The Contract Marriage for Attilenta's Revenge - Chapter 12

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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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Atilenda’s Revenge: A Contract Marriage — Episode 012
The noise and chaos around us swallowed my feelings whole. Beside me, Henrik and Barsha were engaged in quiet conversation.
“How do you like it? Since it’s my brother’s banquet, I prepared everything myself. I’ve been so curious about when you’d marry, you see.”
“It’s splendid—nothing wanting. Well done, Barsha.”
“Hehe, I did put in some effort, didn’t I? Father gave me leave to spare no expense. Oh, and Your Highness—Mother isn’t feeling well today and is resting. I do hope you’ll understand.”
“Of course. I’m already honored by the Princess’s warm welcome. When Her Majesty is well, I shall pay my respects.”
I answered with appropriate deference, stealing a glance at Henrik. He gave me a slight nod of approval.
“A sound thought, my dear.”
And then, in that moment, a question surfaced unbidden.
So then—where was his mother?
I’d never heard that she had passed away. I was careful not to blurt out my curiosity at once.
For now, the wisest course was to observe how this royal household truly functioned, and learn its patterns with caution.
I’d read a little about Henrik before arriving in the Franzian Kingdom, but the information on his family had been sparse. Still, there was no great loss in that—I would learn what I needed soon enough.
“Would you care to try this stew first? It’s hot and should warm you nicely.”
Barsha, seated at the table, attended to me with genuine courtesy. The table itself was arranged with meticulous care.
“Does it suit your palate, Your Highness?”
“It’s truly magnificent—I find myself quite speechless with admiration, Princess.”
I spoke with sincerity. Everything Barsha offered was delicious. The silver-gleaming glasses and cutlery seemed to heighten the appetite as well. In truth, even if the food had been tasteless, it would have mattered little.
On the surface I ate with ease and pleasure, but inwardly I was cataloguing, one by one, how the banquet customs here differed from those of the Franzian Kingdom.
I’d noticed it even when dining at Henrik’s Palace, but I found it curious that their salad contained cucumber. No doubt the delegation arriving from the Franzian Kingdom would have similar observations.
There was another thing, too.
“Have some more, my dear.”
Henrik urged me to eat more in a low voice. Though I was already full, I pretended to accept another portion.
The fact that he sat directly beside me was itself quite extraordinary. In the Franzian Kingdom, at formal occasions like this, a wife and husband did not sit side by side.
Since arriving here, I had never dined this way with Henrik at his Palace—there were only the two of us at table then.
But now it was different. And I found myself wondering what other distinctions might exist between a banquet here and one in the Franzian Kingdom.
“Henrik. I offer my congratulations on your marriage.”
Someone wearing an ornate Golden Belt approached and addressed Henrik. He rose at once and offered a respectful bow.
“Resica. You honor us with your presence.”
I too rose immediately and offered the same greeting. The Prince I now faced was, to be honest, remarkable.
Though he shared the same father as Henrik, the two brothers could hardly have looked more different. Both possessed an elegant grace and refined diction.
Yet if Henrik were a sword forged from black stone, Resica was like a noble candelabra.
His platinum-blonde hair seemed on the verge of melting away at any moment. Behind his Glasses, his amethyst eyes sparkled with an almost scholarly cast.
“How good to see you, Princess Consort.”
“It is an honor to meet the First Prince of Bwendopska, Your Highness Resica, here in this place.”
“Since this banquet is held for you both, I hope you will enjoy it fully. May Bwendia’s blessing fall upon you.”
I swallowed hard. Resica was engaged in a succession struggle with Henrik. So I could not bring myself to believe his blessing was genuine.
Henrik doubtless thought the same. Yet despite these undercurrents, the atmosphere among Henrik’s family remained elegant and composed.
The King was said to be ill, and I had no news whatsoever of Henrik’s mother. So it seemed I had now met all the important figures—I merely needed to see the banquet through without incident.
I maintained a proper tension while thinking, with some relief, that half the day’s ordeal was already behind me.
