Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 39
Translated by Elphie
“…!”
Upon Irene’s words, Felix immediately wrapped his arms around Reyna, shielding her.
“Who are you?”
Felix scrutinized Irene with a sharp gaze, wary of her approach. The reaction was natural for a pair. In her past life, Irene might have been startled by Felix’s swift movement, but not now.
‘Sloppy.’
Having witnessed many knights in her past life and occasionally observing Michael’s movements, Irene found Felix’s response somewhat clumsy.
‘With this level of skill, he’d almost certainly die.’
No matter how grand a raid was organized, survival ultimately depended on each individual’s ability. Given Felix’s current skill level, facing low-level monsters from behind was likely his limit.
‘If the knights at the vanguard are breached and face high-level monsters right away…’
In a previous life, Reyna had held his severed head and cried. It detached from his body in one fell swoop, giving Reyna no opportunity to heal him.
The memory made Irene’s stomach churn. If things continued as they were, the past would surely repeat itself.
“Hey, I said who are you?”
Felix’s voice grew sharper as Irene remained silent.
Irene straightened her posture and bowed to the two.
“Irene Rhodiam. I’m a new purifier who recently arrived at the fortress. And… my pair is none other than the renowned Sir Michael of the Holy Temple.”
She had contemplated whether to mention Michael’s name, but sensing Felix’s menacing aura, she decided to leverage Michael’s fame a bit to ease the tension.
As she predicted, Felix was taken aback hearing Michael’s name but quickly relaxed and straightened his stance.
“Ah, you’re Sir Michael’s purifier.”
He even became polite.
Irene nodded slightly, suddenly realizing how powerful Michael’s name was.
“I apologize for speaking to you so abruptly. I know it must have startled you.”
“No, I apologize for my rudeness. I’m new here, so I suppose I’ve become a bit on edge.”
Felix bowed his head.
Irene found his attitude a little endearing. It was a rare person who could apologize for their mistakes so quickly.
Just then, Reyna, who was behind him, took a step forward and asked Irene a question.
“Why would you say not to go to that dungeon? Do you happen to know something about it?”
“Reyna?”
Felix seemed surprised by Reyna’s sudden assertiveness and attempted to pull her back. However, Reyna firmly pushed away his hand and approached Irene.
“If so, could you please tell us anything you know?”
Reyna’s raised voice drew the attention of the archivists and others in the room.
‘Oh no.’
With many people now looking their way, Irene glanced around and spoke softly enough for only the two of them to hear.
“There are ice wasps in there. Since they fly, blocking their attacks will be challenging. Be careful.”
“…How do you know that?”
Felix looked at Irene with suspicion, glancing at the paper the staff handed him a while ago. The document only displayed the location and grade of the dungeon—there was no information about what awaited them inside, as exploring higher-level dungeons took a considerable amount of time.
“It’s difficult to explain, so please don’t ask me any further. Anyway, I’ve warned you. I’ll be going now.”
Ignoring Felix’s attempts to question her further, Irene hurriedly left the archives. It seemed wise not to linger too long, as her presence might raise suspicions among others. Fortunately, the two didn’t stop her.
“Sigh…”
After swiftly leaving the area and walking for a while, Irene finally let out a breath. She placed the records she had brought on a nearby bench and closed her eyes for a moment.
‘I wonder if I did the right thing.’
After traveling back in time, she tried not to interfere with anything other than her own affairs. That way, the present can unfold as closely to what she experienced in the past.
‘Only then can my knowledge be useful and help me plan accordingly.’
So she had to stay out of other people’s business as much as possible. But she couldn’t help but warn Reyna and Felix not to enter the dungeon.
‘But…’
However, conflicting emotions tugged at Irene. Memories of her past life flooded her mind. There were few people in this vast fortress who would stand by her. No, not few—perhaps it was more accurate to say there were none. Even Michael, though courteous and kind, was so distant in the past. Reyna had been one of the few people who had shown Irene any sort of decency.
‘But most of all…I can’t forget the last time I saw her.’
The family who came to pick up Reyna shoved her into the carriage. Distraught, she cried how she had to find Felix, that she couldn’t leave him behind.
Irene lingered around them with a heavy heart, overhearing her family’s conversation.
“Such foolishness. If she had chosen a knight introduced by Princess Cecilia as her pair, perhaps none of this would have happened.”
“She chose him because she overestimated her own abilities, and look what happened. Perhaps this is for the best…Despite everything, she can still bear children. She will still fetch us a hefty sum.”
“That’s true, and it’s probably more money than Reyna would have made a purifier.”
Sounding rather pleased with themselves, Irene was appalled by their words as they boarded their carriage.
This was their daughter, their sister. But instead of sympathizing with her plight, they were making plans to sell her like she was livestock.
This was a glimpse of the future Irene would face if she couldn’t repay her debt.
‘If the two of them go to the higher-level dungeon again this time…’
The same events would unfold.
But what if they decide not to go? It would be different from her previous life. And Irene was well-aware that these changes might be ultimately to her detriment.
‘Still…’
Irene recalled the image of Reyna handing her fruit to eat in the past. How she had spoken so sweetly to her when she was alone, generously sharing what she had with Irene.
If it meant continuing to see Reyna happy like that…
Irene would have no regrets.