Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 159

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The once-quiet fortress, subdued after so many sacrifices, became lively again—thanks, naturally, to Irene.

“Fourth-grade? There’s no way someone who came in as a Tenth-grade could advance that far.”

“It’s because of the Infinite Healing Ring. It’s truly an extraordinary artifact. If only it weren’t a bound item…”

Everywhere Irene went, people whispered her name. And there was someone who found this insufferable.

“Disgusting…”

In the princess’s quarters, Wilhelmina bit her nails as she looked out the window. In the distance, she could see Irene walking with other purifiers.

Not only were her usual purifier companions with her, but even Riosa—who had recently caused an uproar by grabbing Princess Cecilia by the hair—was walking with them.

Everyone was dressed in white and holding white flowers, seemingly heading to pray for the purifiers and knights who had lost their lives in the distortion dungeon.

As they passed, the people of the fortress bowed respectfully.

It was a gesture of reverence toward the purifiers, who were considered the most vital people within the fortress. Irene led the group, walking proudly at the front.

“She was nothing but a Tenth-grade, lower than garbage… just lucky, that’s all…”

Seeing Irene walking along, accepting everyone’s respectful greetings as if it were only natural, made Wilhelmina grind her teeth.

Irene had always been beneath her. Every time Wilhelmina looked at her, she felt reassured of her own good fortune and superiority.

That was why she had kept Irene close…

‘How did things turn out this way?’

Her pair was Michael, the strongest of the knights, she now led the largest circle in the fortress, and she had warm relationships with so many people.

Irene’s current situation was everything Wilhelmina had ever dreamed of. It was also how Princess Cecilia had appeared not long ago.

Wilhelmina had known instantly that Princess Cecilia was the kind of person who possessed everything she desired.

That was why she had so eagerly sought to serve under her, hoping that even a few scraps of that power and prestige might fall her way.

At first, the princess had ignored her. But after Irene became Michael’s pair, the princess began summoning her, assigning her tasks related to Irene.

Although they were all about Irene, Wilhelmina had still been content. She believed that by building trust with the princess in this way, she might someday secure a place by her side.

And now, Wilhelmina’s wishes had indeed come true.

She turned her gaze toward the princess’s quarters, now eerily quiet.

Once bustling with the comings and goings of dozens, even hundreds of people each day, it now stood silent. The purifiers who used to chat around her had nearly all vanished.

Only a few mid and low-ranking purifiers, including Wilhelmina, and those whom the princess had brought from her own kingdom, remained by her side.

Despite still possessing her power, the princess’s influence in the temple had all but faded.

‘If only she hadn’t gone after Riosa’s knight, things wouldn’t have gotten this bad.’

That incident had driven many purifiers to turn their backs on the princess.

Wilhelmina had stayed by her side, believing that with time, the situation would improve. But contrary to her expectations, as the princess withdrew completely, most of the remaining people also left.

As a result, Wilhelmina found herself becoming the princess’s close aide—quite unintentionally.

‘I’d like to join Irene’s side even now, but…’

In truth, she had lingered around Irene a few days earlier, hoping for a chance to approach her.

But whenever Wilhelmina was nearby, Reyna would glare openly, her gaze like a sharpened ax.

She even went as far as to sprinkle salt in Wilhelmina’s direction, as if to ward off bad luck.

‘If I’d known it would turn out like this, I would have stayed quiet back then.’

She now regretted the argument she’d had with Reyna, trying to score points with the princess before they entered the dungeon.

Wilhelmina continued to scheme, wondering if she should try joining a smaller purifier group if Irene was a lost cause. But then again, those smaller groups wouldn’t offer her anything significant, so maybe it was better to stay by the princess’s side.

At that thought, Wilhelmina felt a surge of frustration.

‘Unlike the other purifiers, I haven’t received a single thing!’