The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 42

“You didn’t make a mistake. It’s just that… this is my first time dancing.”

Holding a man’s hand, intertwining fingers, moving softly together, feeling her heart’s uneven rhythm and her breath catching—all of it was a first for her.

Wasn’t it too simplistic to call all this contact just “dancing”?

“Oh, so you were nervous because it’s your first time?”

Islay laughed softly, the low rumble of his voice sending a pleasant shiver through Stella’s ears. His voice sounded so nice up close, especially his laughter, and she found herself wanting to hear more of it. Blushing, Stella gently rested her head against his chest.

If she looked into his eyes, Islay would surely be able to see everything going on in her mind. She had been imagining what it would be like to be held by him like this just a short while ago. If their eyes met, she was certain he would read her thoughts.

So, for a while longer, she decided to remain like this, letting the silence linger.

“It’s my first time too, Estella.”

Her resolve to stay silent broke as she looked up at him, surprised.

“What? Are you saying this is your first time dancing?”

“All of it.” Islay still wore a smile tinged with amusement. “It’s my first time holding someone’s hand like this too.”

As he spoke, he gently tightened his grip on her hand, lightly pressing her fingers.

“It’s also my first time holding a woman so close that I can feel her heartbeat without needing to listen….”

The hand around her waist applied gentle pressure, pulling her closer. Her soft chest pressed firmly against his solid one.

“And it’s my first time looking into someone’s eyes at such a close distance,” Islay added as if he had read her thoughts.

Stella didn’t avoid his gaze, meeting the deep red eyes that were locked onto hers. Their two pairs of eyes, each a different color, intertwined in the air.

Stella had the ability to discern whether the words someone spoke were truthful or false.

She wasn’t entirely accustomed to using this ability, but as she stared at his face, she sensed no deceit.

Now that she thought about it, she had never felt any malice or dishonesty from him before. Her intuition had gradually turned into near certainty. Was it possible that she had been unconsciously using her ability all along?

“Then, are you nervous too?”

Islay didn’t answer immediately, only smiling silently in response. Stella gazed up at him, waiting.

Then, for the briefest moment, a faint hint of a rosy tint appeared on his handsome face. It was barely perceptible, but she didn’t miss it.

“Huh?”

Startled, Stella grabbed onto the lapel of Islay’s coat, nearly clutching at his collar.

“Show me that again.”

“What?”

“I saw something. It was red… no, more like a rosy pink. What were you feeling?”

“I’m not sure.”

Islay, tilting his head in confusion, didn’t seem to realize what had happened. Stella shook his coat like a broken toy but soon gave up.

Her ability had briefly manifested, only to disappear. It felt like missing a mirage, and she couldn’t help but mutter to herself in disappointment.

“It seems I still need to study this ability more. It manifests on its own, but even when I see something, I don’t know what it means.”

“Don’t go around talking about it, Estella.”

“Why not?”

“Your ability is rare. Someone might try to strip you bare and experiment on you.”

“…Ew.”

The mere thought made Stella shudder. That was the last thing she wanted.

She silently vowed not to show her curiosity about the ability so openly in the future. As she lowered her gaze, a thought suddenly came to her.

“Actually… it’s about Father Padro.”

“Hmm. Go ahead.”

“The last time I visited the chapel, I noticed a shadow on his face.”

“Rosy pink?”

“No, it was different from what I saw on your face. It was a very dark black, more like a stain or a shadow.”

Stella paused for a moment, realizing that Father Padro was Islay’s ally. She quickly added a defense, “He seemed like a good person. I’m sure he’s lived a righteous life, without ever harboring any evil thoughts. It just seemed strange to see a stain like that, though I wouldn’t call it malice….”

“Still, you saw something.”

“Yes.”

“Maybe he has something he doesn’t want anyone to know.”

Islay’s voice was even, as if it didn’t surprise him at all. He raised Stella’s hand to eye level and gently traced her hand with his thumb, as if deep in thought.