“Miss, that table is where the Princes and Princess are—”
A servant moved to intercept someone approaching our table without hesitation. The woman called “Miss” raised her voice.
“As representative of the Biaubi House, it’s only proper that I pay respects to the Princes. Surely I too should offer my blessings.”
Henrik’s broad frame blocked my view, so I could not see her clearly at first. He spoke quietly.
“Miss Tatra. You’ve come.”
“What a day to celebrate the Prince’s marriage. Your Highness Resica, Your Highness Henrik, Her Highness Barsha—may Bwendia’s glory shine upon you. I am Tatra, representing the Biaubi House.”
“Welcome, Miss Tatra. Has the meal been to your liking?”
“My, how can I say such a thing when it’s arranged by Her Highness Barsha? I should like to ask the Biaubi House kitchens to learn her recipes.”
“Hehe, I’m so pleased to hear it.”
Tatra, who had been conversing with Barsha, stepped forward a little more, moving past Henrik. At last I could see her face.
“Your Highness. It has been so long. I have been praying for your safe return.”
Oh. The moment I saw her, my lips compressed involuntarily.
Tatra possessed eyes of the most striking blue—the exact same shade as Antonio’s and Selena’s.
Golden hair that flowed like fine silk, ornaments that harmonized perfectly with her appearance, a gown shaped like a flower bud—her entire bearing, both graceful and gentle, spoke eloquently.
She was announcing herself as the loveliest woman in this room.
Having made her courtesies, Tatra turned her gaze and met my eyes.
In that instant, I understood. This woman, who adored Henrik, was showing me her jealousy.
“I had been so curious to know what sort of person the Prince would choose as his bride. And meeting you now, Your Highness, I can only think—yes, this is indeed the woman the Prince would select.”
Tatra offered me an elegant barb, and I knew I had to return something in kind. Even if it were wrapped in a false smile.
“I too am delighted to make your acquaintance at this grand banquet, Miss Tatra.”
But I reminded myself of reality.
My true adversary isn’t you, Tatra. I simply wished she wouldn’t test my patience any further than this.
“How delightful that Your Highness is enjoying the banquet as well. I confess I’m not certain how it compares to those you’ve attended elsewhere. After you’ve finished dining, there will be a period where everyone is free to dance.”
Tatra spoke kindly to me about the banquet, as though I were a foreigner in need of explanation, but I didn’t trust her warmth.
“In the past, I danced with Your Highness myself. Do you perhaps remember those days? Thanks to how graciously you guided me when I first debuted in high society, I learned so very much.”
I barely managed to suppress a derisive laugh.
Before all these people, she was simultaneously appealing to whatever relationship she’d had with Henrik while effortlessly emphasizing her own innocence and tenderness.
Had this been a banquet held by the Biaubi House, her conduct might have been easily forgiven. But this was a celebration of Henrik’s and my marriage.
“Ah yes, that’s right. I believe your father asked me to teach you, so I obliged.”
Henrik replied in that distinctly cold voice of his—as though the dance back then was merely the result of her father’s interference, nothing more.
I felt a small surge of satisfaction at that. Henrik was not Antonio, after all.
Even as I clearly knew they were different people, I found myself projecting Antonio and Selena onto the two of them.
But I had entered into a pretend marriage with Henrik for a clear purpose.
Since I’d handled myself smoothly at the banquet where I last saw Selena, I was steeling myself to do the same again.
“Oh my, yes, you did say that. Your Highness, I remember it well. But how could any woman easily forget such a day? You showed me such tender consideration. Hehe.”
Even Henrik’s indifferent manner didn’t deter Tatra easily. Perhaps there was a reason she laid such emphasis on that day.
It seemed that ordinarily Henrik treated her quite well—ever since she debuted in high society. The two of them might have attended these banquets together frequently.
Though Henrik showed no particular responsive warmth toward her, her eyes brimmed with lingering attachment. It was plain enough that even the other royals seated at this table had noticed.
So she didn’t care if her lingering hopes and jealousy were exposed.
“Is that so? I’m afraid the affairs of women are something I understand poorly.”

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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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