The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 27

“Of course, it sounds like a silly thing to say.”

“No, it’s actually true. When it snows heavily, it tends to be warmer.”

“Really? Why is that?”

“You might find the explanation boring.”

“Is there a principle behind it? Natural science was the most interesting subject for me as a child, but the priests didn’t like it, so I never got to learn much.”

The songs celebrating the Resting Festival filled the silence momentarily.

“Were the priests your teachers?”

“They were my teachers and closest friends.”

When the royal authority changed, the priests leading the central monastery were replaced, and now they were scattered, their whereabouts unknown. It was the same with her brother. Thinking about those whose fates were unknown was dreadful. If they had at least left behind a gravestone like her father, she could have mourned, but the longing for those who disappeared without a trace remained bottled up inside her.

“Come here.”

The low voice from above her head broke her thoughts. Islay guided her across the courtyard toward the castle gates, leading to the outer wall. The more they wandered, the more sights there were to see.

Stella was captivated by women wearing crowns made of white flowers and the silver leaves of the millennium tree. Dressed all in white, they danced joyfully like clouds.

In the midst of this unfamiliar scenery, Stella’s attention was caught by a young boy running towards her. His face was smudged with dirt from playing hard, and without a word, he offered her a white flower.

It was a fake flower made of thick paper, but it was a convincing imitation, complete with the silver leaves of the millennium tree.

“…Thank you.” Stella accepted the flower with a warm smile. The boy immediately turned and ran off. Watching his small figure disappear, her smile grew even deeper.

Children, eyes sparkling, began to approach Stella one by one, chattering in a language she didn’t understand and offering her small gifts. They handed her cinnamon sticks tied with white ribbons, dried red berries soaked in sugar, colorful beads, and other crude but cute items.

Stella, caught off guard, accepted all of them. Soon, she had more than she could hold in her hands and had to hurriedly stash the gifts in her cloak’s pockets.

“They seem to like you,” Islay said with a chuckle, watching her flustered state.

She looked up at him, puzzled. “Why are they giving me these things?”

“They want to greet Peruno’s betrothed.”

“Betrothed…?” Stella asked, bewildered, and then realized what he meant. Her face flushed. It was the same ridiculous misunderstanding as before.

“No, children, you don’t need to give me these things. I’m not Lord Peruno’s bride….” Her voice trailed off. Hostage? No, more like a guest? Even as she struggled to find the right word, more small gifts were handed to her.

The children, not yet fluent in the common language, didn’t understand her feeble protests.

“They say it’s a joy to have such a beautiful betrothed.”

“…Ah.”

“They say Calis looks brighter because of you. They find your bright hair and eyes sparkling like little stars are beautiful.”

Islay, who had been watching from a step away, provided a translation she hadn’t asked for. Her face turned as red as a ripe apple.

“You don’t have to translate everything for me.”

Please just tell them what I said. Stella swallowed her inner thoughts, her hands full of trinkets.

“Just tell them I appreciate the gifts but they don’t need to give me any more. I don’t understand why they’re giving me gifts…”

“It’s a custom of the Resting Festival. It’s a way of wishing the recipient a safe passage through the long winter by giving them gifts that can be stored for a long time.”

Stella, overwhelmed, sighed quietly. Even this unexpected gift-giving had a deeper meaning.

Looking more closely, the trinkets the children gave her were all quite durable, despite their cute appearances.

What she had initially found merely charming now felt precious. It was a curious feeling. Perhaps it was because she could count on one hand the number of times she had received gifts wishing for her well-being.

‘I wish I could give something in return, instead of just receiving.’

Stella smiled bittersweetly at the innocent children laughing around her. She didn’t notice Islay, who had been about to add an explanation, fall silent.

At that moment, a girl about seven years old came running, holding a bouquet of fresh flowers high. Upon closer inspection, it was a flower crown like the ones worn by the women dancing earlier.

“…It’s beautiful. Is this also a gift for me?”

When Stella asked, the girl smiled bashfully and said something in Calisian. Stella couldn’t understand her words but guessed what she wanted.

Stella knelt carefully so the girl could place the crown on her head. White flowers fluttered down onto her golden hair, tousled by the winter wind. The children clapped their hands in delight.

“Thank you very much.”

She didn’t mind feeling like a beloved princess. Stella glanced up at Islay with a smile.

He reached out and adjusted the crooked crown. The warmth of his touch, awkwardly threading through her hair, made a rustling sound. It was a ticklish feeling.

Stella held her breath, staring at his broad chest right in front of her. The fresh scent of flowers from the crown filled the air.

Islay, having fixed the crown, didn’t step back. His eyes roamed her face as if he were admiring a painting, lingering on her round forehead, her blinking eyes, her nose, and finally her lips, which were slightly parted as if by habit.

The children continued to swirl around them, and the interest of passersby grew.

“Um.” Stella broke the awkward silence with the first thing that came to mind. She noticed a building with stained glass windows reflecting the sunlight. “Is that building a chapel?”

“Yes. You’ll be able to meet the priests of the Ice Castle there. Would you like to go inside?”

Without much hesitation, Stella nodded. After wrapping up the commotion caused by the children, they headed toward the chapel entrance.

Inside, the noise of the festival was muffled, giving way to a reverent silence.

Walking on the carpet that absorbed the sound of their footsteps, Stella made her way between the neatly arranged pews. Her golden eyes filled with admiration as she took in the chapel.

The high ceiling adorned with watercolor paintings, the colorful stained glass windows, the massive pillars supporting the interior, and the marble sculptures decorating the wall behind the podium were all impressive.

“King of Calis.” A priest, passing by one of the pillars, recognized Islay and bowed. He said, “I was just about to request an audience with you… What brings you to the chapel?”

The elderly priest, who wore round glasses, had kind eyes that shone through the glass. Stella glanced at the priest, then cast a sideways look at Islay. The titles used to address the man caught her attention.

In the southern part of the civilized continent, he was known as Grand Duke Peruno, and his followers called him their captain. Yet, the priest referred to him as the King of Calis. Indeed, there was no title more fitting for Islay. After all, he was the man who ruled this vast northern land alone.

“I was showing my guest around the Ice Castle for the Resting Festival. Meet Estella from Largo.”

The priest turned his gaze to Stella, a warm smile spreading across his wrinkled face. “I finally get to meet the guest of His Highenss, whom I’ve only heard about in rumors. My name is Padro.”

“Pleased to meet you, Father. I am Estella Lassa.”

“I hope you’ve been comfortable at the Ice Castle.”

“I… I’ve been well. Thank you for your concern.”

Stella didn’t see herself as Islay’s guest, but she addressed the priest politely. With a flower crown on her head, she appeared every bit a guest enjoying the Resting Festival.

The priest’s face radiated a gentle kindness. Looking at him, Stella felt a strange sense of peace for the first time since arriving in Calis. It was likely because this place, reminiscent of the monastery where she spent her formative years, and the priest’s dignified, warm demeanor, felt familiar.

“What did you request an audience for?” Islay asked.

The priest’s smile faded, replaced by a solemn expression. “Another oracle has been delivered, my lord.”

“When?”

“This morning. The priests began interpreting it immediately, and the preface, though brief, seems to connect with the previous prophecy.”

Stella perked up at the priest’s declaration, which sliced through the still air.