CHAPTER 14: [14] EVERYTHING HERE BELONGS TO ME

"Just you?" Raven’s expression softened in a way Pierre had never seen before. "Wow. That’s a really big responsibility."

"I’m very good at it," Mika said seriously. "I only dropped one plate last week, and it was already cracked anyway."

Pierre felt a smile form despite his exhaustion. "Okay miss Mika. What do you recommend?"

"The grilled mackerel is really good today. And Mommy made fresh bread this morning." Mika’s eyes widened, her gaze snapping between them as if seeing them for the first time. "Wow! Your hair is so pretty! Are you siblings?"

Raven laughed. "No, we’re not related."

"But you both have such interesting hair!" Mika bounced on her toes. "His is all red and messy, and yours is red and white! Like fire and snow!"

"Fire and snow," Raven repeated, touching her hair self-consciously. "I like that."

"Are you pirates?" Mika whispered conspiratorially.

"What makes you think we’re pirates?" Pierre asked.

"You came from the sea, and you don’t look like Navy people. Navy people are all..." Mika straightened her posture and put on a serious expression.

"We’re adventurers," Raven said diplomatically. "Just passing through."

"Oh." Mika looked slightly disappointed. "Well, you still look cool. I’ll get your food!"

She scurried toward the kitchen, her oversized apron trailing behind her. Pierre watched her go, then turned back to Raven.

"You’re good with kids."

"Kids are honest," Raven said simply. "They say what they mean. It’s refreshing."

The restaurant’s warmth was a shield against the tension outside. In here, an elderly couple shared a bottle of wine in a corner, and two fishermen argued good-naturedly over tuna spots. The quiet laughter was a sound Pierre hadn’t realized he’d missed.

But even here, Pierre noticed, conversations stopped whenever footsteps passed by the window. Everyone listened, waiting to see if the steps belonged to soldiers or civilians.

Mika returned, and the rich, smoky aroma of grilled fish and yeast from freshly baked bread filled their senses. The fish sizzled on the plate, its skin perfectly crisp.

"This is incredible," Pierre said around a mouthful of mackerel.

"Mama’s the best cook in Hotaru Town," Mika said proudly. "She taught me everything, but I’m not allowed to use the big knives yet."

"Probably for the best," Raven said. "Sharp things can be dangerous."

"That’s what Papa says. He has lots of sharp things for fishing, but he keeps them locked up so I don’t hurt myself." Mika tilted her head. "Do you have sharp things?"

Raven and Pierre exchanged glances.

"A few," Raven said carefully.

"Cool! Are you going to stay in town long? There’s not much to do here, but the lighthouse has a really good view, and sometimes dolphins swim by the harbor."

"We might stay a day or two," Pierre said. "Depends on—"

The restaurant’s bell chimed again, but this time the sound seemed to echo differently. The comfortable chatter died instantly. Every patron in the room went rigid, their attention fixed on their plates.

Mika’s face went pale. She took a step back from their table, her small hands trembling.

Pierre turned toward the entrance and saw a young woman occupied the threshold, her platinum blonde hair cascading in immaculate waves that spilled just below her shoulders.

She wore a modified Navy officer’s uniform, altered to defy regulation. The jacket was cinched unnaturally tight, accentuating her waist and chest, while the skirt had been hemmed to a scandalous length.

Polished brass buttons gleamed against the dark fabric, arranged in a pattern that drew the eye exactly where she intended. Her pale green eyes, cold as sea glass, methodically surveyed the restaurant with unconcealed contempt.

"Is this how you greet the captain’s daughter? Stand and bow when I enter!"

The patrons scrambled to their feet, heads lowered in hasty bows. Only Pierre and Raven remained seated, drawing her attention immediately.

"You two." She pointed a gloved finger. "Are you simple or just disrespectful?"

Her gaze lingered on Pierre, something shifting in her expression as she took in his red hair and tall frame. A smile curved her lips—predatory, entitled.

"Actually, I don’t mind this one’s insolence." She strode toward their table, hips swaying deliberately. "Waitress! Get me a seat here."

Mika rushed forward, nearly tripping over her apron.

"Y-yes, Lady Alyssa."

"That’s Officer Hardy to you, child." She snapped her fingers impatiently. "And bring me whatever they’re having. It smells... adequate."

A gold-plated riding crop dangled from her wrist. She tapped it against her thigh—a slow, deliberate thump, thump, thump that was the only sound in the silent room as she assessed Pierre.

Without warning, she reached out and lifted a strand of his red hair between gloved fingers.

"Such an unusual color." Her voice dropped to a purr. "I collect unusual things, you know."

Pierre remained perfectly still, his face betraying nothing while his mind raced. This had to be Alyssa Hardy—the captain’s daughter who wasn’t mentioned until much later in the original story. Her presence here, now, was another deviation from the timeline he knew.

"Your hand," Pierre said quietly. "Remove it."

The restaurant went deathly silent. Someone gasped. Mika froze halfway to the kitchen, eyes wide with horror.

Alyssa’s surprise curdled into venom. Her eyes narrowed, and a contemptuous sneer twisted her lips.

"Do you have any idea who I am?" She straightened, hand dropping to her riding crop. "My father is Captain Josiah Hardy, commander of the 182nd Branch. I could have you flogged in the town square for speaking to me that way."

"And yet," Pierre said with deliberate calm, "your hand is still in my personal space."

Raven kicked him under the table, her expression screaming what are you doing?

Alyssa’s face flushed crimson, two perfect spots of color high on her cheekbones. She withdrew her hand and slapped it against the table, rattling their plates.

"You clearly don’t understand how things work in Hotaru Town." Her voice trembled with barely contained fury. "Everything here belongs to my father. That means everything here belongs to me."

She turned her attention to Raven, her eyes narrowing on the half-red, half-white hair.

"Including your little dockside whore."