My Husband Was Clearly a Paladin
Chapter 25
“Pardon? My purification power increases the more demonic energy I absorb? Is that even possible?”
At the clerk’s words, Irene also jumped to her feet in shock.
Purification power was supposed to be a fixed quantity from the start.
Since the moment Purifiers first appeared in the world, that had been an unchangeable fact.
On the very rare occasions where an evaluation was overturned, they were all eventually revealed to be errors.
Thus, it was common knowledge that purification power never changed.
But now, an Artifact had appeared that shattered the most fundamental common sense.
And the condition wasn’t even difficult.
To think that purification power increases by absorbing demonic energy. That meant the more the owner attempted to purify, the stronger their ability would become.
“W-wait just one moment. Excuse me, I need to go report this immediately\!”
The clerk shouted urgently, his face pale with shock. He was someone who had appraised countless Artifacts here.
He had seen Artifacts that summoned fireballs the size of houses, and those that produced deadly poisons capable of melting bone upon contact.
He had even seen Artifacts with the power to interfere with time, though their activation conditions were notoriously difficult.
To an outsider, those Artifacts might seem far more impressive.
However, as a long-time employee of the Fortress, he knew.
He knew that this ring, which had just been named, would have a far greater impact on the Fortress—and the entire continent—in the future.
* * *
“Haaa….”
Irene sat in her chair and let out a long sigh.
Her gaze drifted to the ring on the ring finger of her right hand.
It had been three days since she received this ring from Michael.
And in that time, the Fortress had been turned upside down.
‘I thought it sounded absurd when I first heard of its ability, but I didn't expect it to cause such a massive stir.’
Countless Artifacts had appeared until now, but there had never been one that directly influenced purification power.
Because of that, not only the Fortress staff but every Purifier in the stronghold was obsessed with staring at her hand whenever she passed by.
Naturally, they weren’t just staring.
“It’s impossible for such an Artifact to exist\!”
“Um, could I touch it just once?”
“A soul-bound Artifact? Isn’t she just lying because she doesn’t want it taken away?”
People showed various reactions to the Artifact.
Fortunately, not everyone who envied her was simply jealous of Irene herself.
“Sir Michael goes to subjugate Dungeons more often than anyone else. That means she’ll naturally have more opportunities to purify, and if she absorbs that much demonic energy….”
“……Couldn’t she become a 1st-rank Purifier? Maybe even something beyond that.”
As such talk began to circulate, the number of people acting friendly toward Irene suddenly increased.
Naturally, that kind of attention was far from comfortable.
‘I wanted to stay quiet until I left, but what a commotion.’
Above all, what troubled Irene was that none of this had happened in her past life.
‘I wonder what else will change because of this.’
To begin with, this Unstable Dungeon hadn't appeared in her previous life either.
Dungeons appeared at their own whim, so she could set that aside, but she couldn't quite grasp how her relationships might shift now that she possessed this ring.
Furthermore, another thing weighing on Irene’s mind was Michael’s attitude.
‘I thought he’d be flustered, but he was so composed.’
She thought he might regret it a little, since the ring he’d given her out of mere custom turned out to be something so extraordinary.
If he hadn’t put it on her and had sent it to auction instead, it would have sold for an astronomical price. That would have been a huge help to the Temple’s perennially tight budget, so she expected Michael to be the most disappointed of all.
Because of that, Irene had been the one feeling restless, trying to find a solution.
“Is there any way to break the soul-binding? Perhaps the Temple has an Artifact for that….”
“There is none.”
“Don’t be so certain. If we look for a way….”
“There won’t be one. So do not worry about it further. Besides, it is an Artifact related to purification power. I believe the item has found its rightful place.”
As he said that, he stared at the ring on Irene’s hand for a long time. His gaze seemed somewhat satisfied, so Irene couldn't say anything more.
It was while she was closing her eyes against the wave of fatigue.
“Irene\!”
At the voice coming from outside, she couldn't help but scowl.
It was Wilhelmina’s voice.
Irene stood up and checked the date on the Dungeon report that had arrived this morning.
‘It was today.’
Today was the day Princess Cecilia had invited her to the gathering.
