Early the next morning, Celine was awakened by a rhythmic knocking on her door.
When she opened her eyes, it was just getting light outside, and a sliver of pale gray morning light filtered through the gap in the curtains.
From outside, the old butler's voice came through the wooden door.
“Miss Celine, the Madame requests your presence for breakfast.”
Celine propped herself up, her sleepiness not yet fully dissipated. She let out a wide yawn and replied:
“Alright, I'll be right there.”
Celine got up, washed, and changed into a dark dress that was easy to move around in.
By the time she arrived at the first-floor dining room, Leora was already seated at the far end of the long table.
On the table were only bread, fried eggs, and a small bowl of soft-stewed beans—far simpler than the breakfast of a typical noble family.
As soon as she sat down, Leora, sitting opposite her, cut straight to the chase:
“I heard you went to the Broken Wing Tavern last night?”
Celine picked up a piece of bread from the table, her expression natural.
“Yes, I did.”
Leora paused for a moment, then asked, “With an elf?”
“Yes.”
Leora turned her head slightly and exchanged a brief look with the old butler standing nearby.
The young woman before her ate her breakfast with an air of composure that bordered on casualness, as if meeting and talking with an elf at a tavern last night was the most ordinary thing in the world.
But the more she acted this way, the harder it was for Leora to judge what she was actually thinking.
She put down her utensils and straightened her posture. “Miss Celine, since I have entrusted the North Gate warehouse matter to you, I believe I have the right to hear your plan.”
Celine stopped what she was doing and looked up. Only then did she notice that Leora was wearing a necklace around her neck.
It was the very necklace she had returned yesterday.
Moreover, Leora had clearly not slept well. There were faint dark circles under her eyes, and her eyelids were slightly swollen. Even though she had recombed her hair and changed into neat clothes, she still couldn't hide the lingering exhaustion between her brows.
Celine withdrew her gaze and said, “I did indeed get some news last night.”
Leora's expression turned serious. “What news?”
“A carriage from the Green Shade Merchant Guild entered the Old North Gate warehouse district yesterday.”
Celine placed the bread back on her plate, wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin, and continued, “That carriage broke away from the main transport caravan, bypassed the main street, and entered through the side entrance of the warehouse district. It hasn't come out since.”
Leora frowned, her years of experience making her realize the gravity of the situation. “Are you sure it was the Green Shade Merchant Guild's carriage?”
“The information came from that elf last night.” Celine didn't hide Nolani's existence. “She had been investigating the Green Shade Merchant Guild before and personally tracked that carriage. She didn't see which specific warehouse the carriage ultimately entered, but the people guarding that area wore a silver wheel on their clothes.”
The insignia of the Castro family.
Leora's fingers slowly tightened, a trace of relief flashing through her mind.
“So, the Green Shade Merchant Guild is using the warehouse under Castro's management?”
“It's not yet certain which one it is,” Celine said calmly. “But Rosalind's North Gate warehouse is also in that area, and Castro is currently only the managing party.”
If the Green Shade Merchant Guild's cargo was indeed sent into Rosalind's warehouse, then they had just caught a valid reason to suspend the official transfer.
Leora had obviously thought of this too, and her expression gradually grew cold. “The warehouse hasn't even been officially handed over to them, yet they've already started using it to make money.”
Celine picked up her bread again and added, “In three days, that warehouse will rightfully belong to Castro. In their eyes, using it early is probably just a reasonable utilization of an asset they are about to acquire.”
This matter had come at an incredibly opportune time, but Leora didn't relax because of it. Instead, she grew even more vigilant. “What do you think is loaded in that carriage?”
“I'm not sure yet. But as long as the cargo belongs to a third party, is unregistered, and hasn't received Rosalind's written permission, Castro has violated the management contract.”
Celine didn't mention the Decayed Residual Root, nor did she voice Nolani's suspicion regarding the plants with high life force.
Both the Decayed Residual Root and the plants with high life force were mere speculations. Before the evidence was in hand, there was no need to muddy the waters prematurely.
Leora fell silent for a moment, carefully sizing up the young woman opposite her. “How do you plan to confirm it?”
Celine said, “During the day, I will inspect the warehouse as a client commissioned by the Rosalind family. If there are indeed anomalies, we will find a way to confirm the cargo and the time of storage tonight.”
Leora asked, “What do you need me to do?”
The two stared at each other across the long table. From this brief question, Celine realized that the Rosalind family's ability to survive to this day despite being constantly encroached upon was certainly not due to the kindness and mercy of the other families.
This old woman sitting before her knew when to take charge and when to delegate tasks to someone more suitable.
Among cooperation partners, this was already considered a rather rare and valuable trait.
Celine's estimation of Leora rose slightly in her mind, and she said without standing on ceremony:
“The original layout plan of the warehouse, the final cargo manifest prior to the management transfer, and a temporary inspection authorization. It would be best if the authorization explicitly states that I have the right to inspect the existing warehouses, maintenance conditions, and asset depreciation.”
With this, even if Castro was unwilling, they couldn't just bar her at the door.
Leora immediately turned her head. “Alvan.”
The old butler immediately bowed. “I will prepare it right away.” With that, he turned and left the dining room.
Leora picked up her utensils again and slowly sliced the fried egg on her plate.
“Miss Celine. The Rosalind family always returns favors. If this news is true, Rosalind will remember that elf's help and offer appropriate compensation afterward.”
Celine tore off a small piece of bread. “Then you might be disappointed. Rather than gold coins, she would probably prefer a grand banquet.”
Leora's hands holding the utensils paused, and then, surprisingly, she let out a very soft laugh.
The smile came suddenly but faded just as quickly, leaving only a touch of softness in her tired eyes.
“A party, is it...”
She repeated in a low voice, her gaze unconsciously falling to the silver necklace on her chest.
Elena used to love lively gatherings as well.
Every time the family caravan returned safely, she would always find a reason to hold a banquet.
Sometimes it was to celebrate a successful business deal, and sometimes it was simply because the roses in the garden bloomed better than in previous years.
Although she was the future head of the Rosalind family, she always found formal banquets too stiff. She loved to lead the young people to secretly swap out the band's playlist, turning the originally orderly ball into a complete mess.
When Leora was young, she had scolded her plenty of times for this.
But after Elena disappeared, the Rosalind family never held a real banquet again.
Celine quietly ate her breakfast, leaving her to this moment of silence.
She could see that Leora was reminiscing, but she didn't proactively press for details.
A moment later, Leora withdrew her gaze, the expression on her face returning to its usual calm.
She sliced off another small piece of food, her tone sounding steady as ever.
“If Rosalind can weather this family crisis, I might consider hosting a banquet.”
Celine raised her eyebrows slightly but didn't respond.
The quiet and lonely dining room gradually warmed up slightly during their simple conversation.
Once Celine finished her breakfast, the butler Alvan had also prepared everything she would need.
Wasting no time, she set off toward the Old North Gate with the authorization documents in hand.
Rate on N.U.