‘…Is it nothing to worry about?’

Stella recalled the prophecy, still nagging at the back of her mind. It had said that the “Mind’s Eye” was crucial to breaking the curse tied to Peruno’s lineage.

The prophecy likely meant that she had to use her ability to find the gem. But even so, something felt off. Was it because of the unclarified part of the prophecy?

Stella shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.

The curse had to be reversed in the same way it was cast. As soon as she found the gem, the role of her ability would end. The recent oracle was probably no different.

“…The song has stopped.”

“It has.”

At some point, the singing from beyond the castle walls had ceased. Now, only the faint chirping of crickets echoed over the frozen surface of the lake.

Even so, Islay didn’t let go of her. Instead, he tilted his head and, with a contemplative gaze, began to observe her figure as if gauging her shape beneath the soft woolen cloak.

“You need to gain some weight.”

The topic of conversation shifted abruptly. As he continued to run his hands over her under the guise of dancing, Islay furrowed his brow.

Even with the thick fabric of her cloak, her delicate frame couldn’t be hidden. Just as his large, sturdy frame couldn’t be concealed beneath his clothes.

“Is the food in the Ice Castle not to your liking? You don’t look much different from when I first saw you.”

“No, the food is wonderful. I’m eating well and living comfortably.”

“Then why are you still so skinny?”

“I’m not that…”

Stella trailed off, unsure how to respond. Did she really look that frail? His awkward touch made her shrink back slightly.

“I’m being treated just as you promised, like a guest. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting it, but it’s true.”

Islay blinked slowly as he listened to her soft-spoken response.

Though she was smaller than most in Calis, it was clear that he was genuinely concerned about her health.

Concern? Islay’s furrowed brow deepened as he questioned his own feelings.

After concern came the next emotion—desire, unsurprisingly.

His hand, which had been tracing the soft curve of her back, grew warmer. As he ran his hand through her golden hair, which shimmered more brightly than the moonlight, he felt an overwhelming urge to undo the cloak he had carefully fastened for her earlier.

Yes, this was clearly the beginning of the signs.

The winter solstice was ending, and the new year was fast approaching. Once winter returned again, just like all his ancestors before him, Islay would transform into a revolting monster.

And so, around this time, those of Peruno’s bloodline often began experiencing the early signs of their transformation. They grew more susceptible to desires, constantly sought out the herbs that helped them maintain their reason, and started feeling sharp pains, as if they would transform into a massive beast at any moment.

There was no doubt—these were the signs of the monster emerging.

Stella looked up at him, her expression slightly tense. Islay, who had been mindlessly exploring her body’s curves, let out a shaky breath.

He shouldn’t have these impure desires toward such an innocent woman.

Her easily startled face was so endearing that he had teased her a few times, but Islay had no intention of crossing the line he had firmly drawn for himself.

His large hand gently settled on Stella’s head. He lightly ruffled her hair as one might with a child, and her eyes sparkled like stars in response.

In contrast, Islay’s eyes darkened with a shadow that didn’t suit the lighthearted moment. Without a word, he withdrew his hand, ending the contact.

Under the starry night sky, the two of them stood at the edge of the lake, where winter flowers had bloomed, gazing at each other with a slight distance between them.

And in the shadows of the trees, hidden from their view, a man quietly turned and walked away.

It was Benoch, an elder from Hegir and a close associate of Olena.

***

Largo, located at the southernmost tip of the central continent, was a warm country all year round. Though small, its fertile lands yielded abundant crops, and despite its modest size, it was rich in natural resources, with mines that allowed the country to be self-sufficient.

The tragedy that befell this once peaceful nation began around ten years ago, when the monarchy changed.

A tragedy. Of course, Maurice, the current king of Largo, didn’t see it that way. To him, the greatest tragedy was not the change of power but the inability to find the one and only princess of Largo.