The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 57

“Change the direction of your fingertips. Relax here.”

“……”

“Move slowly.”

The blade moved slowly, scraping bits off the olive wood, leaving crooked and clumsy marks. Stella couldn’t hide her smile, finding joy in even that.

“Wow, it’s getting carved bit by bit.”

“Practice until it wears down completely. When you get better, I’ll teach you how to carve curves.”

“When will you teach me to carve an animal’s face? …Tomorrow?”

“Sorry, but you’re nowhere near ready for that.”

When he rejected her outright, the smile on Stella’s face quickly wilted.

“I want to make something impressive as soon as possible. Well, maybe not something fancy—just something I’m not embarrassed to give as a gift.”

“Who are you planning to give it to?”

“Dora, of course… and to you as well… Ahem, when do you think I’ll be able to make something like that?”

“At least two years.”

“Two years…”

Stella’s movements slowed at his calm answer. She looked down at the wood, lost in thought, then glanced up at Islay with hopeful eyes.

“Will we still be close then?”

Still close, she said. Islay tilted his chin slightly.

“Do you think we’re close now?”

“Aren’t we? I thought we were close enough…”

“A couple of kisses doesn’t make us close.”

“…Not for me. I don’t kiss just anyone. Don’t you feel the same?”

He couldn’t argue with that. Instead of replying, Islay looked at the woman, whose face was flushed pink like splattered paint.

…Two years later.

Honestly, it was such a distant future that he had never imagined it. He was fated to die in less than a year, either by a meaningless death or by becoming a monster.

But Stella, with her hopeful expression, seemed almost naïve. Overcome by a strange feeling, Islay silently pictured his future.

If, against all odds, the curse was lifted, he could continue to live as a human. He would spend more time ruling over the Ice Castle rather than hunting monsters, as the ruler of Calis. A peaceful life flashed briefly in his mind.

Would he still be here with this woman, playfully working with her hands?

He had never imagined a future with the woman in front of him. It was a desire too far removed from what he could afford to want.

If anything, that ridiculous fortune-telling session had opened the door to imagining a future with her. But even that vision wasn’t a pleasant one.

Children, huh. To think he would have not just one, but two children carrying the Peruno bloodline—and with this woman, no less.

“Besides, we haven’t only done that.”

Stella’s soft voice broke Islay’s reverie. After her bold words, her face was still as red as an apple.

She tried her best to skirt around it, which he found endearing. A woman who could sum up him groping her chest through her clothes, sucking on her with urgency, and grinding his arousal against her hips as just “that” was almost cute.

“So, do you want to get closer to me?”

“…Pardon?”

“You must know how I might take it when you say you want to spend the night together.”

“You’re right. I know.”

Surprisingly, she answered without hesitation.

“I want to get to know you better. I’m curious about what kind of person you are. There are so many things I want to ask, and so many things I want to do together.”

Stella bit her lower lip. Her heartbeat quickened beneath her clothing, signaling her nervousness.

“It’s the first time I’ve felt like time is slipping away too quickly. I thought about it carefully, and I don’t want to waste a single day with you… Ah!”

Just as she was spilling her true feelings, Stella suddenly flinched. The knife and wood fell and rolled across the table. Islay quickly grabbed her hand.

Sure enough, a small bead of blood formed on her index finger. Luckily, it was just a scratch that would stop bleeding soon, but he couldn’t stop the scolding tone from escaping his mouth.

“See? I told you to be careful.”

“It’s fine. I was just startled. I was nervous… It’s not a deep wound, right?”

“……”

“But don’t stop teaching me because of this.”

Stella’s face was still bright as she said that. Islay felt like an idiot, making a fuss over a small cut. He hadn’t even blinked when the fangs of a beast had torn into his flesh and ripped through his muscles.

He silently wiped the blood beading at Stella’s fingertip with his thumb. It felt like seeing a scratch on a cherished treasure he’d guarded like it was made of delicate glass.

The waves of emotions washing over him were unfamiliar. Islay shifted his focus, taking out a clean handkerchief. He pressed it against her cut, then applied a thin layer of ointment, not forgetting to tear a piece of bandage and wrap it carefully.

“I’ve never seen a bandage this small in my life.”

“Don’t hurt yourself and act all happy about it.”

Despite his scolding, Stella giggled, undeterred. Instead of laughing with her, Islay slowly fiddled with her finger.

At that moment, the sound of fireworks from the window shook the air. A purple glow swept across his sharply defined side profile. Their gazes turned to the window at the same time.

“Looks like the fireworks aren’t over yet.”

“Must be the finale. It’s already midnight.”

Stella’s eyes sparkled as she watched the window. Without hesitation, Islay took her hand and led her to the window.

The two stood side by side at the window, looking out at the night scenery outside the inn. As if on cue, a loud pop echoed as the firework exploded. Green sparks shot into the night sky.

Two, then three more times, colorful lights bloomed, and Stella kept letting out exclamations of awe. Islay stood silently beside her, their arms touching.

He could truly understand what she meant about feeling that time was slipping away. Islay also found every passing minute and second ticking by to be precious and unfair. If he could hold onto this moment, he wouldn’t ask for more.

But this was as far as his greed could go.

Watching fireworks shoulder to shoulder, holding her hand under the guise of escorting or tending to her injuries, gazing deeply into her beautiful eyes—this had to be the extent of his desires.

Cowardly, Islay hadn’t told Stella about the prophecy. He didn’t want to share that her sacrifice was inevitable, that one of them was bound to die.

Even if he promised not to harm her, he feared Stella would grow afraid and distance herself from him. He feared her heart, which cherished their days in Calis together, would break.

It was a cowardly desire. A fragile desire destined to shatter in the end.

“Hey, Islay.”

After a round of fireworks, Stella spoke.

“This might be an impertinent question… but can I ask you something I’m curious about?”

Islay tore his gaze away from the glittering fireworks and looked at her.

“Ask me.”

“Actually, everything feels so urgent. But you’ve never rushed me.”

If anything, Stella had felt like she was the one racing against time. With an awkward smile, she continued, “You’re following your predecessors in collecting gemstones and brought me to Calis to find the ancient relic, but… you don’t seem like someone in a hurry. Especially now.”

It wasn’t as though he was leisurely taking his time. Almost every day, he ventured out to hunt monsters while also scouring the southern continent for gemstones, just like his ancestors. He had even kidnapped her and brought her to the north.

But at some point, Stella had sensed it—a resignation that seemed to darken Islay’s resolve.

“Why is that?”

The sound of fireworks stopped, leaving a darker, quieter silence behind. Stella waited patiently for his answer.

After a long moment of quiet breathing, Islay spoke, “To be honest, I did have some hope that I could end all of this this time. Even if I wasn’t ready to bet everything on you, there was a part of me that saw you as my last hope.”

“…And then?”

His voice, low as he continued, faltered slightly. His sharply defined jawline became even more pronounced.