In A World Full of Silence, My Heart Will Find Its Way To You - Chapter 102

Eric took out a single document from a paper envelope, along with a handwritten letter from Count Frederick Reynolds and a signet ring belonging to a noble family.

Carlos accepted them and looked down with a puzzled expression.

His eyes, briefly resting on the signet ring, soon widened. He recognized it immediately.

“This is the seal of the Cecil family, isn’t it? It’s clearly authentic. Are you saying the Count has been using a fake all this time? What’s this document?”

Without time to guess, Carlos began reading the document.

As he read through the contents with sharp eyes, brushing aside the pages with his hand, one line suddenly caught his attention.

His eyes stopped at a particular seal on the list of signatures.

A familiar seal. Carlos’s straight forehead began to crease.

“This is my mother’s seal…”

Carlos, looking confused, read over the document several more times. A heavy silence fell between them.

Carlos’s eyes, filled with confusion and doubt, slowly turned to Eric.

Lowering his voice, Carlos studied him with curiosity.

“To think the Empress made such a mistake. If what I’m thinking is correct… why would she try to bring down Count Reynolds?”

“I heard Count Reynolds strongly opposed Her Majesty when she was building the Arke Garden.”

“I see…”

Carlos nodded slowly at Eric’s words.

The Arke Garden was the Empress’s personal project, a luxurious display of her power to the entire empire.

“She probably wanted someone loyal to her in that position. She never spares those who go against her will.”

“Shortly after that event, Count Reynolds received a secret order from the late Emperor. He was to gather oaths of loyalty from the nobles.”

“Wait, are you sure it was really the Emperor’s command?”

Carlos narrowed his brows in suspicion. This was clearly new information to him.

“The Count, acting on imperial orders, collected the signet rings of the nobles and headed to the palace. But he was arrested there and executed.”

“That’s strange. My brother was just a puppet of my mother. He would never demand loyalty pledges to himself.”

Carlos shook his head, his expression growing colder.

His eyes, usually calm, now held an icy air of unresolved doubt.

“You’re right. There’s only one conclusion. It was a trap set by the late Emperor and the Empress.”

“A trap…”

“If His Majesty, under the Empress’s orders, summoned Count Reynolds to the palace with a fake task…”

“To lure him in under the pretense of collecting loyalty oaths? It makes sense.”

“If someone among the nobles secretly cooperated, it would have been easy. Especially if it was Count Cecil—he probably knew everything in advance.”

“Hmm… yes. Now it all connects.”

Carlos stared down at the document in his hand. As the pieces came together, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

“This might be the chance to finally end this political battle with my mother.”

Carlos, who had seemed stern, nodded slightly. He now looked at Eric with a more relaxed face.

“So, what should we do first?”

“First, we need to arrest the protest leader who opposed the Reynolds family’s trade route. He can confirm the truth.”

“Then do it immediately.”

“But he currently works under Count Cecil. If we arrest him recklessly, both the Count and the Empress will know your intentions.”

Eric’s sharp gaze met Carlos’s. Carlos silently looked back at the evidence.

After a moment of thought, he slowly raised his head, his tone suddenly cold.

“I want to end this fight with my mother. It’s been a long battle. You know my will better than anyone. Isn’t that why you brought this evidence to me?”

The room was quiet except for the sound of breathing. Carlos’s gaze on Eric grew deeper.

He did not look away, clearly showing his resolve.

“I’ll leave everything related to this and the Bailey family in your hands. From now on, there’s no need to ask for my opinion. I trust your judgment and will support you.”

“I accept your command.”

“If anyone goes against you, do not hesitate to cut them down.”

His calm but powerful voice echoed. Hearing this unusually solemn tone, Eric bowed his head in acceptance.

Carlos looked carefully at Eric.

A man bold enough to point a sword at both the Empress and a Count. Someone who knew the depths of his true feelings better than anyone.

Just knowing such a wild wolf was beneath him gave Carlos a strange thrill.

But he also knew the truth—Eric was very much like him. He never fights a losing battle.

If he’s trying to take control of this power struggle himself, he must have a hidden motive.

Carlos’s eyes flickered with suspicion.

“You’re offering this much loyalty. It would be wrong not to reward you. Tell me, what do you want?”

Eric’s pupils trembled slightly at the probing question. The seasoned Emperor had a talent for reading others’ desires.

Especially with Eric—a knight who had fought by his side through countless wars. He couldn’t miss even the slightest shift in him.

A hollow silence filled the air. Then Eric broke it, slowly opening his mouth.

“As expected of Your Majesty. You’re not someone I could ever fool.”

Carlos laughed boldly at Eric’s words. Eric continued without changing his expression.

“Please grant me permission to marry Miss Aria Reynolds, Your Majesty.”

“Aria Reynolds…? Someone from the Reynolds family survived?”

Carlos narrowed his eyes at the sudden request.

He looked puzzled, shook his head, and abruptly stood up. His red cape fluttered from the movement.

Looking down at Eric, Carlos’s gaze grew sharper.

Eric calmly continued, as if he had expected this reaction.

“I understand you wish for a marriage with Lady Stuart. It would unite the two nations. But I already have someone I love.”

“Marriage is a political tool. You’re aiming to strengthen your position, yet you want to marry a noblewoman from a ruined family?”

“I cannot accept any other. Please abandon that idea.”

Carlos let out a dry laugh at Eric’s repeated firm response.

A man who rejected wealth and power in a heartbeat. A subordinate driven solely by revenge for his family.

Carlos had always known Eric was that kind of person, but this went beyond his expectations.

To give up power for love—and for the daughter of a fallen house?

He saw the unwavering determination in Eric’s eyes and let out a quiet laugh.

“So that’s why you were so interested in this case.”

“You’re quite interesting. To go this far just to restore the status of a fallen lady. You planned to negotiate with me from the start.”

“Please forgive my insolence.”

Carlos gave a tired smile at Eric’s calm reply.

“How did you even meet her? You haven’t left Bailey since returning.”

“After her family fell, Miss Reynolds worked as a maid in the Bailey household.”

“A maid? A noble lady hiding as a maid?”

Carlos’s eyes sparkled more brightly now. He seemed intrigued by the story of how Eric and Aria met.

Narrowing his eyes, Carlos continued.

“Very well. If this case is resolved properly, she may regain her status. In the end, it all depends on you.”

Carlos, now calmer, sat back down. He folded his arms and spoke with a relaxed tone.

“But there’s one condition. I want to meet her in person. I’m curious how someone like you fell for her.”

Eric frowned slightly at the request, not knowing the Emperor’s full intentions.

But Carlos showed no sign of backing down, even as Eric’s expression stiffened.

“If this concerns the Reynolds family, it concerns her as well. If she’s truly sharp, she won’t dare refuse a private audience with the Emperor. So, where is she now?”

“That is…”

Eric trailed off and looked out the window.

In the distance, sunlight gleamed off the proud structure of the Imperial Guard fortress.

He knew Carlos would never back down once he had made up his mind.

After staring at the fortress for a moment, Eric let out a quiet sigh and turned back to Carlos with a worried look in his eyes.

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