The heavy blackout curtains kept the morning sun at bay, but the soft knock at the door and the gentle voice of a maid pierced the quiet cocoon Luna had curled into.
"Miss Luna… pardon the intrusion, but the Master has prepared the items you requested last night."
Luna groaned into her pillow, her voice muffled and sleep-heavy. "Items…?"
"Yes. The documents and gifts, as discussed with the Master. Shall I place them on your desk?"
"…Huh?"
She blinked into the soft sheets, registering the weight of those words only seconds later.
Suddenly, she bolted upright.
"Wait—what?!"
The maid, impeccably composed, stepped inside with a black folio binder in one arm, a cream-colored envelope box in the other, and a sleek black card resting in an elegant tray balanced on top.
Luna scrambled to the edge of her bed, hair sticking in every direction, blinking at the items like they were part of a dream she hadn't finished.
"What… all of this… already?" she mumbled, half in awe.
"Yes, Miss Luna. The Master had them arranged first thing this morning."
Still in her satin pajamas, Luna shuffled forward and carefully lifted the folio first. Her eyes scanned over the crisp document header:
Property Ownership Title – Deed Transfer: Purradise Cat Lounge
Listed owner: Emmerich Arklight
Primary benefactor: Luna Doe Arklight (heiress), asset inclusion confirmed.
The sight of it nearly knocked her breath out of her chest.
"…He really did it."
She opened the envelope box next. Inside were premium gift cards, each housed in thick, embossed sleeves:
– Some for an exclusive spa retreat.
– Some for a luxury goods chain.
– Some for a gourmet culinary class.
All had Kana Alvares written in elegant font on the receiver line.
And then, there was the card. Matte black. Minimalist. Her name engraved in gold on the front.
She'd seen these before—only in movies or whispered about in financial blogs. It was a legendary tier card, the kind of thing that came with concierge services and the quiet power of limitless access.
Luna looked at the card. Then the gifts. Then the ownership deed.
And finally, she turned wide, dazed eyes to the maid.
"…Are you sure this is for me?"
The maid, still the portrait of professional calm, gave a small bow. "Absolutely, Miss. The Master said these belong to you, whether you make use of them now or later."
A strangled laugh escaped Luna as she sat back down on the edge of the bed, letting the paper flutter in her lap.
"Man, he really meant it," she murmured. "He actually meant it…"
Unable to contain the swell of disbelief and warmth that tugged at her chest, she fumbled for her phone—still not used to the shiny new device—and hit the contact marked Dad with a tiny heart next to it.
After two rings, Emmerich's voice answered, rich and composed.
"Good morning, Luna."
There was a brief pause before her voice crackled back with dry amusement, "Dad, are you secretly Batman?"
A chuckle rumbled from the other end.
"Why do you ask?"
She looked at the elegant spread on her bed, at the absurd, impossible morning she'd just woken into.
"Because this… all of this. You're either a billionaire genius or a wizard."
"Well," he said, light with fondness, "perhaps I'm both."
She laughed, one hand rubbing the back of her neck. "Thanks. Really. I—I didn't expect any of this so fast. Or… at all."
"You asked," Emmerich replied softly. "That's enough reason for me."
Luna paused, warmth tightening behind her ribs.
"…I'll head out soon. Kana's going to scream when she sees this."
"Then I'll make sure the car is ready."
"Not the shiny one, please. Park somewhere inconspicuous."
He gave a short, amused breath. "As you wish."
As the call ended, Luna sat back, the morning light starting to filter in now through the cracks in the curtain. Everything felt surreal. But not bad. Not anymore.
Just… new.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
The midday sun filtered gently through the clouds, casting a golden warmth over the city streets as Luna stepped out of the sleek, unbranded car that her father had graciously agreed to provide.
The driver parked discreetly at the alley just beside the old bookstore—far from the flashy spotlights of the main road—and she walked the rest of the way with her cap pulled low and a scarf wrapped loosely around her neck.
The bell above the door of Purradise Cat Lounge jingled as she stepped in.
Familiar scents of roasted beans, floor polish, and the faint trail of catnip wrapped around her like a blanket.
A grey tabby lounging on the windowsill raised its head lazily to greet her.
"Yo," Ken called from behind the counter. His sleeves were rolled up, and a smear of flour marked his apron. "Didn't think you'd actually show up today."
Luna offered a relaxed smile, already feeling the tense edges of her other world soften here. "I said I would, didn't I?"
Ken waved her in. "Well, you're just in time. The café's officially sold."
Luna blinked. "Wait, already?"
