Linia Took in a Child - Chapter 2: Visitor (6) (M)

That evening, Linia visited Ruin’s room once again. As she quietly opened the door and stepped inside, she saw the child still sound asleep.

She sat gently on the edge of the bed and looked down at him. His small forehead, peeking out from his tousled bangs, looked adorable. Smiling softly, Linia reached out to smooth his hair, lightly brushing her fingers over his forehead. The gentle touch caused Ruin’s eyebrows to twitch slightly, as if tickled.

“Dinner’s ready. Shall we go down together?”

Her voice interrupted his sleep, and Ruin slowly opened his eyes. His dark pupils were filled with the image of Linia’s face. But as soon as he recognized her, his eyes fluttered closed again. Concerned, Linia placed her hand on his pale forehead and asked gently,

“Ruin, are you feeling unwell?”

Ruin shook his head weakly, the motion so faint it was barely noticeable.

“Why do you look so tired, hmm?”

“…I’m sleepy,” he murmured softly.

“Do you want to sleep a little longer?”

Relieved that he didn’t seem to have a fever or show signs of illness, Linia let out a quiet sigh of relief and stroked his cheek gently. At her touch, Ruin opened his eyes again, gazing at her.

“Linia,” he called softly.

“Yes? What is it?”

“…Keep touching me,” he murmured, pressing his face further into the palm already resting on his cheek. Then, with a small, sleepy movement, he nuzzled against her hand, rubbing his soft cheek into her warmth.

Amused and touched by his childlike affection, Linia chuckled softly and continued to caress his cheek, her touch even gentler than before.

Ruin smiled faintly, clearly comforted, and soon fell back asleep. Linia stayed by his side for a long while, watching over him in peaceful silence, her heart full of quiet affection for the sleeping child.

* * *

Late into the night, Edwin finally opened his eyes. He ran a hand through his hair before staring at his palm. The magic holding his transformation had dissolved, and his hands had returned to those of a grown man—large and calloused.

Sitting up, he felt constricted in the ill-fitting clothes that clung awkwardly to his now larger frame. Several buttons had already popped off long ago. Irritated, Edwin stripped off the clothes and pulled out an old set of garments from under the bed.

It was the outfit he had worn the first time he came to this place. Though still stained with faded bloodstains that wouldn’t wash out completely, it was the only clothing that fit his adult body.

After changing, Edwin left the room and stepped into the corridor. He intended to visit the distant estate beyond the mountain, but a troubling thought nagged at him. The time he could remain in his childlike form was growing shorter with each passing day. His magic reserves, already depleted from constant use, were dangerously low.

Before leaving the mansion, Edwin made his way to Linia’s room. He couldn’t afford for her to cling to Russell or ask him to search for Edwin if he suddenly disappeared. A warning was necessary.

As he opened the door, the faint chime of the door’s hinges rang out, but it didn’t wake her. Linia lay soundlessly asleep, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Edwin walked to her bedside and sat down, gazing at her peaceful face. Moonlight streaming through the window illuminated her features. Her pale, snow-white skin seemed even more ethereal under the soft glow.

“…Again,” Edwin muttered under his breath, pulling back her blanket.

He placed a hand over her exposed left chest, just above her heart. A familiar sensation ran through his palm—the steady pull of magic draining from her body. Edwin frowned, irritation flickering across his face as he looked down at the dying woman before him.

Though he replenished her heart with magic time and again, it would only sustain her for two or three days at most. It was one of the reasons why his own magical reserves had been rapidly depleting. He scoffed inwardly at himself. If he simply let her die, he wouldn’t have to deal with this bothersome routine anymore. Yet he found himself unable to stop, no matter how absurd it seemed.

With a bitter smirk, Edwin began channeling his magic once more. Energy flowed from his body, through his hand, and into Linia’s heart. Slowly but steadily, the magic stabilized her. The flow of magic leaking from her heart weakened until it ceased, as if a bleeding wound had finally clotted.

“Tiring.”

Edwin pulled his hand away and lay down beside her. The effort had drained him more than expected, leaving him overwhelmed with exhaustion. He fought to keep his eyes open, turning his head to glance at Linia.

Her sleeping face was serene, almost unnervingly so. Its tranquil stillness exuded a kind of peace that could calm anyone who looked at her. Edwin, too, felt himself relax as he gazed at her. Allowing himself to succumb to the soothing atmosphere, he closed his eyes once again.

His intention was only to rest until the fatigue subsided, but the moment he shut his eyes, sleep overtook him like a heavy tide.

As time passed, Edwin’s complexion grew increasingly pale. Beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead, dampening his silver-gray hair. His face twisted faintly in discomfort, and a subtle furrow formed between his brows, as if he was plagued by thirst even in his sleep.

However, the discomfort was fleeting, and before long, Edwin felt his body relax. The heavy fatigue that had weighed on him vanished, and his senses gradually sharpened as he awoke.

He became aware of a faint touch on his forehead—a soothing, familiar sensation that he recognized instantly. It was so comforting that he momentarily forgot his surroundings.

