Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 147
Michaelās excommunication was swift.
There were simply too many people who knew he had spent the night with Irene at the fortress.
Of course, everyone understood it had been a purification to save his life.
If the temple had turned a blind eye, excommunication could have been avoided. Losing a knight like Michael was a huge loss for the temple as well.
But above all, Michaelās determination was resolute.
Once the high priestess confirmed that he couldnāt be swayed, she declared his excommunication.
Michael returned the temple sword he had always carried and quickly left the temple, filled with the sighs of priests.
Without a momentās hesitation, he headed for the fortress.
When he arrived, the fortress was quieter than when he had left.
The advanced dungeon where he had been seriously injured had officially been the last dungeon of the year.
Dungeons generally appeared from early spring and stopped emerging once winter began.
Therefore, the fortress remained active only from spring to early winter, with pairs maintaining their bonds only during that period.
Even though no more major dungeons were expected, smaller dungeons still lingered here and thereāthose deemed not profitable enough for knights to bother with.
Now, hired hands would enter those dungeons and finish the cleanup.
Typically, Michael would have handled most of these tasks himself.
His first stop at the fortress was the temple, where he announced his excommunication.
Some of the priests, on the verge of tears, tried to stop him, and a few of them spoke in frustration.
āItās all because that woman held onto you, isnāt it, Sir?ā
Realizing āthat womanā referred to Irene, Michaelās expression hardened immediately.
āYou are gravely mistaken. In the end, it was I who broke the teachings, not her. So blame me.ā
His stern defense of Irene, contrary to their expectations, left the priests speechless.
āWell, this is goodbye, then. May the divine always guide my brothers on their paths.ā
With that farewell, Michael returned his temple robes and changed into the clothes he had prepared.
By the time he left the temple, he no longer possessed a single item from it.
āIrene is still here.ā
Upon his return to the fortress, he inquired with the staff about Ireneās whereabouts.
Fortunately, she was still staying at the fortress.
He needed to see her quickly, to apologize for the way he had treated her and to convey the feelings he harbored.
At that thought, Michael swallowed nervously.
āā¦Irene may not want this.ā
In the past, she had shown more than a favorable gaze toward him, but he couldnāt be sure she still felt that way now.
After all, she hadnāt come to see him or even made eye contact with him recently.
Moreover, during the night they spent together, he had abandoned his reason, acting purely on his desires without considering her.
If that had left her feeling disgusted with him, if she could never look at him againā¦ Michaelās mouth felt parched at the thought.
Regardless, he needed to hurry and meet her.
However, when he reached the purifiersā quarters, the person waiting for him was not Irene, but Princess Cecilia.
Approaching him as if sheād been waiting, Cecilia spoke.
āSir Michael, I heard you were excommunicated from the temple. Is it true?ā
Her voice and demeanor seemed concerned, yet her eyes betrayed her.
In her gaze, there was a glimmer of exhilaration, as if something she had long awaited was finally within her grasp.
āYes, itās true.ā
āThen, you must have no further reservations about pairing. In that caseā¦ would you reconsider the proposal I made some time ago?ā
With that, Cecilia placed her hand on Michaelās arm.
āIf we become a pair, every dungeon next year will be ours. Everyone will look up to you in a way entirely different from before.ā
Her hand on his arm grew more suggestive.
āAndā¦ I could teach you the worldly pleasures youāve yet to experience.ā
