It’s Not Night - Chapter 198.1

Staying at Airak was more comfortable than Andra had expected. While hostile glares occasionally followed her whenever she moved around the estate with Dustin, that was the extent of it. No one treated Andra rudely or overstepped their boundaries.

In fact, comparing her situation to Dustin’s—who had been thrown into prison immediately upon arriving in the East—it was clear that Andra was receiving far more privileges here. At least the Airak family hadn’t thrown her into a prison or criticized her. As a result, Andra felt a little guilty toward Dustin.

“The head of the family has just arrived. Shall we go down?”

After about three days in the North, Andra was finally able to meet the head of the Airak family, the Duke. It was then that she finally understood something Viola had once told her.

‘They seemed like a bear pretending to be a person. Well, what she really meant was that she was a person who resembled a bear. It’s hard to find anyone from Airak who doesn’t resemble one, though.’

The Duke, dressed in a white uniform and draped in black fur, was as large as Dustin. Reminiscent of a grizzly bear, she stood with a sword, nearly as long as Andra’s thigh, strapped to her side. Her presence and the aura she radiated were completely different from that of an ordinary person.

The same was true for another Airak standing beside the Duke, like an appendage. With a taller and more muscular build than the Duke, Andra had to tilt her head back almost completely to look at his face.

‘I knew Dustin was big, but…’

It truly felt like both of them were bears trying to pass as humans. Andra immediately understood why Airak had remained an absolute power in the North for so long. Anyone who saw such people on the battlefield would have been terrified and fled.

“Are you Lady Avelin?”

“Greetings, Your Grace. I am Andra Avelin. First, I want to express my gratitude for allowing me to visit and for your hospitality during my stay here.”

“A guest of Airak is naturally entitled to such hospitality.”

At the Duke’s words, Andra felt her throat dry. Dustin had never received such treatment in the East. Seeing this made Andra feel like Avelin came off a bit petty in comparison. It also gave her some understanding of why Airak had often called Avelin sly and petty.

“By the way, do you know how to ride?”

Andra was taken aback by the Duke’s sudden question but calmly nodded. The Duke then gave a slight nod to a nearby knight.

Within just a few minutes, a white horse appeared before Andra.

Why the horse all of a sudden…?

It was the moment Andra glanced at Dustin, looking for some clue from him, when she saw the Duke’s eyes.

“Kaden, take him away and beat him senseless. I can see I still don’t like him when he looks like that. Lady Avelin, come with me. We’re going somewhere.”

Without a hint of hesitation, the Duke calmly mounted her horse. Andra couldn’t believe her ears for a moment. Did she really just order Dustin to be taken away and beat him up?

She looked at the towering figure of Airak’s eldest son. She couldn’t imagine taking even a single blow from someone like him. She felt sure it would leave her bones shattered. Is this really okay?

“Aren’t you riding?”

When Andra hesitated to mount the horse, the Duke held the reins and asked again. At that moment, Dustin gently pushed her from behind.

“Andra, I’m fine. Go ahead.”

“But…”

“I won’t kill him, Lady. Don’t worry. Please follow the Duke.”

Kaden, the eldest son of Airak, gave Andra a slight bow before grabbing Dustin by the back of his neck and dragging him off somewhere. Before Andra could even blink, Dustin had disappeared with his brother, and Andra had no choice but to get on the horse.

“Well then, let’s go. Follow me.”

The Duke led Andra on horseback to the entrance of a mountain. It was a place with strict access controls, as soldiers were stationed there. When they saw the Duke, they immediately cleared the obstacles blocking the entrance.

Andra followed the Duke as they entered deeper into the mountain.

As they rode, Andra couldn’t help but wonder where the Duke was taking her. Could she be planning something secretive…? No, that couldn’t be it. If that were the case, Dustin wouldn’t have urged her to go ahead of him.

Still, given the Duke’s imposing presence, Andra couldn’t entirely ease her mind. With a mix of curiosity and tension, she continued to follow her on horseback.

After a long ride, they arrived in front of what appeared to be a structure carved into the side of a cave. As soon as they arrived, the Duke dismounted without hesitation and entered the building. Andra hurriedly followed suit, eager not to be left behind.

The inside of the structure was even cooler than the outside.

Where is this place? As she looked around, Andra noticed the Duke heading up a staircase, and she quickly followed her. Before long, the sound of their footsteps was the only noise echoing in the area.