CHAPTER 318: THE MEETING BETWEEN TWO SISTERS (2)

"The leader of the Blue Moon Trading House, Shion?" Melinda’s eyes widened in shock. "Uncle, what’s going on? Why are you suddenly involved with Shion?"

Shion was one of the people she hated the most. That woman was her father’s enemy and the main reason behind the Red Obsidian Trading House’s downfall.

Well, she had to admit she was being childish for hating her just because the woman had defeated her father. Then again, their rivalry was actually quite fair.

Even so, it was undeniable that Red Obsidian’s decline was largely caused by Shion.

"Hah... I’m not joking, Lady," Ruvart replied with a weak smile. "You may not know this, but Blue Moon actually bought most of Red Obsidian. The reason your sister, Claire, became the leader of that trading house was also thanks to them."

He had been very close to Belfor in the past, so naturally, he knew about Claire’s identity as Belfor’s illegitimate child.

What confused him was why Shion made her the new leader of Red Obsidian—no, its name had changed to White Lotus.

Honestly, it didn’t make any sense, especially since Claire had no experience at all, and on top of that, she was blind.

Melinda fell silent after hearing all of that. Her mouth opened and closed as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t.

So, the one who owns Red Obsidian isn’t Nolan, but... Blue Moon?

she muttered in confusion.

Come to think of it, none of it made sense. Her father had once told her he sold the Red Obsidian Trading House to Nolan for two billion Sharn.

That amount was very small compared to the market value of Red Obsidian, which reached tens of billions of Sharn.

But still—two billion Sharn was an extraordinarily large amount!

In fact, she herself wasn’t sure she could afford that much money. So how could Nolan possibly have it?

There was only one answer—help from the Blue Moon Trading House.

She had no idea what kind of relationship existed between them. Perhaps Nolan and Shion had some sort of partnership or a superior–subordinate relationship that no one knew about.

The thought that the young man who always seemed lazy and unreliable had some sort of hidden connection with Shion made Melinda’s hair stand on end.

No wonder he was so confident in supporting his younger sister in the battle for the throne. Nolan Lorian... that boy really does have a big secret, she whispered angrily.

Of course, she had no intention of revealing this to anyone, not even the princes or the concubines. This was valuable information—something she could use to threaten Nolan in the future.

Taking a deep breath, she gave Ruvart a small nod. "All right, Uncle, I understand. In that case, I’ll head to Claire’s room right away. I hope I can persuade her to hand the Red Obsidian Trading House back to me."

Her tone was filled with hatred and envy. She believed Claire’s control over the Red Obsidian Trading House should have been in Nolan’s or Shion’s hands by now.

However, she still held out hope that it wasn’t too late. As long as ownership hadn’t officially changed hands, she could still persuade—or even threaten—Claire into handing the Red Obsidian Trading House over to her.

Ruvart was surprised by her intention but didn’t try to stop her. In fact, he quietly hoped Melinda might succeed.

Even so, he knew the odds were slim. Rather than discouraging her, he simply nodded slowly.

After exchanging a few brief words, Melinda walked toward a large room at the end of the hallway.

She turned the doorknob, opened the door slowly, and stepped inside. A spacious, luxurious study greeted her immediately.

Two cabinets stood against the right wall, flanking a table adorned with two elegant vases of flowers. Three large windows on the same side let in the late afternoon sunlight, casting a soft, warm glow over the room.

A painting of a snowy mountain landscape hung in the center. Below it, a desk and chair were occupied by a woman wearing a white blindfold, sitting in quiet composure.

"Welcome, Sister. Please come in," Claire greeted softly.

Melinda studied Claire, a wave of confusion crossing her face. She couldn’t even remember the last time they had met—perhaps ten or twenty years ago.

Shaking her head slowly, she stepped inside, eyes fixed on Claire. She had to admit, Claire had grown into an extraordinarily beautiful woman.

Her skin was pale—not from illness or lack of blood—but a unique, healthy pallor that radiated a cold, untouchable aura.

She wore a white professional dress with a golden lotus flower pin on her chest. As much as she hated to admit it, Melinda had to acknowledge that the outfit suited her perfectly.

Melinda stopped in front of her and was about to sit when Claire asked, "Tea or coffee?"

Melinda paused for a moment before replying, "Coffee."

Claire smiled, stood up, and moved to the right side of the room to brew the coffee. The coffee and tea maker ran on magic stones as its power source.

It had been an innovation by the Red Obsidian Trading House a few years ago. While sales weren’t extraordinary, the device had become naturally popular.

Melinda watched her every move, unable to hide her confusion.

What’s going on? How can she move so casually? Isn’t she blind? Melinda wondered silently.

Those who had lost their sight naturally moved carefully to avoid bumping into things.

But that didn’t seem to apply to Claire; it was as if she could see.

While Melinda was lost in thought, Claire had already brought over two cups of coffee and placed them on the table.

"Please, drink the coffee, Sister. It’s made from Nocrun coffee beans from the western region. It’s a bit bitter at first, but a unique sweetness follows. I promise—you’ll love it," Claire said, taking a sip herself.

Melinda hesitated, wary that the coffee might be poisoned. But after considering that such a risk would be too reckless, she steadied herself and took a sip.

Instantly, her eyes widened in surprise.

It’s... amazing! she whispered.

Claire hadn’t lied—the coffee was truly unique and delicious. The initial bitterness quickly gave way to a honey-like sweetness that lingered pleasantly on the tongue.

She sipped several more times before finally setting her cup on the saucer, satisfied.

Turning her gaze to Claire, she drew a deep breath and adopted a cold, stern expression.

"Claire, I won’t beat around the bush. I’m here for only one reason—the ownership of the Red Obsidian Trading House left by my father. Will you hand it over to me?"