Linia Took in a Child - Chapter 2: Visitor (1)

“Miss Linia, are you awake?”

Bessie’s voice came from outside the door, pulling Linia from her thoughts. “Yes,” she replied softly. A moment later, Bessie entered the room.

“Breakfast is ready. Please come downstairs and eat,” Bessie said with a warm yet concerned expression.

“I think I’ll stay in my room today. I’m not feeling too well,” Linia replied, her voice faint.

“Did the pain come back this morning?” Bessie asked, worry clear in her tone.

Linia shook her head lightly. “No, not this morning,” she said quietly. Truthfully, she hadn’t felt the chest pain in some time—specifically, not since that night.

‘…I’ll make you feel better soon.’

That deep, murky voice from the darkness resurfaced in her mind. She remembered how the man had whispered those words to her, followed by the unbearable pain in her chest. After that, she had blacked out entirely.

If it hadn’t all been a dream, then the disappearance of her pain might be connected to what happened that night. The thought made her stomach churn.

“Miss Linia?” Bessie’s voice snapped her back to the present.

“Sorry, I was lost in thought,” Linia said, offering an apologetic smile.

“You’re definitely not feeling well, are you? Please don’t hide it from me and tell me the truth,” Bessie insisted, her concern deepening.

“It’s nothing serious. My stomach just feels a little unsettled,” Linia replied, trying to sound composed. She steadied her slightly trembling voice before speaking again.

“Bessie, have you noticed anything unusual happening lately?”

“Unusual? No, nothing in particular. Why do you ask?”

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Linia said, shaking her head lightly. “I was just wondering if there was anything making you uncomfortable. Could you let Sophie know to bring up some food for Ruin instead?”

“Of course, Miss Linia. I’ll let her know,” Bessie said, still looking concerned but not pressing further.

Bessie acknowledged Linia’s request and, noticing the faint tremor in her voice, reminded her once again to let her know immediately if her condition worsened.

Once Bessie left the room, Linia suppressed a sigh and gripped the blanket tightly in her hands. She knew that even if she reported what had happened to her family, they wouldn’t take any action. The only people she could rely on were Bessie and Sophie.

But she couldn’t tell them. Even if she did, it wouldn’t change anything. Both of them were already deeply worried about her after the incident a few days ago when she’d been on the brink of death. Adding to their burdens wasn’t an option.

The only solace she found was that whatever had happened seemed to be targeting her alone. No one else had been harmed, and nothing seemed to have been taken or damaged. Yet, despite her attempts to calm her mind, her heart refused to settle. Her trembling hands clutched the blanket even tighter, betraying her unease.

“Are you hurting somewhere?”

A small, soft hand suddenly clasped hers, and Linia’s grip loosened as the tension drained from her fingers. She looked up to see Ruin sitting before her, his dark eyes filled with worry.

“Ruin, last night… did you…”

Her voice trailed off as she saw the concern in his gaze. The clarity and innocence in his expression stopped her mid-sentence. She didn’t want to burden him with her fears or make him anxious.

“It’s nothing,” she said, forcing a faint smile. “…More importantly, did you sleep well?”

Reaching out, she gently smoothed down his tousled silver hair.

Ruin, watching her pale, fragile face, remained quiet for a moment before shifting closer. Without a word, he slipped his small hand through the golden strands of her hair draped over her slender back, then buried his face in her chest.

Linia froze for a moment, startled by the sudden gesture, but then let out a soft breath. She gently rested her hand on his head, stroking his hair as she whispered, “I’m okay, Ruin. Don’t worry.”

But even as she spoke those words, she wondered if they were truly meant for him—or herself.

“Don’t be in pain, Linia,” Ruin murmured softly.

Hearing his quiet words, Linia pulled him into a gentle embrace.

“Thank you for worrying about me,” she said warmly.

With his face nestled against the softness of her chest, Ruin’s lips curved into a faint smile. The familiar scent of her skin lingered in his nose, the same soothing fragrance he had noticed throughout the night. It made him feel oddly content.

