In A World Full of Silence, My Heart Will Find Its Way To You - Chapter 54

The Countess exhaled sharply to calm her excitement.

“Edward, please step outside for a moment.”

“I don’t know what you plan to say, but this is my matter.”

“How could this be just your matter when it concerns the family? This is something I must ask your father directly. Now, go outside!”

“Mother…”

Edward’s voice trailed off as he had no choice but to obey the commanding gaze of his mother.

Once Edward left, the Countess’s sharp gaze immediately turned to Count Dennis.

“If it’s about the family, Edward has always been a good boy who listens to us. Do you know when he changed? It was after Eric came into the picture. Don’t you still see it?”

“Are you saying that everything Edward has done to disgrace the family is all Eric’s fault?”

“You’re saying this only because you’re defending that boy!”

An empty silence filled the room. The oppressive quiet hung between the couple.

The Countess glared at her husband, who belittled their son for business reasons.

The business, in fact, was one that could collapse at any time due to external pressures.

Not only did he have to flatter the unpredictable emperor, but the fact that Eric, the illegitimate son, was so deeply involved made her shudder.

Both then and now, the situation hadn’t changed. It was astonishing that without Eric, the ironworks operation couldn’t proceed.

“That long-lived bastard still won’t die…”

As she cursed him, she thought Eric should have died in battle without anyone knowing.

But that wasn’t his fate.

Instead, Eric had boldly returned, pointing his blade at both her and Edward. At this rate, they would have no choice but to fall under his control.

Shaking off her thoughts, the Countess shot her husband a cold look.

“Tell Eric to get out of the business and return to the palace right now. And hand all authority over to Edward.”

The Count let out a hollow laugh, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Who are you to say such things?”

“You received a massive dowry from my family when you married me. You can’t deny that I contributed significantly to the family’s prosperity.”

“And in return, a humble family like yours gave me the title of Countess.”

“You betrayed the promise we made, and you fathered an illegitimate child with a maid. I accepted that child as you asked me to.”

“And I locked that child away in a room where even sunlight couldn’t reach.”

“Be grateful that I didn’t cast out that filthy child just because I couldn’t bear to see him. I am not as hypocritical as you. You only changed your attitude because Eric has value now.”

The Countess’s tone was laced with mockery towards her husband. His forehead furrowed deeply as he listened to her words.

“You were the one who put that child on the family registry.”

“Yes, I did it for Edward. Not for Eric. It would have been cruel to send a child who had lost consciousness for a year straight into war. But at least I am not as hypocritical as you.”

“Be honest with me. If the ironworks business prospers, who will you pass it on to?”

The Count hesitated as his wife probed his intentions. He lifted his thick eyebrows in a serious, measured manner.

After taking a brief breath, he spoke firmly.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t entrust the family to Edward, who’s acting so recklessly. My decision has already been made.”

“Wh-what…? Are you saying you’ll pass the family to an illegitimate child when your own eldest son is alive and well?”

“I only need someone capable.”

“You…!”

The Countess’s shocked expression stayed locked on her husband for a long time. The decision had already been made.

She had occasionally heard stories of second sons taking on the role of the head of the family in the history of the Orphen Empire.

She knew her husband’s passion for business well enough.

It must be a temporary choice for the sake of the family’s prosperity. Everything would be fine as long as Edward’s wedding went through. She believed that.

But how could it make sense that, despite having a perfectly fine son like Edward, the second son an illegitimate child at that would take the family’s place?

She could hardly believe that her husband had chosen Eric.

The Count’s eyes hardened as he noticed the penetrating gaze of his wife.

“It’s not an easy decision, but it’s for the sake of our family. I hope you’ll support me. I intend to pass enough wealth to Edward.”

“By the look on your face, it seems like you’re really going through with it. No, this must have been decided from the start.”

The Countess let out a short sigh as she heard those words.

She looked at her husband’s ridiculous announcement with a stunned expression, her cruel lips curling into a thin line.

“I won’t forgive you. You will regret everything you just said.”

With a cold, sharp voice, she left the room.

Outside in the corridor, the Countess took a deep breath to calm herself. Edward rushed to support her.

Her vacant eyes shifted to him.

“Mother, are you okay?”

“Edward, now we only have a dead-end path ahead.”

Her muttered words made Edward’s eyes widen in shock.

“A dead-end path, mother?”

“I have a duty to protect you. I am your mother. So, you must follow my lead. Will you do that?”

As her gaze grew colder, Edward’s pupils shook in anxiety.

She turned her head slightly to look toward the Count’s study, then, with Edward’s support, she walked toward her bedroom.

In a dusty alley of a busy market, where the air was thick with the smell of dirt and the merchants shouted to sell their goods, Jacob’s apothecary was closed, its doors firmly locked.

Jacob stood by the long wooden table, surrounded by herbs, with piles of shrubs scattered on the floor, but he was not working.

After Aria left, Jacob received a letter from her.

[Dear Jacob, I hope you’re doing well. I’m sorry for surprising you with this sudden letter.

I’ve been adjusting well thanks to the Baron and his wife. Occasionally, I feel heavy-hearted when I think about you, but I hope you’ll stop worrying about me. I’ll always remember our precious memories. I’ll send another letter when I have time.]

Jacob had eagerly awaited the day he would receive a letter from her, but once it arrived, worry filled his mind.

From the address, he learned she was in Kritos, a small village in the southern part of the empire.

It was ruled by the old Lord Woburn Bedford, a man who had been rewarded with the title of Baron after a war many years ago.

Jacob had heard that Lord Woburn was known as a “cunning old fox.”

Despite his wife’s strict nature, Lord Woburn never failed to make advances toward every maid who entered his household.

Although Aria had become thin and frail compared to her past self, she still had the bright, fresh smile of a young woman.

Since then, Jacob had never stopped worrying about her. He had an uneasy feeling, and an employee who was cleaning nearby glanced at him disapprovingly.

Then, the door suddenly knocked. The employee, still looking at the boss, didn’t even notice the guest had arrived.

A familiar dark shadow loomed over the employee. His head tilted slightly.

The black frock coat, the sword at his waist, and piercing blue eyes that looked down on him it was someone he immediately recognized.

The employee, pale and trembling, took a step back.

“W-Who is here…?”

“Who is the owner of this shop?”

The cold voice made Jacob, who had been sitting at the table, look up in surprise. He took a long look at the man standing in front of him.

With a large, muscular build and an impressive outfit, Jacob immediately sensed this man wasn’t ordinary. He nervously asked, “I’m the owner.”

The blue-eyed man’s gaze shifted from the employee to Jacob. His chilling stare pierced through him, as if to say he could kill him in an instant.

After scanning Jacob for a moment, he nodded slightly and turned his head to look at the employee.

“I need to talk to the owner alone. You understand, right?”

“Y-Yes, yes!” The employee quickly shrank back in fear, worried that the sharp blade Eric had once used would be aimed at his neck again. He hurriedly threw down the broom and left.

Eric’s eyes turned back to Jacob.

“I won’t beat around the bush. Do you know where Aria is?”

Jacob’s pupils widened at those words. His face turned pale, his nerves on edge. He felt as though Eric already knew everything.

A memory from the past flashed in his mind.

“Thanks to your medicine, I think she’s almost better. She’s a very precious person to me.”

Aria’s note. The smile blooming on her face, her cheeks blushing as she thought of someone.

“Could it be… him?”

Jacob’s body froze instantly.

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