Recently, the usually quiet Alan Institute was noisier today than ever before.

Thomas, aka Tom, got instant project approval from the president and left for fieldwork with an excited face.

The researchers who had been working like machine parts under the president’s strict control were buzzing with excited voices, dreaming of doing their own research.

Someone persuaded a colleague to work together on Tom’s project, while another brainstormed ideas to get their own project approved.

To Jeffrey, it seemed like quite a positive change. Scribbling various memos on the incoming proposals, Jeffrey asked excitedly.

“By the way, sir. Are you attending the Duke of Portland’s homecoming celebration party?”

Edward pressed his aching head with his hand. The issue he had been pondering was brought up again through Jeffrey, making his head throb with pain.

“…How did you know about that.”

“He’s a returning hero. It’s all over the newspapers. It’s being headlined as much as when Edward Allen caused that incident.”

In fact, an invitation arrived a few days ago in the name of the Duchess of Portland.

It was a polite invitation asking to please come and grace a party celebrating the Duke of Portland’s return.

If it had been a letter just for me, I would have thrown it away without hesitation. However, the problem was that my wife was also included as a recipient of this invitation.

“…I’m thinking about it.”

“Why are you hesitating? It’s going to be a party where all the notable nobles gather.”

High society was a place where one had to attend such events and expand connections to establish oneself. Jeffrey, knowing this much, seemed unable to understand Edward’s hesitation.

“My wife also received an invitation. In the name of the Duchess of Portland.”

“Ah… that must be quite awkward for you.”

Jeffrey rolled his eyes upward and shrugged.

“Whether I should tell my wife about the invitation, how to handle attendance if I do tell her, why I have to deal with these damned worries. It’s all terrible.”

Edward muttered.

Jeffrey watched his mood. The president, who was barely holding on with what little energy he had left, shouldn’t break down here.

“I understand how you feel… but don’t you have to do it? It would be problematic not to attend without any notice when an invitation has been sent.”

“If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t even be considering it.”

Edward leaned back in his chair and rubbed his face with both hands, as if he really had a headache.

Of all times, to have such an important party now.

“If my wife finds out about this invitation, she’ll surely try to go despite her condition.”

“Yes, she would.”

Jeffrey nodded as well.

But truly, he didn’t want to leave his wife alone in such a place, even if it killed him. He had already done enough of such foolish things in the past.

As his worries didn’t end, Jeffrey added a word.

“Still, shouldn’t you prioritize Mrs. Allen’s opinion the most?”

“If there wasn’t any problem with my wife, I would have naturally told her about the invitation. But now…”

Edward trailed off. Jeffrey also closed his mouth, looking at him with pity.

“If only I could meet her once and have a proper conversation.”

Edward muttered.

If only that could happen, he would tell her everything she didn’t know and wanted to know without hiding anything.

That he didn’t dislike her portrait, but disliked his own incompetence and poverty. That people like Lady Ernst meant nothing to him, and that he only loved her and lived only for her.

He was prepared to lay bare what his true feelings were in front of her, but now it was too late for such thoughts.

Edward covered his face and bent over as if collapsing.

I miss you. I miss you so much, Louisa.

Jeffrey, who found him pitiful, looked down at him with sympathetic eyes and said.

“A meeting might be difficult… but if it’s really hard for you, wouldn’t it be okay to just go and see her?”

“…”

“Who would say anything if you just look from afar once? You can communicate through Lord Averitt anyway.”

He said to the man who was curled up, unbecoming of his large frame.

“Go once. Don’t worry about the company.”

“If I go, will Lord Averitt let me meet Louisa?”

“That wouldn’t be good for your wife’s sake either. But who knows.”

Jeffrey shrugged.

“What kind of coincidence might happen there.”

Edward’s steps towards Lindblum Station were quick.

Until just now, he had only wanted to close his eyes and collapse. But now his whole body was full of energy.

His chest, which had felt like it would tear apart from the pain of thinking about his wife, started thumping with excitement at the thought of being able to see her, even from afar.

While waiting at the counter to buy a ticket, Edward blurted out his request as soon as his turn came, as if urging the station attendant.

“A train to Tanassen, the fastest one.”

The attendant issued him a ticket for a train departing in 30 minutes. He carefully put it in his coat’s inner pocket and headed straight for the platform where he had to board the train.

