MTMLF CH 25

Chapter 25

Motion Sickness and a Strange Feeling

“Ha ha ha!”

Rupert burst into loud laughter at her words. Jania stared at him with wide eyes.

“…It was a joke?”

“Ha ha, yes.”

“….”

Since he admitted it so easily, Jania felt deflated. Her shoulders drooped.

“I thought you seemed down, so I tried to joke around a little.”

“Ah.”

Rupert smiled as he took the collar back from her. Only then did Jania realize she had been sulking out of pity for the real Jania’s past.

‘Still, what kind of joke was that…?’

She glared at him, startled, but Rupert only smiled wider. Jania grumbled and turned her head away.

“If you want, you can always put it back on me again.”

“I will not!”

Jania shouted, stomping forward, while Rupert chuckled and followed her.

“Give me the bag.”

“No, I’ll carry it.”

They bickered while heading down the stairs, where Noah and Ella were already waiting.

“Jania!”

“Ella, did you behave well?”

“Mmhm!”

“Really?”

Surprisingly, she hadn’t fought with Noah. Curious, Jania glanced at him.

He was smiling stiffly.

‘Ah, he must’ve held it in.’

His lips were smiling, but the veins bulging on his forehead betrayed him.

Jania stifled a laugh and patted Ella’s head.

“We have to travel far. Will you be okay?”

“Mmhm!”

“Really okay?”

“Mmhm!”

Jania worried the most about Ella. They had to ride the carriage for a long time, and she was afraid Ella would get motion sick.

But soon, Jania realized it wasn’t Ella she needed to worry about.

“Uugh!”

It was herself.

She remembered now—before she ended up in this world, she’d lived in comfort.

She wasn’t completely free of motion sickness, but modern transportation had been smooth enough that it wasn’t too bad.

But this carriage… the uneven roads made it unbearable. Jania groaned.

“Jania, you okay?”

Even little Ella looked at her with concern.

Despite her age, Ella’s beastmen body was sturdier than Jania’s.

“Y-yeah, I’m fine… ugh.”

She kept retching. Rupert frowned.

“We should stop and rest.”

“No, I’m fine, really.”

They had barely left. She didn’t want to delay everyone just because of her. Her face, however, was pale.

“Don’t force yourself.”

“There… there aren’t any medicines, right?”

“….”

Beastmen rarely got motion sick. Of course, there was no medicine. Jania shut her eyes in despair.

“…Fine. Let’s rest a little.”

“That’s better.”

Rupert knocked on the carriage wall, and it immediately stopped.

Beastmen senses really were sharp.

“Come outside.”

“Ah, okay.”

Rupert acted like she was dying, even though it was only motion sickness. With his help, Jania climbed out, embarrassed.

“Phew.”

Fresh air helped. Jania glanced back at the knights standing behind them. They were all beastmen.

She realized—she was the only human here.

But strangely… she didn’t feel out of place.

‘They all just feel like normal people.’

In the novel, it was often written that normal humans trembled under the pressure of beastmen.

But Jania didn’t feel that. Sure, Rupert and the knights gave off a sharp aura, but it wasn’t terrifying.

‘Maybe because I’m the Purifier?’

The real Jania was a legendary Purifier—one who could calm beastmen power and help them live with humans. So maybe that explained it.

‘Interesting.’

She smiled faintly. Maybe she could get along with them better than she thought.

“Feeling better?” Rupert asked.

“Yes.”

“Just in case, I told them to look for herbs that help with motion sickness.”

“Herbs?”

Her eyes widened. She glanced around.

Of course—this was a forest full of herbs.

“They’ll find it soon. Wolves have excellent noses.”

“I see.”

Not long after, a knight came running toward them.

“I found it first!”

It was a young knight with short red hair. Jania turned to look.

“Did you?”

“Yes!”

He proudly held up some green leaves. Rupert studied them seriously.

“This isn’t for motion sickness.”

“What? That can’t be!”

The young knight panicked, sneaking glances at Rupert.

‘He must’ve wanted to impress him.’

He looked very young compared to the others. Jania couldn’t help but ask gently:

“But… it’s still an herb, right?”

“Hm?”

Rupert had been about to toss it away but froze. He looked at Jania’s calm eyes, then said:

“…Yes. It helps stop bleeding.”

“That’s useful. Knights get injured often, so maybe keep it?”

“….”

Normally, beastmen knights healed fast and didn’t need such herbs. But Jania’s suggestion was clearly meant to spare the young knight’s pride.

“…You’re right. Give it to the supply team.”

“Yes, sir!”

The young knight’s face lit up. He glanced at Jania gratefully, but quickly looked away when Rupert’s sharp gaze fell on him.

“Mission complete,” another knight soon reported.

This one had a calm expression and neatly tied long blue hair.

“Well done, Hazel.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Hazel handed him the real motion sickness herb.

Jania admired his cool, icy face.

‘He kind of looks like that red-haired knight…’

They seemed oddly similar, though their personalities were the opposite.

Then Hazel’s cold eyes met Jania’s. For a moment, Jania felt her breath catch. But Rupert gave an order, and Hazel turned away immediately.

Jania let out a quiet sigh.

‘Of course he doesn’t like me…’

The knights treated her politely because Rupert was there, but she could sense their wariness.

To them, Jania was just a human. And beastmen—especially predator types—hated humans most of all.

Jania’s heart sank.

‘Can I really do this?’

Even if Rupert and Noah protected her, in the capital she’d be surrounded by countless beastmen who didn’t like her. Could she really handle her role as Duchess?

“Jania.”

She looked up. Rupert said gently:

“You can chew it raw, but it’s bitter. I’ll have them crush it and mix it with honey for you.”

“….”

Jania stared at him.

And felt… just a little strange inside.