Chapter 19
“Welcome, sir! Would you like to place an order?”
In the heart of Muia Island’s tourist district, Nana, the owner of a small café, was once again working tirelessly.
“Miss, what’s the best thing here?”
“I’d recommend our signature drink, the ‘Real Mango Sparkling Iced Tea’~”
Wearing her business smile, she glanced at the man browsing the menu.
If there was one small joy in her grueling café work, it was people-watching—the chance to observe all the different customers who came in.
‘Wow, there really are so many beautiful and handsome people in the world.’
Lately, she’d been seeing a lot of those people. The guy who came for a delivery the other day was one of them, and so were his companions.
Born and raised on this tiny island, Nana had always fantasized about the mainland. A bigger world, a place filled with more people—surely amazing things were happening there, unlike this small island.
“I’ll have that, then. Here’s the payment… this should cover it, right?”
“Oh my! Sir, I’ll get your change right away.”
She was startled by the large sum he handed her—far more than the drink cost. The red-haired man, his hair tied back in a single knot, waved her off casually.
“Keep the change. Think of it as a little tip for keeping me company.”
Nana’s hands trembled, but her reply was firm.
“Sir, it would be awkward if you asked for the change back later. So I can’t accept this.”
“No worries. I won’t ask for it back.”
“All I did was take your order.”
“And that’s what I meant by company, miss. Or should we chat some more while you make the drink?”
She gave him a suspicious look.
The man had striking red hair that gleamed under the sunlight. His bronzed skin spoke of long days at sea, kissed by the sun and salt.
Even as he smiled lightly, his sharp jawline stood out, and the muscles along his shoulders and arms—cords of strength visible even at rest—made it clear he wasn’t just another tourist.
Nana furrowed her brows slightly. She’d been taught never to trust strangers so easily, but…
‘With this much, I could close shop for the day!’
Nana surrendered to the power of money. After finishing the transaction, she slipped her professional smile back on.
“All right, sir. Just a moment, I’ll have your drink ready~”
The man leaned casually against the counter, scanning the café.
Customers choosing from the menu, couples chatting, tourists visible through the window—nothing but ordinary sights.
And yet, somewhere on this island, that wanted criminal was supposed to be hiding.
‘Double the bounty, huh.’
He smirked faintly. For them to hire us to catch a wanted fugitive… The client sure had guts.
“Sir, your drink is ready!”
“Thanks, miss. But I’m curious about something.”
“What is it?”
The man pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it.
“Have you seen this person before?”
“Oh, her. Yeah, she’s been all over the papers lately.”
“Guess the news gets here late, being so far from the capital. Miss, this woman is a wanted criminal.”
He lowered his voice.
With so many people coming and going through this island, a café owner would be the perfect person to pick up rumors.
“Oh… I see. But sir, did you know?”
This time, Nana leaned in and whispered.
“This island is actually a pirate island. So Muia Island locals see wanted posters all the time.”
As if sharing some grand secret, she glanced around. The man chuckled and snapped his fingers.
“Right. That’s true!”
“Um, sir?”
“Thanks, miss. Looks like I came to the right place.”
All that time watching the street paid off. He squeezed Nana’s hands gratefully before bolting out the café door.
“Bingo.”
The woman stood frozen in the middle of the street.
Yellow sundress, straw hat, sunglasses—she looked every inch the tourist, but his ability told him the truth.
“Dyed your hair too, huh? Pretty thorough disguise.”
That woman—she was the wanted fugitive he’d been looking for.
Until the Navy stopped pursuing us.
That was the deadline we set when we agreed to be temporary allies after meeting again at sea.
I thought we had enough time. We lost the Navy far behind as we crossed the Sea of Silence and the Strait of Wailing.
Then we safely reached Muia Island. With Lloyd’s help as our backer, getting Ian past the Navy’s surveillance and into another country should be easy.
The moment I made up my mind completely was after Ian came back from his talk with Lloyd.
“The Frederique family head is looking for me. He’s been buying up my wanted posters—desperate to stop the downfall of our house. At this rate, Frederique is finished.”
When I heard that, I realized:
‘What I wanted was freedom from Frederique.’
That wish I’d read in the articles over countless lifetimes was finally coming true before my eyes.
His desire, which I had used to my advantage, had now been fulfilled. So, for the sake of both our freedoms, parting ways now seemed like the right choice.
Then why…
Why did Ian Frederique, who said his house was finished, look so bitter?
Was it the bittersweet feeling that everything was over? Regret for bringing down his own family?
Or was there some other reason?
“Your new comrade said she really, really likes you, Master!”
Jelly’s voice echoed in my ears like a chant.
I froze in the middle of the street and took a deep breath. Affection really was scary. How could just a few days make my heart sink like this?
“Jelly, that’s obvious. Lloyd thinks we’re lovers, remember?”
I decided to think rationally.
He probably said that in response to Lloyd’s questions. And this overly emotional jellyfish took it literally and came to tell me.
“I know you’re fond of Ian, but haven’t we always gotten along just fine, the two of us?”
“Sure. I guess you could say we did okay even back on that shabby raft.”
“Is this because I can’t feed you fancy food? Why so cranky?”
I reached out to pat his soft cheek, trying to soothe him, but—
“Master is a fool!”
The little jellyfish puffed up his cheeks like a hamster stuffed with sunflower seeds and slipped back into my pocket.
“…Huh.”
I tapped the pocket in disbelief. But Jelly just squirmed inside, refusing to come out.
“Do jellyfish go through puberty or something?”
What do I do? I know nothing about this sort of thing.
Should I read a book on marine life? I was lost in thought when—
“Excuse me, could you give me directions?”
The unfamiliar voice made me instinctively turn my head.
A man with red hair tied like a ponytail stood before me. Bronze skin, sharp features. He smiled leisurely and waved a hand.
“Not buying, thanks.”
“I’m not a peddler!”
“I’m kind of busy. If it’s nothing important, I’ll be going.”
Getting involved with someone in such a crowded place was dangerous.
I turned my back at once, but the man grabbed my wrist and spun me around.
“Just a moment!”
His voice boomed loud enough to make nearby tourists glance our way.
“…What do you want?”
I didn’t hide my annoyance, but I couldn’t shake him off right there. I could feel the curious eyes of passersby on us.
“You don’t want to make a scene, do you? Looks like you care about people staring.”
Smiling slyly, he lowered his voice. I peered at his red eyes behind my sunglasses.
Was he Navy? A pirate?
Or someone else after me?
One thing was certain: this man knew who I was.
My grip tightened. I wanted to run, but that would draw too much attention.
If I caused trouble here, the Navy guards on patrol might come running.
I was weighing my options when we stepped into a shadowy alley—
“Where’s your lover? Leaving them behind to wander alone?”
The man tilted his head and gazed at me leisurely. I knew what words would come next. The instant his mouth opened, I raised my hand instinctively.
“Runaway of Love, Kanoe Blue—”
WHOOSH!
“Gah!”
A torrent of water came crashing down like a waterfall, slamming him into the ground and flinging him against the wall.
I rubbed my goosebumped arms, shivering.
Runaway of Love.
My alias is Runaway of Love?!
“…Kill me now.”
It was the most embarrassing alias I’d ever heard.
