Chapter 66 – The Value of a Name
Chapter 66 – The Value of a Name
Then Lunessa asked another question. “What about intellectual property?”
Lucien looked toward Dorian.
Dorian answered immediately. “All IP is currently registered under Lucien’s personal name.”
“At the Creative and Innovation Registry.”
He spoke as if reciting something that had already been carefully organized earlier.
Lucien nodded slightly beside him. That part had been one of the first things Dorian insisted on doing even before the Sherlock series began gaining attention.
At the time Lucien also agreed with him as it’s very much important.
Lunessa nodded thoughtfully. “That works for now.”
She paused for a moment as if mentally mapping out the structure.
Then she leaned forward slightly. “But we can refine it further.”
Lucien listened carefully.
“We should create a new subsidiary.”
She spoke clearly, “It can be called, Ashborne IP Holdings.”
Lucien raised a brow.
Lunessa continued.
“It will also be a fully private company owned entirely by Ashborne Holdings.”
She paused briefly to ensure Lucien was following.
“This IP company will hold every intellectual property asset you create.”
She gestured lightly with her hand. “Books, stories, future works, characters, series titles, anything that can legally be considered intellectual property.”
Lucien nodded slowly.
“And then,” she continued, “this IP company licenses the content to the operational subsidiaries.”
“For example, the subsidiary Crownspire Publishing.”
Lucien thought about that for a moment.
“So, the publishing company doesn’t actually own the stories?”
“Correct,” Lunessa said immediately.
“The IP company owns them.”
“Crownspire Publishing only receives a license to publish them.”
Lucien leaned back slightly in his chair as the structure settled into place in his mind.
“That means the intellectual property stays centralized.”
“Exactly,” Lunessa said.
“If you ever create more subsidiaries in the future for example, media production, animation, or merchandising they would all license the IP from the same company.”
Dorian nodded slowly. “That also keeps valuation clearer.”
Lucien looked toward him.
Dorian continued. “Intellectual property can become extremely valuable.”
“If the Sherlock series becomes popular, the IP itself could be worth far more than the publishing company.”
He paused briefly. “Separating it protects that value.”
Lucien nodded slowly.
Then he summarized carefully.
“So, I hold one hundred percent of Ashborne Holdings.”
“Ashborne Holdings owns one hundred percent of Ashborne IP Holdings.”
“And the IP company licenses content to subsidiaries like Crownspire.”
Lunessa smiled.
“You got the structure exactly right.”
Lucien looked toward Dorian. “What do you think?”
Dorian nodded. “She’s correct.”
He explained further. “Any media conglomerate eventually structures itself like this.”
“It simplifies taxes, it also protects the IP, and it keeps the ownership hierarchy clear.”
He leaned slightly forward.
“If Crownspire Publishing ever expands internationally, for example, the licensing agreements can remain standardized.”
Lucien raised a brow.
“So, the IP company becomes the center of the entire media structure.”
“Exactly,” Dorian said.
He shrugged. “I didn’t implement it yet because we’re still small.”
“There wasn’t an urgent need.”
He glanced toward Lunessa.
“But she’s right.”
“If the series continues growing, it’s better to structure it properly early.”
Lunessa nodded. “It’s still better to set the foundation early.”
Then she added another point. “It also helps with succession planning.”
Lucien blinked. “Succession?”
Lunessa explained calmly.
“If ownership sits cleanly inside a holding company, inheritance becomes simple.”
“The heirs inherit the holding company and that automatically controls everything beneath it.”
She gestured lightly as if drawing a structure in the air.
“The subsidiaries remain intact, the IP remains centralized, the overall structure stays stable.”
She continued. “And separating IP into a dedicated subsidiary preserves its value, otherwise intellectual property often fragments across multiple heirs over generations.”
Lucien raised both hands immediately. “Hey, hey.”
They both looked at him. “I’m eighteen.”
He looked genuinely baffled. “Why are we suddenly talking about heirs and inheritance?”
“That’s so far away.”
Dorian shrugged calmly. “That’s how these things are structured.”
“You build systems that outlive you. No need to panic about it.”
Lucien rubbed his temple slightly.
“That sentence sounds suspiciously like something a corporate lawyer would say.”
Dorian smirked. “That’s because it’s true.”
Lunessa laughed softly. “I’m only explaining the reasoning behind the structure. Not writing your family history.”