"Yeah," Ken said with a shrug, drying his hands on a towel. "Paperwork came through this morning. But weirdly enough, the new owner isn't changing a single thing. Same staff, same management rules. Said we're doing a good job."
Luna fought down the grin tugging at her lips. "That so?"
Ken narrowed his eyes. "Don't play dumb. I got a feeling you had something to do with that."
Luna lifted her hands in faux innocence. "Who, me?"
Ken snorted. "You're a terrible liar."
She laughed, then gave him a teasing salute. "Well, I'm still on leave for a few more days, so don't get too used to seeing my face."
Ken leaned back against the counter with a mock sigh. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't ghost us forever, got it? I already had to break the news to the cats that their favorite part-timer's gone MIA."
"They'll survive," Luna chuckled.
She waved and exited the café, only to find herself almost bumping into someone outside.
"Luna."
She blinked. "Leroy?"
Leroy stood there, arms crossed, brow slightly furrowed. Tall and tan in his fitted black shirt and joggers, he looked like he'd just come from the gym. His gaze roved over her carefully, as if trying to read the truth between every breath.
"Are you really okay?" he asked for what felt like the fifth time in two days.
Luna tilted her head, exasperated and amused all at once. "You ask me that again, and I'll have to carry you to a therapist."
"I mean it," he pressed, eyes softer now. "You're different. It's not bad, just… off."
Luna sighed, raking a hand through her hair. "You hungry?"
"Huh?"
She jerked a thumb toward the ramen shop next door. "Let's talk over noodles. You're giving me indigestion hovering like that."
He blinked, then smirked. "Fine. But I'm picking the toppings."
"No way, I don't trust you not to load mine with extra garlic."
"Garlic is soul food."
Luna rolled her eyes, but the grin that tugged at her lips lingered as they pushed into the shop, the bell jingling above them. The warmth and noise hit them like a comforting wave.
And as they sat across from each other, bowls steaming, Luna realized—this world, this chaos of hers—it was slowly becoming something she could live with.
The savory aroma of miso broth and sizzling chashu filled the air, curling up between them like steam from an old memory.
Luna leaned forward, elbows on the small ramen shop table, twirling her chopsticks idly. Leroy had been unusually quiet for someone who usually couldn't stop bantering with her.
"So," she started, voice low and casual, "you were right that I was acting weird. I got hit with some... surprise inheritance situation."
Leroy blinked. "Inheritance?"
"Yeah. Turns out I've got, like, stupid amounts of assets from some... estranged family member, my Dad," Luna explained, tone half bemused, half weary. "A whole manor, some company shares, the works. I'm still processing. That's why I'm on leave."
Leroy set his chopsticks down slowly. "That's actually... better than what I was imagining."
Luna blinked. "Wait—what were you imagining?"
He gave her a serious look. "That you got into debt. Or trouble. Or maybe someone was threatening you. I even thought for a moment you joined a cult."
Luna burst out laughing. "A cult? Really?"
He cracked a grin. "You disappeared out of nowhere, started acting all cautious, and showed up with a new phone. I was ready to stage an intervention."
Still laughing, Luna reached across the table and lightly smoothed the furrow between his brows with her fingers. "You worry too much. I'm fine. Besides, if anyone's getting kidnapped, it's probably you."
Leroy raised a brow. "Me?"
She nodded, her smile wicked. "Look at you. Tall, handsome, the mysterious type with sad eyes? You're prime material for stalker fantasies."
He snorted. "Please. I'm not exactly famous."
"That doesn't matter," she said, pointing at him with her chopsticks. "I still remember the first time I saw you—bloody, soaked, sitting behind the dumpster behind that sketchy Chinese place I used to work. You were a mess."
Leroy's amused expression softened. "Yeah... I remember that. You gave me your umbrella and a steamed bun."
"And told you to wait while I got the boss to call an ambulance."
He nodded. "I didn't wait."
"Nope. You vanished like some drama protagonist."
He chuckled, eyes meeting hers. "I'm stronger now. No one's dragging me into back alleys again."
Luna leaned back, crossing her arms. "Good. But still—don't forget it's my job to worry. I'm the older one."
Leroy smirked. "By what, two years?"
"Two years and a lifetime of odd jobs, ramen dinners, and scraped knees," she said, poking at her noodles with a smile. "So I win."
He looked at her a long moment, then sighed in defeat. "Alright, alright. Just don't forget to let me worry a little too."
Luna lifted her bowl in mock salute. "Deal. But I'm still keeping the title of 'resident worrier'."
"Fine by me," Leroy said, returning the gesture. "Just don't vanish on me again."
Luna's smile faltered briefly, but she nodded. "I won't. Promise."