I Held the Leash of a Blind Beast (1 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 12
“May I ask where you’ve been?”
“Um… it’s just that…”
Rona seemed hesitant about whether to say something or not.
“I heard there might be a way to cure your eyes, so I went looking into it.”
“Haha.”
Illeon let out a dry laugh as soon as he heard Rona’s words.
“Oh, sorry. So there’s no way to cure my eyes after all. Even His Majesty the Emperor tried his best to take care of his broken nephew, yet here I still am.”
Rona’s sigh sounded heavy.
“I didn’t want to say anything because I was afraid you’d think that.”
“So, did you find a method?”
“Um… only half of one.”
Illeon was curious about what “half” of a cure Rona had found. But by now, his soul had already been steeped in the bitterness of resignation.
“What kind of treatment is it?”
“Herbal tea. They said there’s a rare medicinal ingredient.”
“Herbal tea.”
He’d had to taste all sorts of things that seemed unfit for human consumption. Just recalling that time made Illeon’s stomach churn.
By nature, Illeon never ate or drank anything offered by others carelessly—there had been endless attempts on his life. Rumor had it among the barbarians that if Illeon Clevent fell, they could win the war.
Yet he, who had always been so cautious, had to drink whatever others gave him without complaint, all for the sake of regaining his sight. It was far more difficult and painful for him than it would have been for anyone else. And in the end, his eyes showed no improvement whatsoever. Remembering that period weighed heavily on Illeon’s heart; merely retracing those memories brought back vividly the despair he’d felt then.
“Ask the butler. There should be records compiling all the medicinal ingredients used in past treatments. If there’s something you haven’t tried yet, I’ll drink it.”
If it came from Rona, could he really refuse anything, no matter how unpleasant? Learning that she’d braved the rain searching for a cure just for him only intensified Illeon’s desire to regain his sight.
“Don’t get your hopes too high. But if it’s something you bring, I’ll drink it diligently.”
“Illeon.”
Rona placed her fingertips gently on the back of his hand. Her hand slowly traveled up his arm until it reached his shoulder, then lightly pulled him toward her and patted his back.
In that instant, Illeon was startled as though struck by lightning. She’d clearly given him a signal beforehand so he wouldn’t be alarmed—but even so, his heart pounded wildly, almost frantically.
It was a light embrace, one that could easily pass as a polite greeting. He knew well that such a gentle hug was merely a humane gesture meant to offer comfort and encouragement. Yet even that slight contact made every nerve in Illeon’s body scream in awareness.
“You will surely open your eyes again. I’ll make sure of it.”
Rona’s murmured vow, spoken with quiet determination, rang dizzyingly in his ear. For a moment, Illeon felt an overwhelming urge to pull her into his arms.
‘…No.’
He still didn’t want her to discover his feelings. Revealing his heart so transparently to someone so oblivious, selfless, and seemingly indifferent might force him to abandon even the fragile hope he’d kept to himself.
‘When I have no intention of letting go.’
If he ever embraced Rona even once, what then? He’d surely start wanting even more.
Illeon had to pour all his strength into forcing his hand, which had instinctively reached toward her, back down.
When Illeon turned his head, Rona stepped away from him.
“Let’s go to the tailor’s. We should hurry.”
Rona shook her head.
“I’m really fine. I’m already being paid well under better conditions than elsewhere. That’s enough for me.”
At her gentle refusal, Illeon felt disappointment settle in his chest alone. Just moments ago, he’d been analyzing every word she’d spoken, wondering whether she harbored any affection for him or if there was any chance he could win her heart—now he felt foolish for even thinking about it.
Conditions and salary.
Rona wasn’t staying by his side out of desire. He suddenly realized anew that their relationship was purely one of employer and employee, and that bleak certainty gripped him—the same as always, and likely forever.
‘But if there’s anything I can do for you, I’d do it all.’
He remembered the rough, cheap coat that had clung heavily to her small frame after yesterday’s downpour. At that memory, his wavering resolve steadied once more.
“This concerns the dignity of the ducal house. What would people think if you went around dressed like that?”
“They probably wouldn’t care about me.”
“Won’t they point fingers and say the ducal household pays its staff so poorly that they look shabby?”
“Oh… I suppose they might. I’m sorry, Illeon.”
Hearing the dejected tone in Rona’s voice pained Illeon. But he was just moments away from earning the right to dress her in brand-new clothes—if only she’d hold on a little longer.
“Go ahead and get ready.”
“Yes, Illeon.”
Thud.
As soon as the door closed, Illeon roughly rubbed his flushed face.
To hold someone in your heart was to have your daily life shattered. Ordinary actions, every single word—they all gained meaning.
Rona had patted him like a child, bowed politely, and left—surely with no hidden intention.
“Because I like you without reason.”
Illeon remained in place for a long while, turning over what had just happened.
[This is the timeline separator]‘Le Valain,’ the tailor’s shop located on Luton Street.
It was currently the most popular shop in Constance Avignon, the capital of the Constance Empire.
The reason he’d specifically returned here was threefold: first, because yesterday the shop owner herself had come directly to his carriage to greet him; second, because he hadn’t missed the butler’s remark that “the young ladies sitting in the park were all wearing Le Valain clothes.”
“Welcome, Your Grace. Thank you for visiting us again.”
And third, because the owner had treated the famously ill-fated blind duke—whose rumors ran rampant—as just an ordinary customer. Judging by her demeanor, she didn’t seem like someone who’d gossip elsewhere about “the Empire’s blind beast coming to buy clothes.”
