In A World Full of Silence, My Heart Will Find Its Way To You - Chapter 110

Aria, who had been staring at the floor, lifted her head and looked straight at Emperor Carlos.

“If this chance helps my family regain its status, that alone would be a great honor for me. I won’t ask for more. As long as you allow me to stay by Sir Eric’s side.”

“So you’re rejecting my offer? You do understand that my words carry the weight of an imperial command, don’t you?”

Carlos’s face instantly turned cold.

In the past, he had been like the sun—too bright to even look at.

But in Aria’s eyes, only Eric mattered.

“I don’t mean to disobey Your Majesty’s order. I will accept anything, as long as it doesn’t mean I must leave Sir Eric.”

“You have a lot of conditions, Miss Reynolds.”

“Please forgive me with a generous heart, Your Majesty.”

Aria bowed her head and pleaded.

She couldn’t step back now. She had to convince the emperor somehow.

A heavy silence settled between them. A moment that felt like it could last forever.

To show her determination, Aria lifted her eyelids and met the emperor’s eyes directly.

Her clear gaze revealed her deep love for Eric.

Seeing that, a flicker passed through Carlos’s eyes.

He slowly studied her again, carefully observing each detail.

“Hm…”

For some reason, Carlos leaned back in his chair, his expression softening. Just then—

Before Carlos could speak again, a knock sounded by his ear.

His aide entered, clearly troubled.

“Your Majesty, it’s just that…”

“Eric is here, isn’t he? Let him in.”

“Yes, sir.”

As the aide left, a familiar face appeared through the door.

Carlos shifted his gaze from Aria to Eric. His stern expression melted slightly as he smiled gently.

“Eric, come in.”

“Your Majesty.”

Eric knelt before Emperor Carlos and bowed his head deeply.

His face, lowered in respect, was colder than ever—like a sharp blade of ice.

Carlos, watching him closely, narrowed his eyes slightly.

“My, showing me such a face. I must say, I’m a little disappointed.”

“Your Majesty, what were you discussing?”

“Well… Didn’t I say before? I wanted to meet Miss Reynolds in person. Have a seat. Every time you glare at me, I feel a chill down my spine.”

At Carlos’s friendly gesture, Eric sat across from him. The emperor’s smile grew soft as he looked at Eric.

But Eric kept his guarded expression.

His sharp eyes examined every move Carlos made.

Carlos smiled while meeting his gaze.

“I feel like I’m being interrogated. Let me be honest. I made the lady an offer. If she gave up marrying you, I’d give her great wealth.”

“Your Majesty!”

“Don’t look so shocked. She already made her choice.”

At the mention of a decision, Eric immediately turned to Aria.

No one had ever defied the emperor’s command before. This whole thing was under the emperor’s control.

Eric let out a breath between clenched teeth, as if he’d been hit.

“So even a withered tree like you can make a face like that.”

Carlos chuckled lightly.

“Your Majesty, this is clearly a form of coercion. Who can disobey the emperor when alone in your presence?”

“Hm… That’s what I thought too—until I met this young lady.”

Carlos stood, his expression unreadable, as if he’d just experienced something fascinating.

“I did want you to marry Miss Stuart. It would’ve been a perfect symbol of peace between our two nations.”

“The nobles always want more power and endless privileges. They don’t even see that greed as shameful. Instead, they think clinging to powerless love is what’s embarrassing.”

Carlos’s eyes, filled with scorn, hatred, and anger, turned toward the window.

“Being surrounded by people like that, I never realized it. That sometimes, powerless love can carry everything.”

His now calm gaze shifted between Aria and Eric.

As Eric looked at Carlos, he couldn’t help but wonder—what was the emperor really thinking? What was he trying to say?

Just as a rising tension scratched at Eric’s nerves—

“I told you before. For saving the emperor, I would grant you the title of marquis and some land. That offer still stands.”

“I clearly said before, I cannot accept it, Your Majesty.”

“I’m planning to entrust you with the steel business we just confiscated from the Bailey family.”

“What do you mean…?”

Eric trailed off, his eyebrows twitching slightly.

Carlos raised one brow lazily and looked Eric up and down with disapproval.

“You’re clever. I’m sure you understand what I mean.”

“Are you doing this to ease my guilt for destroying a noble family?”

“I simply chose the right person to grow the imperial fortune. Once you and Miss Reynolds are married, proceed quickly. I’m sure the business is a complete mess from being shut down.”

“Your Majesty, are you saying…?”

Eric’s blue eyes flickered as Carlos gave him a subtle, knowing smile.

It was an answer in itself.

Eric frowned slightly, still unsure of Carlos’s true intentions.

The emperor never showed his inner thoughts—no matter the situation.

Now, various emotions began to stir within Eric’s blue eyes.

Then, Carlos turned from the confused Eric and looked at Aria.

“As the Marquess’s wife, I’m sure this is the greatest honor the Reynolds family could ever receive. I hope you won’t lose the strong heart you showed me.”

Carlos spoke in a soft voice, tinged with a smile.

Aria’s eyes widened, and she instinctively looked at Eric.

And in that moment, seeing the slight crack appear in Eric’s hardened face, she realized—

If she could stay by Eric’s side, then that small but precious wish had finally come true.

“There will be a grand wedding soon. Don’t feel sad if I’m not there. As you can see, I have plenty to take care of.”

As Carlos finished speaking, a storm of emotions passed over Eric’s face.

The room was so quiet they could hear each other’s breathing.

Carlos met Eric’s gaze directly, showing his firm decision.

After leaving the audience chamber, Eric stopped at the end of the hallway.

He finally turned to face Aria, who had followed behind.

He let out a breath, as if finally releasing the weight in his chest. His blue eyes under dark hair still held suspicion.

“What did you say to the emperor?”

“Nothing much. Just that I chose you without hesitation, when he told me to pick between you and wealth…”

“You chose me?”

“Yes. I don’t need anything else, only you.”

At her words, a small crack formed in Eric’s expression.

His slightly widened blue eyes shimmered. He muttered quietly.

“Could it be that this… changed the emperor’s mind?”

“What?”

Aria leaned closer, trying to catch his quiet words.

Looking down at her, Eric’s lips curled into a faint smile.

“Well, since the emperor gave his blessing, there’s only one thing left.”

“One thing…?”

“To have you completely.”

“Yes, to have you all to myself.”

Eric looked at Aria with a calm face, hiding his rising excitement. Then he stepped closer.

As his shadow fell over her, Aria flinched and tried to step back.

But Eric leaned in, meeting her eyes directly. A subtle scent of his cologne filled the space between them.

Aria was flustered. She tried to back away, but Eric kept approaching.

“What if someone sees us?”

“Why should I care what others think, when I’m looking at what’s mine?”

“Wh-What do you mean, ‘yours’…?”

“Besides the emperor’s permission, what else is needed?”

“I-I…”

As Eric’s breath touched her cheek, Aria began to tremble. Her face turned red at the closeness.

She slowly lifted her eyes to meet his.

The coldness from earlier was gone—his gaze now filled only with playful mischief.

As she hesitated, she suddenly felt the weight of watching eyes.

She made eye contact with some maids peeking from the staircase.

Eric looked that way, too. Then, pretending not to notice, he turned his eyes back to Aria.

“Don’t worry. I haven’t lost control to the point of devouring you right here. But…”

His seductive eyes swept over her lightly.

“Who knows what could happen somewhere else.”

With that, Eric gently took her slender hand.

He smiled softly and led her outside.

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