My Husband Was Clearly a Paladin
Chapter 29
At the sound of his voice, not only Irene but also Reina and Cynthia stood up in a startled rush.
In her past life, there were many days when she wouldn't say a single word all day, but now her daily life was filled with people seeking her out.
“Please come in.”
Irene answered quickly, feeling a sense of awkwardness.
The door opened and Michael entered.
As Reina had said, he must have just returned from assisting with a high-level dungeon; his neat formal uniform, which usually wouldn't have a single crease, was wrinkled and stained in several places.
Seeing him like that, Irene asked worriedly before she could help herself.
“I just heard that you helped with a high-level dungeon. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“I am fine. Thank you for your concern.”
He bowed his head slightly and then looked toward Reina and Cynthia.
“And these people are….”
“This is Cynthia Myers, and this is Reina Ortega. They are both….”
Irene hesitated as she tried to introduce them.
How should she describe her relationship with them?
To be honest, with Reina, they had only spoken once, and even then, it was just Irene speaking to her unilaterally.
It wasn't much different with Cynthia. They were people she had spoken to for the first time only a few hours ago.
It was a connection too brief to even call them acquaintances.
After a moment's thought, Irene opened her mouth.
“They are the friends I've made here.”
At the word 'friends,' the faces of the two women, who had been watching Irene with slightly nervous expressions, lit up brightly.
“Irene-nim's friends. Then they are very precious people to me as well.”
Michael bowed to the two of them and greeted them politely.
“I am Michael.”
Listening to his greeting, Irene felt something strange.
'What is it?'
Had he introduced himself so briefly before?
While Irene tilted her head at the momentary sense of dissonance, Reina and Cynthia were flustered by Michael's greeting.
“I am Reina Ortega. Th-thank you for helping with the high-level dungeon subjugation earlier.”
“Ah, you are the one who was helping the wounded outside. I am the one who should be grateful for your great help.”
“I am Cynthia Myers. A 7th-grade purifier…. I received a lot of help from Irene-yang earlier at Princess Cecilia-nim's gathering.”
At that moment, Michael's eyes narrowed slightly.
“Did something troublesome happen, perhaps?”
Irene was more surprised than Cynthia by his direct question, which lacked any circumlocution.
“How did you…?”
The Michael Irene knew was a person indifferent to the affairs of the Fortress, as if such worldly matters were not worth his attention.
In her past life, he was someone who didn't even know the internal systems of the Fortress or the customs of pairs, and since he hadn't been at the Fortress long in this life, there was even less reason for him to know about things like a gathering of purifiers.
But right now, Michael seemed to sense that something unpleasant had happened at the Princess's gathering.
For a moment, Irene was confused.
Come to think of it, in this life, he also knew about the custom of giving jewelry obtained from the first dungeon.
'Did he find out in this life? Or did he know in the past too but just didn't show it?'
“So something did happen.”
When Irene didn't answer, Michael's gaze sharpened.
As the atmosphere turned cold in an instant, Irene hurriedly waved her hands.
“It was just an uncomfortable seat; nothing in particular happened. I just think it might be difficult for me to mingle with someone as noble as the Princess.”
Cynthia, noticing that Irene didn't want to talk about it further, also kept her mouth shut.
Perhaps realizing he wouldn't get an answer even if he asked again, Michael didn't press further.
However, his lips only pressed together more firmly.
Then, Reina spoke up tentatively.
“That's why we were planning to start a new group.”
Cynthia also added her support.
“Yes, we wanted a place where those of us who don't belong to the Princess's Faction could be together more comfortably. Being a pair doesn't mean we only go on dungeon subjugations all the time, right? It’s dull to be alone when spending time at the Fortress, so it’s good for everyone to belong to a group where we can talk and share information.”
Originally, gatherings at the Fortress were more for the purpose of socializing.
It was only over time that they had turned into the power struggles they were now.
“Most of all, it makes it easier to organize a raid. As you saw today, it's difficult to subjugate a high-level dungeon with just any ordinary raid…. If it's alright, we'd like Sir Michael to join us as well.”
At Reina's suggestion, which didn't miss the opportunity, Irene swallowed a sigh internally.
It was a pointless suggestion. A man like him, who was capable of subjugating dungeons alone, would have no reason to join such a group….
“I understand.”
“…\!”
Irene looked at Michael in surprise at his answer.