Lucien sighed. “Well… good.”
Dorian leaned back slightly. “Relax. Your empire-building plan is safe for now.”
Lucien groaned. “Please don’t call it that.”
But both of them were smiling.
The conversation paused for a moment as the music from Riven’s performance drifted across the café.
The melody was upbeat and relaxed, and several customers had started clapping along with the rhythm.
The relaxed environment made the discussion feel strangely casual despite the seriousness of the topics they had been covering.
Lunessa leaned back slightly in her chair and looked at Dorian.
“One more thing,” she said. “What about trademarks?”
Dorian didn’t even need to think about it. “Already done.”
Lunessa raised a brow.
He continued calmly. “I registered the Ashborne Holdings name and logo.”
He counted on his fingers.
“Ashborne Café.”
“Crownspire Publishing.”
“Their titles.”
“Their logos.”
“Everything I could think of.”
Lucien nodded quietly beside him.
Dorian leaned forward slightly.
“If we didn’t do that early, it would become a mess later.”
He paused briefly.
“Trademarks are first-come, first-served in many jurisdictions.”
“If someone else filed those trademarks first…”
He tapped the table lightly.
“They could demand licensing fees from us.”
He paused again. “Or worse, they could block us from using our own name.”
Lucien grimaced. “That would be a nightmare.”
Dorian nodded. “So, I filed them early.”
Lunessa asked, “In how many classes?”
Dorian answered immediately. “Multiple.”
He began listing them.
“Entertainment and media.”
“Books and comics.”
“Digital media.”
“Cafés and restaurant services.”
“Merchandise categories.”
“And a few additional ones that could become relevant later.”
He shrugged slightly. “I covered as many applicable classes as possible.”
Lunessa stared at him for a moment stunned.
Then she raised her hand and gave him a thumbs up. “Wow.”
Dorian tilted his head slightly.
“You’re extremely thorough.”
Dorian leaned back with the unmistakable expression of someone who was not surprised by that praise. “Of course.”
His face practically said I know exactly what I’m doing.
Lucien watched him with a proud look.
Dorian immediately noticed.
“What are you looking proud for?”
Lucien laughed.
“Because I recognized your skills and gave you the opportunity to prove them.”
Dorian stared at him for a moment.
Riven’s music drifted across the room while the two of them held eye contact.
Then Dorian sighed. “You are unbelievably obnoxious.”
Lunessa laughed quietly.
Lucien grinned shamelessly. “You’re welcome.”
Dorian shook his head. “Next time I’ll charge consulting fees.”
They all laughed at that.
Then Lunessa tapped the table lightly. “Alright.”
She looked at Dorian again. “What about the Sherlock series trademark?”
Dorian paused. “I haven’t filed that yet.”
Lunessa leaned forward slightly.
“Well, after reading the new book…”
She glanced briefly toward Lucien.
“I think it’s safe to assume the series will continue.”
Lucien gave a small shrug. “That’s the plan.”
Lunessa nodded. “And if the series grows, the trademark becomes extremely important.”
She spoke more firmly now, shifting slightly into a more professional tone.
“We should register the Sherlock series name immediately.”
Dorian nodded slowly. “Before the second book releases.”
“Exactly,” Lunessa said.
Lucien tilted his head slightly. “Should we do it today?”
Dorian answered before Lunessa could. “Yes.”
He rested his elbow on the table and spoke calmly.
“Series titles can become valuable brands.”
He gestured slightly as he spoke.
“If the books gain popularity, that name will eventually appear on multiple things.”
“Books, digital editions, possible translations, merchandise, adaptations.”
Lucien nods. “That makes sense.”
Dorian shrugged. “That’s how intellectual property works.”
Lunessa nodded in agreement.
“The earlier the trademark is registered, the easier everything becomes later.”
She continued explaining.
“If the name gains popularity and someone files the trademark before us, we could face serious complications.”
Lucien frowned. “That would be very annoying.”
“It would be worse than annoying,” Dorian said calmly.
“It could create legal disputes.”
Lunessa nodded. “So, we file it now.”
Lucien looked between the two of them. “Alright.”
Dorian nodded once. “I’ll start the filing process today.”
Lunessa smiled. “Good.”
Lucien leaned back slightly. “Looks like we’re adding another task to the list.”
Dorian sighed. “Of course we are.”
But there was a faint smile on his face.
