I Give Up on the BL Novel’s Male Leads

Along the way, Illein was surprised to learn that there were five checkpoints just to enter the palace and that she had to fill out a lot of paperwork to indicate the purpose of her visit.

In addition, Damon and Melias, as influential noble families, could directly enter through another door without these checks.

‘When we inherit the title, we’ll use that door, not this one.’

‘What door is that?’

‘There are no checkpoints there, Illein. And when I inherit the title, you’ll use that door too.’

‘I see.’

‘My wife will use it too.’

‘Ah…!’

Illein felt her face heat up as she recalled this. It seemed that the effects of the love potion were still lingering, and whenever Melias did something for her, she instinctively reacted this way.

She didn’t mind it. However, the strange feeling still lingering in her chest was unfamiliar.

Following Damon and Melias, Illein arrived at the place where Edwin was. A strange feeling washed over her. The effects of the love potion that had been so strong earlier seemed to fade all at once. What filled her heart now was only guilt and worry about Edwin.

As they entered Edwin’s palace, the first person to greet them was an elderly head steward.

“The prince is asleep. You may leave now.”

The steward stood firm, blocking their way.

“Hmm… Is there no way we can go in?”

Damon, though slightly uncomfortable, asked. His expression showed that he was a little annoyed but still confident.

The steward, sensing Damon’s confidence, hesitated before asking.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“Of course! Edwin and I are very close.”

Damon said this with a cheerful grin, lying casually. Illein almost believed him for a moment because he said it so naturally. Apparently, the steward didn’t suspect him at all.

“With Prince Edwin?”

“Yes, we’re good friends. We’re in the same class, and I often lend him textbooks. We also talk sometimes.”

“Ah… if you don’t mind me asking, what is your name?”

“Damon Candelaria.”

“Ah! Lord Candelaria!”

The steward’s face lit up as soon as he heard Damon’s title.

When Edwin was demoted from crown prince to prince, many had abandoned him. The steward had quietly endured the sadness of seeing this, but now, to hear that one of the most prominent nobles, the heir of the Candelaria family, had come to visit Edwin, the steward’s eyes grew teary with emotion.

“Please, come in. But… may I ask about this gentleman?”

The steward quickly ushered Damon’s group inside while glancing at Melias and Illein, asking for their identities. No matter how pleased he was, the steward had to verify the visitors’ status.

“I am Melias Wignum. This is my fiance’s brother and Edwin’s close friend, Illein.”

“Ah, yes! Please, come in!”

The steward, though unfamiliar with Illein, was well acquainted with the cold and composed Lord Wignum. The Wignum family was one of the wealthiest noble houses in the empire.

This was seen as a significant occasion.

Led by the steward, the group entered, and Illein immediately saw Edwin lying asleep on the bed. Surrounding him were various magical devices operating with magical energy.

Illein thought to herself that the room looked exactly as she had seen it in the original story. There was no color saturation, only a space defined by lightness and darkness. Edwin’s room was entirely in black.

Seeing Edwin like this, Illein couldn’t calm herself. Her heart felt as if it were being torn apart when she looked at his closed eyes.

“Edwin!”

She rushed to his side. The sight of him nearly made her burst into tears, but she knew she couldn’t cry here.

Suppressing the overwhelming sadness rising within her, Illein asked about his condition.

“What did the doctor say?”

“He sustained fatal injuries… We’ve treated the external wounds, but it’s difficult to treat the internal damage.”

“Have the flames been fully removed?”

“No, that’s the issue. His magic is so strong and vast…”

The steward spoke with a solemn expression as he conveyed Edwin’s condition. Illein immediately sensed how serious it was from the details that had matched what she had heard before.

“I… if I may.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“I possess water magic.”

“Ah! Since you’re a student at Bellaine Academy, that makes sense!”

“I… I’d like to try extracting some of the fire. Would that be acceptable?”

Illein’s request came somewhat unexpectedly. The steward, in a desperate attempt to help, did not refuse her.

“Of course.”

“Are there any members of the imperial family who possess water magic…?”

“The imperial family members with water magic usually go to the southern regions at this time of year. It’s a region that suffers from water scarcity, so many of them have moved there.”

“Then…?”

“There is one person still available, just in case, but they haven’t shown significant improvement either…”

In fact, there was a shortage of water magic users in the imperial family. The steward silently prayed.

He hoped that Illein’s attempt, though unlikely to produce a miracle, would at least bring some comfort to Edwin.