The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 71

“No, as you can see, I’m fine,” Islay answered calmly.

Stella couldn’t hide her anxiety as she examined him closely. Her gaze, which had been moving here and there, eventually settled on his face. There was no hint of deceit. Thankfully, it seemed that Islay had not been struck by the poisoned arrow.

“If you’re really alright, that’s a relief…”

Stella hurriedly continued, “What about Dora? Where is she now? Mikel was stabbed by a poisoned blade while trying to protect us. He needs immediate treatment…”

“They’re both safe.”

Before her questions could overwhelm him further, Islay answered each one.

“I just came from checking on them myself; they’re both in the treatment room next door, sedated. Reliable guards are stationed at the door.”

When he gestured with his chin toward the wall, Stella finally breathed a sigh of relief. Though both were out of immediate danger, they still required rest. Especially Mikel, who would need more time to recover.

“Apparently, he had a lot of small glass beads in his coat pocket. Because of them, the blade Benoch thrust was slightly deflected. The beads shattered, but still…”

Ah… Could it have been Dora’s gift?

“Thanks to the quick response to the monster attack, there were no casualties. Some people were injured, but it could have been far worse. The wall is being rebuilt, and all the monsters outside the castle have been eradicated, so you can rest easy.”

Hearing that Dora and Mikel were safe, and that no lives had been lost, Stella felt immense relief. The tension that had gripped her began to release, her nerves settling as Islay’s low voice echoed through the quiet room.

“I’m so glad… truly…”

Stella exhaled a long breath, placing her hand over her chest. Hearing about the resolution of the situation and the safety of those close to her helped clear her dizzy mind.

Stella gently squeezed Islay’s hand. There was something she had to tell him.

“Islay, Elder Olena is dead.”

Recalling Olena’s twisted body after her fall, Stella’s fingertips trembled. No matter the elder’s misdeeds, witnessing someone fall to their death right in front of her was something that would leave a lasting scar.

Stella continued, her voice wavering, “It was an accident. After hearing everything they had done, I couldn’t just stand by. We struggled, and then…”

“That’s enough.”

A large palm cradled Stella’s head. The warmth of his hand gently stroked her hair.

“You don’t have to tell me everything if it’s too much.”

“…No, there’s something you need to know. It was all orchestrated by the elders. Olena and Benoch.”

“……”

“Not just this incident. I heard that the Second Elder’s family consists of evolved Northerners. They used their senses to create a special drug for generations. A drug that draws out Peruno’s true nature…”

Repeating Olena’s words, Stella suddenly realized what she was saying and shut her mouth.

A drug that draws out Peruno’s ‘true nature.’ A vile poison meant to enslave him to base, primal desires, making him lust after a woman. Perhaps calling it an aphrodisiac would be less insulting.

Stella swallowed dryly and spoke cautiously, “The reason your ancestors kept having children, it was all because of the First and Second Elders…”

“I thought as much.”

Unexpectedly, Islay calmly finished her sentence.

“They wanted me to take you by force, even if it meant using that drug, just like my ancestors always did.”

His face, accentuated by the flickering candlelight, showed no discernible emotion. However, a clear rage and guilt flickered in his eyes like a shadow. Stella felt a sharp pain in her temples and bit her lower lip. The manifestations of the Mind’s Eye were becoming more frequent than ever before.

“But, Islay, that wasn’t your true intent.”

She brought his hand to her chest, holding it tightly with both arms.

“Nothing like that happened… and I know. I know better than anyone that you would never hurt me.”

With unwavering conviction, Stella looked directly into his red eyes.

She wasn’t sure how much strength or support she could give him, sitting there, bandaged and weak. She had always been pushed around, eventually relying on his help. But she wanted to let Islay know how deeply she trusted him. She wanted him to understand her true feelings—that she didn’t want him to blame himself for what had happened. Her heart, her feelings for him.

“Islay, I…”

“I’ll make sure no one can ever harm you again.”

His voice was filled only with that resolve, as if it consumed his entire being. Lowering his eyelashes, Islay leaned in and kissed Stella’s temple. Feeling his familiar warmth, she closed her eyes.

The monsters walking into the city through the destroyed wall, Benoch getting excited while lifting her skirt, the crazed laughter of the old woman, and then the fall—the terrible memories of the past day flashed through her mind.

“Don’t think about anything else. Just rest, Estella. You need stability now.”

“What about you…?”

“I have things to take care of. I need to finish this.”

Stella fiddled silently with his fingers. Of course, as the ruler of this vast city, there were countless things that required his attention.

He had to deal with Olena’s body, dispose of the remaining elders, restore the crumbled wall, and bring order back to the city.

Stella knew all of this, but she still wanted to be with him a little longer. Just as she had done so many times at the inn, she wanted to curl up in his arms. She wanted him to hold her until her chaotic thoughts subsided.

But she couldn’t. Not now. She couldn’t demand his presence when he carried such heavy responsibilities. Acting on selfish impulses wasn’t love. So she had to think of whatever would help him the most…

“……”

Love.

Stella’s heart pounded fiercely. She had realized the emotion that colored her heart in a rosy hue many times, but giving it a proper name now felt strangely unfamiliar.

Stella looked up quietly at the man who was laying her back down onto the bed. His body, backlit by moonlight, seemed larger than usual, but it wasn’t frightening. His large, firm hands were endlessly gentle whenever they touched her.

She wanted to convey her feelings to him. Stella’s lips moved slightly.

Would it be too much to confess her love now?

“If you need anything, ring the bell to call someone. A doctor will come by to check on you, so don’t be startled.”

“…Alright.”

She nodded obediently, and Islay pressed his lips against her forehead. Stella closed her eyes, exhaling deeply. The warmth leaving her felt regretful, and she couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind.

“Islay.”

Stella’s eyes lit up as she intertwined her fingers with his.

“Once everything is taken care of… you’ll come back here, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then, could I go to the tower with you?”

“……”

“I wasn’t badly injured, so I don’t need to stay in the treatment room. I want to be with you. From now on, always.”

Stella swallowed the rest of her words, holding back the promise to remain by his side until she offered up her life to the divine, until the moment she would give everything for him. She didn’t want Islay to spend his nights alone in that solitary tower. She longed to share each and every night with the man she loved.

She was certain that their warmth, united in the darkness, would be a light brighter than anything else for them. Now that she alone had a limited time, she didn’t want to waste a single precious moment.