I Give Up on the BL Novel's Male Leads - Chapter 83
“Why is that? Didn’t you hear what I said earlier? Even the psychometrists who came to the palace couldn’t identify the face of the culprit, as if it had been deliberately erased from the object’s memory.”
“Edwin…”
“But I was dressed exactly the same. So you can believe I’m not the one?”
Seeing Edwin’s confused expression, Illein found herself trusting him even more.
If he was truly the culprit, he wouldn’t look so bewildered.
“If I didn’t trust Edwin, would we be alone here like this?”
“Illenas.”
“Edwin has just done Silence magic, and even if I scream here, there’s no one to come.”
Of course it was her illusion.
Here, if she wants to ask someone for help, the signal will go straight to Melias and Damon.
They put tracking magic as Illenas moved.
“Illenas…”
“And if Edwin had any ill intentions toward me, he had plenty of opportunities—whether it was at Baron Thierry’s place or at Edwin’s strange cabin.”
As she took another step toward Edwin, he looked at her with a strange expression.
He was still acutely aware of her hand in his and focused on her gaze.
“I…”
Illein tensed as he seemed about to say something.
“There’s not much I can say.”
“…Edwin.”
“But believing in me is foolish.”
Seeing Edwin’s troubled expression, Illein felt very unsettled.
“You shouldn’t trust me. And you shouldn’t trust anyone.”
“Why?”
“If you do, you’ll definitely get hurt. And you’ll be disappointed in me.”
“Can’t you make sure I don’t get disappointed?”
He looked as though he was still struggling, but he merely moved his lips as if bound by an unspoken rule and couldn’t say more.
“If you can’t say it now, will you be able to tell me later?”
Illein asked, and Edwin slowly nodded.
“Then can I wait until then?”
“Yes.”
She continued to hold his hand, and even after the 20 minutes were up, they remained holding hands for quite a while.
Illein was finally able to place attendance with the help of Melias and Damon. Exhausted, she returned to the mansion.
“It was really enjoyable today.”
Illein said her goodbyes as she got out of the carriage with Damon and Melias.
“Ah…”
Melias had intended to escort her out, but since she got out first, he couldn’t do so.
“I’ll take you to your room.”
“No, it’s okay!”
“Yes, Illenas. Let’s go together.”
“No, I’ll go in alone. Thank you both so much.”
Illein insisted on sending them off.
“Goodbye.”
Melias and Damon, finding it difficult to stay any longer, waved goodbye and reluctantly moved away from her mansion. By the time their carriage had completely disappeared…
“It seems that the awkward blond from earlier was Lady Thierry after all.”
Illenas was startled to see the Second Prince and his guards appearing after the distortion magic had dissipated.
“Shall we have a little chat, Lady Thierry?”
She was puzzled as to why the Second Prince had come all the way here.
“What’s this about?”
“It’s nothing serious. It seems I need to administer a truth serum to you.”
Illein was bothered by the fact that she had left behind the heirloom ring that rendered truth serums ineffective.
“If you cooperate, I’ll make sure that Illein Thierry’s attendance today is marked as proper.”
“How?”
“It’s simple enough to inform the director and have the attendance adjusted.”
Illein figured that Melias would have handled it properly. However, since there was no benefit in upsetting the princes, she nodded in agreement.
“I’d like to go inside.”
“Your Highness, I am still an unmarried young lady. Isn’t it risky to admit a grown prince into the mansion?”
“Why? Are you afraid of rumors?”
“…Yes.”
“Ha!”
The Second Prince scoffed.
“In that case, it would actually be beneficial for you. If you were to become my concubine, it would be very advantageous for you.”
“I’m not quite following. May I ask why you think so?”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it? If you become my concubine, I’ll take care of the debts owed by the Thierry family. It’s nothing but a pittance, after all.”
“…Ah.”
Illein’s mood soured rapidly as she couldn’t deny the harsh reality of the situation. It seemed that the affairs of the Thierry family amounted to little more than this.
“Or would it be better if I came in alone?”
Illein considered that it might be preferable to admit only the Second Prince into the mansion.
Though she wasn’t confident in combat magic, she wasn’t weak either.
If it came to a physical altercation with the Second Prince, a one-on-one fight might be better.
