The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 51

“Your Highness.”

Accompanied by the tall Second Elder, Olena bowed her head stiffly, resembling an old tree, and flashed her yellowing teeth.

Padro frowned and asked, “What do you mean by ‘love has already blossomed’? What are you implying?”

“Let’s sit down first.”

Olena hobbled over and tapped a staff against a chair that a priest was sitting on. Despite a reluctant expression, the priest gave up his seat to the elder.

Islay’s sharp gaze never left the elder, who had used her injury as an excuse to stay in the Ice Castle for so long.

“The priest isn’t wrong, actually.”

Olena, now seated, smiled wryly despite the displeased glances from the priests.

“A woman who has just reached adulthood begins to show signs of ripening, like a grain of wheat in its prime. Being ready to become a mother is proof that she is living her most beautiful time.”

Islay didn’t even blink at her nonsense. Sensing his master’s rising tension, Mikel, who had been listening, finally intervened.

“Elder, this is a discussion about the fate of Calis. You seem to have forgotten that you were stripped of your advisory role the moment you were exiled to Hegir.”

“Silence! How dare a lowborn speak so freely before me?”

Olena, who had just been speaking lightly, suddenly shouted with a powerful voice that seemed unbelievable for her age.

She had always seen Mikel, who had earned a close position to Islay due to his abilities, as a thorn in her side. Though Calis had no direct concept of nobility, the Elder family, which had served Peruno for generations, saw itself as a privileged class. Many within the castle also regarded them as the ruling class—until Islay had exiled them to Hegir.

“Not long ago, Benoch happened to see His Highness and that ‘guest’ by the ice lake.”

Olena glanced at the Second Elder, Benoch, standing beside her.

“They were embracing by the lake on a winter’s night, looking very much like lovers. The expression on the princess’s face, one who had supposedly been brought here against her will, didn’t match that of someone held captive.”

Though the priests said nothing, they exchanged curious glances.

Islay, standing in front of the storm-beaten window, gave a quiet command, “Continue.”

The silent gazes all shifted to the table as Olena took his permission and continued, “Embrace the princess. If you plant your seed in her now, she will bear a successor before the next winter. Even if the curse that turns you into a beast is not broken, at the very least, Your Highness will be able to see the face of your heir.”

“Wait, Elder,” Padro interjected, his expression conflicted. “What matters most is peace for Calis. No matter how many hunting parties we send, it is impossible to completely root out the black beasts scattered throughout the northern territories. The curse must be broken as soon as possible. Are you still suggesting we try to impregnate a woman?”

“We should try everything. After planting the Peruno bloodline, we can gouge out the princess’s eyes or cut her throat later. Aren’t all interpretations aligning as it is?”

Olena smiled through her wrinkled face, pointing out how all the current interpretations seemed to fit together.

Padro did not respond. Though he had been adamant about sacrificing Stella, he had always shown great resistance to the elders’ pleas for Islay to father a child with her.

However, some of the priests now seemed to be deep in thought, contemplating the various options.

When Islay had ascended to the throne of the Ice Castle, the prophecy that had fallen upon them had clearly affected their decisions as well.

This could be their last chance to remove the curse that had plagued Calis. A sense of urgency seemed to be shaking them, fearing that it might be impossible if they missed this opportunity.

Olena’s cloudy eyes returned to Islay. “It wouldn’t be forced. Take her as your bride. Let her bear your mighty seed, and let future generations lift the curse from Calis, as has always been done.”

As always—passing the burden to the next generation. Just as his father had run away, placing the weight of responsibility on Islay’s shoulders when he was only ten years old. Just as many of their ancestors with black blood had done.

Islay spoke slowly, “You completely misunderstand the situation, Elder.”

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through the open window, extinguishing every candle in the room. Wisps of gray smoke snaked through the air, and a strange silence fell. In an instant, the room was shrouded in darkness.

“If you want to lose your head in this room, continue speaking.”

In the suffocating darkness, his voice, smooth as oil, spread through the space. His unmoving red eyes gleamed eerily.

Had anyone seen those eyes in a dense forest, they would have easily mistaken him for a monster. It was hard to believe that those glowing, menacing eyes were directed at people he could call his close confidants.

Though no one dared to say it aloud, the chill that crept over their skin, freezing their blood, was undeniable. No woman could ever love a man with eyes like those.

The pouring rain outside filled the silence, while the steady beat of Islay’s heart closed the gap between them.

