The Contract Marriage for Attilenta's Revenge - Chapter 11

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Atilenta’s Revenge Through a Contract Marriage Episode 11
“There’s no need to be surprised, my dear. If one employs someone, one must repay them fairly.”
Henrik, who had been watching me with wide eyes, smiled faintly. He explained in that characteristic low, measured voice of his.
“Since you’ve kept your promise, I’ll keep mine. If you don’t betray me first, I’ll have no reason to interrogate you.”
The ring gleamed with the same pure luster as the black marble that adorned the Prince’s Palace, suggesting it was some precious historical artifact passed down through this royal house.
“My, to grant such a precious promise. Thank you, Your Highness.”
I closed my gaping mouth and composed my expression, determined not to let any more confusion show.
This exchange—this was what an ideal transaction looked like. If I thought positively about it, I had only to receive it with gratitude.
“It’s a ring imbued with Bwendia’s Magic. It’s yours now.”
Bwendia—that was the name of Hei Long, the legendary being who had founded this very nation.
I gazed down at the black ring, and suddenly wondered what magic that dragon had wielded. Could it possess a different power from what my mother had passed down to me?
“As Your Highness says. While perhaps not as renowned as the Sacred Covenant spoken of in the world, it should serve well enough as a guarantee of promise. Please set your mind at ease, Your Highness.”
“Was there any need to say such a thing?”
Rather than rebuking the knight for his superfluous explanation, Henrik let out a soft chuckle, his demeanor relaxed and at ease.
As I watched the two men, who seemed quite comfortable with each other, I blinked several times. It wasn’t because the morning sunlight was blinding my eyes.
The Sacred Covenant—I had heard my mother mention it in passing once. It was a magic by which two people swore an eternal promise before the great gods.
I seemed to recall hearing that breaking such a covenant would bring upon one a terrible, inescapable punishment.
“Your Highness, I accept this gratefully.”
Though magic might be spoken of, in truth I possessed nothing, so this would be an excellent guarantee for me.
Perhaps not only the servants who watched me here, but also those I would meet at the banquet commemorating my marriage to Henrik, would not openly despise me.
Having expressed my gratitude to Henrik, I resolved that I too would need to act more proactively.
So in that moment, I was contemplating various ways to perform my role.
“My dear, the wedding will be prepared shortly. My family will attend the commemorative banquet as well, so it should be quite grand.”
The occasion Henrik had mentioned was far more than a simple wedding ceremony to me. It was nothing less than the stage where I would be presented publicly for the first time.
How I took that first step would be crucially important. My aim was singular: to see Henrik safely upon the Throne and make it mine to use. I nodded and replied.
“Yes, Your Highness. I too shall prepare thoroughly.”
Henrik’s family consisted of the King, a prince who competed with him for the succession, and one younger sister. None of them would show me genuine goodwill. The label that followed me was far from ordinary.
Still, it didn’t matter. I steeled myself with the resolve to gather as much information as I could at that banquet that would be of use to me.

* * *
“Your Highness, wear this ornament today. Since it is the Marriage Commemorative Banquet, it would be fitting to adorn yourself lavishly.”
“I believe this flower suits your hair color wonderfully.”
“That will do.”
I placed a rose-shaped ornament in my hair, draped a large, pristine Lace around my chest, put on a dress with a full skirt, and fastened a Golden Belt around my waist.
“Gold is something only the noble-born are permitted to wear.”
The head maid explained this gently to me, as I found it strange—in Francia, I had never seen anyone adorned with such a belt.
Whatever the maids assigned to me might have thought privately, their unfailingly courteous manner made things quite comfortable for me.
“Your Highness, the Prince is surely waiting. Shall we go now?”
Dressed entirely in the manner of the Bwendofska kingdom, I followed the maid through the corridors and arrived before the entrance to the Banquet Hall. As the maid had said, Henrik stood before the grand, ornate doors.
“You’ve prepared yourself well, my dear.”
I did not take his words simply as a compliment. I felt oddly out of place dressed in the Bwendofska style, and more than that, this place felt like a battlefield to me. It would be the same for Henrik.
At first glance he seemed like a husband expressing tender admiration for a bride who had come of age, but his voice still carried a cold undercurrent.
“His Highness Prince Henrik and Her Highness the Princess enter now.”
As the attendant at the door announced our arrival into the hall, a trumpet blast sounded—a brilliant fanfare befitting so grand and magnificent an occasion.
Upon entering the Banquet Hall, the first things to greet me were an overwhelming fragrance of flowers and perfume, and a Chandelier so dazzling it seemed it might blind my eyes. From the ceiling, countless fragments of light cascaded down.
How dazzling… I suppressed the gasp of wonder that nearly escaped my lips. The banquets in Francia were indeed splendid, but in truth I had not experienced many.
Clearly this nation was quite wealthy. And at the same time, I realized this very spectacle was the symbol of the authority Henrik wielded in this place.
Yet even so, I remained a powerless outsider.
“Ought I to pay my respects to His Majesty first?”
I asked quietly, and Henrik tilted his head slightly toward me. Before he could even part his lips to reply—
“Brother. You’ve arrived early?”
A woman approached with a light, brisk step and spoke first. Her eyes held a lighter shade of violet than Henrik’s, and she smiled brightly.
“It is our banquet, so naturally. Barsha.”
Seeing that her eye color and dignified bearing resembled his, she was unmistakably Henrik’s younger sister.
“Oh, you always say you’re busy every day.”
Princess Barsha was truly remarkable. Her elegant bearing, with nearly black hair streaked with gray, was surrounded by glittering jewels and ornaments.
But that was not all. She was cradling a fluffy gray cat in her arms.
Bringing a cat to a banquet?
I marveled inwardly once more. What was even more astonishing was that the cat’s eyes were an extraordinarily mystical shade of violet, matching Princess Barsha perfectly.
Having exchanged greetings with Henrik, Barsha finally turned her gaze toward me.
“Your Highness? How do you do. I’m Princess Barsha.”
Her formal manner of speech caught me somewhat off guard. For one thing, Barsha seemed close to Henrik, and yet here she was—a princess who had brought along a pet, despite not being the guest of honor at the banquet.
She was a remarkable person in her own right. I offered my greeting with the utmost courtesy.
“Please, Your Highness, feel free to speak as you wish. It’s an honor to meet you. I am Atilenta, recently arrived from Francia.”
“Hehe. You’re my brother’s wife, after all. I’m grateful for your consideration, and I’ll do my best to match it. Now then, do say hello to my cat as well. Her name is Marie.”
Having paid my respects, I took another curious look at the cat. A ribbon in the exact same color as the jewels adorning Barsha’s dress was tied around its neck. At a glance, it appeared to be made of the finest silk.
Did cats normally wear ribbons?
I had never seen anything like it before, but rather than let my surprise show, I chose to greet the cat with considerable warmth.
“Hello, Marie. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Barsha’s smile bloomed without hesitation.
“What a darling and graceful cat you are, Your Highness.”
“She does love such compliments. Isn’t that right, Marie?”
Barsha, radiating satisfaction, continued to smile as she guided us toward the great dining table.
Somehow, it seemed I had made a good first step. I allowed myself a quiet sigh of relief.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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