The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 72

“We’ll sleep in the same bed. Your bed is much bigger than the one at the inn, so it won’t be uncomfortable for the two of us to lie side by side.”

Stella said eagerly, lying with her head on the pillow. She stammered, worried that she might be rejected.

“I don’t have any bad sleeping habits… At least, I think I don’t. So it shouldn’t be bad… What do you think?”

Islay looked at her without saying a word, then a faint smile appeared on his lips. His pale cheeks dimpled slightly. Stella stared at him as if mesmerized.

“Alright, let’s do that.”

“…Promise?”

“I promise.”

At his quiet answer, all her worries seemed to melt away. The tension that had gripped her whole body slowly began to release. Despite that, Stella couldn’t take her eyes off his red ones, which were filled with her reflection. She fought to keep her heavy eyelids open, maintaining eye contact with him.

“But in return, promise me you won’t leave the treatment room until I return. Your wrist is still injured, so focus on resting and recovering.”

“Yes, I promise.”

“Sleep now, Estella. I’ll return once everything is sorted.”

Stella decided to let go of the consciousness she had stubbornly clung to. She needed to recover her strength quickly. She wanted to get a good night’s sleep, rid herself of the frightening memories, and think deeply about what she needed to do for him.

Islay pulled the warm blanket up to her neck. He stroked her rosy cheek and hair slowly, as if saying goodnight, and only after Stella had closed her eyes did he turn away.

The sound of his footsteps gradually faded. Then, a voice completely opposite to the gentle one that had whispered to her came from beyond the closed door.

“No matter what their intentions, if anyone tries to enter here, behead them on the spot.”

“Yes, Captain!”

Stella slowly lifted her eyelids, her gaze drifting to the window.

It was the direction of the monastery.

11. Devoured Sanity

Late at night, the dungeon, devoid of even a single small window, was exceptionally damp and dark.

When even the torch on the wall had almost burned out, Benoch, who had been leaning against it, startled awake. He was a beat late in recognizing the figure standing beyond the rusted bars.

How long had he been watched? With such intense eyes, he should have noticed before any sound was made.

“Your Majesty.”

Benoch coughed up blood and laughed. Despite his abnormal healing ability, the internal injuries from being struck by Islay hadn’t yet healed.

Even so, Benoch chuckled, his shoulders shaking. Islay, who had been standing like a statue, slowly pushed open the prison door. The grating sound echoed as the flickering shadow fell over Benoch.

Only then did the man restrain his laughter.

“What amuses you so much?”

“Heh… Amusing? Certainly not. Do I look amused to my lord?”

“A wretch who will be torn to shreds before dawn dares to grin.”

Benoch clamped his mouth shut. The blood he hadn’t wiped away mixed with saliva and dripped down his chin.

Just then, several subordinates walked in behind Islay. They were those who had been closest to Mikel, as well as others who had followed him like a brother.

Though Mikel had survived miraculously, there was no doubt how they felt about Benoch, who had used poison in an attempt to kill him. They ground their teeth, eager for retribution.

Realizing his fate, Benoch let out a long sigh.

“Still… even if it’s the end for me, Lady Olena will not withstand the torture. Please… have mercy on the first elder who supported Calis…”

“The elder is already dead.”

Benoch stiffened, his mouth clamping shut. Islay’s voice, delivering the news, was cold as an ice wall.

“Her neck and all her joints were twisted. She died like a marionette with its strings cut. A fitting end for her.”

“…I see. It seems our plans have crumbled. What a pity. It pains me more to see my lord misunderstand our true intentions than to see our plan fail…”

Muttering as if to provoke, Benoch glanced up at Islay.

There was no hint of lust for a woman in his lord’s expressionless face. Had the arrow missed him entirely, then? Benoch, who had crafted the poison himself, knew its effects well. If the arrow had pierced Islay’s skin and tainted his cells, he couldn’t possibly remain this composed.

