The Contract Marriage for Attilenta's Revenge - Chapter 27

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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 Contract Marriage Episode 27
“It’s been a long time since we last met. Duke.”
Yet his composed gaze and steady voice felt to me like thorns catching at my skin.
“Your Highness, allow me to offer my congratulations once more on the Marriage Ceremony. I’m honored to have received an invitation to such a magnificent and splendid gathering, and I count this a blessed day indeed.”
Whether from my singular focus on revenge, the excessive splendor of this place, or the presence of Antonio himself, my heart had begun to race.
I offered a thin smile and feigned composure.
“I invoke Brwendia’s blessing upon you, Duke. Now that you’ve come in person, what do you think? The Princess has prepared the banquet with such care that nothing should be wanting.”
Henrik showed no particular smile toward me, yet his bearing conveyed a certain calm and ease.
“You speak truly, Your Highness. I’ve been saying nothing but words of admiration to Princess Barsha as well. Yet among all the splendor of this flawless gathering, there is one thing that draws the eye—that beautiful pink jewel there. I must ask where it came from.”
Antonio gestured smoothly toward the table. Henrik answered while keeping his gaze deliberately upon me.
“My wife prepared it. Even the diplomatic envoys were impressed.”
“Ah, as expected. Your Highness the Princess is truly wise.”
How dare he presume such familiarity?
I wanted to furrow my brow sharply, but with so many eyes upon me, I could barely restrain myself. Any hint of discord between myself and the Duke from Francia would do my reputation no good.
I kept my false smile in place while studying Henrik’s expression covertly. It seemed unchanged. Well, he had nothing to be discomfited about.
“In truth, it was thanks to Prince Henrik’s careful attention that I was able to manage that earlier banquet so well. To be given credit for it now, I’m deeply grateful.”
At last Henrik offered that familiar thin smile and gently took my hand. For the benefit of those watching. I matched his gesture appropriately and continued the exchange.
“So you did. Ah, there is something I wished to present to the Prince and Princess. I hope it will please you both.”
What followed was the customary exchange of gifts that Antonio had brought from Francia. One of the gifts being held by a servant caught Antonio’s attention, and he took it himself, drawing closer to show it to me.
“I particularly wanted to present this to you, Your Highness the Princess, as I felt it would suit you well.”
Antonio withdrew a glittering piece of jewelry with a flourish, then reached to take my wrist. The deliberate intention in his touch made me recoil sharply, my voice rising.
“Duke, what do you—”
Regret rose immediately. I had made a mistake. I should not have let my feelings show so plainly.
“I’m grateful for the gift, Duke.”
A familiar voice came from behind me.
It was Henrik. He drew me at once into his embrace, and I became the image of a delicate wife leaning against his broad chest.
“I’d advise caution. My wife is a rather sensitive person. Here—I’ll take that.”
Henrik, with perfect composure, moved the impertinent and brazen man aside.
The atmosphere threatened to turn cold; not a soul present spoke. But Antonio simply retreated gracefully, raising both hands in a gesture of surrender.
“Your Highness, I merely wished to express my gratitude for being invited to this gathering. I harbored not the slightest intention of being discourteous. I beg your forgiveness for my rudeness.”
My teeth ground of their own accord. This was not a place where I could freely rebuke such a shameless man. It was clear that Antonio knew this and had counted on it.
Henrik, for his part, neither sighed nor displayed any anger. Instead, he simply behaved as if nothing had happened at all—which served both his interests and mine. I too pretended indifference, brushing my hair back with a gesture of ease.
All while remaining within Henrik’s embrace.
It seemed that Antonio’s purpose in coming here in person was merely to confirm my presence, nothing more.
My mother’s Mirror had offered no particular warning either. There was a need to probe his true intentions, but perhaps there was no cause for great concern.
It was somewhat surprising that Selena hadn’t come with him. If I’d had to watch the two of them together, preening as they always did, it would have been far easier for him to provoke me.
That it happened otherwise was fortunate. I had only Antonio to contend with. As for the others who came with him from Francia, there was nothing particularly grating about them.
We finished dinner without incident and the banquet was beginning to stretch long, so I found myself longing for a moment’s rest. I had been wearing this false smile so constantly that my face felt as though it might cramp.
“Your Highness, I think I’ll retire for a moment to rest.”
“Go ahead. There’s a private chamber deeper within—feel free to take your time there.”
I asked Henrik’s leave and, following a servant’s guidance, stepped into a long corridor stretching deeper into the banquet hall.
Few people traveled this way, and compared to the brilliant lights, music, and splendor of the main hall, the dimly lit passage—lit only by a few candles—brought a genuine sense of ease.
“Ah, that’s better.”
The moment I entered the private chamber, I opened the window to breathe in the fresh air outside. The sky had turned a deep red as the sun descended.
