The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Side Story 2

“Estella seems to be plotting something.”

That was just a few days after Islay had left the Ice Castle.

As he rode through the desolate snowfield and arrived at the first city, a messenger bird from the castle brought a message. It was a report briefly outlining Stella’s movements.

With just a few short lines, Islay immediately grasped her intentions and let out a soft chuckle.

“Looks like she’s renovating that old tower.”

“Seems that way. I debated whether to report it or not, but as a loyal subject, I couldn’t disobey orders.”

“You did well. Keep reporting from a reasonable distance like this.”

Mikel cast a glance at Islay, who was folding the report. He dared not voice the disloyal thought that perhaps Islay was worrying too much about the princess.

Unfortunately, Stella’s grand plan to surprise Islay had long been discovered. Given how obsessively Islay worried about her, he couldn’t help but assign her a secret escort.

Especially considering it had only been half a year since all those terrible incidents.

The Ice Castle was now an exceptionally safe place, but as written in the letter he sent Stella, the problem lay with Islay’s heart.

Of course, he wasn’t monitoring her every move to the point of making her uncomfortable, but he did need to have a general idea of her activities to feel at ease.

That’s how he came to learn that she had been visiting the isolated tower daily and seemed to be up to something. Thanks to that, he had a rough idea of what she was planning.

Islay tossed the paper into the blazing campfire and let out a laugh.

Adorable. How can someone be that adorable? He wanted to throw away all pretense and run straight to her, kissing every inch of her.

Even when she did nothing but blink, she was lovable. But now, to think she was struggling to decorate the tower for his sake… The fact that her ambitious plan had been so obviously found out only made it all the more amusing and endearing.

She was a meticulous woman, so she was surely preparing everything with great care, including the things he would’ve never thought of. Honestly, Islay didn’t care how the tower was decorated or what kind of gift Stella prepared.

Even if it was adorned with dreary scraps of cloth and withered plants, or even if she just handed him a petal she picked up off the street, it would still feel like the most romantic gesture in the world.

The only issue was that she was probably expecting a dramatic reaction from him.

‘Should I pretend to be surprised?’

Islay seriously pondered it. He wasn’t exactly good at lying—what was he supposed to do?

“In any case, as long as Estella is safe, let her do whatever she wants. Even if she wants to tear down the castle.”

“Y-yes… understood.” Mikel nodded, a bit taken aback, and turned to leave.

After that, the inspection work finished much earlier than scheduled, and there was no reason to delay his return when he was practically dying from missing his wife.

Aside from receiving reports of her movements, Islay had been respecting Stella’s privacy, so he wasn’t fully aware of the surprise plan’s details—but he decided to return to the Ice Castle early.

He figured the tower must be more or less completed by now anyway.

***

It had been three days since Stella received his last letter.

“Princess!”

Stella was hanging a tapestry on the wall in the new master bedroom at the top of the tower when she saw Dora rushing up the stairs and opened her eyes wide.

“His Lordship just crossed the drawbridge that spans the city! He’ll be at the inner castle courtyard any moment now!”

I knew it.

“He really did come a day earlier than he wrote in the letter.”

“What should we do?”

“Well, what else…. I should greet my husband who’s coming home.”

What else can I do when he says it’s simply because he misses me? And I have my own plans, too.

Stella, with no other choice, finished hanging the tapestry and quickly looked around the master bedroom. She hadn’t decorated it to her heart’s content due to the rush, but seeing the now-brightened room made her feel proud.

She couldn’t completely tear down the dull brick walls, but she had hung elegant tapestries here and there, layered slender curtains in the refined southern style, and laid soft carpeting on the floor.

The sofa, bed, and table were all furniture brought in from the unused rooms of the inner castle. Not just the master bedroom, but all the rooms on each floor were decorated this way. Wanting the entrance hall on the first floor to feel bright and cozy, she even replaced the flooring.

‘Considering how hastily it was done, it turned out okay. Just one thing—a partially unfinished gift—is a bit of a shame…’

Her gaze drifted quietly toward the antechamber connected to the bedroom.

“Now, come here quickly. You wouldn’t want to greet your husband all covered in dust and with your hair a mess, would you?”

“…Ah.”

“Of course, you still look absolutely beautiful, but it’s been a while since you’ve seen him. It’s better to look tidy, don’t you think?”

Led by Dora’s hand, Stella walked toward the modest dressing table set in one corner of the bedroom.

Looking in the mirror, she saw that the maid was right—she didn’t look her best. After combing her tangled hair and changing into a clean dress, she was at least presentable enough to greet Islay without embarrassment. Finishing her preparations, Stella stepped out of the tower with a fluttering heart.

As she reached the wide forecourt, she saw a group of men dismounting from their warhorses one by one. Among them, she immediately spotted Islay, who had leapt off his horse with practiced ease. Her heart swelled with joy—it was only natural.

“Islay!”

With a bright expression on her face, she lifted her skirt and ran toward him in quick steps. The previously emotionless face of Islay softened into a smile as if painted with color. Striding toward her, he swept her up in his arms.

“I’m home, Estella.”

Surrounded by the scent she had missed so dearly, Stella closed her eyes. When his large hand gently cradled and stroked the back of her head, laughter spilled from her lips.

“I missed you. So much that I dreamed of you every night.”

“I missed you too. Everything’s been fine while I was gone, right?”

“Of course. …Ah, that tickles.”

As they embraced and exchanged kisses along each other’s necks, the people around them cleared their throats and slipped away. No one had forcibly kept them apart, yet the reunion was so tender it was almost overwhelming… It might have been a little excessive, but they let it pass.

Stella cupped Islay’s face in both hands, nuzzled the tip of her nose against his, then met his eyes. His crimson pupils gazed at her, brimming with affection.

She could hardly believe she was once frightened by this face. To have feared such a harmless, lovable man—how absurd.

“Aren’t you tired or hungry? Should I have them prepare a meal?”

“I’m fine. I don’t feel the slightest bit hungry because you’re all I see.”

Islay said something borderline flirtatious and kissed her cheek. Stella giggled like a child and slipped from his arms.

“Stop teasing. Isn’t there anything else you want to do? Like taking a bath…?”

“I’m getting excited. Are you trying to seduce me before I’ve even unpacked?”

“So that’s a yes. Then come with me, I have something to show you.”

Stella brushed off Islay’s innuendos and tugged his hand. Thankfully, he followed her without further comment.

Their destination was, of course, the once-abandoned tower. Having already heard that Stella had been remodeling it, Islay hesitated for a moment, wondering how he should react.

“…You’ve removed all the bars.”

The eerie iron bars that had once lined the doors and windows were all gone. That was the first thing Stella had taken care of when she began renovating the tower.

And not just that. The door, which had been scarred by chains and heavy locks every time Islay locked himself away, had been repainted and no longer looked grim.

“It used to be no different from a prison.”

“Not anymore, Islay. This is our new honeymoon home. I prepared it as a gift while you were away. I hope you like it.”

With a flushed face, Stella looked back at him as she climbed the stairs.

“Come in. Thanks to your early return, I get to show it to you even sooner.”