MTMLF CH 16

Chapter 16

The Heroine and the Hero Fight

“It’s a little noisy right now since we have guests…”

Jania glanced toward where Noah and Felix were standing.

Even if Ella wasn’t human, she was still a fragile rabbit. Of course she’d be scared of predator beastmen.

Luckily, she had gotten used to Rupert, so she wasn’t terrified of him anymore, but Jania still felt it wasn’t right to take her near the others.

“Ella, can you stay in the house  a little while?”

“Ki…”
“……”

Jania tried to hurry her back inside, but Ella whimpered pitifully, looking up at her. Jania couldn’t bring herself to just shut the little one away.

As she hesitated, Noah approached.

“What’s the matter?”

“Well…”

Jania turned to him. His blue eyes landed on her hands.

‘A ball of fur?’ he thought.

At first, he thought Jania was holding a small tuft of fluff. But when he noticed the twitching ears and tiny paws, he realized—it was a baby rabbit.

‘So that’s a beastman too.’

Noah immediately figured out Ella’s true nature. He looked down at her with an indifferent gaze.

Predatory beastmen naturally looked down on herbivore beastmen. Noah was no different.

If he were older, he might’ve hidden that arrogance behind manners, but for now—despite his maturity—he was still just a child.

“Is it because of that rabbit beastman? Even if she’s young, she’s still a beastman. Yet she’s crying in her animal form in someone’s hands? Doesn’t she realize how shameful that looks?”

“What?”

Jania’s eyes widened.

What should she be more shocked by—that Ella was a beastman? Or that Noah, the male lead, had just insulted Ella, who was supposed to be one of the strongest heroine candidates?

‘But in the novel, even though Noah was arrogant, he was polite to Elena when they first met…’

Jania remembered the book.

Back then, Ella (Elena) had crossed the border alone and was both mentally and physically exhausted.

Noah, sharp as ever, had noticed her shabby state but didn’t dismiss her words.

As a princess, Ella carried herself with a noble aura, with refined manners that gave her away.

Noah had sensed she was important, so he’d acted gentle toward her.

Though he wasn’t sincere, that kindness had helped Ella open her heart to him quickly.

But right now? This was nothing like that.

“Kiik! Ki-iik!”

“I can’t understand a word if you just scream in animal form.”

“Kii-ik! Kiik!”

Ella bristled, her little ears standing upright as she cried furiously. Clearly, Noah’s words had hurt her badly.

‘So Ella really is a beastman…’

Jania had suspected it—Ella always seemed to understand too much. If she were truly just a rabbit, she wouldn’t be reacting like this to Noah’s insult.

“Ella, don’t get too upset, okay?”

“Kii…”

Jania soothed her, and Ella’s ears drooped sadly.

‘But… why doesn’t she change into human form?’

Normally, beastmen avoided showing their animal form to strangers. Especially herbivore beastmen, since it left them too vulnerable. So why was Ella always staying a rabbit?

‘Maybe she thought it was safer to stay like this around me.’

Jania sighed and turned to Noah.

“And please, don’t be so rude to Ella.”

“…I apologize, Jania.”

To Jania’s surprise, Noah—who had just belittled Ella—spoke to her with deep respect.

Even though she had saved Rupert’s life, he was still the heir of the Grand Duke.

For him to lower himself this much felt strange and uncomfortable to her.

“I think Ella is too shaken. I’ll take her inside for a bit.”

“Yes, please do.”

“Ah, and…”

Jania realized too late that she’d left her guests standing in the yard the entire time.

Embarrassed, she guided Noah, Felix, and Rupert (who still stubbornly remained in wolf form) into the living room before carrying Ella upstairs.

In her room, she gently placed Ella on the floor.

“I’ll be back after I talk for a little while, okay?”

“Kii…”

Ella looked up at her with teary eyes, as if begging her not to leave. Jania’s heart ached, but she couldn’t keep the guests waiting any longer. She steeled herself and turned—

“Janiaaa! Don’t gooo!”

“Huh?”

Jania froze. A young, childish voice rang out.

When she turned, her eyes widened in shock.

Ella had transformed—into a small girl with snow-white hair and jewel-like pink eyes. She was crying with big tears rolling down her cheeks.

“E-Ella?”

“Huuuwaaah… Janiaaa…”

Jania’s eyes grew even bigger.

“What is this…”

It was exactly the same description as the heroine from the novel—Elena Roengrin.

She bent down, staring at her.

“Ella, your name… is it Elena Roengrin?”

“Dunnooo…”

“You don’t know?”

Was she suffering from amnesia?

Flustered, Jania quickly realized Ella—now Elena—was completely naked. She rushed to grab a blanket and wrapped her carefully.

“Oh no… I don’t have any children’s clothes here.”

“Huuuwaaah, Janiaaa…”

“Your speech is a little clumsy too…”

Jania wanted to laugh, even though this was a serious situation.

“Alright, alright. I won’t leave, so don’t cry, okay?”

“Huuuuh…”

“Shh, quiet now.”

She patted the little girl’s shoulders, trying not to laugh as giggles threatened to slip out.

‘She’s so cute…’

Even as a rabbit she had been adorable, but like this, she was just as irresistible.

Jania felt guilty for thinking that while the child was crying, but she couldn’t help it.

The heroine she had cheered for in the novel was alive right here in front of her.

‘She looks about… five years old?’

Jania tilted her head. Small face, short arms and legs, clumsy words. She looked about kindergarten age.

‘But in the novel, Noah and Elena weren’t this far apart in age…’

She frowned. Noah and Elena were supposed to be close in age, but right now, the gap looked much larger.

Maybe it was because predator beastmen grew faster while herbivore beastmen developed more slowly?

As Jania thought about it, Ella’s sobs finally quieted.

“Ella, are you done crying now?”

“Mmhm.”

Jania wiped her cheeks with a handkerchief. Ella’s round face and big eyes were even cuter now.

“You look adorable in human form too, Ella.”

“Jania… you don’t hate me?”

“Hm? Hate you? Why would I?”

“Because… Ella is human now. You don’t hate that?”

Ella peeked up at her nervously. Jania smiled warmly.

“Of course not.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

So that was it—Ella had been hiding her human form because she was afraid of being rejected.

Jania hugged her tightly. Ella giggled, clinging to her.

“Jania, do you like Ella?”

“Yes, I do.”

“How much?”

“As much as the sky and the earth.”

“Kyahaha!”

Ella burst out laughing, and Jania couldn’t help but smile too.

‘She cried so hard just a moment ago, but now she’s laughing…’

Still, Jania’s heart was full watching her.

But then she remembered—her guests were still waiting downstairs.

“Ella, can you stay here alone just for a little while?”

“Nooo!”

“Just a short time, okay?”

“Nooo!”

Ella was stubborn, shaking her head.

‘Well, she’s never been apart from me before…’

Jania sighed.

“Those people… I don’t like them!”

“Those people? Who?”

“The bad people!”

“The bad people?”

Jania thought for a moment. There was only one answer.

“Did someone tell you wolves are bad?”

“Mmhm! Mama said! Wolves are all bad!  Icky!”

“Icky?”

“Yeah! Icky!”

Jania pressed her lips together, trying hard not to burst out laughing.