Chapter 14.
Could there be such a coincidence?
Percy had boarded the ship the same day as Kitty. She could understand that much.
But of all places, his room was right next to hers. That was impossible to accept.
It felt as though some invisible string was pulling them together.
Otherwise, how could she explain the absurd odds that led to this situation?
This isn’t what I should be focusing on right now…
Kitty regretted hiding in her room. She should have just greeted him casually and walked right past.
She didn’t know whether Percy had noticed her, but either way, she couldn’t calm down now.
There was no reason to feel this way.
Kitty wasn’t a criminal! She hadn’t done anything wrong to him. Not even one thing.
She lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Of course, for “Kitty,” there was no reason to feel uncomfortable around Percy.
“Kitty” and Percy had only met once.
But changing her name and identity didn’t erase her memories.
She was still Greta. She wanted to live a new life—she was living as Kitty—but most of what built her was still the traces of her life as Greta.
Kitty might be fine… but Greta wasn’t.
Ever since the disastrous wedding, ever since Greta abandoned Percy and ran away, guilt toward him had settled into her like a scar that would never fade.
She had gotten through the night they met at the bar, somehow.
But that didn’t mean she was comfortable now.
Even just moments ago, seeing Percy’s back had made her throat close up.
If their eyes met, she had no idea what she could possibly say.
So she hid.
She acted before she could think.
It was stupid.
Especially when Percy didn’t even know she was Greta.
Whenever she saw his face, Kitty couldn’t help but remember the past—and the identity she had buried clawed its way back to the surface.
That was the problem.
If she ran into him again… what would she say?
Would he act like he knew her?
Their unwanted marriage resurfaced in her mind. Percy, still a soldier, rarely came home, and even when he did, he always spoke to her with a stiff expression.
“…Have you eaten.”
“That’s not the point, Percy. Please listen to me—”
“I brought food. Make sure you eat.”
“Wait… Collins!”
He would turn and leave, like he was running away.
That image always lingered in her mind like an afterimage.
Because she could never forget it… Kitty feared facing her former lieutenant.
Even if he didn’t recognize her.
Only at dusk did she finally manage to leave her room.
Jerome hadn’t shown up—maybe he was asleep somewhere. Kitty considered room service but chose to go outside instead.
The sea, once sparkling sapphire blue, now simply swayed in the darkness.
She knew wearing sunglasses at night looked strange, but Kitty didn’t care.
She walked around the ship. As expected of the empire’s finest cruise liner, everything was luxurious. By the time she finished looking around, Percy had nearly slipped her mind.
Then she noticed people flowing in the same direction.
Where are they all going?
Dinner, perhaps.
Kitty was hungry anyway, so she followed them. She figured she’d find the dining hall—and someone had turned on music nearby.
But instead of a dining room, she entered a ballroom.
It looked like a grand estate had been transported aboard the ship.
Chandeliers glowed above, red velvet curtains hung from the walls, and elegantly dressed people chatted or danced to live jazz.
Did she even belong here?
She hesitated, then regained her confidence.
What on earth was she worrying about? She was Kitty Summers.
She’d nearly forgotten—foolishly.
Yes, walking in wearing a striped sundress instead of an evening gown was embarrassing.
But who cared?
A staff member in a vest offered her champagne on a tray. She accepted a glass—not because she wanted to drink, but because there was no reason not to.
She wandered with no intention of staying long. Laughter and chatter filled the ballroom—not crude, but to her ears, chaotic.
The champagne only sharpened her hunger.
Maybe she should come back later after getting something to eat.
Just as she lifted the glass to her lips, she froze.
Her eyes locked onto a group of men.
Among them stood one unmistakably tall figure.
Percy.
He looked lively. Animated. Laughing freely at his friends’ jokes, and making them laugh in return.
She had never seen him like that.
Her Percy—the one she remembered—was quiet, shy, reserved. Especially after their wedding…
He hardly spoke at all.
Was he capable of laughing like that?
Familiar, yet unfamiliar.
The man here wasn’t her lieutenant. Wasn’t her husband.
He was someone she’d never met before:
A cheerful Percy Collins.
A Percy Collins who enjoys parties.
Kitty felt strange. She turned away, wanting to distance herself—
“Excuse me!”
Someone grabbed her.
A man she didn’t know stared at her, flushed with excitement.
“You really are wearing sunglasses!”
“Wow! Percy, you’re done for.”
Their laughter stabbed her ears. Confused, Kitty asked:
“What’s going on?”
“We made a bet. If a lady showed up wearing sunglasses, Collins has to chug the entire bottle of whiskey. Didn’t think it’d actually happen.”
A bottle was brought over. Percy accepted it. Kitty instinctively removed her sunglasses.
Their eyes met—his golden eyes sharp with recognition.
For a moment, he simply stared.
Then, as if nothing happened, he shrugged and uncorked the bottle.
“A bet is a bet.”
“Collins, you unlucky bastard!”
His friends were obviously drunk. Kitty pushed through them.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
She knew she should act like a stranger, but couldn’t.
She snatched the bottle from Percy as if she knew him well.
A mistake.
But she couldn’t stand by and watch something so stupid.
“You could get seriously hurt if you drink all of this!”
“He flew fighter planes, I think he can handle this.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re all drunk.”
“Percy, you know her?”
Someone—less intoxicated than the others—looked closely at Kitty.
“That’s Kitty Summers! You know her?”
“Miss Summers, it’s an honor!”
They all gathered around Kitty. Percy quietly stepped between them, shielding her, though none of them seemed to notice.
“How about a different bet? She clearly doesn’t like this.”
“Oh yeah? Got something in mind?”
“I could always take her swinging.”
“Liar. You forgot how while you were off at war.”
“We can find out right now. Want to bet?”
The word bet lit up their faces. Kitty felt uneasy.
What was he planning now?
Percy led them toward the jazz band. She followed instinctively, terrified of what he’d do.
Shockingly, at his signal, the band stopped. People turned toward them.
Percy sat at the piano and winked—at his friends, or at her. Then he began playing swing jazz, his hands moving with confidence.
The band joined in, inspired by his rhythm.
In moments, the ballroom became his stage.
Kitty stared, speechless.
Was this a dream?
Percy glanced toward her, smiling the same sly smile from the bar.
“Play with me, Kitty.”
“…What?”
“You’re a musician too.”
All eyes fell on her.
What was he thinking?
With no choice, Kitty sat beside him. He slid over, playing only with his left hand.
He never took his eyes off her.
“Let’s see what you’ve got.”
