The Contract Marriage for Attilenta's Revenge - Chapter 70

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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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Contract Marriage for the Revenge of Atilenta — Episode 70
Everyone’s expression shifted in an instant, though their composure remained graceful.
I narrowed my brows as if dizzy, pressing my fingertips to my forehead.
Henrik, whispering that I was all right, drew me into his solid, broad embrace by the waist as if caging me there.
“Your Highness, are you well?”
Even at Barsha’s kindness, I only murmured softly.
“I’m not sure…… My head is just throbbing—”
“It seems you can’t hold your wine.”
Resycha assessed me without concern, while Henrik spoke in a voice grown slightly colder.
“There’s nothing wrong, is there?”
“How could there be? Henrik.”
“Then why are you still holding your glass, brother? I’m asking.”
“Because your wife suddenly stumbled.”
“Naturally, since there’s nothing amiss, why not exchange glasses with me? There was such a custom when we served the people of Bwendia long ago, wasn’t there?”
I couldn’t see Henrik’s expression, but I was certain it looked as cold as winter frost.
“I’ve heard of it too. Isn’t that right, Father?”
Yet Barsha turned to the King as if she knew nothing at all.
“That was a very long time ago.”
The moment the King assented, the attendant standing behind Resycha faltered.
“Forgive me, but…… Prince Resycha.”
The servant could no longer stay still. He knew what was in this wine.
He seemed unwilling to let even a drop touch his master’s lips.
“What is it?”
Henrik, standing across from him, raised one eyebrow, scrutinizing the troublemaker carefully.
“Brother, he seems to have something to say. He looks rather distressed…….”
I signaled my agreement to Henrik with utmost care, displaying the proper concern of a respectful sister-in-law toward her brother-in-law.
“……I think so too.”
Now, no matter what excuse that servant offered—whether he intended to convey secret information or not—it was something that had occurred before the King, and some explanation was necessary.
“I’m grateful for your concern, though there’s nothing of the sort.”
Or else Resycha would have to explain it himself.
“Elder brother Resycha. Then, you’re quite all right?”
As an awkward silence stretched on, Barsha too expressed her concern. Her cheerful affection shone even in such a moment.
Barsha glanced at the King’s reaction, then spoke slowly.
“We should share the same glass……”
Suddenly, I wondered if she knew the truth behind this affair, but I didn’t ask outright.
What was interesting was that the King, like Resycha, hadn’t touched the wine to his lips either.
Now the servant seemed to want to lean closer to Resycha and whisper something, his lips and jaw and shoulders trembling.
In short, Resycha couldn’t agree outright to the proposal to share the wine, yet he couldn’t refuse openly either.
“Resycha has indeed strained himself helping me of late…… but I didn’t expect even his servants to be so worn.”
The King’s tone was generous as before, but his face bore not a hint of warmth.
Everyone at the table turned to look at the man standing behind Resycha.
“What is the matter, Your Majesty?”
No—the room’s gaze had already begun to naturally converge on him.
“Is there some problem with the wine served at this table?”
Amid the murmurs of unrest, Henrik raised his hand calmly, pointing to the suspicious servant.
“It would be better if the one you brought here spoke directly, brother. Is there perhaps something troubling your mind right now?”
At last Barsha furrowed her brow, biting her lip gently.
Could she be sensing that matters were flowing toward something like when their youngest sibling died long ago?
……
The servant standing behind Resycha said nothing.
In truth, ignoring a question from the King, let alone from Prince Henrik, would earn severe punishment.
Creating a disturbance at this gathering was itself worthy of grave consequence.
Yet he surely believed that wine containing poison was better drunk by all the Royal Family members than by Resycha specifically.
“……Your Majesty. If I may, it might be best to conclude this gathering.”
After a deliberately weighted silence, Henrik offered his apologies to the King first. The King, accepting this with a nod, left with his guards without a word.
“Let no one leave.”
Knights appeared from nowhere and came forward, closing the banquet hall doors with a heavy bang. In an instant, the atmosphere turned grave, and commotion erupted.
“The wine must be examined, brother. You understand, don’t you?”
Resycha, unlike his usual self, narrowed his brows and glared at Henrik.
“I understand your concern for the princess, but I’m not certain that’s the wisest choice.”
“Your brother must have done the same for Kirchia’s sake.”
“That’s not wrong, but there were quieter ways to arrange matters.”
Resycha did not raise his voice openly or point fingers in anger.
Yet I sensed that he was expressing his displeasure fully, genuinely, for the first time.
“Building a family is just as important as maintaining it properly.”
“I won’t have a single regret about this later.”
“……I understand your meaning, but I’ll be watching this matter myself.”
Resycha crossed his arms, his expression cold and unyielding. It was the posture of a man who would oversee every moment of what his younger brother dared to undertake.
I remained quietly at Henrik’s side until the small crisis had passed.

