Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 184
The thud of Irene hitting the floor was loud enough to make the staff member who had thrown the coins flinch in surprise.
Perhaps he worried Irene might blame him and hold him accountable if she was injured.
āOuchā¦ā
Groaning, Irene picked herself up. Sitting upright, she held the coin in her handāthe one the staff member had thrown.
She examined it intently, as if it mattered more than her well-being, not even sparing a glance at the staff member.
āHah, unbelievableā¦ā
Relieved that she wouldnāt blame him, the staff member clicked his tongue and quickly disappeared.
Michael wanted to rush out, help Irene, and demand accountability from the man who had insulted her.
Butā¦
āHaā¦ā
Irene sighed heavily, slipping the coin into her pocket.
She sat on the floor for a long time, her head hung low, motionless.
Michael wondered if she was crying, but there was no sound of sobbing or shaking shoulders.
For a long while, Irene remained alone in the empty hallway. Eventually, she stood, brushed off her clothes, and muttered to herself.
āAt least no one saw that.ā
Michael froze in place.
He couldnāt reveal that he had witnessed everything, not when she believed no one had seen her.
After fixing her attire, Irene slowly walked down the hallway, disappearing in the opposite direction from where Michael stood.
It was only long after she had gone that Michael stepped out into the corridor.
From that day forward, Michael began collecting valuable metals and small gemstones during dungeon expeditions.
When leaving the dungeon, he handed them separately to the staff member managing rewards.
āThese are for my pair. Please calculate her share accordingly.ā
Admittedly, it was something he shouldnāt have done.
The world was full of people who still needed the templeās aidāthe poor, the sick, the starving.
Knowing this, Michael still couldnāt forget Irene throwing herself to the ground for a handful of coins.
Even if it meant deceiving Godās eyes, he wanted to send more to her.
So sheād never have to bow her head to someone like that again.
As Michael stood before Ireneās body, lost in these memories, a fortress staff member approached him.
āSir Michael.ā
Though news of his excommunication must have spread, the fortress staff still treated him with the utmost respect.
Their politeness only irritated him.
They treated him with such deference, yet had been so rude to his pair.
The staff member hesitated, seemingly unsure how to begin, then spoke cautiously.
āApologies, but could you collect Miss Irene Rhodiamās belongings? Her family will eventually retrieve them, but we need to clear out the purifier accommodationsā¦ā
At the mention of ābelongingsā, Michaelās expression hardened.
Misinterpreting his reaction, the staff member quickly added,
āOf course, we understand this might be inconvenient for you, but by continental law, the pair is given priority over personal effects!ā
When the dungeon cycle ended, pairs typically filed dissolution paperwork with the fortress before leaving.
But Michael, having been at the temple, hadnāt done so.
In truth, he had no intention of doing so.
Thus, their partnership remained intact.
āIf itās a bother, you could simply authorize us to handle it. Weāll dispose of her things appropriately. Thereās not much worth keeping, anywayā¦ā
āWhere is it?ā
āExcuse me?ā
āWhere do I go to retrieve her belongings?ā
Michaelās voice trembled as he struggled to avoid using the impartial word ābelongingsā.
***
Following the staff memberās directions, Michael headed straight for the purifier accommodations.
Most purifiers had already left, leaving the quarters eerily quiet and desolate.
āIām here for Miss Irene Rhodiamāsā¦ belongings.ā
The maids greeted him with relief, explaining they had been troubled about what to do with her effects.
They quickly led him to her room.
āThis is Miss Irene Rhodiamās room.ā
Hearing the maidās words, Michael momentarily lost his ability to speak.
A tiny window barely the size of a palm.
A small, hard bed that looked as crude and unwelcoming as the ones in the temple.
The room was so barren that calling it modest felt like an overstatement.
This was where Irene had spent the past year.
