In A World Full of Silence, My Heart Will Find Its Way To You - Chapter 35

At Edward’s trembling voice, which she had never heard before, Aria’s pupils began to ripple like waves.

There was a time when I desperately longed for his love.

The person who was everything to her life. But since it was a place she could never dare to hope for, Aria had to give up her love.

On the day of Edward’s engagement, no, from the moment Isabella’s cold blade carved out his heart, everything had already gone completely wrong.

Aria knew better than anyone that my heart could not be turned back.

Because I have already received so many emotions and comfort from others to turn back a heart that has already turned away.

Was it from the moment Eric reached out to his miserable self?

Or maybe it was from the moment I started receiving comfort from him, who stood on the same path.

She was learning self-esteem to live her own life from the stoic Eric. From that calm demeanor, from which one could not discern any inner thoughts.

Aria turned her head as if cutting through Edward’s affectionate gaze with a single stroke.

It was because I didn’t want to go back to that miserable state, even if it was just for his small attention that I had desperately wished for.

At her rejection, Edward’s heart suddenly began to ache.

Eric’s face hardened as he stared at Edward, who was flustered and bewildered, not knowing what was happening.

Eric murmured softly.

“A petty greed that doesn’t want to miss even one. This person is the eldest son of the Bailey family. You are bringing shame to the family name.

“Shut up! Longing for your father’s love, you pathetic fool who just tries to curry favor. You think that just because you’re the second son, you can actually take over this family? After all, you’re just a bastard. The blood of a lowly maid!

Edward’s emotions, which he had been desperately suppressing, finally exploded.

As the highly excited voices echoed through the air, even the maids in the annex began to secretly watch the scene.

The voice, filled with anger that resonated through the air, reached Aria’s ears as well.  Aria barely lifted her head and looked ahead.

Edward’s face, flushed to the fullest.  At the sight of his unfamiliar expression for the first time, Aria’s eyes grew sorrowful.

Oh dear.  Where did that fake smile go?  If you show your true self so easily, it won’t be fun, will it?

“What…? This arrogant bastard!

In a fit of rage, Edward grabbed Eric by the collar.  That fierce glare was ready to strike the person in front of him at any moment.

Aria’s mouth opened without her even realizing it.

Aria her mind going blank, clung to Edward and wouldn’t let go.

But Edward did not let go of Eric’s hand.

“Let go of this!

When he forcefully shook her off, Aria fell to the ground.  Bright red blood flowed from the pale hand.

Aria barely held onto her injured hand and stood up to stop him.

But to Edward, who was already filled with excitement, she was no longer visible.

This bastard!  You want to know what’s in my heart   How dare you act so brazenly!

Eric’s eyes darkened at the sound of gritted teeth.

“You won’t make any choice anyway. Because you won’t be able to resist the sweet temptation of going to Cecil instead of following your heart. That’s why you’re a coward. To someone like you, Aria is too precious of a person.

“Yeah, who do you think you are…?”

“If you want to keep that esteemed position of yours, put that hand down right now.”

The chilling blue pupils visible through his pitch-black hair. Eric’s gaze turned to his waist. His blade, which had cut down countless foes in the brutal war, was chillingly sharp.

Edward’s gaze instinctively stopped at the sword. Even if my head were to be severed by that sword, it wouldn’t be surprising at all.

Flustered, Edward quickly scanned the surroundings. As expected, the sudden commotion drew the attention of the servants towards this side.

If things went wrong, it was clear that soon the Bailey family would be branded with the stigma of a feud among siblings in high society.

With a resentful look, Edward, who had been glaring at Eric, finally loosened his tightly clenched fist.

Edward stared at Eric with a cold gaze.

“Just know that I’m putting up with this not because of you. It’s so that no more strange rumors spread about Aria. You should keep a proper distance from Aria as well.

A face hardened with coldness. Emerald eyes filled with resentment. Edward stood facing Aria with a complex expression.

“Aria, why do you look so shocked? Your complexion doesn’t seem good…

Edward stepped closer and tried to speak, but the more he did, the more Aria stepped back from him.

Looking at Aria, who immediately averted her gaze, Edward felt a heaviness in his chest.

It wasn’t easy to endure Aria’s changed behavior. I just wanted to deny her as she turned away, seemingly resigned.

In the evening, with the air having turned cold, Edward, his face flushed, hurriedly spoke to manage the situation.

