MTMLF CH 15

Chapter 15.

The Male Lead’s Stepmother

“No, Father, what is the meaning of this…!”

Noah was shocked when he saw his father.

Beastmen usually don’t change into their animal form unless something serious happens.

They only do so when badly injured and need to heal, or during mating season.

Normally, they stayed in their human form.

But right now, Rupert was in wolf form, lying inside a shabby doghouse. And worse—there was even a collar around his neck, like he was someone’s pet!

Noah’s expression turned grim. It was clear to him who had made Rupert look so pitiful.

“You…”

“N-no, it’s not like that! I really thought he was just a wolf at first—!”

“….”

Jaina waved her hands, trying to explain herself. But the more she spoke, the darker Noah and Felix’s gazes became.

Felix, loyal as always, even placed his hand on his sword hilt.

At that moment, Rupert slowly rose from where he was lying. He stepped between a flustered Jaina and the two men, who were about to get angry.

“Father?”

“….”

Rupert stayed in wolf form and simply stared at Noah. Then, Noah suddenly heard a voice in his head.

[You came looking for me, Noah.]

Noah’s eyes widened. Only beastmen who had reached a high level of power could communicate telepathically like this. But Noah quickly calmed himself and replied in his mind.

[What happened, Father?]

He couldn’t understand why the strongest wolf among beastmen was being treated like this.

It only strengthened the suspicion that Jaina was the “Wicked Witch of the Forest.”

But Rupert’s words crushed that thought completely.

[That woman is a Purifier.]
[A… Purifier?]
[Yes. That’s why I’m alive and safe.]

Rupert then explained everything that had happened. Noah was stunned.

A Purifier—something thought to exist only in legends—was real, and living here in secret. No wonder no one had found her before.

[I plan to stay here a while longer and figure out how to bring Jaina back to the capital.]

[Isn’t the purification already complete?]

[No. It’s only temporary. I’ll need more of it in the future.]

[I see…]

Noah’s face darkened.

So, even though they had found a Purifier, her powers weren’t permanent.

That meant Rupert had to remain with Jaina from now on.

[If other beastmen discover she’s a Purifier, it could start a war.]

[I know. That’s why I’m being cautious.]

The problem was huge. Beastmen had struggled for ages with their uncontrollable power.

If word spread that the Purifier still existed and was under Rupert’s care, rival beast clans would fight to take her.

After a long silence, Noah made a bold suggestion.

[Then… what about marriage?]

[What? Marriage?]

Rupert looked at him in shock.

[We can’t keep her existence hidden forever. Father, you’ll eventually have to return to the capital.]

As the head of a ducal house, Rupert couldn’t stay in this forest forever.

The only way to protect Jaina in the capital would be to make her the Duchess.

[She saved your life. Isn’t that enough reason to take her as your mate?]

Noah spoke calmly, far too mature for his ten years.

Rupert, however, simply nodded as if the idea wasn’t so strange.

[I’ve thought of that too.]

It was true—marrying a human would cause a huge uproar. Beastmen had once been treated as livestock by humans.

And the Fernando family had always stood at the front lines against them.

If Rupert, the head of the house, chose a human bride, there would be outrage.

But if he revealed Jaina as a Purifier after making her the Duchess, things would go more smoothly.

[It will be easier if she’s already part of our family before others learn the truth.]

[Then I will speak to Lady Jaina about it.]

[…?]

Rupert tilted his head at Noah’s determined tone.

Noah turned and addressed Jaina directly.

“I almost misunderstood earlier. Father told me how he ended up here.”

“Oh… right.”

Jaina, who knew from the novel about beastmen’s telepathic abilities, quickly realized the two had been speaking mind-to-mind.

“Thank you for saving my father.”

“Ahaha… you’re welcome.”

Noah bowed politely, leaving Jaina scratching the back of her head in embarrassment.

Then, smiling brightly, he asked:

“So now, Lady Jaina, will you become my new stepmother?”

“W-what…?”

Jaina’s eyes widened. Stepmother?!

Noah, without blinking, continued lying smoothly.

“We beastmen have a tradition. If someone saves our life, we must court them and make them our mate.”

“What? That’s… I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

Jaina frowned in confusion. She had read the whole novel, and this was never mentioned. But maybe it was some obscure custom? It sounded ridiculous, but still…

“Is that really true?”

“Of course.”

Noah looked completely innocent, while Rupert, still in wolf form, just sat silently.

Jaina stared suspiciously.

She knew Noah could be just as shameless as Rupert—after all, she had read the book.

“I’m not marrying the Duke.”

“You’ll change your mind eventually.”

“Ha…”

When she had first entered this world, Jaina just wanted to avoid getting involved with the novel’s main characters.

But now, because she had picked up one injured wolf, everything had spiraled out of control.

Still, even if she had known, she couldn’t have left Rupert to die. Maybe this was just her fate.

“Well, it won’t happen. I’m a non-marriage person.”

“A… non-marriage person?”

“Yes.”

Jaina quickly pulled out the term she had remembered from her past life.

In truth, she hadn’t exactly chosen not to marry—she had just been more interested in fictional men than real ones. But none of that mattered now.

“It means I’ve decided to live alone and never marry.”

“…I see.”

Noah, raised as a noble, found it difficult to understand. To him, marriage and producing heirs was a natural duty.

‘Come to think of it, I once suspected Ella might be the female lead of this novel.’

Jaina thought of the little bunny Rupert had brought home.

At first, Ella’s shabby appearance had made Jaina wonder if she was secretly the heroine. But even when Jaina called her by the heroine’s name, she hadn’t reacted.

That suspicion had faded… but now, Jaina felt uneasy again.

If Ella really were the heroine… Jaina didn’t even want to imagine it.

“Kyiii! Kyiii!”

“Oh, no.”

At that moment, Ella’s crying reached them.

“Sorry, please excuse me.” Jaina quickly bowed and ran toward the sound.

Ella had wandered to the far edge of the yard, near the wall, and now looked terrified at being alone.

“Ella, are you okay?”

“Kyiii…”

The little bunny shivered, then snuggled into Jaina’s hand.

With a sigh, Jaina picked her up and placed her gently on her palm.