The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 46

Islay didn’t add anything more. Having already called his creations useless, he couldn’t very well present them to her as a gift.

Contrary to his assumption, she wasn’t a princess raised in pampered luxury, but somehow, it felt as though only the most beautiful and dazzling things should ever be placed in her hands.

“But how did you come to have such a hobby?” she asked.

“There wasn’t a special reason,” Islay replied, exhaling a long stream of smoke before continuing. “When you spend late nights alone, you end up doing all sorts of things. I don’t sleep much.”

Through the hazy smoke, Stella quietly watched his face.

“The nights in Calis are long, and it’s easy for anyone to fall into futile thoughts.”

At that moment, she was reminded of his words in the misty forest cave, where he had told her to rest.

When one spends the night alone in such a quiet tower, unnecessary thoughts are bound to surface. It was easy to imagine the turmoil that might arise when one cannot leave, even if they want to. Anyone might try to keep themselves occupied to avoid being consumed by it.

A deep shadow flickered in Stella’s eyes as she looked down at the carvings. The pieces that filled this large room felt like the byproducts of Islay’s thoughts, chipped away little by little whenever his mind grew heavy, whenever his heart felt stifled.

She remembered her own time spent locked away in her bedchamber. She had desperately tried to find something—anything—to do to pass the time. One example was the makeshift accessories she had created from the flowers discarded after her flower arrangement lessons.

Unlike Islay, however, Stella had grown attached to the trinkets she made from the leftover flowers. She had carefully stored them in a box under her bed, treating them as treasures. Even when they withered and dried up, she never burned or discarded them. She had given them affection because they helped her endure a difficult life.

Even though her life had been bleak and full of uncertainty, at least she had found something to hold onto, be it a person or an object. Perhaps this was because she held warm memories of her childhood spent with her elder brother.

But Islay was different. He had walked a lonelier path than she had, showing no attachment to anything.

This was the difference between someone who knew the end of their life and someone who did not. Stella couldn’t begin to imagine what it was like for a man who foresaw the horrific end awaiting him to live out each day.

Islay had no solid past to anchor him, no family to support him, no escape, and not even the will to take a moment’s rest.

Stella took a deep breath as she faced him. Not knowing what to do with her hands, she clenched and unclenched them nervously.

His red eyes, more vivid than any gem in the basement, fixed on her, and her heart fluttered as if electrified.

‘Is there anything I can do to help him?’

But no matter how hard she thought, “she herself” didn’t seem like someone who could be of any meaningful help to him. The only thing she could do was try to find the gem he was searching for as soon as possible.

She wished she could break the chain that had bound his bloodline for so many years, freeing him from his fate. She wished she could help him live as a normal man, free from the monstrous destiny awaiting him.

But as things stood, her Mind’s Eye ability and her current self felt utterly useless. The idea of seeing through all things in the world? Hardly. Ever since she had arrived at the Ice Castle, she had made no progress at all.

The sound of a night bird crying outside broke the stillness, signaling that the night had grown deep.

Stella realized that it was time for her to leave the tower. She hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Could you teach me?”

“Teach you how to carve wood?” 

“…Yes.”

“Are you serious?” Islay raised an eyebrow in mild surprise, his lips curling into a slight smile.

Stella hurriedly added, “Of course, I’m not very good with my hands, but if you teach me, I’ll do my best to learn.”

“Hmm. It seems I already have a diligent student.”

“Isn’t it better than a lazy one?”

“Students who need constant attention aren’t ideal either.”

Despite his words, Islay didn’t seem to be taking her seriously.

Stella tried her best not to get caught up in his teasing and replied earnestly, “I really want to learn. I think wood is more enduring than flowers, and it can be kept for a long time.”

“And what if you hurt those pretty fingers of yours?”

“That’s alright. I don’t want to be afraid of getting hurt anymore.”

She didn’t want to live in fear of pain, knowing that it would paralyze her from doing anything.

After all, what had come of trembling in fear of being beaten? Prince Hendrick and her uncle had deceived her, and she had nearly faced an even worse fate. If Islay hadn’t appeared just in time…

“Well, seeing you handle a knife might be worth watching,” Islay said with a playful smile as he extinguished his cigarette. The mask of indifference returned to his face, but Stella could clearly see it for what it was.

“But not tonight. It’s late,” he said, gesturing for her to leave the workshop. Stella hesitated, taking a slow step forward.

Islay remained leaning against the desk, calmly waiting for her to take the lead. Her slow, small steps brought her closer to him. Just before she could pass by Islay, Stella hesitated, her heart suddenly pounding so loudly it seemed to echo in her ears.

What stirred within her now wasn’t impulse—it was more like a desire. Islay was someone she should never feel drawn to. He had brought her to the North, and in the coming winter, he would transform into a monster. Helping him through the Mind’s Eye was the best she could do for him.

So the urge to wish for his relief, to want to soothe him, was undeniably a greedy wish.

Displaying these complex feelings, ones she herself couldn’t even name, was an indulgence she knew she shouldn’t allow.

“……”

Yet despite this, Stella changed her course. Instead of heading toward the exit, she slowly approached Islay. Though he noticed her closing the distance, he didn’t so much as blink. He simply watched her approach with calm eyes.

Stella swallowed hard. Her heart fluttered just as it had when he had placed the flower pin in her hair by the frozen lake, just as it had when their fingers had intertwined while they looked into each other’s eyes.

“Thank you, Islay.”

“Thank you? I haven’t taught you anything yet. It could all be a lie.”

“I know it’s not a lie.”

Her golden eyes sparkled like stars as she looked up at him. Faced with the purity of her gaze, Islay no longer smiled.

Stella swallowed again. They were close enough that their chests almost brushed against each other. She had to consciously stop her gaze from wandering to his lips.

No, what she really wanted was—

“I’m grateful to you for more than just that.”

“……”

“In the beginning, I was confused. After all, I didn’t come to the Ice Castle by choice.”

Her voice grew steadier as she continued, “But after thinking it over, I realized that you are someone I’m truly grateful for.”

Her heart pounded relentlessly in her chest. A man with heightened senses like his would surely hear the tremor in her voice.

“Truly, thank you. Thanks to you, I’ve… I’ve felt things I’ve never felt before.”

The conversation stopped there. Islay looked into her wavering eyes. Due to the considerable difference in their heights, his heavy-lidded gaze only revealed half of his crimson irises.

His sharp eyes blinked slowly. His expression seemed to say, “If you’re going to go further, go ahead,” as if he were watching a reckless child.

But Stella knew that he was just as affected as she was. This time, her Mind’s Eye didn’t trigger the usual headache, yet she could still sense it.

She could feel that Islay was experiencing some unknown emotion. It was a feeling similar in color to the one that was overwhelming her heart.

…Emotion? Stella’s lips parted slightly as she realized how naturally she had labeled this fluttering in her chest as “emotion.” Her breath quickened.

Yes, it was indeed emotion—a feeling she couldn’t identify or understand, but emotion nonetheless.

Her hesitation didn’t last long. As the rose-colored emotion filled her heart, Stella stood on her tiptoes.

And she gently pressed her lips against his closed mouth.