“I’m not really in pain,” Linia reassured him. “I think it’s just because I had a bad dream.”

“What kind of dream was it?” Ruin asked, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity, masking the faint amusement flickering in his eyes.

“Just a normal nightmare,” Linia replied in a steady voice.

Yet, despite her composed tone, her fingers trembled slightly as they ran through Ruin’s hair. Sensing this, Ruin wrapped his arms around her and began to stroke her back gently with his small hands.

His movements were slow and comforting as if trying to soothe her. The gesture felt tender, almost protective, and he continued it for a while, as though assuring her that everything would be alright.

*

By evening, the rain had finally stopped. Sophie informed Linia that someone from the Damon Count’s household had come to fetch Russell. Before leaving, Russell had expressed his desire to bid her farewell, but Linia declined, citing her poor health as an excuse.

She tried not to be overly suspicious, but her thoughts continued to spiral toward doubt. Russell claimed he had stumbled upon the estate while hunting, but the timing felt far too coincidental.

Could he be the same man who invaded my room before? she wondered. Could he be pretending to have gotten lost, acting as if it were his first visit?

The face and voice of the man from that night still remained a hazy, elusive memory. Even if she saw Russell again, she wasn’t confident she’d be able to confirm whether or not he was the intruder. She knew that directly asking him might be the quickest way to resolve her doubts, but the thought of confronting him filled her with unease.

Linia chose to stay in her room, curtains drawn, until she received word that he had left. Once Russell was gone, the estate returned to its usual calm and quiet.

Yet, despite the familiar tranquility, Linia couldn’t shake an undercurrent of anxiety. If it weren’t for Ruin, who had stayed by her side throughout the day, the unease might have overwhelmed her entirely.

As the night deepened, Linia lay in bed. The soft glow of a candle on the bedside table gently illuminated the room. She pulled the blanket up to her waist and turned to look at Ruin, who lay beside her.

“Can’t sleep?” Ruin asked, lifting his head to look at her.

Linia smiled faintly and placed her hand on his smooth, fair cheek. She gently caressed his soft skin with her thumb, prompting a small laugh from Ruin, who squirmed slightly at the ticklish sensation.

After a moment, Ruin stopped giggling and shifted. He propped himself up slightly and leaned in to press a light kiss to Linia’s forehead.

“Don’t worry,” he said, his small lips curling into a reassuring smile. “I’ll stay right here with you.”

His expression was so earnest and pure as he continued, “That way, even nightmares won’t dare come near you.”

Linia’s heart softened at his words. She pulled Ruin into her arms and hugged him close, feeling the warmth radiating from his small body.

At that moment, she realized that this warmth was her anchor, her source of comfort amidst the chaos in her mind.

“Thank you, Ruin.”

After releasing her embrace, Linia instead took hold of the small hand that fit snugly in her own. With her other hand, she gently stroked the soft, fine strands of hair. Feeling her touch, Ruin was enveloped in a calmness so soothing it seemed he could drift off to sleep at any moment.

Linia, who had been running her fingers through Ruin’s hair for a long time without falling asleep herself, eventually succumbed to slumber. Hearing her quiet breaths from above, Ruin raised his head. Even in her sleep, she still held his hand firmly.

Gazing at her sleeping face, Ruin moved his free hand. He tucked the strands of hair that had fallen over her cheek behind her ear, causing her long lashes to flutter faintly in response.

A faint chuckle escaped Ruin’s lips. Perhaps she was still troubled by the faint traces he had left on her the previous night, as she had seemed distracted all day.

Even now, she wasn’t fully at ease in her sleep, reacting sensitively to even the lightest of touches. Watching the slight trembling of her lashes, Ruin lightly brushed his fingers over their edges before wrapping his arms around her. Gently, he brought his hand to the back of her head.

“I can’t wait for the day I can truly hold you, Linia,” he murmured softly.

Sliding his fingers through the long strands of her hair, he smoothed them as if combing through them. His touch was clumsy, yet carried a tenderness that echoed Linia’s familiar gestures when she stroked his hair.

