In A World Full of Silence, My Heart Will Find Its Way To You - Chapter 34

Looking at Aria with a furrowed brow, the madam quietly asked Isabella.

“Miss, I know it’s overstepping, but that maid…It seems like she can’t even speak, so why are you planning to bring her into the new house? There must be more than a few inconveniences…

“She was Edward’s favorite maid. Even if it’s uncomfortable, you’ll get used to it over time. I also like the quietness without words. Above all, if it’s not us, there’s nowhere else to go.

“Oh my goodness…No wonder all the socialites are dying to be like Cecil. Such a beautiful heart.

The madam subtly scanned Aria and whispered discreetly.

“But be careful. By treating everyone so well, the maid is getting out of line and picking out dresses for you without knowing her place.”

“It’s okay. By any chance, did the maid hurt your pride?”

“Oh, no. It’s just a figure of speech.

At Madame’s wave of the hand, Isabella smiled with her eyes.

Aria’s eyes gradually reddened at their whispered conversation.

I tried to hold onto the hem of my skirt tightly to avoid shedding tears, but my trembling fingertips were beyond my control.

It felt like being alone in the middle of a group I couldn’t fit into. Isabella was quietly smiling as she looked over Aria.

“Aria, you don’t look well. It seems like it might take a while, do you want to go in first? I’ll let Edward know for you.

Her words pushing herself. Aria could intuitively understand what that meant.

“Yeah. It would be better to leave. It was a place I shouldn’t have come to in the first place…

Isabella, having become Edward’s wife, tried to completely erase all traces of Aria. Aria had no choice but to accept that intention.

If it were in the past, it would have been a more miserable moment.

As Aria gradually erased her feelings for Edward, she no longer felt resentful or wronged.

Aria took out a note and began to write.

[Young master, I can’t stay away for long, so I’ll be leaving first.]Thank you for inviting me to such an occasion.

Aria, having placed the note on the table, went outside as she was.

The outside air was cold and desolate, unlike earlier. Aria lightly wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

I never wanted to escape like this, but there was no other way.

She was still just a mere maid subordinate to the Bailey family.

Even though it was painful, I had to endure. In her eyes, where there was nowhere to lean on, tears flowed endlessly.

A street filled with women dressed elegantly carrying parasols and people happily chatting inside cafes.

In the midst of the bustling, glamorous street, she, who was nothing but insignificant, slowly disappeared into the dark alley without a trace.

Around the time the sun was setting, a red sunset was spreading across the sky.

Aria’s aimless footsteps were gradually moving away from the bustling district.

As I crossed the bridge over the shimmering river illuminated by the sunset, the grand mansion began to come into view in the distance.

Well-maintained garden and beautiful scenery. And Bailey’s Pond, boasting magnificent architectural style.

The steps she took without purpose soon led her back to that place. To return to the Bailey household in such a miserable state.

A hollow smile spread across Aria’s lips as she lowered her head.

Ariel, who had paused for a moment, stood still and looked down at the park created under the bridge.

I saw families who were sitting and enjoying their picnic start to leave one by one as the sun set.

As she watched them, Aria recalled her happy childhood.

I vaguely remembered sitting on the swing my father made, reading a book with my mother.

“Aria, if you treat that person sincerely, they will think of you sincerely and love you in return.”

The gentle voice of her mother, who had been looking at her, echoed in her ears. Aria shook her head.

“That statement is wrong, Mother. I approached everyone sincerely, but no one is worried about me.

The countess, who swore loyalty but treated her as a worthless being. Isabella, who, behind her pretty and kind face, regards and scorns her. And even Edward, who had indifferently ignored her.

Aria’s heart became heavy. Maybe it was an inevitable outcome.

Who would care about a mere maid?

As I lifted my heavy eyelids, Bailey appeared before my eyes.

Thinking about going in there, I felt my breath catch in my throat. She let out a long breath.

At that moment, Eric’s words to me came to mind.

“It will be tough, but just hang in there a little longer.”

I kept thinking about Eric, who genuinely cared about me. Since he left for the palace until now.

“Why do I keep thinking about that person?”

A heart that was difficult to comprehend kept relying on Eric.

If I were by his side, I felt like I could breathe a little at the Bailey house.

Would she want to use his unrestrained and straightforward nature as a shield to find even a small sense of peace? Aria had no way to calm her confused mind.

