In A World Full of Silence, My Heart Will Find Its Way To You - Chapter 111

A place where pitch-black darkness had completely settled. Only cold wind, like the cry of a ghost, swept through the prison surrounded by thick vines.

The floor was cold and damp. The musty smell made one frown.

The prison, where not a single ray of sunlight entered, made it hard to know how time passed outside.

A loud, sharp scraping sound echoed as if something was being dragged across the floor. A countess, with heavy iron chains around her thin ankles, sat crouched on the ground.

She had been locked here for days, waiting for the moment of death. A fight where even the reason to survive had been lost.

Even if she stayed alive, it would be hard to avoid Eric’s blade, which was slowly closing in like a noose.

Seeing how the head maid, who had been across from her, was taken away and never returned, she had surely confessed.

Of course, how could a weak woman endure such cruel torture?

The countess reached out her powerless hand and grabbed her ankle. The chains had been tied so tightly that dried blood had formed in the gaps.

“Edward, since they still haven’t caught you, that must mean you’re alive. But if I stay here, you’ll be in danger too.”

The countess took something out from under her dress.

A crumpled piece of white paper wrapped around something. She looked at it and gave a faint smile.

“Just a small handful. With one moment, everything could end…”

She was about to swallow a deadly herb. Even though death would be quick, the pain would be endless.

But if Edward could live… she clenched her teeth firmly.

When the imperial guards rushed into the Bailey estate, she had pleaded with the coachman.

He had to take Edward to the outskirts of Callas, west of the Bailey lands.

From Callas, he could take a ship and quickly arrive in Shale, in the south.

That was her hometown. If he got there before a nationwide manhunt began, relatives might help him start a new life.

As her heavy eyelids suddenly lifted, she heard footsteps.

In the prison filled with the stench of blood, loud steps echoed.

The countess quickly hid the paper in her hand.

Soon, the huge iron door in front of her opened, and someone entered.

She barely raised her head to look.

And then, through the shadowy figure, Eric in uniform came into view.

Blue eyes shone coldly beneath his black hair. When he first arrived at the Bailey estate, those eyes were full of fear.

Now, they stared at her clearly, filled with arrogance, as if they could see right through her.

“You look awful, Countess.”

His mocking voice made her struggle to open her eyes.

Then she weakly lifted the corners of her mouth.

“So, you’ve finally come to end my life. No need to waste time. Just kill me.”

“You’re still shameless. After killing your husband, how can you act so proud?”

“Who says I poisoned the Count? I didn’t do such a thing.”

“So you’ve given up all shame now?”

“Shame…?”

The countess laughed without meaning to. Her coarse laugh echoed through the prison.

“You really think all this happened because of me? Think carefully. Are you sure you carry no blame?”

“So you’re going to blame me to the end.”

“If you had quietly returned to the capital, neither the Count nor the family would’ve ended up like this.”

She raised her chin arrogantly and looked Eric up and down. At this, Eric fell silent.

As he stared at the fallen woman, a sharp memory echoed in his mind.

“You cursed our son, didn’t you?! Bring him back! You filthy, disgusting creature!”

Years spent locked in a sunless room.

He could’ve ended his life many times, but the only thing that kept him going was Aria — and a sharp, unshakable desire for revenge.

As he recalled that moment, Eric barely held down the anger rising from deep inside. His expression turned calm.

“You’re smart. I’m sure you know. The head maid confessed. She even gave clear evidence.”

“So?”

“Yet you still say nothing. That must mean you have another plan. Perhaps trying to buy time.”

The countess looked up, startled. She saw that Eric’s eyes had grown even colder.

Those eyes, as if seeing into her soul, made her turn her head quickly.

But Eric stepped closer. He bent down and grabbed her chin, turning her to face him.

“Saying my father died because of me is just a weak excuse. It was the failure of an unworthy eldest son.”

“What?”

“Father tried to pass the title to the eldest. But Edward gave up that chance again and again. You know that well.”

His piercing gaze made her breath catch in her throat.

The words stabbed at her pride, and veins started to show on her pale forehead.

Staring straight into her trembling eyes, Eric spoke.

“I’ll give you one last chance to save Edward. Tell me where he is. If not, I’ll bring his cold corpse to you myself.”

“How dare someone like you try to threaten me!”

“Threaten? I’m giving you a final chance to make peace with Father.”

The countess, overwhelmed with emotion, smacked his hand away.

Her eyes narrowed, glaring at him with disgust.

“Even if I knew where Edward was, I would never kneel before a man of dirty blood like you. I won’t let my son carry such disgrace.”

She looked upward, her green eyes shining coldly, and laughed bitterly.

Eric stared at her for a long moment before standing.

“You’re the same as always. So proud, like you own everything. I gave you a chance, but you threw it away. Now there’s no other way.”

“Starting tomorrow, the investigation on you will begin. I should thank you. You’ve helped me let go of the little guilt I had left.”

“Mother…? Disgusting. Don’t call me that.”

Her rough voice scratched through her throat. She glared at Eric with wary eyes.

Mother. That word was clearly a mockery.

So this is how it ends. I should’ve killed you the moment you entered the Bailey estate.

The countess clenched her teeth, filled with regret and sorrow.

Eric looked down at her, a cold smirk on his lips.

“Then I wish you luck, Mother.”

His voice, short and cold like a blade, echoed as he turned and left through the iron door.

As he walked down the long stairs, his mind was full of thoughts.

Finally, it was time to strangle them all and return every bit of the pain they gave.

But he was tired. He wanted to let go of everything and rest.

A small thirst inside him began to itch again.

“Captain, shall we begin the investigation tomorrow?” asked the knight behind him.

Eric stopped walking, breaking out of his thoughts.

He turned his head slightly and opened his mouth.

“If we wait too long, rumors will start among the nobles. Tell the guard to watch her closely tonight.”

“Watch her closely…?”

“Make sure she doesn’t do anything foolish.”

“Yes, understood.”

Eric began walking again, and the knight hurried to follow.

He knew the countess well.

She showed no emotion, always cold. But inside, she was full of pride and arrogance.

That pride had led her here.

Eric had to use that against her. Or at least, he would try.

Even if she was still alive, she already knew what would come.

To protect her pride, she might try to end her own life.

Eric wouldn’t allow that. Not until she cried in front of him, begging for death.

That was the only goal he had left.

After leaving the prison, Eric undid one button from his collar and mounted his horse in one swift move.

Once Eric was gone, the countess lay down again on the cold floor.

A quiet sigh escaped her lips.

“That was quite a convincing threat…”

She remembered the complex look in Eric’s eyes and gave a bitter smile.

“A way to leave this place… It’s not like there isn’t one. But I have no intention of leaving. Even if I die, it will be by my own hand, with honor. I will never beg that man…”

Her eyes, lying on the ground, shone more strongly than ever.

She turned away from the watching eyes.

Curled up tightly, she looked harmless. This gave the guard a false sense of relief.

There seemed to be no sign that she would do anything rash.

The guard, comforted by the silence, closed his heavy eyes for just a moment — as he always did.

But when he opened them again, he was shocked by the sight of blood soaking the floor.

He immediately sensed something was wrong.

When he opened the iron door and stepped inside, only her wide, lifeless eyes stared up at the ceiling.

“H-How did this… Ugh!”

He turned away, unable to look.

Blood poured from every wound, yet she had covered her mouth tightly to suppress the pain.

And just like that, her body slowly turned cold.

Just like the last image of her husband — cold and still.

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