The Contract Marriage for Attilenta's Revenge - Chapter 65

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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 065
The tears welling up scarcely stopped, falling one by one like an irresistible force. Each time, Henrik wiped them away from my cheeks with gentle care.
“Anyone would have felt the same. To devote your entire life, only to be abandoned.”
“It has nothing to do with Your Highness. Truly, nothing at all.”
“The moment you came to me, it became my concern.”
My eyes burned so fiercely I could barely stand it. I exhaled slowly, releasing a long, shaky breath.
“Your ex-husband, my sister—once they’re entangled with you, they become my affair.”
“But Your Highness has matters of your own to attend to. You shouldn’t exhaust yourself on my account—”
“Do you think I took you in without any plan?”
Even through my blurred vision, I could see his eyes shining with perfect clarity, and I met his gaze directly.
Even in this moment, he remained unshakeable, a man burning with quiet strength.
Though our relationship had shifted in this way, the inferiority I felt toward him—my envy of his effortless grace and natural dignity—had not entirely vanished.
“……Even if you treat me this way, Your Highness, what I truly want to do is……only one thing……Your Highness.”
In the end, I confessed again like a heretical sinner that my heart was not the same as his. Henrik drew me against his shoulder and let me rest comfortably against his chest.
“Didn’t I tell you at first to use me like a tool? In the end, you’ve simply grasped a weapon.”
His voice, as always, was low and gentle—like an autumn evening breeze. I exhaled softly, my breath still damp with tears.
“Yet you’ve never treated me that way……. You offered compensation from the very start.”
Henrik glanced down at the Ring on my finger. A faint smile touched his lips.
“Who could deny that I’ve received great help from you?”
He carefully cupped my eyebrows and cheeks, still damp and flushed, cradling them in his palms. His hands tended even to each individual eyelash, but in the end did not reach my swollen lips.
“I only wish you could think the same way. As you have until now. It troubles my heart to see you suffer like this……”
His tender touch and his quiet, unadorned voice wrapped around me like a warm breeze. The tears fell again.
“Whether you use Magic or ask me directly—I hope you don’t bear this alone.”
But I had borne it alone.
When my legs gave way and I could no longer stand, Henrik lifted me gently and laid me on the bed.
“I won’t torment you. Have no fear.”
“I wasn’t……worried about that.”
Even when we lay tangled together every dawn before you accepted me, even when desire roiled within him, he never forced himself on me. If he had truly wanted to take what he wished, he would have done so from the beginning.
“Then I’m relieved.”
Henrik showed me the faintest of smiles once more.
That night, he caressed me throughout.
I would fall into a deep sleep as though losing consciousness, but whenever I stirred and opened my eyes, there he was again in my blurred vision.
Beneath the crimson lamplight, I lay limp under Henrik’s care.
It must have been the same when I collapsed before.
My lips, withered like those of a dead fish, moved feebly.
Henrik—I actually pitied you. For choosing such a difficult woman.
Wouldn’t it have been better if you’d chosen a woman you truly liked, one who was healthy in both body and spirit?
One who could give you a Successor as well.
I turned over these shameful thoughts silently, unable to speak them aloud.
But what right did I have to pity? How could I possibly?
When I was receiving your comfort right now……
And this was surely the only comfort—the only true comfort—I could receive at present.
If he freely brought a mistress to his side, as I’d carelessly suggested before……I hadn’t cared then at all.
Now I wasn’t sure.
I closed my eyes in resignation, my lips moving soundlessly once more.
Feeling the warmth of his touch, all through that dawn.

* * *
The season passed swiftly.
The Royal Palace remained quiet.
No matter what occurred, the appearance of this place—peaceful and prosperous—seemed to endure unchanged.
I too maintained my status as Henrik’s favored consort, living peacefully and safely under his protection.
Yes, of course, I would sometimes steal away to my private chamber and take out the Mirror to ask it questions. Matters of a deeply personal nature.
“When will Henrik find another woman?”
In truth, the Mirror was not a tool that revealed complete and immutable futures.
But since I required Henrik’s help to achieve my desired future, I would periodically beseech the Mirror—asking whether I could maintain his favor for long enough, and what I ought to do to make it so.
And the Mirror never showed me a scene of Henrik laughing and getting along warmly with another woman.
Each time, I would exhale in relief, repeating this silent reassurance over and over.
Then, gazing unconsciously out the window, I would see the elegant black fortress walls standing steadfast, indifferent to whatever anxieties I harbored.
Seeing this quiet stillness, I would soothe my heart in this way many times over.
It was summer, when warm sunlight streamed down all day long, that the Royal Palace finally began to stir with life again—on the occasion of Henrik’s birthday celebration.
The formal festivities had not yet begun.
People Henrik hadn’t seen in days came and went through his palace in succession, and gifts piled high in the reception room and corridors. Of all those presents, only a carefully selected few made their way into Henrik’s bedchamber.
“Gifts have arrived from quite literally everywhere.”
Since coming here, I had experienced lavish and grand banquets more than once, dazzling in their splendor, but this sight was wholly new to me. Speaking with admiration, I felt the unfamiliarity of it all, and Henrik answered in an even tone.
“It’s also work to examine whether there are any problems.”
I nodded and glanced down once more at the boxes that seemed most likely to be troublesome.
As if Prince Lesichka could barely contain his eagerness to show his gift, the boxes alone bearing the royal crest on their dazzling gold-leaf wrapping were beyond counting on a single hand.
“You’ll open that one first, won’t you?”
I brought one of those boxes and set it before Henrik, who sat at leisure on the sofa as usual, and he merely shrugged.
“He sends the same gift every year.”
Even so, verification would be necessary. As I made to unwrap it, he nodded in assent, as if granting permission.
“……Wine?”
It was surprisingly modest. Of course, being a gift bearing Lesichka’s name, it must be rare wine beyond my guessing, yet the golden wrapping seemed at odds with its contents.
“It’s a specialty of Ribiou.”
I studied his face, which was far too composed, as though dismissing it as nothing. As always, his brows and mouth held steady, unmoved.
Ribiou was the name of the maternal house that supported Prince Lesichka, but since his mother had passed, I had scarcely encountered many of its members.
A tragic incident involving Henrik’s mother and Lesichka’s younger sister, now deceased, came to mind.
Lesichka had never truly revealed his inner thoughts, yet perhaps because of that very thing, it was not difficult to infer them.
And these gifts sent every year from that homeland. I made him a proposal in a respectful manner.
“Just in case, I would like to examine these gifts directly to ensure there are no small problems among them.”
He considered for a moment, then assented.
“If that would put your mind at ease.”
There was no need to wait or spend more time. I drew out my Mirror at once and asked.
My desired future was clear.
Mirror, for my future to hold true, Henrik’s safety must be secure. Among all these gift boxes, is there anything I should handle with particular caution?
Immediately, a wondrous light spread across the Mirror’s surface, and I reported to Henrik without hesitation.
“Whatever else it may be, I would advise caution with anything sent by Prince Lesichka.”
Henrik affirmed without any further questions, then picked up the wine bottle, which gleamed with transparent clarity, and stared at it intently.
“……Your Highness. Don’t you wish to ask more?”
“I don’t doubt your words—why should I?”
The trust Henrik showed with his faint smile had the fresh quality of summer foliage.
Whether I had grown somewhat accustomed to that handsome face over the passing seasons, my own cheeks did not flush with embarrassment as they once might have.
“So you knew all along, then.”

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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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