Thus Began Your Regret (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 2
When Congress convenes, the councilors gather at Valiant Palace, where the parliament building is located.
And surprisingly, the majority of the nobles who constitute the Senate do not attend these sessions.
Thus, Louisa Allen, who attended punctually every session without fail, was undoubtedly an unusual case among them.
“Councilwoman Allen. You’re here.”
“Your Excellency Chairman Bradford. It’s been a while.”
Louisa greeted him with a genuinely delighted expression.
James Bradford was an elderly man with white hair, currently serving as the President of the Senate.
“I heard about the accident. You must have been quite exhausted for a while.”
“It can’t be helped. I can only hope things wrap up smoothly.”
Louisa smiled brightly, as if nothing had happened. Bradford chuckled softly and picked up his monocle.
“I’ve been thinking this for several years now, but I suppose I no longer need to worry anymore. Is that right?”
*Scritch.* The soft sound of a cloth gliding over the lens echoed.
“Do you recall what I thought when a child, barely out of baby fat, stepped into this chamber wearing nothing but ceremonial attire?”
“Babych cheeks? Come now, I wasn’t that young.”
“You shouldn’t dismiss an old man’s memory so lightly, Councilwoman Allen. Back then, you were a very young lady indeed, with rosy cheeks and plump baby fat.”
“Goodness. I’ve never heard myself described that way before.”
Louisa made a slightly pouty face. At that, Bradford burst into a hearty laugh and said,
“Anyway, seeing you here today feels truly heartwarming. Philip can finally rest in peace now.”
Bradford looked at her with proud eyes, then bid her farewell, saying he should return to his seat.
Philip Aberitt.
She silently repeated the name of her father, now feeling strangely distant.
In life, there are moments when misfortunes pile up relentlessly, beyond belief. For me, that time was the winter of my eighteenth year.
At first, I simply collapsed before my parents’ tombstones and wept endlessly. I mourned, resenting the gods who had dealt me such a fate and the ones who had betrayed us.
But then I realized there was a young man who, just like me, had neither the authority to decide anything nor the power to resolve the situation.
And when he stood before me with a face so despairing he looked as if he might die at any moment, I understood.
Ah, what difference is there really between him and me right now?
Young Edward Allen knelt before the two remaining Aberitts and bowed his head deeply.
“I will take responsibility for my father’s mistakes. Please, just give me time—I will set everything right, no matter what.”
“Your sense of duty is admirable, Edward Allen. But those who have passed cannot return.”
“That’s….”
Watching the youth unable to lift his head under his brother’s questioning, Louisa thought,
This resentment and sorrow should never be directed toward this man.
So she spoke.
“No, that’s fine. We’ll give you time.”
“…Louisa?”
“Brother, let’s allow him to repay us to the fullest extent he can.”
“You mean we should give him a chance?”
“If granting him time until he gains the necessary ability counts as giving him a chance—then yes. Let’s give him that chance.”
“Louisa, it’s unwise to place blind trust in people. Don’t you know that?”
“I simply believe we’re all victims of Benjamin Allen’s actions.”
“I see… Yes, I understand.”
And so, Allen, who had taken on his father’s debts, and the two Aberitts left behind struggled with all their might.
They drastically cut back on sleep and meals, juggling studies and labor simultaneously.
Instead of the laboratory he’d dreamed of joining, he entered one that paid well.
He learned tasks he’d never attempted before and took on work as a private tutor in other households.
And fortunately—or perhaps by sheer luck—their efforts did not betray them.
In time, Edward Allen became the nation’s foremost engineer and entrepreneur, and the Allen name became known to every citizen.
Back then, I thought days like this would bring even greater happiness. At least, that’s what the girl who had fallen for the man striving his hardest believed.
But I was young then. That’s why I foolishly believed we could truly love each other wholeheartedly.
I never fully grasped the guilt that must have weighed heavily upon him, nor realized I was mistaken in thinking the man beside me felt the same way I did.
Louisa lifted her water glass and took a sip, hiding the wry smile tugging at her lips.
Chairman Bradford, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, smiled with evident relief, as if a burden had been lifted.
But was it really so? She couldn’t be certain.
Her father, Philip, had always asked her, “Are you happy, my daughter?” Yet now, she found she had no answer to give him.
[This is the timeline separator]The quiet hum of the mana-crystal-powered automobile resonated softly.
The latest Allen Corporation vehicle glided smoothly through the mansion gates. From the driver’s seat of the car that halted beneath the porch, Johnson stepped out.
“We’ve arrived, Madam.”
He opened the rear door.
A cool breeze rushed in the moment the door opened. Louisa adjusted her shawl and stepped out of the car.
“Welcome home, Madam!”
Rachel, who had come out to greet her, bowed respectfully.
