My Husband Was Clearly a Paladin
Chapter 39
At his words, Irene turned back to him in surprise.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
As Irene stared, Michael met her gaze as if asking what the problem was.
To cut off someone’s hand so they couldn’t participate in the auction—those were words she never expected to hear from him.
Whether in her past life or the present, Michael was a Holy Knight revered by all. The respect he commanded wasn’t merely because he was strong.
He was a man so upright in every way that one might wonder if the teachings of God had taken human form.
It went without saying that he never committed a wrong act, and no matter how difficult or painful the situation, he never uttered a single harsh word.
The same applied to how he treated people.
He never spoke ill of anyone or showed dislike. Even toward those who openly disparaged the Temple or tried to ignore him, he never lost his courtesy.
The only person he had ever kept at a distance was Irene, his pair.
This was the first time she had seen him display such intense loathing toward someone so openly.
“No, it’s just… you seem very angry….”
She couldn’t ask why he was saying things so unlike himself.
In this life, she hadn’t spent that much time with him yet. Therefore, she couldn’t act as if she knew him well.
“Is it not natural?”
He rose from his seat.
For someone sharing the same booth, he had been sitting at a distance that felt almost excessive.
Michael placed his hand on the railing right next to where Irene was holding it and looked down.
His gaze of contempt was directed at the man receiving congratulations below.
He spoke in a low voice, whispering right next to Irene’s ear.
“Is it not natural to feel unpleasant when a man who treated you so poorly takes a reward that you earned?”
He continued to whisper.
“Furthermore, it pained me to see you speak as if you are accustomed to such insults.”
At his words, a lump formed in Irene’s throat.
In her past life, when countless slanders and insults were poured upon her, he had never once said such things to her.
Her throat tightened.
Long ago, Irene would watch other affectionate pairs and, every time she returned to her cramped quarters to sleep alone, she would imagine Michael treating her kindly.
In those moments of imagination, she could briefly forget reality and be happy.
When the daydream ended, a deeper sense of self-loathing and bitterness would wash over her, but those were the only times she could smile during her lonely and difficult days.
Curled up on a hard bed in a tiny room, her fantasies weren’t even that grand.
It was just Michael getting angry at those who threw dirty advances at her.
And him asking if she was alright.
Even in her imagination, Irene hadn’t dared to hope for more than that.
“Do not endure such insults from now on.”
And now, in reality rather than a dream, Michael was saying the words she had longed for so much.
Because of that, Irene had to doubt everything for a moment.
Was this perhaps a hallucination she was seeing as she lay dying? Otherwise, there was no way everything could be going so well.
Irene no longer stayed in a cold, cramped room, but in a large, clean room filled with sunlight.
She didn’t have to buy the hardest, least tasty bread to stretch out over several days to save money. Instead, she always tasted fresh and delicious food.
Far from a day passing without a single word spoken, her days were busy with friends who visited often and people who wanted to see her.
She had turned her back without hesitation on Princess Cecilia, before whom she always had to bow her head.
All of this was the kind of day Irene used to imagine before falling asleep.
And above all….
“If you wish for them to be punished, tell me at any time. I will ensure those who insulted you can never wag their frivolous tongues again.”
Irene felt a sudden surge of fear at the sight of Michael caring for her.
It was strange.
Was it really okay for everything to go exactly as she wanted like this?
It felt as if the world in this life was moving solely for her sake.
“So do not endure it alone. I am your….”
Michael slowly leaned down. His face drew close to Irene’s as she gripped the railing.
His breath brushed against the nape of Irene’s neck, trailing over the fine hairs that stood on end.
His lips, which looked unnecessarily red and soft for a knight, were about to touch Irene’s neck when—
Clap, clap, clap!
“Thank you! We will now take a short break before proceeding with the second part of the auction!”
The loud sound of applause was followed by the energetic voice of the auctioneer.
The noise snapped Irene back to her senses. At the same time, she realized that she and Michael were far too close.
In that instant, she quickly pulled her body away.
“Oh, uh. I, I’ll be back after a quick trip to the restroom!”
Irene stammered and fled the room as if escaping.
Watching her back as she closed the door with a hurried thud, Michael withdrew his hand from the railing.
The soft smile he had been wearing while looking at Irene was gone without a trace.
Instead, he muttered with a hint of regret.
“To think her guard is still this high.”
He placed his hand on the railing where Irene had been holding it just moments ago. His fingers lingered there for a long time, as if tracing the warmth she had left behind.
Realizing her body heat had faded, he returned to the sofa and recalled the day Irene had performed the purification.
She had asked him several times to let go because it was difficult, but he had pretended not to hear and kept holding on.
How could he let go?
When the place where he touched her felt hot enough to melt.
Feeling somewhat displeased that she kept trying to escape without knowing how he felt while holding her, he had deliberately toyed between her fingers.
Every time he rubbed her tender skin with his thick knuckles, Irene had trembled like someone struck by lightning.
He had watched her huddle into herself, not knowing what to do.
Even now, he didn’t know how he had restrained himself after seeing her like that.
If it were any other pair, they would have immediately moved to find the tranquility that soothes madness the moment they saw that.
But he had to endure. Because she still needed more time to fully accept him.
Perhaps she would continue to push him away. Just like a moment ago.
He recalled her pale, slender neck that he had been watching.
The memory of those fine hairs rising at a single breath made heat flare up in him again.
A low chuckle escaped Michael’s lips.
Would anyone imagine that the Holy Knight, supposedly the most noble of all, was harboring such thoughts?
If he had ended up in this state while thinking of another woman, he would have no excuse if he were pointed at for being depraved.
But the person he was thinking of was Irene.
His pair. Though temporary, they were in a state where they were legally recognized as husband and wife.
“She is my wife.”
He murmured the word “wife” in a voice as sweet and smooth as if he had swallowed honey.
“And I am your husband.”
It couldn’t be a sin for a husband to desire his wife.
He looked down at himself and sighed.
He didn’t know when the departed Irene would return, but it would take quite some time for things to subside on their own. If so, would he have to force himself to calm down?
Just as he had done alone every night since coming to the Fortress.
Just then, a man’s voice drifted up from below. It was the voice of the disgusting man who had been swallowing hard while scanning Irene with his eyes.
He was hurrying the auction house staff member explaining the acquisition process, saying he wanted to receive the Artifact immediately.
Even though he was quite far away, Michael could hear everything he said.
When he would pay the price, and where he was currently staying.
“…….”
Michael recalled Irene’s face as she brushed off the insult as if it were nothing.
Veins bulged on the back of his clenched hand, and a grinding sound came from his knuckles as he exerted force.
“Irene.”
Michael uttered his wife’s name and picked up his formal coat.
Then, as he walked down the hallway, he spoke softly.
“From now on, everything will move for you.”
