The sky was still brushed in gray and pink when Luna stepped outside, the morning chill making her shiver slightly in her training clothes. Her muscles ached faintly, but after a week and more of grueling training, her body had started adjusting. Her mind, too, was steadier—sharper.
She stretched, preparing herself for her routine run around the estate grounds when she heard footsteps behind her.
"I figured I'd find you out here," came Edward's voice, light and teasing.
Luna turned, surprised. He wore a sleek, dark sports jacket and track pants—practical, but somehow still managed to look composed despite the early hour.
"You're up early," she said.
"I promised I'd spend more time with you," Edward said with a crooked smile. "And I figured if I'm going to suffer, I might as well suffer beside you."
Luna huffed a laugh, already jogging in place. "Fine. Try to keep up, soldier."
Edward raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Was that a challenge?"
They started running together, their breaths puffing in the morning air. The estate grounds were quiet, bathed in soft golden light as the sun began to rise. At first, they ran in silence—steady strides, matching pace.
But by the second lap, the teasing began.
"So…" Edward said, slightly winded, "is Cherry always that terrifying, or does she save the worst for you?"
"Oh, she's an equal-opportunity menace," Luna replied, smirking. "But I like to think I bring out her creative side."
"She must like you a lot," Edward said, tone dry.
"Gee, thanks," Luna panted with a laugh. "That makes the bruises so much better."
As they rounded the final lap, Luna slowed slightly, catching her breath. "That was fun," she said, flushed from exertion and the chill air. "I haven't run like that in a long time. Thanks for joining me."
Edward gave her a sincere smile, eyes bright in the sunlight. "It was fun for me too. Worth the effort of waking up and seeing the sunrise with you."
Luna blinked, caught off guard by how genuine his tone was. A little warmth crept up her neck as she looked away, suddenly hyper-aware of how close he stood.
"W-Well," she stammered, brushing hair from her face, "I better take a shower before breakfast. I stink."
Edward chuckled, nodding. "Same here. See you at the table."
They parted ways, Luna practically power-walking back into the house as if she could escape how flustered she suddenly felt.
Emmerich stood at the tall glass window, sipping his coffee. His sharp gaze tracked the two as they walked off in different directions.
The faintest sigh escaped him.
He muttered under his breath, "Looks like I'll need to be more careful about inviting Edward around too often."
He took another sip, watching the sun rise higher, casting gold over his daughter's path.
"…She's growing. And he's looking."
Emmerich rubbed his temple. "Just great."
The breakfast table was already set when Luna arrived, refreshed from her shower and wearing a light sweater over her casual clothes. The scent of freshly baked bread and warm eggs wafted through the dining room.
Her father sat at the head of the table, sipping black coffee, while Edward, already seated to the side, looked up with a warm smile.
"Morning," Luna said cheerfully as she took her seat.
"Morning," Edward echoed, slightly leaning forward. "I hope you're not too sore after that run."
Luna gave a mock glare. "Oh, I'm sore. But also starving."
"I'd be worried if you weren't," Edward said with a grin, passing her a platter of sliced fruit.
They dove into a lively conversation, the kind that fluttered from one topic to the next with natural ease. Luna brought up a spicy stew she had recently grown fond of, and Edward countered with an anecdote about eating one so spicy during a mission that he had to drink yogurt straight from the carton.
"I couldn't taste anything for two days," Edward lamented dramatically, making Luna burst out laughing.
"You deserve it," she teased. "Never trust a street vendor with a devil's grin."
Emmerich watched the two with narrowed eyes over the rim of his mug, adding a comment here and there, but mostly quiet. His gaze wasn't so much suspicious as it was analytical—every expression Edward made, every glint in his eyes when he looked at Luna, was observed and filed away.
At one point, Luna caught her father's glance and tilted her head. "Dad, why do you look like you're planning to interrogate someone?"
Emmerich gave a vague smirk. "Habit."
She squinted at him, suspicious but too distracted by Edward launching into a dramatic description of a gourmet ration pack to question further.
After breakfast, she leaned in to kiss her father on the cheek.
"Heading to therapy. Don't burn the estate down while I'm gone," she teased.
"No promises," Emmerich replied smoothly.
Edward stood as well. "Good luck today, Luna."
"Thanks." She flashed him a grin. "Don't go stealing my seat at dinner."
"I'd never dare," Edward said, hand to chest in mock solemnity.
Luna chuckled and waved, heading off down the hallway.
