In A World Full of Silence, My Heart Will Find Its Way To You - Chapter 79

Same Time. The morning sun lightly seeped in through the red curtains of the main building, into Edward’s bedroom. Inside, servants busily moved around, preparing tea for the Count and laying out his clothes.

While the maids dressed him in a neat formal suit, Edward stood still, gazing blankly out the window.

He stared coldly at a white horse standing in front of the annex, which annoyed him.

At a glance, he could tell it belonged to someone from the Imperial Palace.

The close relationship between the Imperial family and Eric was not a good sign for him. He was certain Emperor Carlos was comparing him, the new head of the family, with his late father.

If Eric accidentally said the wrong thing, the sharp-tempered Emperor might begin to question Edward’s leadership as the new Count of Bailey.

“All done, my lord.”

At the maid’s words, Edward instinctively turned to look in the mirror.

Through the reflection, he instantly saw how much harsher his face had become. As head of the family, he could no longer afford to be someone whose position could be shaken by others.

Noticing the servants watching him, Edward softened his expression and lightly raised his hand—signaling them to leave.

Having finished fixing his outfit, the servants checked everything once more and quietly exited the room.

In the now-silent room, Edward moved toward the window. All he could think about was the ring Aria wore and the indifferent words she had spoken to him.

“Eric proposed to me. It’ll be a small ceremony, but we’ll get married soon. So I can’t stay by your side any longer, Count.”

In Aria’s big eyes, there was only trust in Eric—not a trace of the man who had once been her master. Anyone could see how deeply she loved Eric just by looking into those eyes.

Edward bit his lip gently. He couldn’t just let her go. Eventually, he came up with a plan: Sierra.

That evening, Edward sent Sierra an invitation.

“A marriage can’t happen without my permission as the family head. I won’t let Aria go that easily…”

Just as Edward muttered coldly to himself, a knock came from outside the door. It was the head butler.

“My lord, Lady Sierra Stuart, the eldest daughter of Archduke Charles Stuart, has just arrived. Shall I escort her to the drawing room?”

“So it’s that time already.”

He lifted his head and checked the wall clock, then gave a small nod.

Sure enough, while he was lost in thought, a carriage had already arrived in front of the main building.

“Lady Stuart must have been in quite a hurry to come running as soon as she got the invitation.”

Looking out at the carriage, Edward’s lips curled into a sharp smile. He clearly remembered her from the last party, as if it were just yesterday.

The moment she saw Eric, tension filled Sierra’s face—but soon, a bright smile bloomed.

Every time she looked at Eric, she had a shy expression and a nervous voice. It was clearly how someone reacted when they liked another person.

Even Archduke Charles had his eye on Eric as a potential son-in-law. From Edward’s perspective, who was wary of Eric, this was troubling.

If Eric gained the support of Archduke Charles—a royal and powerful noble of the Atil Kingdom—there was no telling how he might influence the Bailey family.

But for now, Edward had no other options. He had to get Aria back. Breaking her apart from Eric was his top priority.

As he chewed on his thumbnail, all trace of reason had vanished from his eyes.

Calming his grim expression, Edward straightened his collar and headed for the drawing room.

The Drawing Room of the Main Building, with bright sunlight filtering through the window. Elegant white roses on the table gave off a soft fragrance.

Entering the room, Edward greeted Sierra warmly.

“Lady Stuart, it’s been a while. Thank you for making the long trip here.”

“How could I say no? After all, it was an invitation from the Count of Bailey. And also from someone I owe a great debt to. I came with a joyful heart.”

As she gave a graceful curtsy, the golden ribbon on her pink dress shimmered and swayed gently.

Just as the two sat at the table, a maid came in with tea brewed from freshly picked chamomile flowers from the garden.

The gentle steam from the teacups spread between them, carrying a faint floral scent.

Glancing at Sierra as she tasted the tea, Edward slowly spoke.

