[TKOSINM] 128 - The Special Expense

After getting off the elevator safely, Irene murmured thanks to Noel and looked around her. Unlike the buzz of the first floor she first encountered, the top floor was quiet. The ground upon which she stood upon was made of marble, and on one side of the floor, was a large chaise lounge to rest. There was also a desk which was minded by a receptionist. She felt as if she were standing in the lobby of a mansion. 

Noel walked to the desk. At the desk stood a man wearing the robe of the magician’s tower.

“I am here to see the commission, under the name of Noel Kristen.” 

“Sir, Noel Kristen. This way please.”

When Noel stated his name, the man at the reception led them inside. Noel and Irene followed him silently, until the man stopped in front of a room.

“You can go in.”

After guiding them, the attendant went back to the desk.

“Irene, do you remember the special expense I told you about last night?” Standing in front of the door, Noel spoke. Irene nodded.

“Yes. I remember.”

She couldn’t help but remember. A whopping half a billion was spent on this special expense. Come to think of it, she hadn’t heard exactly what the special cost was. Was he trying to tell her what it was now? Irene curiously looked at Noel.

“This is where the special expense was spent.” With that, Noel opened the door.

The door slowly opened, revealing the inside: a room that was as spacious as the lobby. Despite the spaciousness, there were only five mages crafting tools. However, the room did not feel empty. 

“That’s…” 

“Noel Kristen, you’re here.”

As she glanced at the mages and the various things that filled the room, a mage approached Noel. His white beard was long and reached all the way to the ground.

“I brought someone I wanted to show the item to.”

“Who do you want to show... are you talking about this beautiful woman?” Seeing Irene, the mage smiled.

“Hello, I’m Irene Chase.”

“Nice to meet you, Miss Irene Chase. My name is Mulliman, Noel Kristen’s exclusive mage. Noel Kristen, you’re not going to neglect Irene Chase as you do I?”

“Why would I neglect the woman who’s going to be my wife?”

Mulliman’s eyes widened at Noel’s introduction.

“You’re the wife of Noel Kristen! Oh, my. I see. Sorry for not recognising you. I’m getting old.”

“Oh, no.” Irene smiled at Mulliman’s pleasant words. She pretended not to care on the outside, but she was so curious -- her mind was racing with questions. How did Noel behave around other people? Everyone was surprised when he said he was marrying her.

He’s a very sweet person to me.

Listening to others’ words and seeing their reaction, he seemed to treat others differently to her. Irene wanted to see how Noel interacted with others, but at the same time, she felt butterflies; it was like she was a special person to him.

“Hoho, you came just in time. I was just about to contact you, as the production’s almost completed. when it’s done. Ryun! Bring it here!”

Mulliman shouted, and a young mage rushed in from afar. Judging from the situation, he seemed to be Mulliman’s assistant. 

“Here you go!” The assistant handed a box to Mullman and returned to his seat.

“This is what Noel Kristen commissioned me to make. It’s a hefty sum, so I poured my heart and soul into crafting it. I almost knocked myself out because of this. Even now, I can hear my back cracking…”

“Stop with the chatter and show us.”

“Sheesh. The next Grand Duke is such an ungrateful person. Anyway the heartless people in that family don’t have respect for the elderly. Respect for the elderly.” Mulliman grumbled at Noel’s blunt words and held out the box to him.

“This, I’ll show, I’ll show. You’re spoiling it.”

“Ah.”

At Mulliman’s words, Noel was handed the box, realising only later what it was.

What is he doing?

Irene’s eyes widened with curiosity. Noel looked at her, holding the box and opened it. She exclaimed in awe as she saw its contents.

“This…”

What was inside was none other than an emerald ring.

“The dimensions are based on your ring last time, so it should fit well.”

“Oh, thank you. No, but why did you suddenly…”

The emerald and silver ring in the middle was very pretty, but the image of the magician's tower and the ring was an incompatible combination. Noel glanced at her, and read her queries. 

“It’s not an ordinordinary ring,” he explained. “To be precise, it’s a magic tool in the form of a ring.”

“A magic tool?”

Hearing his words, she looked at the ring with bright eyes of admiration. The ring appeared to look like an ordinary pretty ring, but imbued with magic. 

Whether or not he knew of Irene’s confusion, Noel leisurely raised her hand, and slipped the ring on her finger. “As expected, it fits well,” he nodded in satisfaction.

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