I Give Up on the BL Novel's Male Leads - Chapter 56
The Marquis’s considerate questioning, almost as though he cared more about her well-being than her own mother did, was strangely kind.
“I think I’m just scared.”
“Scared of what?”
“I’ve just become an adult and… I’m not sure if I can really live well as the Marchioness. And I’ve been striving to become an imperial civil servant for so long. Also, I don’t want to have children too soon.”
As she gathered the courage to respond, Marquis Wignum smiled broadly and said,
“Then I’ll wait for you to graduate. How about we start with an engagement and you take your time to get to know our Mellias?”
“Why do you think so highly of me?”
When Illein said so, her mother gave her a sharp glance.
However, Illein would usually have pretended to agree with her mother, but here, backing down seemed like it would directly lead to them drafting an engagement document.
She felt she needed to stall for time until she could graduate and join the imperial civil service.
“Just ten minutes ago, Mellias was right. Our family needs a water attribute wielder to fill the dam.”
“Ah…”
“That was until a moment ago.”
The Marquis continued with a spirited smile.
“But having heard your response, I find myself liking you even more.”
“Me?”
“It seems you want something different from the typical noble.”
The Marquis genuinely liked Illein.
He had seen Illein’s mother and thought she was just another person who could be easily manipulated with money.
Typically, noblewomen wanted expensive jewels or lavish dresses. But Illein seemed different.
“It’s like seeing your mother, Mellias.”
“…”
“I see why you are drawn to her.”
The Marquis truly believed this. Someone doesn’t easily have the mind to appreciate things beyond material wealth.
Marquis Wignum was shaped by his experiences in war, where life and death were risked. So he liked people who valued things transcended material concerns.
Most knights who preserved their principles tended to survive longer.
Perhaps that’s why the Marquis instinctively liked Illein.
“Thank you for seeing me in such a favorable light.”
“Then at least get engaged.”
“I…”
“If you decide to break it off, I will step back gracefully.”
He believed Illein Thierry’s heart couldn’t be bought with money. And because she wasn’t driven by money, he found her more trustworthy.
He wanted to have a trustworthy person as family, so he couldn’t imagine a more suitable daughter-in-law than Illein.
“You can continue your academy studies during the engagement. If you really want to become an imperial civil servant, that’s fine too.”
“Why are you so accommodating?”
“Because you are worth it.”
Illein thought the Marquis was an odd man.
Yet, she appreciated how respectfully he spoke to her, so she bowed her head.
“If you truly wish to marry Mellias eventually, you can leave your position as an imperial civil servant and live as just the Marchioness.”
“Thank you. But I’d also like to know Mellias’s thoughts.”
Illein, somewhat overwhelmed by how swiftly everything was proceeding, turned to Mellias.
Mellias smiled gently.
“I have no objections.”
“That’s that, then.”
“Ah… If that’s all it takes…”
“Hahaha. Yes.”
Illein thought that Marquis Wignum, who was patting her shoulder might not be such a bad person after all.
Given this, she inadvertently began to consider what it might be like to actually marry into this noble family.
They then headed together to Mellias’s room.
Baroness Thiery remained with the Marquis, seemingly to have more to discuss.
“Do you have a preferred color for your engagement dress?”
Mellias extended his hand to Illein as they walked.
She loosely held his hand and walked to the room.
“I’m….not sure. Does Melias have a color in mind?”
“It would be good for you to decide. Our family tends to prefer gold.”
“Hahaha.”
Illein laughed at those words without realizing it. It reminded her of the vast gold mines owned by the Wignum family and their symbol, the golden lion.
“Does Melias hate gold?”
“I…”
He glanced at Illein and responded nonchalantly.
“I like blue.”
With that, he led her into the room.
When she entered the room, Illein couldn’t help but gasp in astonishment.
“My goodness!”
The room was filled with various dresses, all hung luxuriously.
“How can there be so many?”
“When I told my father you’d be my dance partner, he had these prepared.”
“All of this in less than a week, is that even possible?”
“…Is it supposed to be impossible?”
Mellias had thought it was an easy task since his father had arranged it.
In reality, Illein’s family faced financial difficulties, so it would be difficult.
“It’s usually quite difficult. But to have so many…”
Illein reached for one, a blue dress. Mellias said he liked blue so she wondered if she should try it on.
