It’s Not Night - Chapter 184.1

“Ah….”

As Andra looked up at him, unable to say anything and merely smiling awkwardly, the man appeared somewhat puzzled. Has something gotten on her clothes?

Then, noticing Andra’s face peeking out from under her hat, he squinted slightly.

“Um, excuse me, but have we met before?”

At the man’s question, Andra was about to think, ‘Could it be…?’

“Oh, it’s not a big deal, but you seem to recognize me. If not, I apologize. And I’m not… not a suspicious person, so please don’t misunderstand. It just seemed like you knew me…”

Finally regaining her composure, Andra quickly waved her hands dismissively.

“I’m sorry, it’s just that you remind me of someone I knew before. I seem to have made an error. Please, take the item.”

“Oh, no. I should be the one to offer it to you.”

As the man smiled innocently, Andra found herself staring at him in bewilderment once more.

Memories of her past began to surface, ones she had momentarily forgotten. The incident on her coming-of-age day, which had led her to act out of anger… But as she recalled it, she shook her head vigorously.

‘What am I doing? That was something that never actually happened.‘

Quickly regaining her composure, Andra accepted the souvenir the man offered her with care.

“In that case, I’ll accept it gratefully.”

“Um, but if it’s alright with you…”

“Andra.”

At that moment, someone interjected between them. It was Dustin, holding a drink with a cold, stern expression on his face.

Noticing the unpleasant glare directed at him, the man quickly recognized that he was Andra’s companion. A man with such a look was usually part of that kind of crowd, making it easy to identify.

The man hastily bowed his head and stepped back.

“I apologize, I didn’t realize you had someone with you. I hope you enjoy your time together.”

Once the man disappeared, Dustin immediately looked at Andra. Fortunately, she seemed fine.

However, her gaze was still following the direction in which the man had vanished, her expression was slightly surprised and contemplated. It was a reaction Andra didn’t show often.

Dustin instinctively sensed that something had happened between Andra and the man from just moments ago.

From that moment, his heart began to race. The anxiety that had followed him throughout this life, which he thought had dissipated, surged back with a new sense of unease.

Dustin suppressed his urge to immediately question Andra about her relationship with that man and slowly opened his mouth instead.

“…Do you know him?”

“Huh?”

“Did I interrupt something?”

“No, it’s not like that…”

At Dustin’s question, Andra appeared quite flustered. It seemed she was hiding something. Yet, she also seemed to be contemplating whether to tell him about it or not.

Dustin waited with a sliver of hope for her response. However, what he got in return was a forced smile as she evaded the topic.

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it. I’m just thirsty. I’ll drink it well.”

Andra quickly snatched the drink from Dustin and flashed a playful smile. Once again, his heart sank.

At this point, Dustin felt he could make some assumptions about what had happened between Andra and that man.

However, he remained silent, suppressing his curiosity. He felt he had no right to ask; that would clearly cross a line.

Yet, his heart ached.

* * *

“Don’t forget that Lady Jewelie is coming here for lunch tomorrow.”

“…Did she mention she’d be bringing someone?”

“Yes, the Lady’s assistant, apparently.”

“Okay.”

Stepping out onto the balcony, Andra listened to the crashing waves of the night while reading her book. She glanced up at Dustin, who seemed to have an unusual heaviness in his voice. Ever since their outing in the market earlier, his mood had shifted.

‘Is it because of that incident…?’

Andra had a vague idea of what might be bothering Dustin. Ever since they encountered that man at the souvenir shop, Dustin had spoken less and less.

But Andra was still unsure if it was right to speak candidly about that man.

‘Should I just be honest? I didn’t do anything wrong. Dustin had dated other women before he met me… But even so, is it really okay to be honest about it…?’

Andra finally closed her book and sat up from her half-reclined position in the chair.

‘Right, let’s not put this off any longer. If I keep dragging this out, misunderstandings will deepen, and what once felt eternal could easily break apart.’