CMFAR 11

Chapter 11

Contract Marriage for Atilenta’s Revenge

“No need to be surprised. If you use someone, you must give proper compensation.”

Henryk, looking at me with wide eyes, wore a faint smile. He explained in his characteristic low and calm voice.

“You kept your promise, so I will keep one too. As long as you do not betray me first, I will have no reason to interrogate you.”

The ring, shining beautifully like the black marble that adorned this royal palace, seemed to be some special historical heirloom passed down through this royal family.

“Ah, to give me such a precious promise, Your Highness.”

I closed my open mouth and composed my expression, determined not to show any more bewilderment.

This give-and-take was precisely the ideal transaction. If I thought positively, I simply had to accept it gratefully.

“It is a ring imbued with the magic of Bwendia. Now it is yours.”

Bwendia—that was the name of the legendary being, the Black Dragon, who founded this country.

I looked down at the black ring and suddenly became curious about the magic that dragon was said to have used. Could there be a power different from what my mother had passed down to me?

“As His Highness the Prince said. It may not be as renowned as the sacred covenant spoken of in the world, but it will serve well as a guarantee of our promise, so rest assured, Your Highness the Princess-Consort.”

“Must you add that, Sir?”

Henryk didn’t scold the knight for his additional explanation, but rather let out a small laugh and maintained an easygoing demeanor.

Watching the two of them, who seemed close, I blinked several times. It wasn’t because the morning sunlight was dazzling.

As for the sacred covenant, I had heard my mother mention it once in passing. It was a magic where two people swore an eternal promise before a great god.

I seemed to recall hearing that if one broke that covenant, they would receive a terrible punishment from which there was no escape.

“Your Highness. I will truly accept this gratefully.”

Though I could use magic, in truth I possessed nothing. This would serve as an excellent guarantee.

Perhaps not only the maids watching me here, but also the people I would meet at the banquet celebrating my marriage to Henryk, might not openly despise me.

After expressing my gratitude to Henryk, I resolved to act more proactively myself.

So, in what way should I carry out my role? I was contemplating various strategies when—

“You. They say the wedding ceremony will be prepared soon. The commemorative banquet will be quite grand, as my family will also attend.”

That stage Henryk mentioned was not merely a simple wedding ceremony to me. It was no different from the first stage where I would be publicly introduced here.

How I took my first step was extremely important. My goal was one: to safely place Henryk on the throne so that I could make use of him. I nodded and replied.

“Yes, Your Highness. I will also make thorough preparations.”

Henryk’s family included the king, a prince competing for the succession, and one younger sister. No matter what kind of people they were, they would have no reason to show me pure goodwill. After all, the label that followed me was hardly ordinary.

But it didn’t matter. I steeled my resolve to gather as much useful information as possible at that banquet.

“Your Highness the Princess-Consort. Please wear this accessory today. As it is the commemorative banquet for your marriage, it would be best to adorn yourself lavishly.”

“I believe these flowers will also complement Your Highness’s hair color beautifully.”

“I’ll go with that.”

I pinned the rose-shaped accessory in my hair, draped a large, pristine lace over my chest, put on a dress with a wide skirt, and fastened a golden belt.

“Gold is something only noble persons may enjoy.”

When I looked puzzled, having never adorned myself with such a belt in the Kingdom of Francia, the head maid gently explained to me.

Whatever the maids assigned to me might be thinking internally, they maintained such polite attitudes, which made things quite convenient for me.

“Your Highness, His Highness the Prince will be waiting. Let us go now.”

After being fully adorned in the Bwendowska Kingdom’s style, I followed the path the maid guided and arrived before the banquet hall. As the maid had said, Henryk was standing before the heavy and ornate door of the banquet hall.

“You have prepared well.”

I didn’t take his words as mere praise. Adorning myself in the Bwendowska style felt somewhat awkward, and above all, this place felt like a battlefield to me. It would be the same for Henryk.

At a glance, he appeared like a husband expressing tender admiration for his grown bride, but his voice still retained a cold edge.

“His Highness Prince Henryk, the Second Prince, and Her Highness the Princess-Consort are entering.”

As the servant standing before the door announced loudly to the inside, the sound of trumpets rang out—*poo*—. The entrance alone was that grand and splendid.

Upon entering the banquet hall, the first things to greet me were an overwhelming fragrance of flowers and perfume, and a chandelier so brilliant it seemed to blind me. Dense shards of light were falling from the ceiling.

*Wow…* I suppressed the admiration that threatened to escape me involuntarily. The banquets in Francia were also splendid, but in truth, I hadn’t experienced many of them.

Certainly, this country seemed quite wealthy. At the same time, it occurred to me that this was a symbol of Henryk’s authority here.

Even so, I was still a powerless foreigner.

“Should we greet His Highness first?”

When I asked quietly, Henryk tilted his head slightly toward me. Just as he was about to part his lips—

“Brother. You came early, didn’t you?”

A woman approached with a light step and spoke first. With amethyst eyes slightly lighter than Henryk’s, she smiled brightly.

“This is our banquet, of course. Warsha.”

Judging by the similarity in eye color and elegant atmosphere, she was clearly Henryk’s younger sister.

“Come now, you always say you’re busy.”

Princess Warsha was truly peculiar. Her almost grayish-black hair was elegantly draped, and her appearance was surrounded by sparkling jewels and accessories.

But that wasn’t all. She was holding a grayish cat that looked like a puff of cotton.

Bringing a cat to a banquet?

Again, I was inwardly astonished. Even more surprising was that the cat’s eyes were a mystical purple, matching Princess Warsha remarkably well.

After exchanging greetings with Henryk, Warsha finally turned her attention to me.

“Princess-Consort? Hello. I’m Princess Warsha.”

Her polite manner of speaking was somewhat unexpected. After all, Warsha appeared close to Henryk, and she was a princess who had brought her pet to a banquet even though she wasn’t the main guest.

She was clearly not an ordinary person. I greeted her as politely as possible.

“Please speak informally, Your Highness the Princess. It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I am Atilenta, from Francia.”

“Hehe. You are my brother’s consort, after all. I appreciate your consideration, so I’ll try. Now, please greet my cat as well. Her name is Marie.”

After showing my courtesy, I looked at the cat once more, curious. It wore a ribbon of the same color as the jewels adorning Warsha’s dress. Even at a glance, it seemed to be made of luxurious silk.

Did cats normally wear ribbons?

I had never seen such a thing in my life, but rather than showing surprise, I chose to greet the cat rather kindly.

“Hello, Marie. Pleased to meet you.”

Warsha smiled brightly without hesitation.

“It’s truly a lovely and elegant cat, Your Highness the Princess.”

“She likes such compliments. Don’t you, Marie?”

Warsha, keeping her smile to the end with satisfaction, guided us to the enormous dining table.

It seemed I had taken my first step well. I let out a quiet sigh of relief.