I Give Up on the BL Novel's Male Leads - Chapter 19
Even though the effects of the truth serum lingered, thanks to the ring, it seemed I could still discern what should and shouldn’t be said.
“Are you saying this because you’re concerned?”
He averted his eyes.
“Yes.”
He seemed like someone who wasn’t good at lying.
It was clear we were alone in the infirmary.
No other sounds but the whisper of the wind were audible. However, it appeared someone had been here, as the positions of the registration book and pen had changed, and a book had been taken out.
“Lord Wignum.”
“Please, call me Melias.”
“Yes, Melias. May I ask why you chose to meet with me?”
Honestly, why would he want to meet someone like me, from a lesser noble family, someone who even had to disguise herself as a man to attend the academy?
I couldn’t have been that appealing. What could a future Marquis possibly want with someone like me, especially without any prior acquaintance?
“Should I be frank, or should I be polite?”
I managed a smile.
“I would appreciate honesty.”
He looked slightly unsettled for a moment, then sighed and looked back at me.
“Our lands suffer from a severe lack of water.”
“I see.”
“Marrying you seemed like a good solution to provide for the people of my lands more abundantly. Your abilities are well confirmed.”
If that was the reason, it made sense. As a high-level water attribute wielder, I could create water almost effortlessly.
“Is there no other reason?”
“No.”
His response was somewhat relieving.
“Are you considering marriage then?”
“Yes.”
He answered so easily, as if it was someone else’s issue.
“Have you ever been in love before, Melias? Wouldn’t you regret marrying me without love?”
“No, I haven’t. And I don’t think I would regret it.”
His robotic response drained some of my energy.
“Perhaps.”
As he spoke without looking away, I met his gaze squarely.
“If you have someone else in mind, that’s fine too. I need your abilities, not your heart.”
“Does that mean…”
“I won’t mind whoever you see. All I need is for you to fill the reservoirs of Wignum.”
Melias’s words made me ask without thinking.
“Can you really live like that? What if the person you marry loves someone else?”
“It doesn’t matter. Besides, nobles don’t marry for love.”
His words chilled me.
“I see.”
Though I didn’t want to be as cold as him, I smiled bitterly, thanking him for his honesty.
“Thanks for coming.”
With a nod to humanity.
I left the infirmary with Melias.
“Illein!”
Damon approached from the end of the hallway.
“Isn’t it class time?”
I was under the impression there was one more class.
“Melias? What brings you here?”
“I had business.”
It seemed they knew each other. Melias spoke evenly and looked at me.
“I’ll go up first.”
“Ah, yes.”
“I’ll send the invitation soon.”
“Yes.”
After our awkward exchange, Melias heads up the stairs first. It seemed like he glanced back, but just as our eyes might have met, Damon stepped in front of me.
“How are you feeling? Where’s Edwin?”
“I woke up to find myself alone.”
“How did you get to know Melias Wignum?”
Stumped by Damon’s question, I hesitated before answering.
“My parents introduced us. They want us to get acquainted.”
“Ah, is that so?”
“Yes.”
His question seemed odd, but I smiled and started walking ahead, with him following. Returning to the fifth floor felt daunting because of the many stairs.
“What about the class?”
“It was canceled. Everyone from our class had to go write statements at the guards station because of what I reported.”
“My goodness!”
I looked at Damon in surprise. Class 1 did nothing wrong. It was Willai and his group who made the mistake.
“The kids in class didn’t do anything wrong.”
“What do you mean they didn’t? They just stood by and watched you suffer. That’s complicity.”
“How can that be…”
“That’s how I see it.”
Damon gripped my shoulder tightly as he spoke.
He was very tall, so even when I was Illein, the male, I had to look up to see his face. Even then, it was hard to tell what he was thinking.
“I’ve been doing well. And because of this situation, I don’t want us to drift apart from the start of the semester.”
“Drift apart? Everyone is sorry, you know.”
“Why?”
“It seems everyone thought that while Willai Macintosh is annoying, it was somewhat justifiable against you.”
“Is that something a person can just be?”
“Maybe, but not in front of me. You’re my childhood friend and the person I trust the most.”
His words made me involuntarily shut my mouth.
If Damon ever found out that I was actually a woman, he might not see me the same way. He always smiles, but in reality, he is distrustful and wary of others.
If he found out I’ve been lying to him for over a decade, he probably wouldn’t be so warm toward me anymore.
