Chapter 05

Chapter 05

Contract Marriage for Atilenta’s Revenge

“What do you mean by that?”

While pointing out that I was mistaken, Henryk still maintained a relaxed demeanor.

In truth, the words I had brought up were meant to overturn the intentions of a party that had arrived under the flag of peace.

Without hesitation, I brought out the words I had prepared:

“Because the royal family has abandoned me.”

This was because Henryk had not kicked me out right away and was listening to my words, without questioning the rudeness of an unannounced visitor.

For whatever reason, I had clearly piqued his interest.

“Then there is even less for me to gain.”

At that moment, I read a certain emotion in Henryk’s amethyst-like eyes.

Aesthetically speaking, I was not his type. Under the circumstances, there could be no better news than that.

“You do not need to go out of your way to say that I do not meet your standards.”

Without hiding it, I let a subtle smile touch my lips. Only then did Henryk adjust his slouched posture on the sofa and cross one leg over the other.

“There is definitely something Your Highness stands to gain.”

Even knowing that a blade might fly my way next, I did not stop.

“Your Highness intends to conquer all of this land, do you not?”

“Hahaha.”

Bursting into laughter, Henryk wore an amused expression, but I felt an atmosphere so heavy it almost took my breath away. His laugh was cold and ruthless to that degree.

However, there was no blade. In an instant, I realized my expectation was wrong. Though I didn’t know the exact reason, I didn’t feel much panic.

Perhaps because this was a familiar atmosphere I had experienced on the battlefield, my heart didn’t beat unnaturally fast either.

I folded my hands politely in front of me.

“There must be many things you need to prepare for a war of conquest.”

“That is hardly a field you are knowledgeable about.”

My eyes, at least, looked straight back at him.

“Even war is ultimately the affair of humans. I know that reading the human heart is what matters most.”

“That is something no one can easily do.”

“Your Highness, I carry the blood of a witch.”

“A witch, is it?”

Having wiped away his laughter before I knew it, a faint, peculiar light glinted in Henryk’s violet eyes.

“Your Highness is famed as the descendant of the Black Dragon. I believe you possess power comparable to that legendary entity. A power different from mine.”

“Are you saying you possess an ability as well?”

“Yes. I can read the hearts of people, as well as the future.”

“Will I be able to become King?”

Henryk asked in an exceedingly nonchalant manner, and I answered without changing my expression in the slightest.

“Your Highness. To confess with my own lips, I devoted everything to this kingdom, yet now I am in a state where I cannot even be invited to a banquet. If I reveal all of the future to Your Highness right now, I fear I may not be able to go to Bwendowska.”

“That is not an excessive worry.”

Without hesitation, Henryk pointed to the knight standing beside him.

“Read him.”

I made a swift judgment immediately.

Of course I didn’t know who that knight was, but it was clear there was something I could read from him.

It was likely a troubling matter—something that the knight had not shared with his master, yet something that a man like Henryk could easily surmise.

In short, it wouldn’t be anything overly obscure.

Only then would testing me be meaningful to Henryk. If it was neither here nor there, merely meant to mock and deceive me…

Then I would simply find someone other than this prince. I was playing a gamble where I had no stakes to lose.

“If no one else is present besides that gentleman, I shall speak.”

“Gentlemen, clear the room.”

When Henryk gave a light gesture, the knights withdrew without a second word.

By the looks of it, it seemed to be a relationship of deep trust. Suddenly, I felt the urge to bite my lip softly.

It wasn’t as if I had come to propose this deal out of trust in Henryk. But seeing a sight like that in person made my heart ache a little. Because I had no such relationship, and never would in the future.

Atilenta, focus solely on the present situation.

Since I didn’t want to reveal unnecessary dark feelings, I lowered my head gently.

When I pulled out the mirror hidden inside my robe, I could feel Henryk staring intently in my direction.

I cherished, stroked, and wiped the mirror—the only remaining trace of my mother. Intentionally, so as to show it to him.

Come, help me, Mirror. I must pass this man’s test. Only then can I achieve the future I desire.

Before long, an emerald light spread across the mirror like quiet ripples. Sitting opposite me, Henryk would certainly have recognized this peculiar light as well.

