Chapter 16.
“Do you have someone you like, Lieutenant?”
“What?”
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Percy blinked. His confused reaction must have been more amusing than expected, because the other pilots burst into snickers.
“So you do have someone.”
“Who’s the princess you’re serving, Lieutenant? Come on, tell us.”
As the war dragged on, the pilots began talking more and more about women. Many had lovers waiting back home. Soldiers needed an escape—some bit of warmth to keep themselves sane—and their romance stories soon became a shared refuge.
Percy was no exception.
“Quit talking nonsense,” he said flatly.
“Oh, come on. Just a little? Just her name at least—you can tell us that much, right?”
But Percy couldn’t. Of all places, to say her name in front of them—he wasn’t sure what might happen.
“No.”
His firm refusal drew groans of disappointment.
“Sir, you’ve listened to all our stories!”
“How pretty is she, that you’re guarding her like this? Just show us one picture!”
“We won’t touch her, promise!”
Just as Percy was about to shut them down more harshly, someone nearby—who’d been silent until now—spoke.
“Enough.”
Greta’s low command sliced through the chatter like a blade. As the ace pilot responsible for the air force’s strike power, her authority wasn’t to be taken lightly. The moment she intervened, the pilots slunk into silence.
“Collins said he doesn’t want to talk about it. Stop wasting time and go check your aircraft. When did you all get so bold you think you can tease your superior officer?”
“No, ma’am!”
“If you understand, then get moving.”
Overwhelmed by her presence, the pilots scattered at once.
Percy exhaled—grateful. Greta almost never scolded her subordinates.
“Thank you, Captain.”
“That aside—there really is someone?”
“…Pardon?”
“The girl you like.”
She asked it casually, but Percy felt more cornered than he had during his squad’s teasing.
Because the person he liked was her.
Percy liked Greta.
But he could never say that.
“…Yes. There is someone.”
“Are you engaged?”
“Not yet… no.”
“When you go back, put a ring on her finger.”
Percy forced a smile and nodded, unable to meet her eyes for long.
Carrying feelings you aren’t allowed to have—feelings you can’t confess—hurt as much as fighting gravity in an open cockpit.
If he could put a ring on anyone’s finger, it would be hers.
But even after they did get married later, they didn’t exchange rings. Perhaps because the marriage was only a shell.
He’d been happy beside Greta. After the war, he wanted nothing more than to stay with her.
But not like that.
Greta once apologized for “ruining his life.” Percy knew she shouldn’t be the one apologizing.
And now, his wife—changed almost beyond recognition—stood before him. He knew Kitty was Greta, yet pretended not to. He waited for her to say it first.
Thinking back, this was the first time he had ever told her directly that he liked her.
“Words like ‘I’d risk my life’ aren’t something you should throw around lightly,” Kitty said quietly.
“You’ve been through a war. You know what those words mean.”
“If I’ve done it once, what stops me from doing it again?”
“That’s fast. We’ve barely known each other.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m the one who knows my heart best.”
Strangely, she looked like she was struggling more than ever.
Why?
Was this situation unfamiliar to her?
Percy understood. He had never been Greta’s lover. And once, driven by fear and guilt, he had made a terrible mistake.
He had liked her from the moment they met—yet never dared express it, convinced he didn’t deserve her.
But now… things could change.
This was a chance. A chance to untangle the mess and start over.
He leaned back in the velvet-covered chair, gazing toward the night-dark horizon.
“The night view is beautiful, isn’t it?”
Kitty—Greta—turned to look as well. For a while, she watched the sea in silence.
While her attention was elsewhere, Percy allowed himself a quick glance at her profile. He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, so he changed the subject.
“Is this your first time in Della Cruz?”
“There just wasn’t a good opportunity before.”
“Then this must be your first time this far out at sea.”
Only Della Cruz’s cruise ships could venture this far from the continent. As he expected, Kitty nodded.
“I never imagined I’d be singing on a ship.”
“That just means you’re an exceptional singer.”
“Don’t flatter me too much.”
Percy couldn’t help but laugh.
The familiar expression—their old banter—it made their reunion feel real. It brought him a small happiness.
“I just want you to enjoy your stay here, Kitty. Della Cruz has a motto: ‘Whoever boards, we must give them the best memories.’”
A cool breeze swept past them.
Wind always helped him breathe easier. But even that was nothing compared to the effect she had on him.
He smiled at her—boyish, hopeful.
“In this space… you don’t have to be an exception. I like you—but don’t feel pressured. I don’t want anything from you.”
“…”
“I just want to put down my burdens here. And I hope you can do the same, at least while we’re on Della Cruz.”
This place was slightly removed from reality.
He added softly. Kitty listened, then asked with a faint, peculiar smile:
“What burdens were you carrying?”
“All of my mistakes. Every wrong choice… all of it.”
He chose vague words intentionally.
“The things that haunt me. I want to forget them here. Della Cruz is a place for the present. Here, it’s like I don’t have a past at all.”
He meant it as a joke, but she fell silent—lost in thought.
“I won’t expect anything from you. I won’t force anything. Live however you want here. But if you do ever feel like it… come to me. Like I said—no one can judge us here.”
Whenever you want—I’ll be waiting.
There were so many things he wanted to tell her. But he swallowed the words whole.
He knew she wanted to be Kitty Summers, not Greta. Not to others, not to him.
And he respected her.
No matter her name, no matter her hair color—he loved her.
He only hoped she would understand how deeply.
And that his courage had not come too late.
“Kitty Summers, you said?”
“That’s what they’re all saying.”
Kyle leaned back, thinking. A dazzling singer, and a decorated ex-military pilot who’d holed himself up in his house for months—what an absurd combination.
Percy Collins looked fine. Walked fine. Smiled like nothing was wrong. But Kyle knew better.
Maybe Percy threw himself back into society to prove he was fine.
He chased the brightest world he could find—hoping to be absorbed into it.
Yet after his wife disappeared, he’d always kept women at arm’s length. So the fact that he was showing interest in someone now was… intriguing.
A woman Percy liked, huh.
“Kyle, I know what you’re thinking, but can we not cause trouble on this trip? Look at that ocean. Just relax.”
“I won’t do anything dangerous. Don’t worry.”
Kyle smiled.
He needed to investigate further. If Percy had found someone new, it was not something Kyle could ignore.
Percy wasn’t allowed to have something precious.
Whatever—or whoever—had changed his heart…
Kyle needed to find out.
And if he could use that girl as leverage in the inheritance war…
Even better.
After all, destroying the things Percy treasured most had long been Kyle’s favorite pastime.