“At the party the other day, I couldn’t properly greet you. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“No, not at all. On my way here, my heart was heavy. I only recently heard about the passing of your father. It was truly saddening.”

“I never realized how hard it is to say goodbye to someone until I had to let my father go. Once the funeral ended, I finally felt at ease. For the future of the family, I had to let him go in my heart.”

“I’m sure it was a great burden to inherit the Bailey household. But with Sir Eric at your side, I believe you’ll do well. He’s a wonderful and dependable man.”

Sierra smiled softly, seeking his agreement.

But Edward thought differently. The mere mention of Eric’s help irritated him.

Still, he forced his face into a polite expression.

“Have you found everything comfortable during your stay in the Empire?”

“Thanks to His and Her Majesty’s kind attention, I’ve had no trouble. In fact, I’ve been grateful and happy.”

“I’m glad to hear that. So, when will you return to your homeland?”

“Well… now that my father’s business is wrapped up, I suppose it’s time to go back…”

Sierra trailed off, her gaze dropping to the teacup in her hands. She froze, caught in thought.

Guessing what she was thinking, Edward gently lifted his own cup and asked:

“Leaving without expressing your heart to someone—there’s nothing more regretful than that. Is that person here, by any chance?”

Startled by the question that broke her thoughts, Sierra looked up wide-eyed. She quickly shook her head.

“N-no…”

“I’m rather good at reading women’s hearts. Is it about Eric?”

“T-that…”

Blushing, Sierra hurriedly set down her teacup. Edward responded cheerfully.

“Then that’s wonderful news. My late father also wished for ties between the Bailey and Stuart families. And as the new head, I’d want nothing more than that as well.”

“I sincerely wish for our families to thrive, and for you and Eric to find happiness together.”

At his subtle hint, Sierra couldn’t hide her discomfort and began quietly sipping her tea.

Edward narrowed his eyes slightly, trying to see through her thoughts.

She seemed even more taken with Eric than before. He thought it would be more dignified if she heard his intentions from him rather than bringing them up herself.

If he could take the lead in helping her express feelings she hadn’t dared to say, her trust in him would surely grow.

With that thought, Edward’s eyes gleamed sharply. He wore a gentle smile.

“Don’t worry. I’ll arrange a dinner with Eric soon.”

“That won’t be necessary…”

“I know I may be rushing things. But if you don’t mind, I’d like to help you make up for the time you lost with Eric—naturally, of course.”

At his offer, Sierra’s eyes briefly sparkled. But soon, her expression dimmed again.

“Thank you, Count. Honestly… I can’t stop how I feel about Sir Eric. I’m grateful for your help. But at the same time… I’m worried.”

“Worried?”

“I’m afraid that my selfish desire, without considering his feelings, might cloud my judgment.”

She remembered when she first met Eric at the Imperial Palace—his chiseled face, strong build, remarkable abilities, and quiet nature.

The moment she saw him, her cheeks flushed pink, like a ripened peach. From that moment, she had wanted him. Desired him.

As she recalled Eric, her face darkened further. She slowly lifted her head and looked directly at Edward.

“If I really wanted to, I could’ve used my father’s influence to keep Sir Eric by my side. But I didn’t want to. Using someone else to hold back the person I love feels cowardly.”

“Cowardly… well, in the social world, many young ladies choose that method.”

“But turning the happiness I felt when I first saw him into something twisted and greedy… that would be a tragedy.”

Sierra’s firm voice echoed in the room. She wasn’t someone to be dismissed as young and naïve—she was sharp and mature.

Her words struck hard in Edward’s chest.

Using others to tie down the one you love… letting genuine feelings turn into corrupted desire…

Every word pointed directly at the ugly truth inside him.

Edward barely managed to smooth his stiffening face and continued.

“Lady Stuart, then… will you just wait for Eric, just like this?”

“Yes. All I want is his heart.”

Despite his efforts, her short, resolute reply didn’t waver. Edward, now with a cold and hardened gaze, asked again:

“Even if Eric ends up marrying another woman?”

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