Chapter 63 – The First Day
The next morning arrived quietly.
Before the official opening hour, Café Ashborne was already awake.
Soft morning light filtered through the wide front windows while the staff moved through their familiar routines. Chairs were straightened, tables wiped down, brewing machines warmed up, and the first batches of pastries were brought out from the kitchen.
Darius was checking the inventory list near the storage door while Cerys stood behind the counter, organizing the morning orders and adjusting the dispy trays.
Lira moved between the counter and kitchen, carrying cups and arranging them neatly on the service rack.
The café had not yet opened its doors, but the pce was already alive with preparation.
The bell above the entrance door chimed softly.
Cerys looked up automatically.
A young woman had stepped inside.
Polite habit took over immediately.
“We’re not open yet,” Cerys said warmly, wiping her hands on a cloth before stepping closer. “It will take a little time before we start serving.”
She gestured lightly toward the seating area.
“If you don’t mind waiting, you’re welcome to sit inside. The coffee is already ready, so you can have a cup while you wait.”
To Cerys, the girl simply looked like an early customer.
Lunessa blinked once before quickly replying.
“Ms. Ashborne?”
Cerys paused.
“Yes?”
“I’m Lunessa.”
Cerys did not react immediately.
The name did not click right away.
Lunessa noticed the confusion and quickly added,
“Lucien asked me to come this morning. I’ll be starting my internship today.”
That did it as Cerys’ expression shifted instantly.
“Oh!”
Her face brightened with immediate hospitality.
“Of course, of course!”
She stepped forward warmly.
“Lucien mentioned someone would be coming today, but he didn’t say when you would arrive.”
She waved her hand toward the seating area.
“Please sit. Please sit.”
Then she turned slightly.
“Lira, bring a fresh coffee.”
Lira nodded instantly. “Right away.”
Cerys then looked toward a nearby table where a small girl sat with her legs tucked under the chair, completely absorbed in her own world, it’s Alina.
She was leaning over a piece of paper, doodling something with intense focus.
“Alina.”
The girl did not respond.
Cerys raised her voice slightly.
“Alina.”
This time the girl looked up.
“Yes?”
“Go upstairs and wake your brother.”
Alina’s eyes lit up immediately.
“Okay!”
Cerys added, “Tell him Lunessa is already here.”
Before she could say anything more, Alina had already jumped down from the chair.
“Got it!”
She sprinted toward the staircase like a small whirlwind.
Upstairs, Lucien was still asleep.
Alina burst into the room without hesitation.
“Brother!”
No response.
She ran to the side of the bed.
“Luci!”
Still nothing.
Lucien was sleeping deeply.
Alina climbed halfway onto the bed and began pulling at his arm.
“Wake up!”
Lucien groaned faintly. “Five more minutes…”
Alina refused to accept that answer as she tugged harder.
“Wake up! Lunessa is here!”
Lucien’s eyes opened halfway. “…Already?”
Alina nodded vigorously. “Yes!”
She grabbed his arm again and tried physically dragging him off the bed.
Lucien sat up slowly, still half asleep.
“Alright, alright.”
He gently pinched her cheeks. “Rex.”
Alina puffed her cheeks indignantly.
Lucien stretched slightly and rubbed his eyes.
“Go tell them I’ll be down in ten minutes.”
Alina nodded quickly. “Okay!”
She dashed out of the room again, running downstairs with the same unstoppable energy.
Lucien sighed and got up, and had a quick wash, and a quick change.
Ten minutes ter, he walked down the staircase into the café.
Lunessa looked up from her seat and Lucien smiled slightly.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning,” Lunessa replied.
Cerys returned to the counter just as Lucien approached.
He gestured lightly toward Lunessa.
“Mom, Dad. This is Lunessa.”
Darius stepped closer, curious and Lucien continued, “She’s the daughter of the chairman of Lunecrest Bank.”
Darius and Cerys were surprised.
Lucien added calmly, “And it’s because of her help that we were able to secure the loan with such good terms.”
Both parents immediately straightened.
Darius extended his hand politely. “Then we owe you our thanks.”
Cerys nodded warmly. “Yes, truly.”
Lunessa shook her head slightly. “It wasn’t anything extraordinary.”
Cerys then turned toward Lucien with a mildly annoyed look.
“You could have told me earlier that she was arriving.”
Lucien gave a helpless smile. “I forgot.”
Cerys clicked her tongue softly.
“I would have prepared something special.”
Then she waved her hand. “Keep talking.”
She turned toward the kitchen immediately.
“I’ll make something fresh.”
She paused briefly to call out.
“Lira!”
“Yes?”
“Bring everything the kitchen prepared this morning. And the specialties too.”
Lira nodded. “Right away.”
Cerys disappeared into the kitchen, already pnning dishes in her head.
Meanwhile Lucien sat across from Lunessa.
He opened his wristlink.
“Before anything else, let’s handle the formalities.”
A document appeared on Lunessa’s device.
The internship agreement for the holding company. Ashborne Holdings – Internship Contract.
