The early morning sun streamed in with a golden glow as Luna rolled out of bed and started her usual routine. Her jog was brisk, her shower invigorating, and her outfit clean and casual, with her favorite apron folded neatly in her bag.
She joined Emmerich for breakfast in the sunlit dining room, where the smell of freshly brewed coffee and grilled toast lingered.
"Morning, Dad," she said, leaning in to hug him warmly.
Emmerich, still in a crisp shirt but with a gentler air than last night, returned the embrace. "Good morning, Luna. Heading off?"
"Yep. But I hope your day is better than yesterday," she said with a teasing smirk.
Emmerich chuckled softly. "I'll try. Good luck at work, little heiress."
Luna grinned. "Nope, not the role I'm playing today, Dad. I'm just a hardworking staff today."
Emmerich chuckled and waved his daughter goodbye.
___________________________________________
Luna entered through the back entrance of the cat café, already tying her hair up and slipping on her apron when she spotted Ken, dramatically slouched over the counter like a forlorn prince in exile.
"Good morning?" Luna tilted her head. "You look like a romance drama lead who just got dumped."
Ken sighed louder, lifting his phone with the exaggerated flair of a tragic reveal. "Look."
Luna leaned in and saw it—a digital poster of a new cat café a few kilometers away, all clean white aesthetics, pastel uniformed staff, and…
"Is that… a celebrity?" she asked, eyes squinting.
"Yep. Famous idol. Cat lover. Apparently, she 'fell in love' with their café and decided to be their ambassador," Ken grumbled.
Luna raised a brow, unimpressed. "That place smells like a passing trend."
Ken sighed again, more dramatically than the first. "Still, it's siphoning customers. And I was hoping we'd get another spike in sales. You know... to impress the mysterious elusive owner."
Luna narrowed her eyes, trying to hide the twitch in her lips.
Ken leaned in conspiratorially. "Maybe... just maybe… another paid month-long vacation with pocket money might appear again."
At that, Luna burst out laughing.
"You're unbelievable," she wheezed.
"Unbelievably optimistic," Ken corrected with a grin, just before George elbowed him hard in the ribs on the way to the back storage.
"Back to work, drama queen," George muttered.
Ken winced, saluted mockingly, and shuffled off.
Luna shook her head with a smile and got to work, tending to customers, checking on the cats, refilling snacks and tea, and helping with the soft jazz playlist.
The day was quieter than usual, but peaceful. The lull allowed her to indulge in the lounge for the first time in a week, slipping into the beanbag, Mikan purring at her feet, a cold soda in one hand and a Switch game in the other.
Ken, with a tray of shrimp chips, joined her for a quick break and muttered, "If this lounge had massage chairs, I'd never leave."
Luna raised a brow. "Don't give the owner more ideas."
Ken blinked. "Wouldn't mind that though."
Later that afternoon, George excused himself early, saying his wife's car broke down and she needed help.
"Don't forget the toolbox," Luna called after him.
"I am the toolbox," George grunted with pride before vanishing out the door.
By evening, the café winded down quietly. Luna hummed as she cleaned the last corner of the lounge, thinking maybe the celebrity competition wasn't so scary after all. Their café had something better:
Heart.
And her team.
Her cats.
Her sanctuary.
She sent her dad a quick text—"Slow day, but peaceful. I even got lounge time. Home after closing."
And smiled to herself.
_________________________________________________
The night air was cool as Luna stepped out into the parking lot, keys and bag in hand, her steps light after a long but fulfilling day at the cat café.
She stopped abruptly.
Her eyes narrowed.
The car parked in her usual driver's spot wasn't familiar—sleek, elegant, definitely not the plain model assigned to her today.
With reflexes honed from routine and instinct sharpened from past dangers, she reached for her phone to call her father when—
The driver's side door opened.
Out stepped Edward in a crisp button-down, sleeves rolled up slightly, looking far too composed and casual for the tension that had spiked in Luna's chest.
