The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 20

Stella stared at the large hand and the dry eyes for a moment before taking his hand. Instantly, a strong grip lifted her off the ground. As she was hoisted into the air, she stifled a scream and took a sharp breath.

With a thud, she found herself perched on the saddle, warm body heat enveloping her from behind.

“Hold on tight.”

Before she could respond, he urged the horse forward. The black stallion, already poised for motion, burst through the open castle gate and galloped swiftly towards the drawbridge.

Stella could barely keep her eyes open against the rushing wind. Though she had learned to ride as a child, she hadn’t ridden at such a breakneck speed in a long time.

As they left the castle behind and entered the town, the horse’s hooves clattered against the paved stone road.

Leaning back into the solid chest that encircled her, Stella lifted her gaze. Snowflakes mixed with sleet drifted down from the foggy sky.

***

“You have really poor stamina,” Islay clicked his tongue as he watched Stella lean against a thick tree, trying to catch her breath. It had been four hours since they left the Ice Castle.

Upon reaching the forest’s edge and dismounting from the horse, Stella had immediately started feeling nauseous and groaning.

“You can’t even handle sitting quietly and you’re already worn out. How do you plan on escaping like this?” Islay remarked.

Stella, still gasping for air, turned to face him. “It’s not that I’m tired… It’s just the motion sickness… Water, please, more water.”

Without a word, Islay handed her a leather canteen. She quickly pressed it to her lips and drank greedily.

Islay, ready to continue speaking, fell silent instead. His red eyes slid slowly over the steady rhythm of her throat as she swallowed. Even as she finished drinking and licked her lips, she didn’t seem to notice his gaze.

“We’ll walk from here,” Islay said.

“Alright,” Stella replied.

He released the horse into the shade of the thick trees and began to walk deeper into the forest. Stella, watching his broad back, trudged along behind him.

The forest, shrouded in a veil of mist, was not an easy place to traverse.

The path was littered with thick roots emerging from the ground, ready to trip anyone not paying attention. Despite the fact that it was midday, the dense conifers blocked out the sunlight, making it feel like late afternoon.

The usual sounds one would expect in a forest—birdsong, the trickle of a stream—were absent. The only noise was the eerie rustling of leaves in the breeze.

While Stella shivered from the chill, Islay moved forward without hesitation. She hurried to keep up, clutching her skirt to avoid tripping over the roots.

Then, she stumbled over a particularly large root, her body tipping forward. Instantly, a firm grip caught her arm.

“……!”

Islay had reached out to steady her, stopping her from falling like a wooden puppet. Regaining her balance, Stella looked up at him with embarrassed eyes.

“Thank you.”

“Tripping over the rough path? Or did you just want an excuse to fall into my arms?” he teased.

“Not at all.”

“I won’t ask twice. Do you want me to hold your hand?” he offered.

“No, I’m fine,” she insisted, shaking her head quickly.

With a disappointed huff, he let go of her arm. Stella rubbed the spot where his warmth had lingered and resumed holding her skirt. Islay, who had been walking ahead, now fell into step beside her.

“Tell me about yourself,” he said.

“About me… like what?” she asked.

“Anything. Do you have a secret lover hidden in Largo? Have you ever had a pet? Little things like that,” he explained.

His variety of topics caught her off guard, leaving her unsure of how to respond. Secret lover? The closest she’d come to physical contact with a man was when a knight had helped her up after tripping over her skirts. Just like now.

“Why are you curious about such things?” she asked.

“Basic conversation is essential to get to know someone. I shouldn’t know more about you than you do about me,” he said, almost scolding her for a lack of social skills.

Stella’s anger flared at the implied criticism. It wasn’t like he was the epitome of social grace himself.

“I don’t have any secret lovers.”

“So you meet them openly?”

“No, absolutely not. I’ve never even held hands with a man.”

“Not even once?” he asked.

“No, never,” she confirmed.

Stella’s face flushed as she nodded fervently, eager to clear up the misunderstanding. In her panic, she had babbled unnecessarily.

…What am I even saying?

“I thought you might be a bit wild,” he said with a sly smile.

She rubbed her forehead, staring at him in disbelief. His handsome face wore a lopsided grin.

“When you’re feeling restless, you don’t seduce the artist painting your portrait or the guard outside your door to join you in bed?” he continued.

“That’s…! I would never do something so shameless. And I never will,” she retorted.

“Forgive me for not recognizing your noble virtue,” he replied.

Islay chuckled softly. Though his words were mocking, he extended his arm to help her avoid falling on the mossy ground.

Stella reluctantly grasped his strong forearm and swallowed dryly. She had no desire to engage in friendly conversation with him, but the prolonged silence while being in close contact made her feel uneasy, prompting her to speak up.

“I like animals, but I’ve never had any pets. I used to watch sparrows, cats, and stray dogs through the window.”

“You claimed to walk in the gardens every day, so why only watch through the window?” he asked.

“Ah, that was…” Stella looked down to avoid his piercing gaze, remembering that Dora had lied about her daily strolls.

Her uncle had kept her almost imprisoned in the palace as part of his strict educational policy. When she was ten, she had once run out to the garden because she felt confined. The beating she received for being “improper” still haunted her.

Her uncle valued a woman’s decorous behavior above all else. He constantly lectured that too much sun would ruin her fair skin and that exposure to advanced cultures and ideas would corrupt her morals. Disobedience was always met with harsh punishment, often confining her to her room.

Even her mother tacitly agreed with her uncle’s harsh teachings, which made Stella feel even more heartbroken. What was the point of all that discipline? She recalled Prince Hendrick’s touch, and her eyes clouded with sadness.

“What did you do in the palace then? What did you enjoy?” Islay asked, changing the subject just in time.

Stella was relieved by the change of topic, but her answer was still unsatisfactory.

“…Well, I don’t really have any hobbies.”

She didn’t have any particular talents or activities she enjoyed. Feeling awkward, Stella bit her lower lip.

She really had led a wasted life. It wasn’t this bad when she was at the monastery.

“And you? Do you have any hobbies?” she asked, barely holding back from sarcastically suggesting kidnapping, plundering, or violence.

“Plenty. Physical training is part of my routine, and on days when I’m not out on a hunt, I read books or play the piano. Carving wood is more of a habit.”

“Reading and playing… the piano? You?” She found it hard to believe. It was surprising enough that he carved wood, though that seemed fitting given his proficiency with any kind of blade.

“And I like all kinds of animals, especially canines and birds of prey. The black beast, of course, is an exception.”

“…I see.”

“I don’t have any lovers either. I’m not one to sneak around for secret liaisons,” he added.

“…Alright.”

Islay was volunteering information she hadn’t asked for, seemingly out of a genuine desire to converse. Yet, the conversation was incredibly uncomfortable for Stella. She couldn’t just close her mouth like a clam, so she responded quietly, a little sweat breaking out on her forehead.

“Hold on,” Islay said, stopping abruptly and looking around. Stella raised her head a beat later.

In the distance, they heard an unknown beast’s cry. Stella was filled with a strange sense of déjà vu, sure she had heard that sound before.

Frightened, she hurriedly clung to Islay. “That sound… Is it a monster?”

“That’s unlikely. I recently burned out all the monster dens nearby,” Islay said in a calm tone. “They shouldn’t be appearing here for a while, unless they’re drawn in by some bleeding prey.”