I Give Up on the BL Novel's Male Leads - Chapter 186

The position of Maquisate Wignum in the Empire was a prestigious one. They held immense wealth, and their influence was undeniable, matching any other family’s power. 

But Duchy Candelaria was different.

Apart from the imperial family, Duchy Candelaria held the highest position in the Empire, and their wealth was on par with Marquisate Wignum, if not more.

Moreover, Duchy Candelaria had close ties with some of the most influential figures among the central nobility.

In addition to that, Illein had been close to them since childhood. The conditions only added to the tension Melias felt.

Thinking of Damon frustrated Melias. 

If Damon came from a lesser family, Melias would have sent him away under the guise of a scholarship or some other excuse…

At least, Melias took comfort in the fact that Illein didn’t see Damon as a man. And, the change in Illein’s gaze over time helped ease Melias’ mind.

The first time Illein had met him, her gaze had been distant, almost forced, as though she had no choice but to meet him. But now, it wasn’t the same.

After their meal at the Wignum Hotel and exchanging hair strands, Illein’s attitude had changed significantly. Melias thought her attitude change was because she had started to see him as a man.

‘Mel, a man’s true joy is when he satisfies his wife.’

‘I don’t understand what you mean.’

‘When your wife rejoices in your abilities and gets what she desires, you will be happy and proud to be a man.’

‘That’s old-fashioned, Father.’

‘Ha! Even so, you’ll feel the same way. I did.’

Melias understood his father’s words.

Illein acknowledging his abilities and realizing all that she would gain from him meant she had begun to trust him. He wanted her to come to him fully.

For Melias, that was the ultimate fulfillment of being a man.

“Shall we go just the two of us?”

“Really?”

“Ah… but if we do that, Damon will be upset. Let’s just go with all three.”

When Illein looked at him with a slightly disappointed gaze, Melias, sensing her unease, found himself holding back from sending Damon away, even though he was tempted.

“Next time… on the weekend, we’ll go just the two of us.”

“Sounds good.”

Illein liked Marquisate Wignum’s place too. Whenever she went there, she enjoyed delicious food, Melias’ company, and a library with more new books than the Bellaine Academy library.

So, she headed toward the floor where Damon was with Melias.

“Hey, how about we go to my mansion?”

Before anyone could say anything, Damon said so. Illein couldn’t help but smile at Damon’s words.

“Why not go to Marquisate Wignum’s mansion instead?”

Melias couldn’t hide his irritation at Damon’s tone but tried to stay composed.

“Eh, it’s far. Our mansion is right next door, and if I move with my ability, it’ll be quick.”

Damon was an exceptionally skilled wind mage. As he said, if he could fly, it would be over in no time.

“Is that alright? It would require quite a bit of your magic.”

“That’s nothing. By the way, Illein, what are those books?”

Illein let out a bitter smile as she remembered the combat-related books she had been holding.

“Ah, these? I grabbed them without realizing.”

“Hmm.”

At that moment, something suddenly crossed Illein’s mind.

‘Instead of the midterm, we’ll have a practical exam.’

“Hey, Damon, Melias.”

“Yes, Illein.”

“Mm?”

Illein couldn’t quite understand why she suddenly had that thought in her mind. It felt strange, but there was also a sense of trust in the voice that had emerged in her head, though she couldn’t pinpoint why.

“Has there ever been a time when the midterm or final exams were replaced with practical exams?”

As the words left her mouth, Illein immediately wanted to verify whether something like that had happened in the past. 

With the midterm just around the corner, every second felt precious to her. Therefore, the idea of trusting that vague statement and preparing for a practical exam seemed unreasonable.

Yet, strangely, there was this odd feeling that it might actually happen, as if it were meant to be.

“If that’s the case…”

“I know of one instance.” 

“Yeah, I know of one too.”

“What was it? What happened?”

Illein was asking both Melias and Damon. Melias responded first.

“Previously, when the Empire was facing a crisis, there was a need to rapidly train students from the academy.”

“Ah, that’s the one I know too. Since Bellaine Academy is more advanced than others, with all its verified talents and noble offspring, they were chosen, right?”

“Exactly. And many of them were already affiliated with their families’ knights. So when the time came to send them to the battlefield, that’s what happened.”

“Anything else?”

Illein didn’t think it would be about war.

Currently, there was no nation unaware of the Ensest Empire’s strength and might. Moreover, for some reason, the Ensest Empire had a surplus of mages compared to other kingdoms.

There was no foolish kingdom preparing for war against such a powerful Ensest Empire.