My Husband Was Clearly a Paladin
Chapter 27
The person who had been ridiculed stood there in a daze, not knowing what to do.
Princess Cecilia waved her hand as if she had seen enough and commanded a maid to escort the woman to a seat.
Quite naturally, she was guided to the very corner—the same spot where Irene used to sit in the past.
And that was the end of it.
As if no one had entered and nothing had happened, the people stopped looking at her and resumed their previous conversations.
The woman’s face turned deathly pale at the absolute indifference that followed the mockery.
She seemed flustered at first, but as time passed and she grasped the reality of the situation, she lowered her head.
Unable to even think about touching the tea placed before her, she was becoming thoroughly isolated within this grand gathering.
Watching her, Irene felt her fingertips grow cold. That purifier standing alone in isolation was exactly who Irene would have been if things had gone according to the original path.
Being ignored and ridiculed among the crowd, only to be left alone like a non-existent person without anyone’s concern.
The deep despair and sorrow of those times were vividly revived in Irene’s heart.
Something she had experienced once.
Something she hoped others would not have to endure.
The moment that thought crossed her mind, Irene rose from her seat without realizing it.
“Irene-ssi?”
As she suddenly stood up, Cecilia looked at her as if asking if something was wrong.
“I’m sorry, Princess Cecilia. I wanted to talk longer, but I’ve suddenly started feeling unwell and think I should head back.”
Irene spoke in a voice that sounded perfectly fine and not the least bit apologetic to anyone listening.
“Ah, I see….”
Because she spoke so brazenly, even Cecilia couldn’t find a way to argue and simply nodded.
“Thank you for your understanding, Princess. Then, I shall take my leave.”
Irene bowed slightly in greeting and immediately walked away from the table.
Then, as she reached the woman sitting closest to the entrance—the seat furthest from the Princess—she stumbled.
As if it were a genuine mistake, Irene grabbed onto her and spoke.
“I’m sorry, but could you help me? I’m suddenly feeling dizzy….”
“Pardon? Ah, yes!”
The 7th-rank purifier glanced at Cecilia before supporting Irene and walking out with her.
Maids rushed over late to help, but Irene sent them back, saying she didn’t want to cause a stir and thanking them for their concern.
Once they were quickly away from the Princess’s room and certain no one was following, Irene let go of the woman’s hand and straightened her posture.
Seeing Irene’s demeanor—which made it obvious her illness had been a lie—the woman looked like she didn’t know how to react.
Irene smiled brightly and said, “Since you helped me like this, it wouldn’t be polite to just let you go. If you don’t mind, would you like to have a cup of tea with me?”
At those words, the woman looked back toward Princess Cecilia’s room.
A place filled with people who, until moments ago, had mocked and ignored her.
Realizing why Irene had gone out of her way to pull her out, she hung her head low.
Irene took the hand of the silent woman and led her toward her own room.
Somehow, she felt a sense of relief, as if she had rescued her past self.
Trickle.
As the golden tea flowed from the teapot and filled the cups, a pleasant aroma instantly filled the room.
Perhaps because of that, the woman’s somber expression brightened slightly.
Irene looked at her.
‘Cynthia Myers.’
That was the woman’s name.
Just as she remembered, she was a 7th-rank purifier who was currently staying in the very room Irene used to occupy.
After taking a sip of tea, Cynthia spoke with a much more relaxed expression.
“You took me out of there because you were worried about me, weren’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Irene considered denying it but changed her mind and decided to admit what she had done.
She felt that if she were in Cynthia’s position, it would be more comforting to hear the truth plainly.
Was it the right choice?
Cynthia, who had been staring only at the floor, lifted her head and met Irene’s eyes.
Her face was full of exhaustion and self-loathing. It was the same face Irene used to see every time she stood before a mirror in the past.
“You didn’t have to go that far…. Princess Cecilia won’t be pleased.”
Irene knew that. Nevertheless, she had chosen to take Cynthia and leave that place.
“I know.”
“And yet, you still brought me out.”
Cynthia toyed with her teacup and spoke in a small voice.
“……Thank you.”
Perhaps overcome with emotion, Cynthia’s eyes welled with tears.
Irene could understand her feelings.
Back when she was in the same situation, while others shared friendly conversations, she had thought to herself countless times:
I wish someone, anyone, would talk to me. Or if not that, I wish I could leave this place right now.
