Chapter 684 +25 BONI

Caspian was unaware of Ava's interest. Had he been more astute, he wouldn't be a mere junior official in the Ministry of Infrastructure.

Upon returning home, he found everyone awaiting dinner. He gave the ravioli to a servant with instructions to boil it quickly.

"I was wondering why you were so late," Zoey teased. "Was it because you went to buy ravioli? Look at you—you've got your wife on your mind and have forgotten all about your mother! You left her hungry and waiting."

Caspian apologized, but defensively explained, "I could have been home earlier, but Harold was slow. Plus, Ms. Weaver cut in line. She claimed she was starving and asked me to let her and her servant go first."

"Ms. Weaver?" Zoey repeated, raising an eyebrow. She knew her brother-in-law rarely associated with women. "Who is she?"

"She runs a coffee shop," Caspian replied. "She delivered coffee for Lord Snyder's banquet, and he introduced us. I've bought beans from her before—the ones I brought home a few days ago."

"The coffee's not bad," Luna chimed in, "though a bit pricey." Being a merchant's daughter, Luna was sensitive to value.

Zoey asked for the shop's name, jotted it down, and said, "Alright, let's eat. Mother must be starving."

Evelyn, recently recovering from illness, had a delicate appetite, but the ravioli was perfect. She ate most of her serving.

"Harold's ravioli is delicious," Evelyn said. "If there are leftovers, don't cook them; save them for breakfast."

"It won't taste as good tomorrow, Mother," Luna suggested. "Let the servants have them. I'll make you millet porridge."

"Alright," Evelyn replied.

Seeming distracted, Evelyn set down her cutlery, wiped her mouth, and accepted water for handwashing from a servant. "You all continue eating. I'll head back to my room."

"Take care, Mom," and "Walk slowly, Grandma," her children responded.

Chapter 684 +25 BONI

Everyone stood to see Evelyn off—a familiar routine. She'd been in this mood lately. Once she left, they resumed their meal. Zoey glanced at Caspian but said nothing.

After dinner, Zoey summoned the steward, Bernard, to inquire about Ava's family's coffee shop, Weaver Coffee.

"I know of Weaver Coffee, but not the owner," Bernard replied. "There's a new young manager, said to be the owner's daughter."

"Strange," Zoey mused. "You know the owner's daughter but not the owner? Who ran it before?"

"One manager, not the owner," Bernard said. "Adam. He's gone now."

"Can you find out who the owner is?" Zoey pressed.

Bernard hesitated. "We can try, but the owner's never appeared. I suspect an influential person is behind it."

Zoey understood. During Augustus's reign, nobles of the fourth rank and above were forbidden from business, only allowed to rent property. Sigmund loosened restrictions, but involvement remained discreet—entrusted to servants with outside shopkeepers. Even the Earl of Silverstone had similar arrangements. Owning property for rent or farming wasn't restricted. The new king, still consolidating his power, largely ignored this.

After a moment, Zoey said, "We might find nothing, or incriminate someone else. Drop it. Issue strict orders throughout the household—absolutely no private interactions with servants of noble families."

"Yes, Madam Zoey!"

Zoey also felt she needed to remind her brother-in-law.