Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 251

Stella headed straight for the Antiques Quarter.

There was a specific shop there owned by her Third Master, Magnus Walden, and she wanted to pick out an artisanal stoneware coffee service for Wilfred.

The Antiques Quarter wasn't overly crowded, so she easily navigated her way to Myriad Treasures Gallery.

The gallery belonged to Magnus, though he no longer managed it himself, having retired to the tranquil countryside years ago.

Nowadays, the shop was run by his son, Alston Walden.

She had been here plenty of times before, usually to drop off merchandise for her mentor.

Whenever Magnus had some free time, he would sculpt various clay figurines and coffee sets. Naturally, anything crafted by his hands—even the smallest trinket—would fetch upwards of fifteen thousand dollars.

As for a complete artisanal stoneware coffee service, you couldn't even get your hands on one for less than a hundred and fifty grand.

But he only worked when the mood struck him, producing barely a handful of pieces each year.

Alston hadn't inherited a single drop of his father's craftsmanship, so the gallery saw fewer and fewer masterworks passing through its doors.

It wasn't that Magnus had refused to teach him; Alston simply lacked the talent. He just couldn't grasp it.

After enduring countless scoldings from his father, he eventually gave up trying to learn altogether.

Not wanting the business to go under, Alston decided to pivot and sell general antiques in the shop.

While he didn't share his father's artistic touch, he actually had a fantastic eye for appraising antiques. Word was that he had made quite a fortune over the past few years.

Occasionally, Stella would bring over some of her own sculpted pieces to be sold here.

Magnus always claimed she had perfectly mastered his techniques, to the point where her work was indistinguishable from his.

She was his father's star pupil, producing work that rivaled the master himself.

"I wanted to pick out an artisanal stoneware coffee service. An elder in the family has a birthday coming up. Or maybe you have a good antique you'd recommend?" she asked, getting straight to the point.

"As for antiques, all the premium stuff has already been bought. The new shipment won't arrive until next week. But for the coffee sets... the last one from your previous batch is still here. Right over there."

Alston pointed to a display tucked away in the corner. "I actually couldn't bear to sell this one, so I hid it. Otherwise, it would've been gone ages ago."

He had fallen in love with that specific artisanal stoneware coffee service and wanted to keep it for his own use, which was why he hadn't put it on the main display floor.

He couldn't help it. Little Star might have inherited his father's incredible skills, but she also inherited his chronic laziness. She only worked when inspiration struck; otherwise, the shop's shelves would be bare of her creations.

Case in point: she hadn't dropped off a single piece in six months.

"Perfect. Do me a favor and pack it up for me, Alston. When I have some free time, I'll sculpt a few more things and bring them over to you."