Today had been unusually tiring. Using the Allen Corporation incident as an excuse, various factions had launched petty restraints, questioning whether there might be any illegalities in the research institute’s operations.
Because of that, she hadn’t even been able to properly discuss the education-related proposal she’d intended to raise.
Rachel’s movements were light as she took Louisa’s coat. Even though it was evening, her cheerful demeanor suggested something good had happened.
Louisa smiled faintly and said,
“You seem especially cheerful today.”
“Oh!” Rachel exclaimed, then whispered softly into her ear,
“Master is here tonight as well. Since it’s a rare evening when both of you dine together, Mrs. Johnson went to extra lengths with the meal!”
Ah, so that was it. Louisa gave a gentle smile.
“Please tell Mrs. Johnson I appreciate her thoughtfulness.”
“Yes, Madam! I’ll go right away and let her know it’s time to serve the dishes.”
Rachel hurried off toward the kitchen with her usual light-footed steps.
After quickly changing into a simple indoor dress, Louisa descended to find Edward already seated and waiting.
She walked briskly to her place and said,
“Sorry I kept you waiting.”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Louisa sat across from Edward and said,
“You finished work early today.”
“I’ve been busy nonstop lately. Things have been tense, so I sent everyone home early.”
As soon as she took her seat, the prepared dishes were brought out, filling the air with delicious aromas.
After adjusting his cutlery for a while, Edward finally seemed satisfied and reached for the salad plate.
Scooping a generous portion, he asked,
“I heard you went to Valiant Palace? I suppose the sessions are starting again today?”
“Yes. I mentioned last time that the summer recess would end soon… I guess you forgot because you’ve been so busy.”
“Oh… Right.”
Edward, seemingly trying to recall, ate his salad quietly. After a brief silence, Louisa glanced at him and said softly,
“So for now, I’ll be attending sessions fairly often.”
“Actually, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
Edward, who had been silent for a moment, looked directly at Louisa and said,
“Do you plan to pursue a high-ranking government position someday?”
Louisa forced a smile and replied,
“I haven’t thought that far ahead yet. Why do you ask?”
“If it’s not that, then why keep going to such a place?”
Just as expected.
Louisa felt her spirit sink.
Her husband had always disapproved of her council position. She’d anticipated he’d react sensitively given the research institute incident, but now that it had come to this, her prepared resolve felt embarrassingly inadequate.
How was she supposed to handle this situation, which offered no resolution and only repeated itself endlessly?
Edward continued, his tone laced with sarcasm,
“It’s a place full of people obsessed with tearing each other down. I can just imagine how eagerly they’ve been gossiping about the lab explosion again. Why must you go there in person to hear things you don’t even need to listen to?”
“I’ve told you—just as you go to your company, I go to the palace. It’s my duty.”
“Duty? Voluntarily seeking out nonsense to listen to?”
“It’s not like that—”
It’s not that I go there just to hear nonsense—I go because there’s something I wish to accomplish, something I must do.
But the words stuck in Louisa’s throat, and she couldn’t finish her sentence.
Countless past attempts to convince him flashed through her mind.
How much emotional energy had they both wasted in those efforts?
She could already envision the all-too-familiar ending playing out once again. The well-known scene unfolded before her like a panorama, making her chest tighten as if she couldn’t breathe.
Louisa pressed a hand firmly against her chest and took a deep breath.
“Do you really think those people will look kindly on you just because you do that? Don’t be naive. I know their true nature better than anyone.”
“I never said I go there hoping for their approval.”
“Then why go at all?”
He asked, incredulous.
Indeed, the title of councilor—close to an honorary post—didn’t even provide a proper income.
Yet she had taken her role seriously, driven by a sense of responsibility. She had resolved this many times while watching him and had said it aloud just as often.
“Because I hope the world can change, even just a little. I’ve told you countless times—this is precisely what a councilor’s role is for.”
Edward furrowed his brows and frowned. Clearly, he, too, was weary of this unresolved repetition.
“…You hope the world will change.”
He let out a deep sigh.
“But you’ll only end up as the protruding stone that gets hammered down. If that approach actually worked, every noble would attend sessions diligently like you do. Do you know why they don’t?”
He spoke slowly and deliberately, emphasizing each word so Louisa would hear him clearly.
“Because there’s no point in doing meaningless work.”
“If it were truly meaningless, such a position would have disappeared long ago, Edward.”
Edward raised his eyebrows, ready to scold her for her defiance—but after a moment, he sighed and spoke gently,
“Then at least attend some social gatherings instead. I heard you’re close with Mrs. Bryce? She’s apparently hosting a reading circle with some acquaintances. You should join them—it might be fun.”
“Thank you for the suggestion. I’ll consider the reading circle. But that doesn’t mean I’m resigning my council position.”
“Louisa!”
He finally lost his patience and raised his voice.
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
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That seems nice at least he is trying the problem that he doesn’t know how !!!