“Right. I’d like several outfits made for this young lady.”
“Several? I don’t need that many clothes. Just one will do—the coat you tore yesterday…”
“Are you joking? Not even one for each season—spring, summer, autumn, and winter?”
“This place is incredibly expensive! Why would you buy clothes for someone like me here? My current clothes are perfectly sufficient.”
“Don’t forget—the clothes provided by the ducal house must be returned when you leave your post.”
Illeon quietly chuckled to himself, sensing Rona’s embarrassment at having come to the tailor’s in her maid’s uniform due to having nothing else suitable to wear.
“Then, miss, shall we follow this way?”
Truly, for the Empire’s most popular shop, the owner’s business acumen was impressive. Emily, the owner of Le Valain, led Illeon, Bernar, and Rona into a private room.
“Wow.”
Rona gasped the moment she stepped inside.
“What are you looking at to make such a sound?”
Illeon was genuinely curious. Before he lost his sight, young ladies would frequently swoon at the mere sight of him passing by. Though he’d lost his vision, he hadn’t lost all his looks—yet Rona had never made such a sound at seeing him. He was intensely curious about what had prompted her spontaneous exclamation.
“Well, first of all, it’s a large circular room, and there’s a round opening in the ceiling.”
“I’ve never seen anything like this either. Standing up there in a new dress, you’d look like an angel.”
Bernar added supportingly.
“And along the walls, beautiful fabrics are displayed in long rows, in all sorts of colors.”
Illeon pictured the scene exactly as Rona described it. He clearly imagined a dusky-skinned girl with red hair and blue eyes, her eyes sparkling as she looked around in wonder.
“Your Grace, I’ve brought several fabric samples.”
Emily truly knew what mattered. Having discerned that Illeon’s preferences would most affect sales, she seated him on a large sofa and placed a heavy bundle of neatly cut fabric swatches onto his lap.
Illeon ran his fingers over each one. The airy, thin, and soft fabric would be cool to wear in summer. The slightly thicker, sturdier material would be perfect for autumn outerwear. Every fabric he touched was vastly superior to what Rona had worn yesterday.
“I think I’ll need to order a winter coat as well. Do you have any winter fabrics?”
“It’s spring now, so they’re stored in the warehouse. But we do have a few finished coats—would you like to check them?”
Emily quickly returned, arms full of coats. Illeon carefully examined each one by touch—the collar, the draped lace on the sleeves, the neatly double-buttoned waistline.
“Good. Can you adjust the size to fit Rona?”
“Yes. All of these are already basted, so if you purchase them, we can tailor them precisely to Miss Rona’s measurements.”
“Then I’ll buy all these coats.”
Emily’s voice brightened instantly.
“Thank you.”
Meanwhile, Rona, having changed into a dress in the adjacent room, returned to the private chamber looking awkward.
“Please step up here, miss.”
“Like this?”
Sunlight pouring through the round skylight made the lace on her dress shimmer. Rona gasped as she looked in the mirror.
“I’ve uncovered this room’s secret. No matter what I try on here, I feel like I’ll end up buying everything.”
Seeing Rona’s innocent, sparkling eyes, Emily giggled softly.
“Don’t worry. His Grace has already bought more than twenty outfits.”
“What? Excuse me, madam! I really don’t need this many clothes!”
Ignoring Rona’s desperate cry, Illeon focused all his attention on his fingertips as he selected spring and autumn outfits. He still had summer clothes to choose—there was no time to spare.
“Take her and dress her in the spring outfit first.”
Emily faithfully followed her client’s instruction.
Just then—
“Well, well. Who do we have here? Never thought I’d see a blind man in a place like this.”
At the sound of that voice, Illeon’s eyes turned icy cold. In the entire Empire, only one person dared speak so disrespectfully to Illeon Clevent, second in line to the imperial throne.
“Sabiel.”
Illeon, in turn, didn’t bother addressing Sabiel with the usual “Your Highness.”
“What brings you to a place like this? I didn’t realize you ever left your mansion.”
“Your understanding is so limited, it’s no wonder you’re ignorant of many things.”
“What did you say?”
Sabiel bristled. In the fitting room beside them, Rona—having just removed her dress and standing in her undergarments—instinctively crossed her arms over her body at the stranger’s rude outburst. Seeing Rona’s frightened expression, Emily gave a reassuring smile, parted the curtain, and stepped into the private room.
“I offer my greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“I heard you were attending another customer—wondered where you’d gone.”
“We had an earlier guest and were in consultation.”
“A blind beast picking out clothes? Haha. That’s honestly the funniest joke I’ve heard lately.”
Sabiel approached Illeon, who remained motionless in his seat.
“Don’t go wandering around causing trouble. Just return quietly to your mansion.”
“Why don’t you worry about the trouble caused by your own disgraceful behavior?”
At that moment, Sabiel’s guard stepped forward.
“How dare you show such disrespect to His Highness the Crown Prince!”
Illeon turned his head toward the voice. Though his cloudy gray eyes held no focus, the killing intent in them was sharp enough to make the guard swallow nervously.
“By the way, who did you bring along? Hiding a woman, perhaps?”
Sabiel’s gaze swept over the curtain to the fitting room.
“Since the blind duke can’t see for himself, I’ll take a look. Who knows? There might be a scheming woman eyeing the ducal fortune, wagging her tail.”
Just as Sabiel reached for the fitting room curtain—
Thud.
Illeon precisely seized his hand.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
Haha, just picturing this is so hilarious. Imagine Duke Illeon fan girling.
The real blind guy is here; calling someone else’s woman his 😂