* * *
A damp underground chamber.
The only light came from a single crimson lamp.
Henrik held the instrument the knight had offered between his thumb and forefinger, standing before his captive.
“Who sent you?”
……
“What is your connection to my brother? What were you planning to do to my wife?”
……
“Quite remarkable loyalty.”
“For Bwendofska.”
A hollow laugh.
Henrik, who spoke in that final whisper, pressed something sharp as a meticulously honed needle against the man’s throat.
“Whether you stay silent or spout nonsense, it makes no difference.”
Henrik’s face remained expressionless as he drew a line across the prisoner’s skin.
“You’ll open your mouth in the end.”

* * *
Days later, Henrik relayed everything he had learned.
He asserted, as expected, that Resycha had known nothing of the man’s actions.
The servant had confessed that what had entered the drink was something dangerous and must never be consumed. But……
‘Did you administer Truth Serum? He seemed like he’d never speak otherwise.’
‘Let’s say it was something like that.’
I understood in that moment, seeing Henrik’s composed expression. Ah, he had tortured him directly.
‘And the investigation of the wine?’
‘The court physicians, my own knights, and my brother’s loyal men — all confirmed that the wine contained no poison whatsoever.’
I found myself curious about what expression that servant must have worn upon hearing such a conclusion.
‘And how did Prince Resycha respond to that?’
Henrik relayed Resycha’s reaction with perfect composure.
‘He was coldly furious, saying how such a man harboring base treason could dare to draw breath in these halls. He said Libiu had not only stained his own name but deceived the entire Royal Family……’
Though Resycha had wielded the man as if he were an extension of his own will, this time he readily handed the prisoner over to Henrik and demanded harsh punishment.
The man’s life ended in the Royal Palace’s underground chamber, we were told. Unable to endure the severe interrogation.
Or perhaps, in truth, it had ended by his own hand.
Once the grand yet marred Banquet concluded, the gifts that filled Henrik’s chambers were being methodically sorted by the knights themselves.
“Your Highness, where shall we store this?”
“Send it to the lower storage.”
Though Henrik and I had both inspected them, the knights checked once more. Ensuring there were no further complications.
“Only the one who delivered it faced punishment, in the end. And everything came from that palace……”
I slumped back into the sofa, unable to do much else. I found myself muttering as I watched the knights faithfully moving boxes Resycha had sent.
“Your brother is quite wise.”
Hearing Henrik’s measured sarcasm, I voiced the curiosity that had lingered for days.
“But what was he trying to gain by exposing himself like that? He could have drawn Libiu into it as well if things had gone differently.”
More precisely, I was speaking of what I still could not understand.
When I asked the mirror in secret, it showed only a Resycha as serene as ever — one who could not be said to be caught up in such an incident.
“I’m not sure……. Once I had a conversation like this with my brother.”
Henrik, settling beside me, continued in a low voice.
“When I learned bonsai cultivation for the sake of refinement, I started by pruning branches, one at a time.”
Henrik’s gaze settled on one of the potted plants decorating the room.
“My brother said he wanted to prune from the roots first.”
I blinked slowly. So that was Resycha’s nature……
“This matter won’t truly be over, will it……”
He too seemed lost in thought, his voice dropping to a slow, measured pace.
“That day, I tried not to say anything on purpose…… but it was difficult.”
There was something weighing on my conscience, and I was half-confessing.
“Fortunately, I felt as though Princess Barsha was helping me, so I thought I should do something to assist as well.”
I was the one who first told him that poison was in Resycha’s gift. Even if Henrik had known it beforehand, that fact could never come to light. Neither could the fact that we’d planned the incident together.
“Yes, you simply gave your consent to me.”
Even if I’d kept silent to some extent during the Banquet, could I truly escape the notice of those watching from the shadows?
Like this, forever?
I shook my head in protest.
“But…… you’ve increased your guard recently, haven’t you? And beyond that…….”
“It was something I had to do.”
A lonely smile escaped my lips without my knowing.
I couldn’t simply remain silent forever.
“You punished the knight who caused the incident at the hunting tournament yourself, and now even his servant…… you dealt with him directly, didn’t you?”
With that, I’d openly shown him that I was his weakness.
“Don’t worry yourself too much.”
Henrik gently wrapped an arm around my shoulders and brushed away my concern with a soft touch.
“I was able to conclude this matter well thanks to you.”
I closed my eyes and whispered.
“Thank you…….”
On the surface, I nestled against him obediently, receiving his trust and praise, but inwardly I understood that this peace could not possibly last.
We both knew this was only the beginning. So did Resycha.

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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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