The Contract Marriage for Attilenta's Revenge - Chapter 3

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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: A Contract Marriage, Episode 003
If an unforeseen variable arose, the future I desired might never come to pass.
That was also why I failed to notice, even as I lived among their betrayal and deception—because I never doubted their sincerity or their kindness toward me.
“Things are different now. From this moment on, I will think only of my own future.”
Since I possessed no power to destroy anyone on my own, I would simply wield someone with authority as my instrument.
Ironically, even this method I learned from the Duke.
My desired future? Now there was only one.
“I will tear them all apart.”
Antoni, Selena, Jaema—those who spurned my goodwill and repaid it with malice. And the King too, who took my mother and then turned away from her without mercy.
To utterly destroy those of such station and renown.
“I’ll need help from an outsider, it seems.”
Here, I could find no one to stand at my side. A witch’s bastard, barren, now divorced—nothing but a tattered reputation.
Swallowing back another sigh, I began to sketch out my future through the spotlessly polished Mirror.
According to Mother’s teachings, most magic required both an unwavering faith in transcendent beings—typically divine forces—and a rare talent.
The being from whom I would borrow strength was a Spirit dwelling across the sea, in a foreign land that Mother called her homeland.
During Mother’s illness, as she lay upon her sickbed, she told me so many stories. Thanks to her, I found it easy to conjure a clear image of this Spirit.
“Those special sorcerers in the Temple, I’ve heard they can use Foresight, can’t they?”
My eyes gleamed as I stared intently into the Mirror.
That vaunted prophecy? I would grant one too.
Perhaps the whispers I’d heard so often—that “Mother’s ability was itself a Curse”—were not entirely untrue after all.
In my foolish greed to weave another into my future, I had brought all this upon myself.
Cursed enough to taint even myself.
“Atilenta. What comes next matters most. Steel yourself.”
A woman who sold her own homeland—I was prepared to wear such an infamy gladly.
“Antoni, you called me a threat, didn’t you? Let me show you what a true threat looks like.”
In that instant, a faint luminescence kindled within the Mirror. As Mother had described it, a green light bloomed like waves across the glass.
The Mirror revealed the form of a man. His most striking feature was a pair of mysterious violet eyes—something no one born to this land could possess.
I knew him. The Second Prince of Bwendopska, a kingdom in the North.
“…Surely his name was Henrik. How might he serve my purposes?”
I recalled a newspaper I had once seen. His epithet was the Black Dragon of the North—a living legend, according to the account, earning his name through extraordinary feats in warfare. A thought struck me like lightning.
“I will use him as a weapon.”
War, after all, was something I had come to understand well. That I had found so quickly an outsider to this realm could only be a blessing. Through the Mirror, I began to paint a future for myself alone.
Had they meant to bind my fate to that of a helpless princess—
“They should have simply left me alone.”
Rather than treat me like livestock.
I could not suppress the faint laughter that spilled from my lips.
‘Atilenta. Are you ready to return their malice?’
Now I understood the true meaning of the smile Mother left behind like a final testament.

* * *
“Your Highness. You have a visitor. Please come down.”
Even before the cold-mannered maid spoke, I knew exactly who had come.
I dragged my still-aching legs behind me as I left the room.
The servants, as though even the slightest support were a luxury I did not deserve, attended only to the guest in the parlor with proper courtesy.
It was Selena.
“Atilenta! How have you been? My, you’ve grown even thinner.”
I barely stifled the hollow laugh that threatened to burst from my throat. As if you could swallow food in my place.
“I’ll have a word with the head maid about seeing to your meals more carefully.”
Selena patted my shoulder. Nothing but tenderness showed in the eyes of she who was renowned for her beauty, like that of a gentle doe.
I understood precisely why Selena had come. Having heard that a teacher struck me, she meant to brainwash me with “I’m still on your side,” all so they could work me to their advantage as they pleased.
“Is your bed also uncomfortable? Your complexion seems so pallid…”
I wanted to glare at Selena, but I had to exert tremendous effort to refrain from doing so.
Selena had known of my ability to ‘read the future’ since childhood.
I wish I had kept it secret from the start, but that was nearly impossible given the rumors about Mother being a witch.
As a child, Selena clung to me relentlessly, asking every day “What ability do you have?” and I could not bring myself to lie to her.
“Selena.”
I had already decided, driven by the resolve to take my revenge, exactly how I would treat Selena today.
I had to appear broken and meek, like a wretched servant beaten down by the lash.
“Selena. Why did you only just come?”
This pathetic state—it was the version of me Selena wanted to see. Even without asking the Mirror that Mother left behind, I knew this much with absolute certainty.
“I’m sorry for coming late, Atilenta. I’ve been so busy lately…… well, you have too, so this time, could you understand?”
Long ago, at my wedding, you said something to me. You asked why I’d been so occupied.
“I’m going to marry the Duke soon, they say…… I mentioned it before, but since it’s the King’s command, I couldn’t possibly refuse. Even my parents did their best. I told them not to, but they just wouldn’t listen…… Is it all right for me to say such things? Atilenta. We’re that close, aren’t we?”
I moved my lips and tongue as though operating a puppet.
“At the banquet, you didn’t say anything like that. You seemed to want only what you wanted.”
“Mmm, well, with everyone watching, I couldn’t help but be cautious. Even if I’d protested there, it wouldn’t have mattered.”
“……I wish you’d told me beforehand. Since it’s for the Duke’s House, I would have understood. Selena.”
Selena offered excuse after excuse, and I had no choice but to play along.
“I’m sorry, Atilenta. I wanted to come to you right after that day because I was worried about you, but I got caught up in all sorts of engagements…… Since it was beyond my control, I hope you can understand. All right?”
How nauseating.
How can you be so brazenly shameless?
My resolve to take vengeance would never waver. But when Selena played at apology, my resentment flared up like fire anew.
When I think about it, Selena had always been that way. In public, she built her reputation with dignified conduct; in private, she treated me with tenderness while demanding my understanding.
At last, I spoke.
“I was a nuisance, wasn’t I? Selena. There could have been better ways than locking me away. Couldn’t there?”
I knew that if I truly meant to strike Selena a blow, I shouldn’t do it this way.
I lowered my head at once, but she would have grasped the meaning behind my words immediately.
If you were worried my abilities would become a danger, you should have killed me instead, Selena.
“Oh my.”
Even as I hid my expression, the damage was already done. I quickly tried to salvage the situation.
“Selena, you hate me, don’t you? Is that it? Is that what this is?”
Like a child who had misunderstood their companion as heartless, I made my appeal again, begging for love.
“I do love you, Atilenta. If you felt otherwise, that’s my fault. I’m truly sorry, and I’ll be more careful from now on. Your health and happiness are what the King desires. And so do I.”
Ah, so you mean to use me till the end?
After you’ve already ruined my heart and my life.
“You’re still, and always will be, our kingdom’s princess. You’re my friend, aren’t you? Atilenta.”
I understand perfectly what you mean, Selena. I’ll make thorough use of this damned station of mine as well.
I swallowed my anger and barely managed to force a smile.
I wished that Selena, beautiful as a doe, would crumble just as I had.
“All right. Selena. I wanted to hear you say you cared for me.”
Selena beamed, squeezed my hand tightly, and brushed it gently. I grasped her hand in return.
“I’m so glad the misunderstanding is cleared up. Atilenta.”
I etched the brightness of Selena into my eyes, deep and deliberate.

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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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