The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 68

“Shall I tell you something interesting?”

Even though Stella didn’t reply, Olena continued speaking, as if feeling relieved.

“When a Peruno reaches the age of twenty-eight, they must take certain medicinal herbs. It’s meant to restore rationality and suppress violent instincts. There are various ways to take it—mixing it into drinks or inhaling it like incense.”

Stella squinted her eyes as she stared at the old woman’s back. It was hard to understand the story that had started so abruptly.

“And long ago, Benoch’s family was instructed by mine to develop a special herb with the same scent.”

A sense of unease rolled in like dark clouds. Another herb with the same scent as the one taken by Peruno on the verge of becoming monstrous?

“Of course, it only smells the same but has the opposite effect.”

“What are you talking about…”

“It fuels a man’s desire, you could say.”

A smile appeared on Olena’s face as she looked out the window.

“All this time, we’ve been swapping the herb with that one while serving Peruno up close.”

“……!”

Stella’s eyes widened in shock. Her suspicions disappeared, and suddenly everything made sense.

Islay was a man who had always held a deep-rooted hatred toward his bloodline, which had borne offspring for centuries. He had always detested his ancestors, who stubbornly embraced women despite knowing that without children, the curse could be ended.

But what if it wasn’t by choice?

“As you suspected. The effect is far stronger than that of lobid. Lord Islay, unaware of our loyalty, kept only close aides by his side, making it difficult for us to swap the herbs. He had no intention of embracing any woman. Fortunately, thanks to your arrival, things went smoothly.”

Olena, who had been staring out the window, turned her head and gave a twisted smile.

“Aren’t you curious why I’m sharing this great secret with you?”

“……”

“Soon, Benoch will shoot an arrow coated with the substance at him. Lord Islay, intoxicated by the drug, will come here. Men, driven by instinct, always seek out the woman they desire…”

This can’t be real.

“All you have to do is cooperate with continuing the Peruno lineage. The glory of Calis rests on you.”

“You’re utterly out of your mind.”

Unable to listen to more of this madness, Stella shot up from her seat. Her legs shook from tension, but she stood firm, struggling to keep her balance. It was a mistake on the elder’s part to assume she would just sit there.

“I will expose your crimes to everyone right now. Every atrocious deed your so-called elders of Calis have committed for generations.”

“Stop doing foolish things.”

Olena grinned, revealing her yellowed teeth.

“What Benoch injected you with earlier was a paralyzing toxin. If you step out now, in your condition, you’ll meet a miserable death.”

…So the needle had been coated with a paralyzing poison. The moment she realized this, her limbs began to feel stiff as though they were turning to wood. Enveloped in a sense of defeat, Stella squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head.

“I won’t just sit here and be your puppet.”

Stella said this as she quickly assessed her body. She wasn’t dizzy, and her movements were still possible. She had to move before she lost consciousness.

Olena snorted, as if mocking her. “The black beasts are swarming outside the tower, Princess. Who would hear your voice amid the chaos? If it were me, I’d rather spread my legs here for Lord Islay than be torn apart by a monster’s claws.”

A gleam of madness shone in the old woman’s cloudy eyes.

“Consider it an honor to bear his seed. You should be grateful for having such a young and healthy body.”

“I don’t want to hear your nonsense any longer.”

“Do you truly intend to leave?”

Stella clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white.

“If it’s for Islay, I’ll take any risk.”

As she faced another terrifying situation, tears welled up in her eyes. However, instead of crying like a coward, Stella helped Dora, who was still wheezing, to her feet. Supporting her maid, Stella took a trembling step toward the staircase leading to the tower’s entrance.

Before Benoch could take advantage of the chaos or before the paralyzing drug rendered her unconscious, she had to find Islay. If she couldn’t reach him, she would shout loudly enough for anyone to hear, even if it meant attracting the attention of the monsters.

Watching her disdainfully, Olena’s expression gradually hardened. She was bewildered by the unexpectedly resolute stance of the princess she had thought weak. As Stella turned her back, Olena’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“Stop right there!”

The old woman quickly hobbled over, leaning on her staff. Her face was twisted like a ghost’s.

“Where do you think you’re going?!”

Her bony fingers, like withered twigs, grabbed Stella’s wrist. The sudden rush from the elder made Stella scream in pain, unable to bear it.

“Aaaah!”

“Do you think I’ll let you ruin our grand plan?!”

“L-let go…!”

“You’re just an outsider; you have no idea how desperate we are!”

Olena thrust her face close, her bloodshot eyes wide. Her wrinkled face twisted hideously as if she were about to foam at the mouth.

“We did everything we could for the prosperity of Calis! We tried to persuade him by bringing dozens of the most beautiful women in the North, and now, when we’re finally achieving our long-cherished wish, you dare interfere?!”

“Persuade? Drugging your lord to force him upon a woman—is that persuasion?!”

“Shut your mouth!”

No matter how hard she pushed, Stella couldn’t match the elder’s madness. Olena’s sharp nails dug into her soft flesh, causing her to let out a pained moan.

“Aah…!”

“Let go of the princess!”

Dora, unable to bear watching her mistress being tormented, threw herself at Olena with all her strength. The elder swung her staff at an incredible speed for her age, but Dora desperately pulled at her shoulder.

“You wretched wench!”

Olena’s grip on Stella’s wrist loosened, leaving long, red scratch marks behind. The struggle turned fierce in an instant.

Olena, now focused on Dora, revealed her murderous intent without restraint. She screamed like a beast, yanking Dora’s hair viciously. Stella clung to the elder’s arm, which was shaking Dora’s head as if to rip her hair out.

Tangled together, they ended up in front of the open, glassless window.

Suddenly, Olena, who had yanked a fistful of Dora’s hair, stumbled. Her flailing hand tried to grab the maid’s clothes, but Dora, who was clutching her aching head, instinctively pulled back.

“Aaaah!”

It happened so quickly. Olena lost her balance and fell out of the window, screaming. The scream, growing fainter as she fell, abruptly cut off.

Stella and Dora, pale, looked out the window where the wind blew in. Olena’s body lay twisted in a grotesque position far below.

“Hah, hah…”

Dora gasped for breath, clinging to the window frame. Her face showed shock at the sight of the elder, who had just moments ago been attacking her, now lying lifeless.

Yes, she was a corpse. No one could survive falling from the seventh floor of the tower.

“Did I… Did she die because of me…”

“Don’t look, Dora. Don’t look down.”

Stella hurriedly embraced her trembling maid.

“…Let’s get out of here first.”

“Hic…”

“It’ll be okay, Dora. I’ll protect you.”

Stella’s voice, trembling like a quaking leaf, sounded anything but reassuring. Still, she took Dora’s hand and led her away. She even picked up a dagger from one of the guards Benoch had struck down—it was better than having no weapon at all.

With shaking hands, she opened the tower’s closed door. Stella stepped out into the city, still filled with terrible sounds.

She had to find Islay immediately, but where could he be? Was Mikel alright? The First Elder had died before her eyes. Where should she even begin explaining all this…

Her thoughts swirled, one after another, as if caught in a storm. Her consciousness began to blur, as if shrouded in fog.