In A World Full of Silence, My Heart Will Find Its Way To You - Chapter 46

Edward was shocked when he entered Eric’s bedroom. He had thought the rumors about the two were just gossip. No he had wanted to believe that.

That was until he saw the two sharing a sweet kiss.

No, it can’t be. I must be wrong. That chant he kept repeating to himself on the way to the annex shattered like glass.

Was it a mistake to trust Aria so much? Or was this bound to happen the moment he sent Aria to Eric?

Only the anger boiling up from deep inside now controlled his thoughts.

Clenching his fists tightly, he stormed into the room and called out to Aria.

“Aria!”

Even as he said her name, Edward desperately hoped. That wicked Eric hadn’t taken her away. That her innocent heart hadn’t turned to him.

“What do you think you’re doing?! Step away from each other, now!”

As Edward’s voice grew louder, Aria instinctively pulled herself away from Eric. As if he couldn’t bear to see any more, he took a rough breath.

“How could you do something like this! Aria, come here. Come out now!”

His raised voice echoed through the air. For someone always kind and gentle, this was a side he had never shown anyone before.

Normally, Aria would have been shocked by his changed behavior and rushed to him, but she stood still and only looked at him with frightened eyes.

That only made Edward angrier.

“Aria, can’t you hear me? How many times do I have to say it for you to understand?”

When Edward grabbed Aria’s hand roughly, Eric twisted Edward’s wrist hard.

“I warned you what would happen if you ignored me. Do I need to break this thin wrist of yours for you to understand?”

“You bastard. A mere bastard like you dares… Because of you, the nobles are losing all respect for our family, and you still !”

“I told you before. I don’t care about that. I’ll handle it myself, so just get out.”

“What? After everything we’ve done for you, this is how you act? Arrogant fool. Because of you, Aria’s reputation is ruined. Don’t tell me you’re saying that after seeing what happened at the party?”

Their sharp gazes clashed intensely. That bastard, a love child, not only took their father’s love but now even precious Aria.

Edward wanted to curse and tear Eric apart until he felt satisfied.

While Edward’s ears turned red with rage, Eric looked down at him with calm eyes and slightly raised the corner of his mouth.

“What exactly do you feel for Aria? Pity? Or…”

“A twisted kind of love?”

Edward’s brow immediately furrowed at Eric’s words. His face began to contort.

Eric’s words were testing his feelings for Aria. It was the same question Isabella had once asked him. He had thought it wasn’t worth answering.

Feelings for Aria? As if the heir of the Bailey family would ever fall for a mere maid. That question could easily kill any curiosity that had been boiling inside.

“Why would I ever have feelings for a maid? Are you insulting me and my family?”

He answered without hesitation, because it was something he could easily deny. Unconsciously, he nodded firmly. But then…

The moment his eyes fell on Aria, they began to shake. Because she turned her head away from him without hesitation. His chest ached sharply, as if guilt had stabbed him.

Eric smiled lazily.

“Then you have no reason to interfere between us. Now get out. We still have things to finish.”

“What…? So you’re saying you want to have a scandalous relationship with Aria and have another bastard like yourself? That’s your grand decision? How pathetic.”

“I decide what’s right and wrong. That’s how I live. If you care about what others think, then go live your life ruled by their opinions. Stop wasting time clinging to this.”

Edward was clearly shaken by how Eric saw through his heart. His grip on Aria’s wrist weakened without realizing it. With a complicated expression, he looked back and forth between Aria and Eric.

“You’ll regret this. You’ll have to take full responsibility for your choices.”

Edward barely held back the jealousy boiling inside as he muttered. Eric’s eyes darkened.

Edward finally turned away, his face flushed with emotion. Only after stepping outside did he notice the emptiness in his hand.

“Aria, how could you do this to me…?”

He stood blankly, muttering to himself, and his face grew darker. This jealousy was different from the disappointment he had felt with Isabella.

What happened at the party spread quickly through high society.

Most people criticized Isabella’s rude behavior, but those who watched Count Cecil’s reaction soon went silent. That was how powerful Count Cecil’s business influence was.

But even to Count Cecil, his daughter’s marriage was the most important matter.

For Isabella, who was already engaged, there was no real option other than marrying Edward.

If the wedding didn’t happen, her reputation would fall, and over time she could become an unmarried woman. To protect the family’s name, they had no choice but to consider the Bailey family’s opinion. To handle his daughter’s rash actions, he quickly sent a letter to the Bailey household.

It was soon delivered to Count Dennis.

Reading that Isabella had a terrible headache that day and was more sensitive than usual, Count Dennis let out a long sigh.

So this was how Count Cecil planned to clean up the situation.

But Count Dennis had already heard about what happened from the head butler.

Isabella’s rude words, and Eric and Aria’s relationship. Sitting with a stern expression at the table, his thoughts were complicated.

Count Dennis had met Count Cecil, then a diplomat, ten years ago, and they slowly built a connection. Their children’s marriage was a natural step in their alliance.

Isabella, known as the most beautiful and graceful young lady in society, and Edward, the man every noble daughter dreamed of made a good match.

Count Dennis had liked everything about Isabella. But now things had changed. Her behavior had ruined her worth.

Still, breaking off an engagement would hurt both the Cecil and Bailey families’ reputations. Their alliance could also fall apart. And if Eric, a bastard, was to keep his position stable, pushing the marriage forward was the only way to silence all the rumors.

As the count was lost in thought, silence filled the room.

While staring out the window, a knock came at the door. The head butler, dressed neatly, entered holding a letter.

The count narrowed his eyes, already guessing.

“Is it another letter from Count Cecil?”

“No, sir. This letter is from Grand Duke Charles Stuart.”

“From the Grand Duke? Why would he…?”

The count quickly scanned the contents of the letter.

Soon, his eyes began to shine.

It was an invitation to dinner for him and Eric.

“As expected… Even heaven seems to be helping our Eric!”

He calmed his pounding heart as he spoke. The butler quietly asked,

“Is it good news, sir?”

“Of course. We might soon form a marriage alliance with the Stuart family. That’s wonderful news, isn’t it?”

Raising his thick eyebrows, the count laughed boldly. He placed the letter back into the envelope and handed it to the butler.

“Deliver this to the annex right away. There’s nothing unusual happening there, I hope?”

“Well… actually…”

As the butler hesitated and swallowed hard, the count’s gaze sharpened.

“Don’t tell me something happened between Aria and Eric.”

“Actually… not long ago, young master Eric and young master Edward had a serious argument. The reason seems to be…”

“Because of Aria.”

The count’s smooth forehead wrinkled deeply. Seeing his master turn cold, the butler swallowed again and said,

“That’s not all. Yesterday, young master Edward asked me to find a new maid for the annex. He said once he’s married, he’ll make Aria his personal maid again.”

“Ha, Isabella will be thrilled to hear that! As if she has no idea how our family’s name is being dragged through the mud. Foolish, idiotic brats!”

The count let out a hollow laugh, as if the situation was too absurd. Despite all the warnings, his two sons had thrown away their honor over one maid.

The butler spoke calmly.

“Count, you don’t need to worry too much. Count Cecil and Grand Duke Charles have already stepped in to manage the rumors. The problem is that this must not continue.”

“For the sake of the young masters and the family name, there’s only one solution.”

At those words, the count looked quietly at the butler.

“Yes. I agree. There’s no other way.”

Count Dennis sighed shortly. His gaze slowly turned to the annex outside the window.

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