The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 1

1. An Unexpected Tribute

One evening as dusk began to fall, a luxurious carriage sped along a long, dusty road. The only light illuminating the dark scene was the dim lantern attached to the carriage, and even that flickered in the wind, making it difficult to see outside from within.

Stella looked on the verge of fainting. Her pale face showed she was struggling to keep from retching, and her slender body shook despite her efforts to stay still. Her golden hair, swaying with the carriage’s movement, made her look like a strange doll.

“Just a little longer. We’ll be there soon,” said Dora, the maid sitting opposite her, tightly holding Stella’s hand. Stella blinked her half-closed eyes, breathing heavily.

The carriage jolted as it hit a bump. Dora quickly opened the small window and stuck her face out, grimacing.

“Hey! Can’t you slow down a bit?” she yelled.

“…What? I can’t hear you!” the coachman shouted back.

“Slow down the carriage! The princess is struggling!”

Whether the coachman didn’t hear or chose to ignore her, he continued to whip the horses, likely prioritizing the king’s orders to arrive on time. Clicking her tongue in frustration, Dora slammed the window shut and looked sympathetically at the woman before her.

Princess Estella of Largo, a small kingdom at the southern end of the continent, was known as the Star of Largo. Her golden eyes and mysterious blonde hair, like the brightest stars in the night sky, earned her this nickname. However, at the moment, she was far from deserving of that title. Her meticulously made-up face was now pale and tear-streaked, and her lips, bitten to keep from vomiting, had droplets of blood instead of rouge.

“Should we tell them to stop the carriage?” asked Dora.

“No, let’s keep going,” Stella replied in a frail voice, shaking her head. “If we delay here, we’ll be late for the appointment.”

Dora sighed quietly as she watched the princess, who looked anything but regal. The queen had secretly instructed that Stella must appear perfect, even if she arrived late. From Dora’s perspective, it seemed wiser for Stella to rest and arrive looking radiant, as befitting her nickname, rather than showing up on time in her current state.

Stella lowered her eyelashes, lost in thought, then suddenly began biting her lips again as a wave of sadness overcame her. Dora grasped the princess’s hand tightly, her eyebrows furrowing.

“Please don’t cry, Princess. Your makeup will smudge,” Dora pleaded.

“Let me cry. There’s no makeup left to smudge anyway,” Stella replied, her voice trembling.

Another maid, sitting beside Dora, spoke indifferently. “Wouldn’t it be better to rest for a bit, as Dora said? You’ve already stopped three times to vomit.”

“How dare you speak to Her Highness like that?” Dora snapped.

“It’s true, though. This cramped carriage is already unbearable, and now she’s constantly crying. It’s driving me mad,” the maid grumbled, casting a disdainful glance into the air. She seemed unaffected by Dora’s sharp look.

The truth was, Stella had been panting throughout the long journey, stopping several times to empty her stomach. The maid, who accompanied her to help with her appearance, now wore a look of complete exasperation. Not only the maid but everyone in the palace treated Stella with disdain. Having grown up neglected by the king and queen, it was no surprise.

Who would care for a woman not cherished even by her own family? Except for her long-lost brother and the maid Dora, no one felt pity for Stella. The princess was often called a burden, with nothing to her name but a pretty face.

Stella was aware of her situation. Just before boarding the carriage, she had overheard the king whisper to a servant that a beautiful but foolish woman made a perfect marriage prospect.

“Stop crying, Your Highness. You’re just going to enjoy a formal dinner with a wonderful prince,” Dora said soothingly.

“A wonderful prince? Him?” Stella’s pale face twisted in disbelief. “Prince Hendrick is not wonderful. I’ve seen him up close. And spending the night at his villa…”

“It will be late by the time dinner is over, so it’s only natural to stay for the night,” Dora reasoned.

“Or would you prefer to travel back through this rough road in the dead of night? There might be bandits out there,” the other maid added, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

At the horrifying suggestion, Stella looked at the maid with sad eyes, then turned her gaze out the window, saying no more. She stared at the unseen outside world, fervently wishing for this unsettling time to pass quickly.

***

It was deep into the night when the carriage crossed the border and arrived at the rendezvous point. The villa where Prince Hendrick stayed was brightly lit, as if he had been waiting for Stella all along.

Stella stepped out of the carriage, her face showing signs of tension despite her attempts to touch up her makeup. Following the attendant, she entered a dining room adorned with an impressive chandelier.

“Long time no see, Princess,” Hendrick greeted her with a slick smile, standing at the entrance of the dining room. Stella clutched her skirt and bowed respectfully.

“Greetings to the Prince of Pantege. I am Estella Lassa de Largo.”

“No need for such formalities, considering it’s not our first meeting. How long has it been?”

Stella slowly lifted her gaze. Prince Hendrick, the second prince of the Pantege Empire, which bordered Largo, looked exactly as she remembered. Specifically, the same leering eyes that had ogled her during his visit to Largo years ago remained unchanged. Now, his gaze was even more covert as he scrutinized her. Stella tried hard not to show her discomfort.

“It’s been a while since we last met. I was beginning to think my neck would grow stiff from waiting.”

“I apologize. We were delayed and caused you great inconvenience.”

“Inconvenience? On the contrary, it’s an honor to have such a beautiful princess as a guest at my favorite forest villa.”

As Hendrick chuckled with satisfaction, Stella’s lips, which she had barely managed to curve into a smile, trembled.

“It’s late, but surely we can have a drink? Come, let’s go inside.”

Hendrick’s sticky hand grabbed hers and pulled her into the dining room. Stella pressed down her anxiety and followed the prince.

“Prince Hendrick is the de facto heir to the throne of Pantege. You must cater to his whims and avoid any words that might displease him,” the king’s warning echoed in her mind.

Red wine poured into a crystal glass. Stella cast a blurry gaze at the glass the prince was filling for her and then lowered her eyes.

“You know that Pantege and Largo are negotiating a trade agreement, right? Your role is crucial for the success of this, Estella.”

Those were the words the king had drilled into her ears long before the dinner appointment with the prince.

Her uncle, the new king of Largo, sought to engage in active trade with the Pantege Empire, which was expanding its influence across the continent. But how could a single dinner with the prince influence the agreement?

For the first time, the burden of her duty as a princess weighed heavily on her. Stella didn’t want to disappoint the king. Anyone who had been treated as a useless ignoramus for half their life would feel the same. No one wanted to deal with someone who couldn’t communicate effectively. Stella, a novice in such matters, had secretly frequented the palace library, reading every small print she could find. She even borrowed economic journals, typically read by men, and studied them before bed.

Of course, it was all in vain. The king, who considered any mistake by the princess a disaster, hadn’t instructed her to build economic knowledge. Stella couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was off.

“Submit to him. Whatever the prince demands, comply quietly like a proper lady. That is your sole role in this meeting.”

Her ominous premonition had been correct. She had even overheard her uncle whispering about her as a prospective bride before she boarded the carriage.

So, they plan to marry me off to Prince Hendrick.

It felt like having a rock tied to her ankle and being thrown into an endless sea. Her heart was unbearably heavy. Marriage negotiations between nations were common, but she had naively never thought it would become her concern.