Linia Took in a Child - Chapter 1: The Child (6)

Sophie sighed loudly, clearly displeased but unable to refuse. “Alright…” she muttered, before leaving the room.

As Sophie descended the stairs, Ruin, who had been quietly nestled in Linia’s embrace, slowly lifted his head.

“Can I feed you?” he asked softly.

“Really?” Linia responded with a delighted smile.

Sliding off the bed, Ruin retrieved the tray from the small table and carried it over. He placed it carefully on the flat sheet in front of Linia and picked up a spoon. Scooping up some porridge, he blew on it lightly before holding the spoon up to her lips.

Linia smiled and opened her mouth, her lips briefly parting to reveal the tip of her rosy tongue as she took the warm, milky porridge into her mouth. Ruin watched intently as she swallowed quietly.

As Ruin continued to feed her, Linia couldn’t help but find his efforts endearing. His careful, earnest demeanor touched her heart, and she felt grateful for his desire to care for her.

At one point, a bit of porridge dripped from the spoon and landed on her lips. She paused, sensing the warm liquid on her skin, and turned her head slightly to look for something to wipe it with.

Before she could move further, she felt a warm finger gently brush against her lips.

Ruin’s dark eyes were focused, almost fixated, as he carefully wiped away the spilled porridge. His gaze was oddly intense, holding hers for a brief moment.

“Get better soon so we can play again,” Ruin said, smiling brightly.

Linia blinked in surprise. It was the first time she had seen such an open, cheerful smile from him. His expression was so sweet and sincere that she found herself momentarily taken aback. Smiling back, she reached for a cloth on the tray and gently wiped his fingers.

“What do you want to play when I’m better?” she asked, her tone warm.

Ruin seemed to ponder her question for a moment before answering carefully, his voice steady and deliberate.

“I want to sleep with you again tonight,” Ruin said softly.

“That’s not really playing, is it? Or do you mean playing with me in your dreams?” Linia replied, her voice laced with amusement at his adorable answer.

She chuckled lightly, then added, “If you say you want to sleep with me tonight, Sophie will probably object. Let’s save it for another time, okay?”

She gently reassured him, stroking his hair in a calming rhythm. Despite being turned down, Ruin didn’t pout or seem upset. Instead, he seemed content just to bask in her affection.

A moment later, Sophie entered the room, carrying a tray of food. She took one look at the scene—unchanged since she’d left—and sighed deeply. As expected, Linia had barely touched her meal, likely too preoccupied with tending to the boy.

“Miss Linia, please finish your meal. I’ll take care of the child,” Sophie said firmly, walking over and grabbing Ruin by the arm. She gently tried to guide him to the small table to eat.

However, Ruin resisted, planting his feet and pulling back stubbornly.

“Sit there and eat. If you stay here, Miss Linia won’t be able to eat properly,” Sophie insisted.

“No. I want to eat here,” Ruin replied, clinging even closer to Linia.

Sophie was stunned by his refusal. Linia gave an awkward smile and assured Sophie it was fine, but Sophie could tell Linia was still weak and struggling physically.

“Honestly! Stop being so stubborn and just—”

Before Sophie could finish, her other hand jerked unexpectedly. The bowl she was holding tipped over, spilling hot stew all over Ruin.

“Ruin!”

Linia cried out in alarm and quickly brushed the stew off him with her bare hands. Grabbing a nearby bottle of cold water, she poured it over the affected areas on his neck and arm, where the skin was turning red and swelling.

The boy whimpered, clutching at her dress in pain, and Linia’s heart ached at the sight. Without hesitation, she summoned her sacred power, her trembling fingers glowing faintly as she pressed them against his burns.

Bit by bit, the boy’s skin returned to its original state. Only when the healing was complete did Linia finally let out a shaky breath, her heart still racing. Ruin’s body sagged against her, his eyes closed, seemingly unconscious.

Linia cradled him in her arms, gazing down at him with a mix of worry and relief. Then, she lifted her head to look at Sophie.

