In A World Full of Silence, My Heart Will Find Its Way To You - Chapter 58

The Hamilton region in the north, famous in the Orphen Empire as a major trading hub with many ports. At the far edge of Hamilton lies the village of Burgley.

A carriage that had run through the night without rest now reached the edge of the village, cutting through a vast forest.

Sitting in the corner of the carriage, Jacob shrank into himself with an anxious expression. The ride felt like a never-ending nightmare with no clear destination.

With only the rattling of the wheels over bumpy gravel roads breaking the silence, the air inside the carriage was heavy, as if no one dared to breathe.

Gathering his courage, Jacob glanced at the man sitting across from him. Eric, arms crossed and legs casually folded, gazed lazily out the window.

A cool breeze blew through the wild grass, gently lifting Eric’s long bangs. As the sunlight touched his face, a pair of blue eyes, hidden beneath black hair, sparkled.

Was it because he was so perfect that the young lady fell for him so helplessly?

Snapping out of his daze after staring at Eric, Jacob quickly looked around.

Where are we even going? Judging by the direction, it seems like we’re heading north. But why the northern region…?

Jacob shook his head, puzzled, but quickly dropped his gaze to the floor when he met Eric’s sharp eyes.

Eric, who had been staring at Jacob, turned his attention to the sounds coming from outside.

Far ahead, a wide-open village began to appear along the sun-dried road. From the surrounding fields, the occasional chatter of farmers harvesting barley could be heard.

As they entered the village, a white monastery gleamed atop a hill.

Eric’s half-lidded eyes turned toward it. The carriage picked up speed and soon arrived in front of the monastery.

“Wait here for a moment.”

At the sound of Eric’s low voice, Jacob quickly lifted his head. It was the first time Eric had spoken to him during the long night.

As Eric moved to get out of the carriage, Jacob, desperate to understand the situation, opened his mouth.

“L-Lord Bailey! Where are we? This isn’t even where Lady Aria is…”

Jacob instantly shut his mouth after realizing his mistake.

He had let slip that he knew Eric and where his master was—information he shouldn’t have revealed.

Eric paused, then stared at Jacob with a subtle expression.

“So you already know about me. I don’t recall ever explaining. Did Aria tell you?”

Eric narrowed his eyes slightly as he asked, and Jacob forced a tight smile.

“W-Who in the Orphen Empire doesn’t know the Bailey family? Such a famous noble house. I’m a merchant, so I naturally hear a lot of stories like that.”

“So you guessed my identity from the rumors about my family?”

“W-Well, sir, you’re the hero who led our forces to victory. Everyone knows the tale of how you saved His Majesty in the wild frontier! Anyone would be curious about your story—”

“That’s not it. You were just worried about your master’s safety.”

Eric’s cold voice brought silence back into the carriage, and Jacob’s face turned pale.

The man sitting across from him showed no sign of doubting the connection between Jacob and Aria.

As the rumors say—sharp and quick-witted. If this continues, he might figure out everything about the young lady in no time…

Cold sweat dripped down Jacob’s back, despite the cool weather. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

Eric’s eyes, as if reading his thoughts, made Jacob’s lips go dry.

“M-My master? Surely, you’re joking.”

Jacob tried to straighten his posture calmly, but Eric’s sharp gaze didn’t waver.

“That obvious lie will come out soon enough. Once you find out who lives here, you’ll be quite surprised.”

“W-Who lives here…?”

“One of the last remaining survivors of the Reynolds family.”

“S-Survivor!? That can’t be…”

Jacob stammered worse than before, overcome with shock.

As far as he knew, Aria was the only surviving member of the Reynolds family. Count Frederick Reynolds and his wife, as well as all their servants, had long since perished.

Could what Eric said be true? Who else could’ve survived?

Jacob’s pupils darted anxiously.

As if sensing Jacob’s thoughts, Eric spoke again.

“You’ll find out if you wait patiently.”

Leaving those ominous words behind, Eric stepped out and spoke to the coachman.

“While I’m gone, make sure this man doesn’t run.”

“Yes, sir! I’ll keep a close watch on him!”

With a small nod, Eric entered the monastery. Jacob, staring blankly after him, felt his face turn even paler.

He had been sure he fooled everyone, but in such a short time, Eric had clearly uncovered much about Aria and the Reynolds family. His obsession was terrifying.

“What in the world is going on…”

Feeling parched from anxiety, Jacob looked around. The only thing he could do now was one thing.

Watch Eric. Follow him. That was the only way to reach the truth behind this chaotic situation.

Noticing the coachman’s wary gaze, Jacob quickly lowered his head again.

A little later, Eric came out of the monastery holding a map.

He stared at it for a while with his usual relaxed expression, then handed it to the coachman.

The coachman studied the unfamiliar route carefully.

As Eric climbed back into the carriage, Jacob lifted his head slightly out of curiosity, then quickly looked down again.

Eric silently watched him before giving a low command to the coachman.

“There’s no time. Let’s go.”

“Yes, sir!”

The coachman spurred the horses, and the carriage creaked back into motion.

Where are we going this time? Jacob glanced at the window, then lowered his eyes again. He tried to act subtly, but it was hard to escape Eric’s notice.

Eric’s gaze lingered briefly on Jacob before drifting out the window again.

As they passed through the busy part of town and into a deserted area, the road grew rough.

The narrow paths barely allowed room for the carriage to pass, and the terrain became uneven.

The bumpy ride made Jacob feel nauseous. He occasionally shot nervous glances at Eric, who remained calm, eyes fixed outside.

Jacob peeked out and saw the carriage climbing a small hill beyond the village.

After passing low-hanging clouds, a small, rundown cabin came into view near the hilltop.

The carriage came to a screeching stop in front of the cabin.

The coachman quickly opened the door.

“Sir, we’ve arrived. This is the place marked on the map.”

Eric stepped out first and tilted his head slightly.

“I’ll go in with him. Wait here.”

“Yes, sir!”

Hearing the coachman’s reply, Jacob quickly got out of the carriage and looked around.

The place was too harsh and damp to be a home. Who could live in such conditions?

And what did that person have to do with the Reynolds family?

Following behind, Jacob halted when Eric suddenly stopped. The sound of rustling leaves quickly faded into silence.

Knock, knock. Even after several knocks, no one answered. Eric pushed open the creaky door and stepped inside.

The moment he entered, a dozen rats scattered in all directions.

Jacob hesitated at the eerie sight but quickly followed.

The cabin was dark and damp, with mold filling the air and no sunlight reaching inside.

I’ve never seen such a grim place. Who could possibly live here?

Jacob squinted and saw a faint light coming from inside one of the rooms.

As he stepped forward, dust on the floor rose and filled his nose.

“Achoo!”

His sneeze startled someone inside.

“W-Who’s there…?”

The weak, trembling voice made Eric quickly enter the room.

An emaciated elderly woman lay on a shabby bed. She didn’t even have the strength to sit up, her eyes barely open.

Jacob froze and whispered to Eric.

“W-Who is she…?”

Nothing made sense anymore. Eric turned his head slightly and replied.

“You still haven’t figured it out? I thought a loyal butler would recognize her immediately.”

“W-What do you mean…?”

Jacob blinked in confusion. Eric clicked his tongue lightly.

“Don’t tell me… you don’t even recognize your own master.”

Eric looked at Jacob with a calm expression.

Jacob looked back and forth between Eric and the woman, and finally realized who she was.

The woman lying sick in bed was none other than Charlotte Reynolds, the mother of Frederick Reynolds whom Jacob had searched for all this time.

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