In A World Full of Silence, My Heart Will Find Its Way To You - Chapter 43

When it was said that Eric’s maid had arrived, the noble ladies’ gazes turned sharp.

They slowly looked Aria up and down. Seeing a mere maid daring to wear such an unseemly dress, they were quick to whisper among themselves.

“My goodness, why is a maid even here? And in that dress?”

“She must be as shameless as her master. For a maid to attend Countess Cecil’s party? That’s an insult to Lady Cecil.”

“Maybe she just wanted to be recognized, no matter how. Born out of wedlock and now entangled in a scandal with a maid. She should feel ashamed. Tsk Tsk

The murmuring spread through the air and reached Aria’s ears.

Aria fixed her gaze on Isabella. Sitting across from her, Isabella wore a smug smile.

Her eyes, as she glanced around, seemed to say loud and clear: This is where you and Eric belong.

Aria felt her stomach churn. As a maid, reverence toward her master was second nature her very life could depend on the smallest misstep.

Even their glances or gestures could make her shrink and tremble in fear.

But Aria could no longer endure it. She could no longer bear the piercing pain that reached deep into her chest.

She placed a letter on the table it was the one Isabella had sent her.

Then, deliberately, she began to take off the dress she was wearing. The noble ladies gasped in confusion at her sudden action.

But Aria didn’t hesitate. Beneath the outer dress, her frail figure in only an underdress was revealed.

Before Isabella could snatch the letter away, Sierra, suspicious, got to it first and unfolded it.

As Sierra read through the letter, her eyes gradually sharpened.

Once she finished reading, she nodded as if everything finally made sense and passed the letter to the other noble ladies.

“Now that I’ve read this, I understand the maid’s actions why she came here wearing such a dress.”

Sierra’s piercing eyes turned directly to Isabella.

“Lady Cecil, why did you invite this maid to the party? Don’t tell me you were trying to humiliate Lord Eric?”

“T-this is a misunderstanding! I only…!”

As Isabella, now pale, raised her voice, attention in the room began to center on her.

“If you didn’t want to be misunderstood, then why tell the maid to wear that dress? You should explain yourself clearly.”

“T-that’s…”

Isabella glanced around in panic. All the noble ladies were now staring at her with suspicion.

Their eyes were full of doubt. She felt like she was being shredded by countless invisible blades.

With a chill down to her bones, Isabella scrambled to explain herself.

“Are you suspecting me now? You’re believing a mere maid’s words? This is slander! Yes, the handwriting may look similar to mine, but I didn’t write that! You can even summon my maid to verify it!”

“Is that true?”

“Of course! I swear on my family’s honor!”

Despite Isabella’s firm tone, Sierra and several other noble ladies didn’t seem convinced.

Just then, a set of footsteps echoed loudly through the tense air.

“How utterly despicable.”

At the sound of a cold voice like an icy blade, everyone turned toward its source. Eric was standing there.

His indifferent yet sharp gaze swept over the noble ladies and landed on Aria.

He immediately took off his coat and wrapped it around Aria. Struggling to contain his fury, he looked at her.

“What were you thinking, standing here like this… foolish girl.”

Unable to meet his eyes, Aria only bowed her head. Her trembling figure made Eric’s eyes narrow dangerously.

Tearing his gaze away from Aria, Eric turned to glare at Isabella.

“Do you really not understand that slandering me is the same as insulting House Bailey? You, of all people, should be smart enough to know that.”

“W-what did you just say?! How dare you speak to me like that…!”

Isabella sprang up in outrage.

But her body froze at Eric’s fierce gaze, as if he might strike her down any second.

Feeling the pressure from the stares around her, Isabella took a deep breath.

If I lose to him here, the reputation of both me and my family will crumble…

She straightened her expression.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Lord Eric. Don’t drag me into such ridiculous accusations. If Edward finds out, he won’t forgive you…!”

“Oh dear. You really don’t know, do you? That fiancé of yours he’s already seen your ugly truth.”

