Chapter 164: My Daughter is a Mama's Girl

The gentle clink of silverware against the porcelain plate echoed in the room.

Arlecchino sliced the steak, speared a piece, and brought it to her mouth. Luna glanced at the meat—it was well-done.

If one were to ask about Arlecchino's signature dish, raw meat would undoubtedly be the answer. Unseasoned, offering only the purest, primal taste of blood, she recalled a child from the House of the Hearth bursting into tears after finishing a plate.

Since then, Arlecchino had never served such a dish to the children again.

Truth be told, she rarely cooked herself. Being a Fatui Harbinger left little time for such trivialities.

"Aren't you going to eat?"

"I'd rather watch you eat."

"Watching me eat won't fill your stomach," Arlecchino said with a faint smile.

Arlecchino tapped the menu. "Order whatever you like, if you've lost your taste for these dishes."

"We own this restaurant, and all the staff are loyal to us. Consider it our little stronghold in Fontaine. You don't have to worry about eavesdroppers here."

Luna glanced at the menu and shook her head. "I still enjoy these dishes. I was just reminded of... your special cuisine."

"Longing for a taste?"

"You know I'm not fond of raw meat," Luna replied.

Arlecchino set down her knife and fork and gently dabbed her lips with a napkin. "I thought your tastes might have changed. Children's preferences often shift without warning."

"Some who once loved cooking now tinker with firearms; others who craved savory flavors now can't live without spicy food... Whenever I see you all, I'm reminded that human growth and change are swift and unpredictable."

She picked up her wine glass, swirled the red liquid inside, and took a delicate sip.

Luna rested her cheek on her hand, her gaze softening as the flickering candlelight across the table blurred Arlecchino's features. The private room remained dimly lit, illuminated only by the dancing candle flames that cast long shadows of the two figures.

"Tell me, Luna," Arlecchino murmured, her lips slightly parted and glistening, her voice soft, "what makes you value the Hydro Archon so highly?"

This was the heart of their conversation.

Luna knew her actions already constituted betrayal. No child could defy or hinder "Father's" plans. Yet her face showed no trace of fear. She had never feared Arlecchino—perhaps nervousness or unease, but those feelings stemmed from the situation itself, never from the person.

"I think she's beautiful," Luna said softly.

"Do you mean her appearance?"

"That's part of it," Luna replied, "but more importantly, it's her convictions and her inner strength."

"Oh? Tell me more," Arlecchino said, crossing her legs with keen interest.

If I asked to sit on her lap right now, would she agree?

If I asked to rest my head on her lap, what would she say?

But this was Judgment time.

"Furina is hiding something, and she's willing to fight tooth and nail for it, sacrificing everything. That resolve might seem desperate at times..."

Despite being genuinely terrified during the attack, she had stubbornly resumed her usual facade, as if determined to conceal her vulnerability.

"...But I still find it beautiful."

Arlecchino nodded slightly. "It seems your time as a Phantom Thief has given you unprecedented experiences and insights."

"If that's your aesthetic, then I accept your assessment."

Arlecchino leaned forward, resting her chin on her clasped hands. Her crimson, cross-shaped pupils stared at Luna, utterly devoid of emotion. Luna knew what that look meant.

"I'm sorry," Luna whispered.

Arlecchino remained silent.

Luna pressed a hand to her chest. "I'll never forget that night... how you came to save us."

"Even without me, with your aptitude, escaping their grasp and turning the tables to hunt them down wouldn't have been difficult," Arlecchino murmured. "If the Special Task Force or the Maison Gardiennage had come to rescue you, I believe you would have become an exceptional officer."

"But the truth is, it wasn't them. It was you."

Arlecchino was the one who had truly saved her—not the Maison Gardiennage, not the Special Task Force. Their justice might have arrived days, months, or even years later, but by then, it might have been too late.

Of course, Luna harbored no resentment toward them. Evil was like that—stubborn and difficult to eradicate.

Luna took a deep breath, her resolve hardening. She stood and approached Arlecchino, taking her hand and pressing her palm against her chest.

"Please... listen. Feel my heartbeat."

Thump-thump... Arlecchino could feel the steady rhythm of Luna's heart beating beneath her palm.

"If Arlecchino hadn't appeared, Luna wouldn't exist today. In that sense, you gave me my life, and you can take it back whenever you wish."

"Of course, I will continue to defy the fate you once told me to."

Luna's smile was genuine and gentle. "But if you were the one to ultimately kill me, I would only feel content."

Arlecchino remained silent for a long time, as if recalling someone from the past.

Her heart beat strong and clear. She lifted her gaze to meet Luna's eyes.

"...Enough. Sit back down."

The Judgment had concluded.

Luna lightly grasped Arlecchino's hand. "May I sit beside you?"

"Yes."

Luna's face lit up with joy. She moved her chair closer and sat beside Arlecchino.

In the past, when Luna sat beside her like this, she always had to crane her neck to look up at Arlecchino's face.

But now, they could meet each other's gaze without either of them lowering their heads.

"I'm glad your resolve remains steadfast," Arlecchino said, pouring a glass of wine and handing it to Luna. "You chose to stop me without recognizing me, rather than after fully understanding my identity and my plans."

"Moreover, my objective was achieved the moment I acted. In essence, you haven't defied my will, nor betrayed the House of the Hearth."

"Let's consider this a small father-daughter exchange."

Luna accepted the glass, secretly relieved.

She wasn't afraid.

But she wanted to spend more time with Arlecchino.

What would Chiori and the others think if Luna vanished completely from this world, erased without a trace?

The thought made her uneasy.

But as she had said earlier, if Arlecchino wanted her heart, she would give it. She had made this decision long ago, and even if she lived a lifetime, her resolve would never waver.

"—But if you truly choose to betray me, then as promised, I will take your heart," Arlecchino declared, raising her glass.

This wasn't a threat, but a simple statement of fact.

Luna smiled faintly. "Very well."

Their glasses clinked softly.

"One more thing, Luna."

"Hmm?"

Arlecchino placed her hand on Luna's head and stroked it gently.

"I'm glad we could talk face-to-face again. You've changed so much, yet some parts of you remain the Luna I know so well. I hope you find this reunion as joyful as I do."

Luna's cheeks flushed slightly as she lowered her head to accept the caress.

"Which parts haven't changed?" she asked.

Arlecchino gazed at her rosy cheeks and smiled faintly. "These parts."

Even though she could transform into the Phantom Thief White Cat, wreaking havoc in Fontaine and defeating countless formidable opponents, a child before her "Father" would always remain the same.

Luna pursed her lips.

I'm not a child anymore, she thought.