In A World Full of Silence, My Heart Will Find Its Way To You - Chapter 112

In a shabby inn tavern within a small village on the outskirts of Callas, west of the Bailey estate, two poorly dressed men sat facing each other.

“Count, you’ve stayed here for days. You must find a ship as soon as possible…”

“This is my land. Are you telling me to run away and become a coward who abandons his mother?”

“No, I didn’t mean it like that…”

“Then stop talking nonsense.”

“I know it’s a hard decision. But if we stay here, it’ll be hard to avoid their pursuit.”

“Shut up. Who do you think you are to lecture me?”

Pierced by Edward’s cold stare, the coachman clamped his lips shut, trying hard to hide his urgency.

Seeing the coachman lower his head, Edward finally eased his sharp expression.

He muttered in a low voice.

“All I feel is hunger…”

His once-heavy money pouch had quickly emptied from drinking every day.

Though he had always enjoyed luxurious, fancy food, now he was barely surviving on soup and bread just to ease his hunger.

He had never felt so powerless and miserable before.

He hated seeing himself like this, and didn’t want to hear a word from the coachman.

He was once the eldest son and head of the noble Bailey family. His once-bright green eyes had lost their light, now blankly wandering over the table.

Just then, the silence was broken by a group of traveling merchants entering, their shoulders loaded with supplies.

Everyone’s attention turned to the sudden noise.

The merchants sat at the table next to Edward and ordered drinks, perhaps trying to cool off.

As they drank, they stretched out their tired bodies with deep sighs.

“It’s a relief that salt and oil prices have stabilized lately.”

“Not just prices—quality has improved too. They say it’s thanks to the royal family managing the trade directly.”

“True. The Cecil family used to abuse their power so badly. They always cheated on the quality and quantity.”

“I was scammed plenty of times too. When I heard Count Cecil lost his title, it felt so satisfying!”

They took another drink to wet their dry throats.

One of them grabbed a handful of bread from the table and continued talking.

“By the way, did you hear? The Countess of Bailey killed herself in prison.”

“She killed herself?!”

“Shh! Keep your voice down.”

As one man’s voice rose, everyone—Edward included—turned their eyes toward them again.

Edward, who had been listening, was so shocked he nearly dropped his glass.

His hand holding the cup began to tremble slightly.

‘Mother is dead? That can’t be…’

He wanted to dismiss it as nonsense, but the conversation continued without regard for his will.

Edward tried to shake off the thoughts and let his gaze wander.

“Probably because she was accused of poisoning the Count. They say there’s now a warrant out for the escaped lord. Even a noble family like Bailey can fall in a moment, tsk tsk.”

“That lord is a coward. No one in society will ever view the Bailey name kindly again. Such a proud family, falling overnight.”

“With the guards spread everywhere, they’ll catch him soon. He could be hiding right here for all we know.”

“The bounty must be huge. And yet luck always misses me.”

Their red faces and laughter showed they were getting drunk. They looked around suspiciously.

Edward quickly lowered his head, afraid their eyes might meet.

Once their conversation ended, the room fell silent again. Edward’s eyes moved anxiously.

It had to be a lie. His mother couldn’t be dead. He silently wished and prayed.

Across the table, the coachman carefully asked, watching Edward’s reaction.

“Count, could something really have happened to the lady?”

“That’s impossible.”

“If this is true, your life may be in even more danger. I’m very worried.”

“No! No way!”

Edward jumped to his feet and slammed the table. The loud bang filled the quiet air.

Feeling the eyes of those around him, he hurriedly said to the coachman,

“Get the carriage ready. We have somewhere to go.”

“Do you mean you’re finally finding a ship?”

“No! Just do as I say without talking back!”

The coachman, startled by Edward’s scowling face, rushed outside.

“This can’t be… I won’t believe it…”

Edward ran his fingers roughly through his hair as if holding back anger. His unusually bright green eyes began to sink into deep thought.

He wasn’t ready to accept his mother’s sudden death.

If the rumor was true, he couldn’t run away to Shale.

Who among his relatives would take in a man who abandoned his dead mother just to save himself?

Instead, they’d criticize him and try to turn him in for the reward.

He didn’t want to return in disgrace after so much rejection. That was the last of his pride.

As he exhaled, a blurry image of Aria formed in his mind.

Her neatly tied brown hair, her pale, fresh face, and those clear, round eyes.

She had once been everything to him.

Was it selfish of him to want her back?

He could no longer go to her, nor stay by her side.

She was now at the Imperial Palace. She would never accept him again.

Edward had to change his thinking.

Isabella…

He thought of Isabella for the first time in a long while.

“If you don’t take back what you just said, our wedding is off. Are you really going to ruin your life over a maid who already ran away?”

She tried to hide her disappointment, holding back her feelings. She tried not to let emotions take over.

Isabella had truly wanted to hold on to him.

That day, she turned away, hiding her broken heart, but tears still welled in her eyes and fell.

Count Cecil may have lost his title, but that kind of wealth doesn’t disappear overnight. Even as a fugitive now, if I can win Isabella’s heart again, I’ll be able to rise again one day.

Edward hid his impatience and gave a faint, bitter smile. His dark eyes fell on the glass in front of him.

He picked it up and drained it, wetting his dry throat.

“It’s not too late yet.”

He whispered quietly and walked toward the carriage.

The Cecil mansion on the Roxen Bridge was unusually quiet. It lacked the usual busy atmosphere.

Maybe it was just the mood, but for a house of such a wealthy man, the luxurious aura had vanished. Only the quiet garden greeted visitors.

Just then, a carriage came out through the large closed gates. It was Isabella’s, headed to the city.

Hiding in the shadows by the bridge, Edward quickly stepped in front of the carriage.

The sudden stop made the carriage shake hard.

The coachman frowned and scanned the ragged man who had blocked them.

“What bad luck this morning. Get out of the way!”

Despite the grumbling horse, Edward didn’t budge.

“Do I need to call the guards to knock some sense into you? Who do you think you are, blocking our path?”

At the coachman’s shout, Isabella peeked her head out the window.

“What’s going on?”

“Don’t worry, miss. Some crazy fool doesn’t seem to understand words. I’ll move him right away.”

Looking ahead with wide eyes, Isabella’s gaze suddenly froze on a familiar face.

“Wa-wait. Could it be…?”

Edward smiled faintly as their eyes met.

A soft breath escaped Isabella’s lips.

“How… how are you here…?”

Rumors of Edward’s escape had reached her recently.

The disgraceful news of someone she once loved had done nothing good for her reputation.

Afraid of being branded with a red mark, she hadn’t even attended social gatherings for a while.

And now that her father’s title had been taken, one wrong rumor could forever stop their family from rising again.

So at tea time with noble ladies visiting her mansion, Isabella had always acted innocent and ignorant.

She couldn’t believe the sight before her.

Never had she imagined Edward would come looking for her.

She almost wished this moment was a dream.

She quickly got off the carriage and looked around nervously.

The sharp tapping of her heels, not matching her pink frilly dress, brought her straight to Edward.

“W-what are you doing here?”

“It’s been a while, Isabella. I missed you.”

“You… missed me? You really think I’d believe that?”

Isabella stared sharply at Edward.

When he removed his deeply pressed hat, his worn-out face was instantly revealed.

His tired, unkempt look showed how much he had suffered.

“I’ve done a lot of thinking. I shouldn’t have let you go like that.”

“W-what are you saying right now?”

“Take me back, Isabella.”

“What…? Are you out of your mind?”

Isabella’s eyes widened in shock.

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