Furina, Please Let Me Steal Your Heart!

Two nights later, the House of the Hearth welcomed... or more accurately, welcomed back its current master—the woman the children called "Father."

"'Father,' would you like something to drink?"

The warm glow of fire illuminated the room.

While Fontaine's ubiquitous hybrid energy system made light bulbs shine as bright as day, during gatherings, the flickering flames created a more intimate ambiance.

The fireplace burned a brilliant red. Arlecchino's gaze returned to the party.

Lynette, holding a tray of various drinks, her figure blurred in the glasses.

Her white hair, streaked with black and hints of red, was tied back. The snug men's attire couldn't diminish her unique feminine charm.

But what was most captivating were her eyes.

They were jet black, yet contained pupils as crimson as blood. Anyone who locked eyes with her for more than three seconds felt a chill creep up their spine.

Even in front of the children, she always wore this unsmiling expression.

"Tea is fine."

"Alright."

Lynette handed a cup of tea to Arlecchino before moving on to the other children.

It seemed they had drawn lots, with one becoming the server of food and drinks.

"What happened to the fire? The stove in the kitchen suddenly stopped working!" Lyney's voice called out from afar.

"Hmm, must be a malfunction. Let me take a look..." came a distant reply.

It appeared Lyney had drawn the lot for cook.

The House of the Hearth had no formal rule about drawing lots; this was clearly a self-imposed arrangement among the children.

Arlecchino's gaze swept across the room, taking in the various children gathered together, enjoying the grilled meat.

But compared to the last time she'd been here, there seemed to be a few less.

"..."

Her gaze finally settled on the couch.

"'Father'! I missed you so much!" The missing blonde girl who had once dominated this spot, showing no fear of anyone, was no longer present.

Picking up an old newspaper, Arlecchino took a sip of her tea.

But she understood; this didn't mean she'd betrayed them.

At least, not yet.

-

After the bustling party, Lyney, Lynette, and Freminet made their way to Arlecchino's "office."

Though it bore the title of an office, it was merely a convenient moniker. Typically, she would issue orders and assign tasks to the children in the living room. She only summoned them here when circumstances were somewhat unusual.

"'Father,' what do you need from us?" Lyney asked first.

Arlecchino stood with her hands clasped behind her back, facing the window.

"I require you and Lynette to gather intelligence. Freminet, your role will be assisting their evacuation. Our target is this person." She turned slightly, indicating the table with her gaze.

The trio picked up the portrait.

Lyney exclaimed in surprise, "Isn't this Alkien, the famous philanthropist lately?"

"What kind of intelligence does 'Father' require?" Lynette shook her cat-like ears.

"The identities of his accomplices."

Lyney nodded earnestly. "I understand..."

Arlecchino's expression remained unchanged. "Do not underestimate the situation; I'm afraid the 'Phantom Thief' may appear there as well."

Phantom Thief?!

"Wh-why?" Freminet asked, puzzled.

"Because all of his pearlescent harpsichords can be considered precious treasures. If I were the Phantom Thief, I definitely wouldn't miss such a golden opportunity."

Lynette found it hard to comprehend. "But... aren't harpsichords quite large instruments?"

Not only large, but also surprisingly heavy.

How could the Phantom Thief White Cat possibly steal such treasures?

It couldn't be as simple as lifting them and running away, right? And there was no word that the Phantom Thief was some kind of a superhero with immense strength.

"How she accomplishes the theft isn't the main concern," Lyney speculated.

"Then what is the main point?" Lynette gave up on trying to figure it out.

"The crux of the matter is—members of the Special Task Force may also come. No, in fact, they will come."

"But then wouldn't we have to deal with..." asked Freminet uneasily.

"Correct, it would be an extremely chaotic situation," Lyney explained further.

Once the Phantom Thief released her announcement, the Special Task Force would act swiftly, rushing into Alkien's residence ahead of time to secure it. This made obtaining intelligence even more challenging.

Avoiding direct confrontation with them was ideal.

"The best approach is to wait until they engage in conflict amongst themselves. Then we can seize the opportunity to sneak into the residence and quickly gain the information we need. But here lies another problem."

Lyney furrowed his brows deeply. "What if the Special Task Force also takes notice of Alkien?"

Lynette whispered softly, "Then they might snatch the intelligence before us."

"Exactly... The difference between getting information from the Special Task Force headquarters or even the Court of Justice archives, compared to extracting it from a noble's residence, is as vast as the distance between heaven and earth."

While they couldn't be certain that the Special Task Force intended to do so, it was crucial to consider all possibilities before taking action. Anticipating every potential scenario and factoring it into their plan was Lyney's responsibility.

Life at the House of the Hearth was often fraught with danger. A momentary lapse in carrying out "father's" orders could mean paying the ultimate price.

He had already lost several children due to carelessness. He absolutely couldn't let such a thing happen again, especially not to Lynnette and Freminet.

Arlecchino silently watched the three discussing the issue.

"It's really troubling," Lyney said fretfully. "The Phantom Thief White Cat... What do you think, Luna—"

His spoken words were met with only an ominous silence.

"Big brother," Lynnette began, her face devoid of expression.

"Oh, I'm sorry..."

Freminet shook his head. "No need to apologize. She is indeed the best among us, whether it be infiltration or combat... We always relied on her."

"She was the best," Lynnette corrected.

Freminet lowered his gaze.

"Um, 'Father'..."

Arlecchino's face remained completely impassive. "Speak your mind."

"...Why hadn't you executed Luna?"

Anyone who betrayed the House of the Hearth, even in the slightest, was to be executed without exception—a rule Arlecchino had enforced rigorously.

Yet Luna, who had left the House of the Hearth, had not been executed by Arlecchino.

Why? This was the question that had been weighing on the hearts of all the children.

Lyney and Lynnette silently turned their gazes toward Arlecchino.

Arlecchino stared back at them until they diverted their eyes out of sheer reverence. Only then did she begin to speak slowly.

"Perhaps the time is not yet right, or perhaps as you all think—she hasn't betrayed us. The outcome will ultimately be decided by her alone. For now, I am simply waiting for her response."

"Waiting?" Lyney couldn't help but ask.

"Yes, waiting for her answer." Arlecchino glanced at the figure in the newspaper—the Phantom Thief White Cat who had appeared at the banquet. Arrogant, resplendent, and audacious, she didn't resemble the child Lyney remembered in the slightest. But as her "father," Arlecchino knew her identity beyond doubt.

Phantom Thief White Cat... Phantom Thief Luna...

Depending on her choice, Arlecchino would decide whether there was still a place for her within their family.

And whether she lived or died.