In A World Full of Silence, My Heart Will Find Its Way To You - Chapter 66

Just before Eric’s breath touched her lips, Aria quickly pushed him away.

“P-please help me.”

“With what?”

“I know it’s shameless, but I need you. Please help me get revenge for my family.”

Eric’s eyes narrowed at her desperate tone. He furrowed his brow and swallowed dryly.

“You must know that the evidence in your hands isn’t nearly enough.”

“I know it’s a hard thing to ask. My father’s handwritten letter can be forged. But if it’s the family seal, it’s a different story, right?”

Aria took out a ring from her cloak.

A gold ring engraved with a noble family’s seal. She held it out to Eric.

“You must recognize which family it belongs to. You even attended this family’s party recently.”

“It’s the Cecil family’s seal. Then the Count has been using a fake all this time. Well, it’s not uncommon. Some families make fakes to protect their original seal passed down through generations.”

Eric’s eyes, now lowered, turned cold like ice.

This evidence pointed to Count Cecil being involved in Count Reynolds’s death.

The Count had gone to the palace, supposedly to swear loyalty to the late Emperor, but never returned.

Eric instantly sensed it had been a trap.

Though the circumstances were clear, no one would believe the words of a fallen noble family. Eric exhaled briefly.

“If your enemy is the Cecil family, revenge will be even harder. You know how powerful they are in the Empire.”

“I know… but still!”

“Yes. The Cecil family has a bitter history with us. Shamelessly, they stole your happiness in an instant. You could never let that go. The happiness they enjoyed was rightfully yours too.”

Eric’s words made Aria’s eyes darken. He saw straight through her heart.

Many memories rushed through Aria’s mind like a flash of light.

She had lost everything and fallen to ruin because of Count Cecil’s scheme. That’s how she ended up here, while Isabella lived happily in a garden of flowers.

Eric continued without pause.

“If you act carelessly, just going where your feet take you, you’ll never survive. Sadly, that’s how this world works. If you can’t protect something, you don’t deserve to have it.”

Aria bit her lip. It was an obvious truth, but still, her heart ached.

She already knew that. Maybe it was already too late.

But she desperately wanted to grant Charlotte’s last wish — the one who sacrificed herself for Aria — even if it was hopeless.

Raising her head slowly, Aria looked straight at Eric. Her beautiful brown eyes sparkled more earnestly than ever, filled with deep resolve.

“Even if all that’s waiting at the end is despair, I don’t want to give up. Because sometimes, even those who couldn’t protect something get one more chance.”

“But on my own, I don’t know how. I know it’s shameless, but I need you.”

Aria’s steady voice echoed in the air.

Eric’s face turned cold again. His icy expression was almost painful to look at.

Normally, Aria would’ve turned her head away, but not this time. She stared directly at him, determined to stop being the frightened girl she once was.

Eric looked at her quietly and let out a soft breath. His expression relaxed a little.

“I don’t know whether to like this or hate it. But one thing is clear.”

“Your firm heart is convincing me.”

His low voice was aimed at Aria’s tense face. He gently pulled her waist closer to him.

“Fine. Even if it’s slow, it’s okay. As long as you stay by my side. After all, you’re…”

Mine. The words he didn’t say echoed over and over in Aria’s ears, soaked in his deep emotion.

He slowly leaned in and kissed her lips. Aria tried to push his broad chest with both hands, but his firm grip held her still. She had no choice but to accept him again.

In the end, Aria closed her eyes and rested in his warm arms. Early in the morning, a cuckoo bird landed at the fountain in the center of Bailey Garden.

Count Dennis Bailey stood by the window, the soft morning sun touching his shoulders, and watched the bird.

He let out a short yawn, having slept poorly the night before. Shaking his head, he glanced toward the annex building.

“Where could he have gone…?”

The Count’s face was full of worry as he murmured to himself.

It had been two weeks since Eric disappeared. Despite searching everywhere, no one knew where he had gone.

The Count suddenly remembered the day he reunited with Eric as a boy — a son he had never seen since birth.

The Count knew the moment he saw the child that he would never be able to pay for what he had done.

Only after hearing that Eric’s mother had died did he finally go to see him. A big weakness that, if exposed, could ruin his reputation.

Even as he traveled, he wasn’t ready to accept his son.

Not until he saw those lifeless blue eyes beside his mother’s grave.

Unfortunately, his son only wanted to escape from that kind of responsibility. Eric believed it wasn’t love, just guilt.

“Leave Aria alone. You don’t know how far this twisted motive could go.”

There had been a strange look in Eric’s eyes — one the Count had never seen before.

Like a beast ready to spill blood to protect what he loved. Wild, unpredictable. A danger that could break loose at any moment.

After Eric disappeared, the Count slowly began to regret his actions — even though he knew it was already too late.

At that moment, he heard movement behind him. The once-quiet bedroom became busy as servants entered to prepare tea and clothes.

While the maids helped dress him in formal attire, the butler suddenly burst in, breathless and excited.

“Count! Master Eric has returned!”

“Eric…? Is that true?!”

The Count turned quickly to the mirror, eyes wide. The butler smiled to ease his master’s tension.

“Yes. The young master is outside, waiting to see you. Shall I let him in?”

Finishing adjusting his clothes, the Count gave a calm nod.

Following his command, the butler hurried out, and soon, a familiar face appeared at the bedroom door.

The Count hid his worried expression and looked at Eric with a relaxed gaze.

“You look tired. Where have you been all this time without a word? Don’t tell me you’ve been chasing after Aria.”

“It was hard to find her thanks to how well you hid her.”

“There you go again… I told you Aria’s disappearance had nothing to do with me!”

“Then I guess you haven’t heard what Baron Bedford had to say yet.”

Eric’s words stirred confusion in the Count’s eyes. His gaze shook as if unsure of how to respond. Eric watched him coolly.

“You’re not as foolish as I thought. By now, you must know who cut off the Baron’s arm.”

“Cut… cut off his arm?! Are you saying you did that to the Baron?!”

The Count felt the world spin.

Has he lost his mind over a woman? He must have truly gone mad. If this gets out to society…

That was the only thing on his mind.

Eric calmly watched the pale face of the Count. His icy eyes saw right through his father’s thoughts.

“Don’t worry. The Baron won’t say a word about it. He wouldn’t want that rumor to spread either.”

“Was this all because of Aria?”

“Strictly speaking, it all started with the foolish decision you made, Father.”

Eric’s blue eyes, full of blame and hatred, locked onto the Count. All the Count could do was let out a long sigh and shake his head.

“I don’t understand you anymore. You used to be so obsessed with business. Now you’re throwing away your reputation for a mere maid. Do you even know the consequences of such a foolish choice?”

“My business won’t suffer because of my decision. Business depends on rich mineral resources, manpower, and strategy — not society parties.”

“You sure talk big.”

“I won’t survive by making a loveless, strategic marriage. That cowardly path is already filled by you and my brother.”

Eric’s cold voice echoed through the room. The Count remained silent, and only a bitter chill passed between them.

The Count knew Eric would never bend his will.

But he couldn’t just give up on his son. He had to find a way to make his plan work.

Frowning slightly, the Count sat down on the chair in the middle of the bedroom and let out a slow sigh.

“Fine. If you’re that determined, I won’t stop you. Make Aria your mistress.”

His low voice broke the silence like thunder.

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