chance encounter

The appearance of the perfect idol, Lord Glenn, aroused Elena's girlish heart and made her feel a fangirl feeling she had never felt before, but other than that, nothing else changed.

Elena knew that the best way to get along with others was to keep a distance, especially for an idol she had just met. It would be very rude to approach him rashly, and she would not let Lord Glenn have a bad impression of her.

What's more, Elena has a lot of things to deal with.

As a lord, Elena had just bought a bunch of enclaves, and she hadn't yet completely taken over them. The arrival of Lord Glenn interrupted her takeover plan for two days. Now that Lord Glenn is gone, she has to pick up these things and finish them in a hurry.

Time flies by in the busyness.

The management of enclaves is not complicated to say, but it is extremely tedious to do.

The more Elena managed, the more she realized that transportation must be vigorously developed.

Now she relies on teleportation scrolls to travel around. Although it is convenient, the cost is high. They are in batches, and each one will be destroyed if it is torn. Although the price of each scroll is not high, it cannot withstand daily use. Over time, the cost will accumulate. After calculating the cost, it is better to just build a simple teleportation array.

Moreover, after the initial takeover work is completed, it is necessary to vigorously develop economic exchanges between the enclave and the main territory, such as cargo transportation and labor exchanges. These exchanges are more convenient and cost-effective using teleportation arrays.

Elena acted immediately and found Teacher Leopold and three senior brothers, asking them to help build the teleportation array.

The four great wizards were also very happy. According to their own schedules, each of them took on the construction project of several teleportation arrays.

The tasks were assigned and the budget for construction materials was paid out. Elena breathed a sigh of relief. It would be more convenient to travel to the enclave in the future and management would be easier.

However, when the finance officer came to give her the monthly report the next day, Elena's ease was suddenly broken.

"What? This is all the money left in the account?" Elena pointed at the "available balance" on the report in surprise, her face full of disbelief.

The treasurer said sternly, "Miss, you took out two large loans this month, purchased a large amount of land, and withdrew another construction project payment yesterday. So, this is all that is left in the account now."

Seeing the Viscountess's unhappy expression, the financial officer quickly added a reassuring word, "Don't worry, young lady. Land is a major fixed asset. Your wealth is still there, it's just in a different form, it hasn't been lost."

Elena: ...I wasn't comforted. Even if the land was valuable, there was still no money in her account. She had fixed assets but no working capital.

Ah, she is poor again.

Elena's eyes fell on the "income" column of the report. Well, it was okay. Being poor was only temporary. Her industries were all making money. After a while, when the next month's income from each industry arrived, she would be rich again.

It’s okay to be poor for a while...

"Miss, your birthday is coming soon. We must celebrate it in a grand manner this year. This is your first birthday after becoming a noble." The treasurer's voice interrupted Elena's thoughts.

Um? ? ?

A big question mark popped up above Elena's head. Her birthday?

Yes, when is her birthday?

Elena quickly recalled, oh, I remember, it’s the 11th of the next month.

Phew, luckily, there is still time, there is still a month left. I can hold the birthday party after the next month’s income arrives.

Before she knew it, she had been in this world for almost a year.

It really is like a fleeting moment.

"Miss, your birthday party must be grand to show your respectability. I have made a schedule for you, please take a look." The financial officer handed over a table.

Elena took it.

Column after column, the content is very detailed and thoughtfully arranged, from the venue layout to the purchase of equipment, from dresses and shoes to flower crowns and jewelry, as well as the guest reception arrangements and gift giving, it fills up an entire page.

Looking at the expenses again, each expense may not seem like much, but when added together, it is a huge sum, almost equal to the total income for next month.

Elena was shocked.

"Do we really need such a grand celebration?" Elena pushed the schedule back directly. "It's too extravagant and wasteful. No way."

The treasurer took the schedule back with embarrassment, but he persisted in his persuasion, "My lady, this is a necessary act of decorum. What noble knight wouldn't do this? This is your first birthday since becoming a knight, and it's of great significance. Furthermore, your domain is now prosperous, and your business is thriving. If you don't make a grand celebration, it will only arouse curiosity."

If you have money but don't show it off, people will suspect that you are "gilded on the outside but empty on the inside".

The treasurer didn't say it so directly, but the expression on his face fully expressed his meaning.

Elena: ...you've forgotten the common sense that nobles must save face. No matter how poor you are, you can't lose face.

Elena hesitated. She couldn't be unsociable and become a "stingy" lord, but she was reluctant to spend such a large sum of money. Although this would satisfy her vanity on the surface, it would be a huge loss in the end.

"Let me think about it." Elena waved her hand and sent the financial officer away.

The treasurer bowed respectfully and withdrew.

Elena held her chin with one hand and looked out the window with a sad look.

Alas, what should she do?

Do you really need to spend a month's net income on a grand birthday party?

But there is not enough money in the account.

Oh, it would be great if there was a credit card or Huabei here so I could spend first and pay back later.

