Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 245
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At Michaelâs words, Irene let go of his hand and let out a soft laugh.
âDo I look overly dressed to you today as well?â
She had meant it as a joke, yet Michaelâs expression remained serious.
âThere is no such thing as âtoo muchâ for you. Itâs just that, because you shine on your own, all other dazzling things seem pitifully dim in comparison.â
The way he uttered his praises so smoothly, as if they had been prepared in advance, left Irene momentarily speechless.
Are all holy knights capable of saying such embarrassing things without flinching?
She had the feeling that if she denied it, saying it was an exaggeration, he would only come up with something even more mortifying. So she chose to say nothing at all.
As she cleared her throat and looked away, Michael lifted a box he had set aside.
At first glance, it was clear that it was made of high-quality ebony woodâan expensive item.
As he opened the box, a dazzling light shimmered inside.
The jewelry within, reflecting the lamplight, radiated their natural colors in full brilliance.
âCome here.â
Michael gently turned Irene around.
Thanks to the staff having swept her long hair over one shoulder, her slender, elegant neckline was completely exposed.
Suppressing the urge to bury his face against it, Michael took out the necklace he had ordered.
Between the translucent, milky-white gemstones, clusters of violet jewelsâones that matched her eyesâwere embedded throughout.
The way they glowed under the light was enough to make it clear, even to someone with no knowledge of gemstones, that this was the finest quality.
Truthfully, Michael had never found beauty in such things.
To him, jewels were merely shiny rocks, and accessories were nothing more than cumbersome trinkets that got in the way of movement.
The only time such things held any meaning was when they adorned Irene.
For him, everything in the world only had significance because of her.
All beauty, all splendor, all radianceâŚ
With utmost reverence, Michael lifted the necklace and clasped it around Ireneâs neck.
Against her porcelain skin, the gleaming jewels paled in comparison.
Yet when he saw her reach out hesitantly, touching the necklace with wide eyes as if she couldnât believe it was realâ
He felt reassured that he had made the right decision in preparing it.
If such trivial stones could bring her even a moment of joy, then he would gather every gemstone in the world for her.
Because a single soft smile from Irene held far greater value than all of these combined.
Michael deliberately moved his hands slowly.
Dressing her in beautiful thingsâseeing her glow even brighter because of itâwas far more fulfilling than he had expected.
She became even more radiant under his touch, and that filled him with pride.
And the way she shivered every time his fingers brushed against her skin, the way her cheeks flushed redâ
That, too, was satisfying.
For her body to be so sensitive, reacting so vividly even to the slightest touchâŚ
Ha.
He swallowed down an exhale that almost escaped his lips.
Right now, he wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms.
To take her somewhere where no one else could see her.
To strip away all these glittering adornments and worship the beauty that was truly hers.
âYou could just do it.
A voice whispered from deep within.
Others might have called it the whisper of a demon.
But Michael knew better.
That voice was his own.
His heart wavered.
He could simply act on his desires.
Even if he did, there was no one who could stop him.
ButâŚ
âMichael?â
Noticing that his hands had stilled, Irene turned her head to look at him.
âMy apologies. Iâm not used to this, so I was briefly figuring out how to fasten it properly.â
Michael quickly lowered his head, pretending to focus on securing the necklace.
Irene, sensing nothing amiss, gathered her hair to make it easier for him as she murmured,
âI was fine just moments ago, but now that weâre about to meet Count Rhodiam, I suddenly feel nervous.â
âThatâs why⌠wouldnât it be best if I handled him instead?â
His voice was dead serious, yet Irene merely chuckled, oblivious to the weight of his words.
Michael truly wanted to kill Count Rhodiam.
The mere fact that Irene, adorned so beautifully, was going to see him made the Count a man unworthy of continued existence.
His hands moved with meticulous care.
The necklace, then the earrings, then the braceletâ
Piece by piece, he placed each adornment onto her himself, ensuring she was dressed in everything he had prepared for her.
Finally, when there was nothing left to add, Irene took a deep breath and straightened her posture.
âLetâs go.â
She was ready.
She wanted to break free from the most wretched shackle of her past.
