MTMLF CH 13

Chapter 13

Jaina’s Identity

But the man’s name didn’t match what Jaina remembered.

The male lead’s name was Noah, not Rupert. She had never even heard of the name Rupert before. Tilting her head in confusion, Jaina asked:

“Are you saying you’re from that Grand Duchy of Fernando?”

“Yes.”

“……”

Calm down. At least he isn’t the male lead.

Jaina took a deep breath.

Right. Many people might share the same family name. Maybe he’s just a close relative.

‘Wait a second. Only direct members are allowed to use the family name…’

Usually, only the head of the house, their unmarried siblings, spouses, or children could use it.

And Noah—the male lead—had no siblings. Jaina swallowed hard.

“By any chance… are you the Grand Duke himself, Your Highness?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“Ha…”

She had been relieved thinking he wasn’t the male lead. But it turned out… he was the male lead’s father.

What was she supposed to feel about this? Jaina stared at Rupert with a complicated expression.

In the novel, the male lead’s father never appeared.

‘Wasn’t he supposed to have died when the male lead was young…?’

The male protagonist, Noah Fernando, had a tragic background.

His real father—Rupert—was said to have died young on the battlefield. After that, Noah became the adopted son of his uncle, the next Grand Duke. But even that uncle died when Noah was still a child.

That was why Rupert never appeared in the story. Not even his name was mentioned.

‘And now… he’s standing right in front of me.’

Jaina gawked. According to the novel, this man was supposed to be long dead, yet here he was alive and well.

Where did the story go wrong?

‘One thing’s for sure: the original plot hasn’t started yet.’

The original novel began after Rupert’s death—when Noah had already grown up.

But since Rupert was still alive now, the novel’s timeline hadn’t even begun.

‘Wait… did I change the story by keeping him alive?’

A sinking feeling ran through her. It was like she had accidentally broken a cornerstone of the original plot.

Wiping away cold sweat, Jaina asked, holding her throbbing head:

“Why… why is the Grand Duke here, in this place?”

Rupert smiled gently.

“To meet you, Jaina.”

“Me?”

Her eyes widened at the strange reply.

Meet her? Why would a Grand Duke—the ruler of the most powerful beastmen—come to meet someone like her?

‘Don’t tell me… the body I possessed isn’t just a throwaway extra?’

She had been relieved thinking the original Jaina wasn’t important enough to be mentioned in the novel. But now she wasn’t so sure.

Looking serious, she asked:

“Why me?”

“Because you’re a Purifier.”

“…A Purifier?”

It was the first time she had heard the word. But then—suddenly—a line from the novel surfaced in her mind:

‘If a Purifier truly existed, Father wouldn’t have died so easily…’

That was what Noah had once muttered bitterly at Rupert’s grave.

He had said it to Elena, the rabbit beastwoman who had the faint power to calm wild beastmen.

Elena explained she had that power because she descended from the royal line of Loengrin—ancient Purifiers who once kept beastmen’s power under control.

But now that bloodline had nearly died out. Even Elena’s gift was just a weak trace, nowhere near strong enough to calm Rupert’s overwhelming power.

Jaina’s lips parted.

‘Wait… I’m supposed to be a Purifier?’

More precisely, the original Jaina—the body she had possessed—was a Purifier.

‘This makes no sense.’

Completely dazed, she muttered:

“D-do you have proof?”

“Proof, you say?”

Rupert smiled faintly at her flustered reaction.

The fact that she didn’t ask what a Purifier was, but instead asked for proof—that was already the greatest evidence.

After all, almost nobody in this age even knew what a Purifier was. Even Rupert had only learned about it by digging through old texts after a wandering shaman mentioned it.

But here was an ordinary human girl who already knew. That alone meant she wasn’t ordinary.

“I confirmed it myself.”

“Confirmed… how?”

“What happened on the night of the full moon—do you remember?”

“The full moon…”

Jaina’s eyes widened as she recalled. That was the night she had first met Rupert—thinking it was all just a dream.

Glaring, she raised her hand to guard herself.

“Right, that time! What exactly did you do to me?”

“That night, you purified me.”

“…What?”

Her anger faltered.

Purified him? She had?

“Yes. On the night of the full moon, a wolf’s power grows uncontrollable. Afraid I might lose control, I left the mansion. That was when you came to me.”

“Ah… yes. That’s true…”

She had gone out that night searching for Alex. She remembered being strangely compelled to leave the house, only to collapse soon after being struck by a terrifying aura.

So that had been Rupert’s power surging out of control.

But the rest of her memory was hazy.

“I… I didn’t even know I had such an ability.”

“That’s because you wouldn’t notice unless you were near a beastman.”

“Then I really… purified Your Highness?”

“Yes. Without a doubt, I felt it.”

“……”

That left no room for denial. Why would Rupert lie?

So it was true—this body, Jaina’s body, was a Purifier.

‘Unbelievable…’

She had thought she was just an insignificant extra. But if the world learned she could calm beastmen… she would be hunted endlessly.

‘So that’s why the original Jaina lived isolated in this house.’

The truth finally clicked. The mansion, with its tall walls and iron gates, wasn’t just a prison—it was a shield, a way to hide her power from others.

‘And I just invited a beastman inside without thinking…’

Jaina wanted to pull her hair out. The real Jaina would scorn her for being so careless.

‘What do I do now…?’

But it was too late. Rupert had found her.

He wouldn’t let a Purifier slip away.

Clutching her aching head, Jaina asked:

“If you knew I was a Purifier, then why pretend to be Alex?”

“Pretend? I am Alex.”

“That’s not what I mean…”

She ground her teeth. This man was impossible to talk to.

Taking a deep breath, she tried again.

“Your Highness, shouldn’t you return to the capital? You’re fine now.”

“And?”

“I’ll pretend I never noticed you were hiding as a wolf. But I’d appreciate it if you left now.”

“……”

She had managed to say it—her quiet way of asking him to leave.

But Rupert still smiled. Calm. Amused.

Then he spoke.

“This is already my home. Where would I go?”

“…What?”

He looked at her boldly and added:

“When you pick up a stray wolf, you should be prepared for the consequences.”