I Give Up on the BL Novel's Male Leads - Chapter 187

After all, when Edwin was the Crown Prince, the Ensest Empire had already absorbed many of the smaller surrounding nations, showcasing a powerful example to neighboring countries.

Everyone knew how brutal the monster of the Crown Prince from the Empire was, and how his fire abilities were overwhelming.

War with such an Empire… Illein shook her head.

“If it’s not that, it must be because the elite troops are lacking.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well, in the Empire, only 4% of the population are nobles. And within that, wizards are even rarer. So people who can use magic are precious.”

“But aren’t there places that teach basic magic besides Bellaine Academy?”

“Sure, but even those places only teach things like lighting a candle with fire magic. They can’t use real spells, like shooting fireballs.”

Illein made a strange expression at those words.

“Or maybe, if there’s a confrontation with another wizard group, it could be the case?”

“If everyone else ends up like that, what will you do?”

“I’ll confess to my first love… and if possible, get married and go off to battle that very day.”

Damon said that while looking directly at Illein.

“I’ll get married too before I go. That way, if I die, my wife will be able to carry on everything of mine.”

Melias also looked directly at Illein.

“And Illein?”

“So, what about you, Illein?”

Without realizing it, Illein spoke up at that moment.

“I… I think I’d want to share everything with the person I love. Whether it’s emotions or… something beyond that.”

She lowered her head as she said those words. She felt a strange sense of embarrassment as she spoke.

Of course, aside from that, the love potion’s energy surged up .

The moment she looked at Melias, her heart began to race uncontrollably. But that didn’t necessarily mean it was Melias she was thinking of.

Though her mind pointed to Melias, strangely, her instincts were pointing elsewhere.

Illein’s feelings were completely unknowable to the two men, who, each in their own way, were lost in their own thoughts.

Damon, surprised by Illein’s response, immediately asked again.

“What? Wait, do you have someone in mind? Why are you so embarrassed?”

As far as Damon knew, Illein had never had someone like that.

He knew that better than anyone else, having been Illein’s friend since childhood.

That’s why he was so surprised by the answer. Could it be that Illein had fallen in love with someone without him knowing?

“No, no!”

Illein was surprised by Damon’s overreaction and quickly responded.

This wasn’t just to stop Damon’s wild assumptions, but also to hide her true feelings.

Who was her heart beating for now?

Was it the person who left the faint trace of a kiss on her lips?

Or was it the feelings for Melias, triggered by the love potion?

Everything was unclear and uncertain.

But, if such a situation really arose, maybe she would be willing to give everything to that person. It was just a vague thought.

“Ah! What if you already have a lover?”

Damon asked with a knowing look, as if saying ‘I thought so’.

Thinking about it, it didn’t really fit the image of Illein being with anyone else. Even though Illein was quite popular at the academy, Illein paid little attention to those aspects.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

When Illein calmly nodded at Damon’s question, Melias turned his head, hurriedly trying to hide his feelings.

Originally, Melias was a person who was reluctant to show his emotions to others. And that was a virtue that anyone from a noble family should possess.

Melias was particularly exceptional among them.

However, even Melias, who was usually composed, was struggling to find his emotional composure at this moment.

It was a trivial conversation, yet it strangely stirred Melias’s imagination. He didn’t want to reveal these emotions to Damon.

Though Damon didn’t know it yet, Melias was one of the few who truly understood Illein’s real identity. So, he knew exactly what her words meant.

What Illein just said wasn’t something that the typical noble’s daughter would casually mention.

Especially for a woman from a family with a weaker standing, it was a kind of taboo that had to be strictly adhered to. If she broke this rule, her value in the family would cease to exist.

To share an intimate bond outside of a proper marriage meant exactly that.

Illein had carefully mentioned it now, and Melias’s heart raced, as he felt that she might be talking about him.

It felt as if Illein was acknowledging him, in some way.

There had already been discussions about marriage between their families, and unless something unusual happened, this marriage was bound to happen. For that reason, Melias felt a sense of satisfaction in his heart.

Melias thought that Illein’s words were essentially an acknowledgment of him as her future husband.