For one full heartbeat, Luna stood frozen.
Then her body remembered to move, and she walked briskly forward, trying to ignore the rapid thrum in her ears.
Edward stopped halfway and smiled—genuine, easy. "Your ride awaits."
Luna raised an eyebrow. "I was just about to call in a security breach."
Edward chuckled. "I was given a mission by your father—escort Luna from the café and ensure she gets a proper dinner."
She folded her arms. "I never imagined the youngest CEO of a tech empire would end up doing errands for my dad."
Edward placed a hand dramatically over his heart. "How could I refuse an order that gave me the rare opportunity to spend time with someone as extraordinary as you?"
Luna blinked, flustered by the directness, but quickly recovered and smirked. "You're right. My time is incredibly valuable."
Edward matched her grin. "So you'll indulge me tonight?"
"I'll allow it," Luna teased, stepping toward the passenger side. "But only because I'm curious about what counts as a 'proper dinner' in Edward's book."
He opened the car door for her with a slight bow. "Prepare to be impressed, Miss Arklight."
Luna slipped into the seat, smiling faintly as she buckled in. "We'll see."
As Edward rounded the front of the car and slid behind the wheel, he cast her a sidelong glance.
"Looking at you, impressing an already impressive lady might be hard," he said softly, chuckling.
Luna leaned back, watching the lights of the café fade in the side mirror.
"You haven't seen anything yet." Luna replied with a grin.
________________________________________________
The elevator dinged softly, and as the doors parted, Luna stepped out into a softly lit rooftop garden of an elegant five-star restaurant. The glow of lanterns danced across marble floors, and a light breeze teased the linen napkins folded at each table. String lights arched overhead like stars made just for them.
Waitstaff led her and Edward forward. Luna's steps slowed when she spotted a familiar figure standing near the only occupied table—
Emmerich, dressed in a black suit with his jacket set aside, hands in his pockets, a warm smile breaking across his usually composed face.
Luna's eyes narrowed playfully. "I thought this was a dinner with Edward."
Emmerich spread his hands in mock innocence. "And let him have all the fun of dining in a place this stunning with my daughter? Unthinkable."
Edward, unfazed, moved to pull out her chair, his smile as smooth as the polished silver. "I'm merely the humble chauffeur with good taste."
Luna looked down at her simple, comfy outfit, then laughed as she sat. "Guess I missed the formal memo."
Before her father could speak, Edward cut in with an easy, "You're stunning in anything, Luna."
Emmerich arched an eyebrow at Edward, and Edward returned it with an unfazed, polite smile. Luna, caught between their silent exchange, chuckled to herself as she adjusted her napkin.
The first course arrived—delicate hors d'oeuvres presented like miniature art. Dishes followed in elegant succession: buttery scallops, hand-cut pasta in truffle sauce, seared tenderloin with wine reduction, and desserts that looked too perfect to eat.
Luna found herself doing most of the talking—about work, about the cafe, about Kana and Mary. Edward responded with genuine attentiveness, asking questions and adding thoughtful comments.
Emmerich, for the most part, acted as the enthusiastic host, recommending dishes, trading bites with Luna, and making sure she tasted everything worth tasting.
For a moment, as she sipped the delicate rose tea served with dessert, Luna stared out over the city skyline.
She felt it all at once: the warmth of the people beside her, the cool night air, the soft background music, the laughter in her chest, the pang of disbelief in her stomach.
If I weren't Emmerich Arklight's daughter… would I have ever tasted a life like this? Would I have ever imagined such a dinner, a rooftop evening, a cat café, a home like mine?
She blinked and turned her gaze back to the men seated with her—one her father, who had built and bled for the world she now stood in; the other, a man who quietly paid attention, noticed her smiles, and never made her feel like she needed to earn his approval.
Luna set her teacup down and said sincerely, "I'm really enjoying this dinner."
Edward raised his glass. "To good food and even better company."
Emmerich lifted his wine. "And to seeing you smile like this more often."
