The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 98

Ever since sending Stella away, Islay had not been himself. To hesitate over punishing the priests out of concern for a woman he would never see again—was that not absurd even in his own eyes?

‘…Regret.’

Yes. To say he felt no regret would be a blatant lie. If he had been a more ordinary man, she was the woman with whom he would have wanted to spend the rest of his life. It was a realization he had come to one night, watching Stella sleep without noticing the passage of time.

How wonderful it would have been to keep her by his side forever, to tilt his head whenever he wished to kiss her, to gaze endlessly at her sleeping face, to caress her cheek when she woke…

Islay let out a quiet, bitter chuckle. He had sent away someone like that with his own hands—of course, he would linger on it.

“Captain, it’s not too late even now. You could still go after the princess—”

“Enough.”

“Is it because of your pact with the Southerners?”

Finding no need to respond, Islay adjusted his grip on his sword and moved forward. Yet, his thoughts drifted back to the moment he had personally confronted Alexio and the Southerners near the Misty Forest.

Just before the conflict, the Northerners had lowered their weapons. It had been Islay’s order.

Noticing the shift, the Southerners also sheathed their swords, one by one. Lastly, Alexio emerged from the shade of a cedar tree.

The rightful heir to the Largo throne and Stella’s elder brother by a mere year, he possessed bright blond hair and delicate features. His resemblance to her was undeniable.

Yet his body bore the marks of a life spent in hardship—his exposed skin covered in numerous scars. As Islay observed him, his gaze lingered particularly long on Alexio’s right wrist.

“Are you the Grand Duke of Peruno?”

Typical of a Southerner, Alexio addressed him with the formal title Islay despised.

It was the name by which he was known in the civilized continent, so there was nothing to object to, but Islay simply found Alexio himself distasteful.

Everyone knew how poorly Stella had been treated in the palace. If not for Islay, she would have fallen into Hendrick’s hands without a doubt.

And yet, where had her brother been for nearly a decade, only now appearing to claim his right to care for her? Islay had no interest in Alexio’s circumstances.

More than that, imagining the two of them carrying matching lockets with each other’s portraits, clinging to memories over the years—it twisted his stomach. Even knowing they were blood-related, he could not suppress his irritation.

Still, he had not shown hostility toward Alexio, simply because his features reminded him too much of Stella.

“So you are Alexio Lassa.”

Despite standing before a dozen formidable Northerners, Alexio showed no trace of fear. Instead, he eyed Islay with open suspicion for choosing to make contact rather than attack outright.

Islay studied the man so reminiscent of Stella before speaking.

“There’s no need for lengthy discussion. I will release the Princess of Largo and the knight, Roderick, who are currently held at my castle.”

“……”

“Her maid, who has served her faithfully, will also be sent with them. Take them from the forest path leading to the plains at dawn three days from now.”

Alexio’s narrowed eyes sharpened.

Had he found it strange that Islay addressed Stella so familiarly? Or had he sensed the emotions Islay had failed to hide?

Whatever Alexio felt, Islay continued without hesitation, explaining that he would clear the path for their passage through the treacherous canyon so they could leave Calis safely.

“It’s curious that you would return them so easily. Do you expect something in return?”

“No.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Islay dismissed the notion. A long silence followed.

Though Alexio did not seem entirely convinced, he eventually accepted the offer. After all, his primary goal had always been to rescue Stella. He also understood that if Islay had truly intended to kill the Southerners, he would not be standing there negotiating—he would have drawn his sword the moment they met.

The conversation was brief and to the point. Just as Islay turned to leave with his scouts, a sharp voice called from behind.

“Did you touch her?”

Islay slowly turned back. Alexio’s green eyes burned with restrained fury.

“My sister. Did you lay a hand on her in any way?”

The phrase itself was almost refined. Whether in control of his senses or lost in madness, Islay had always been a ruthless beast when it came to taking Stella.

Rather than respond with words, he met Alexio’s gaze in silence. Understanding dawned in the prince’s eyes, and he inhaled sharply. That delicate face twisted with hatred and rage.

“I see no reason to thank the man who took my sister without her consent, just because he has now returned her. Nor do I see any reason to be polite.”

“……”

“I hope we never cross paths again. Do not even think of meeting Stella ever again.”

