The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 19

The princess’s disappearance, following her encounter with Grand Duke Peruno, must have reached the royal palace in Largo by now. How would Prince Hendrick have communicated the news to Largo? And how would the King and Queen, her uncle, and her mother have reacted to it?

Escaping from the well-guarded castle seemed nearly impossible. Should she then trust the man’s promise to let her go safely after three months? Stella found herself revisiting these thoughts repeatedly since arriving in Calis.

Holding her aching head, she watched Dora set the cutlery and breakfast on the table.

“Dora, could you lie to me once?” Stella asked.

“Lie to you?” Dora echoed, tilting her head in confusion. She glanced down at the bowl of stew on the linen table mat.

“This stew has the world’s spiciest peppers in it instead of tomatoes,” Dora said with a straight face.

“Mm,” Stella narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Dora’s face. Dora had a knack for sly remarks, yet even knowing it was a blatant lie, Stella couldn’t sense any dissonance or feel that anything was off. She closed her eyes, covering her face with her hands.

“I still can’t tell. The ability to see the essence….”

“You mean ‘mind’s eye,’ right?” Dora said, shaking her head as if she had heard something ridiculous. “Who in the world has such a magical ability? Even in a place with monsters roaming around.”

Then she trembled with anger. “How dare they make such an unfair deal with you and force you to work? They’re the worst!”

The thought of the princess being subjected to labor in a basement, instead of being treated like a flower, made Dora clench her fists tightly. Her voice, a mere whisper reflecting their cautious state, trembled with frustration.

Feeling disheartened, Stella finished her meal half-heartedly.

As she completed her preparations to leave the bedroom, Mikel, like clockwork, knocked on the door.

Holding her mixed feelings, Stella followed him. They passed through the main hall and headed down the corridor leading to the basement, as usual.

Hearing the inner door open behind her, she turned her head involuntarily. People dressed in white robes that reached their ankles entered the castle and headed somewhere. Their attire wasn’t entirely unfamiliar.

“What’s the matter?” Mikel asked, noticing her pause.

“Those people in white robes, who are they?” Stella inquired.

“They are the priests of the Ice Castle,” Mikel responded briefly.

Stella sighed. It made sense that the white attire seemed familiar, reminiscent of the people she lived with in the Largo monastery.

“They must be the high priests cooperating with Lord Peruno,” Stella observed.

“Correct.”

“Do they do the same work as I do? Are they working in another basement? I’m curious,” she asked.

“No. The priests’ duty is to investigate all treasures related to holy power and to dispatch exploration teams,” Mikel explained, then continued after a moment of watching her. “They rarely receive divine revelations. Interpreting those is also part of their duties.”

“Divine revelations… you mean prophecies?” she asked.

“Yes. Interpreting them is also the priests’ duty,” he confirmed.

“If their holy power is strong enough to receive divine revelations, why aren’t they tasked with directly searching for the gems? Is there a reason?” she asked, her frustration and confusion slipping through.

“They haven’t made any meaningful progress. Unlike you, they do not possess the mind’s eye,” Mikel replied matter-of-factly.

Oh my god. He believes I have this ability too, she thought.

“As Lord Peruno must have told you, this task isn’t about sensing holy power but finding traces where holy power once resided. Without the ability to see the essence, it’s an impossible task.”

Stella sighed silently, feeling as though she were dealing with a group of men under mass hypnosis. Was there a basis for their belief?

No, whatever the basis, it was an absurd belief. If she truly had such an extraordinary ability, she would have been the first to realize it.

“Shall we go now?” Mikel asked.

Stella cast a lingering look at the retreating priests before turning with a heavy sigh.

Descending the now-familiar spiral staircase, she reached the treasure-filled basement. She hesitated at the door, her eyes catching sight of a large, dark figure amid the reflected light.

Sitting at the edge of the desk was Islay, who looked up from whatever he was perusing to meet her gaze.

“Hello, Estella,” he greeted warmly. His eyes, sharp as blades when not smiling, softened.

Yet, Stella’s heart skipped a beat as though facing a wolf in the woods.

“You’re a bit late today,” he remarked.

“W-what are you doing here?” she stammered.

“Why so surprised? It’s my castle; there’s nowhere I can’t go.”

Seeing what he held, Stella noticed it was the notebook where she had meticulously recorded her observations of various minerals.

“You’re quite diligent. Your handwriting is lovely,” he commented.

“Give it back,” she demanded, her face flushing as she approached him with an outstretched hand. Naturally, the mischievous man did not comply.

“‘126th gemstone, golden color, observed for two days but felt nothing. When will he realize he’s mistaken?'” he read aloud in a monotone voice, causing her to snatch the notebook from his hands. He handed it over with a knowing smile, showing no regard for her discomfort.

“It’s not a diary,” he said as she placed the notebook in a corner of the desk, still within his reach, watching him warily.

“What do you want?” she asked.

“I have a favor to ask,” Islay said, his relaxed gaze slowly blinking. Stella tensed.

“You always say it’s a favor or a suggestion, but you never really care about my opinion,” she retorted.

“Busted,” he admitted.

“And you don’t deny it,” she noted.

“I told you, I’m the straightforward type. But I can’t just drag you by your hair; I have to ask out of courtesy, don’t I?” His smooth tone conveyed his words so gently that Stella froze a beat too late, realizing the horrific implications only after the fact.

“What do you want this time?” she asked.

“Recently, I found a cave in the southern forest during a hunt. There, I discovered a mineral with a peculiar glow. I’d like you to come with me and check if it bears traces of holy power,” he explained.

Stella remained silent for a moment. Despite the futile records and self-doubt evident in her notebook, he still believed she possessed the mind’s eye.

Perhaps his obsession with breaking the curse had clouded his mind like fog, impeding rational thought.

“You don’t think it’s a naturally occurring gemstone?” she asked.

“If it were, I wouldn’t be asking you. See for yourself. The crystals are adhered to the rock surface and could be damaged if forcibly removed,” he replied.

“Then, when do we leave?” she inquired.

“Now. If we hurry, we can return before evening. We could have a nice meal together afterward. How does that sound?” he suggested.

Stella glanced at the small clock on the corner of the desk. It was just past 9 a.m. No matter the time, she had only one option.

“That sounds fine,” she agreed.

“No problem with leaving right away?” Islay asked, noticing her resigned expression. Stella nodded silently. Seeing her anticipated compliance, Islay’s lips curved into a smile.

4. The Misty Forest

Since the day she saw the Millennium Tree, Stella was venturing out for the second time. Unlike the first time, when she merely strolled around the inner castle, this time she was heading out of the Ice Castle—far into the gray forest filled with towering conifers.

As they approached the large stables, Islay glanced at Stella.

“Do you know how to ride a horse?” he asked.

“I’m not confident,” she admitted.

“Then we’ll have to ride together,” he said nonchalantly.

Without further ado, Islay led a glossy black horse out of the stable. Without using any mounting block, he effortlessly climbed onto the saddle, which stood higher than Stella’s head. Startled by his sudden action, Stella trembled like a fool.

Islay, calming the prancing horse with a tug of the reins, extended his hand to her from a few steps away.

“Come on, Estella.”