“Read through it,” Lucien said calmly. “Then attach your digital signature.”
Lunessa skimmed through the document carefully.
It outlined responsibilities, confidentiality agreements, reporting structure, and stipend terms, nothing too complicated as it’s just a shell essentially and no complex structure and hierarchy clearly defined in detail yet.
After confirming everything looked correct, she added her digital signature and the contract finalized instantly.
Lucien nodded. “Well.”
He leaned back slightly. “The pay isn’t that great.”
Lunessa blinked.
Lucien continued with a small shrug.
“We’re not financially stable yet. There are too many areas where money is needed right now.”
He added honestly, “Once things stabilize, we’ll adjust it.”
Lunessa waved her hand lightly. “It’s fine.”
She smiled faintly. “I’m not here for the money.”
Lucien gave her a look. “That much is obvious.”
Lunessa ughed softly. “You already know I’m not short of money.”
Lucien gave a wry smile.
Yes.
That was very clear.
“Anyway,” he said, “don’t worry about work.”
He leaned forward slightly. “There’s plenty of it here for you to do it.”
He chuckled. “Dorian is finally going to get some relief now that you’re here.”
Lunessa smiled. “That sounds promising.”
Lucien nodded. “Oh, it will be.”
He gestured around lightly.
“We have cafés expanding, publishing scaling, and half a dozen other things happening at once.”
Then he added with quiet amusement,
“You definitely won’t be bored.”
Lunessa tilted her head slightly, studying him for a moment.
“That sounds a little… ominous.”
Lucien chuckled.
She leaned forward slightly.
“Can you expin everything clearly?” she asked. “As much detail as possible.”
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
“I want to understand the workload you’re dealing with,” she continued calmly. “If I know exactly what’s happening and where things stand, I can start thinking about where I can help as quickly as possible.”
Lucien nodded slowly.
“That’s fair.”
He rested his arms lightly on the table.
“Alright. Let’s start with the immediate things.”
Lunessa straightened slightly, clearly ready to listen.
“The first thing,” Lucien said, “is my next book.”
Lunessa’s eyes lit up instantly.
“Yes.”
Lucien smiled faintly.
“It will be released in four days.”
She immediately leaned closer.
“Where is it?”
Lucien blinked.
“The book you promised,” she said, pointing at him accusingly. “You said I could read it when I came today.”
Lucien rubbed his forehead lightly.
“You just arrived.”
“Yes.”
“You’ve been barely here for ten minutes.”
“That’s ten minutes too long without the book.”
Lucien shook his head with a small ugh.
“Be patient. It’s not going to fly away.”
Lunessa sighed dramatically.
“Fine.”
She folded her arms.
“Let’s finish the expnation quickly.”
Lucien grinned slightly and continued.
“The first book is still printing,” he said. “Orders are still coming in.”
Lunessa nodded.
“I saw the numbers on Inkspire.”
Lucien continued.
“And once the second book releases, those orders will likely increase again.”
He paused briefly.
“The printing is handled by Crownspire Publishing.”
“That’s the Rendon press, right?” Lunessa asked.
“Yes.”
Lucien nodded.
“It’s currently the only subsidiary under Ashborne Holdings.”
Lunessa listened carefully.
“We’re upgrading their machinery right now,” Lucien added. “Scaling their capacity so they can handle rger print runs.”
She nodded thoughtfully.
“And that’s just the publishing side.”
Lucien leaned back slightly.
“Then there’s the café.”
“The Ashborne café?”
“Yes.”
He gestured lightly.
“This location is doing well, but it’s already reaching capacity. So, we’re opening a second branch at MICF campus.”
Lunessa’s brows lifted slightly.
“Already expanding?”
Lucien shrugged.
“The opportunity is there.”
She nodded slowly.
“So, the café is not under Ashborne Holdings?”
“No,” Lucien said. “It’s still a family business.”
Lunessa absorbed that quietly.
“And Dorian helps you manage all of this?”
Lucien nodded.
“Yes.”
He continued. “He also handles the legal and administrative side of my writing.”
Lunessa tilted her head. “Meaning?”
“Copyright filings,” Lucien expined. “Registration of my books and short stories.”
He added calmly, “At the Cultural and Innovation Registry.”
Lunessa nodded immediately. “That makes sense.”
Lucien continued.
“I’ve already authorized Dorian to act as my official representative before the registry.”
“So, he handles submissions, filings, and legal paperwork.”
“Yes.”
Lucien smiled faintly.
“Now do you understand why he’s about to colpse from exhaustion?”
He said it with a teasing tone.
Lunessa sat back slowly.
Then she inhaled sharply.
“…No wonder.”
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
“No wonder what?”
“No wonder you were so eager for me to start working.”
She rubbed her forehead lightly.
“You kept saying there was plenty of work.”
Lucien chuckled.
She shook her head slowly.
“What kind of workload is this?”
Lucien spread his hands lightly.
“An ambitious one.”
Lunessa sighed.