Eric tilted his head slightly, and from behind the door, Edward began to appear.

Only then did Isabella realize Edward had been there all along.

His usual warm smile was nowhere to be seen his eyes were filled with shock and disgust. Isabella took a step back in panic.

When did he get here? He was supposed to be in the main building…

Seeing Edward’s cold expression, Isabella finally understood how gravely she had erred—though it was far too late.

Eric stared at the pale-faced Isabella.

“Those teary eyes looks like you’re about to cry.”

His voice carried a chilling, sarcastic sneer.

Isabella’s pupils shook uncontrollably.

“Let’s see what your fiancé decides. Do your best to hang on to your position so that I can tear it away myself.”

With that, a cold silence settled between Eric and Isabella.

Eric turned back to Aria, who had been trembling the whole time. To face a noble lady like this as a maid it was beyond terrifying.

Her fear seemed to seep into Eric as well.

To calm her, he gently took her hand.

Feeling his firm grip, Aria slowly raised her head in shock.

“Don’t be afraid. Come with me.”

He whispered softly, and with Aria’s wide eyes still fixed on him, he led her out.

Ignoring the gazes around them, Eric helped Aria up onto his horse.

He tugged the reins, and his white steed galloped out of Lady Cecil’s estate without hesitation.

Isabella stood there, stunned.

Sierra, who had been beside her, stood up in clear disgust. She looked at Isabella with contempt.

“This is unacceptable. I believe an investigation is necessary to uncover the truth behind this incident or the sake of the dignity of high society. Not just for House Bailey, but for the Empire itself.”

The noble ladies nodded. Unlike before, their eyes were now filled with suspicion toward Isabella. She bit her lip in frustration.

Not wanting to remain any longer, Sierra left the room, and the others followed her one by one.

Soon, the room that had once been packed was left with only Isabella and Edward.

Edward quietly walked toward her.

Though he tried to remain composed, a shadow of coldness darkened his face.

“Isabella, this is just a misunderstanding, right? The sweet, kind woman I know couldn’t have come up with such a vile scheme…”

His voice trailed off in a sigh. Isabella, her face flushed, couldn’t say anything and only gripped her dress tightly.

“Don’t tell me… this kind of thing happened at the dress shop too? Were you tormenting Aria behind my back?

Edward’s expression turned icy unlike anything she’d ever seen before.

Rather than feeling remorse, Isabella’s anger turned toward Edward.

“This is all your fault. If only you hadn’t always sided with Aria. If you hadn’t… wanted only her…”

“I told you before don’t misunderstand me like that.”

“You hypocrite! Don’t lie! Just admit it. You loved Aria all along, didn’t you? You only proposed to me because I was a substitute!”

“What are you talking about? Why would I love Aria?”

Edward looked at her with sad eyes.

“Isabella, you used to be so beautiful and pure. What happened to you? We’re getting married soon. What are you so afraid of? I miss the way you used to be.”

“Don’t you understand how I became like this?! You’ve made me miserable! I gave up everything for you!”

“Calm down, please!”

“Let me go!”

Tears welled up in Isabella’s eyes, overwhelmed by emotion.

The truth she never wanted to believe—Edward’s heart had always belonged to Aria.

No matter how hard she tried, no matter how much she begged, the truth wouldn’t change.

That truth had trapped her. Her pure love for Edward had twisted into a terrible obsession.

Edward’s green eyes trembled. They were gentle, but no longer did they look at her with affection, and that made Isabella’s heart ache.

As she turned her head, she caught sight of her reflection in a mirror.

Her tear-streaked face looked utterly pitiful.

At that moment, Eric’s warning echoed in her ears:

“If you don’t want to be remembered as the woman who was jealous of a maid, you’d better make wiser choices.”

She should’ve stopped then—before her twisted desires ruined her.

But Isabella now realized she’d already come too far to turn back.

Support In A World Full of Silence, My Heart Will Find Its Way To You