I Give Up on the BL Novel's Male Leads - Chapter 22
“You know, sometimes I go alone to these things.”
Edwin looked surprised. So Illein added. And he frowned and answered.
“Surprising.”
“Why be surprised? It’s a mandatory event, and sometimes people don’t have a partner.”
“Yeah.”
Edwin’s nonchalant reply made Illein chuckle.
The Bellaine Academy required attendance at its four annual dance parties.
Finding a partner within the academy was often challenging due to the low number of female students and the predominance of males.
“Do you have someone to go with, Edwin?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re not planning on skipping it, are you?”
“I don’t know.”
He picked up another slice of apple, dipped it in peanut butter, and ate it, clearly signaling he didn’t want to continue the conversation.
With the dance party only a week away, Illein was typically immersed in her studies at the library during the weekends. Today was no exception as she prepared to head out.
“Illein.”
“Oh, Mother?”
“I have something for you.”
Illein always felt uneasy when her mother came home excitedly like this; it rarely boded well.
“Here, take this.”
Her mother handed her a card. As Illein unfolded it, it read:
“Uh…?”
「You are invited to the Wignum Estate.
-Melias Wignum.」
It was definitely an invitation, but strangely, that was all it said.
Illein was puzzled over the sparse invitation before noticing the date.
“The date on this is wrong.”
“No, it’s correct.”
“Today?!”
“Yes, today. That’s why I came, despite being busy.”
Illein felt the weight of her backpack and the burden of the knowledge she had to master all the more oppressive.
If she wastes today, she’ll have to pull all-nighters for several days.
“I need to study. There’s a dance party coming up, and I need to prepare…”
“You said you’re confident about finishing first, right? Besides, if you marry Lord Wignum, you won’t need to continue at the academy!”
“What? But…”
“He seems to think very highly of you.”
“No, but…”
“You should get married now, just like I did at your age!”
“No, Mother…”
“And once you’re married, start having children right away. That will ensure the Lord doesn’t look elsewhere.”
Illein was speechless, staring blankly at her mother.
She felt resentful of this ludicrous situation but couldn’t bring herself to say anything harsh.
Her parents were doing this out of poverty; she knew that much.
And she couldn’t provoke them needlessly.
Illein hadn’t always been passive.
But every time she resisted, her parents, Baron Thierry and his wife, only tightened their grip and tormented her more.
That was why Illein wanted to sever all ties with her family and isolate herself from her family.
She mustn’t show any external signs. Given her parents’ unpredictable nature and their tendency to manipulate and control her.
“Let’s get you changed.”
“What? Oh, yes.”
Illein bit her lip, unable to say her thoughts.
She agreed outwardly, but internally, she disagreed.
Even if Illein were to abandon the Thierry family and become an imperial official, her parents could never reveal that she was a woman. As it would also lead to their execution.
She just had to endure until then. That was her resolve.
Illein looked at the dress handed to her, possibly once worn by Damon’s mother.
The Candelaria Ducal family was rich, and it wasn’t uncommon for the Duchess to give her cast-off clothes to Illein’s mother.
Illein observed the outfit laid out before her—a sophisticated yet overly mature white blouse and a purple skirt that came up to her waist.
Sighing, she headed upstairs to change.
In her room, she removed her ring, carefully placed her books and bag on the bed, and began to dress.
As she swept her long hair to one side, she donned the outfit.
In the mirror, her reflection as a woman appeared. But having lived as a man for so long, she always found her reflection somewhat alien.
Illein didn’t think of herself as a man; she was just more accustomed to short hair and a higher vantage point.
She had fastened all the buttons on her blouse.
“This is a bit tight.”
Feeling constricted by the blouse that squeezed her chest, she unbuttoned one to breathe more comfortably. She then slipped into her purple skirt, followed by stockings and shoes.
Now, anyone would mistake her for a typical noble lady.
“Ugh!”
As she put on the waist-cinching dress, Illein sighed, feeling the garment accentuate her figure more than she liked.
– Knock, knock.
“Are you done dressing?”
Hearing her mother’s voice waiting outside the door, Illein responded.
“Yes, I’ve changed.”