“I-I didn’t do it on purpose!” Sophie stammered, her face pale with shock. Her hands were trembling, her voice shaking. “Someone—someone pulled my hand! I swear it wasn’t me!”

“I believe you, Sophie,” Linia said gently, her voice calm and reassuring. “I know you wouldn’t have done something like that on purpose.”

“Miss Linia…,” Sophie murmured, her voice breaking as tears welled up in her eyes.

“Are you hurt?” Linia asked softly, her concern evident.

Sophie shook her head, but the tears she’d been holding back finally spilled over. Kneeling down in front of Linia, she sobbed quietly.

Linia reached out and rubbed Sophie’s back in soothing circles, her touch warm and comforting. Gradually, Sophie’s breathing steadied, and her trembling subsided.

“You must be so shaken. Go downstairs and rest for now. I’ll take care of the cleanup,” Linia said gently.

“No… You’re unwell. Please, just sit down. I’ll clean this up and leave,” Sophie insisted, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

Sophie quickly rose to her feet, gathering the soiled blanket and bowls with shaky hands. Then, with a bowed head, she left the room, the door closing softly behind her.

*

After that day, Ruin completely closed himself off from Sophie. He avoided her so thoroughly that he barely left his room, clinging to Linia for comfort instead.

Linia had tried to explain to him that Sophie would never intentionally hurt him, but it seemed Ruin didn’t believe her. Today, Sophie had come to apologize again, but Ruin remained in Linia’s arms, refusing even to lift his head.

“Ruin, could you listen to Sophie for just a moment? She really wants to apologize to you,” Linia said gently.

“No. Please tell her to leave… now,” he whispered, tugging at her sleeve with a voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

Linia sighed and gave Sophie an apologetic look. Sophie shook her head as if to say it was fine, but her face betrayed her disappointment. With slumped shoulders, Sophie left the room like a guilty figure retreating from judgment. Watching her leave made Linia’s heartache.

Ruin had always been shy around Sophie, but after the incident, it was only natural that he would start to fear her. However, Linia couldn’t let this misunderstanding fester indefinitely.

“Sophie feels terrible about what happened. She didn’t mean to spill the stew on you…”

“She did it on purpose. I saw it,” Ruin muttered firmly.

“Sophie isn’t the kind of person who would do that, Ruin. I can promise you that,” Linia said gently, trying to soothe him.

But Ruin shook his head vigorously, as if refusing to hear another word. Linia placed her hand on his tousled hair and let out a silent sigh.

In truth, even Linia found the incident puzzling. She didn’t doubt Sophie’s intentions, but some parts of the story felt off.

Sophie did say she felt like someone grabbed her hand that day…

While she mulled over the strange details, Linia glanced down at Ruin, who had fallen asleep with his head resting on her lap. She carefully pulled a blanket over him and tucked him in.

Her gaze drifted toward the window, where rain had begun to fall softly. The gentle patter of raindrops against the glass grew steadily louder. Linia leaned back against the bedframe, watching the rain pour down. The cool sound of the storm seemed to wash away some of the unease lingering in her heart.

After a while, she picked up the book she had left on the nightstand and resumed reading. An hour passed as she lost herself in the words. But then, through the sound of the rain, she heard the faint but distinct clatter of horse hooves striking the ground.

At first, she thought she might have imagined it. But soon, the loud knocking on the mansion’s door confirmed that someone had indeed arrived.

A short while later, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching her room.

“Miss Linia,” came Sophie’s voice from outside the door.

Linia set her book down and turned toward the door.

“A young man has come to see you,” Sophie said hesitantly. “He was drenched from the rain, so I invited him in for now… but what should we do?”

“I’ll go down and check,” Linia said, closing her book and carefully preparing to get up.

“Don’t go,” Ruin’s voice interrupted, and Linia felt a small, firm tug on her clothes.

Looking down, she saw Ruin awake, his dark eyes staring up at her with quiet insistence.

“I’ll just talk to him for a moment. Don’t worry,” Linia reassured him with a gentle smile, hoping to ease his anxiety.

She leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, brushing aside the messy strands of silver hair.

Ruin’s head dipped slightly as if he was both embarrassed and comforted by the gesture. Once he reluctantly released her clothes, Linia stroked his head tenderly before standing up and leaving the room.

When she reached the first floor, she saw Bessie standing by the entrance with a stranger. The man, who had been drying himself with a towel, looked up as Linia approached. Beneath his wet, black hair was a handsome face, his features sharp and refined.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the man’s blue eyes widened slightly in surprise. He remained silent, as if gathering his thoughts, before speaking in a polite tone.

“Ah… My apologies. Are you the lady of this house?”

“Yes, that’s correct. May I ask what brings you here?” Linia responded kindly.

“Forgive me for arriving unannounced. My name is Russell, the second son of the Earl of Damon,” he introduced himself formally, taking a respectful step forward.

Linia, in turn, introduced herself, maintaining her composed demeanor. After the introductions, Russell briefly explained the circumstances that had led him to her home.

“…It’s embarrassing, but I lost my way while hunting in the nearby mountains. Then the rain started, and I found myself in a difficult situation. I was so relieved to come across this estate by chance,” he said.

His appearance matched his story—he wore riding breeches, and his bow and clothes were damp, rainwater dripping from the ends.

“Would it be alright if I sheltered here until the rain stops? If it’s an inconvenience, I’ll leave right away,” he asked with a tone of humility.

“It’s no inconvenience at all. Please stay here until the rain clears,” Linia replied warmly.

“Thank you for your kindness, my lady,” Russell said, bowing slightly in gratitude.

Linia smiled softly in response. Turning toward Sophie, who stood nearby, she gave her a small nod.

“Tonight, I’ll sleep with Ruin, so please prepare Ruin’s room for our guest,” Linia said, her tone calm and composed. “And if he hasn’t eaten yet, make sure to serve him a warm meal.”

“Yes, Miss Linia,” Sophie replied obediently, giving a slight bow before heading off to carry out her tasks.

*

The rain showed no sign of stopping, even late into the night. Listening to the rhythmic sound of raindrops tapping against the window, Edwin turned to look at the woman lying beside him.

The room where he usually stayed was currently occupied by a man who had unexpectedly arrived earlier that day. From what Edwin had heard, the man was a noble who had lost his way while hunting. Although the visitor was merely a passing stranger who would leave by tomorrow, Edwin found the man’s presence irritating.

Perhaps that was why he felt a mischievous urge to tease the peacefully sleeping woman beside him. A faint glimmer of amusement surfaced momentarily in his otherwise calm, crimson eyes.

Edwin looked down at the sleeping woman and loosened the upper part of her dress. As her full, supple breasts were revealed, his hand reached out to them. The soft flesh filled his palm, yielding to his touch. He kneaded them with a slight pressure, waiting for her to let out a faint moan, but her lips remained still and silent.

In that moment, Edwin sensed a faint flow of magical energy emanating from her body. His hand moved to her left breast, resting above her heart. He had thought she was deeply asleep—but that wasn’t the case. The magic he had infused into her was slowly seeping out from her heart.

Now that he looked more closely, she seemed even paler than usual. At first, he had assumed it was simply due to the pain she occasionally experienced, but now it was clear—she had been on the brink of death.

With an expression of quiet intrigue, Edwin observed her.

That night, when he had brought her back to life, it had been a decision made on nothing more than a whim. He had taken the life force of countless others by drawing power from their hearts, but imbuing someone with his own power? That was something he had never attempted before. It had been a reckless, almost impulsive act, one he wasn’t even sure would work.

When her stopped heart had begun to beat again, he had left the rest to the gods. If she woke, he had decided he would claim her as his own. If she didn’t, her body—and the estate—would be reduced to ashes.

And the next morning, Rinea had miraculously opened her eyes.

The gods had abandoned her.

When she had greeted him with a soft, grateful smile, Edwin had felt a fresh sense of amusement stir within him.

