Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 143
After staring blankly for a long while, he stood up.
āIs there an advanced dungeon expedition tomorrow?ā
It would be a tougher day than usual. All the other knights would likely be entering with their purifiers.
As Michael thought this, he suddenly got to his feet.
He quickly approached his desk and began to write a note on rough paper.
After a moment, he took the note and headed toward the purifiersā quarters.
The guards at the entrance looked surprised to see Michael appear so late at night.
āSir Michael? Is there something you need?ā
āPlease deliver this to my pair, Miss Irene Rhodiam.ā
āOh, understood.ā
Most knights would have simply entered their pairās quarters directly, but Michael could not do that.
As he turned to head back to the temple, he glanced back at the purifiersā quarters.
The large and grand building, with its hundreds of rooms, loomed impressively.
He hadnāt ventured deep inside, but considering the elegance of the reception room he had briefly visited, he assumed that Ireneās quarters must be equally fine.
As he walked slowly back to his quarters, he thought to himself that the next time he met Irene, he would ask if she might invite him to her room sometime.
* * *
After Michael left, the guard who had received the letter asked a colleague to cover his post and headed into the purifiersā quarters.
On his way in, he spotted Cecilia conversing with another purifier at the entrance and bowed his head.
Under normal circumstances, Cecilia would have ignored such a greeting and gone about her business.
However, when she noticed the envelope bearing the templeās seal in the guardās hand, her eyes narrowed.
Breaking off her conversation, Cecilia approached the guard.
āTo whom is that letter being delivered?ā
āSir Michael asked me to deliver it to his pair, Miss Irene Rhodiam.ā
For a moment, Ceciliaās expression stiffened.
But only for a brief moment. She quickly erased any sign of it and, with a bright smile, extended her hand to the guard.
āHow convenient. I was just on my way to see Miss Irene myself, so Iāll deliver it for you.ā
The purifiersā quarters, being tended solely by maids, generally did not allow men inside, so the guard would have needed to summon a maid to deliver it anyway.
But with Princess Cecilia personally offering to deliver it, there was no reason to refuseāshe was certainly the most reliable person here.
Without a second thought, the guard handed over the letter and went back to his post.
Cecilia slipped the letter into her pocket casually and continued her conversation.
Late that night, Cecilia returned to her room, retrieved the letter from her pocket, and read it.
The content was simple.
Michael asked if Irene could wait by the dungeon entrance during tomorrowās expedition, just in case, even if she wouldnāt be accompanying him inside.
It was such a typical letter from Michael.
While others worried about the risk of contamination from miasma and insisted on bringing their purifiers into the dungeon, he asked her to wait at the entrance, concerned for her safety.
Ceciliaās lips twisted slightly.
āā¦Why has he suddenly started to care?ā
And why now, of all times?
A week ago, the day Irene had attempted purification by holding Michaelās handā¦
Cecilia had summoned Irene and showered her with criticism disguised as advice.
āIsnāt it time for you to learn some restraint, Miss Irene?
āWhatā¦ do you meanā¦
āCanāt you tell just from Sir Michaelās reaction today? Canāt you see how uncomfortable he is around you?
At Ceciliaās words, Irene flinched, unable to lift her head.
Seeing her reaction, Cecilia seized the opportunity to continue her reproach.
āHeās the pillar of this entire fortress. Yet, despite lacking the ability to ease his burdens, you grabbed his hand so abruptlyā¦ Does his discomfort not concern you? After observing him for months, shouldnāt you have noticed that much?
It was petty.
But the shock of Michaelās public rejection had clearly affected her. Ireneās face went as pale as a sheet.