Edward realized for the first time that he had such an impulsive and impatient side.

To suddenly decide to visit another city like this. It was something he couldn’t have imagined before.

But now it wasn’t so surprising. Since his wife declared their separation, he had learned a lot about aspects of himself he hadn’t known before.

‘I hope Daniel will listen to me.’

Edward clenched his fist anxiously.

Although he was going to see his wife, he didn’t even know where she was staying now. Louisa hadn’t even told him her whereabouts.

But from what he heard from Paul, he knew Daniel’s address, and also knew that he was working at Tanasvania College, and that his wife would have to visit Tanasvania for treatment.

That was enough for him to go meet his wife.

Upon arriving in Tanassen, Edward immediately took a cab towards Tanasvania.

Seeing a rather well-dressed man get in, the driver peeked at the back seat through the rearview mirror. He was curious about the identity of the passenger he had picked up.

However, without realizing that it could be that Edward Allen here, he stopped after a few more glances.

The driver dropped him off at the main gate of the college.

After checking the map posted on the bulletin board near the main gate, Edward headed straight for the Engineering College.

The Engineering College was located quite deep inside, requiring a bit of a walk.

He walked along the path his wife would have taken, like a pilgrim.

With her small steps, it would have taken a little longer than him. Seeing the lively students around, she would have smiled, thinking how nice it looked.

As he walked with such thoughts, he saw a sign for the affiliated hospital in the distance.

‘If I go there, would my wife be there?’

His heart started pounding.

‘But what if we happen to run into each other?’

He was afraid of meeting his wife, despite coming because he missed her. He had his reasons.

He didn’t want his wife’s condition to worsen. Although he wanted to see her and talk to her, he knew well that it was his own selfish desire.

Edward stared at the sign for a while before moving on.

Following the traces his wife might have left here and there, he soon reached his destination.

Standing in front of the Engineering College’s faculty research building, he went to Daniel’s office on the third floor.

Fortunately, Daniel was in.

Edward knocked.

“Yes. Come in.”

Daniel’s voice was heard from inside.

Swallowing hard and clenching his fist, Edward released the tension in his hand and grabbed the doorknob.

As he opened the door, he saw Daniel sitting at a large desk.

He was sitting at the desk, marking something on a calendar. Daniel put down the pen and desk calendar he was holding and looked up at the visitor who had come to see him.

Click.

Daniel’s face hardened as he confirmed the figure who entered, closing the door.

“What brings you here, Edward Allen.”

It was a tone quite different from the voice that had told him to come in.

Edward felt his breath catch at the cold reception.

He had never liked him much to begin with, but it was the first time since the day they first met that Daniel looked at him with such an expression.

His lips felt as heavy as if they had weights attached. Edward managed to utter a word with difficulty.

“It’s been a while, Lord Averitt.”

“I asked you what brings you here.”

“My wife…”

I came because I missed her.

However, the words “I miss her” that should have followed couldn’t be uttered in front of Daniel.

How could he shamelessly say such words in front of her brother?

Until he arrived, he had been excited by his own desires and imagined various scenarios that might occur, thinking of how to deal with them.

But standing in front of the family who would be more saddened than anyone by her pain, he realized that all his actions were nothing more than selfishness.

Edward’s lips moved silently a few times before he finally pulled out the invitation he had prepared from his chest.

“This is an invitation for Louisa. I… would like to ask you to deliver it.”

Like a criminal, he held out the invitation with his head bowed, unable to even meet Daniel’s eyes.

But Daniel didn’t even check what it was. He glared coldly at Edward and said.

“You, who used to treat time like gold, came all the way here just to deliver this invitation?”

He let out a scornful laugh.

“Say something that makes sense, Allen.”

Edward just silently listened to his words.

He had nothing to say about his sharp words. After all, he was the husband who had left his wife alone with the excuse of being busy with work.

Edward bowed his head in silence.

Daniel stood up and said.

“I didn’t intend to order you around. I thought I couldn’t interfere in matters between a married couple.”

He walked with movements that seemed stiffer than his usual languid gait, almost to the point of seeming rigid.

Passing by Edward and opening the door of the office, he said.

“But now I’ll speak as her brother. You, as you are now, can’t have a good influence on her. I’ll make sure to deliver the invitation, so go back now, Edward Allen.”