“You have publishing, writing, legal filings, a holding company, a growing café business, and a new branch opening.”
She looked at him again.
“And you’re saying one person has been helping manage all of that?”
Lucien nodded. “Dorian.”
Lunessa leaned back in her chair. “That’s insane.”
Lucien ughed.
She shook her head again.
“Anyone managing that alone would colpse eventually.”
Lucien smiled slightly. “That’s why you’re here.”
She exhaled slowly. “I admire him now.”
Lucien raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Yes.”
She nodded seriously.
“That level of workload requires discipline.”
Lucien chuckled.
“I’ll be sure to tell him you said that.”
Lunessa gave him a small smile.
“He’ll appreciate the recognition.”
Lucien ughed.
“Oh, he definitely will.”
Just as their conversation ended, Lira arrived from the kitchen carrying a tray rge enough to make the table suddenly feel crowded.
She carefully pced several ptes in front of them one by one, each dish arranged with the kind of care that had already become a quiet signature of Café Ashborne.
“Here you go,” Lira said with a small smile.
Lunessa nodded politely. “Thank you.”
Lucien gnced at the spread and chuckled softly.
“Well,” he said, gesturing toward the table, “since you’re here for the first time, you might as well try our premium selections.”
He pointed toward the first pte.
“That one is the Aurelian Citrus Tart,” he expined. “It’s made using syrups sourced from the sun-citrus groves in Aurelia.”
Lunessa raised an eyebrow slightly but said nothing yet.
Lucien continued.
“Next to it is the Calvessan Sunfruit Custard. It’s our take on a traditional Calvessan dessert.”
He moved to the next pte.
“That one is the Zerathian Spiced Chocote Cake. A molten chocote base infused with spice-bean from Zerathis.”
Lunessa leaned forward slightly, listening.
Lucien pointed again.
“That gss cup is the Virelian Cream Parfait. Duskberry compote yered with whipped cream imported from Virelia.”
Finally, he gestured toward the tall dessert bowl at the center.
“And that’s our yered sundae. Duskberry syrup, chilled cream, and a few other things.”
Lunessa stared at the table for a moment and she ughed.
“So, you’re trying to cover every continent and archipego on Caelora?”
Lucien rubbed the back of his neck with an embarrassed smile.
“Well…”
She crossed her arms slightly.
“When are you pnning to fill in the remaining regions?”
Lucien chuckled.
“I didn’t exactly pn it that far ahead.”
He shrugged.
“I just thought of it on the fly when naming them.”
Then he added quickly,
“But the ingredients themselves are real.”
He gestured toward the ptes.
“The citrus syrup really comes from Aurelia. The spice-bean is actually Zerathian.”
He nodded confidently.
“So, the quality isn’t just for show.”
Lunessa smiled slightly. “I’ll be the judge of that.”
Without waiting further, she picked up a fork and took the first bite from the citrus tart.
Her expression changed immediately. “Oh.”
Lucien raised a brow. “Oh?”
She took another bite. “That’s… actually very good.”
Lucien folded his arms smugly. “I told you.”
She moved to the custard next, tasting it thoughtfully.
“This one is smoother than I expected.”
Lucien nodded.
She tasted the chocote cake next.
The moment the molten center broke open, she gave a small approving nod.
“Okay,” she admitted. “That one is excellent.”
Lucien grinned.
Just then, Cerys returned from the kitchen carrying another tray.
“Here,” she said warmly. “Try these too.”
The dishes she pced down were simpler, more homely in appearance, but the aroma was rich and comforting.
“These are some of my own recipes,” Cerys said.
Then she waved her hand lightly.
“I’ll leave you two to talk about your work.”
She turned toward Lunessa with a kind smile. “Enjoy the food.”
“Thank you,” Lunessa said sincerely.
Cerys nodded and returned to the counter to continue preparing the café for opening.
Lunessa looked back down at the table.
The number of dishes had now doubled.
She blinked slowly.
“…How exactly am I supposed to finish all of this?”
At that exact moment, a small voice appeared beside her shoulder.
“Don’t worry.”
Lunessa turned.
Alina had somehow appeared beside her like a tiny whirlwind.
The girl tapped Lunessa’s shoulder confidently.
“I will help you finish everything here.”
She nodded seriously.
“Trust me. I won’t leave even crumbs.”
Lunessa stared at her for a second, completely caught off guard.
Lucien ughed. “That’s my sister.”
Lunessa looked momentarily stunned.
Alina had already pulled a chair next to the table and started examining the desserts like a professional food inspector.
The moment she found the sundae bowl, her attention locked onto it.
She was no longer paying attention to the conversation at all.
Lucien shook his head with a quiet ugh.
“She’s very dedicated.”
Lunessa chuckled.
“Well,” she said, picking up her fork again, “in that case we should probably start before she finishes everything.”
Alina didn’t respond as she was already halfway through the sundae.
The three of them ughed as the table slowly turned into a cheerful mess of desserts and conversation while the café continued preparing to open for the day.