The moment her footsteps faded, Emmerich's easy expression shifted as he turned to Edward.
"You're getting close," he said, voice low but firm. "Way too close."
Edward didn't look surprised. Instead, he simply smiled, calm as ever. "You have a wonderful daughter."
Emmerich's eyes narrowed slightly, his arms crossing over his chest. "That doesn't mean I'll allow it."
Edward tilted his head. "I would never mean her harm."
"That's the thing, Edward," Emmerich said with a coolness that wasn't quite threatening—but not friendly either. "The heart is complicated. No one ever means harm in the beginning. But harm happens anyway."
Edward was quiet for a breath, then nodded slightly, the smile dimming but not vanishing.
"I understand," he said sincerely. "But I don't intend to step away either."
Emmerich's lips twitched into a smirk—not pleased, but somehow entertained.
"Then tread carefully. Or you'll find I'm a very difficult man to cross."
Edward gave a single, respectful nod before turning to walk away. "Understood, sir."
As Emmerich watched him go, he muttered under his breath, "That one's going to be trouble…"
But there was no anger in his voice—just a father's wary instinct, stirred by something he'd hoped he had a few more years to prepare for.
The sun was already beginning to set by the time Luna trudged her way across the training ground, sweat clinging to her back and her limbs aching, but not in the usual knocked-to-the-ground kind of way.
Cherry, standing at the edge of the field with her arms crossed, gave her a single nod of approval.
"You didn't fall today," she remarked, gaze sharp but not unkind.
"That's because you didn't try to turn me into a pancake this time," Luna shot back between breaths.
"I said stamina day," Cherry replied coolly. "Doesn't mean I went soft."
"No, it just means you've decided to turn me into a marathon runner," Luna muttered, hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.
Cherry's lips almost—almost—tugged upward at the corners. "You'll thank me later."
Luna groaned dramatically. "Do I have to say it now?"
"Nope. You'll say it when you outrun your enemies and live."
"…Touché."
Cherry, ever efficient, dismissed Luna with her usual casual wave. "Same time tomorrow."
And like always, she vanished like a breeze before Luna could even straighten up.
The dining hall felt a little too quiet that night. Luna entered with her usual quick steps, freshly showered and with her hair still damp, expecting the familiar presence of her father and—
Her eyes paused at the empty chair beside him.
"He's not joining us?" she asked, too quickly.
Emmerich looked up from his tablet, reading her tone like a book. "Edward had some matters to handle. He sends his regards."
"Oh." Luna blinked, hiding her brief expression of disappointment by pulling out her seat and sitting down. She reached for the breadbasket, trying to act casual. "That's fine. You're the only one I look forward to having dinner with anyway."
Her voice was light and teasing, and she even managed a grin—but Emmerich, of course, saw past it. Her shoulders were just a little more slumped. Her eyes not quite as bright.
Still, he didn't press. Instead, he matched her with a warm smile. "Flattery will get you dessert."
Luna gave a short laugh. "In that case, I'll write a whole poem next time."
And so, they ate.
The meal was relaxed—filled with minor updates on training, her therapy progress, and Emmerich's tidbits about mundane political irritations that made Luna roll her eyes and laugh.
When it was time to part for the night, Luna stood with a satisfied sigh.
"Same time tomorrow?"
"As always," Emmerich said, ruffling her hair gently as she passed him.
"Good night, Dad."
"Good night, Luna."
She disappeared into the hallway with tired steps, and Emmerich sat alone for a moment longer, staring at the empty chair beside him, thinking about what it meant—for Luna, and maybe for Edward too.
In her room, Luna collapsed onto her bed for a moment before rolling over to grab her journal.
Today's entry wasn't quite as long, but it carried the weight of tired bones, an aching heart she didn't fully understand, and the flicker of something she didn't yet name.
Still, she wrote.
"Cherry's changed tactics. Still brutal, but this time it's my lungs giving up first instead of my back. Progress?"
"Therapy went okay. Managed a full set without grimacing too much. Dr. Falne says I'm getting stronger."
"Edward wasn't at dinner. Weird how I noticed right away."
She paused, then added in a messier scrawl:
"Not weird. Just… expected him to be there. Guess I'm getting used to him being around."
She stared at that sentence for a while before capping her pen and closing the book.
With a sigh, she curled under the blankets, letting the warmth soothe her aches.
Tomorrow would be another run. Another training session. Another step forward.
But for now, she allowed herself one small thought:
She kind of missed him.