‘This might be a foolish thing to do.’
In this life, Princess Cecilia still disliked her but did not ignore her.
Therefore, with a little effort, there was a possibility of maintaining a relationship and gaining various benefits that would help her.
And yet, hadn’t she just thrown all of that away with her own hands?
One might expect a hint of regret, but seeing the person who had been in the same position as her past self finally looking comfortable, she didn’t feel a shred of it.
‘Things are definitely soured with Princess Cecilia now.’
If the Princess was as quick-witted as Irene thought, she would have realized Irene took Cynthia out on purpose.
In the past, she would have felt despair at this situation.
She had always lived watching the Princess’s every move and fearing her power.
‘But not anymore.’
The moment she opened her eyes again, Irene realized her attitude toward life had changed.
Past experience and certainty about future events. Having secured those two things, she no longer felt fear.
‘Even without siding with the Princess, my future won’t be hopeless.’
There was no need to walk the exact same path as the past in this second life.
Having firmly made up her mind, Irene reached out and took Cynthia’s still-trembling hand.
“I’m glad. I was actually a bit worried that I might have been overstepping. More importantly, please speak comfortably with me. I’m much younger than you, Cynthia-unnie.”
“But….”
Cynthia hesitated before nodding in agreement.
“Thank you, truly. Honestly… I was prepared to be ignored. But when it actually happened…. Oh dear, look at me, crying like a child.”
“It’s alright. When a person wants to cry, they should.”
As if she had expected the tears, Irene quickly pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to her.
Fortunately, Cynthia quickly dabbed away her tears and regained her composure.
“It’s embarrassing to say this to Sir Michael’s pair, but… if there’s ever anything I can help you with, please let me know.”
Cynthia’s face flushed as she spoke.
She was merely a 7th-rank purifier. There was no way someone like her could provide the kind of grand assistance that would make up for offending Princess Cecilia.
Still, Cynthia wanted to help Irene in any way she could, no matter how small, as long as it was within her power.
“Don’t worry too much about that. More importantly, you’re the first person to visit my room, so I was wondering—do you like sweets?”
As she said this, Irene went to find and bring out the snacks she had never offered when Wilhelmina visited.
They were chewy snacks filled with nuts called Lukma, made in a distant kingdom whose name she couldn’t even recall.
“They’re really delicious, but I can’t eat them all by myself.”
“Oh my, such a precious treat. Isn’t this Lukma?”
“You know what this is?”
“Of course. It’s the rarest snack you can get in the Fortress. I’ve been on good terms with the maids here for a long time, so I’ve seen it a few times.”
“Are you close with the maids here?”
“Yes, since I come here every year and stay close to where the maids live. My circumstances require me to save money, so I stay in the cheapest rooms.”
Though she blushed as if she were a bit ashamed of that fact, Cynthia continued when she saw Irene showing interest.
“If you ever want to sneak out of the Fortress, let me know. As you know, the procedures for purifiers to leave are quite complicated, aren’t they? I know the doors and back paths the maids use, so if that helps, I can tell you.”
“……!”
Irene’s eyes sparkled at those words.
In the past, even though she had stayed in the same area as the maids, she had barely left her room and thus had almost no interaction with them.
But unlike her, Cynthia seemed to know every nook and cranny of this Fortress.
“I’d love that. If I ever want to go out, I’ll definitely look for you, Cynthia-unnie.”
Just as Cynthia’s expression fully relaxed, seeing that she could actually be of some help, there was a knock at the door.
“A guest has arrived. A lady named Reina-nim is asking to see you. What shall I do?”
“Reina?”
After advising her at the Archive not to go to the high-rank Dungeon, Irene had briefly forgotten about her because things had been so hectic.
“I’m sorry, Cynthia-unnie. Do you mind if I have another guest join us?”
“Not at all. If it’s a situation where it’s awkward for me to be here, I’ll head back.”
Cynthia hurriedly prepared to stand up. Irene stopped her and told the maid to let Reina in.
‘Why did Reina come to find me? More importantly, what happened with the high-rank Dungeon?’
The image of Reina crying and collapsing in her past life flickered through her mind. Surely not again this time….
“Irene!”
Reina entered the room, calling Irene’s name in a voice thick with tears.
As soon as she saw Irene, she rushed toward her as if to pounce and….
“Thank you so much!”
She threw her arms around Irene and pulled her into a tight hug.