As a sudden thought struck him—Was I in the body of a child?—Edwin opened his eyes.

Shifting his gaze, he looked up at the figure sitting beside him. The early dawn light had barely begun to creep into the room, leaving it cloaked in a soft, hazy darkness. The silhouette next to him was faint at first but became clearer as his vision adjusted.

Once the figure’s features became distinct, Edwin lifted his hand toward them.

“Ugh.”

A firm grip seized her wrist, causing Rinea to let out a small gasp. The handkerchief she had been holding slipped from her grasp and fell to the floor.

“…Who said you could touch me?”

The man, now sitting upright, spoke in a deep, hoarse voice, his tone laced with irritation. His strikingly crimson eyes, a mix of exhaustion and annoyance, locked onto her. Rinea met his gaze for only a moment before quickly averting her eyes, her head lowering in submission.

“I thought you seemed unwell…” she murmured softly.

“And?”

“I was just… wiping away your sweat,” she explained, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to maintain composure despite the tight grip on her wrist.

Edwin, however, was unmoved. He pulled her wrist sharply, yanking her closer. The sudden force caused her to stumble forward, and before she could react, he grabbed her slender shoulders and pushed her down onto the bed.

“Maybe I should just kill you here and now,” he said with a mocking sneer. “Would save me the trouble of dealing with anything else.”

His crimson gaze bore into her as he leaned over her trembling form. She turned her head to the side, avoiding his piercing eyes, her body faintly quivering beneath him.

A faint smirk curved his lips as he lowered his head. Pressing his nose to her neck, he inhaled deeply, taking in the soft, delicate scent of her skin.

Edwin opened his mouth slightly, grazing her neck with his teeth before giving it a light bite. Rinea flinched at the sensation, her body jolting instinctively, but his grip on her wrist only tightened further.

“Stay still.”

The humid warmth of his breath brushed against her neck, making Rinea shudder. She bit her lip to suppress a reaction, but when a sharp, stinging sensation followed, her mouth opened involuntarily. It hurt—so much so that she wondered if he had drawn blood from her skin.

But Edwin didn’t stop. He continued to lightly bite her neck, almost like a young predator testing its prey. His left hand held her wrist in an iron grip, unyielding as if to break it, while his right hand moved softly, kneading her chest with a stark contrast in gentleness. Rinea pressed her toes into the sheets, trying to endure the painful stings on her neck as her mind momentarily drifted to her plans for the next day with Russellt.

“Tomorrow, stay in your room,” Edwin’s low voice broke the silence as his lips pulled away from her neck.

His words sent a chill through her, as though he had peered into her thoughts.

“…Not that you’ll have much choice but to stay put,” he added, a faint edge of amusement in his voice.

Rinea felt a wave of unease rise within her. “What are you planning…?”

“What do you think?” he asked, his tone playful but dark. “Guess.”

Before she could respond, Edwin sank his teeth deeper into her delicate skin, making her wince. To keep from crying out, she bit her lip harder, tears threatening to gather in the corners of her eyes. After biting her a few more times, he traced the red marks with his tongue, soothing the stinging pain.

Finally, Edwin pressed a soft kiss to her marred skin before raising his head. The smile curling his lips was one of satisfaction, a stark contrast to the cold darkness in his crimson eyes.

“Who knows? Maybe if you guess right, I’ll forgive you for seeing my face.”

Rinea could sense his anger, even if his expression didn’t show it clearly. She hesitated, unsure of how to respond, her lips pressed tightly together as she searched for the right words.

When she didn’t answer immediately, Edwin’s voice turned softer, but the chilling undertone remained.

“Normally, I’d kill you for this,” he said, his gaze unwavering as it bore into her. “But I’ll give you one chance.”

Edwin spoke deliberately, his voice cold. He had felt a brief flash of anger when she dared to look at his face without permission, but that was all. She seemed entirely unaware that he and Ruin were the same person. Watching her tense body stiffen with unease, Edwin finally opened his mouth.

“Undress.”

By now, his crimson eyes were curved in a subtle smile, but Linia, avoiding his gaze, didn’t notice. She rose to her feet, her trembling hands grasping the straps on her shoulders.

A faint sound of fabric brushing against her skin echoed as the dress slipped down and pooled around her feet. Finally, she lowered her hands to remove the last of her undergarments.

She tried to avoid the gaze looking up at her, but her ears had already turned a deep shade of red. Linia, having removed her underwear, lowered herself again before him. Covering her chest with one arm and kneeling, she waited for him to reach out to her.

“Come here.”

Edwin spoke as he leisurely admired her, her head lowered in shame, her body trembling with humiliation. Linia shuffled forward on her knees, moving closer to where he was leaning back against the bed.

A large hand soon reached out and rested atop her head. For a moment, it seemed as though he was gently stroking her, but then he pressed on the back of her head, forcing her to lower it.

