A Paladin's Lingering Purity
Irene was beginning to wonder if her eyes and ears were playing tricks on her.
Michael looked perfectly normal. There was no trace of demonic energy on him, just like that night. His pupils were the same deep blue she had come to know so well.
And yet the room, though it had been vacant moments ago, was the very place where Reina and Cynthia had been.
The two of them had simply stepped out to fetch something, leaving behind the papers and teacups they had been using without any intention of returning soon.
It was a place she could retreat to at any time if needed.
And now she was here, kissing him.
“That’s…“
Irene was about to say it felt wrong when her hand rose of its own accord, fingers brushing her swollen lips.
The next morning after his visit, she had stared at her reflection in the mirror and let out a deep sigh.
Her face looked utterly wrecked, especially the puffy lips in the center.
Of course they would. She had been sucking and biting them all night long.
Embarrassed, she had stayed locked inside her room all day, avoiding everyone else.
It wasn’t only her lips that hurt. The constant sliding of his tongue inside her, trying to push deeper, had left her jaw throbbing.
Luckily the pain faded after a while, but she kept feeling that strange, persistent ache as if something were still swollen.
The problem was…
‘I didn’t hate it.’
He had acted out of necessity to purify her, yet her heart now fluttered at the thought of him.
He had clung to her all night as if he could never let go, pressing her close like someone who had been born fused to her.
The warmth she had longed for in her previous life wrapped around her again, and she felt strangely odd about it.
At first she had pushed him away, but when she grew tired and stayed still, he pulled her even closer with obvious joy.
The feeling of being held completely by someone without a single gap was strangely pleasant.
It was like the relief of a ship finally reaching port and dropping anchor for rest.
Hesitating, Irene asked in a small voice.
“Because of the demonic energy… is it still painful?”
Even though she couldn’t see any now, it had not fully vanished.
In the two weeks she had been away, he might have accumulated more in other dungeons.
The moment the thought crossed her mind, worry filled her heart.
When he met her concerned gaze, he averted his eyes, looking embarrassed as he answered.
“I’m ashamed to say… yes.”
Of course. It would be difficult for a knight praised by many to speak of the torment demonic energy brought.
Irene remembered the sharp sting of the demonic energy she had once accepted and gently cupped his cheeks with both hands.
Then she pulled his face close to hers and kissed him carefully.
Kissing a paladin’s lips in broad daylight was shameless.
But since they were both purifiers, it was only natural, and she told herself she was doing it to ease his pain.
The embarrassment faded.
Wanting to purify quickly, she boldly pushed her tongue into his mouth first.
Thanks to the dozens and hundreds of lessons he had taught her that night, she had no trouble entering him.
A refreshing minty scent filled her with the faint taste of mint leaves, as if she had chewed them beforehand.
Unlike the kisses of that night, she felt light and cool, so she pulled him closer by the neck with more force.
Since she had already started, it was better to finish quickly.
He remained still for a moment, letting her kiss him.
But it was only for a short while.
Realizing what was happening, he immediately wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her.
Even though she was slender, she was an adult woman. He held her up like a rag doll, despite her height.
Then he supported her hips with one arm and gently pressed the back of her neck with his other hand.
Just moments ago she had been kissing him while standing on tiptoes. Now she could look down at him and kiss back.
The position had changed, but so had everything else.
“Mmm… nngh…”
Was he trying to tell her who had taught her to kiss?
At first he had stayed rigid, but soon he started to move his tongue smoothly.
Wet sounds echoed in the sunlit room as skin slid against skin.
Saliva dripped without them noticing, yet they kept kissing.
Irene’s mind grew hazy.
She could barely believe she was casually doing what she never imagined a few minutes ago.
And Michael didn’t even push her away or look at her with contempt.
Only two weeks ago, her body had been revived by mixing tongues alone, though her memories of that night were only fragments.
Without that, she couldn’t have opened her neck so skillfully to take his tongue deep.
Irene kissed him madly for a long time until her breath grew short.
But she didn’t want to stop.
Honestly, nothing felt as good as being held tight in his arms.
The kiss ended when Irene was on the verge of passing out from holding her breath.
Michael finally pulled away, feeling the strength leave her body.
“Haa… haa…”
Irene rested her forehead on his shoulder and panted. His shoulder rose and fell, showing he had been holding his breath too.
She slowly moved her tongue inside him.
After so long, it didn’t hurt like before, nor did she feel the urge to vomit from too deep.
‘He’s become so skilled.’
She was amazed at her own improvement, but Michael’s movements were even more proficient.
He knew exactly where to press inside her mouth to let her breathe easier and move her tongue more comfortably.
‘Even a paladin uses his body this skillfully?’
She had never tried with anyone else, so she had no idea.
After taking a deep breath, he patted her back soothingly.
“You did well. It seems you’ll get used to it soon. I’ll try harder too.”
“…?”
Irene was startled and lifted her head.
“What? What do you mean…?”
“Isn’t it obvious? You’re my pair.”
It made sense, but it felt strange.
Becoming familiar with it? He meant it would continue?
At first they had only held hands. Now their bodies were touching more deeply.
‘If I get used to kissing…’
Then what?
While Irene was confused, he lowered her back to the floor.
Then he quickly straightened her messy clothes.
His hands were so efficient they made the fortress maids look slow and sloppy. In moments, she looked as neat as if nothing had happened.
Not only her clothes were neat.
Michael, who had been kissing madly just moments ago, now stood like a pristine paladin again.
If someone pointed at him and said that was the person she had been kissing with tongues earlier, who would believe it?
As she stared at him blankly, he pulled a chair and urged her to sit.
He pushed the chair back so she could sit comfortably and took the seat next to her, the very spot where Reina had sat moments ago.
His gaze fell on the papers on the table.
“What’s this…?”
“Oh, did you hear the news? The Distortion Dungeon has been observed.”
Irene was relieved to have a subject to break the awkward silence and spoke urgently.
“The entire fortress now knows. Everyone is preparing for the extermination. With four entrances, they want as many pairs as possible to join from the fortress.”
At those words, Michael opened his mouth.
“The observation points are three, but you said four entrances. How?”
“No, that’s…”
Irene shut her mouth, panicking. She should have said three entrances, but old memories made her say four by mistake.
“I must have misheard. I was only half listening to what Reina said earlier.”
“That’s right. You were so certain about four that I thought you already knew a new entrance had appeared.”
Suddenly, Irene felt her heart drop to the floor.