“There is no reason to doubt that knight’s loyalty, but it seems he is facing a somewhat troubling matter.”

“Explain.”

Leaning toward Henryk, I whispered to him step by step. Secretly passing along someone else’s affairs behind their back didn’t feel entirely comfortable.

However, manners like that were no longer important. I constantly reminded myself of my goal, and that proved to be quite effective.

After listening to everything I had to say, Henryk immediately stood up and walked into the inner room. It seemed he intended to speak with his knights.

Left alone, I let out a quiet sigh.

“Phew…”

Strangely enough, I felt this way—as if this was a familiar place.

“Ah, this is where I used to play hide-and-seek with Selena.”

Suddenly, it dawned on me. This annex was a place embedded with memories from my childhood. Back then, I used to wonder why the King allowed us such play.

Yes, only now did I know the answer. It was purely for Selena and the Duke.

Since Selena was a count’s daughter, she could only formally debut in high society once she reached the proper age. As for the Duke, he had been coming in and out of the royal castle with the previous Duke since he was young.

“…Did he make it so the two could meet in this royal castle by chance?”

Even as I chewed over these dreadful emotions I had never felt in my entire life just to carry out my revenge, my memories did not disappear.

Rather, the more my memories resurfaced, the better it was—in order to temper my heart.

Immersed in a damp, gloomy past, I closed my eyes.

“You were right.”

Through the dark field of vision, Henryk’s cold, low voice echoed. Thanks to that, I snapped out of my thoughts and cleared my throat.

“Your Highness, I would like to emphasize once more that I will be of help to you.”

“Hmm. So you intend to make a deal using your ability. The purpose of your proposal seems clear as well.”

“That is correct.”

I could guess the conclusion of this conversation. From the very beginning, Henryk had not denied the assertion that he would conquer this land, after all.

“I wonder if you can really be of use on the battlefield as well. Even if I believe you possess ability right now…”

Henryk trailed off with a faint trace of laughter. It seemed that predicting the inner thoughts of a knight here didn’t mean he immediately held my ability in high regard.

In truth, it was a natural caution. If he had trusted me based on a single action, I would have doubted his competence instead.

Because it was an expected turn of events, I wasn’t overly nervous. I simply brought out one more move I had prepared.

“Last year, during the Battle of Genoa in the south, a rebellion broke out. It was a remnant of Syracuse, and three days later, the rebel general committed suicide.”

“I thought it was quite unusual. Syracuse understands a soldier’s honor, so for a man of his stature to commit suicide…”

“I orchestrated it, Your Highness.”

In an instant, Henryk’s eyebrow arched crookedly. Having completely erased any trace of laughter, he crossed his arms and asked me:

“How did you do that?”

Of course, it was an achievement taken by Anthoni, but I continued my explanation in a way that emphasized my ability.

“He was acting as a spy between Syracuse and the Messina forces. Though he secretly hid the evidence, I found it and passed it to the Duke. It was something that would have taken the knights a long time to accomplish.”

“…Therefore, Syracuse, having lost its general, as well as Messina, were easily suppressed using the gathered information.”

Anthoni’s successful conquest of the Syracuse and Messina regions had been published in the newspapers.

Henryk could doubt this as well, but it would be difficult for him to uncover a lie right away.

“Yes, that is correct, Your Highness.”

Furthermore, he remained silent. It seemed he had grasped my meaning loud and clear: Do not leave this dangerous ability—capable of uncovering even your secrets—abandoned here; take it for yourself.

If he was a man with ambition fitting that description.

In a way, I was provoking him. Like a person who didn’t hold her own life dear.

Henryk let out a breath of indescribable meaning.

“To volunteer as a spy just to bring down your own homeland.”

“I have done something similar before.”

Back then, I was happy simply because the Duke wanted my ability so badly.

In truth, the very fact that a Duchess went out to the battlefield was something unusual and strange compared to others.

Without realizing it, a small, bitter smile formed on my lips. Seeing that, Henryk seemed to have misunderstood.

“You seem quite accustomed to it.”

I intended to roughly agree and move on. After all, there was no need to bring up my past, which had nothing to do with him.