“Evan?”

Louisa’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected encounter.

“It’s been a while, Louisa.”

Evan smiled awkwardly, slightly lifting his hat. Then he turned back to Edward, continuing his earlier conversation.

“Anyway, Mr. Allen. I would appreciate it if you refrained from such actions for Louisa’s sake.”

His manner of addressing Edward was remarkably polite for a noble, but it was only in terms of speech. The content, however, was less so.

Edward’s mood soured at the sudden appearance of the Winston family’s eldest son. What business did he have advising him on what to do for Louisa’s sake, especially with such duplicity?

Louisa felt similarly uneasy. She called out to him, puzzled.

“Evan. What are you talking about?”

“Louisa, you know Prince Anthony worries about you, right? And I’m no different.”

Evan looked down at her with an uncomfortable gaze.

Edward realized this man was reprimanding him, just as the prince had done recently.

Normally, he would have retorted rudely to such impertinence, but this time was different. He was willing to listen to Evan’s ramblings, just this once, in case there was something he was missing about his wife, as had happened at the party.

“Lord Winston, care to explain how exactly that is for my wife’s benefit?”

“Ed, it’s just their subjective opinion. You don’t have to listen.”

But Louisa stepped in front of him, looking straight at Evan Winston.

“Evan. Thanks for the concern. I really appreciate it. But anything beyond that is between us as a couple. You understand, right?”

Evan’s expression hardened at her unexpected response.

Yet Louisa stood firm in her stance, considering this an overstep on Evan’s part, even as a friend.

Evan sighed, raising his hands in surrender, and laughed.

“Alright. Maybe I worried too much. My apologies.”

He exaggerated a bow, including a nod to Edward.

“If I was rude, I apologize, Mr. Allen.”

“That’s alright. It’s good to know my wife has such a concerned friend.”

Edward nodded politely, a gesture typical of gentlemen, knowing that maintaining composure in front of such people only irritated them more. His anger had subsided, replaced with a sense of satisfaction.

Although he had been regretting not choosing the play Jeffrey recommended, seeing his wife standing up for them as a couple made him glad they came.
As the situation seemed to be resolved, Evan tried to make amends with a deliberately cheerful tone.

“Well, let’s all head in. We might be late for the performance otherwise.”

The three of them walked side by side through the corridor leading to the opera house hall.

“Never thought I’d see you here, and with your spouse, no less.”

Evan gestured towards Edward as he spoke.

Edward, annoyed by the comment, retorted sharply.

“What do you mean? Shouldn’t a couple come together?”

“Ed.”

Louisa grabbed his arm, calling his name. Edward, having learned that this was her way of cautioning him, started to say something more but then closed his mouth, heeding her look.

Louisa smiled slightly awkwardly and said,

“It’s been a while since my husband had some free time. I never thought I’d run into you here, either. You always hated these kinds of events, finding them dull and tedious.”

“Well, that was when I was younger. These days, I find the intense love stories quite interesting.”

Evan glanced at her and chuckled, to which Louisa nodded in agreement.

“True, we’re not at that age anymore.”

“Right. It’s been a long time, Louisa.”

Evan looked at her with a somewhat melancholy gaze.

Edward observed the two of them, feeling increasingly irritated by this man. Even though he disliked Prince Anthony, Evan somehow got under his skin even more.

Listening to their conversation, it seemed they had known each other for quite a long time, more than just acquaintances from social circles.

Recalling Louisa once mentioned her connection with the Winston family, Edward asked,

“From what I hear, you’ve known my wife for a long time.”

“We’ve known each other since childhood, quite a while indeed. I can’t even remember exactly when we first met. Our families were always close.”

Evan pondered for a moment before conceding he couldn’t remember the exact time. Louisa then chimed in.

“I think it was my seventh birthday. You fought with my brother right after you arrived, because he laughed at the gift you brought.”

“Oh, right. Daniel was definitely in the wrong there.”

“I think so too.”

They both laughed, but Edward couldn’t join in, feeling uncomfortable about a past he didn’t know.

Seven years old. She was just seven.

Instead of dwelling on the unpleasant man in front of him, he tried to imagine what his wife would have been like at that age.

‘Seven years old, she must have been smaller than my waist.’

She must have been adorable. But then, the thought that this man knew her in a way he didn’t soured Edward’s mood even further.

Determined to learn more about their relationship, he asked another question.

“Sounds like the families were quite close. You knew Lord Aberitt as well, I take it?”

“Certainly. Uncle… well, Lord Aberitt, until his passing, there was even talk of a betrothal between us.”

Edward’s facial expression faltered at that revelation. His jaw tensed.

‘Betrothal?’

He knew they were close, but he hadn’t realized they were engaged.
Louisa, flustered by the unexpected turn of conversation, quickly added,

“Even though it was called a betrothal, it was nothing more than a joke among adults.”

However, Edward’s expression remained frozen, showing no signs of thawing. To make matters worse, Evan began to fan the flames with his supposedly humorous remarks.

“To think of our father as such a lighthearted man, that’s a bit disappointing, Louisa.”

“It was a promise that could change depending on the situation, that’s why it became a joke, Evan.”

Despite his playful smile, Louisa firmly responded.

The end of their relationship, not really a broken engagement, was a significant event for her, marking her disillusionment with the harsh realities of aristocratic society.

After the fall of the Aberitt family, the Winstons, too, had pretended not to know them.

However, the only reason they hadn’t completely lost contact was that the Winston family had introduced a laboratory suitable for her brother Daniel to join.

Unprepared for such a firm response from her, Evan, too, fell silent, his expression turning stiff.

As they ascended the stairs, a fork in the path appeared. Edward wrapped his arm around Louisa’s shoulder and said,

“It was nice meeting you. We are seated on the second floor, left side.”

He merely nodded his head, barely offering a courteous farewell. Louisa too turned slightly and offered a brief goodbye.

“We’ll go ahead, Evan. Have a good time.”

Standing behind and watching them, Evan finally regained his composure and awkwardly smiled, slightly lifting his hat.

“You too, Louisa.”

As their voices faded into the distance, Edward started to grumble as soon as Evan was out of sight.

“Don’t get too close to that guy.”

“I’m sorry about today. Evan was rude.”

Louisa looked up at her husband, whose hand rested on her shoulder. Edward, typically quick-tempered, snapped back,

“I didn’t ask you to apologize. What’s he to apologize to you for?”

Confused, Louisa glanced at him, and seeing her expression, Edward realized his mistake and groaned.

Edward cleared his throat and asked again,

“What did he mean by ‘for your sake, don’t drive’? Does he think I’m some kind of servant?”

Louisa, already tired from the unfolding events, sighed.

“It’s similar. The same actions, if done by a high-ranking noble, would be overlooked as a mere deviation…”

“But not for me.”

He spoke as if he was accustomed to it.

“Who knows, if it weren’t for you, I might have ended up as a servant in some noble house.”

His words, acknowledging his own background, carried a hint of self-mockery.