Aria shook her head as if trying to erase unnecessary thoughts.

I couldn’t bring myself to do it again. The price of truly caring for someone.

It was then. Suddenly, someone’s voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Here you are. I’ve been looking for you for a long time.

As I turned my gaze there, a man on horseback was standing in front of me. He got off the horse in his uniform.

Black hair fluttering in the wind, blue irises shining vividly. Tall stature and sturdy build, it was Eric.

Before Aria even had a chance to be surprised, Eric’s body moved first.

Aria, who hadn’t seen him in a long time, was momentarily startled, her eyes widening. How did you get here…

“When I came back, you weren’t there.”

With Eric’s one remark, Aria guessed everything. Eric, upon returning from the palace, was immediately looking for his whereabouts.

“Why did you come back alone? No, why did you go after Edward? Haven’t you given up on him yet? Am I still unable to let go of him?”

Eric made a face that showed he couldn’t understand the situation. His face gradually showed signs of anger.

Regret…I didn’t want to say no, but I didn’t want to say yes either. It was also my pride.

Aria weakly lifted the corners of her mouth. Seeing the face I had missed so much, I felt relieved.

Eric’s heart became complicated by Aria’s unfamiliar expression he had never seen before.

Aria looked at Eric, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, carefully.

Even the warm heart hidden behind his indifferent face and rough words. Everything was welcoming and appreciated.

Aria narrowed her eyes at him. Then, a hollow laugh escaped Eric’s lips.

“Sigh. Why do you keep looking at me like that?”

He had to quickly avert his sweet gaze to calm the urge to hold Aria in his arms immediately.

“You’re safe now. Let’s head back now.

Eric pulled Aria’s hand and made her climb onto the horse’s saddle.

He immediately mounted behind her and pulled the reins.

The horse, which had begun to pick up speed, crossed the river at sunset and galloped towards Bailey’s house.

They ran for a long time without any conversation between them, but Aria’s earlier worries vanished, and she felt only a sense of comfort.

Thanks to Eric, who pulled his waist tightly towards me to keep himself from falling. A quick glance revealed that he was gripping my forearm tightly.

Maybe that’s why I wasn’t anxious. I simply matched Eric’s pace and embraced the wind.

I don’t know why I keep relying on him, but even in this moment, Aria was depending on him.

Could it have been from this point on? It didn’t take long for Aria to realize her changed feelings.

The person who taught me courage. Clumsy, but a great source of comfort. My heart, which had been closed off to him, is slowly starting to open.

When I arrived at the annex, there was a carriage standing in front of it, having been there for who knows how long. At the sound of the rough horse hooves, Edward got off the carriage.

Edward couldn’t contain his shock upon seeing Eric and Aria dismounting from the horse.

Why did it have to be him who came with Aria?

The thought that even Aria had now fallen into Eric’s grasp, who had taken away their father’s love and even stripped away the position of the eldest son that had been protected for a lifetime, made Edward’s whole body start to tremble.

“Why, why are you two together…? Aria, what happened? You suddenly disappeared, and I was so worried thinking something had happened to you!

As Edward’s voice became agitated, Aria instinctively recoiled.

He stood facing her with a complicated expression.

Edward barely suppressed the jealousy rising from within and spoke.

“Aria, can we talk privately?”

As Edward roughly grabbed and pulled Aria’s hand, Eric hurriedly seized Edward’s wrist tightly.

As a result, Edward’s grip on Aria’s wrist loosened.

“Wh-why can’t you let go of this?!

“I clearly warned you last time too. The owner of Aria is now me. If you dare to touch what’s mine again, I’ll crush even that pathetic position of yours.”

“What…? How dare you threaten someone! Your arrogance has gone too far!

“Arrogance.  Before pointing out my arrogance, shouldn’t you correct your own?

“What do you mean by that…!

“You took a maid with you to choose the outfit for the wedding. If others heard this, it would be a laughing matter. Is the woman you have chosen the Countess of Cecil, or is it the maid here?”

At Eric’s question, Edward couldn’t close his open mouth. The feelings I had never once thought about, no, not even considered.

Without a doubt, it was an obvious answer, yet Edward’s whole body froze at the question that echoed clearly in his ears.

“Th-that is…”

Edward’s emerald-green pupils momentarily turned towards Aria.

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