Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee by KIKI

Chapter 884: Appraising the Treasure Natalie gestured for Ava to proceed. Ava carefully removed the red cloth covering the tray, revealing a pair of ivory tusks. She gingerly placed them before Natalie, who picked up one of the tusks with focused eyes. Natalie examined it closely, her fingers brushing over its surface. She brought it to her nose for a sniff, then lightly tapped it against the table, producing a faint sound.

Suddenly, Natalie flung the tusk to the ground. It shattered instantly, breaking into two pieces that scattered across the floor.

Ava let out a startled cry, her beautiful face flushing with anger. "Natalie, what are you doing? Do you have any idea how difficult it was to acquire these tusks? Is this how you treat something I brought for your appraisal?" Natalie waved a hand dismissively, her tone warm and calm. "Don't rush to anger. Letbe honest with you-the tusk I broke is a counterfeit. I've carefully examined it. The authenticity of ivory can be judged in four ways." Ava's face remained tense with frustration. "Fine. Then explain yourself. I want a reason." Natalie spoke unhurriedly. "First, authentic ivory contains blood streaks, but the ones in this shattered tusk are far too vibrant. Genuine ivory develops cloudy streaks over time; they should never appear this fresh and red." "Second, the texture. When I touched this tusk, its surface felt rough and uneven. High-quality ivory is smooth and cool to the touch, like polished jade." "Third, take a closer look at the surface. You'll notice there's not a single natural pattern on it. Real ivory always has visible markings." Ava's expression shifted, alternating between red and pale. Listening to Natalie's reasoning, she realized the shattered ivory was indeed a fake. She had been deceived.

Natalie bent down to pick up one half of the broken tusk from the floor. "Do you know why I broke it?" Ava shook her head, confused.

"Because of the final point: the density of the ivory. That's the most crucial factor in determining authenticity. The denser the ivory, the higher its quality. Your tusk split in two with a simple drop to the floor. What does that tell you?" Natalie smiled faintly. "Why don't you test the other tusk yourself?" Ava paused for a moment, comprehension dawning on her face. She picked up the remaining tusk and, following Natalie's earlier methods, began her own inspection.

First, she examined the blood streaks. "They're cloudy, not too red!" Ava's eyes lit up with excitement. Guests nearby, having listened closely to Natalie's explanation, leaned in to help her verify.

Next, Ava ran her fingers over the surface. "It's smooth and cool, like fine jade." Natalie nodded approvingly, a subtle smile on her lips.

For the third step, Ava scrutinized the tusk's surface. Her beautiful eyes reflected its creamy white hue. "I see wave-like patterns. They're so elegant!" she exclaimed.

Finally, she steeled herself for the last test. Clutching the tusk tightly, she closed her eyes and hurled it to the ground. The room fell silent. Slowly, she opened her eyes, her long lashes trembling. The ivory lay intact, unblemished. The crowd erupted into laughter, their earlier tension dissolving. They had been teasing Ava, and now they shared in her relief.

Ava's face glowed with gratitude. Her voice was earnest as she said, "Thank you, Natalie! I was so rude to you earlier. I hope you can forgive me." Natalie shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't mind. The world is full of doubters. I've learned to focus on being true to myself." As Ava left, guests who had won prizes began approaching Natalie one by one, seeking her advice. Compared to the earlier commotion, the next five presented far simpler challenges, which Natalie resolved in just a few words. The audience watched her in awe. Admiration filled their eyes, and a deep respect took root in their hearts. "She's incredible," someone whispered. "No wonder she's a match for General Praevion-she knows everything from astronomy to the smallest details of life. She's a genius at strategy and decision-making." "Her courage and intellect put all of us men to shame. Who could possibly compare to Natalie?" Before long, only one final prizewinner remained. Natalie sat calmly on stage, waiting. From the audience, a small child carefully climbed down from his seat. He held a scratched orchid card in his tiny, chubby hand.

The boy, dressed in a black British-style suit with suspenders and a red bow tie, walked with steady determination despite his young age. He looked like a little gentleman as he made his way toward the stage. His short legs swung back and forth when he sat across from Natalie.

No one had noticed him earlier, hidden among the taller adults in the crowd. But now, all eyes were on him.

Natalie observed the boy closely. His delicate features resembled a sculpted doll. His round, black eyes sparkled with innocence, and beneath his small nose sat a pair of soft, cherry-pink lips. He blinked at her with wide eyes and said, "Hello, my nis Poppy Swanson. I have two wishes. Can you help me?"

He nervously fidgeted with his fingers, poking them together Natalie watched his every move, taking in the tiny details.

Resting her chin in her hand, she replied gently, "But everyone But everyone before you only got one wish. Why should you be an exception?"