It’s Not Night - Chapter 180.1

“…It was only natural.”

But he quickly composed himself. As if he had never shown such an expression, he returned to his usual self. Andra found herself confused, wondering if she had imagined it.

‘Maybe I was mistaken?’

There was no reason for Dustin Airak to look at Andra Avelin with such an expression. It was as if he had lost someone dear to him…

Her heart ached. Without realizing it, Andra took a step back from him. Noticing her reaction, he lowered his gaze slowly. Finally, he spoke in a heavy voice.

“Congratulations on your graduation, Lady.”

His words felt like a farewell.

* * *

Returning to the East after several years, Andra found it nearly unchanged from her memories. The vast golden wheat fields under the blue sky and warm sunlight. The landscape she had always envisioned finally stretched out before her, bringing her a sense of comfort like never before.

It was her hometown she had longed for throughout her time at the academy. Although she had to completely abandon her entry into the central social circle, the East was worth that sacrifice. Above all, Andra believed there was no place more suited to her than this. She held the necklace in her hand and smiled.

“Miss!”

As soon as she arrived at the estate, the servants who had come to greet her rushed forward. They were all long-time members of her family. Andra embraced each one of them warmly before heading to her room.

“Nothing has really changed here…”

As soon as she opened the door, the fresh scent of freesia flowers filled the air and Andra exclaimed in admiration. Her room was just as it had been when she left for the academy.

“It shouldn’t change. This is your room, after all.”

The nanny, who had accepted Andra’s coat, said in a warm tone. She was right. This room belongs to Andra, and nothing inside it could be altered without her consent.

Andra quickly moved to the window and flung it open wide. The sunlight poured in, filling the room along with the view of the East she loved so much.

“I heard from the Master that you graduated at the top of your class.”

“It was worth the effort.”

“Still, it’s impressive. Of course, I know you’ll do well wherever you go, but when you decided to go to the academy instead of the usual school, everyone was quite worried.”

Andra gave an awkward smile at the nanny’s words. Her choice to attend the academy was not something she could easily explain. If she said it was just because she wanted to, like at her coming-of-age ceremony, people would have been baffled.

But at that time, it was sincere. She truly wanted to attend the academy for no particular reason.

“It was a challenge for me, Nanny.”

“Anyway, I’m so glad you’re back.”

“So am I.”

Andra moved away from the window and headed to her study, which was connected to the parlor. The study, with its musty smell of old paper, was a place where she had spent many long hours. She adjusted the neatly arranged desk before impulsively sitting down and pulling open a drawer.

Inside the drawer were a pen and a seal, still in the same state as before she left. Andra quickly lost interest, closed the drawer, and stood up.

Next, she went to the bookshelf and looked through the books. The books with her fingerprints were still in place. After putting the book back, Andra left the study and began to peek into the bedroom. The nanny looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“Is something wrong? Are you looking for something?”

“No, it’s just…”

As if she had forgotten something.

Swallowing the words she couldn’t quite say, Andra trailed off. She then noticed the mirror by the bedside and picked it up to look at herself. The necklace, the only keepsake her mother left her, was gently swaying around her neck.

“Nanny, did I ever lose this necklace before?”

“No, you always kept it on you. You even changed the cord regularly, worried it might break.”

“Right… but why does it feel like I’ve lost it…?”

She couldn’t shake the feeling of forgetting something important. Andra frowned and tightly gripped the necklace.

“I think I might need to undergo sleep therapy again.”

Muttering this to herself, Andra put the mirror back down.

* * *

Unlike the bustling outside world, life in the East flowed with a certain monotony. Andra was enjoying a sense of tranquility she hadn’t experienced before.