Luna clinked her glass to theirs and smiled—clear, soft, and full of something deep-rooted.
"Thank you, both."
_____________________________________________
The darkened halls of the Arklight estate were hushed as the luxury vehicle rolled to a stop. Luna, her posture relaxed but her mind quietly overwhelmed from the day's emotional and opulent highs, stepped out first.
Edward and Emmerich followed, their voices muted, their presence trailing behind her like protective shadows.
As they stepped inside the warm glow of the grand foyer, Luna turned to them with a soft smile.
"I'll call it a night. Thank you both—for the dinner… and everything," she said, her gaze briefly lingering on Edward before settling on her father.
"You've earned your rest," Emmerich said gently.
"Sleep well," Edward added.
Luna gave them one final look, a tired wave, then disappeared down the corridor leading to her room.
Luna sat in her large porcelain tub, water glimmering with soft golden light, her limbs sinking into the warmth. The day settled on her shoulders like a soft shawl—comfort, weight, and unspoken questions.
After soaking and changing into her sleepwear, she sat at her writing desk. The soft scratching of her pen was the only sound.
I keep forgetting that I'm allowed to live this, breathe this. I still don't understand how I got here, but I'm grateful. I just hope I don't mess it up.
She paused, tapping her pen to the page, then added:
Edward was charming, Father looked tired… I wonder if something's weighing on him again. I'll ask him tomorrow. I'll cook breakfast. Maybe something simple and warm. Just to say, I'm here too.
She closed the journal, blew out her candle, and curled under the covers. Milo leapt onto the bed, curling beside her with a sleepy yawn.
Meanwhile…
The study was dim, lit only by the amber glow of an antique floor lamp. Bookshelves lined the walls, silent witnesses to the heavy conversation that had just begun. A bottle of antique Burgundian brandy sat on the desk, the wax seal freshly broken.
Emmerich poured two glasses and handed one to Edward, who accepted it silently.
They sipped in quiet acknowledgment before Edward set down his glass and spoke.
"She's in the Red Zone Delta, confirmed by multiple witness accounts. The civilians… they call her the ghost hero. She saves who she can and disappears before either faction can trace her."
Emmerich's knuckles whitened around his glass.
Edward's voice lowered. "The zone's destabilizing. Several powerful nations are using it as a testing ground. Latest exo-frames, chemical weapons, android-class enforcers. It's not just a battlefield. It's a lab with real blood."
The words were steel and smoke, and they settled deep in Emmerich's chest like shrapnel.
"…Lin," he whispered, her name cracked and repeated under his breath. "Lin… Lin…"
Edward said nothing as the older man took another slow sip, his composure slowly fracturing.
"She's still fighting. Still risking herself. Alone."
Edward nodded. "She doesn't want to be found. Not yet. Her message was clear."
Emmerich leaned back in the chair, eyes closing as the memory of yesterday—of reading Edward's classified field report—washed over him again:
Photos. Scans. Testimonies. Wounded children whispering her name in gratitude. Footage of her silhouette disappearing into smoke.
It broke him.
"I know what she said," Emmerich muttered. "But I also know… I can't just sit here. Not anymore."
Edward stiffened. "You want to go to her."
Emmerich opened his eyes—sharp, resolute, and burdened.
"I will go to her."
Edward set his glass down, frowning. "Luna—"
"Luna will be under your protection," Emmerich interrupted. "You'll keep her safe. Guide her. Be her shield if I can't be."
There was silence between them. Edward's first instinct was to argue. To tell Emmerich his place was here. That Lin would never forgive him. That Luna might break if she loses him too.
But when he looked into Emmerich's eyes, grief, devotion, love, and resolve burned too brightly.
So Edward simply nodded.
"I'll protect her. With everything I have."
Emmerich let out a breath like it weighed a thousand lives.
"Thank you."
And with that, they both drank the rest of their glasses in silence, the night long and heavy with decisions that could not be undone.