MLCIEF 09

Chapter 9

After Kettler walked away, Jeffrey whispered mockingly,

“…Nobles really do beg in a very grand way.”

Martin also looked furious.

“Wow, those rude people! If they’re nobles, shouldn’t they sacrifice themselves and take care of the lower-class people in times like this? You know—that thing, noblesse oblige!”

Benjamin corrected him from the side.

“Noblesse oblige.”

“Yeah, that. But instead, they’re the ones taking things from us. Seriously…”

Alice dug her ear as they complained, but she didn’t feel much better either.

‘Noisy guys.’

When she glanced over, she saw the muslin cloak being used like a curtain to block the view around Delphien, separating her space.

Since Delphien was a noble lady who had never faced hardship before, this situation must be even more painful for her.

If it helped even a little, then fine.

Alice decided to forget about it.

The Next Day

Early in the morning, Alice went out to check the direction of the rising sun.

But this time—

She couldn’t avoid it.

She ran into the Count again at the cave entrance.

It was the first time since it was revealed she wasn’t pregnant.

Still, she calmly greeted him, pretending nothing was wrong.

But Theodore’s long eyes immediately narrowed.

He even tilted his head slightly and stepped closer—

Standing right in front of her.

Even though she had prepared herself, Alice began to tremble.

‘This is scary!’

His large shadow fell over her as he suddenly said—

“Thief?”

Seeing the suspicion clearly in his sharp eyes, Alice swallowed.

But she forced herself to stay calm.

“I—I don’t know what you mean. That’s a bit unpleasant to hear.”

Even as she pretended ignorance, his gray eyes grew more certain.

A slow, crooked smile appeared on his lips.

Alice stepped back.

Instinctively, she reached for her belly—

But the basket was gone.

‘Ah… I took it off yesterday.’

Now she couldn’t even appeal to sympathy as a “pregnant woman.”

Her face stiffened.

If he really had been injured because of her—

He might actually want to kill her.

The thought sent fear through her.

He was a battle-hardened knight.

Alice suddenly blurted out defensively,

“Ah—Count! It seems you’re looking for the direction we should go today! From what I’ve seen, we should head northeast. That’s where we’ll find the border!”

“……”

She spoke like a soldier reporting to a superior.

But Theodore didn’t fall for it.

He tilted his head further and asked coldly,

“How would a thief know that?”

At his question—clearly convinced she was the same thief from the plaza—

Alice snapped.

“I didn’t steal that wallet!”

“As expected.”

“Ah…!”

She froze.

‘I got tricked…’

She had confessed without realizing it.

Alice shut her eyes tightly.

‘I’m doomed.’

But before he could bury her somewhere in the jungle—

She needed to prove she was useful.

Quickly, she held up a bamboo container.

“And… I also prepared breakfast on the way here.”

Theodore glanced inside.

His expression immediately darkened.

Inside were fat, wriggling larvae.

Seeing his disgust, Alice quickly explained,

“Larvae are rich in protein, so they’re a great energy source. If you chew them, they taste a bit like oats… or we can cook them if needed…”

His expression only grew worse.

So she hurriedly apologized again.

“A-anyway, what happened at the plaza was all a misunderstanding, Your Excellency… um… are you alright? There’s no problem… right?”

“……”

At her shameless question, his face leaned closer—

Dangerously.

The air around him felt like killing intent.

Even Alice, who rarely got scared, stepped back.

“If there is a problem.”

His voice dropped low.

Alice blinked.

“…Yes?”

“What will you do about it?”

He subtly gestured downward.

Alice blinked repeatedly.

This wasn’t the image she had seen in the newspapers.

Theodore Parhan—

A just and capable noble.

A brilliant commander.

A hero who never lost in battle.

But what he just said—

Sounded like something from a street thug.

‘What am I supposed to do about it?’

Still, her confusion didn’t last long.

“…Was there really a problem?”

“……”

For some reason, even in the humid jungle, Alice felt a chill.

“Ah… there really shouldn’t be a problem…”

She wanted to ask what kind of problem—

But couldn’t.

Then she suddenly thought of Delphien.

Her face turned pale.

If there really was a problem—

Then she had committed a terrible sin against Delphien.

What would happen to a noble lady who couldn’t have children?

Had she ruined her life?

Had she cut off the Parhan family line?

If both families came after her—

How could she survive in the Empire?

She might disappear without a trace.

Alice imagined herself running from assassins—

Then shook her head.

Her thoughts were spiraling.

Meanwhile, Theodore stepped closer again.

Just then—

Logan appeared.

“Ah, Your Excellency, Miss Alice. You’re both here—I was looking for you. We should get moving soon. But… what is that you’re holding, Miss Alice?”

To Alice, Logan looked like a savior sent from heaven.

She quickly moved beside him and showed the bamboo container enthusiastically.

Whatever it took—

She had to prove she was useful.

Logan also looked disgusted—

But accepted it rationally.

“Ugh… well, we have to eat something. Everyone’s starving.”

As Logan started walking, Alice quickly followed.

Behind her—

Theodore’s unsettling gaze remained fixed on her.

Later

The roasted larvae were quite large—about the size of a thumb.

Placed on a leaf, they almost looked like fried food.

Martin tried first.

After chewing, he made a strange expression.

“Hmm… it tastes a bit like rotten wood, but it’s not as bad as I thought.”

Everyone had been starving all day.

So they silently began eating the larvae.

But Delphien turned pale and stepped back in disgust.

She couldn’t believe it had come to this.

She had expected—

With so many men around—

They would easily bring back meat or sweet fruits like coconuts.