I Give Up on the BL Novel’s Male Leads

As she spoke, he furrowed his brow and suggested,

“Let’s go to my mansion.”

“What? But…”

“You’ll catch a cold like this.”

“No, I’m fine…”

“I’m not okay with that.”

She found herself being pulled into the carriage before she could resist. He waved his wand, quickly gathered the levitating notebook and shut the door.

“Ah…”

Unexpectedly, Illein found herself heading back to the Wignum estate.

“I need to return to my mansion.”

“Do you have urgent matters there?”

“No, it’s just… I need to study.”

Illein hesitated in her response. Melias looked at her blankly before responding,

“My mansion has every book from Bellaine Academy. And you can stay the night; I’ll communicate with Baron Thierry about it.”

“But Damon might be waiting for me at the library.”

“I’ll handle that too.”

Illein felt it would be impolite to refuse further, especially since she was soaked and the weather was not fully summer yet, making it a bit chilly.

Spring was still brisk.

Shivering slightly, she resignedly agreed to go with him to the estate.

When she returned to the mansion, Illein struggled to maintain her composure as her body began to shiver from the dropping temperature. She felt almost as if she had already caught a cold.

“Here’s where you can bathe.”

Catching Melias’s evasive gaze, she smiled wryly and asked back,

“Isn’t this your room?”

“Yes, it is. You can go ahead and shower.”

She paused for a moment but was too exhausted to debate further. Her body was tired, and she was not typically someone who got much sleep.

The fatigue had built up significantly. The day had been particularly draining, both emotionally, due to Melias, and physically, from using her powers with Edwin.

“Thank you.”

Too weary to say more, she just smiled and followed his lead to the bathroom in the room.

As she headed towards the bathroom, four servants awaited her.

“I will assist you with bathing, miss.”

“Oh, no, I can bathe myself.”

Illein was shocked to see the four maids waiting for her.

“No, the young master insisted that we assist you.”

“What? But… Ah! Yes, thank you.”

Illein was too tired to argue verbally anymore.

She didn’t have the energy to argue with the servants and soon disrobed in the bathroom.

Though she initially felt embarrassed undressing in front of others, she quickly got used to it.

Perhaps if her family hadn’t been so indebted, she wouldn’t have felt so awkward about being bathed by others.

“Is there anywhere you’re uncomfortable?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Illein appreciated the warm water filling the tub, enhanced with bath salts creating fragrant bubbles.

As she stepped into the bath, the gentle scrubbing from the maids with soft brushes on her body was surprisingly pleasant.

Two maids were at her sides, grooming her nails meticulously. After finishing with her fingernails, they moved on to her toenails.

“Shall we apply some nail polish? What color would you prefer?”

“Oh, no, I’d rather you didn’t.”

Illein declined because she felt nail polish might linger and wasn’t appropriate since she also lived as a man.

Lulled by the gentle care, her body relaxed despite the initial tension.

She was truly at her limit, overwhelmed by sleepiness and exhaustion from using her powers extensively.

If she hadn’t been so overtaxed, perhaps she wouldn’t have fallen asleep so quickly from the relaxation.

Unbeknownst to her, she drifted off to sleep.

“Ah…”

Illein woke up and immediately sat up. Bathing in another person’s mansion was quite an uncomfortable burden, but to fall asleep as well.

She was sweating from the stress without considering how fatigued she was as she looked around.

The light outside the canopy seemed bright. Cautiously, she pulled back the canopy’s curtains and stretched her legs outside the bed.

Someone turned at her sound.

“Did you have a good dream?”

“Ah… I…”

She stuttered, fully realizing she was in the Young Marquis’s bedroom, which only added to her embarrassment.

“I’m sorry. I fell asleep and took over Melias’s bedroom.”

“There’s no need to apologize. I instructed them to let you rest here.”

Melias reassured her gently. Yet, Illein still felt awkward, especially given the attire she found herself in.

It was so flashy. It seemed more like an outfit meant for going out than for sleep. It wasn’t the clothes she was used to, making her feel even more out of place.

– Knock, knock.

‘Melias, it’s me. Is Illein here?’

Damon’s voice came from outside.