Elena changed her hand to support her chin.

In fact, if you really want to borrow money, there are places to borrow money, and there are special loan dealers.

Unfortunately, the interest rates on loans here are not as cheap as those on credit cards and Huabei, and are too high.

Elena frowned and thought about it, then suddenly her brows opened.

She could borrow money from her three senior brothers and Teacher Leopold. They always had some savings and would not charge her such high interest.

This idea is feasible.

Elena packed her things and headed to the Royal Academy of Magic.

A few hours later, Leonard returned to the Viscount's Mansion via the teleportation scroll.

"Where's Elena? Where did she go?" Leonard couldn't sense Elena, so he went to ask the old butler.

The old butler replied: "The young lady went to the Royal School of Magic."

Go to the Royal Academy of Magic?

Okay, he'll go find her now.

After Leonard arrived at the Royal Magic Academy through the teleportation array, he still did not sense Elena. He ran to the dean's magic tower and asked Taringmat, and learned that Elena had never been here.

"Never been here?" Leonard frowned. "How come?"

Tallinmat said, "Maybe you can ask Ansel and the others. Maybe Elena went to find them."

Well, then he would go and ask them.

Leonard ran around and finally found all four of them. He also found out why Elena came to see them. Finally, he learned from Leopold that Elena went to the Rainbow Dessert Shop in the royal capital.

Leonard ran to the Rainbow Dessert Shop again, but when he arrived at the dessert shop, the manager said that Elena had gone to the Magic Market again.

Speechless, Leonard wiped the sweat from his forehead. This little girl can really run.

Leonard came to the magic market and when he got closer, he could finally sense Elena's location.

Turning on the "GPS" mode, Leonard finally found Elena standing in the crowd.

Not far away, Elena was talking happily with Lord Glenn.

???

!!!

What's going on?

Why is Lord Glenn here?

Leonard walked over with a confused and complicated feeling and intervened between the two people who were chatting happily.

"Lord Glenn, Elena." Leonard greeted the two of them separately.

Lord Glenn nodded slightly to Leonard.

Elena was very surprised to see Leonard: "Oh, what a coincidence, you are here to visit the magic market too?"

Leonard hummed, lowered his head and looked straight at her: "Elena, what a coincidence, you met Lord Glenn?"

Leonard's words still had some tricks, and he directly asked if it was a "coincidence".

If you have experience in love, you can see that Leonard's eyes now are clearly those of a jealous boyfriend who caught his girlfriend shopping with another man behind his back. His girlfriend's answer is very, very crucial and determines the next direction.

Unfortunately, Elena not only has no experience in love, but her mind is now full of her idol brother.

"Yeah, I'm so lucky. I was just strolling around the market and happened to meet Lord Glenn."

How lucky she is to meet her idol while shopping. Who has such good luck as her? Elena smiled widely.

"What about you? What are you here to buy?"

This answer sounds fine, but if you look closely, it is obvious that she and Lord Glenn are put in the same country, while Leonard is separated.

Leonard was very unhappy.

"Nothing, I'm just strolling around." Leonard was upset. He didn't want Elena to know that he cared about her and came back to see her today, so he said it casually on purpose.

But after he said that, he became even more unhappy when he saw that Elena didn't show any reaction.

Leonard made up an excuse and said, "My protective armor is a bit old, and I want to buy a new one."

What Leonard really meant was that he was going to buy protective armor, and would she come with him?

Unfortunately, Elena waved her hand and said, "Then go and take a look. If you like it, buy it and I will enchant it for you."

You go and have a look!

You go and have a look!

Leonard's mind was a little confused, and he couldn't control his expression, and he froze.

Not only did she not accompany him, but she also sent him away so casually?

Enchantment? Is that what he cares about?

Elena saw Leonard frozen in place, and thinking of his character, she smiled as if she understood him and said, "It's okay, just buy whichever one you like. Buy the best one, including the magic gem. Consider it a gift from me."

Leonard: ...I misjudged you, no, you misjudged me!

"I have my own money!" Leonard yelled and walked away angrily.

Elena, who was yelled at for no reason: ...

Elena turned and asked Lord Glenn, "Did I say something wrong just now?" Her voice was soft, with a hint of guilt and doubt.

Lord Glenn: "I think he might want you to accompany him to buy protective armor."

Elena frowned her beautiful eyebrows: "But I don't know how to choose. I only know whether the shape is beautiful or not, and I don't know anything else."

Besides, she wanted to be with her idol brother more. Compared with her idol brother, standing up her friend was nothing.

Lord Glenn: ...He has nothing more to say.

Elena took out her pocket watch and said, "Ah, it's already this late, Lord Glenn, I'll treat you to dinner."

Having dinner with my idol brother, hehe.

Lord Glenn shook his head hesitantly: "Uh... I have something that I might need your help with."

???

Does Idol Brother need her help?

"No problem!" Elena nodded heavily. "Just tell me, I can help with anything."