It’s Not Night - Chapter 197.1

“Dustin!”

Even after receiving Albert’s permission to marry with conditions, Andra could only meet Dustin a week later, under Ian’s watchful eyes.

When Andra finally saw Dustin after almost two weeks, he looked gaunt. Seeing him like that, tears welled up in her eyes.

‘What has Father done to him?’

In Dustin’s arms, Andra, tried to make a joke with her tearful face while lightly touching his scruffy chin.

“What’s this…? You don’t look too bad. I guess the prison life suited you.”

“Yes, it was a good fit. Now I see why you used to threaten to throw me in prison.”

“When did I ever—”

Dustin gently brushed Andra’s cheek, which looked like she might cry any moment, and smiled at her.

“Don’t cry, I’m fine.”

He kissed her forehead and whispered softly. Ian, who was watching them, frowned, but Dustin paid him no mind and continued speaking.

“I missed you so much, Andra.”

“…I missed you too, so much.”

Andra, ignoring Ian’s sour expression, stood on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around Dustin’s neck, pulling him close.

Finally, the tears that had been held back burst out. It had only been two weeks since they last saw each other, but she felt like she was going crazy from how much she had missed him. She was so relieved to finally be reunited.

Now, no matter what anyone said, Andra couldn’t imagine her life without Dustin in it.

“So, what happened? What about us…?”

“I got permission. There were conditions, though.”

“Conditions?”

Dustin, wiping the tears from Andra’s eyes, looked at her with a puzzled expression. Andra sniffled and nodded.

“Father wants me to go to the North and get the same approval there. He said I need to bring back an agreement stamped with the family seal…”

“Ah, from Sister…?”

Dustin’s face suddenly stiffened as he thought of his sister, who was likely fuming in the North.

His sister probably knows by now. She must have heard that her crazy younger brother is in the East. He had no idea how she would look at him when they met again. She would give him a beating like last time.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing, just something I was expecting. But I’m a little worried about you going to the North. It’s…”

“It’s fine. You came to the East, so there’s no reason I can’t go to the North. And you’ll be by my side, right?”

Andra looked up at Dustin, as if asking what the problem was. Dustin nodded. She was right. From now on, he was going to be with Andra, and no one could stop them. In fact, he had to.

Andra pulled away from Dustin’s arms and held both of his hands tightly as she continued speaking slowly.

“Dustin, let’s not overthink this. I’ve realized something. Let’s focus on the moment we have now, the time we’re spending together.”

“…Andra.”

“Thinking about things that may never happen is such a waste of our time. The time we have together is so precious. I want to enjoy it.”

It had been the same in the South. They were so caught up in worrying about everything else that they failed to see the present and missed out on each other.

So, Andra made up her mind to express herself more often and act honestly. After all, nothing connects people better than sincerity.

And with that resolve, Andra repeatedly reaffirmed her feelings, saying the words she hadn’t said during the past fortnight.

“I love you, Dustin. Truly, I love you.”

“…I love you too.”

From then on, their declarations of love continued, and eventually, Ian, unable to bear watching any longer, roughly messed up his hair and stormed off.

Of course, neither Andra nor Dustin paid him any attention.

In their eyes, they could only see each other.

* * *

The road from the East to the North had long been unused, making it a difficult journey. The carriage wheels got stuck twice and Andra began to feel a growing sense of worry about the North, a place she had never really thought about before.

What would the North be like? She had heard that it was completely different from the prosperous, leisurely East. The closer they got to the North, the colder and harsher the winds became, and the window rattled frequently, making Andra try to imagine what the North would be like.

“Andra, we’re almost there.”

Dustin gently woke Andra, who had been buried under furs with soft kisses on her cheek, earlobe, neck, and shoulder.

Still half asleep, Andra rubbed her eyes and, as she looked out the window, was struck by the majestic sight of the permanent snow. She couldn’t help but gasp in awe. She had only ever seen it in pictures before. This was the first time she was seeing it with her own eyes.