However, sensing something amiss, Benoch narrowed his eyes. A clear malice blazed in Islay’s unyielding gaze. Feeling the weight of that malice, Benoch held his breath.

That wasn’t… No, it wasn’t because the elders had lured monsters to attack the city. It wasn’t because they had harmed his beloved subordinate or aimed an arrow at their lord.

“…Ha.”

Benoch let out a hollow laugh. It was rage—rage towards the one who dared to touch his mate.

So it was true, after all. He truly loves that woman!

His lord, who had been utterly indifferent no matter how many beautiful women had been presented before him, even stripped bare.

Benoch had never felt a more bitter defeat.

The poison meant to stoke a man’s instincts was just a catalyst. Hatred, resentment, sorrow—strong emotions like these were the real fuel that intensified the effect. But above all, deep affection was the most potent ingredient.

If only the arrow hadn’t missed… If the poisoned arrow had pierced Islay’s flesh, the elders’ plans wouldn’t have ended in such a miserable failure.

Benoch grinned, revealing blood-stained teeth. “My lord… Truly, I am heartbroken. My current feelings are beyond words…”

“You were once a servant beneath me.”

Islay muttered, almost to himself, as the subordinates behind him stepped forward. They drew their blades, sharp enough to cut through stone. Benoch, unable to finish his sentence, looked around.

“Witnessing your final moments is my gesture of consideration.”

Benoch’s pupils dilated, and the glint of a blade reflected in his eyes. A scream echoed through the damp prison. Blood splattered onto Islay’s face, which remained expressionless. Again and again, until his face was as red as his eyes.

Watching Benoch’s body being torn apart, Islay indifferently thought of the next task. This was only the beginning.

***

The purge began that very night.

The chaos in the city hadn’t been orchestrated by just Olena and Benoch. There were surely others who had assisted them, and Islay intended to punish them all.

Of the five elders, the remaining three had already returned to Hegir, but subordinates had been sent to summon them for a thorough interrogation.

More importantly, the influence of the elders that had taken deep root in the Ice Castle had to be completely removed, like extracting poison.

Islay found it impossible to calm his mounting irritation.

This was the consequence of not eliminating all those who had watched him from the shadows like sewer rats. His mistake had been to dismiss them as harmless compared to the monsters and the curse he prioritized above all else.

No, in hindsight, just once… When was it? It had been the year he had just reached adulthood.

More precisely, it was after he returned from a month-long campaign to deal with the seeds his birth father, who had become a host for monsters, had spread throughout Calis.

Olena had secretly called Islay to a banquet hall, saying she had prepared something.

“Come, come. This way. Don’t look at me like that… Surely, you’ll enjoy this.”

The first elder’s face, always irritating, was flushed with excitement. Whatever she had prepared, it must have thrilled her.

The moment Islay, with a reluctant expression, entered the hall, his sleepless eyes darkened coldly.

In the room where soft music flowed like oil, there were over a dozen naked women. And it wasn’t just them. Several equally naked men were roughly indulging themselves with the women.

Grabbing their hair as if to tear it out, pressing their cheeks against the floor, pinning them down and thrusting into them. Some forced their way into women’s mouths, leaving them teary and sniffling. Despite the apparent pain, the women let out moans.

Every position seemed calculated to be clearly visible to Islay, who stood at the entrance. The men must have been brought in to arouse their young lord. The sight was nauseating.

Olena and Benoch intended to personally witness their lord’s mating amid that deranged orgy. The gleam in their eyes was more repulsive than that of any black beast. Islay had drawn his sword without hesitation.

He truly intended to behead the elders right there. His determination was unwavering. He intended to make them kneel and execute them mercilessly.

“Why would you want to behead us?”

Olena had pleaded with an air of genuine confusion.

“This was merely a task of ours as elders. We thought you would be pleased, my lord, as the Peruno bloodline has always delighted in such events…!”