The Contract Marriage for Attilenta's Revenge - Chapter 45

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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 Contract Marriage for Revenge 045
I had my head buried in the book when I looked up at him at once.
“Quite thick, wasn’t it? Not too heavy, I hope?”
I found myself running my fingers along the spine. Henrik wasn’t wrong, but since he’d brought along enough knights and attendants, there was nothing for me to want for.
“I wasn’t carrying anything myself. Your Highness even suggested it, and reading frequently will help me, so I thought it was only proper to do so.”
“Do as you wish.”
Henrik smiled faintly. I didn’t forget to offer him quiet thanks for his consideration.
Until bedtime, he attended to his own matters while I spent the hours engrossed in the ancient tome across the room.
In truth, whether reading books of this sort would be helpful was something I could only determine by trying it.
At dawn, after confirming that Henrik beside me was asleep, I slipped quietly into the sitting room.
It was empty and hushed, all curtains drawn, warm and still. The fireplace crackled softly, flames popping and hissing.
There was no one in the sitting room either, but just in case, I slipped away to the bathroom in a corner of the adjoining chamber. I locked the door, drew out the Mirror, and first sought to ascertain Antoni’s whereabouts.
I desperately hoped nothing would go wrong during this event. Especially that there would be no danger to Henrik.
Soon the Mirror bloomed with green light, and within the dimness revealed several figures gathered with Antoni.
“Who are these people?”
I gazed down upon a group dressed in pristine, bright platinum robes that made them look like Priests, my brow furrowing as I narrowed my eyes.
The unfamiliar attire quickly jogged my memory—these must be the Delegation sent from the northern nation of Arad, who were attending tonight’s banquet.
“Arad is said to be a sacred nation…….”
When I had been close to Antoni, I knew well that he frequently visited the Francia Temple and mingled with distinguished Priests.
Those Priests, who claimed to receive the word of God directly and performed Prophecy, wielded a special Magic that upheld the power of the Francia Royal Family.
“Would Arad have such Priests as well?”
All the figures reflected in the Mirror wore long, dark veils that obscured their faces entirely. Even if someone renowned was among them, I could not easily recognize them.
“However much this event is ostensibly for establishing Diplomatic Relations, there should be no need for Antoni to speak with them in secret.”
As I murmured softly, I unconsciously pressed at my chest where I knew the tightness would have begun to build.
“Hm? ……Still holding up?”
I let out a small gasp of surprise. Even as I opened my eyes wide and consciously drew deep breaths, nothing changed.
That I could gaze at the Mirror this long without my breathing growing ragged or my chest beginning to strain as it had before—
My wish seemed to have come true. Whether reading books related to Bwendia had helped even slightly, or whether I owed it to taking particularly nourishing foods of late, I couldn’t say.
“Phew…….”
It was a relief beyond measure. Now reassured, I examined more closely when and where these figures were gathering, and what they were discussing.
On the other hand, another thought occurred to me. Last time, Henrik had said he could show me the Sacred Relics of the Temple if I wished.
I found myself already anticipating the next time Henrik and I would visit the Temple together. After all, it seemed something was actually having an effect.
Holding the Mirror this long had begun to make my breathing labor, so without making any unseemly coughs, I hid the Mirror in my clothes and returned to the bedroom.
“Atilenta, what is it at this hour of dawn?”
The moment I heard Henrik’s voice from the darkness without a single light, I froze solid.
I thought he was fast asleep.
Before I could answer, Henrik lit a candle and approached me. His expression was languid, as though locked in deep night’s sleep.
“Were you bathing at this hour again? With no attendants about, no less?”
Henrik’s usual coldness didn’t appear in his low, unhurried voice and manner, but I felt somewhat tense nonetheless.
He might be suspicious and adopting that soft demeanor precisely because of it. I explained at once to avoid any misunderstanding.
“Your Highness, it was nothing of the sort. I merely went out briefly to use Magic in a quiet place.”
“Even so, are you still unable to sleep? You came a long way—you should rest well.”
A faint smile played across Henrik’s smooth crimson lips.
Whether he was genuinely concerned for me or not didn’t matter in the slightest. I simply reported what I’d just discovered.
“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Just now I confirmed that Antoni seems to be on intimate terms with a Delegation of Priests from Arad. The pretext looks good, but it may be for the purpose of war.”
Henrik was nodding in agreement, so I finished my account.
“For cross-verification, I should speak separately with Antoni.”
“……What?”
Suddenly one of his eyebrows shot up sharply. The weary husband who had seemed exhausted by the long journey and the complex festivities became a cold statesman in an instant.
“Atilenta, what did you just say?”
Even at his reaction, I found my judgment sound enough that rather than growing tense, I tilted my head in confusion without meaning to.
“That you must speak with your ex-husband?”
This separate chamber had certainly been warm and cozy until a moment ago, but it seemed to freeze in an instant. I tried to continue with a proper explanation. What I knew of him should surely make him understand.
“Just as Hersson and Saturn’s son said before, beyond simply joining hands with the north, there may be schemes against Your Highness’s homeland. Surely there’s a reason why Antoni is deliberately associating with them—”
“I don’t like it.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Now Henrik was cutting me off and expressing displeasure. The objection tumbled out of me, and I bit my lip slightly.
“Forgive me for presuming to question you, Your Highness.”
“No, that’s not the issue. Atilenta. Isn’t there something far more important? Isn’t this already information you’ve confirmed through Magic? Why would you speak with him alone again?”
Ah, it seemed I had just reminded him of the experience of feeling angry at a tool acting of its own accord.
It was certainly my fault, but I wanted to reaffirm my position rather than retreat quietly from this situation.
Since my dealings with him, I hadn’t channeled Magic for such an extended period before, and I didn’t want to miss this opportunity to read the information about Antoni properly.
“That day, I am truly sorry for causing Your Highness inconvenience. However, Your Highness, … Antoni is still trying to manipulate me as he did before, so I’m certain there is more he wishes to say to me. Given the judgment that this doesn’t seem to be a mere religious exchange, there may be information beneath the surface that I could uncover further—”
“You really are…. Ah….”
“……Your Highness.”
My lips, naturally parched, I couldn’t help but wet them with my tongue instead of biting down. Henrik wasn’t taking any action, but I could tell all too well that his mood was deeply unsettled.
Normally, when I offered an explanation of this sort, he would understand and grant permission. With phrases like “I entrust you entirely with this,” maintaining his cold, testing attitude all the while.
Now Henrik was exhaling a long sigh and pressing his palm to his forehead, so his eyes were not clearly visible.
I attempted to understand him.
At the banquet, Henrik too had met many people in his own way, and he may have intuited something particular.
Could there have been something that bothered him earlier? Did Antoni spout nonsense? Or did the King of Francia say something strange?
In the moment when I was considering whether to ask what it was in detail—
“…Later, we’ll speak of this again. Atilenta.”
Henrik ended the conversation with me first. It was the first time this had happened. With such displeasure of heart left unspoken, it felt strange, and I simply could not press him further.
I withdrew without protest.
Even so, we had married and the seasons had changed, yet no night lying in the same bed had ever felt quite so awkward as this.
The banquet continued the following day.
Henrik treated me with an air of studied composure and ease, as though yesterday’s conversation had posed no difficulty whatsoever. He even left such praise at the banquet hall.
“You’re always beautiful, Atilenta.”

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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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