The Contract Marriage for Attilenta's Revenge - Chapter 63

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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 Through Contract Marriage: Chapter 63
“Your Highness Henrik, Your Highness Atilenta. You’ve arrived.”
As we stepped into the Training Ground, a resounding salute rang out like a great shout. Henrik raised his hand lightly, and everyone turned their heads away.
It seemed they weren’t treating me as a spectacle, almost as if they were being considerate of someone visiting for the first time. That suited me fine.
The knights in Black Armor who guarded the Training Ground looked busy, drilling with disciplined movements.
Krakup, who had approached silently beside me, glanced around before asking Henrik.
“Who shall be the instructor?”
It seemed he’d already heard from Henrik the main purpose of my visit.
Henrik answered without hesitation, calling out a name in a low voice.
“Kobel, come here.”
The moment I heard that name, I unconsciously tilted my head in confusion.
“You called for me, Your Highness?”
“Teach Atilenta some basic Self-Defense.”
The knight called Kobel was a young man with striking black hair and taut muscles—bearing a wolf-like quality, and strangely reminiscent of Krakup in atmosphere.
“I accept your command. Your Highness Atilenta, allow me to introduce myself. I am Knight Kobel.”
And—he was the head cook I’d often seen in the Dining Hall.
“Weren’t you the one who works in the palace?”
Kobel didn’t move an eyebrow, responding with complete composure.
“Your Highness may speak to me informally. His Highness commanded that I was now free to reveal myself, which is why I’m making this first introduction in this uniform.”
I nodded as naturally as I could. So this was the knight Henrik had secretly assigned to watch over me all this time.
“Then, Atilenta, I’ll be back later.”
Henrik left those warm words and headed toward the open ground across the way. Though still inexperienced, I first learned from Kobel how to properly grip a sword.
“Since you’re learning the sword for the first time, today we’ll focus on just mastering this stance.”
Kobel maintained a stern demeanor but didn’t make me uncomfortable. He didn’t demand anything excessive of me as a beginner, and consistently kept a certain distance between us.
“You did wonderfully, Your Highness. I shall see you again tomorrow.”
Time passed swiftly, and soon the sky began to shift from yellow to crimson.
“You worked hard, Kobel.”
I took my leave of Kobel and went to where Henrik was.
Following a knight’s guidance, I sat in an elevated seat and quietly watched the training knights.
The most striking among them was undoubtedly Henrik. He wore the refined Military Uniform of Bwendofska better than anyone, and the Black Armor fit him as if tailored to his frame.
With my chin propped in my hand, I found myself leaning forward without realizing it.
Then I noticed Krakup, standing like a shadow beside Henrik.
For some reason, his expression seemed troubled.
The moment that thought occurred to me, I pressed my lips together firmly.
It’s nothing to worry about, Atilenta. He’s always been that serious about everything. When he came to the Library that other time, he was just as stern and unyielding.
“Are you bored?”
I shook my head gently toward Henrik, who had drawn near.
“I’m simply grateful that you brought me here, Your Highness.”
Henrik answered my appropriate response with a light smile.
It seemed there was nothing catastrophic about me coming to the Training Ground, just as Henrik had said. On the way back, no one stopped me to ask questions about it either.
That night, lying in the Bedchamber as always with Henrik, I asked carefully.
“Do you train like that every day, Your Highness? I hope my presence today didn’t disturb you at all?”
Even though Henrik had set my mind at ease that morning, I deliberately furrowed my brow and made a show of concern. The reason was simple.
The expression on Henrik’s face as we returned from the Training Ground hadn’t seemed entirely at ease.
And I wondered if perhaps Krakup had said something to hint at Barsha.
From the moment he lay down, Henrik had already turned his body toward me, and he gazed at me intently before speaking softly.
“As I said, that’s not it. You can watch anytime. Only… there was something that bothered me a little.”
My eyes widened and rounded naturally, and I gripped his collar.
“Your Highness, tell me what it was.”
Henrik opened his crimson lips with an expression difficult to distinguish between laughter and a sigh.
“That you were with Kobel.”
Was he actually jealous of Kobel too?
He had always maintained clear boundaries when dealing with me. Just as I was about to tell him not to worry about it, a scene flashed through my mind.
Since it involved handling a sword, there had been a time when he corrected my posture directly—using his hands.
But I hadn’t felt any discomfort or concern about that contact.
Even if I had.
“Ah… Your Highness.”
He would certainly have anticipated that such contact would be necessary.
Honestly, it was difficult to tell an obvious lie.
I wanted to soothe his jealousy even a little, but in the end, I could only let out a short, quiet sigh.
Henrik, who’d been watching me this whole time, reached up and stroked my forehead and cheek with a warm hand.
“This isn’t to say you did anything wrong, and there’s no need to make excuses. Kobel was only doing what needed to be done.”
His voice was as quiet and gentle as always, and his expression held no reproach whatsoever.
But hiding such complicated feelings and concentrating on my duties at the Training Ground couldn’t have been easy for him.
He’d been so casual about looking after me just moments before.
Once I understood that much, I found it even harder to bring up anything about Kobel. I bit my lip gently, deliberating, before deciding to change the subject.
“…Your Highness, I actually wanted to ask—is something troubling Krakup? His expression seemed particularly poor today.”
Henrik answered in his usual manner, as if he’d grasped my intention.
“Ah, did it? Hmm… I heard that Barsha and Krakup had some kind of conversation. Since it’s a private matter, I didn’t press further.”
I nodded in understanding. While it’s a knight’s duty to report everything to his master, it would still be difficult for him to lay bare his unrequited feelings for his lord’s sister, or the words that had passed between them.
Though Henrik had apparently already sensed it all before I ever confessed anything.
I was certainly curious about what those two had discussed.
But since Henrik had shown them that respect.
It was only right that I wait until she chose to tell me.
Even as something in me bristled at Henrik’s display of jealousy toward the knight, I deliberately didn’t mention it first.
Regardless of my feelings, time flowed on remarkably fast.
Before long, the Royal Palace was hosting a lavish, grand Banquet to celebrate spring—one that I heard would span several days as part of the Social Season.
And just before we entered that ballroom.
“Atilenta, you’re especially beautiful tonight.”
Henrik offered me a gentle compliment the moment his eyes fell on me.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
As I took Henrik’s hand and stepped into the ballroom, it gleamed on all sides as always, and the fresh scent of flowers filled the air.
“Prince Henrik and Her Highness Atilenta make their entrance!”
The fanfare that greeted us rang clear and bright, and atop it flowed the gentle melodies of the Royal Orchestra.
As with previous occasions, there seemed to be an unusual number of fresh-faced debutantes making their first appearance in Society.
Perhaps because of that, the ballroom’s sparkling atmosphere carried an electricity of excitement and anticipation, threaded through with a peculiar thrill.
“Atilenta, will you dance with me?”
Once the Banquet’s mood had fully ripened and an intimate waltz began to play, Henrik extended his hand to me.
I let myself be drawn readily into the center of the floor.
As I matched my steps to Henrik’s, the Bwendofska style of dancing felt unfamiliar at first, but following along proved not difficult at all. He guided me very slowly, with an unhurried grace.
As I swayed in time with the steps, I naturally cast my gaze about the room. I caught sight of influential nobles from great houses, enjoying the Banquet with elegance.
Barsha, with whom I’d exchanged warm pleasantries, of course—but also Queen Resichana, to whom I’d offered nothing more than formal courtesy.
I lowered my face almost into Henrik’s broad shoulder and whispered softly.
“They’re all watching us while pretending not to, Your Highness.”

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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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