MTMLF CH 17

Chapter 17
The Wolves’ Persuasion

Ella, being a herbivore beastman, was naturally wary of wolf beastmen.

Jania thought she was fine since she had gotten used to Rupert, but maybe Noah’s rude words earlier had scared her again.

Then Jania remembered something important from what Ella had said.

“Wait… Mama? Do you mean your mother?”

“Uh… uh-huh?”

“You said you don’t remember your name, but you remember your mom?”

“Uh-huh. I remember Mama.”

Ella nodded quickly, but she avoided Jania’s eyes like she was lying.

Jania looked at her suspiciously.

‘If this is the timeline, then it must be when she ran away from her kingdom…’

No one knew why Princess Ella had run away. The novel never gave details—it was only mentioned once when Elena later reflected on her foolish childhood.

‘But maybe now she’s starting to miss her family?’

Jania’s heart ached a little as she looked at Ella.

“Ella, don’t you miss your mom?”

“O-oh…”

Ella’s eyes shook nervously. Then, instead of answering, she shook her head hard.

“No… I don’t want to see her.”

“Why?”

“…I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“Uh-huh.”

And then she shut her mouth. Jania frowned in confusion.

‘Did something happen back then?’

In the story, Elena had a good relationship with her royal family.

Noah had assumed later that her sadness was because they all died when the kingdom fell. But was there another reason why a child so young would run away and end up here?

Jania sighed and changed the subject.

“Ella, if we go downstairs, I’ll need to wrap the blanket around you more tightly. It might feel uncomfortable. Is that okay?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Really? I’ll tie it even tighter than now.”

“It’s fine!”

Jania wasn’t sure if Ella really understood, but she wrapped her up anyway.

She would have to hold her the whole time so the blanket wouldn’t slip.

‘After this, I’ll have to get her some clothes. Maybe I can ask the neighbors, or just make some myself.’

The thought made her uneasy. Her neighbors had always treated her normally, even though she sometimes worried they might sense something strange about her. Still, they didn’t seem like bad people.

“Alright, let’s go down.”

“Yeah!”

Ella, wrapped like a little doll in the blanket, snuggled into Jania’s arms.

Her white hair and pale skin made her look even more like a delicate toy. Jania chuckled and carried her downstairs.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting.”

Noah and Felix were sitting politely on the sofa, while Rupert lay stretched out beside them. Jania glanced at Rupert, then sat opposite Noah and Felix.

“I’d like to offer you tea, but Ella has been so restless…”

“It’s fine,” Noah said, shaking his head.

But his blue eyes glared at Ella disapprovingly.

Ella froze like a kitten hissing at a predator, then narrowed her eyes and glared back at him.

“How did that beastman end up here?” Noah asked.

“Ah, Rupert brought her home.”

“My father?”

Noah looked at Rupert in surprise.

Rupert just ignored him with a bored face.

“Well, Roengrin is basically our ally anyway,” Noah said.

Jania tilted her head.

The Roengrin kingdom was destroyed by humans, and nobody even tried to help back then. Ally? Really?

‘Hm. Noah and Rupert treat her differently. Noah seems hostile from the start, while Rupert at least saved her.’

Jania patted Ella’s back to calm her down.

“I plan to return her once we find her family. Could you help with that?”

“Of course, if you’re the one asking, Lady Jania.”

Noah said with a bright smile. But it felt more like he just wanted to get rid of Ella.

“No!”

A loud voice echoed through the room, startling everyone—including Rupert.

Ella shouted again, her little body trembling.

“No! I won’t go! I’ll stay with Jania!”

“Ella…”

“Nooo!”

Her scream was so loud that Jania’s ears rang painfully. She winced and covered one ear with her free hand, still holding Ella tightly with the other.

“I’m not going back! I’m not going back!”

“Ella, calm down. Please?”

But Ella kept yelling, refusing to be soothed. Jania rubbed her back desperately.

‘She hates the idea of going back this much? What on earth happened to her family…?’

Jania finally whispered softly,

“I’ll stay with you. Always, okay?”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Ella’s sobs slowed, and she finally relaxed in Jania’s arms. Jania let out a long sigh, then looked back at Noah.

“I’m sorry. We’ll… discuss this another time.”

“Very well,” Noah said calmly.

At least Ella hadn’t caught on to their meaning this time.

But Jania still had something important to say.

“I have no intention of leaving this place.”

“Do you have a reason?” Noah asked.

“No, but… this is my home.”

“Hmm.”

He tilted his head like he found it strange. Jania frowned, feeling uneasy.

“Why? Is there something wrong with this place?”

“Do you know what this forest is called?”

“This forest…?”

“Yes.”

Jania hesitated. She didn’t want to admit she didn’t know.

Noah answered for her.

“This is called the ‘Cursed Forest.’”

“What?!”

Jania’s eyes went wide.

‘The Cursed Forest?! Here?!’

She remembered the eerie feeling that night under the full moon when she went looking for Rupert. She had thought it was just because of the storm and the cold…

“But I never had any problems here. There aren’t even dangerous animals…”

“That’s because the forest weakens predators. Most carnivores can’t endure it. That’s why you hardly see any.”

“Really…?”

Jania’s eyes widened, and she turned to Rupert. But he looked perfectly fine, lying there calmly.

Noah chuckled. “Don’t worry. My father is far beyond being affected by something like this.”

“Oh… right.”

Indeed, Rupert had never seemed weakened—except when Jania had first found him injured.

“Are you… worried about my father?”

Noah teased, his eyes gleaming.

“Well, we’ve lived together, so I guess I care a little…”

“And you even put a leash on him.”

“What? That’s not—!”

Jania blushed. If anyone overheard that, they’d misunderstand everything!

But Noah only smiled slyly.

“Anyway, I’m not leaving,” Jania repeated firmly.

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

She wanted him to know she wouldn’t budge—not about leaving, and definitely not about marrying Rupert.

Noah studied her for a moment, then glanced at Rupert before speaking again.

“There’s something you must know, Lady Jania.”

“What is it?”

“Your true identity.”

“My… true identity?”

Jania blinked, completely confused.