“Aria, it seems like it will be difficult to talk more today. Later again…

There was an indescribable sense of emptiness in his voice as he trailed off.

Edward, who had been staring intently at Aria, quickly composed his expression and turned away.

On the way back to the main building. His footsteps, filled with worry, felt unusually heavy.

“Are you okay?”

Eric’s gaze gently settled from her face to her hands.

Since chasing after Eric, Aria had been keeping her head down the whole time. It seemed she thought it was all because of her.

Such a sight of Aria was not only pitiful but also heartbreaking. Eric became even more worried. It felt as if he could see her innermost thoughts.

“The scar is deeper than I thought. Come here and sit down

“Listen to me.”

A voice with clenched jaws. Aria didn’t respond at all.

Eric, who had been staring blankly at her who had no intention of moving at all, grabbed her wrist and pulled her to sit next to him.

As Eric began the treatment, Aria couldn’t resist that large hand at all.

Eric occasionally lifted his eyes to look at Aria. In a black maid’s uniform, with disheveled hair and a gaunt figure. She was too shabby to be called the young lady of the Reynolds family.

“Is it true that Aria is really a lady of the Reynolds family? And yet, she was acting like a maid without a care in the world…

When I first heard it from Henry, I couldn’t believe it because it sounded absurd. I couldn’t possibly believe it.

But all the circumstances pointed to Aria, making it impossible to ignore.

From the moment I arrived here, my age, and even the holy water I gave to Edward.

She was truly an extraordinary woman. Having lived a glorious life in such a prestigious family, she was living the harsh life of a maid as if it were her original life.

The person who unhesitatingly gave Edward the holy water that is as precious as my life. A person who is used like that without even longing for my love.

So it was frustrating. Seeing Aria silently keeping quiet, my heart felt empty.

Aria, who had been silently watching Eric as he gradually became more reticent, withdrew her hand.

Eric, who had taken his eyes off his hands, stared at Aria and furrowed his brow.

“Anyway, stubbornness. My hand needs to heal quickly so I can treat you. Stop talking and just stay still.”

At his indifferent tone, Aria’s eyes widened. She hurriedly took out her notebook and started writing.

[Your symptoms haven’t worsened, have they? I was already worried. So, did you sleep well at night?

Eric, who was staring at the note, looked at her with a strange gaze.

“Could it be that… you’re worried about me right now?”

At his question, Aria began to blink her large eyes.  She nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Eric furrowed his brow as if he found it puzzling.

“Why…?”

[Why is that?]It’s my duty to look after the master’s well-being and worry about him.

“So… does that mean it was only natural to worry about the owner?

“You have a loyal maid who faithfully fulfills her role. Seriously. What was I expecting?

A hollow laugh escaped Eric’s lips. When did she ever ask him to take revenge on Edward using her? Until now, she had only drawn a clear line between them.

The words “I’m worried because you’re the owner” lingered scratchily in my throat.

“Anyway, I can’t understand your feelings.”

It was then that Eric slightly shook his head. Because of the stinging scar, Eric’s face involuntarily contorted.

The pain that had been endured all this time began to erupt as soon as they returned here. Eric turned his head to avoid showing a pained expression, but Aria’s face only grew paler.

I’ll go get the medicine. Please wait a moment.

As Aria stood up urgently, Eric grabbed her wrist. He barely managed to lift his head.

“The medicine is here.”

When I took out the medicine I had hidden in my uniform, Aria froze instantly. A clean medicine that had never been used.

It was the medicine I insisted on bringing when leaving for the palace. It was clear that he had never even used this.

On Aria’s face, who was watching, concern and worry crossed.

‘You must have just waited mindlessly until I treated you. Foolish and stupid. Why me.Why me of all people……

Aria’s trembling pupils were caught by Eric. Even in the midst of his pain, Eric was drawing a faint smile on his lips.

Soon, a large hand sat Aria next to him. Eric finally seemed to relax his tense body and leaned against Aria.

Aria hurriedly tried to push him away, but he wouldn’t budge from her shoulder.

“Just stay like this for a moment. I haven’t been able to sleep a wink.

As Eric leaned on me, stretching his back long, Aria couldn’t even push him away and just froze in place.

The blue eyes, which seemed to have frost on them in a cozy and comfortable feeling, soon closed.

Aria kept staring into the distant void until Eric fell into a deep sleep.

Holding tightly onto my heart that keeps pounding.

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