Andrew’s expression turned serious. “Madam Baxter, come with us. I know you have deep feelings for the Sovereign’s Apothecary, but trust me, one day I’ll help you reclaim it.”

Brielle shook her head firmly. “You should know by now that I won’t leave with you. If I walked away, I wouldn’t be me anymore.”

Andrew did not push further and patted Amari on the shoulder. “Alright then, let’s go.”

Amari looked confused as he followed Andrew toward the exit. “Andrew, we can leave, sure, but shouldn’t you try harder to convince Madam Baxter? We’ve worked together for so many years, and I’ve never even seen what she looks like under that veil.”

Andrew replied irritably, “You think I’ve seen her face? She’s not someone you can talk into anything. She’s sentimental, no matter the cost. Even if Julius treats her poorly, she won’t walk away, not when her heart’s still bound by that promise she made to her mentor.”

Amari muttered under his breath. “That promise she mentioned… What do you think it was? Could it be something romantic? Like a secret vow to someone?”

Andrew shook his head. “Who knows? But Julius is at least 100 years old now, and Brielle’s at least in her 70s. At that age, calling it a ‘secret vow’ sounds a little off, doesn’t it? All I can say is that everyone’s got their own secrets. Brielle’s no different, and she probably has her reasons for staying.”

The two continued talking as they walked out of Sovereign’s Apothecary.

Brielle stayed behind in her quiet courtyard, sitting alone as their footsteps faded away. Her expression slowly softened, and she turned toward an antique bronze mirror.

With gentle fingers, she untied the veil from her face, revealing a striking yet sorrowful beauty.

“My precious son…” she whispered, her voice trembling, “I’ll wait for you to come back, right where we promised.”

Her words faded into the silence, and a single tear slid down her cheek.

As night fell, Chetvine shimmered under a dreamy haze of neon lights, glowing like a city that never slept. From a distance, it looked like a paradise, yet beneath that dazzling glow were countless corners untouched by light.

Outside the flickering sign of Nightfall Bar, a few dying bulbs buzzed and blinked weakly, threatening to go out at any moment.

Across the street, Olivia rested her chin on her hand, gazing out from her family’s small food stall. Rain had been drizzling since dusk, soaking the narrow alleyway.

She thought, "The weather’s awful tonight. I doubt we’ll get any customers. That man in the black coat probably won’t show up either."

Just as the thought crossed her mind, a tall figure stepped in through the rain, closing a dripping umbrella.

It was Andrew, dressed all in black.

“Sir, what would you like tonight?” Olivia asked quickly, her face lighting up with surprise.

“The usual. But tell your mom to fry it a bit longer this time. I’ve got something to take care of in the next alley,” Andrew said with a smile.

Olivia nodded obediently. “Okay, I’ll tell her. But you’d better come back soon, or your food’s gonna get cold.”

Andrew smiled at her, opened his umbrella again, and disappeared into the rain.

Just then, a group of people stepped out from the Nightfall Bar across the street.

Several black umbrellas opened in unison, forming a small canopy over the group. Whoever was in the center had to be someone important, someone not used to walking in the rain.