The discussion gradually began to wind down. The three of them had covered quite a lot in a surprisingly short time, corporate structure, intellectual property management, trademark protection, future planning.
Even Lunessa seemed satisfied that she now had a clearer picture of how everything was structured.
Lucien glanced briefly around the café.
For a moment the conversation faded into the background while the atmosphere of the room became more noticeable.
Warm lights glowed softly above the tables.
Customers chatted quietly over food.
The scent of roasted coffee beans lingered faintly in the air.
And from the small stage at the side of the café, music drifted through the room.
Before anyone could say anything further, a loud cheer suddenly erupted from the other side of the café.
“More!”
“Another one!”
“Don’t stop!”
Lucien, Dorian, and Lunessa turned their heads.
Riven was still on the small stage, holding his instrument while grinning broadly at the crowd. Several customers were clapping enthusiastically, clearly unwilling to let him step down yet.
One table near the window had even started tapping their cups against the table in rhythm.
Riven raised both hands dramatically.
“Hold on, hold on!”
He looked around the room with exaggerated seriousness.
“Just so everyone knows,” he said loudly, “I am not being paid for this.”
A few customers laughed immediately.
One man near the front called out immediately.
“We’ll tip!”
Another voice chimed in.
“Yeah! Keep playing!”
“Continue!”
Someone even waved his hand in the air while showing his wristlink as if ready to send a tip immediately.
Riven’s grin widened like he had just discovered treasure.
He looked at the guy waving his wristlink with obvious interest.
“Well,” he said, pretending to think about it. “Since you insist.”
The café filled with laughter.
Lucien watched the scene for a moment before slowly lowering his head into his palm.
He facepalmed.
“This guy,” he muttered.
Dorian smirked.
Lunessa looked amused.
Lucien shook his head.
“He always finds a way to embarrass me.”
Right at that moment Seliora walked back toward their table with Evelis beside her. Alina followed close behind them, still clutching the drawing she had been working on earlier.
Seliora had clearly heard the last part of Lucien’s complaint.
“Of course you deserve it,” she said immediately.
Lucien looked up.
Seliora dropped into a chair and laughed.
“You run the café but your friend is the one entertaining the customers.”
Lucien sighed.
“Yes, thank you for that reminder.”
Evelis sat down more gently, smiling as she glanced toward the stage where Riven had already started another song.
“He really does enjoy performing,” she said softly.
Meanwhile Alina climbed onto one of the empty chairs beside Seliora and proudly placed her drawing on the table.
“Look.”
Everyone glanced down.
It was a colorful drawing made with bright markers.
Several stick figures were drawn around what was clearly meant to be the café.
One figure stood on a small stage.
Another sat behind a counter.
Alina pointed enthusiastically. “That’s Riven.”
Lucien looked closer.
The stick figure on the stage had a very large circle for a mouth.
“Why does he look like he’s shouting?” Lucien asked.
Alina nodded seriously. “Because he’s loud.”
Seliora burst out laughing again. “That’s accurate.”
Evelis smiled warmly. “And who is this?”
She pointed to the figure behind the counter.
Alina looked at Lucien as if the answer should be obvious. “That’s Luci.”
Lucien examined the drawing.
The stick figure behind the counter had a slightly crooked circle for a head.
“Why does my head look like that?”
Alina tilted her head. “Because you did this.”
She demonstrated a dramatic facepalm.
The entire table erupted into laughter again.
Lucien slowly leaned back in his chair.
“I’m surrounded by comedians.”
Dorian glanced down at the drawing. “You’re actually lucky.”
Lucien looked at him. “How?”
Dorian pointed at the drawing. “At least you’re included.”
“What does that mean?”
Dorian tapped another stick figure that appeared to be sitting at a table with a rectangular object in front of him. “That’s me.”
Lucien leaned forward slightly.
The stick figure had no facial features, just a blank circle.
Lucien raised a brow. “You don’t even have eyes.”
Dorian leaned back calmly. “That’s because I’m observing.”
Seliora wiped a tear from her eye from laughing. “That’s perfect.”
Meanwhile Lunessa looked at the drawing again and smiled.
“You even included the café.”
Alina nodded proudly. “Yes.”
Lucien shook his head helplessly while Riven’s music filled the café again and the customers clapped along enthusiastically. The relaxed noise of the room blended with the quiet satisfaction of the conversation they had just finished.