There was a refreshment table prepared for guests, and I settled onto a sofa, enjoying a fragrant fruit tea while savoring this brief moment of respite.
“There you are. I’ve been searching for you.”
Antonio entered the room.
“…Antonio.”
In that moment, two impulses surged within me. Should I rush out at once and call for Henrik or his knights, or should I prove myself here?
No matter how progressive the social circles of this kingdom might be toward women of initiative, it would be improper for the Prince’s wife to be alone with a man not of her household.
Yet to flee from him like a coward and seek out Henrik?
Hadn’t I come to this banquet precisely to move through it with calculated grace and extract Antonio’s true intentions?
I chose the latter course. For now, I needed to hear what he had to say.
He didn’t seem the type to resort to crude violence. Such a thing would escalate into a serious diplomatic breach.
If it was merely conversation…
…Henrik would have surely posted a knight to watch over me in secret.
With that thought as my resolve, I quickly composed my expression.
“I was resting alone.”
“I know, Atilenta. Don’t worry—I made sure no one was around before I came.”
I barely swallowed back a curse.
“Such words, calling my name—that violates propriety.”
“I’m so used to it.”
There was no doubt I would be tested mercilessly for patience in this room. That cursed Antonio seemed utterly composed.
As if we were still living as husband and wife.
“I was worried you might misunderstand, so I wanted to talk about it. Atilenta, my heart was sincere then, but… there was no helping it.”
The moment I looked into those spring-clear eyes, I felt I might hurl something at him, so I lowered my gaze. My hand holding the teacup trembled slightly.
“Even though everyone calls me the Witch’s Daughter, you said I never changed. Isn’t that right, Antonio?”
I spoke in the mournful tone befitting an abandoned woman. If I couldn’t even manage this much, nothing would make sense.
I had shown resentment toward Selena as well, and Antonio would have known it.
As long as my plan for revenge went undiscovered, it was fine. After all, he was pushing his own memories on me.
Standing before the door, Antonio approached me only with an air of regret, keeping his distance.
“…Atilenta, I believed you would understand me.”
Don’t show resentment, Atilenta. I know, I know. I tried my hardest to speak with composure.
But at least I had to say this much.
“…It was you who divorced me. In front of everyone.”
Antonio offered me the same tender smile as he once had.
“It’s strange, hearing you speak so informally.”
Damn him for invoking propriety.
Antonio, I truly respected you. In fact, the fact that I, a member of the royal house, showed you formal respect—that was all due to Jaema’s instruction.
“The situation is quite different now.”
“Not so different. I’m merely serving my country. Just as we did when we were together.”
How was he spouting the same drivel as Selena? Was he really making a show of their entanglement right in front of me?
“Surely not, Atilenta. Clever and devoted as you are, you didn’t come here to sell this nation to the highest bidder.”
Antonio continued, a faint smile on his face, his voice insidious.
“What did that prince whisper to you? I never imagined you two were in such close contact. Atilenta, you were… never a woman to be so easily swayed by such a man…”
Antonio was looking at me squarely, as though he wouldn’t miss a single expression, a single gesture. I folded my hands to hide their subtle trembling.
“Even at the last banquet, when I saw you with him, I felt it right away. He’s the type to hide his true self behind a mask. I couldn’t help but worry whether you’d fallen for it naively.”
All I had before me was a silver dish. If only I’d had a knife. I pressed my lips together, staring at the gleaming metal.
Because of you, I trust no one.
Henrik is merely an adequate business partner, nothing more. Because we’re both faithful to our arrangement, we look convincing enough as a fake couple to others. That’s the virtue of it.
But I couldn’t say any of this.
Antonio would pretend to be disappointed while probing, scraping away at my insides, trying any way he could to see through me, and as always, he’d think to manipulate and brainwash me.
I would never give in.
I parted my lips very slowly.
“So you came just to say that?”
My own voice sounded unfamiliar, alien to my ears. Antonio tilted his head slightly, as if he’d grasped something. His expression was bright. Revoltingly so.
“Atilenta, surely you’re still doing this for Francia. Right? The woman I know isn’t capable of being cruel.”
Something inside me churned hot and violent.
He had always praised me as a good, gentle, perfect wife.
Calling that love—damn this wretched man to hell.
If only anger would rise pure and simple, but all the wounds were clawing through me.
I would rather be scorned with contemptible words than become the villainess who sells out your nation.
Finally, I lifted my head and met his face.
A man wearing the same coloring as Selena.
“When did you first know Selena?”
The question burst from me, impossible to hold back. Antonio brushed his chin lightly and answered with a gentleness that seemed almost womanly.
“Atilenta. At that banquet on the day you came of age, when we first saw each other.”
In that moment, I grasped the truth.

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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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