Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 242
Still, the matter of Count Rhodiam weighed on Ireneâs mind like a burden.
But for Michael to take the initiative and try to resolve it firstâŚ
As Irene let out a bitter smile, Michael gently swept his hand over her cheek and said,
âIf you so wish⌠that man will never appear before your eyes again. Not even a single strand of his hair will be allowed to reach you.â
She knew he was deliberately exaggerating, yet the chilling glint in Michaelâs eyes sent a small shiver down her spine.
âHow?â
âHow do you wish for him to be dealt with?â
His voice made it sound as if he would carry out any method she desired, without hesitation.
That grave determination made Irene chuckle softly as she cupped his cheek with one hand.
âMichael, I truly appreciate you looking out for me. ButâŚâ
As she spoke, she pressed a kiss to his cheek.
âIâd rather no one get hurtânot him, and certainly not you.â
She didnât want his lofty reputation to be tarnished in this life because of her.
She had expected him to simply answer, âI understand,â and return her kiss, just as he always did.
But contrary to her expectations, Michael remained still for a long while before speaking in a low voice.
âAnd if I were to do it anyway⌠what would you do?â
âWhatâŚ?â
âIf I committed something dreadful against those who have harmed you⌠what would you do then?â
Hearing that, Irene couldnât help but laugh.
She simply couldnât picture it.
Though he now seemed blindly devoted to her, Michael was still a holy knight.
He had mercilessly cut down Wilhelmina, but that was only because she had turned into a monster.
Had Wilhelmina remained human, Michael would never have slain her so ruthlessly.
That was the Michael Irene knew.
She placed a kiss on his forehead as he gazed at her with desperate eyes.
âI would resent you.â
It was a mere joke, of course.
He was the kind of person who wouldnât even kill a mere insect unless absolutely necessaryâaside from dealing with monsters, of course.
The thought of him bloodying his hands for her sake was something she couldnât even begin to fathom, nor did she want it to happen.
Most of all, she didnât want his reputation sullied because of people like that.
That was the only reason she had answered the way she did.
Screeeech.
From somewhere far away, a massive sound echoed, like something enormous twisting and writhing.
It wasnât the sound of metal.
It was something far bigger.
Something so vast it could cover the entire world and still have room to spare.
The kind of sound the world itself might make if it were being turned inside out.
And in that moment, Irene suddenly recalled a certain fact.
That Michaelâsince childhood, and even nowâhad never harmed another human being.
Yet strangely, despite the Michael in her embrace being the very same, for a fleeting moment, she felt as though she were holding someone else entirely.
A peculiar sense of alienation washed over her.
Within her embrace, Michael quietly closed his eyes.
He had realized it once again.
Another fragment of himself had been completed in this world.
Bit by bit, the space left for him in this existence was shrinking.
His unseen eyesâhidden from Ireneâs sightâwere now dyed redder than ever.
***
The next day, Irene was busy from the early morning.
She wasnât meeting Count Rhodiam until the evening, yet Michael had woken her at dawn, urging her to go out.
Normally, if she whined about struggling to get up, he would chuckle and let her sleep a little longerâbut not today.
In the end, as they walked hand in hand, Irene grumbled,
âWhy are we in such a hurry?â
There was still plenty of time, so why was he acting like this?
âBecause I wish to place even more things in your hands.â
âRather than that⌠just being with you is more than enough.â
She hoped those words would soften him a little.
Looking up at Michael expectantly, she found him utterly unmoved. Without hesitation, he took her hand once more and led her forward.
Several hours later, when they finally returned to the inn, Irene let out a sigh as she looked at the room filled with boxes.
ââŚEven if you bought an entire shop, it wouldnât be this much.â
The sheer number of items stacked in the room was overwhelming.
Not just luxurious gowns from Brewaâs finest boutiques, but also accessories from renowned jewelry stores.
It felt as though all the most valuable goods in the city had been gathered here.
To the point where Michael had even rented out the room next door just to store the overflowing packages.
And the most ridiculous partâ
Even while she was standing there in shock, new deliveries continued to arrive.
Meanwhile, nestled among the mountain of boxes, Chomp-chomp had hidden its body, tilting its tentacle as it gazed out the window.
Far in the distance, the sky distorted ever so slightly.
