The Contract Marriage for Attilenta's Revenge - Chapter 68

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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 Contracted Marriage — Episode 68
That said, I felt no sympathy for Resica. The sorrow or resentment he might have harbored left little impression on me.
I saw only his resolve—that he would not leave this tragedy to unfold untouched.
Just as I would not.
“And she was quite fond of stories about Bwendia, wasn’t she.”
When Henrik maintained his silence, Resica promptly picked up his phone and let it drop onto the chessboard with a dull thud.
“That’s why I wanted to show her that stage. I’m glad to hear she spent such joyful time with Biaoubia.”
Henrik gazed down at the fallen pieces without expression.
“Thank you.”
Even as he understood perfectly well that his opponent’s continued presence meant he could be killed at any moment.
“Ah, the sun has already set. Whenever I play chess with you, I lose all track of time. I shall take my leave now.”
Henrik, who had not touched the board until now, carefully righted one of the fallen pieces.
“I look forward to learning from you next time.”
Speaking as though of chess alone.
While in truth conveying: “It was far too obvious that the wine from Liviuwa contained poison.”
Resica, still wearing that smile, answered in kind.
“I’ll prepare another interesting gift for you next time as well.”
‘Poisoning? A laughable false accusation. That’s your mother’s method, not mine.’
“I look forward to it, brother.”

* * *
“Your Majesty, what did you discuss?”
Henrik’s expression when he returned to the palace was troubling. I drew near to him.
“Atilenta.”
As though he had been staring blankly before calling my name by reflex, his eyes swept across the room—stuffed with gifts arranged like ornaments everywhere.
Though it seemed they should have been organized by now, gifts continued to pour in day after day without cease.
“The gift you warned me about.”
Though no one nearby was listening, he whispered very low. I lowered my own voice in turn.
“The one sent from Liviuwa?”
“Yes. I’ll need to cut off whoever sent it.”
I widened my eyes.
“Now? Is this the right time? The Banquet held for Your Majesty will last quite some while, and given how important such an occasion is, I thought you would see it through without incident.”
Henrik retrieved the wine bottle from the box bearing Resica’s name. Then he collapsed onto the sofa as though burying himself into it.
“I had intended to, but I see now I must seize this opportunity instead, or I’ll lose it.”
“What did Prince Resica say to you……?”
I sat beside Henrik and asked carefully.
“It’s not just because of today’s conversation. You know this already, but my brother has weapons of his own. He commands subordinates just as I do, and he has the backing to earn the Temple’s support.”
“You mean Kirchia?”
Henrik gave a light nod.
“Typically, Temple forces aren’t mobilized in politics. I thought he wouldn’t bring his fiancée to such an affair until later, but it seems that’s not the case either.”
Henrik’s hand gently enfolded mine.
“It must be because you appeared. His plans suffered some disruption as a result.”
In that moment, I understood why Henrik was speaking to me this way now.
“This gift—he sends it every year. But this kind of game won’t happen twice. There won’t be a next time.”
He was thinking of my safety.
Resica’s vigilance had surfaced, and Henrik was moving to act accordingly.
Of course, it was also for his own ambitions, but I could not claim that I had played no part in this matter whatsoever.
Resica had likely sent that wine because of me, just as Henrik had chosen his words carefully out of concern for me.
Something hot suddenly surged up within my chest.
“Then…… Your Majesty. I’ll use the Mirror. Please wait just a moment.”
Setting aside the rising emotions, I first withdrew the Mirror from my bosom. There was no reason for me to hesitate here.
“I don’t want to push you.”
His brow furrowed slightly.
If only I had been a bit more cautious from the start, Henrik wouldn’t have needed to become this impatient.
I felt the impulse to raise my hand and gently smooth his brow and the space between his eyes. But I suppressed it instead and shook my head lightly.
“It’s fine. I want to do this.”
Henrik held his breath for a moment, maintaining silence, before finally granting permission in a quiet voice.
“……If you will do this with me, I would prefer that all the more.”
I breathed my fervent wish into the Mirror and spoke quickly.
“We should swap the contents of the wine. Just as they once touched Your Majesty’s Arrow.”
“Did the Mirror tell you to do that?”
Henrik raised one eyebrow. I quickly held out the Mirror to him, its faint green glow still lingering on the surface.
“No, it was the person who left that gift here who showed up in it.”
I described the servant’s reflection in more detail as I considered the implications.
When I’d asked the Mirror to show me Resica or the King, it had barely displayed anything at all.
How far down the ranks must a subordinate be to not receive Protection Magic?
“I think you’ll recognize who it is. You said it wasn’t something that happened once or twice.”
“Yes, whenever my brother sends something from his palace, it’s always this one. I’ve never seen him at official gatherings. He’s only used for things like this.”
I swallowed back a sigh that kept threatening to escape and conveyed the plan I’d devised, adding a question at the end.
“……So if we guide them all to drink together, he won’t stay idle. At least this loyal servant wouldn’t. Only…… it seems like the other side has already considered all of this.”
My forehead throbbed—not painfully, but with an annoying, persistent ache. I pressed my hand against it.
“They’ve been wary of me for a while now. But why now, of all times……?”
“……It’s the time when the youngest died. He wants to provoke me. That’s why he chose you.”
“Ah…….”
My suspicion had been right. I let out a long, heavy sigh.
“He seems intent on understanding what kind of Magic you use. We do need to uncover who else Biaoubia has joined hands with besides that, but it will take time. For now, it’s best not to stand out too much at that gathering.”
“Yes, but we need to draw attention to succeed. I’ll only pretend, Your Highness. Please take the lead in controlling the situation.”
“As you wish.”
That night felt impossibly long.
Just as he tossed and turned with worry about many things, I too couldn’t sleep and continued our conversation through the dawn.
“The incident at the last hunting tournament was the same…… from what I can tell, Prince Resica has been close to Biaoubia for quite a while. They don’t act particularly intimate at banquets or gatherings, though.”
It was less casual conversation and more a confirmation of the political situation, yet his expression and tone didn’t feel coldly businesslike.
“Your judgment is sound. The funds are coming from that side as well.”
He calmly told me that Resica’s maternal family, Liviuwa, and Biaoubia had had connections long before.
“Yet there’s been no suspicion or scandal between Resica and Tatra?”
Henrik, who had been absently pressing his forehead and cheeks, gave a slight nod.
So the patriarch of Biaoubia really did intend to make Henrik a puppet husband for no other reason than that his daughter wanted him.
While politically joining hands with Liviuwa.
And then I had suddenly appeared, which must have been truly irritating.
A sudden curiosity struck, and I posed a question to Henrik.
“Your Highness, you were in such a difficult situation yourself, yet I cannot begin to fathom how you managed to establish such a firm foundation.”
When I turned the question around and asked where his funds came from, Henrik simply curved his lips upward in a smooth arc instead of answering.
Looking at that blue-dawn smile, I found myself wondering.
Had there ever been a moment when this man felt exhausted?
In my own way, I had sometimes felt an odd kinship with him, but in truth it was merely my own thought.
This Royal Tragedy was something I could never have imagined.
A half-brother dead, a mother branded as the culprit, and a king who had ultimately turned away from it all, silent.
Perhaps because of that ordeal, he had truly come to keep his distance from other women of society.
Setting aside vague thoughts, I barely managed to sleep, and waking the next morning,
as I set out with Henrik to the training grounds as usual to learn the Self-Defense Technique, I felt something unusual.

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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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