* * *

Recently, Linia had developed a habit of checking her body first thing every morning upon waking. Afterward, she would meticulously examine her room for any signs that someone might have entered during the night.

Thankfully, for the past three days, there had been no strange marks on her body or suspicious traces in her room. Even the small bell she had hung on her door as a precaution had remained silent throughout the night. Now that the aching sensitivity in her chest had finally subsided, Linia felt as though she was starting to return to a semblance of normalcy.

Sitting alone in the quiet room, she offered her prayers to the divine. The sunlight streaming in through the window felt warm, and the tranquil atmosphere that enveloped her seemed to gently cradle her.

As she prayed for the continued peace and well-being of the people she loved, the sound of galloping hooves reached her ears from outside. Rising from her seat, Linia moved to the window and looked out. Through the trees, she spotted a carriage drawn by black horses approaching the mansion.

Her hand trembled as she drew the curtains shut and sat down on the bed. She clenched the hem of her skirt tightly, her knuckles turning pale. A few moments later, a knock sounded at her door.

“Young Lady, I think you should come out for a moment. The gentleman who stayed with us a few days ago has returned,” a voice informed her.

“I understand… I’ll be right out,” Linia replied, carefully masking her unease as she stood up.

Stepping outside the mansion, she saw the man she had met previously standing in front of the carriage. Today, he was dressed more formally but still exuded a composed demeanor. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his blue eyes softened as they met hers, curving slightly in a faint smile.

“Forgive the sudden visit, my lady. Are you feeling better?” he asked politely.

“Yes, I’ve been much better,” she responded with a faint smile.

“I’ve returned to express my gratitude for the help you extended last time.”

“Gratitude? There’s no need for that. I simply did what anyone would have done,” Linia said, shaking her head slightly.

At her words, Russell turned to the coachman, who began unloading large boxes from the carriage and stacking them neatly on the ground.

“My father and brother are also deeply thankful. These are gifts from our family to show our appreciation. I hope you’ll accept them,” he explained.

“There’s really no need to go to such lengths…” Linia began, but Russell interrupted gently.

“Please, don’t feel burdened. Consider it a small token of our sincerity.”

As the coachman carried the boxes into the house, Russell turned back to Linia and spoke again.

“If it’s alright with you, would you care to take a short walk with me?”

Linia nodded lightly, and Russell immediately took the lead, gesturing for her to follow.

“As I thought when I stayed here before, the area around this estate is so peaceful, surrounded by the forest.”

The two began to walk slowly around the mansion. Linia followed him in silence, carefully pacing herself to ensure they didn’t stray too far from the estate. Fortunately, he didn’t seem inclined to go far, stopping behind the mansion.

“If you don’t mind me asking, my lady, why do you live in a place like this?”

“I have a chronic illness. I’m here for recovery,” Linia replied softly.

“I see. May I ask what kind of illness it is?”

“It’s nothing serious, really. I just experience frequent chest pains that make daily life a bit difficult.”

Linia cautiously studied his expression.

“I’m glad it’s nothing too serious, but it must still be difficult to endure the frequent pain,” he said sympathetically.

“In my family, we hold a prayer meeting once a week. The clergy from our territory often attend. When we pray next, I’ll make sure to include you in our prayers.”

“…Thank you,” Linia replied, her gaze meeting his. She worked hard to maintain eye contact, fighting the urge to look away as turmoil swirled within her. She pressed her fingertips into her palm to steady herself.

“There’s something I’d like to ask,” she began hesitantly.

“I’m delighted to hear you’re curious about something,” Russell said with a kind smile, his demeanor warm and inviting.

Linia hesitated briefly before continuing. “It might just be my imagination, but… perhaps, in the past—”

Before she could finish, someone suddenly wrapped their arms tightly around her waist from behind. Startled, Linia glanced back, her eyes landing on the small, round head nestled against her side. Just as she was about to call out a name, Russell’s low voice interrupted.

“Is this a child from nearby? I didn’t notice any other houses around here.”

“…He’s a distant relative’s child,” Linia replied smoothly. “He’s staying with me due to some family circumstances.”