Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 78
Just as his lips, which seemed too red and soft for a knight, were about to touch Irene’s neck—
Tak, tak, tak!
“Thank you! We’ll now take a short break before continuing with the second half of the auction!”
The auctioneer’s energetic voice echoed amidst loud applause.
The sound brought Irene back to her senses. At the same time, she realized just how close she and Michael had gotten.
In that instant, she quickly pulled herself away.
“Um, excuse me. I— I need to go to the restroom!”
Stammering, Irene made her excuse and hurriedly left the room, practically fleeing.
The door shut with a loud bang, and Michael withdrew his hand from the railing where it had been resting.
The gentle smile he had worn as he gazed at Irene had completely vanished from his face.
Instead, he muttered regretfully.
“I didn’t expect her to still be this guarded.”
He placed his hand on the spot where Irene had been holding the railing, his fingers tracing the area as if searching for any lingering warmth.
Realizing that her warmth had long since disappeared, he returned to the sofa and recalled the day Irene had performed her purification.
She had pleaded with him to let go, saying she couldn’t take it anymore, but he had pretended not to hear and kept holding on.
How could he let go?
The place where they touched was burning hot, as if it would melt.
He didn’t like how she kept trying to pull away, unaware of the emotions with which he held her. So, he deliberately threaded his thick fingers between her delicate ones.
Each time his rough knuckles rubbed against her soft skin, Irene trembled as though struck by lightning.
She squirmed, pulling her legs together, unsure of what to do.
Even now, thinking back, he couldn’t fathom how he managed to hold himself back.
Had it been another pair, legs would have immediately parted open, seeking to quench their madness.
But he had to restrain himself. She wasn’t ready to fully accept him yet—she needed more time.
Perhaps she would continue to push him away, just as she had done earlier.
He recalled the image of her pale, slender neck.
The memory of the fine hairs on her skin rising with each breath made him feel heavy below.
His gaze dropped downward, and beneath his formal attire, his body had responded, stiffening.
A low laugh escaped from Michael’s lips.
Who could have imagined that the holiest of paladins would be standing here, thinking about his pair, his body reacting this way?
If it had been for any other woman, he would have been called filthy and rightly scorned.
But the one in his thoughts was Irene.
His pair. Though temporary, they were legally recognized as husband and wife.
“My wife.”
He murmured the word softly, his voice sweet and smooth as if honey had coated his tongue.
“And I am your husband.”
It couldn’t be a sin for a husband to desire his wife.
He sighed as he looked down at himself.
He had no idea when Irene would return, but it would take quite some time for him to settle down naturally. Should he force himself to calm down?
Just as he had done alone every night since he arrived at the fortress.
At that moment, a man’s voice echoed from below. It was the disgusting voice of the man who had ogled Irene earlier, licking his lips as he looked her up and down.
The man was impatiently pestering the auction house staff, eager to complete the process and receive his artifact.
Even from far away, Michael could hear every word the man said.
He knew exactly when the man would pay, where he was staying, and all the details.
“……”
Michael recalled Irene’s expression, how she had brushed off the insults as if they were nothing.
Veins bulged on the back of his hand as he clenched it, and his knuckles creaked under the pressure.
“Irene.”
He whispered his wife’s name as he picked up his coat.
Then, as he walked down the corridor, he murmured quietly,
“From now on, everything will be for your sake.”
