbeat?”

“…Yes.”

“I can hear yours too, Melias. It’s… such a strange feeling.”

When she said that, Melias chuckled softly. Until this morning, he had hesitated to come for her, thinking she might find him burdensome.

But overcoming that hesitation, he was glad he came.

Now, he had the chance to share his feelings with Illein, and he felt incredibly lucky. This experience had helped him understand his own feelings more clearly.

At their first meeting, it had been a matter of duty to their families, but that was no longer the case. Now, it felt as if destiny had stirred something in Melias’s heart. He realized that the feelings he was experiencing now were likely those of affection for a lover.

He no longer needed any woman but her. Just as his father had said, he had come to understand that he truly loved her.

He thought that perhaps the reason he saw her as so overwhelmingly beautiful was because he loved her. Even the way she appeared as a man seemed endearing to him.

So, impulsively, Melias made a declaration to Illein.

“I will grant you whatever you desire.”

“…Melias.”

“Please, rely on me.”

This was Melias’s way of expressing his deep desire for Illein to rely entirely on him.

Illein couldn’t respond to his words. Despite the fact that her feelings were induced by the potion, she still found it difficult to be completely indifferent to such an earnest expression of affection.

She thought that, with time, and as she adapted to the situation, she would eventually be able to give him an answer.

Illein felt the time pass slowly, as she spent time with Melias in silence, with no significant conversation between them. Yet, even though the time seemed to drag, the moments they spent embracing each other felt strangely brief.

Finally, the carriage arrived at the academy, and both Illein and Melias got out.

As they stepped out, Melias felt something regretful.

Until just a moment ago, he had been holding Illein in his arms, but now that he couldn’t, it left him with an odd sense of loss.

“It’s a shame we have to keep our distance while at the academy.”

The disappointment was visible in Melias’s eyes, but despite that, they weren’t far apart.

The only reason they couldn’t be physically close at the academy was because Illein was disguised as a man.

Illein didn’t find it strange at all. It was just another effect of the love potion, but she didn’t mind. By now, she had adjusted to it.

Seeing Melias look a bit disappointed amused Illein, and she smiled at him. With a playful glint in her eyes, she gently took hold of his pinky finger.

At the same time, Melias quickly looked around as if to make sure no one was watching, startled by her action.