An odd sense of excitement and a tightening around his chest swelled within him. He had taken medicine meant to calm his nerves, yet this was happening… It was strange. Hadn’t he taken a dose that would have stopped the heart of not only a normal person but even a Calisian?

Why was this happening?

Was it because he didn’t want to witness a pure sacrifice? Because he thought it was wrong to weigh a person’s life on a scale? Or was it out of a sense of responsibility?

Was it because the person in question was Estella? But what was she to him?

Islay himself had asked Stella to stay at the Ice Castle. Though this had been before the prophecy was fully interpreted, he couldn’t be at ease with those who wanted to sacrifice her so close by.

Should he send her back to Largo?

The more he questioned, the more he felt like he was stepping into a vortex of confusion.

The only clear fact was that she had the power to break the curse that had plagued Peruno for generations. Whatever the method, she could rid Calis of the beasts that had spread like a plague.

“The elders are to pack their belongings and leave Elrod by the end of this week,” Islay issued the command in a cold, flat tone, startling the elders.

Olena shook her head and cried out desperately. “Your Highness! Why would you send us away at such a crucial time? Besides, I am injured…”

“Hegir is now your new home. Padro, keep the prophecy secret for the time being.”

Islay pushed back his heavy chair and stood up. It was a clear sign that the prophecy must not reach the ears of their guest in the castle.

“There will be no mercy for those who break the silence.”

With this chilling warning, Islay turned to leave, Mikel naturally following him out of the chamber. Just as they were about to step outside, a voice stopped them.

“Some parts of the prophecy have already been shown to the princess, Your Highness.”

Padro’s voice trembled as he asked, “If the princess inquires about its contents, will you tell her yourself?”

He was asking if Islay would tell Stella that the prophecy called for the light within her Mind’s Eye to be extinguished to break the curse.

As Padro pointed out, it was possible that she might ask first. Since the prophecy concerned her directly, she might be curious about whether it had been fully interpreted.

“That question isn’t worth answering.”

No matter what his intentions were, he couldn’t lie to her. Though her ability was unstable, Stella had gradually become capable of reading the truths and inner thoughts from people’s faces, including emotions that even Islay himself hadn’t been aware of.

Even the deep, dark emotions that he had never imagined he would feel toward her in such a short time.

Surely, Estella felt something similar toward him as well. Her feelings weren’t as filthy and intense as his. Perhaps they were closer to curiosity or pity.

Still, the shine in her innocent eyes was a light meant only for him. Could Islay really crush that light?

Breaking free from his thoughts, he stepped forward with large strides, leaving behind the space soaked by the pouring rain. Wet footprints appeared one by one on the silent stone floor.

His father, who had fled the Ice Castle, the many descendants who had sired children by force, and the high priest who had sown deep misfortune in the north with his fiery vengeance—wherever the thorns of his hatred reached, the root cause was always the same.

In the end, all of this had happened because of the love between Peruno and Teia.

Love, love. It wasn’t even laughable. It was the one ridiculous emotion he had never wanted to experience.

***

The Pantege Empire was a vast nation occupying the southwest of the continent.

With a river stretching across its lands, fertile plains, and a dense mountain range in the north acting as a natural barrier against invasions, the empire seemed blessed by the gods with its advantageous terrain.

This was largely due to the fact that the empire had been established by conquering more than a dozen nations.

Now, 300 years after its founding, Pantege was facing an unprecedented challenge.

“You fool!”

A sharp strike landed on Hendrick Regan’s head, causing it to whip to the side. Standing in front of the emperor’s desk, Hendrick bit his bloodied lip as he glared at the emperor.

“You useless idiot! You can’t even manage a single woman! And you dare call yourself the future ruler of Pantege?”

The emperor of Pantege, Lorenzo, clenched his fists, ready to hit Hendrick again. His behavior was anything but befitting the grandeur of his robes.

Hendrick, irritated, retorted, “It wasn’t that I couldn’t manage her, Your Majesty. She was taken from me. How could I possibly stand up to a barbarian who suddenly destroyed the villa? He threatened to slit my throat if I didn’t hand her over. It was the only choice I had to preserve my life.”

Grinding his teeth, Hendrick recalled the humiliation he had suffered at the villa in the forest. But the emperor bared his teeth at him.

“Don’t spout nonsense! Islay Peruno has rejected the most beautiful women in the world. There are even rumors that that beast of a man can’t perform as a man should!”

“There are also rumors that he has two male organs. Who knows what the truth is?” Hendrick muttered quietly as he held his bruised cheek.