This was a Lolita-style dress, primarily silver-white and adorned with blue and red gems.
Lace trimmings decorated the collar, cuffs, and hem.
Overall, it exuded a playful and adorable charm while retaining a sense of luxurious elegance.
"Care to try it on?" Lin Feng asked.
Noelle's mouth parted slightly as she stared at the dress; it was simply too breathtaking.
For a fleeting moment, Noelle wondered if she was dreaming.
Seeing Noelle's reaction, Lin Feng felt that his money had been well spent.
A custom-made dress that cost over a million Mora was naturally no ordinary item.
He had hired Mondstadt's top designer, and many of the materials used had even been imported from abroad.
However, strictly speaking, the money didn't come from Lin Feng's own pockets.
It was the Mora that the Abyss Order had inherited from Khaenri'ah ages ago.
Normally, the Abyss Order had no use for such wealth.
After all, most of them could not take human form, making it exceedingly difficult to enter the city.
So, adopting the mindset of making the most of a free windfall, Lin Feng had naturally gotten his hands on the keys to the Abyss Order's vault.
A short while later.
Noelle stepped into the fitting room.
Then, she suddenly parted the curtain at the entrance just a crack.
Noelle poked her little head out and softly called out to Lin Feng.
"Lin Feng, could you come here for a second?"
"What is it?"
"There's a spot on the back of the dress that I can't seem to zip up."
"Shall I come in, then?" Lin Feng asked, confirming once more.
"Mm, come in!"
Noelle's clothes were a bit rumpled. Since this was her first time wearing such an outfit, she was terrified of damaging it and didn't dare use too much force.
Once Lin Feng helped Noelle put it on properly, the two of them walked out together.
Standing in front of the mirror, Noelle looked left and right, her eyes brimming with delight.
Suddenly, Noelle tugged at Lin Feng's hand and asked in a quiet voice, "This must have cost a fortune, right?"
"You don't need to worry about money. I'm willing to spend any amount on you."
Noelle knew Lin Feng was saying that on purpose, but she couldn't stop the warmth swelling in her chest.
The entire day.
Lin Feng took Noelle around, and they spent the day eating, playing, and shopping.
That evening, when they returned home.
Noelle rubbed her slightly rounded belly.
Today was all Lin Feng's fault.
He had made her eat so much; if things kept going this way, she was bound to get fat.
...
Early the next morning.
Noelle knocked on Lin Feng's door to wake him up for breakfast.
After breakfast, seeing that Noelle was about to head to the Knights of Favonius again, Lin Feng spoke up.
"Didn't you bet with me before that if you failed your assessment, you would join my Abyss Order?"
"Um!" Noelle thought for a moment and said.
"Lin Feng, joining the Knights of Favonius has been my dream since I was a child.
But do you think I still have a chance to join the Knights of Favonius?
Why do so many people who are far less capable than me get to join the Knights of Favonius?
I refuse to accept this. I'm so envious of them!"
The more Noelle spoke, the more emotional she became, eventually shouting out by the end of it.
Having taken the assessment time and time again over the years, only to fail every single time.
Noelle had kept all the bitterness of these failures buried deep in her heart, unable to release it.
Today, facing the person she trusted most, she finally let out everything she had been holding inside.
Lin Feng pulled Noelle into his arms and murmured softly in her ear.
"This isn't your fault; you are already exceptional.
It is Acting Grand Master Jean of the Knights of Favonius who has been blocking you from joining."
Noelle raised her eyes, looked at Lin Feng, and asked, "What do you mean by that?"
"Actually, your conduct and strength have long been sufficient to join the Knights, but Acting Grand Master Jean has consistently refused to let you in. I got this news from a reliable source."
Hearing Lin Feng's words, Noelle dashed out the door without a second thought and sprinted toward the headquarters of the Knights of Favonius.
...
Inside the headquarters of the Knights of Favonius, Acting Grand Master Jean was currently handling various matters for the order.
Suddenly, she heard a burst of urgent knocking on her door.
"Please come in."
Noelle immediately pushed the door open and walked in.
"Oh, it's Noelle. What is it? Is something the matter?" Jean's gentle voice sounded.
"Acting Grand Master Jean, have you been the one blocking me from joining the Knights? Haven't I long had the strength and qualifications to join?" Noelle demanded.
Acting Grand Master Jean lowered her head slightly and remained silent.
She had failed Noelle's entry assessment eight times; what reason did she have to defend herself now?
Seeing that Acting Grand Master Jean had implicitly admitted to it, Noelle said nothing more.
She turned and left, two tear tracks gleaming on her face.
She never expected that Acting Grand Master Jean—the very person she had always looked up to—was the one holding her back behind the scenes.
Clearly, she had always yearned for the Knights and deeply respected Acting Grand Master Jean.
To join the Knights as soon as possible and become a true knight, she had worked tirelessly as a maid within the order without a single complaint. For all these years, she had never taken a single day off, diligently completing every task assigned to her.
And yet, this was the reward she got in return.
The moment she thought about how she brewed coffee for Acting Grand Master Jean every single morning, she felt how utterly foolish she had been back then.
"Wait—"
Seeing that Noelle was about to leave, Jean called out after all, wanting to say something.
But Noelle didn't even look back as she walked straight out of the headquarters.
"Did I do something wrong?" Jean murmured to herself, standing alone in place.
...
Lin Feng had been waiting outside the Knights' headquarters all along.
Seeing Noelle emerge, Lin Feng immediately hurried forward.
"Lin Feng, please let me join you!" Noelle said with unwavering resolve.
Lin Feng reached out and shook Noelle's hand: "Welcome to the abyss."
...
The Abyss.
The sky here bore a strange, unnatural blackness.
All sorts of monsters roamed rampant.
This place ought to have been synonymous with hell and evil.
Yet right now, a graceful figure appeared here.
Dressed in the gown Lin Feng had given her, Noelle brewed a pot of tea for Lin Feng, who was seated upon the throne.
Below the throne, five Abyss Mages stood lined up on either side.
Noelle's presence here looked utterly incongruous, yet breathtakingly exquisite.
"Since everyone is here, I have an announcement to make." Lin Feng's gaze swept over all the Abyss Mages present.
Feeling the Prince's gaze turn toward them, the Abyss Mages involuntarily lowered their heads even further.
"You are all elites among the Abyss Mages, and I believe it is necessary to share some of my decisions with you.
I have decided to establish the Abyss Order Knights.
The inaugural Grand Master will be none other than Miss Noelle, who stands beside me."
With those words, the Abyss Mages below looked momentarily stunned, exchanging glances with one another.
Big Wise, the Abyss Mage standing first on Lin Feng's left, suddenly began to clap his hands.
"Clap, clap, clap!"
Following Big Wise's lead, the rest of the Abyss Mages joined in with applause.
"Brilliant decision, Prince!"
"Might and majesty to the Prince!"
"As expected of you!"
Watching Big Wise's prompt reaction, Lin Feng felt a twinge of approval.
My careful tutoring of you these past few days hasn't gone to waste.
I've decided—later on, I'm promoting you to Commander-in-Chief of the Abyss Mages in the Mondstadt region.