Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 3
Translated by Elphie
Irene reflected on her past life. It was, in a word, unhappy. As a child, her parents were killed in a dungeon. leaving her behind. Soon after, Irene was promptly sent to an orphanage.
A priest who had volunteered there noticed Irene’s potential for purification. With the rise of dungeons, purifiers were in high demand.
Irene, recognized for her purification abilities, was adopted as the daughter of Count Rhodiam, who generously supported the orphanage with substantial funds.
“Whatever happens, having a purifier by your side is always an advantage. Grow up quickly and make yourself useful.”
The Count’s eyes were filled with greed as looked at Irene.
Anyone entering the dungeon would need a purifier to heal their wounds and cleanse their magic. Only purifiers could treat the wounds inflicted by monsters and purify the magic they emitted. So the Count thought that if Irene could be paired with a knight as an adult, she would make a fortune.
However, after reaching adulthood, Irene’s purification grade, evaluated by the temple, was the lowest. The Count, who was looking forward to her earning money, was furious at the results of her evaluation. No knight was interested in pairing with the lowest-ranking purifier.
Instead, the Count felt compelled to pay someone to take the seemingly useless low-grade purifier off his hands.
“You worthless thing, thank goodness you have a half decent face! There’s someone willing to buy you because of it.”
Anticipating losses, the Count sought to send Irene to an elderly noble, notorious for having replaced six wives already. Though she wished to escape immediately, with the name “Rhodiam” attached, Irene was virtually the Count’s property.
“Give me just six months! I’ll find a knight to pair with for dungeon exploration and repay my value!”
“Who would pair up with someone of your bottom rank? Even if there were such a foolish knight, do you think they could earn back the money it took to bring you here? And besides, what about the cost of feeding and housing you during this time?”
“We won’t know until we try. Please, just give me this one chance!”
For the next six months, Irene had only one option: to find a knight to form a pair with on the Contract Night. After that, they would enter the dungeon together and share the rewards. Apart from this, there was no other way for her to earn the hefty sum of 100,000 gold in six months.
Irene immediately headed to the fortress where the Contract Night was held. The fortress was a massive citadel built by the Alliance of Kingdoms in the region where the dungeons appeared.
There, once a month, a night known as “Contract Night” took place, where adult purifiers sought knights to form pairs with and make a pair contract.
“Maybe I can somehow find a pair here somehow.”
Irene thought, clutching onto hope. Unfortunately, events unfolded as the Count had predicted.
“The lowest-ranking purifier… I’d rather go into the dungeon alone than have you help me and hand out rewards.”
No matter how much they needed a purifier, Irene’s power was so weak that the knights refused to pair with her.
The knights who considered forming a contract with her offered it as if bestowing a great favor.
“Well, if we stick to safer lower-level dungeons, and I take 99% of the share while you get 1%, then I might consider a contract. And…”
The knight trailed off, scanning Irene up and down, licking his lips.
“I’d want you to make love to me every day. That way, purification might work better. Oh, not just before entering the dungeon, but anytime I want.”
Faced with the knight’s demands, Irene bit her lip. It was a well-known fact that for more efficient purification of magic, intimate contact was more effective than mere physical touch in a pair.
So, when the knights returned from the dungeon, they would enter their lodgings with their purifiers and not come out until the magic was cleansed. This knight was asking for what was rightfully to be expected from her. But the glint in his eyes told her that what he was demanding was more for his pl**sure than anything else.
More importantly, he proposed dividing the dungeon rewards at a ratio of 1 to 99. Regardless of Irene’s weak abilities, that was nothing short of exploitation.
‘Besides… he might not even actively participate in dungeon expeditions after I sign the contract.’
The knight could just take his pl**sure and then leave. However, such hesitation was a luxury Irene couldn’t afford. If she rejected this contract, she would soon be sold off to the elderly noble.
As Irene struggled with her decision, a figure appeared in the room.
Michael, the renowned paladin admired by everyone on the continent, stood there. He was the continent’s sole righteous knight, entering dungeons not for personal desires but solely to save those tormented by monsters.
His participation in Contract Night was not by choice. He was brought in on purpose by the Alliance of Kingdoms to keep him in check as he rose to great honor and became a hero to the entire continent.
He, too, had to follow the continental laws set by the alliance to enter dungeons. The pretext was to find a purifier to entrust his body to during Contract Night, as per the laws. Michael planned to make a perfunctory appearance and then leave immediately. That is, if Irene hadn’t stopped him.
As soon as she saw him, she knew. She sensed that he was the only one who would offer her a fair contract. Approaching him, she pleaded.
“Please, enter a contract with me.”
Irene clung to him for dear life.