The imposing shaft standing before her touched her lips. Though she had seen it over the past three days, she still hadn’t grown accustomed to its size. Linia parted her lips and took the tip into her mouth.

She sucked on the tip, wetting it thoroughly, before releasing it with a soft pop. Tilting her head, she began to slowly lick along the shaft. As her tongue traced the veins the way he had taught her every night, his member swelled even harder in response.

Then, the large hand resting on the back of her head suddenly grabbed a fistful of her hair. With a firm tug, he made her lift her head to meet his gaze.

“I’ve fed your upper mouth plenty until now. Tonight, let’s see how your lower one handles it.”

Linia flinched at the heated hand slipping between her thighs. The touch, gently rubbing beneath her mound, was surprisingly soft.

“Then… I’ll lie down for this… I don’t think I can do it in this position, hngh,” she murmured.

Even just accepting him inside her had been so painful it felt like she might tear apart. The thought of positioning herself on top and guiding him in herself left her dizzy with apprehension.

With a slightly fearful expression, Linia gripped his forearm tightly, seeking reassurance.

“Do you know what I’m thinking right now?”

Edwin smiled, as if finding her adorable. Letting go of her hair, he lowered his hand to gently caress her pale cheek.

“I’m thinking about what to do with that boy, Ruin.”

“…You promised not to hurt anyone else. You said it would only be me…”

“That was on the condition that you behaved. Why don’t you try working those hips on top of me? That might improve my mood.”

Edwin spoke in a tone that almost sounded magnanimous as if granting her a favor.

“Hmm, Linia?”

He asked leisurely, as though giving her time to decide. Linia felt as though she were being pushed to the edge of a cliff. She knew exactly what she needed to choose, but she had no idea how to go about it.

“I’ll help you. Come on up.”

A playful voice whispered near her ear, bringing her back to the moment. Slowly, Linia moved her stiff body and climbed onto his thighs. Unsure of what to do next, her trembling hands clung to his shoulders.

The broad hand resting on her buttocks slid lower, brushing against more intimate places. When Linia instinctively curled her upper body, Edwin brought his other hand up and pinched her nipple.

“Ah…”

Letting out a soft moan, Linia straightened her back. Her nipples, like her sensitive reaction, grew firmer by the second. Keeping her nipple between his fingers, Edwin twisted it lightly, rolling it back and forth.

As her moans deepened, his other hand continued to caress the delicate folds below, gently stroking the soft, petal-like ridges.

Soon, a single finger slid into her tight entrance. Edwin felt the soft, gentle pulsing of her inner walls as they slowly swallowed the tip of his long index finger.

He continued to push his finger in and out, repeating the motion. As slick fluids began to coat his finger, he started rubbing her insides more quickly with his thick fingers.

Linia, who had been holding onto his shoulders, found herself clinging to his neck instead, her arms wrapped around him.

“Ngh… stop…”

“Stop? Or are you dying for me to put it in already?”

At his words, Linia bit her lip lightly and shook her head. Despite her silent plea, he mercilessly withdrew his finger. Transparent fluid welled up from her entrance and slowly dripped downward. Linia thought she wasn’t quite ready yet, but she couldn’t bring herself to voice it.

“Do you not care what happens to the boy?”

Hearing this, Linia didn’t have the luxury of hesitation. She moved quickly, propping herself up on the sheets with her knees and lifting her hips. Aligning the firm tip of his shaft with her secret entrance, she slowly began lowering herself.

“Nghh…”

Despite being slick with her fluids and his precum, her tight entrance repeatedly failed to take him in. After several failed attempts, she began to grow exhausted. Yet the man’s unyielding silence terrified her, leaving her unable to stop. All she could think about was the desperate need to satisfy him somehow.

Linia once again grasped his shaft and started guiding it into her entrance. Though the tightness made it difficult for even the tip to slide in, she slowly, inch by inch, pressed her hips downward, determined to reach her goal.

“Ah…! Ahhn…!”

Desperately biting her lip to suppress her moans, Linia couldn’t stop the tears that blurred her vision. Pressing her face into the man’s broad shoulder, she shook her head weakly, as though clinging to him to beg for mercy.

Edwin, who had been silently observing her for a while, let out a low chuckle. She had barely managed to take him halfway, yet she had stopped and was now crying. Clinging to him, she resorted to uncharacteristic pleading, unable to push herself any further.

“You can’t start crying already,” he murmured.

As if to soothe her trembling legs, he slowly stroked her thighs with his hand.

“I told you, didn’t I? By tomorrow, you won’t be able to leave this room.”

“…Hngh!”

He grabbed her legs firmly and pressed down, driving himself deep inside her in a single thrust. Linia trembled more violently than before, her entire body shaking as sharp waves of pain and pleasure surged through her, making her spine tingle.

Edwin pulled her trembling body even closer, holding her tightly in his arms. Inhaling her sweet, intoxicating scent as if he wanted to bury his face in it, he continued to move his hips roughly. His intent was clear: to leave her so utterly spent that she wouldn’t be able to go anywhere, forced to stay in bed while he was away.