If she ever learned that her beating heart was powered by the stolen lives of countless others… how would she react? he wondered.

Would she glare at him with pure hatred? Would she feel disgust, revulsion toward him and herself? He was curious—morbidly so.

He drew the power stored within his own heart and began to channel it into her body through their point of contact.

As the surge of his magic coursed into her, far more than enough to replenish what she had lost, her weakly beating heart gradually gained strength. With each pulse, he could sense the faint stirrings of vitality returning to her, the fragile rhythm slowly becoming steadier.

Edwin slipped his fingers into the small gap between her slightly parted lips, which were faintly exhaling soft breaths. Even with just two fingers, her mouth felt tight, as though it was already full. He thought to himself that it might be difficult to fit anything larger, but nonetheless, he began to move his fingers.

When his fingers brushed against her tongue, a faint, stifled moan escaped her lips, one she couldn’t completely suppress. Edwin withdrew his fingers, now thoroughly coated in her warm saliva. He then brought the wet fingers down to her chin, just below her jawline.

As Edwin began to roll her nipple between his fingers, he could feel the damp bud gradually hardening, as though responding even in her unconscious state. The way the tip perked up slightly struck him as endearingly delicate.

Lowering his head, Edwin began to suck on her lips. The sound of his insistent sucking filled the room, but the woman gave no reaction. Realizing she was unlikely to wake anytime soon, he grew bolder, savoring her lips as he sucked and licked them with abandon.

“Haa…”

With a soft smacking sound, Edwin finally pulled away from her lips, gazing down at the slightly parted mouth. Her plump lower lip, now slick with his saliva, glistened in the dim light. He reached for his manhood, gripping it firmly in one hand. The throbbing shaft, swollen and veined as though on the verge of bursting, was already leaking fluid from its tip.

“Wake up, Linia.”

His low, languid voice resonated in the quiet room. Yet, as he looked down at her sleeping face, Edwin wore a smile of utter satisfaction.

“Watch what I’m doing to your body.”

By tomorrow, she would smile warmly at him, her eyes filled with affection. She would gently stroke his hair with loving hands and tell him stories as if they were living in a blissful fairy tale. Completely unaware, of course, that he spent his nights satiating his lust while she slept soundly.

In the darkness, Edwin began to move his hand slowly, and deliberately. His eyes, unable to hide his pleasure, curved smoothly with satisfaction as he indulged in his secret desires.

*

“Mm…”

Linia let out a soft moan as she awoke. Her blurry eyes fluttered open, and she listened to the sound of rain pattering against the window. The sky outside was still dull and gray, making it impossible to tell whether it was morning or the early hours of dawn.

Turning her head, she looked at the child nestled against her, sleeping soundly in her embrace. A tender smile naturally spread across her lips at the sight of the little one’s adorable face.

But the moment of warmth didn’t last long. Linia let out a faint groan, feeling a sharp sensitivity at the tip of her breast where the child’s forehead touched. The light contact was enough to leave a faint, stinging sensation.

Sensing something amiss, Linia carefully rose from the bed, ensuring she didn’t wake the child. Standing before the mirror, she loosened the straps of her dress and checked her upper body. Her fair, full skin revealed swollen areolas, and the tips of her breasts were flushed red and tender.

In that instant, vague memories she had tried so hard to bury resurfaced—fragments of a stranger’s touch in the darkness. The thought of that unfamiliar man, who had caressed her in the shadows, chilled her to the core, as if cold water had been poured over her mind.

Her fingertips began to tremble slightly. She had convinced herself it was all just a dream, but now, an unsettling suspicion crept in—it might not have been a dream after all. Suppressing her quickening breaths, Linia pulled her dress further down, anxiety gripping her. She feared what might have happened to her while she was asleep.

As she examined her body for any other signs, her gaze fell on her stomach. There, she spotted a faint streak of dried, milky fluid, a trace left uncleaned.

“It… wasn’t a dream.”

Linia held her breath for a moment. Someone had been entering her room every night.