Thus Began Your Regret (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16

Memories of everything that had happened so far flashed through Edward’s mind.

[Oh, yes. Right. It was love so thoroughly hidden—even from his own wife—that I failed to notice it.] [I’ve never heard anything from Mr. Curtis, but something like that is obvious to anyone with eyes.]

He should have realized it the moment he’d heard what his close aides Jeffrey and Guildford had said.

That if Louise herself couldn’t perceive his feelings, others—mere outsiders—would certainly never have noticed them.

‘But even so, for them to claim I’d keep a mistress while married to Louise!’

Edward’s fury surged to the very top of his head.

What lunatics dared say such things about whom…

He gritted his teeth and spoke.

“…What madmen are spouting such delusions.”

“You ought to attend the party yourself, if only to verify those claims.”

Paul spoke in the gentle tone characteristic of an elderly man.

Edward truly felt as if his insides were twisting.

When he stayed loyal, they disparaged Louise as a woman tied to a lowly swindler’s family.

Now that he’d stepped away, they labeled her a woman even that lowly swindler had rejected.

Why did nothing ever go right?

He tightly closed his eyes.

Why did none of his efforts to make Louise happy ever work out properly?

It was sorrowful to the point of frustration—his name, attached to hers, only diminished her worth.

He’d sworn that now that he understood the pain of waiting, he’d never make her suffer that same hurt twice. Yet despite that firm vow, he’d failed even to act upon it properly.

He was angry. Utterly heartbroken.

His eyes reddened as emotion welled up. Seeing his master’s expression, Paul Johnson stepped back a couple of paces and continued speaking softly.

“I don’t know exactly what happened, but the mistress told me, ‘Your assumption is correct, so let’s leave it at that,’ and asked me not to speak of it further.”

At Paul Johnson’s words, Edward blinked rapidly and opened his eyes wide. After letting the rising moisture cool slightly, he replied in a trembling voice.

“…Right. Thank you, Johnson.”

“No need. Then I hope you both enjoy your time together.”

Confirming that Louise was coming out, Paul Johnson gave him a slight bow and stepped aside.

[This is the timeline separator]

Edward drove Louise’s car to the front of the mansion’s portico.

Stopping precisely in front of her, he opened the driver’s door and stepped out. Opening the rear door for Louise to get in, he said,

“Go on, get in. I’ll take you.”

But instead of sitting in the back seat he’d opened, Louise opened the passenger door and got in.

That, too, scraped at Edward’s heart. Lowering his gaze to meet her lowered eyes, he asked,

“…Why? Why not just sit in the back?”

“How can I sit in the back when you’re the one driving?”

Louise retorted as if his question were odd.

Her words sounded slightly sharp, yet Edward felt relieved by them.

“Right. You’re right. Since I’m driving, you should sit beside me.”

His voice finally regained a hint of life.

With a faint vibration, the car pulled away.

His wife’s commute to work—something they’d never shared before.

Though this was a route he’d always traveled himself, for some reason it felt entirely new.

Edward glanced sideways. His wife, dressed neatly as always, was beautiful again today.

‘I wish we could just run off together for a picnic.’

But before he could indulge in such sweet fantasies, a far greater obstacle still lay ahead.

To verify what Paul had told him, Edward turned to Louise and spoke.

“Hey.”

Louise’s gaze turned toward him.

“You asked me before whether I planned to attend the royal party this time.”

“You did.”

“I’ve decided. I’m going.”

Louise stared at him, seemingly surprised for a moment. But soon she spoke in her usual quiet voice.

“I see.”

“Yes. I’m going to this party—with you.”

He knew his wife didn’t seem especially pleased by his approach. But he couldn’t possibly leave her side now.

He drove the point home firmly.

“So keep that in mind—I’m definitely going.”

Edward gripped the steering wheel tightly.

[This is the timeline separator]

The Valiant Palace strictly controlled entry by outsiders.

That meant Edward, who hadn’t submitted a prior request, would have difficulty gaining access.

“But I could still get in anytime I wanted.”

At her husband’s calm declaration of something clearly illegal, Louise looked up at him, flabbergasted. Chastened by her glare, Edward quickly shut his mouth.

“If nothing unusual happens, I’ll finish at my usual time. So don’t waste your precious time waiting here—just go back to the office.”

“Wasting time? Just waiting for you? What nonsense.”

“I borrowed your phrasing for once.”

Louise spoke cynically.

Did I really say that? Edward clamped his mouth shut.

