The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 127

Stella turned back without hesitation. She knew from her experience at the Ice Castle last year that once inside the chapel, eyes and ears would be naturally shielded.

And wasn’t the one she hoped would help her also here?

‘Not Dora. She’s already been through too much because of me…’

When she had conspired with the priests of Calis to conduct a sacrificial ritual and asked Dora for help, the loyal maid had suffered greatly.

Even if she now explained that this time was different—that she wasn’t blindly sacrificing herself and wanted to survive as well—would Dora truly accept it with a glad heart?

Just like Islay and Alexio, those who put Stella above all else thought similarly: they didn’t want her to take any reckless gambles. For that same reason, it seemed better not to tell Dora, who valued Stella’s safety above all else, about this plan.

So once again, she needed a priest who prioritized the greater good. A priest she could trust completely.

Thud. The heavy door closed behind her. Stella looked up at the chapel, stirring with childhood nostalgia. Having long been shut down, its once dust-covered interior had been modestly restored and was slowly regaining its former tranquility.

Just then, she spotted Priest Gabriel speaking with a fellow clergyman near the pulpit. The elderly priest froze mid-gesture when he saw Stella. The moment their eyes met, it was as if he already knew why she had come.

Without a word, Stella sat on a nearby pew. As she closed her eyes and clasped her hands in prayer, she sensed someone quietly sitting beside her.

With her head still bowed, Stella opened her eyes and became aware of the person next to her. A prayer for the safety of the expeditionary force flowed softly from the priest’s lips.

“I pray that you haven’t come for the reason I suspect.”

His voice trembled slightly as it flowed like a quiet prayer. To an outsider, it would have appeared like two people praying side by side for the safe return of those gone to war.

Stella said quietly, “I’m sorry to trouble you. But I’ve never needed your help more than I do now.”

“If, by any chance, something were to happen to Your Highness, I would live the rest of my life in guilt, and the Lord would not grant me peace or rest.”

“I’m truly sorry…”

And that wasn’t the end of it. Helping Stella meant disobeying Alexio’s order to prevent her from acting independently. If things went wrong, everyone who assisted her, including Gabriel, would be punished without mercy.

Punishment from Alexio would at least remain within reason. But who could guess how that Northerner would respond to Stella’s sacrifice and Gabriel’s assistance?

He was a man who only appeared gentle through Stella’s eyes. The leader of the Northerners, who didn’t even seem human, showed no sign of nervousness even during strategy meetings.

It wasn’t arrogance or complacency either—he simply seemed unaffected by the idea of going into a battlefield where killing was unavoidable.

No matter how overwhelming his strength, such a demeanor could only belong to someone who had lost his humanity. Gabriel shivered silently as he recalled Islay’s dim, lifeless red eyes.

“But I will be safe.”

Stella had turned her head and was now looking straight at the old priest.

“I’ve never wanted to survive more than I do now. And if I can use the power in my body—if I can extract just this power—then I can set everything right. I’m sure of it.”

Stella looked into the eyes of the elderly priest, who appeared even older than in her last memory of over ten years ago, yet still held firm belief.

When she had shown him the drawing of the temple in Metlica, unlike Islay or Alexio who didn’t even glance at it, Gabriel had studied it closely with his glasses on.

It wasn’t just theological curiosity. Having once received a divine oracle in Largo long ago, Gabriel likely agreed with the notion that her Mind’s Eye should be used to end this era of chaos.

After a long silence, the priest finally spoke as if he had made a decision.

“The expedition expects to secure victory within a month. It would be best to arrive at the ‘abandoned temple’ around that time. What do you think?”

“I agree. I don’t want to create any variables through my own decisions while war is ongoing.”

“Then we’ll need to move while staying updated on the state of the war.”

Gabriel ran a wrinkled hand over his face and continued, “There are knights affiliated with the monastery. Reaching Pantege won’t be easy, so it would be wise to travel under their protection. They are sworn to the Lord, so they will keep the secret.”

“Thank you so much.”

Tears welled in Stella’s eyes as she bit her lip.

“And I’m sorry for placing such a burden on you, Gabriel.”

To Gabriel, it was still too profound and burdensome a power for such a small and young princess to bear. He would have preferred her to live a simple life without such a complicated gift. But if that ability could be used for justice and peace, then he believed there was only one path forward.

“Then you must survive. Help this old man live the rest of his short life without guilt, Your Highness.”

Gabriel added that while he would escort her to Metlica, if at any point her life seemed endangered, he would not hesitate to stop her.

Stella nodded. “I’ll be fine, so don’t worry, Gabriel.”

“Very well. I’ll devise a plan to slip you out of the palace. You must be ready to depart within two weeks at the latest.”

From deep within her chest, Stella felt her heart pound. It wouldn’t be a smooth journey, but she was sure that at the end of this path lay the future she envisioned.

***

At the entrance to the gorge known as the Cliff Valley—

Islay, sitting in pitch darkness, slowly stroked a small metal ornament in his hand. It was Alexio’s necklace, the one he had once taken from Roderick. A platinum pendant containing a portrait of young Stella.

Ever since he had taken the pendant—originally one of a pair shared between her and her brother—it had never left his possession.

Now, separated from Stella, he missed those pure golden eyes more than ever.

When Islay opened the pendant, his eyes dropped to the faded portrait inside. Though it was blurred like mist, it wasn’t hard to imagine how beautiful the girl in the image must have grown.

“What if we were married?”

Islay scoffed, recalling Stella’s idle musing as he stroked the worn image. Stella, as his wife? Even all the gold and jewels in the world wouldn’t feel more complete.

Would their child have resembled her at this age, too? He hoped their eyes, at least, would shine gold rather than his ominous red.

Lost in that train of thought, Islay suddenly paused.

…A child. He, who once considered producing an heir the most terrifying idea of all, now found himself imagining a future born from their union.

He must have heard too many dreamlike fantasies from Stella last night—now he couldn’t stop the absurd thoughts.

“Captain! The survey is complete!”

Mikel’s voice rang out from afar. Islay, who had been caressing Stella’s portrait with his thumb, rose from the tree stump he’d been sitting on. The tenderness that had flickered across his sharp features vanished without a trace.

As planned, the Northerners had moved faster than the rear troops and arrived at the gorge earlier than expected—three days before the date Pantege had arbitrarily proposed.

“What’s the situation?”

“Even at night, there’s movement on the cliffs. Just as we thought, they plan to ambush Largo’s army entering the gorge. And there are quite a lot of them.”

“Are our soldiers in position?”

Mikel grinned. “All set. Just give the word, and we’ll strike and slit their throats.”

“Before that.”

Islay shook his head.

“Let’s give them what they want—send someone into the gorge. We’ve got the perfect bait.”

Since the excuse was a hostage exchange, it gave them a pretext—and might even stir confusion before their assault. Islay cast a cold glance toward the iron bars in the darkness.

“Bring Hendrick Regan.”