In A World Full of Silence, My Heart Will Find Its Way To You - Chapter 101

Inside the Emperor Carlos’s audience chamber, he greeted Eric with a bright smile as his white uniform and red cape swirled around him.

“Eric!”

Until he received the report from his aide, Carlos had appeared stern, but the moment he saw Eric, his expression immediately softened into a welcoming one.

Contrary to everyone’s worries, there was no trace of blame or anger toward Eric on the Emperor’s face.

“I present myself to His Majesty the Emperor.”

Eric knelt before the Emperor, who he hadn’t seen in a long time.

The sunlight shining through the window cast a glow over the table, making Carlos, draped in golden drapery on his shoulders, appear even more dazzling.

“Come in! I was just waiting for you.”

Carlos raised his voice unconsciously before quickly turning his gaze toward the aide, signaling him to leave with a silent command.

The aide, experienced in reading the Emperor’s cues, quietly withdrew.

Now, only the two of them remained in the private space. A soft smile appeared on Carlos’s face as he looked at Eric.

“I’m so glad you’re safe. I almost thought I’d never see your face again.”

“I apologize for causing you concern, Your Majesty. It is an honor that you even sent the Imperial Guard for someone as insignificant as me.”

“Let’s skip the formalities. You’re safe, and that’s all that matters. Losing you would be like losing an army to me.”

“I’m honored that you think so.”

“By the way, who could have done this? Who tried to kill you? I’ve made a few guesses. Could it have been Count Bailey?”

Eric remained silent, his lips tightly sealed. This must have frustrated Carlos, as he furrowed his brow deeply.

“Indeed… as expected. Even after coming back from death, you still remain silent. Sometimes, people need to change. Could it be Count Bailey who did this?”

“We can’t be sure yet.”

“Right. What could I expect from this stiff formalist? Let’s sit. There’s much we need to discuss.”

At Carlos’s familiar gesture, Eric sat down across from him. As Carlos’s gaze slowly softened while he observed Eric, his eyes became gentler.

“I’ve wanted to talk about a lot of things, but we’ll get to that gradually. Let me be direct, though. You probably have an idea why I called for you.”

“If this is about the trade rights of the Bailey family, I apologize for causing you concern, Your Majesty.”

“I’m not blaming you. There’s no reason to. The issue, however, is more complicated than I thought. Greedy weasels like the nobles, including Count Cecil, won’t miss such an opportunity.”

Carlos, lost in thought, tightly clenched the hand resting on the armrest.

“You know why I keep an eye on Count Cecil. Let me speak frankly. I don’t want to share the power I’ve struggled so hard to acquire with anyone, not even my mother.”

“I just can’t believe it. As the rumors say, the new head of the Bailey family is a foolish individual. He’s practically ruining the family with his own hands. What is the cause of his eccentric behavior? You must know the reason, right?”

At Carlos’s probing question, Eric raised his head and met his gaze.

As expected, Carlos’s expression was very serious. This was a matter of great importance to him.

Eric had to make a decision. After much contemplation, he reached a resolution.

Following the rehearsed steps in his mind, he took out the ring from his pocket and handed it to Carlos, speaking gravely.

“Your Majesty, this may come as a surprise, but I intend to offer the Bailey family’s seal to you.”

“You’re offering me the family seal? What do you mean?”

Carlos was clearly taken aback by this sudden statement. Unlike him, Eric’s gaze on the ring grew darker and more intense.

“It means I’m willing to return all the wealth and rights of the Bailey family to the Empire. Of course, this is a decision only the head of the family can make.”

“How do you know that…?”

“But someone who seized the position of family head under suspicious circumstances cannot make this decision.”

Carlos’s face immediately crumpled at Eric’s mention of Count Dennis’s suspicious death. His voice raised with agitation.

“Suspicious? Are you saying Count Dennis was murdered?”

“Tell me. Who did it? Could it have been that incompetent head of the family?”

“It was Count Dennis’s wife. But in the end, a position gained through her wrongful ambition will never be recognized by the nobility.”

Carlos was stunned. The news of a wife poisoning her husband and her son ascending to his place would, once it spread through the social circles, certainly ruin the Bailey family’s reputation overnight.

“Do you have proof?”

Carlos lowered his voice and asked calmly.

Eric wiped the heavy expression from his face and looked at Carlos with eyes that were as cold and sharp as ice.

“I have evidence of the poisoning and witnesses who can testify to it.”

“That’s about as clear as it gets. This matter must be uncovered. But before that, I have a question for you.”

Carlos’s gaze, now mixed with concern, met Eric’s cautiously.

“The corruption of the family head is an opportunity for you. You could use this chance to take over the family. You’ve longed for the business, haven’t you?”

Eric’s blue eyes lingered on the ring. There was already a shadow of darkness in his gaze.

To destroy his own family with his hands would carry a tremendous weight of guilt for him.

Could the choice to destroy his family be justified in any way?

He sighed softly, a bitter expression crossing his face as emotions he could not express flickered in his eyes.

Carlos, who had leaned back in his chair, nodded slowly, still observing Eric closely.

“I understand… You wouldn’t want to take over the family this way. It would be a dishonorable act. I understand that feeling, as I was in the same position when I rose to this seat. But, will you have no regrets?”

“I could issue an investigation right now. By interrogating the Countess and the family head, the ugly truth will come to light. Would that be acceptable to you?”

Eric met Carlos’s probing words with a steady gaze, without the slightest hint of fear.

“This is the only way to uncover my father’s death. If I cover this up, I’ll be no different than those power-hungry demons.”

“Hmm…”

Carlos could not argue against this. Then, a thought crossed his mind.

“There is one more thing I want to ask. If, through this process, the abuse of power and the corrupt nature of Count Bailey are revealed, what will you do?”

It was the same question Count Cecil had asked him. The noble’s tone had been laced with subtle mockery and threats, and Carlos’s forehead furrowed at the thought.

“In that case, I would give Count Cecil the trade negotiations for all kingdoms, including the Kingdom of Atil.”

It was a disagreeable proposal, but in the end, he had allowed it.

At the end of the line, Eric and Carlos were the ones who had pushed for this business. Knowing well the poisonous nature of Cecil’s ambitions, Carlos began to feel anxious.

Eric, who could see through Carlos’s worry, didn’t let this opportunity slip by.

“Your Majesty, there’s one more thing I need to say.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Have you ever heard of the Reynolds family, who fell during the reign of the late Emperor?”

“The Reynolds family… Didn’t they handle trade during the reign of the late Emperor?”

When Carlos was younger, he had occasionally heard news about the Reynolds family through the late Emperor. The loyal and honorable Count Frederick Reynolds had been greatly admired by the people.

The previous land routes had been long and time-consuming, as they bypassed the coastline.

Thus, the need for large-scale transportation through sea routes had become evident. Count Frederick Reynolds had supported the sea route extensively, making it the center of trade.

But problems arose there. Rumors began to circulate that Count Reynolds had accepted bribes.

There were even disgraceful rumors that he had intercepted taxes meant for the Emperor for his own gain.

The rumors spread and turned into large-scale protests.

In the end, the late Emperor had executed Count Reynolds and his family, covering the whole affair without leaving a trace.

But how did Eric know about this family?

Carlos couldn’t guess why Eric was bringing up this family. He asked in confusion.

“I heard the Count’s corruption was exposed through his use of the sea route, which led to his downfall. Why are you asking about this now?”

Eric fixed his steady gaze on Carlos, his expression unwavering.

“If the downfall of Count Reynolds is closely related to the late Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and Count Cecil, what would you do?”

“What do you mean?”

Carlos looked at Eric with a puzzled expression.

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