The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 44

It wasn’t difficult for Stella to differentiate between the minerals with strong or weak holy power. However, that was not due to her use of the Mind’s Eye but rather her body’s natural affinity for holy energy.

In other words, the fact that her ability didn’t seem to activate meant that the object Islay was searching for likely wasn’t in the basement. Still, Stella preferred to think that the problem lay in her unstable abilities rather than that conclusion.

‘Another day passes without any results…’

She sighed, glancing up at the sky beyond the window, now tinged with a violet hue.

Earlier, she had asked Mikel about Islay’s whereabouts out of curiosity, and his predictable answer came with a blank stare: Islay had left the castle with his men, as usual, to hunt the black beasts.

Even though she knew there was no immediate solution, Stella couldn’t help but feel anxious. Islay, on the other hand, remained steadfast in fulfilling his duties as the lord of Calis, unaffected by her impatience.

She was the only one who felt a sense of urgency, burdened by the immense responsibility she hadn’t asked for.

She didn’t want to see him turn into a monstrous creature covered in bristling fur. The thought that he had less than a year left to live as a human saddened her deeply.

So, when he said it was his first time dancing, his first time holding someone’s hand, and that he had never gazed deeply into another person’s eyes, it struck her deeply with a sense of sadness.

It was the same when she felt that Isley, standing with his back to the tower, seemed lonely. At some point, Stella had begun to feel an unusually profound sense of kinship with him.

Another heavy sigh escaped her lips as she tore her gaze from the fading sky and glanced down at the empty courtyard.

As the late afternoon drew to a close, gazing out of the window had become the last activity of her day. She often hoped she might catch a glimpse of Islay like she had that one night. Then she could use it as an excuse to go for a walk with him again. Maybe if she was lucky, she would hear a song and use that as an excuse to reach out for his hands again.

Excuse. Hadn’t Islay used that same word when they shared a formal dinner? Stella’s cheeks flushed at the memory as her thoughts and imaginations wandered.

Dusk deepened into night, but still, Islay didn’t appear. No matter how long she stared down at the courtyard, there was no sign of him.

What are you waiting for like a fool? He’s out on a hunt, and he might not return for several days…

By now, even Dora had stopped visiting Stella. She muttered to herself and finally pushed her chair back, standing up. She was about to turn away from the window when she noticed a group of men riding swiftly toward the castle from the outer walls.

The ground trembled under the pounding hooves as about a dozen riders raced through the gates and into the inner courtyard.

Stella recognized the figure at the front immediately and froze in place. His familiar silhouette was unmistakable, even in the dim outdoor light.

One by one, the men dismounted and led their horses to the stables. As Islay started walking, he glanced up at the window of Stella’s chamber.

Their eyes met instantly. Though faint, Stella’s face lit up. She had spent the entire day wondering about him, and now, she couldn’t hide her happiness at seeing him.

Islay stared up at her for a moment, then made a small gesture, signaling for her to come down.

Without hesitation, Stella grabbed her thick coat and left her room. Her movements were swift, free of any hesitation.

“Islay.”

She called out to him as she approached, her voice breathless from hurrying. He was handing off the reins of his horse to one of his men.

“You’re back? Just now?”

Islay paused, pulling off his gloves as he turned to look at her. He didn’t respond right away, as if deep in thought, before finally answering, “Yes. Nothing happened while I was gone, right?”

“Of course, everything was fine.”

“Good to hear.”

“But if you think about it, that just means today was the same as always….”

Stella’s voice trailed off gloomily as she spoke, disappointed by yet another fruitless day spent in the basement. Then, her eyes widened in shock when she noticed the bloodstains on his black leather coat.

“You’re bleeding… are you hurt?”

“I’m fine. Even if I do get hurt, I heal quickly, so there’s no need to worry.”

His calm voice carried no sign of concern as he finished removing his gloves. His gaze, which had been fixed on her face, shifted away. Stella, however, frowned slightly, murmuring quietly.

He says he’s fine, but… even if he heals quickly, wouldn’t he still feel pain?

“I’m telling you not to worry about it.”

Islay chuckled softly and reached out a hand toward her, though he stopped just short of touching her lips, which she had been biting nervously. Though he had taken off his gloves, it seemed he still didn’t want to touch her, fresh from the hunt.

“It’s late. You should go back inside.”

His voice, which had been gentle just moments ago, now sounded more like a command.

“Already?”

“Isn’t this what you came out for—to say hello?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“Then go on back inside. I’m glad we got to greet each other before bed.”

Though his tone remained kind, there was a subtle distance to his words, as if he was drawing a line between them, preemptively rejecting any further interaction.

Stella, who didn’t want to return to her room so soon, bit her lip, feeling a bit like a neglected puppy longing for attention.

‘…No,’ she told herself firmly.

He had just returned from a mission to exterminate monsters. He must be exhausted. It would be childish and selfish of her to ask him to go for another walk.

Realizing she had been thoughtless, Stella felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her as she accepted his cool demeanor.

“You’re right. It’s late, and I didn’t mean to keep you. I’m sorry.”

“……”

“Well, I’ll be off then. Goodnight, Islay. Sleep well.”

“I’ll escort you to your room.”

Mikel stepped out from the shadows and began walking toward them.

As he often did, Mikel was offering to walk her back to her chamber. Stella found herself grateful for this unexpected company, as it spared her the awkwardness of walking away alone.

She gave Islay a brief nod before turning to leave. But then she froze mid-step.

For the first time, she saw an emotion on Islay’s face that she couldn’t quite place—an emotion that resembled irritation or frustration. It was an expression she had never seen him wear before.

“Wait.”

Just as Mikel was about to accompany her, Islay called her back.

“Let’s go for a walk before it gets any later.”

“Really? Are you sure?”

Stella blinked in surprise, glancing up at Mikel, who stood by her side. But before their eyes could meet, Islay had already drawn her attention back to him.

“If you’re up for it, of course.”

Her hesitation didn’t last long. Smiling, Stella turned and walked back toward Islay, her face slightly flushed with excitement.

From behind her, she heard him sigh softly, a sound that carried a hint of an emotion she couldn’t quite identify.

Under the large, full moon, the two of them didn’t head to the ice lake this time. Instead, they walked through the rear garden, where the towering millennium tree stood. The grass was damp from the sleet, but the moisture only added to the garden’s charm.

Walking half a step ahead of Islay, Stella was acutely aware of him beside her. She found comfort in the sound of his long, slow strides following her smaller, quicker steps.

In this enclosed garden, surrounded by the tall, sturdy walls of the castle, every sound seemed to echo. The rustling of leaves, the harmonious chirping of insects, and perhaps even the sound of her pounding heart resonated in the cool night air.

In the past few days, Stella’s perspective had shifted.

What she had once considered impulsive now felt like an act of courage—a willingness to be honest with herself in the moment. Someone like her, who had spent her entire life avoiding instinct and emotion, found this shift to be refreshing.

She felt oddly at peace in this unfamiliar situation. Thanks to the pleasant night breeze filled with the scent of grass, she could enjoy this evening walk. Of course, the real reason for her slight excitement was her companion.

“Islay.”

In the quiet of the night, shrouded in darkness, Stella felt free to express her true feelings.