Mikel, who had been listening quietly, suddenly interjected, unable to contain his anger.

“You speak so freely despite knowing nothing. Do you truly think anyone here has treated the princess less than you have? After all this time, you appear to act as an older brother?”

“You insolent cur! How dare you speak that way to the prince!”

“He’s not the prince I serve. If you want to settle this with a fight, go ahead.”

“Disrespectful wretch! You’re no better than those cursed pirates!”

Islay raised a hand to silence the outburst from both sides. Alexio then spoke in a low voice.

“I will wait for three days. After that, neither Stella nor I will have any reason to see you again. I expect you to promise not to seek her out.”

Never again. The emphasis in his voice was firm. Islay gazed at Alexio for a moment before turning away without a response. Once again, his silence was an agreement.

From the moment he decided to let Stella go, this outcome had been inevitable. The memorial ceremony, which masked a sacrificial ritual, and the sudden reappearance of her brother had forced their separation to come sooner than planned.

He had known he would never see Stella again. Now that he had even promised her brother, it was truly over.

On that rainy night, Islay summoned Dora and Roderick Elgin to relay his plans.

More than the doubtful southern knight, the maid played a critical role. She had already obeyed his command to ignore Stella’s summons, and she nodded readily at his orders.

“But I don’t know if the princess will willingly leave the Ice Castle. She seemed determined to go through with the sacrifice…”

“Didn’t she ask for your help? We will have to use that against her.”

He could not bring himself to knock her unconscious or hand her over to the Northerners like a piece of cargo. That would have been the simplest and fastest method, but he could not bear to send her away like that, burdened with guilt.

The priests, however, were a different matter. Islay had seized Padro and the others by the scruff of their necks and thrown them into the underground prison. Stella had no idea that meeting them on the day of the memorial ceremony had been impossible from the start.

She had to be sent away before dawn. Islay had planned, as always, to be absent under the guise of patrol duty. Dora would visit Stella, pretending to offer her assistance, and lead her toward the lake. Meanwhile, the knight freed from the underground prison would be waiting there to take her away.

And then there was their final night together.

He had hoped to make it meaningful. With Stella’s plan already foiled, he had wanted to speak to her honestly. Perhaps even confess his feelings.

She had always said she could feel his love without words, but if he spoke it aloud, she would be happy.

That was the moment he opened the door to the tower chamber—only to find Stella deliberately trying to seduce him.

“If you’re tired, why not go straight to bed…?”

He could see through her thoughts with ease. She was still determined to sacrifice herself for him and was now trying to keep him with her until the ritual.

Just like that first night, when he had all but taken her by force. She must have thought if he spent himself with her again, he would collapse at dawn and be unable to stop her.

She was trying to cloud his mind and make him lose control.

But Islay felt nothing. He had no intention of touching her.

He considered telling her about her brother. It would confuse her, but perhaps she would abandon her plan and return willingly. Then, he wouldn’t have to go through with this crude plan.

Yet he could not bring himself to say it. He could already envision Stella walking away from him, leaving him behind. The words stuck in his throat.

And so, instead of telling her the truth, he held her.

His body reacted against his will. At some point, he lost himself, crossing the line and driving into her like a madman. He experienced the greatest guilt and pleasure of his life simultaneously.

In a way, Stella’s plan had worked. He had lost control. He had buried himself in her, over and over, until dawn broke and he finally succumbed to exhaustion.

Afterward, Stella left safely with the Southerners and reunited with her brother, just as he had intended.

The sight of the bloodstain left on the sheets afterward had been crushing. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that letting her go had been the right choice. He needed to be far from Stella. The only regret he carried was never telling her that he loved her.

“Captain.”

Deep in the mountains, where he had been relentlessly cutting down monsters, Islay did not hear his subordinate calling him.

He had come to the frozen peaks, far from the Ice Castle, solely to rid his mind of the woman who consumed his thoughts.

“What if the princess and her party clash with Pantege upon their return to Largo?”

Mikel finally raised his voice. Islay, unable to push Stella from his thoughts for even a moment, turned his head.

“Hendrick Regan. The current king of Largo is no better than a pawn of Pantege. If the princess clashes with them, do you truly have no concerns?”