The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 1
- An Unexpected Tribute
On an evening as dusk began to settle, a splendid carriage raced along the elongated road, kicking up clouds of dust.
The dim surroundings were illuminated only by the faint lanterns attached to the carriage, which, flickering with the passing wind, made it difficult to see outside from within.
This contributed to Stella’s near fainting condition. She swallowed back nausea with a pallid face, and her delicate body tried in vain not to jostle around. The golden locks cascading with the carriage’s jerks made her resemble a strange doll.
“Just a little longer. We’ll arrive soon,” said Dora, the maid sitting opposite her.
She tightly held Stella’s hand. Stella blinked her half-closed eyes and took labored breaths.
The carriage jolted sharply at that moment. Dora quickly opened the small window and peeked out with a scowl.
“Hey! Can’t you drive a bit slower?”
“…What? Can’t hear you!”
“Slow down the carriage! The Princess is suffering!”
Whether the message was not received or the King’s command to arrive without delay took precedence, the driver continued to whip the horses.
Dora clicked her tongue and slammed the window shut, then looked pityingly at the woman seated before her.
Princess Estella of Largo, a small kingdom at the southern edge of the continent. She was known as the star of Largo.
This nickname came from her golden eyes, as if collecting the brightest starlight from the night sky, and her mysterious golden hair.
However, calling her that now seemed ironic, as the carefully applied makeup before leaving the palace had disappeared, her face was pale and tear-streaked. Her lips, bitten to restrain vomiting, were marked with blood instead of rouge.
“Shall I ask them to stop the carriage?”
“It’s okay. Let’s keep going.”
Stella answered in a frail voice and shook her head.
“If we delay here, we’ll be late for the appointment.”
Dora secretly slightly as she gazed at the Princess, who was clearly in no state of grace.
There had been a covert order from the Queen that the Princess must appear in perfect beauty, regardless of being late. Even to the naive maid, it seemed wiser to arrive late but in a condition befitting her nickname. Rather than on time in her current disheveled state.
Stella, with her eyelashes lowered, seemed lost in thought before suddenly biting her lip, on the verge of tears. Dora grasped the Princess’s hand tighter while furrowing her brow.
“Don’t cry, Princess. It will ruin your makeup.”
“Let her be. There’s no makeup left to ruin,” another maid sitting beside Dora remarked dryly, an attitude unbefitting in the presence of royalty.
“Wouldn’t it be better to rest a bit, as Dora suggested? We’ve already stopped to vomit three times.”
“You, what kind of manner is that towards Her Highness?”
“That’s right. Constantly crying in this cramped carriage is tiresome.”
The maid muttered as if talking to herself but threw a disdainful glance into the air, unaffected by Dora’s sharp gaze. This attitude was understandable, as Stella had struggled with motion sickness throughout the long journey, forcing several stops to vomit. The maid tasked with her grooming now looked fed up.
Not just the maid, but no one in the palace treated Stella with any respect. It was natural given that she grew up neglected by the King and Queen. Who would cherish a woman not even valued by her own family? Apart from her long-lost brother and maid Dora, no one seemed to pity Stella.
The neglected Princess. Her pretty face is all she has.
Stella was aware of her situation.
Ironically, she had overheard the King’s whisper to the servant about her being a prime commodity in the marriage market due to her foolishness and noble blood, just before boarding the carriage.
“Stop your crying, Your Highness. You’re merely going to enjoy a formal dinner with a wonderful Prince.”
“….A wonderful Prince? That man?”
Stella contorted her pale face in disgust.
“Prince Hendrik is not wonderful. I’ve seen it clearly. Moreover, the thought of spending a night at the prince’s villa….”
