Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 244
After that, all the way back to the inn, Irene continued to introduce Michael as her husband at every store they visited.
To the point where anyone watching might have thought she was being excessive.
But rather than finding it odd, the store owners took one look at Michael and remarked that with a husband like that, it was only natural to boast. They even added extra items to her purchases, saying they made a wonderful couple.
Once we return to the fortress⌠I suppose calling him that again will be a bit difficult.
Here, people didnât know who she and Michael truly were, so she could speak freely.
But if she said such things in the fortress, the priests would surely be scandalized.
He said he would inform the temple once the dungeon subjugation period was over.
When they had first emerged from the distorted dungeon, Irene had worried about his position, but Michael had told her not to worry.
Yet, she couldnât help but worry.
Holy knights donât have the option to secularize.
For an ordinary priest, renouncing their faith meant formally undergoing the secularization process.
But for a holy knight, the weight of the oath they had sworn to God was different.
There was no secularization for them.
Only excommunicationâa brand of disgrace for those who abandoned the path they were meant to walk.
That was why, even if they wavered, holy knights continued to follow the path of the divine.
Even for a common holy knight, the weight of excommunication was immenseâ
But if someone like Michael, a figure practically synonymous with the temple, were to be cast outâŚ
âHaahâŚâ
Irene let out a sigh.
Michael showed no concern about excommunication.
As if even if the path he had chosen was not one leading toward God, it was still the right one.
But stillâŚ
She remembered her past life.
When she had heard the news of Michaelâs excommunication, she had been consumed by guilt.
Terrified that it was her fault, fearing that he might resent her for it.
And so, the thought crossed her mindâ
How wonderful it would be if Michael could stay by her side without ever facing something like excommunication.
Screeech.
At that moment, the sound of something twisting echoed again.
Lately, that massive sound had been growing more frequent.
Irene glanced around.
Was she the only one who heard it?
No one else nearby had stopped or hesitatedâeveryone simply carried on as usual.
âDid I mishear it?â
But⌠how could such a loud noise be something only she could hear?
âOh no, please donât move! Your hair will get messed up.â
As Irene continued to look around, the staff member working on her hair hurriedly stopped her.
In the end, she had no choice but to sit quietly, facing forward once again.
And she thought of Michael, who had long since left the temple behind.
***
âWhat do you think?â
By the time the sun had fully set beyond the horizon, a staff member asked confidently as they looked at Ireneâs reflection in the mirror.
âOh⌠umâŚâ
Irene found herself momentarily speechless as she looked at her own reflection.
To be honest, she was well aware that she wasnât unattractive.
After all, hadnât the Countâs eyes gleamed with greed, eager to sell her for a high price?
After gaining some freedom in this life, she had even tried dressing up a little.
âThere are so many pretty clothes, why donât you wear them more? And so many accessories, too. Sit down, Iâll braid your hair. Cynthia, come help me!â
âWhat is it?â
âIrene makeover time! Sheâs so pretty, itâs fun dressing her up.â
Back in the fortress, Raina would often pester her to try on this or that, dressing her up like a doll.
But unlike Princess Cecilia, she didnât have dedicated attendants for such things, so it usually only went as far as modest grooming.
Besides, she had never felt the need to dress up while inside the fortress.
Which was why this was the first timeâboth in her past life and her current oneâthat she had taken such time and effort to adorn herself.
âGo on outside now. Your husband has been waiting for quite some time.â
With those words, the staff member draped a light shawl over her shoulders.
Irene hurried outside.
And the moment she met Michaelâs eyesâ
She saw his face flood with astonishment.
Immediately, Michael strode toward her and took her hand.
Her long silver hair, left naturally down to her waist, shimmered under the light.
The body that carried such delicate yet graceful lines was wrapped in the exquisite blue fabric that he had personally chosen for her.
A long dress, elegant yet alluringâ
The sight of her took his breath away.
Even though he believed she was most beautiful when wearing nothing at all,
Even though he knew that nothing could surpass her natural formâ
Seeing her like this, so adorned, still made his heart pound so foolishly.
From the very first moment he laid eyes on her, up until now, she had always been the most beautiful existence he had ever known.
Gently, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.
Yet even as he did, his gaze never left her, piercing into her as though engraving her into his very soul.
Again and again, he pressed kisses to her handâ
As if branding her as his own.
Then, lowering his head, his breath warm against her skin, he murmured in a voice laced with longing,
âRight now⌠I want to take you away to a place where no one else exists.â
Above them, where Irene could not see, the night sky distorted even further.
***
Spitâ
In the now-empty, quiet room, Chomp-chomp spat out the cucumber it had swallowed earlier, dumping it into the trash.
Lately, thanks to Irene constantly preparing salads for it, its body had been well-fed and well-rested, gleaming with a healthy sheen.
At this rate, when it reunited with its fellow kin, they would all have to bow their heads in respect.
It had now become a far greater monsterâa creature with a name of its own.
Its eyes gleamed as it gazed out the window.
The distortion in the sky was growing.
The miasma leaking from it was slowly spreading across the entire city.
Even two days ago, when the miasma had reached it, Chomp-chomp had simply reveled in excitement.
Salads were tasty and all, but a monster needed miasma to truly thrive.
âBut why⌠why is the King suddenly calling us back?â
Until now, the King had been able to summon its kind into this world whenever he wished.
To bring forth the dungeonâa world brimming with monsters, the place where they truly belonged.
Yet until now, the King had deliberately turned away from that familiar world, refusing to appear.
So why, today, was the world twisting once more?
The reason didnât matter.
Chomp-chomp was certain.
Tonight, the King would return to the world where he truly belonged.
And with him, his beloved would bear his child.
