In A World Full of Silence, My Heart Will Find Its Way To You - Chapter 84

Sunlight streamed through the narrow gap between the window panes, lighting up Aria’s room. Her eyes opened naturally, and she lazily looked around.

“Oh no… I overslept.”

Although she woke up out of habit, it was a particularly late morning compared to usual.

She frowned slightly and moved her stiff body out of habit.

Spending time with Eric always felt like falling into something too deep to escape. Accepting him was overwhelming. After a night of passionate acts, her body now felt sore.

As she tried to quietly lift her upper body, she suddenly realized a thick arm was wrapped around her.

She turned her head. Eric was holding her tightly as if to keep her close and was still sound asleep.

He was even smiling faintly, like he was having a good dream.

His gentle breaths kept brushing against Aria’s pale skin, making her cheeks turn pink.

Through his long black bangs, his closed eyes sometimes peeked through as the breeze moved them slightly. It was enough to melt the heart of anyone who saw.

Aria slowly looked at Eric. As her eyes moved downward, she saw the outlines of his firm muscles under the thin blanket covering his lower body.

On his broad, V-shaped back, faint scratch marks from her nails could still be seen—lighter than the last time.

At that moment, Eric’s quiet words echoed in her thoughts.

“I don’t need medicine. Only you can quench this thirst.”

It was true. When he was with her, it was like he was breaking free from the curse that clawed into his flesh.

A life of constant pain and fierce battles. If she could be the one to ease that…

It made her happy just to think that she could be his only peace in that hard and lonely life.

It made her feel like she, someone so ordinary, was finally useful. Like she could light the path ahead of him.

Smiling faintly, she gently touched one of his scars. Then, she suddenly heard a sleepy voice.

“I’m thirsty…”

His slightly opened eyes revealed clear blue pupils that sparkled. Aria quickly got up and headed to the door. It was an instinctive action, like a maid trying to fetch water.

In the rush, she completely forgot she was still naked.

“That’s not what I want.”

“Not water?”

Instead of replying, Eric’s eyes slowly traced her bare back. Feeling awkward, Aria finally came to her senses and quickly wrapped a white cloth around her upper body.

Eric looked up at her and smiled. When he slowly sat up, his muscles moved smoothly with him.

“You’re acting differently today. Is that cold voice part of some new way to tease me?”

“What do you mean I’m acting differently?”

“That hurts my feelings. I already miss last night. You were so eager then…”

“S-Stop!”

Aria rushed over and covered his mouth. A soft smile formed on his lips. With a playful look, Eric wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.

“I feel especially refreshed today. Even my usually heavy head feels lighter.”

He tucked her hair behind her ear. From that small touch, her heart began to race.

“I should wake up in this room every day. Just seeing you when I open my eyes is exciting.”

“W-What? You mean you’ll sleep here every night?!”

“You never come to my room. So I have no choice but to come here.”

“I told you, I’m worried about the maids seeing us.”

“You just said that without asking me. I never agreed.”

Aria narrowed her eyes. So he’s going to play dirty now, she thought, though she didn’t say it out loud.

Eric smiled calmly as he looked at her flustered face. Aria gave up on escaping his grip and forced herself to look away.

“I-I need to get dressed first.”

Her brown eyes rolled around as she looked for her scattered clothes. Just then, a maid knocked on the door from outside.

“Miss, are you awake? May I come in for a moment?”

“No! W-What is it?”

Aria quickly got up and scrambled to put on the clothes beside her, shouting back through the door.

“It’s just… the butler has been looking for the young master since earlier, but he’s nowhere to be found. Not even in his room. We wanted to ask if you knew where he might be.”

“The butler?”

“Yes. He says it’s urgent and asked us to find out where he is.”

“I-I see… I’ll go to the butler myself, so don’t worry and continue with your tasks.”

“Yes, Miss. We’ll trust you. Take your time coming down.”

As the maid’s footsteps faded, Aria quickly turned back to Eric.

“What are you doing?! You need to leave right now! Get dressed quickly—I’ll check if the coast is clear…”

“Why?”

“W-Why? The butler said it’s urgent…”

“No, I mean, why do I have to sneak away like a thief?”

“How can you say that?! What if the maids figure out we were together?!”

Aria clamped her hand over her mouth at her rising voice. While she looked pale and panicked, Eric stretched casually and twisted his body.

“Do I need to care what others think when I’m only taking what’s mine?”

“Ugh. You might as well just announce you’re making me your wife. That would be easier.”

“Should I? That’s actually a great idea.”

What’s great about that? Aria’s mouth fell open. Eric chuckled darkly, threw on a robe, and walked out.

“Young Master, wait! If you go that way…!”

Before she could stop him, Eric passed the maids working busily and headed toward his room.

Meanwhile…

“Young Master, the Count has just ordered all personnel to withdraw from the main steelworks and cut the number of workers in half. What should we do…?”

“So he’s denying everything Father built.”

The butler glanced sideways at Eric, whose face remained calm, as if he had expected this.

The butler cleared his throat a few times, then spoke in a more serious tone.

“That’s not all. He’s also decided to hand over all trade negotiations with the Kingdom of Atil and other nations to Grand Duke Stuart.”

“What?”

“Giving up negotiation rights is no different from selling the steel business itself.”

“He’s finally gone mad.”

“How could His Majesty allow this? This deal only happened because of your efforts and the Count’s hard work. The nobles—and the Emperor himself—will blame the Bailey family.”

At the butler’s concerned words, Eric’s expression darkened.

A heavy silence filled the room. After staring into space for a moment, Eric slowly furrowed his brow.

He warned me not to interfere… and now he’s selling off the family business? It was completely reckless. Not like Edward at all.

Edward must have known this was dangerous. This would anger the Emperor and bring scorn from the nobility.

Eric’s blue eyes grew darker. He began to guess what Edward was truly thinking.

The steel business that Charles, Emperor Carlos, and Count Dennis all tried to protect… Edward must be trying to use that tension for his own gain.

“Has the Count finally lost his mind?”

The butler spoke cautiously. Eric, lost in thought, finally looked at him.

“Do you really think Edward is crazy?”

“If not, then why would he go this far…?”

“It’s reckless and extreme, just like you said. Society’s gossips will say the new head of the Bailey family has gone insane.”

“Selling the family business would destroy the Bailey name and pride.”

“What if that’s exactly what Edward wants?”

“What?”

The butler’s eyes widened. Eric calmly raised one eyebrow.

“He’s waiting for my decision.”

“Your decision?”

“The final choice I make in this complicated situation.”

“I-I don’t understand, Young Master. What choice do you mean?”

The butler asked carefully. Eric’s face held a mysterious expression.

“I either go to the Emperor and beg… or marry Grand Duke Stuart’s daughter to save the business. It’s one or the other. Edward knows I won’t give this up easily.”

“Why would the Count force you to choose like this?”

“Because it’s not really a choice. It’s a trap—no matter what I pick.”

“A… trap? That’s nonsense! He wouldn’t risk the family’s legacy on a trap!”

The butler shook his head, shocked. Eric let out a bitter laugh.

It was definitely a trap. No matter which path he chose, he’d fall into Edward’s carefully planned pit.

And either way, he’d lose Aria.

Edward was cleverly forcing his hand. Choose the family business their father protected… or choose love.

Eric’s eyes sharpened, one brow still raised. He clenched his trembling fist tighter.

He had to find a way to destroy Edward—without giving himself time to hesitate or grow weak.

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