The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 74

Late at night, Dora had already returned to her own treatment room. Alone in the quiet space, Stella was just about to drift off to sleep when she heard a sound. She perked up her ears and turned the doorknob.

There, standing outside, was the man she’d been waiting for. Their eyes met, and Stella couldn’t hide the joy spreading across her face.

“Islay.”

She threw her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against his firm chest. His cool body, as though he’d been out in the night breeze for a long time, enveloped her.

Thump, thump. His heartbeat, audible near her ear, was slightly faster than usual. It wasn’t his typical calm, steady rhythm, but Stella was simply so happy he had returned that she buried her face in his chest for a while, closing her eyes tightly.

When she finally lifted her chin, she asked, “Is everything settled?”

“More or less.”

In the quiet, Islay’s voice sounded particularly low.

“It will take time to restore the wall completely, but the punishments are finished.”

Stella didn’t press for details about how he dealt with Benoch and the elders’ minions. She didn’t need to. They certainly hadn’t been spared, not after harming the city and causing pain to so many. The harsh retribution was inevitable.

It was a relief that everything had been resolved, but her worry for one person remained. Stella asked cautiously, “Have you been able to rest at all? You didn’t sleep, did you?”

“I wasn’t tired.”

“Liar.”

Islay brushed off her concern with a short reply, but he looked exhausted. It wasn’t physical fatigue—it was mental weariness. As the ruler of the North, he carried an immense burden, and the betrayal of those he once trusted as close aides had nearly forced him into something he despised the most. It would have been impossible not to feel drained.

Yet, he had kept his promise to come see her, and for that, Stella felt both sorry and grateful. He likely hadn’t even had time to sleep.

Gently, she intertwined her fingers with his.

“Then how about we go to bed together now?”

Her cheeks flushed a soft apricot hue as she spoke, worried she might sound clumsy or overly forward in trying to entice him. But her desire to feel his warmth remained unchanged. She had already informed Dora that she planned to stay in his tower once he returned, so she was ready to leave the treatment room immediately.

To her surprise, Islay didn’t agree right away. Though he continued to lightly tousle her neatly combed hair, the silence stretched long. Growing self-conscious, Stella opened her eyes wide.

Had he forgotten their promise to stay together in his tower? That couldn’t be it. Or perhaps…

“Did you change your mind?”

“Of course not. Don’t be silly.”

At last, he let out a small laugh, as though she’d said something absurd. Tilting his head slightly, he kissed her softly on the lips.

“Come on.”

Before she could even feel giddy over the natural, affectionate gesture, Islay took her hand and led her out of the treatment room. His grip was firm but gentle.

***

The deep blue night sky was lit by a brilliant full moon. The guards were still stationed at the entrance to the tall tower, its heavy doors bound with thick chains and locks as before.

Seeing the strict security, Stella felt uneasy. She understood it was under Islay’s orders, but the ironclad defenses, as though meant to confine a monster, left her feeling unsettled.

Once the curse was broken, Islay wouldn’t need to lock himself away anymore. She wanted to comfort him, to pat his shoulder and tell him he didn’t have to endure solitude any longer. But for now, she could only keep such thoughts to herself.

‘I can’t tell him about my decision…’

Though Stella had accepted her fate, she resolved to keep it from him. Islay would surely dismiss it as meaningless, shaking his head without a second thought. He might even take drastic measures to stop her from taking any action.

‘If that happens, I’ll never get the chance to meet with Father Padro.’

She needed to visit him at least once. But when would be the right time? Even so, for now, it was comforting that she wouldn’t leave Islay to face the coming days alone.

As these thoughts swirled in her mind, the tower’s door shut behind them with a heavy thud. The sound of metal locks clicking reverberated through the air, startling Stella. She flinched at the noise.

Islay glanced back at her and reassured her, “It’s not to lock you in. It’s because of me. Locking the tower door after I enter is the rule.”

“Oh…”

“If you need to go out, even in the middle of the night, just ring the bell by the door.”

“I wasn’t upset, just startled by the noise. I’m naturally jumpy.”

Worried she might have offended him, Stella quickly explained.

“And I won’t be leaving the tower anyway.”

Her voice was steady as she added, “I’ll stay with you until morning. Tomorrow too, and the day after that…”

Their gazes met, holding different thoughts about their intertwined fates. No more words were needed that night.

The bedroom at the top of the tower was a cold, lifeless space. It was never meant for comfort, so the furnishings were minimal, and even those showed little evidence of use.

As soon as they entered, Islay lit the fireplace. He added enough logs to keep it burning until morning, placed a pitcher of water and a glass on the bedside table in case she grew thirsty, and set out a bowl of fruit prepared in advance. Lastly, he drew the thin curtains tied to the bedposts, ensuring she could sleep deeply.

With these small touches, the stark room began to resemble a lived-in space. It wasn’t much, but it made a difference. Bringing an entire household’s worth of furnishings to a tower that resembled a prison wasn’t feasible, yet Islay found himself marveling at how homely it felt now.

If he had brought in a vanity mirror or a comfortable chair for her naps, it would have looked unmistakably like a couple’s bedroom.

Smirking to himself, Islay untied the leather straps of his tunic. The thought was absurd. A man who wouldn’t live to see another year didn’t need a couple’s bedroom.

Meanwhile, Stella had climbed onto the bed and was lying with her head on a large pillow. She looked up at him with clear eyes, occupying the center of the bed he rarely used. Her gaze felt strangely unfamiliar.

Islay inhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling slowly. His heart thudded heavily in his chest. The excitement coursing through him was even greater than when he’d touched her bare skin in the inn.

Should he have taken more sedatives? For an ordinary man, he had already exceeded the lethal dose, yet every cell in his body felt as though it was writhing like a snake.

“Aren’t you going to lie down?”

Without a word, Islay pulled back the covers. Stella immediately inched closer and snuggled into his arms. Wrapping her thin arms around him, she rested her head against his shoulder.

Islay didn’t mind the warmth of her proximity. Sliding his arm under her head to serve as a pillow, he gently combed his fingers through her soft, golden hair. The faint fragrance emanating from her was comforting.

If he were a man unbound by anything, would this moment simply feel joyful? If he were an ordinary man, free to love her without restraint, could this fleeting, dreamlike moment feel like an ordinary part of life? If so, Islay would want nothing more.

“Islay.”

Her voice pulled him from his thoughts. Lowering his gaze slightly, he saw Stella looking up at him with wide, trusting eyes.

“About wood carving… Could you teach me again when you have time?”

It seemed she regretted how short their last lesson had been. Her sudden yet endearing request made him nod without hesitation.

“Of course. Let’s do it tomorrow.”

“And the carvings in the adjacent room—don’t burn them.”

She was referring to the room connected to his bedroom without a door. It was cluttered with various wooden sculptures, remnants of his thoughts carved into shapes.

“They’re beautiful. It’d be such a waste to throw them in the fireplace. If you plan to get rid of them, let me keep one.”

For the first time, a genuine chuckle escaped him. Her drowsy voice, tinged with greed, was endearing.

“Just one? That’s modest.”

“Then two…”

“Everything I have is yours, Stella.”

When he spoke, her chatter ceased. She stared at him intently from beneath his chin.

“Even your heart?”