I Give Up on the BL Novel's Male Leads - Chapter 23
Then the door opened, and her mother entered briskly with cosmetics and perfume, placing them on the empty vanity.
“Sit down here.”
“Do I need to put on makeup too?”
“Of course, you do.”
Illein watched the time it would take to apply and remove makeup, along with the time it would take her mother to comb her hair.
She resigned herself to the fact that she would not be able to study at all today. Any efforts to squeeze in study time would have to be postponed to another day.
No amount of frustration would change the situation, so she silently watched her mother apply the makeup. Even those make up was clearly given by the Duchess.
After all the makeup was applied and she opened her eyes.
“Oh?”
Illein was a bit surprised. It was her first time seeing herself made up like this.
“As expected of my daughter, you look beautiful.”
Illein forced a smile, half-believing her mother’s sincere compliment.
“You really have a knack for this, Mother.”
“Yes, I’ve always been good at this. I’ll do your hair next, so you can keep your eyes closed a bit longer.”
“Okay.”
When she opened her eyes again, her hair was neatly done, half-tied with the ends curled.
“You look truly beautiful!”
Her mother’s admiring voice prompted Illein to smile weakly.
After all the preparations were complete, Illein had to board the carriage of the Wignum Marquisate waiting outside.
“Are you not coming, Mother?”
“Lord Wignum asked for you to come alone.”
“Oh, I see. Thank you for coming to help today, Mother.”
Illein wasn’t really grateful but maintained politeness.
“Take care, Illy.”
Her mother used a nickname for the first time in a long while, making Illein smile faintly as she closed the carriage door.
Upon arriving at the Wignum Marquisate, Illein was speechless when the carriage door opened.
“Welcome, Illein.”
She looked up to see Melias waiting for her, extending his hand as the carriage door swung open.
He was dressed differently from when she had seen him at the academy, wearing a uniform and his hair neatly swept back.
Illein felt a bit intimidated by his somewhat unfamiliar appearance and shrank back slightly.
Then, as their eyes met, she reflexively smiled and took his hand to step down from the carriage.
“Thank you for inviting me, Melias.”
He responded appropriately and led her to the drawing room.
Illein knew her family was poor, but the stark contrast became apparent as she entered the estate of one of the empire’s wealthiest families.
Everything seemed luxurious enough to be mistaken for the imperial palace.
The floors were marble, and the hallways boasted exceptionally large windows.
The estate was immaculately clean, and the garden was in full bloom, each plant flourishing with flowers.
“Illein.”
Distracted by the garden outside through the hallway window, she snapped back to attention at Meliasās call.
“Yes?”
“Here is the drawing room.”
“Oh… Yes.”
She followed him into the drawing room that was another display of opulence.
She caught sight of a signed painting near the entrance of the room and thought to herself that just one of these paintings could allow her mother to quit her job for three years.
As Illein sat down, a maid brought in tea and then left.
Melias quietly waited for the tea to cool. As soon as Illein took a sip and set her cup down, he spoke.
“I was pleased to meet you last time.”
“Ah, yes. Me too.”
As Illein met his gaze, she smiled reflexively.
He looked at her blankly for a moment.
Illein, unsure whether it was more polite to look away or maintain eye contact, kept her eyes fixed on his golden ones.
Then, he spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.
“I would like to skip the engagement and proceed directly to the wedding.”
“So sudden?”
Illein was taken aback by Melias’s abrupt statement.
“I thought the Thierry family had finalized the discussions.”
“From my family?”
Illein, unaware of any such discussions, widened her eyes in surprise and set down her teacup.
“What exactly have you heard? I haven’t been informed about much.”
Seeing Illein’s confused expression, Melias’s usually expressiveless face briefly showed a hint of confusion before disappearing.
“Baroness Thierry agreed to have the wedding during this summer break.”
“That’s just a few months away.”
“The Lady was supposed to leave the academy.”
“Me?”
As Illein asked in surprise, Melias could not maintain his composure and responded,
“Yes, that is what I have been informed.”
“Oh…”
Illein was flustered, realizing that too much had been decided without her knowledge.
“I have no intention of leaving the academy. I plan to graduate…”
She said this but was too afraid to meet Meliasās gaze, so she looked down.