He was a man who always moved alone. Even if he joined a group, it would only increase his chores and offer him no benefit at all.
Perhaps noticing Irene's wonder, he answered with a smile.
“I cannot refuse the request of the friends who soothe my pair's boredom. I look forward to your kind cooperation.”
\* \* \*
Perhaps they were happy that their sudden proposal was accepted.
Even though they had met for the first time today, Reina and Cynthia left the room chattering like old friends.
Judging by what they said as they left, they seemed ready to form the group as early as tomorrow.
The maids came in, cleared the area where the two had stayed, and soon brought out fresh tea.
Perhaps because she had shared food and looked after them, the maids tidied the room even faster and more neatly than before.
After pouring tea for Michael as well, they bowed politely and closed the door as they left.
It was a scene worlds apart from her past self—no, even from her time at the Count's estate.
The room, now devoid of Reina and Cynthia's bustle, felt even quieter than usual despite Michael's presence.
“Why are you so….”
“Hup\!”
The moment Michael spoke, Irene was so startled that she almost dropped the teacup she was holding, which was embarrassing even to herself.
Because of that, the hot tea that spilled over touched her hand, and she hurriedly shook it off in surprise.
Michael also jumped up and quickly looked for a cloth to wipe her hand.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah, thank you. I'm sorry, you must be busy. Please, go ahead.”
“I am not busy. I was merely about to ask why you are so tense.”
At Michael's words, Irene couldn't help but look sheepish.
“Well, I was worried that I might have troubled you, Sir Michael.”
“Troubled me?”
“The gathering just now… isn't it a bother?”
“Why do you think I would find it a bother?”
Because in my past life, you didn't care at all, and later on, you flatly refused no matter who suggested it.
…She couldn't say that.
“Since it's a group that prioritizes personal interests, I was worried there might be parts that wouldn't align with you, Sir Michael, who acts according to the Temple's teachings.”
“There are certainly such aspects. However, before that, if it allows you to be comfortably with your friends, I believe it is something I should naturally do as your pair.”
Irene felt flustered again at his answer, which seemed to ask if he couldn't even do that much.
He had always been polite, but he had never been this considerate before.
“……Thank you very much.”
She meant it.
In fact, she had been tempted the moment the talk of a group came up.
Since she had turned her back on the Princess, it was certain that troublesome things would repeat until she left the Fortress.
In that case, she thought it would definitely be better to have even a small group, and it would be much more reassuring if even Michael helped.
When Irene smiled in spite of herself, Michael also wore a faint smile.
“I am glad you seem to have relaxed a bit. I was worried that you still found me very uncomfortable.”
At his words, Irene smiled awkwardly again.
To be honest, spending time with him like this was a bit difficult.
'Because Michael is the person who has changed the most from my past life.'
Requesting to be pairs first, and looking out for her convenience like this—these were actions he never took back then.
That was why, whenever Irene faced him, she couldn't help but get nervous, wondering what else might change.
'I suppose it's a relief that he changed for the better.'
While she was thinking that, he spoke again.
“And since I will be asking for purification more frequently in the future, I was worried about what to do if you continued to find it difficult.”
“Pardon? More frequently?”
At the sudden words, the teacup she was holding made a loud clattering sound.
She thought she had done enough, but even more frequently than this? Above all, because she thought he would be reluctant to receive purification after seeing her last time, his words were even more bewildering.
No matter how ignorant he was of the opposite sex, there was no way he didn't know what kind of sensations purification stirred up after seeing her reaction during the last purification.
As proof of that, he hadn't brought up purification even once since then.
So she thought he wouldn't ask for purification anymore unless it was a real emergency.
“I intend to check the limits of that ring.”
“Ah.”
Only then did Irene recall the existence of the ring on her hand.
An evolution-type artifact whose power grows stronger the more demonic energy it absorbs.
The scholars who had flocked to the Fortress were eager to research this.
However, since the initial discoverer was Michael, his permission was required.
He had been refusing all the scholars' research proposals, saying he would take more time to observe it….
'I guess the Temple intended to check it separately.'
That must be why Michael was moving directly like this.
“As it happens, quite a bit of demonic energy has accumulated since I subjugated a high-level dungeon.”
He naturally took off the cloak he was wearing and hung it on the wall. Like a man for whom taking off his clothes here was perfectly natural.
He came in front of Irene, leaned down, and requested politely.
“I ask for your kind help with today's purification as well.”
