The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 12

“I don’t know. He said he would treat me as a guest…”

“As if he has the right to kidnap a princess and then treat her well!” Dora, her suspicion not yet quelled, hurried over to inspect the clothes laid out on the table. Stella, watching her maid, walked to the bathroom and reached out to touch the steaming water in the bathtub.

Despite the uneasy situation, she desperately wanted to soak in the bath. The desire to shed her dusty, bloodstained clothes and immerse herself in the warm water was overwhelming. After everything she had endured, a comforting bath felt like a rare luxury.

“Your Highness, look at this!” Dora’s startled voice called out as she rummaged through the pile of clothes. Stella joined her and saw a collection of plain linen garments, a white cloak, and an exquisitely beautiful rose-colored dress.

“I’ve never seen such a gorgeous dress in my life. Look at all the jewels on the neckline!” Dora exclaimed, marveling at the dress from different angles. Stella was equally astonished.

The dress, with jewels intricately set around the neckline, chest, and lower abdomen in elegant curves, was so splendid that it made her almost forget her predicament in Calis.

“This must be from that man,” Stella remarked.

“It seems so. Oh, there’s a letter too,” Dora said, handing over the note. The white paper bore a short message written in smooth cursive.

When you are ready, come down to the hall on the first floor.

The man intended to get straight to the point, giving her minimal time to rest. Stella couldn’t help but note his fluency in the common language, surprising for someone from the North. Perhaps the rumors of high illiteracy in Calis were unfounded.

Staring at the letter, she then glanced at the dress again. It was clearly new, without a trace of wear.

“It looks brand new. Where did it come from?” Stella wondered.

“Maybe he prepared it specifically for you?” Dora suggested.

“But he had no plans to bring me here. We met by chance at Prince Hendrick’s villa,” Stella replied.

“Then, maybe it was meant for his future bride… Oh, I spoke out of turn! I’m sorry, Your Highness,” Dora quickly apologized.

“It’s okay,” Stella said, her gaze softening as she looked at the rose-colored dress.

Would he really prepare a dress for a future bride? Probably not. More likely, the jewels came into his possession another way. She remembered Islay’s strong aversion to continuing his bloodline. He didn’t seem like someone planning to take a wife.

Stella lowered her voice. “Dora, Prince Hendrick regularly sends tributes to that man. It appears he’s been offering jewels.”

“The Pantege Empire sends jewels to Calis? Unbelievable. Calis must have incredible hidden power,” Dora said.

“Yes, but why jewels?” Stella wondered aloud.

Given the harsh land, practical supplies would seem more valuable than adornments. Despite their worth, something didn’t add up, especially considering Islay’s intense reaction to Prince Hendrick.

The fervor in his red eyes suggested an obsession with gemstones. Perhaps the dress, adorned with jewels, was a result of this fixation.

Stella blinked, her thoughts racing. There might be a connection between the curse that turned him into a monster, the jewels, and whatever he wanted from her. But these were just guesses, and she couldn’t piece it all together.

Feeling a headache coming on, Stella returned to the bathroom and undressed. As she stepped into the tub, the water overflowed slightly.

Soon, she would find out his true intentions.

***

As Stella emerged from the bathroom, ready to leave her room, the twilight had painted the sky in hues of orange and pink. Though her body was weary from the unexpected journey, the warm bath had helped to some extent. Still, she couldn’t afford to let her guard down in this place.

Opting for plain clothes over the jewel-adorned dress, she donned a white cloak and, accompanied by Dora, descended to the hall on the first floor. The dimly lit hall, with only the bare minimum of lights flickering, greeted her with an eerie atmosphere. Waiting there was Mikel.

“This way, please,” Mikel said, still in his light armor even at this late hour. He led the way down the dimly lit corridors, their footsteps echoing through the passage.

Unlike the morning, the Ice Castle felt particularly ominous at this late hour. Stella and Dora clung to each other as they hurried along. Turning a corner, they descended a spiral staircase, finally entering a dark underground corridor. Mikel stopped in front of a door and turned to face them.

“Please enter,” he instructed.

“Yes…” Stella replied hesitantly.

“Alone,” Mikel added firmly as Dora tried to follow Stella. The maid’s eyes widened, and she clung stubbornly to Stella’s cloak.

“I want to stay with Her Highness,” Dora insisted.

“You will be a disturbance,” Mikel said flatly.

“Me?” Dora asked, incredulous.

“Yes. This way,” Mikel replied, gently but firmly pushing Dora back. The poor maid had no choice but to retreat to the other end of the corridor. Stella, glancing back at them, swallowed hard and carefully pushed the door open.

Darkness enveloped her. The underground room had no windows, shrouded completely in pitch-black darkness. She squinted, relying on the faint light seeping through the door crack, but soon the door creaked and shut with a loud thud behind her. Startled, she flinched.

“I can’t see anything…,” she whispered. Why had he summoned her to such a place?

Tentatively, she moved forward, feeling her way in the dark, her brow furrowing in concentration. She was about to call out for him when she realized she didn’t know how to address him. Calling him by name felt too familiar, but using his last name might provoke him. And using a title seemed ridiculous given his disdain for such formalities.

After a moment’s thought, she decided and called out into the dark void.

“Islay?” she said softly.

She froze as she sensed a presence a few steps away. Narrowing her eyes, she peered into the darkness. Two crimson eyes glowed, piercing through the inky blackness.

“Ah!” she screamed just as the room was suddenly illuminated. Stella shrank back as if attacked. Islay stood by the wall, having lit the lamps, his gaze fixed on her.

“I’m sorry for screaming. You startled me…” she said.

“You thought you saw a monster?” he asked, a smirk playing on his lips. He placed a hand on his chest as if wounded by her reaction. She bit her lip in silence. Although she hadn’t seen a monster, those glowing eyes had indeed scared her.

“Next time, I’ll light the lamps in advance. I didn’t realize the darkness would bother you,” he said. “Come in. It’s not as dark inside.”

Islay turned and began walking ahead. Stella hesitated before following him, his imposing figure leading the way. They walked through a dimly lit corridor until they reached another door made of thick stone. As Islay opened it, Stella gasped.

The room beyond was vast and eerie, like an abandoned relic. Dozens of candles dripped wax from their holders, casting flickering light over the space. But what captivated Stella was the treasure filling the room. Chests filled with gold and jewels glittered under the candlelight, the reflections so bright they almost hurt her eyes.

“This… all of this…” Stella murmured, entranced by the sight. She had never been particularly interested in jewels, but even she couldn’t help but be awestruck by the dazzling display.

Islay allowed her to take in the scene before speaking softly. “Estella,” he called, and she turned to him, her eyes meeting his amidst the vibrant colors.

“How about making a deal with me?” he proposed.