At first, she had considered continuing to decline the invitation.
‘But it’s something I have to go through once anyway.’
In that case, it was better to get it over with quickly and come back.
Thinking so, Irene stood up.
* * *
Princess Cecilia’s quarters were in the building opposite where Irene was staying.
It was a room on the top floor with a great view overlooking the Fortress.
In her past life, she hadn't been able to even lift her head from the moment she entered this building, but this time, entering the Princess’s residence didn't stir any particular emotion.
While Irene looked around the room with a bored expression, Wilhelmina was acting anxious beside her.
‘Is she crazy?’
No matter if she was Sir Michael’s pair, wasn't she still a 9th-rank Purifier—the lowest of the low?
Yet, the 1st-rank Princess had personally invited her to a gathering. There was no greater honor for a Purifier within the Fortress.
‘Then shouldn't she have brought a gift on her own?’
Normally, one would bring something decent obtained as a Dungeon reward, or failing that, luxury goods bought at a high price from the Fortress.
That was why Wilhelmina had even sent a list of Princess Cecilia’s favorite tea leaves in advance, telling her to prepare something sensible.
“I was too busy to have time to prepare anything. Besides, the Princess is someone who has everything, so I was worried that a clumsy preparation would only invite ridicule.”
Speaking as if she lacked confidence was no different from the old Irene.
However, the attitude she showed afterward was different from before.
“So I thought it would be better to just come like this. Since it's hard for someone with my poor taste to prepare a gift that would satisfy the Princess, I thought it might be better to take this opportunity to learn from the Princess’s own refined taste.”
She was certainly taking a humble stance, but….
It was subtly grating.
Especially the way she acted as if it were nothing even after seeing the Princess’s quarters, unlike the others.
And her composed attitude despite showing up without the gift that everyone else prepared.
As Irene and Wilhelmina stepped inside, the gazes of those who had arrived earlier fell upon them.
Or more accurately, they fell upon Irene.
“You’ve come, Miss Irene Rodiam.”
Princess Cecilia stood up as if welcoming her warmly.
In her past life, Irene would have been so moved by the Princess’s welcome that she would have simply bowed her head. But not anymore.
“Thank you for inviting me, Princess Cecilia.”
Because she only bowed her head slightly this time, she could see it clearly.
The cold, sharp edge in the Princess's eyes that contrasted with her sweet voice.
“…….”
“…….”
A brief silence followed. The Princess stood still with a smile, as if waiting for Irene to say more.
Then, seeing Irene’s empty hands, she put on a surprised expression.
In the end, Wilhelmina, who was more restless than the two of them, stepped between them.
“Princess, Irene says she didn't know much about the gathering yet and couldn't prepare a gift.”
At Wilhelmina’s words, the other Purifiers sitting nearby began to whisper as if they had been waiting for the chance.
“Even if she was raised in a Count’s house, it seems they didn't teach her proper etiquette after all.”
“But even other commoner Purifiers aren't that rude…. Isn't it common sense to bring a gift when invited?”
Watching them whisper about her, Irene was reminded of her old self.
Back then, she would have trembled at those sharp words, not knowing what to do.
But now, truly….
‘I don’t feel a thing.’
No, rather than feeling nothing, those who were chattering away actually seemed pitiful.
To think they gathered like this just to try and ridicule her.
And the only attack they could muster was this petty gossip.
Irene feigned a moderately embarrassed expression, then deliberately clasped her hands in front of her so the ringed hand was visible on top before speaking.
“By the way, where is my seat?”
At that moment, the Princess’s gaze snapped to her hand.
Simultaneously, the conversations of the others stopped.
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the ring on Irene’s hand.
“……Here, come sit next to me, Irene.”
After a moment, the Princess raised her hand and pointed to the seat right beside her.
Irene bowed her head once more as if honored and went to sit there.
Everyone’s eyes still followed the ring.
Irene glanced down at the ring on her hand.
‘To think treatment would change this much because of this one thing.’
She had felt heavy-hearted about the changed future and the pressure that came with the ring.
But for this moment at least, she forgot those worries and couldn't help but smile at the people's altered attitudes.
