MTMLF CH 10

Chapter 10

Jealous Alex

Princess of the Loengrin Kingdom, Elena Loengrin.

But by the time the original novel began, her kingdom was already on the brink of destruction.

Unlike the Respina Empire—protected by powerful predator beastmen—the Loengrin Kingdom only had weak herbivore beastmen.

Humans, who secretly kidnapped and sold herbivore beastmen, realized the empire had no interest in protecting Loengrin.

So they started openly persecuting the kingdom.

Because of this, the kingdom fell into ruin at the hands of human supremacists.

The heroine, Elena, set out alone on a long journey to warn others of this tragedy.

Her goal: to request help from the Respina Empire.

Along the way she met companions, quarreled and fell in love with the male lead, Noah Fernando, and eventually saved both the empire and her kingdom.

***

‘If this really is Elena, she should react to her name.’

Jania looked down nervously at the rabbit in her hand and called softly:

“Ella?”

“……”

Ella was Elena’s childhood nickname, one she had always responded to since she was little.

There was no way she wouldn’t recognize it.

But contrary to Jania’s expectation, the rabbit gave no reaction.

She just kept munching on grass, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

Maybe she misheard? Jania tried again.

“Ella!”

“……”

Still, nothing. The rabbit simply buried her face in the green leaves and chewed away.

“…Guess not.”

So she only looked like the heroine. With a sigh, Jania let out the breath she was holding.

Of course. What were the chances of a beastman showing up in such a remote forest?

Humans said, “Always look twice at a fallen animal,” because they feared beastmen, but in truth, they were rare and lived in separate settlements.

Relieved, Jania wiped her damp forehead. The tension had made her sweat.

“Then I’ll just call you Ella. It goes nicely with Alex.”

The names even sounded like siblings, which made her smile warmly.

“So cute.”

Her little mouth moved up and down—it was adorable. Rabbits were simply too cute.

With her worries gone, Jania happily lost herself in fussing over Ella.

“Perfect. Small, harmless, and cute…”

There was nothing more flawless in the world. Jania’s smile stretched wide with delight.

“Woof!”

“Huh?”

Alex suddenly appeared, staring at Jania with sharp, glowing eyes. She blinked, startled. Was the fruit bad?

“What’s wrong, Alex?”

“Woof! Woof!”

“What are you upset about?”

Normally calm, Alex was now riled up, confusing Jania.

Then she noticed Ella had frozen, wide-eyed, staring in fear.

“Alex, stop it. You’re scaring Ella.”

“Grrr…”

“Hey, I said stop.”

But Alex only growled louder. It felt like scolding a rebellious teenage son. Jania had never raised kids, but still.

“Ella, let’s go inside.”

“Woof! Woof! WOOF!”

Jania had originally thought feeding time should be outside, but Alex’s reaction changed her mind. Better to keep them apart.

She carefully scooped Ella into her arms. Alex barked after her, the sound almost mournful.

“No. Stay here and think about what you did.”

“……”

Jania deliberately glared at him.

Realizing she was angry, Alex stopped barking and lowered his eyes sadly.

His pitiful look tugged at her heart, but she turned away, ignoring his whines.

She couldn’t give in now. If she forgave him too quickly, he’d just threaten Ella again. She had to set boundaries early.

So Jania hugged Ella tightly and went inside, shutting the door behind her.

Only then did she finally let out the breath she’d been holding.

“Eek, eek.”

“Oh, sorry.”

She had squeezed too tightly—Ella wriggled uncomfortably.

Jania quickly set her down and placed the half-eaten grass nearby.

Chomp, chomp.

The room was soon filled with the sound of Ella chewing again. Jania was amazed.

“You really eat nonstop, huh…”

A friend once told her rabbits eat huge amounts every day, basically doing nothing but eating and pooping.

She had laughed then, but now she saw it was true.

“How does such a tiny body eat so much…”

She set out water, and Ella drank happily too.

So this was why people kept rabbits. Jania had never understood before, but now she did.

Watching such a small, harmless creature was oddly calming.

Smiling warmly, Jania sat for a long time just watching Ella.

***

Meanwhile…

In a large, lavish room stood a boy with jet-black hair. He looked as if he’d stepped out of a painting.

He tilted his head slightly, revealing sharp blue eyes like the ocean. Looking down, then lifting his gaze, he fixed his piercing stare on the man approaching.

“Young master.”

“……”

The boy, Noah Fernando, silently regarded the man bowing before him.

Felix, despite being an adult, felt small in front of the child. Noah carried an aura far beyond his age—cold and commanding, fitting of the next head of the powerful Fernando Duchy.

“Did you find him?”

“Yes, but… there’s a problem.”

“What is it?”

Noah’s brows furrowed.

It had been a while since Duke Rupert Fernando had disappeared. He had left an excuse with the Emperor about “territorial duties,” even setting up a decoy, but soon the truth would be exposed.

Because Rupert had told no one his destination, even his closest aides struggled to trace him.

The knights of the duchy had found no leads either.

Noah, more desperate than anyone, was running out of patience.

“You still haven’t found him?”

His voice sharpened.

Though only ten years old, Noah’s presence was fierce, like a predator nearing adulthood.

The power radiating from him was so intense that even Felix, commander of the Black Wolf Knights, felt pressured.

“We believe he entered the Cursed Forest.”

“What? The Cursed Forest?”

“Yes.”

“……”

At that answer, Noah’s face darkened.

The Cursed Forest… long ago, a terrifying witch had lived there, and her spells still lingered.

It was especially dangerous for predator beastmen, sapping their strength. Why would Rupert go there of all places?

‘He had been struggling to control his powers lately…’

Noah clenched his fists, thinking of Rupert.

In truth, Rupert was not his biological father.

He was the younger brother of Noah’s real father, the late Duke Roderick Fernando. When Roderick died in battle, Rupert inherited the title and adopted Noah as his heir.

Because of the wolf clan’s strong family bonds, Noah accepted Rupert as his second father without hesitation.

He admired him deeply.

Losing his true father had been painful, but dying honorably in battle was a great glory for a predator beastman.

Roderick’s sacrifice had even turned the tide of war, protecting both the duchy and the empire.

Still, peace was fragile. Human supremacists could attack again at any time. Noah gritted his teeth.

“Then search the forest immediately.”