The Contract Marriage for Attilenta's Revenge - Chapter 62

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

Atilenta’s Contract Marriage for Revenge — Episode 062
We settled into an ornate carriage, and once the curtains drew shut across the windows and doors, the world seemed to grow quieter still.
Barsha kept her eyes fixed on me, saying nothing.
To be honest, I’d never factored Barsha into my future plans, but given how things had unfolded, there was no reason to hesitate or pull away.
Barsha was someone Henrik cared about. If she got along safely with her betrothed, it would be good for him too.
So, Mirror, show me—will Barsha be able to get along well with that man? I hope she will.
The moment I wished it silently, the mirror flooded with a sickly green light. Barsha’s eyes went wide as saucers. As she stared at it and I turned my full attention to the glass—
“……What?”
The tarnished mirror showed me the face of Sir Krakow. I clapped a hand over my mouth at once, barely choking back the gasp that nearly escaped.
Barsha, too, couldn’t hide her shock.
The gentle smile she usually wore had vanished entirely, leaving her in awkward silence, unable to say a word.
“Your Highness. This is…….”
I opened my lips on impulse but couldn’t bring myself to finish. I couldn’t babble excuses to Barsha like “Something seems wrong.”
Even if Barsha had no idea that I was Henrik’s “tool,” a hasty word of comfort could become a blade turned against me.
All at once, a strange thought crossed my mind.
She’d shown such confidence in knowing my abilities—so why was she panicking now, as if she hadn’t the faintest idea what was in this knight’s heart?
Could she wield the same kind of magic I do?
“Your Highness…… I must ask you to keep this matter secret, I beg you.”
Barsha’s voice had grown quieter than I’d ever heard it. Watching her trembling expression and slightly shaking hands, I understood with certainty—
“I saw nothing, Your Highness. Please, don’t worry.”
What she hadn’t known.
What she’d wanted to keep hidden.
I’d exposed that man’s inner truth far too nakedly.
Without warning, my chest sank with a heavy thud.
I couldn’t clearly remember how we spent the rest of the day.
Barsha soon regained her bright expression, and I had no choice but to match it naturally.
As if nothing had happened.
As if I had to.
“Your Highness, I truly enjoyed today. I’d be so delighted if you’d find time for us again.”
“Should you summon me, I shall always come gladly.”
As the sun set and we parted ways at the Royal Palace, Barsha didn’t forget to offer me a smile.
The moment I turned away, I wiped that proper smile from my face and trudged back to my bedroom with a vacant stare, rubbing my tired eyes.
And then I recalled that reflection in the mirror. It seemed I’d need to verify matters with Sir Krakow directly after all.
He was Henrik’s loyal retainer, a knight of unblemished honor. That he’d kept his feelings for Barsha secret all this time must have had a sound reason behind it.
Barsha had a betrothed. No matter how devoted a knight of Henrik’s he was, he couldn’t court the princess of his own accord.
“What if things go wrong…….”
I muttered to myself, turning the words over my dry lips. I couldn’t forget how violently Barsha’s expression had wavered, like fierce waves.
It was Henrik, naturally, who noticed my worry first. He held me close every night these days, after all.
It was a habit we’d only recently formed, but I didn’t want to refuse his warm embrace with any fuss. That was the honest truth of it.
Henrik stroked my hair slowly, speaking in a gentle voice.
“Atilenta. Did you enjoy yourself today with Barsha?”
I still hadn’t quite adjusted to the warmth of his breath and touch as he leaned close and whispered.
His calm, composed expression and tone remained unchanged, and his manner of holding me was always just as firm and steady.
Even that flushed look of his I’d seen at first remained—
But today was different.
I didn’t answer, merely nodding my head slightly, reluctantly.
“Your expression doesn’t look good. What happened?”
His hand had found its way to my cheek. It was natural that such a touch would make my heart pound—
But now I couldn’t focus on such light, gentle contact.
“……Your Highness.”
I think I’ve made a mistake.
“I’m truly, deeply sorry…….”
Henrik raised himself up partway, pulled me into his arms, and looked down at me as if peering straight through me.
“Atilenta.”
He drew one eyebrow down and tilted his head closer to mine.
There’s no need to burden him with needless worry like this. Besides, I’m not even sure yet if it’s truly a mistake. Wouldn’t it be better to handle it on my own first, then tell him?
Having thought it through that far, I offered a plausible excuse.
“It was nothing, Your Highness. I’m just a bit tired from our long journey today. Her Highness had me try on everything she recommended, so my mind was spinning.”
I deliberately drawled my words, covered my mouth, and let out a small yawn. I even opened my eyes slowly, as if my eyelids had grown heavy.
Henrik, who’d been watching me silently, gently brushed back my disheveled hair and tucked it behind my ear.
“If nothing happened, that’s a relief. You should rest properly if you’re tired. There’s no need to apologize.”
I offered my thanks gracefully, then closed my eyes and pretended to drift into sleep.
The next day.
Having stayed awake through the dawn with open eyes, I made a small request of Henrik as he set out early, as he always did.
“Your Highness. If you’re going to the Training Ground, would it be possible for you to take me with you?”
To be precise, I was feigning a modest interest in him—the best outcome would be if I didn’t have to pay any price for it.
“It’s hardly a difficult matter, but it’s unexpected. I thought you didn’t care for that sort of leisure. You’ve never asked before.”
He spoke without altering his composed expression, but his words left no room for me to object.
The truth was, how Henrik wielded his blade in detail held no interest for me.
What mattered was only one thing.
He was a warrior of such renown that tales of him had spread even to the southern territories.
I lowered my gaze slightly and carefully voiced what I had prepared to say.
“Because of what I experienced at the Hunting Ground before… I’ve become interested in martial arts. Since Your Highness is skilled at such things, I’d like to know more about it myself.”
Henrik made no attempt to hide his pleasure.
“I was thinking something similar myself.”
The moment I heard that, it seemed everything would fall into place. It was a fortunate turn of events.
“Learning Self-Defense will always be useful, and there’s nothing wrong with studying it if you’re genuinely interested.”
I walked toward him with small, measured steps.
In Francia, I had been under Antonio’s protection—or rather, his surveillance.
“I know nothing about Swordsmanship or hunting, of course, but I can ride. I learned Horsemanship as a matter of education.”
Standing before him, I deliberately tilted my head slowly, as if expressing innocent curiosity tinged with worry.
It was certain that in both Francia and Bwendofska, a consort visiting the Training Ground would be highly unusual.
“My going there wouldn’t be an inconvenience to Your Highness, would it?”
Until now, I had remained confined within the palace. So if I suddenly appeared at the Training Ground, people would certainly gossip.
When I expressed my concern, Henrik reached out and touched me with an affectionate hand.
“Atilenta. I’ve said it many times before, but you are my wife. No one here will dare speak out of turn, no matter how freely you move about this castle.”
That afternoon.
Henrik brought me to the Training Ground without hesitation. Leaving the palace alongside him, clad in Black Armor like any other knight, stirred a new feeling within me.
“Only my knights are here, so no one would dare be disrespectful to you. Look around freely, and if there’s any problem, tell me at once.”

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