Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 58
Translated by Elphie
I wonder if she was glad that her sudden proposal was accepted. Despite meeting for the first time today, Reyna and Cynthia left the room chatting like old friends. From the way they talked on their way out, it seemed they were eager to organize a get-together as soon as tomorrow.
The maids entered, clearing the space where the two had stayed and quickly bringing in a fresh set of tea. The maids tidied up the room even faster and cleaner than before, thanks to the food and care Irene had given them.
After serving tea, they politely bowed their heads to Michael and exited, closing the door behind them. This was such a far cry from Irene’s former quality of life during her time in the fortress or, for that matter, her time in the count’s estate.
The room, now devoid of Reyna and Cynthia’s lively chatter, felt awkwardly quiet despite Michael’s presence.
“Why are you so…!”
“Eek!”
As Michael began to speak, Irene was so startled that she almost dropped the teacup she was holding. Startled, hot tea spilled onto her hand, and she quickly shook it off in surprise.
Michael also quickly stood up, reaching for a cloth to help Irene wipe her hand.
“Are you okay?”
“Oh, thank you. I’m sorry I interrupted you. Please, go ahead.”
“You didn’t interrupt. I just wanted to ask why you seem so tense.”
Irene could only look sheepish hearing Michael’s question. “Well, it’s just that I was worried I might have inconvenienced you.”
“Inconvenienced me? How so?”
“A little while ago, with forming a circle… Wouldn’t that be a bother for you?”
“Why would you think that I’d find it bothersome?”
In her past life, he hadn’t paid any attention to such things, and later on, he would outright refuse any suggestions, no matter who made them.
…She couldn’t say that, though.
“I’m just worried that since it’s a group that puts personal interests first, it might be inconsistent with Sir Michael acting in accordance with the teachings of the Temple.”
“There is that, of course. However, before anything else, if it allows you to be comfortable with your friends, I believe that’s something I should do as your pair, regardless of whether it completely aligns with the Temple’s teachings.”
Irene felt embarrassed again, especially when he implied that he wanted to do it for her. He’d always been courteous towards her, but she had never received such thoughtful consideration.
“…Thank you, truly.”
She meant it. In reality, when the topic of the gathering came up, she felt a bit uneasy. Turning her back on the Princess meant she would likely encounter troublesome situations until Irene left the fortress. In that case, having a small circle, and with Michael’s assistance, seemed much more reliable.
As Irene unknowingly smiled, Michael, too, revealed a faint smile.
“I’m glad you seem to be relaxing a bit. I was afraid you were still very uncomfortable with me.”
Irene laughed awkwardly again. To be honest, it was a little hard to be around him like this.
‘Because he’s the person who’s changed the most from his past self.’
Asking to be her pair and being so accommodating weren’t things he would have done before. So, whenever Irene faced him, she couldn’t help but feel nervous, wondering what had changed without her realizing.
‘Although I am glad that things have changed for the better.’
Just as she was thinking that, he spoke again.
“And I will ask you to purify more often from now on, but I was worried what I would do if you continued to have a hard time with it.”
“What? More often?”
The sudden words made the teacup she was holding clink loudly. She already thought she had done enough. The idea of even more frequent purifications surprised her, especially considering how she looked during the last purification.
No matter how ignorant he is of reason, he must have seen her reaction during the last purification and known how it overstimulated her senses.
Or at least she thought so because he hadn’t mentioned purification even once after that incident. So, she had expected him not to ask for it unless it was really urgent.
“Shall we test the limits of that ring?”
“Oh.”
It was only then that Irene recalled the existence of the ring on her hand. It was an evolved artifact that grew stronger as it absorbed magic. Scholars flocked to the fortress to study it, but since Michael was the original wielder, they needed his permission.
Despite numerous research proposals from scholars, he had been rejecting them all, stating that he needed more time to assess it himself…
‘I suppose the Temple wanted to test it separately.’
That’s why he was taking matters into his own hands.
“Since we’ve recently cleared a high-level dungeon, there’s quite a bit of accumulated magic.”
He casually removed the cloak he was wearing and hung it on the wall—like a man who was quite at home removing his clothing in this place.
Approaching Irene, he bowed politely and made a request.
“Please, I entrust today’s purification to you as well.”
