The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 107

Maurice, who had always considered Stella nothing more than a powerless little mouse, furrowed his brow sharply and turned his gaze away. ‘You, of all people, dare…’ His sneer betrayed the contempt he didn’t bother to hide.

“…What did you just say?”

“So, it wasn’t an accident.”

Murmuring as if answering her own question, Stella let go of Alexio’s hand. Then, as if possessed, she stepped forward one step at a time. It was as if her limbs no longer moved by her will.

Without pausing for even a moment, Stella walked to the foot of the stairs and looked up at her uncle.

“The late king also passed away in his sleep, didn’t he? When I heard my mother had died the same way, I thought it strange. But I never imagined it was you…”

Without blinking once, Stella locked eyes with him. As she looked at the remnants of a crimson shadow lingering on his face, it felt as if the blood flowing through her veins had turned cold.

“It was you.”

Though faintly trembling, her voice was laced with fury.

“It wasn’t enough for you to try to kill my brother—you murdered our parents too.”

From their father, to their mother, and even Alexio—Stella, kept alive because she was deemed useful, had been thrown into a pit of despair worse than death. And the one behind it all was none other than Maurice.

The mourners who had gathered for the funeral couldn’t even breathe. Even those who had been watching the scene with mild interest now wore looks of utter horror.

To have exterminated the entire royal family—such a crime was so vile that not even death could redeem it. And yet, the words came from the mouth of a small princess, imbued with such peculiar weight that none who heard them could doubt her.

The loyalists of the late king clenched their teeth in grief upon having their long-held suspicions confirmed from the princess’s own lips. Even those who had not supported the former king could no longer believe the deaths of the royal family members under Maurice’s reign were mere coincidence.

They had once been unable to speak the truth for fear of opposing a king backed by a great empire, but now, with the victims returned and speaking for themselves, who could possibly deny it?

Above all, the fact remained—Alexio was the rightful heir to the throne. Maurice, no matter how red-faced or outraged, could not refuse to descend from it.

The faces of the mourners filling the courtyard turned icy. Sensing imminent danger, the Pantege knights instinctively reached for the hilts of their swords.

Momentarily seized by panic, Maurice waved his arms frantically, as if signaling them to wait, then cast a stern gaze down toward Stella.

“Estella Lassa.”

A princess who had spent her youth locked in her chambers, sobbing until she came of age. Handling someone like her was easier than twisting a child’s arm, Maurice had always believed.

“How dare you spout such nonsense in a place like this?”

Stella flinched, as if waking from a dream. Her previously resolute gaze flickered with familiar fear. The voice that had terrified her as a child fell upon her again with the same weight.

“Judging from your disgraceful speech, it seems I failed quite miserably in your upbringing!”

Seeing her frozen in place, Maurice straightened his shoulders like a monarch reclaiming lost dignity.

“To my ignorant niece, I shall extend my mercy. Let us end this commotion here—return to the palace now and—”

“This is your final warning.”

But Alexio stepped forward and firmly grabbed Stella’s hand, pulling her behind his back. As Maurice vanished from her sight, the sound of her brother’s calm voice followed.

“Step down from that place and kneel before me.”

“Alexio, you insolent brat! Are you trying to rebel before the eyes of the people?”

“On the contrary, Uncle. These many mourners shall serve as witnesses.”

Strengthened by Stella’s words, Alexio declared his final resolve.

“They shall witness the restoration of my rightful claim—and the sentencing of a royal murderer.”

Though he stood below the stairs, Alexio’s presence did not diminish; it only grew stronger. Maurice, watching him, turned pale.

Rendered speechless, Maurice’s mouth opened and closed without sound. At last, his gaze shifted to the Pantege knight commander standing nearby.

“W-what should we do now…?”

“Damn it!”

The Pantege knight commander roughly shoved Maurice aside and drew his sword. Gasps erupted from all around as they witnessed a monarch tossed aside so violently by the very one who claimed to serve him.

Starting with him, one by one, blades sliced through the air. The knights of Pantege had turned their weapons toward the siblings.

“Pathetic puppet!”

Alexio scowled and stepped forward, shielding Stella with an outstretched arm. As expected, Pantege intended to protect the current king.

As the knights descended the stairs with their swords drawn, Alexio grit his teeth and raised his voice.

“Roderick! Now!”

Loyal retainers hidden among the crowd burst forth in an instant. Among them was a knight Stella had met at the Ice Castle, Roderick Elgin, who swiftly ran toward her and snatched her up.

“Forgive me, Your Highness!”

There was no time to explain. Hoisting her over his shoulder, Roderick sprinted off in the opposite direction.

“Wait…!”

In the confusion of the panicked crowd fleeing in all directions, Stella felt completely overwhelmed. Even in the chaos, her face turned pale at the sight of the knight commander lunging at Alexio.

“Go help my brother! Someone must stay by his side—!”

“My apologies, Your Highness!”

Perhaps this had been the plan all along—to evacuate her first in the event of battle. Roderick showed no signs of stopping.

“Do not forget! Should anything happen, the next heir to the throne is none other than you.”

“T-that can’t be…!”

“Hold on tight. We’re heading to a safe house.”

Stella trembled not because of the weight of responsibility now resting on her shoulders, but from the horrifying thought that Alexio’s death had been accounted for from the start. Clinging to the knight’s shoulder, she turned her desperate gaze back toward her brother.

The funeral procession that had filled the courtyard scattered in every direction. In their place, Alexio’s elite guard clashed fiercely with the knights of Pantege.

Even in the chaos, the knight commander descended the stairs leisurely, twirling his long blade with finesse. Whistling as he flaunted his swordsmanship, he glanced mockingly at Alexio’s metal prosthetic arm.

“Taking down a one-armed man is child’s play.”

Alexio responded not with words but by drawing his sword. The knight commander, fully armored from fingertips to shoulders, sneered openly.

“Sorry to say, but the prince’s head doesn’t fetch much. The real value lies with the sister.”

“Typical of a mongrel from a land with no roots, daring to assign a price to royal blood.”

Alexio refused to be provoked, answering coolly. But at the knight’s next remark, even he flinched slightly.

“Of course there’s a price! If the princess remains alive, she’s worth a fortune.”

The words were infuriating. As Alexio furrowed his brow, the knight commander began boasting without restraint.

“Well, she won’t be alive for long, so I suppose it’s fine if you know. Prince Hendrick said it himself—restoring Pantege’s authority absolutely requires the princess.”

“What does she have to do with any of that?”

“She has everything to do with it.”

The man, spewing incomprehensible nonsense, squared up to face Alexio, who had yet to dismiss his doubt.

“Anyway, as long as she’s alive, that’s enough. We promise to treat the lovely princess gently—just enough to keep her useful.”

The man flashed a crooked grin, revealing his sharp teeth.

“So rest easy and die now, sweet prince.”

“You cursed bastard!”

“Even your insults sound like a noble’s lullaby.”

The knight commander burst into loud laughter, then rolled his shoulders as if stretching before a warm-up. With a sharp cry, he charged.

Alexio adjusted his grip on the sword and lowered his stance. Given the disadvantage, this fight had to be settled in a single blow.

Clang! Their blades collided with a flash of red sparks. Alexio locked eyes with the knight’s twisted grin and tightened the muscles in his sword arm. At that moment, one blade traced an arc and flew into the air.