Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 212
Suddenly, Irene recalled the thick blanket she had bought but never used.
āI left it under the bedā¦ did the maids take it while cleaning?ā
If there had been anything useful in her room for someone else, that wouldāve been it.
A dark navy blanket she had bought but never once used. She had brought it home despite his cold gaze because she was freezing.
In the end, she hadnāt even used it. Why had she bothered?
āHaahā¦ā
Thinking back, she let out an involuntary sigh.
The Michael of now was not the Michael of then.
Just as the world she had awakened in was completely different, he now behaved entirely differently.
He showered her with kindness and affection sheād never dared dream of.
āThe Michael of nowā¦ā
If I had died, would he have stayed by my side until the end, unlike Wilhelminaās pair? Would he have accepted my belongings?
As her thoughts reached that point, Irene shook her head bitterly.
He was a busy man. Perhaps he wouldnāt even have known she had died and simply left the fortress.
Maybe heād only hear of it when he returned the following year.
And even then, heād likely offer a quick prayer to the heavens and soon forget.
In her previous life, she had probably meant nothing to him.
Her belongings? Even if he had taken them, he wouldāve handed them off to someone else and thought no more of it.
Knock, knock.
As Ireneās thoughts turned darker, a familiar knock sounded at her door.
Two firm knocks. Just like in her past lifeā¦
āMichael!ā
Filled with relief and anticipation, she called his name, inviting him in.
The door opened, and the Michael who now loved her stepped inside.
Perhaps because of all the blood splattered on him during Wilhelminaās capture,
His priestly robes were stained beyond saving, and he now wore clothes similar to those of the other knights.
It made him look even more different from the Michael of her past life.
As soon as he entered, Michael approached and gently kissed her cheek.
The affectionate gesture, as if seeking comfort after being apart, made Irene put down the artifact, smile, and pull him in for a deeper kiss.
Seeing his bright smile in that moment, all the dark thoughts from earlier faded away.
The past was the past. Irene wanted to live for the future.
Just as she had cupped his face, Michael now held hers.
Reaching to hold his hand, Irene noticed he was wearing gloves. Beneath them, she could feel bandages wrapped around his hand.
āMichael? Your handā¦ā
āItās almost healed. The fortress doctors insisted I keep it bandaged, so I obliged. Itās nothing to worry about.ā
Reassured by his words, Irene nodded.
Michael had no reason to lie about something like this.
āNow, we should return the artifact and hurry along.ā
āHurry? For what?ā
āDid you forget? Weāre going to Brewa together.ā
āBut thereās no rush for thatā¦ā
āThere is.ā
Michaelās tone was more resolute than ever.
āThereās so much I want to do for youā¦ and I donāt think I have much time.ā
As he spoke, he kissed her forehead again, surprising Irene with his solemnity.
Having gained a sense beyond what humans could feel, Michael now understood something clearly.
In the previous dungeon, he had killed the version of Michael this world was creating.
But the world would continue trying to produce its Michael.
He now realized that this was not the world he belonged to.
This was a world without him.
A world with another version of himself.
A world where Irene wouldnāt need to grieve or suffer. A world where she would be loved by a pure and blameless Michael from the beginning.
This perfect world, created for Irene, was trying to cast him out.
Michael clasped Ireneās hand and smiled.
āShall we head out?ā
To create memories where I might remain in your heart, even just a little.
