Beidou knew she was being unreasonable.
On her ship, plenty of people carried ugly pasts. She accepted all of them.
She wasn't the kind of person who clung to others' mistakes or punished them endlessly.
She always gave people a chance to make things right.
And she understood that this whole issue might really be a misunderstanding.
Kael was being polite, willing to apologize, willing to shoulder the blame.
On any normal day, she would have let it go.
They might even have become friends after a good fight.
But Beidou didn't feel like letting Kael walk away so easily.
The way he immediately defended that woman had rubbed her the wrong way.
So instead of backing down, she dug her heels in deeper.
"If everyone who steals from the Alcor could walk out like nothing happened, then what happens to the reputation of the Crux Fleet?"
"It's already late. Miss Mona will stay aboard our ship tonight. We'll decide how to deal with her in the morning."
"You!"
Mona glared at Beidou. "No! I have things to do tonight. I don't have time to waste here!"
Beidou gave her a sideways look. "What? Want to fight again?"
"Enough."
Kael stepped between the two of them.
"In that case, I'll stay on the Alcor tonight too. Captain Beidou, is that acceptable?"
What things did Mona have to do tonight?
She just wanted to cling to him, of course.
If she was staying, then he'd stay too.
Beidou's eyes brightened at once. She agreed immediately.
"Fine! Kazuha, get two rooms ready for them."
Mona shot Beidou a proud, provocative look.
"No need for two. One room is enough!"
As if she didn't notice—this Captain was looking at Kael way too closely.
Beidou frowned and looked at Kael.
Kael rubbed the bridge of his nose. "One room, then."
"Hmph. Suit yourselves."
With that, Beidou flicked her coat and marched off.
As soon as she was gone, Kael leaned over and loosened the ropes binding Mona.
He rubbed the red marks on her wrists.
"Really now… why touch someone else's goods out of nowhere? Of course they'd think you were stealing."
Mona puffed her cheeks indignantly.
"How was I supposed to know they'd be so unreasonable? And I didn't even touch it! They labeled me a thief before I got anywhere near it!"
She huffed, then suddenly stared past Kael with open hostility.
Kaedehara Kazuha approached them, calm and gentle.
"Mr. Kael, I'll take you and the young lady to your room."
The moment he had seen Kael, Kazuha felt a surprising sense of familiarity—like meeting an old friend after many years apart.
He didn't know why Beidou was so insistent that Mona was a thief, refusing to let them leave.
But Kazuha already believed Kael's words.
There was no way this man was a thief.
Kael nodded. "Sorry for the trouble, Mr. Kazuha."
Kazuha gave a small, warm smile.
"Just call me Kazuha."
He led the two of them to the guest quarters.
"Mr. Kael, this will be your room. Rest well tonight."
He paused and looked at Kael seriously.
"Don't worry. I'll talk to Captain Beidou. You'll be able to leave the Alcor soon."
"Thank you."
---
Mona pouted.
Please.
This same guy had attacked her without hesitation earlier.
Now, the moment he saw Kael, he turned gentle as a spring breeze.
She rolled her eyes at Kazuha, then dragged Kael into the room.
The door slammed shut with a heavy thud.
Inside, Mona crossed her arms and fixed her gaze on Kael.
"So. You know that Captain of the Alcor?"
Never mind the way that woman kept staring at Kael.
Even Kael's eyes softened toward Beidou without him noticing.
When La Signora had imprisoned Keqing, Kael definitely hadn't acted like this.
He'd been far harsher then.
Yet now, when she was the one captured, Kael wasn't angry at all.
Instead, he was calm, almost gentle.
There was only one explanation:
He knew that woman.
And earlier, during her quick water divination—even though Kael's fate was always hazy and impossible to see—she managed to catch a glimpse.
Beidou's star chart was drifting toward Kael.
There was definitely something between them.
"Sort of," Kael said.
"I knew it! How did you meet her?"
"Uh…" In a life simulation…
Kael had no idea how to explain it and looked visibly uncomfortable.
Mona lifted a brow.
She slowly removed her hat.
"So you won't talk, huh? That's fine. I've got the whole night…"
She stepped closer, voice dropping.
"I'll make sure you behave."