Adjusting her coat shawl, Louise said,

“Your colleagues must have worked hard, too. Judging by yesterday, they probably even held a little party, didn’t they?”

“…Yeah. That’s right.”

In truth, he hadn’t drunk at the office but alone at home afterward. Still, he didn’t bother correcting her.

“Good. Then go to the office, properly thank Mr. Curtis for everything, and discuss the upcoming matters with him.”

“I already did all that yesterday.”

“Don’t forget Sir Theodore either.”

“…Damn it. Fine.”

Edward replied in a subdued tone.

“Then I’ll be off.”

Louise offered her usual farewell.

But Edward, seeing her off, was unlike his usual self.

“Yeah. Go ahead.”

Waving gently with a soft smile, he resembled the man she’d tried so hard to bury in memory.

Nostalgia suddenly flooded Louise.

Back then, they’d truly been happy.

Once again, she forgot her countless repeated vows and found herself recalling the past.

Louise gently smoothed her neatly braided hair.

It had always amazed her how those large, rough hands could create something so delicate.

“You’re more skilled than I am,” she’d once said, interlacing their fingers as they admired each other’s handiwork.

‘Now that I think of it, that painting we made back then must be somewhere.’

Louise recalled a memory tucked away in a quiet corner of her mind.

Back in those days, everyone took at least one photograph to keep. But they’d never had the luxury for that.

Like most people, she’d taken photos once every year or two as a child, but after her father’s passing, such things became impossible.

Perhaps sensing her lingering regret, Edward had once found a local portrait artist for her birthday.

He’d even brought a few white flowers from somewhere and wove them into her hair, prompting her to say,

[It reminds me of our wedding day.] [Why? Because of the flowers?] [Yes. We had these then too—Lisianthus.] [They remind me of you.] [Oh? In what way?] [That’s a secret.][Goodness. You’re such a tease.]

At her teasing remark, he chuckled once and said,

[Later—much later—once I’ve truly succeeded, let’s have our wedding all over again.] [Out of nowhere?] [Yeah. I’ll give you a bouquet more splendid than these flowers—more magnificent than anyone’s ever seen. I’ll scatter petals along your path, and as for the bouquet… I’ll ask Jeffrey to let his fiancée receive it on your behalf.]

Their first and last portrait together, capturing a tender moment.

When they’d moved to the capital, she’d suggested hanging it in the drawing room, but he’d recoiled and shaken his head firmly.

He’d tucked it away immediately—and she never even learned where that painting ended up.

‘What will happen to that painting once we divorce?’

Would someone just paint over it? Or tear the whole canvas off and toss it in the trash?

Though she’d steeled herself for this, her heart still ached.

But she couldn’t let his presence in her life grow any larger. Before she shattered completely—before even this fragile dam of suppressed emotion collapsed—she had to sort through her memories of him.

Because no matter how happy they’d been then, this was no longer that time.

She turned away from her husband and stepped into the meeting room.

[This is the timeline separator]

“I really need to move the office closer to home or something—this just won’t do.”

Edward grumbled, annoyed by the awkwardly winding route as he drove.

Unable to ignore his wife’s request, he was now heading toward Guildford’s office.

He’d agreed without objection when Guildford insisted on a central-city location for client convenience. That had been fine—except now the detour made his own visits terribly inconvenient.

He only learned later that Guildford alone had benefited, boasting about his easier commute.

Setting aside his thoughts on the office for now, he went up to Guildford’s office as his wife had asked.

Thus, a meeting destined to irritate both parties took place.

Guildford, ever expressionless, asked flatly,

“To what do I owe the pleasure this time?”

“What does it matter what it’s about?”

“If you’re here about the failed gift, you’d do better to examine your own eloquence rather than blame me.”

“You’ve got quite the nerve speaking to your employer like that.”

“Because you know perfectly well no one can replace me.”

Since Guildford wasn’t wrong, Edward fell silent. After running a hand once through his hair, he spoke.

“High-output control. It’s done.”

At the abruptly tossed remark, Guildford, who’d been about to reply with a dismissive “I see,” immediately lifted his head and asked again,

“Success? You mean the high-output control from before…?”

“Yeah. Remember I said I’d pull off something big? Well, it’s done.”

“…Then this isn’t the time to be idle.”

Guildford adjusted his glasses, pushing them up his nose.

“Sit down first. Have a cup of tea before you go.”

With busy hands, he began swiftly shuffling documents on his desk into piles.