The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 95

13. Farewell and Reunion

Heavy eyelids slowly lifted. Even then, Stella remained motionless for a while. Only after a few seconds passed did she realize that she was lying in bed, her cheek resting against Islay’s chest, held tightly in his embrace.

Letting out a weak groan, Stella stirred her shoulder. A dry thirst scraped at her throat. The overwhelming fatigue and the bruising pain that covered her body made her want to keep her eyes closed a little longer.

Thud, thud!

“……”

The repeated noise anchored her slipping consciousness. Realizing it wasn’t just her imagination, Stella’s eyes flickered open.

Rubbing the back of her neck, she slowly pushed herself upright. Islay’s arm, which had been tightly wrapped around her slender waist, slid away.

She flinched as she felt something lightly tap her thigh and looked down at him. His sharp features stood out even more in repose. Holding her breath, she observed his long lashes, unmoving as he lay still.

‘He’s asleep…’

The man lying on his side was deep in slumber. Unlike when his eyes had turned completely dark as he drove into her, his face was peaceful. At the same time, she was jolted fully awake.

Today was the day of the memorial ceremony. By noon, the square would be crowded with people, and she had to head to the general store. A follower of Padro, waiting at the back entrance of the shop, was supposed to escort her to the altar.

The altar. The sacrificial ritual for Peruno. According to the oracle, she had to endure the agony of having her eyes gouged out and her heart stopped. To say she wasn’t afraid would be a lie, but…

Thud, thud, thud!

Her head turned instinctively. This time, the pounding against the door was firmer. It was still early morning, and guards should have been stationed outside—who could be knocking so urgently?

There was no way to know without checking. If left unattended, the noise might wake Islay.

Groaning as she forced her sore limbs into motion, Stella picked up her scattered clothes and dressed herself. Her shoulders ached so much that it took her quite some time to fully put on her dress.

Before leaving the bed, she cast a hazy glance at the still-sleeping man. A faint curve formed at the corners of her lips. Even though he had hurt her terribly, she harbored no resentment toward him.

Stella hesitated for a moment, tempted to brush her fingers over his smooth cheek and the hair that fell over his forehead, but she refrained. She had no idea she would later regret this moment for a long time. As she rose to her feet, she briefly froze at the marks left on the sheets from the previous night, but without looking back, she stepped forward.

When Stella reached the first floor, she spoke in a low voice at the entrance.

“Who is it?”

The person outside responded not with words but by pushing the firmly closed door open. Stella gasped as she saw who hurriedly stepped inside.

“…Dora?”

How long had it been since she last saw that face? Dora, dressed in a dark robe, pulled back her hood and embraced Stella tightly.

“Dora, what are you doing here?”

“Hic…”

The maid began to sob the moment she saw Stella. Was it because she had not responded to Stella’s summons some time ago? Or because she had avoided her for so long after being asked for something unreasonable?

Understanding her emotions, Stella, though caught off guard, gently patted the small maid’s back.

“Dora.”

Dora, who had been weeping into Stella’s shoulder, lifted her head. Seeing the tear-streaked face of the maid made Stella’s throat tighten.

“Don’t cry. Did something happen?”

“No.”

Sniffling, Dora wiped her tears with the back of her hand and then put on a determined expression.

“Princess, about what you asked me to do.”

“Hmm? …Oh, that. Wait a moment.”

Though caught off guard, Stella grabbed Dora’s arm, worried that the guards stationed outside might overhear. However, the maid stood her ground.

“There’s no one outside, so you can speak here.”

“No one outside? What do you mean?”

Come to think of it, Dora had left the door slightly ajar when she entered. Curious, Stella took a few steps forward and peered outside.

It was true. Not a single guard stood watch over the tower.

“…What is going on?”

“There was an intruder in the inner castle. The guards have all been deployed to track them down.”

“An intruder…?”

Her heart sank.

“D-don’t tell me a monster got in again? Were the people evacuated? Is anyone hurt—?”

“Fortunately, it wasn’t a monster. The exact identity is unknown, but the guards are handling it, so everything should be fine.”

Dora stepped closer and firmly grasped both of Stella’s hands.

“Princess, this is our chance.”

“…What?”

“You asked me to help you. I will.”

Stella, still bewildered, fell silent.

Lowering her voice, Dora quickly continued, “You were supposed to meet Father Padro by blending into the memorial ceremony crowd, right? I heard the plan has changed. With so many guards leaving to chase the intruders, the priests told me that we should proceed with the sacrifice now.”

“The plan changed? The sacrifice… now?”

Stella could only repeat Dora’s words like a parrot.

“The biggest obstacle was avoiding the guards. With them gone from their posts, now is the perfect time. Come with me. Even if we run into someone, I can make up an excuse.”

Something felt off. Her words didn’t quite line up.

Moreover, when she had first asked Dora to help with the sacrifice, the maid had been furious, even threatening to inform Islay.

And now, she was suddenly offering to help? To take Stella directly to the priests who would carry out the ritual?

Stella wanted to discern Dora’s true intentions, but her keen intuition failed to activate this time. Still, even without that ability, she could tell this situation was suspicious.

“Princess.”

Dora tightened her grip on Stella’s hands, calling her again and again.

“If we don’t go now, we might not get another chance. We must leave immediately.”

Stella flinched and furrowed her brows. A faint headache throbbed at her temples. It was a sensation she hadn’t felt in a long time—one that sometimes came when her Mind’s Eye was about to awaken.

That meant, at the very least, Dora was telling the truth about one thing.

“B-but the memorial ceremony—”

“The plan has changed. Come, quickly.”

Without waiting for another word, Dora pulled out a pre-prepared robe and draped it over Stella’s shoulders before grabbing her wrist and dragging her along. The pace was so hurried that Stella couldn’t even protest.

The two women stepped into the dim courtyard, still covered in the dawn’s haze. Though it was early, the place felt eerily empty, as if no one was around.

“Just in case.”

Murmuring softly, Dora pulled the hood of Stella’s robe up over her head. It was so large that it nearly covered her eyes, making it difficult to see.

“Wait, Dora.”

“Hurry!”

Everything was happening too fast. Stella’s entire body ached from the relentless torment of the night before, yet Dora moved so swiftly that she had no time to process any thoughts. Thirsty and still exhausted from just waking up, Stella had no choice but to let herself be led.

“If there was… if there were intruders, why is it so quiet?”

“The guards must be keeping them at bay.”

“But…”

“Shh! Someone might hear us.”

Crunch, crunch—the sound of hurried footsteps across dry grass echoed in the silence. They had been running for quite some time when Dora finally began to slow her pace. Seizing the moment, Stella pushed back her hood slightly, revealing her face.

Her eyes widened in shock.

“What…?”

No matter how vast the Ice Castle was, Stella recognized this path well.

“This isn’t the way to the outer walls…!”

Where they now stood was at the back of the inner castle, right before the gates leading to the frozen lake.

With a pale face, Stella lifted her gaze to the towering gate before her.

She knew this entrance well—the hidden door embedded in the castle wall near the watchtower. It was connected to what was known as the secret passageway.

“Dora, what are you doing?”