In A World Full of Silence, My Heart Will Find Its Way To You - Chapter 80

“What do you mean? Sir Eric is marrying another woman?”

Eric getting married. Sierra’s pink eyes trembled noticeably. Seeing her reaction, Edward shook his head as if he had been waiting for it.

“It just turned out that way. That’s why I was in a hurry to meet you, Miss Stuart. I was just as shocked when I heard it directly from Eric.”

“W-What kind of lady is she? If it’s not rude, may I ask who managed to open his tightly shut heart?”

“Well…”

Edward trailed off, frowning slightly before letting out a quiet sigh.

Sierra became curious. Who could have shaken Eric’s cold, frozen heart?

Suddenly, she remembered the maid she had seen at the party.

“Is Sir Eric really marrying that maid? No, that can’t be. He would never marry a maid…”

Worry filled Sierra’s eyes as she recalled the way Eric looked at the maid.

Hidden behind his cool blue eyes, there had been warmth and clear emotions for the maid—emotions she had never seen when he looked at her.

Trying to calm the growing unease inside her, Sierra shook her head. She had to soothe her nerves, but the rising anxiety kept poking at her.

“I’ll be honest, since it’s not something that can be hidden. He said he’s going to marry a maid who used to work at our house. She was Eric’s personal maid in the annex.”

“How can that be! Isn’t that the same maid from the last party?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

Sierra was shocked. That maid was also connected to both Edward and Isabella.

The events of the party replayed in her mind. The woman once tied to Edward was now connected to Eric.

Could it really be just coincidence? Why were the three of them so deeply entangled?

Lost in confusion, Sierra’s gaze slowly turned to Edward.

“That party was ruined by Miss Cecil’s reckless behavior after she got angry at the maid. I thought it was nothing and brushed it off. This might be a rude question, but may I ask something?”

“Of course.”

“Was that maid part of the reason your wedding with Miss Cecil was called off?”

Sierra’s question was sharp. Something no ordinary person would guess.

Edward was momentarily caught off guard.

“Surely not…”

He forced a smile, hiding his sadness. He didn’t even notice his hand slightly trembling as he tried to keep his expression steady.

“Well, that’s good. If my guess had been right, it would’ve been quite pitiful. Following Miss Cecil, who lost control out of jealousy… I really don’t want to become the subject of gossip. Ah, I didn’t mean to mock you, Count. Please forgive me if it sounded that way.”

“No, it’s all my fault. I wasn’t enough.”

Sierra let out a quiet breath and shook her head.

“Jealousy is never something you can control. It comes from the desire to have someone. Miss Cecil may be hurt now, but I believe she’ll get through it.”

“Sir Eric marrying a maid… it really is surprising. But I’m sure he knows this. That high society would never easily accept something like that.”

As Sierra smiled gently, Edward’s eyes grew darker. But she continued speaking without concern.

“Sir Eric is still naive about the world. He’s like a wild horse—rough and untamed. Someone who could never be tied down by something small and formal like society. You may think I’m being bold, but that’s actually what drew me to him.”

When Edward saw Sierra’s cheeks turning red, a strange emotion passed through his eyes.

Every time Sierra mentioned Eric, he could see a flicker of love in her clear, glassy eyes.

After finishing her words, Sierra looked away from Edward and turned her gaze to the window. In her eyes, the annex in the sunlight appeared clearly.

She calmly stood up.

“Thank you for inviting me. This was a meaningful time.”

“Are you leaving already? You could at least stay for a meal…”

“No, I have somewhere else to visit while I’m here. It was nice seeing you, Count. I hope we meet again.”

With a soft smile, Sierra bowed and calmly walked out the door.

Edward’s expression darkened as he watched her leave. He was afraid she wouldn’t back down so easily.

But soon his heavy steps lightened. Sierra, who had just cut off his persuasion, was heading straight for the annex.

A cold smirk touched Edward’s lips as he watched her.

“She pretends to be different, but she’s no different from the rest.”

Hiding his bitter smile, he turned back to the main building.

While Eric and Henry were having a light meal, Aria was on her way downstairs to bring tea. A maid hurriedly called out to her.

“Miss Aria, please go to the drawing room. Miss Sierra Stuart is waiting for the young master.”

Miss Sierra Stuart—the eldest daughter of Duke Charles and the lady often mentioned as Eric’s fiancée.

Hearing that she came to see Eric made Aria’s eyes tremble slightly.

Aria paused for a moment, then turned her steps toward the drawing room.

She quietly observed the woman sitting there. A young lady in a pink dress with exotic patterns, calmly sipping tea as if she were very familiar with this place.

Suddenly, Sierra looked up at the sound of the door. She immediately recognized Aria as the maid from the party.

Without realizing it, Sierra stared at Aria’s face—neatly tied brown hair, a fresh and fair face, big round eyes that didn’t suit her thin body.

Though a maid, Aria’s appearance naturally drew attention.

“So this is why. This must be why Sir Eric looked at her that way…”

Recalling the warmth in Eric’s eyes that she never saw for herself, Sierra’s heart grew heavier. As Aria came closer, Sierra barely softened her expression and met her eyes.

“You must be Sir Eric’s maid. Nice to meet you.”

“Thank you for speaking first. If you’re waiting for the young master, could I ask you to wait a moment? He’s still dining with a guest who arrived earlier…”

“Oh my. I thought you couldn’t speak when I saw you at the last party. Was I mistaken?”

At Sierra’s surprised look, Aria paused, then replied.

“As you said, I couldn’t speak for a while. But through an unexpected moment, my voice returned. I’m honored that you remembered even such a small detail.”

“That’s good to hear. No need to tell Sir Eric. He’s not the one I came to see.”

“I’m sorry…?”

“I came to see you.”

Sierra’s calm, graceful voice filled the room, and Aria’s brown eyes visibly trembled.

Her body shrank slightly. She already knew why a noble lady would come looking for her. It was to find out about her relationship with Eric.

Frozen in place, Aria couldn’t move. Sierra, sensing the heavy tension, softened her eyes.

“Oh my, you’ve already guessed why I’m here. I hope we can talk for a bit. I’m not here to interrogate you. I want to speak woman to woman, not about status.”

Her voice and gaze showed genuine interest. Aria could guess where the conversation would go, but seeing the woman said to be Eric’s intended made her heart uneasy.

Slowly, she stepped forward and sat across from Sierra. Sierra calmly looked at Aria and lifted her teacup.

“Even when I sent invitations asking for dinner with Sir Eric, he always turned me down. So one day, I gathered my courage and came here, hoping to see him.”

“I finally got to meet him after all that waiting… but he only said cold words. He told me his heart had long been with someone else. I already had a feeling. I even knew who that someone was.”

As Sierra finished speaking, silence filled the drawing room like a heavy fog.

When Aria lifted her eyes slightly, she saw Sierra looking at the ring on her finger. Surprised, Aria instinctively clasped her hands together.

“So Count Bailey was telling the truth. When I heard Sir Eric wanted to marry a maid, I didn’t believe it… But seeing that ring, I guess you accepted his proposal.”

Sierra clenched her dress lightly, trying to steady her trembling voice.

Even as she spoke, she was surprised at herself. Was it curiosity, or was it jealousy? She wasn’t sure.

Aria, startled by the direct question, lowered her eyes. Sierra was bolder and more straightforward than she had expected.

Just as Aria bit her lip, Eric’s words echoed faintly in her ears, awakening her courage:

“So don’t waver. Just stay by my side, like now.”

The price of choosing him. And the price he paid to choose her. Aria would accept both. With calm eyes, she looked up and met Sierra’s gaze.

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