It’s Not Night - Chapter 182.1

“Is that why you ran to the south?”

Stephanie Jewelie stared incredulously at her companion, her mouth still wide open from the shocking story she had just heard. She set down her untouched cup of tea.

In contrast, Andra looked at Dustin in the distance, who was petting Stephanie’s hunting dogs while waiting for her.

“Rather than running away—”

“You left without saying a word about Lord Airak, using me as an excuse. That’s definitely running away.”

With Stephanie’s abrupt and firm response, Andra turned to face her. Stephanie had crossed her arms and was now scrutinizing Andra.

“Lady, to be honest, this is quite perplexing.”

Leaning back in her chair, Stephanie continued.

“Both your sudden visit and the reasons behind it.”

Just then, one of the hunting dogs spotted a bird in the grass and began to howl. The other dogs quickly joined in, filling the area with their barking.

Stephanie sighed, pressing her temples in frustration.

‘What on earth is this nonsense?’

It was a typically peaceful afternoon.

Even after debuting in high society, Stephanie frequently traveled to the south, and today was no exception as she prepared for a hunt.

Until the unexpected visitor arrived.

Since it was her rare day off, she would have liked to turn away such an impolite guest without warning, but that was impossible. After all, the guest was none other than Andra, the only daughter of Avelin.

Stephanie first sensed something was off when she noticed someone standing next to Andra.

That figure, completely cloaked from head to toe, turned out to be Dustin Airak. Most notably, the two were holding hands tightly.

At that moment, Stephanie’s intuition, honed over 26 years as a Jewelie, screamed that these two were in trouble. And now, after hearing Andra’s side of the story, she was finally processing it all.

Stephanie closed her eyes briefly before opening them again.

“Lady Avelin, you truly show surprising sides every time we meet. It’s not easy to be so unpredictable.”

Stephanie had never been able to pin down who Andra Avelin was, whether during the coming-of-age ceremony or now. Among all the people she had met, Andra was unlike anyone else. What could she possibly be thinking?

Even now, as if she was fully aware of the thoughts running through Stephanie’s mind, Andra smiled gracefully, making it maddening for anyone watching.

Was she unaware of how serious the situation was?

As their eyes met, Andra offered another soft smile.

“I’m counting on you, Lady.”

“……”

Stephanie still found it difficult to respond. Accepting all of this felt overwhelming. It wasn’t just because she was Stephanie Jewelie. Anyone in her position would feel the same.

Andra Avelin had fled to the south because of a man—specifically, Dustin Airak!

After a long silence filled with contemplation, Stephanie finally managed to speak.

“Alright. I’ll accept Lady’s request.”

“Really?”

“I owe you, and I promised on the day of the ceremony. As a businesswoman, I can’t go back on my word.”

Andra’s visit had two main requests:

First, a place to stay where she could be with Dustin away from prying eyes, and second, to put a stop to any rumors about them.

Fortunately, Stephanie was in a position to grant both requests. That was precisely why Andra had rushed to the South.

“Thank you so much. I’ll never forget your help.”

“I told you, I’m just repaying a debt. Thanks to you, I could easily secure my position, so think of this as collecting interest.”

“I know that. But gratitude is still gratitude.”

“More importantly, Lady, I believe you have something else to consider.”

At Stephanie’s direct comment, Andra’s bright demeanor dimmed slightly. This change caused Stephanie to reach for her teacup, feeling more thirsty. The tea, once hot, had cooled to a temperature she could easily drink.

After finishing her cup, Stephanie asked again.

“Spending time with the Lord here in the south is fine, but what happens next? …. What are you planning to do?”

Stephanie Jewelie couldn’t believe she was saying this, but she genuinely struggled to accept the relationship between the two.

Avelin and Airak?

What could be a more mismatched pair?

She was curious about what was going through their minds. Do they truly love each other? Did they rush to the south to buy time? Are they even considering marriage?

Oh, the more she thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.

“Well, I’m not sure yet. I came to the south in a hurry, after all.”