In A World Full of Silence, My Heart Will Find Its Way To You - Chapter 107

Carlos, who had survived countless wars that his mother had thrown him into, had developed the ability to instantly grasp the subtle tensions between people.

Whether that was experience or cunning—knowing how to strike at an opponent’s weakness—was unclear.

“If that’s what you hoped for, that’s unfortunate. I didn’t come here to persuade you.”

“If not to persuade me, then what? Don’t tell me you’ve come to kneel and beg in front of me?”

“Begging? Is it because I detained Count Cecil’s servant? It sounds as if the Emperor of the Empire can’t even deal with a mere servant of a count.”

A faint smirk formed at the corner of Carlos’s lips. That someone would expect him to apologize just for laying a hand on Count Cecil’s servant—

He was starting to feel irritated at the sheer audacity of questioning imperial authority.

But he had to suppress even a flicker of anger. This was how his mother always operated.

A tactic of manipulating and dominating from above, even while pretending to honor imperial authority.

As the anger faded from Carlos’s face, the Empress Dowager gave a faint smile, as if she had already predicted his response.

“Count Cecil leads the trade in Orphen. Tarnishing his name—no matter who you are—will bring harsh criticism from the nobles.”

“This matter will surely be brought up in the upcoming royal council. And who could silence their voices?”

Her tone was gentle, but it clearly asserted her power and authority.

The Empress Dowager calmly lifted her teacup, took a sip, and set it down.

Her reckless son was trying to expose his own weakness again.

To detain a count’s servant without proper evidence?

What a perfect opportunity. A juicy piece of bait had walked into her trap on its own.

‘And yet you dare to stand against me, Carlos? Foolish boy.’

Her sly smile broke the calm expression on her face, spreading like a crack.

At that moment, Carlos chuckled faintly and spoke.

“Mother, do you happen to remember the House of Reynolds? The one that fell during the late emperor’s reign.”

House Reynolds. The count who had constantly opposed her policies.

The family she had vowed to crush and destroy.

“I’m not sure.”

The Empress Dowager’s eyes briefly sharpened, then softened again.

How could the Emperor know about a family that had already fallen?

Then she vaguely recalled hearing that Count Cecil had hired the man most responsible for the Reynolds family’s downfall as his servant.

Lost in thought for a moment, she placed the teacup down and shook her head.

“A family like that? I don’t recall anything.”

“Truly…?”

Carlos, never taking his eyes off her, held out a single old document.

“Then what’s this? Why does it have your personal seal on it, Mother?”

Her amber-red eyes slowly looked down.

What was this shabby, aged document? Her gaze, scanning it, began to tremble.

It was a signed petition opposing Reynolds’ trade operations—something she had personally handled.

The Empress Dowager picked it up with a shocked expression.

She had believed it was completely hidden. How did this end up in the Emperor’s hands?

Though she tried to remain calm, her unease was obvious.

Carlos, watching her carefully, narrowed his eyes slightly.

“You never spared anyone who opposed your power, did you? So imagine how much of a thorn Count Reynolds must have been in your side.”

“W-What are you saying…?”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to install Count Cecil, who acts like the royal lapdog, rather than the rebellious Count Reynolds? Or more accurately, your lapdog.”

Annoyed by the mockery in his tone, the Empress Dowager narrowed her brows and let out a dry cough.

“You’re taking this joke too far.”

“A joke? Isn’t it widely known that much of the profit from trade flows directly into the Empress Dowager’s palace?”

“Carlos…!”

Cracks began to show in the Empress Dowager’s calm expression.

Carlos, noticing, grew more intrigued.

He was deliberately pushing her into revealing the darkness she tried to hide.

It wasn’t difficult. This was what he had always wished for.

Carlos’s eyes gleamed with suspicion, yet he smiled as if nothing was wrong.

“Now, why are you getting so angry? You’re the one who always told me to stay calm, Mother.”

“Your words are an insult to me as the Empress Dowager.”

“You call truth an insult… I see no other way, then.”

He casually lifted his teacup and took a sip.

“You were always anxious that I might take my brother’s place. That’s why you sent me off to all those battlefields, didn’t you?”

“Why bring that up now? There was no other choice.”

“Back then, I endured each suffocating day and made a promise. That one day, I would return. And that I’d never lose a fight again—even if my opponent was my own mother.”

The Empress Dowager said nothing, staring only at her teacup.

Carlos looked calmly at her and spoke firmly.

“Kneel before you? No. This is clearly a fight I’ve already won.”

“I didn’t expect you to dig into my past. That’s quite frightening. Do you truly want to break your mother?”

“You were the one who taught me—victory in politics must be absolute.”

“So, what do you want? Are you hoping your own mother will be executed?”

Her sharp gaze lingered on her son.

Carlos, meeting her eyes, laughed boldly.

“Of course not. You gave birth to me. I wouldn’t want such disgrace tied to my name.”

“I’m so touched I could cry at your generous mercy, Your Majesty.”

“I’d be honored if you shed such noble tears for my sake.”

Carlos leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed as the Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes at him in disdain.

“From now on, please leave policies regarding the kingdoms to me.”

“That’s what you came for?”

“That’s not all. At the next royal council, Count Cecil will be stripped of his title as well.”

“Carlos!”

Her voice rose in anger, echoing sharply through the room.

But Carlos’s indifferent gaze pierced straight through her.

“Count Cecil will carry the blame for your disgraceful dealings with the Reynolds family. It’s quite a neat arrangement, don’t you think?”

“So you didn’t come to persuade me—you came to threaten me.”

“Threaten? Think of it as a step toward greater prosperity for the Empire. I’m sure the sharp-minded nobles are already watching this matter closely.”

“Someone must pay the price for this to end.”

The Empress Dowager, speechless, closed her mouth tightly.

She bit the inside of her lip, her earlier warmth long gone.

Her face, red with anger, grew colder by the second as she stared at her son.

“And what if I try to protect Count Cecil?”

“Then rumors will spread that the Empress Dowager ruined a noble house for personal gain. That would be troublesome, wouldn’t it? You’d destroy the hard-earned trust you’ve built.”

“You’re cornering me.”

“Of course, I’ll make sure no such rumors spread—by keeping the nobles quiet.”

Faced with inevitable defeat, the Empress Dowager turned her head.

Her cunning son had forced her into a choice.

Gain power and lose her reputation? Or sacrifice her loyal servant with her own hands?

There was no real choice. Either way, she would lose an arm.

But for the sake of survival, she had to submit—for now. Even if it meant begging before her triumphant son.

She forced a smile, unaware that her lips trembled.

“For the sake of the Empire… I’ll accept your words.”

“Then?”

“I won’t oppose stripping Count Cecil of his title. I’ll also leave kingdom policies to Your Majesty.”

“That’s my wise mother. I shall follow that decision.”

Carlos stood, a smile tugging at his lips.

The unexpected retaliation from her son left the Empress Dowager’s face cold and twisted.

She lifted her chin arrogantly and muttered to his back as he walked away.

“Remember this—power can be lost at any time, depending on how it’s used. Nobles can turn against you over the smallest reason.”

“For the peace and dignity of the Empire, I’ll keep that in mind, Mother.”

Carlos turned slightly, leaving only a cold smile behind as he stepped out.

Once he was gone, a heavy silence fell over the room.

“Carlos… don’t be so proud just because you won this time. This is only the beginning.”

The Empress Dowager clenched the hem of her dress with trembling hands.

As she recalled Carlos’s triumphant face, her gaze, already cold, began to burn with venom.

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