Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 186
Staring at the pitiful contents of the bag, Michael murmured to himself,
âWhy⌠why was it like this?â
âŚWhy?
Why did she live in such a place?
Why wasnât she living in the grand, beautiful quarters like the other purifiers?
Why was she using such thin blankets and wearing such inadequate clothes?
The questions came flooding into Michaelâs mind, far too late.
As her pair, he had every right to ask. Even if he werenât her pair, even a passing acquaintance could have inquired that much.
But despite harboring those questions, he had never asked Irene.
Now he understood why.
He didnât want to know more about her.
Even from a distance, she had captured his gaze and his heart. On their journeys back from dungeon expeditions, if she so much as coughed, Michael would lie awake at night, worrying she might have caught a cold.
There were even times heâd been so consumed by his concerns for her that he forgot to say his prayers before bed.
So he had desperately tried not to pay attention to her.
Because just the smallest fact about her was enough to completely take over his thoughts.
And that terrified him.
He had already fallen for her so deeply that he couldnât control it.
If he learned even one more thing about her, he was certain heâd lose all reason and act like a fool.
So he had intentionally chosen not to ask her anything.
âI thought Iâd have time to ask her laterâŚâ
He remembered how excited he had been on the way back to the fortress.
The entire journey, he had rehearsed what to say to her.
He had wanted to askâno, pleadâfor permission to hold feelings for her.
And he had hoped she would allow him to learn more about her.
There were so many things he had wanted to ask.
What she liked, what she disliked, what she dreamed of doing.
Now, all those unasked questions roamed aimlessly inside him, forever unanswered.
It was then that a harsh male voice interrupted his thoughts.
âIs this the room that woman stayed in?â
The voice came from the end of the hallway, accompanied by the sound of a maidâs nervous response.
At first, Michael thought it was someone else tending to their own business. But the voices grew louder, approaching Ireneâs room.
Moments later, a man in a servantâs uniform barged into the room.
âOh, whatâs this?â
The servant froze, startled to see Michael standing there.
Michael didnât recognize him, but the man was a countâs servantâa regular who had often come to harass Irene.
The servantâs eyes swept up and down Michael, trying to assess who he was.
If Michael had still been wearing the ceremonial garb of the temple knights, the servant would have realized immediately.
But having left the temple, Michael was dressed plainly, making it impossible for the man to identify him.
Seeing Michael holding Ireneâs bag, the servant barked out angrily.
âWho are you? That womanâs money belongs to us!â
ââŚWhat?â
Michael muttered, though the servant paid no heed and snatched the bag from him.
On the way there, the servant had been anxious.
He had received word that Irene planned to repay her debt in full.
But then, another letter arrived, saying she needed more time and asking for patience.
Naturally, the count was furious.
âShe says she suddenly canât pay after promising to? She must be hiding the money somewhere! Go grab her before she escapes!â
Fearing the countâs wrath might turn on him, the servant had rushed to the fortress.
But when he arrived and inquired about Irene, he was told something shocking.
âIrene Rhodiam? Are you talking about the purifier who passed away this morning?â
The news stunned him. Skipping even a prayer for the deceased, he had demanded to know,
âThen where are her belongings?â
Perhaps the money she had promised was still among her things.
That thought had driven him here, only to find someone else rummaging through her belongings.
The servant hastily rifled through the bag, but no coin purse appeared.
âDamn it!â
Frustrated, he threw the bag into a corner and shouted at Michael.
âWhereâs the money?!â
ââŚWhat?â
âI said, whereâs the money? That womanâs body price is still unpaid!â
ââŚBody price?â
âDonât play dumb! If youâve already taken itââ
The servantâs words were cut off abruptly as Michael grabbed him by the collar and lifted him off the ground.
âWhat do you mean, body price?â
Michaelâs voice was low and trembling with fury.
âExplain yourself. Now.â
âGuh⌠I⌠I meanâŚ!â
After extracting the full story from him, Michael flung the servant toward the doorway.
His hands, which had gripped the servant, trembled violently.
Alone in the desolate room, Michael now understood everything.
Why Irene had clung to him during the contract night, pleading for her life.
Why she had been so sensitive about money.
Why, despite earning so much, she hadnât even owned a single warm coat.
He had learned it all.
Much too late.
***
âMmmâŚâ
As Irene stirred from her sleep, she felt something fall against the back of her hand.
Blinking several times, her blurry vision gradually cleared.
Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw Michael sitting beside her, holding her hand.
âMichael?â
He was crying.
Tears streamed silently down his face, which was twisted with anguish, as though he bore a guilt too heavy to atone for.
Pressing his face into her hand, he whispered,
âIâm sorry.â
For being foolish.
For turning away from you, even when you were right in front of me.
For understanding everything far too late.
But it wasnât just his regrets that he had come to realize.
