Linia Took in a Child - Chapter 3: The Man with Red Eyes (3)

“This is all the luggage,” Sophie said, handing her bag to the porter before stepping into the carriage.

Taking a seat beside Bessie, Sophie glanced across to the opposite side. Seated in the innermost corner of the carriage, the child was once again clinging tightly to the young lady, Linia, as if glued to her side.

“Linia, are we going to that man’s house?” the child asked hesitantly.

“It’s just for a few days. We’ll share the same room, so there’s no need to worry too much,” Linia reassured him.

“But… I still feel uneasy. Hold me,” the child pleaded.

Linia gently pulled him into her arms, soothing him with a calm demeanor. Watching the scene, Sophie couldn’t help but feel a pang of frustration. She wanted so badly to expose just how sly the boy could be.

Even now, she bit back her words. Sophie knew that if she told Linia about the boy throwing her homemade snacks onto the floor, Linia would simply excuse it as an accident and defend him without question.

Sophie tore her gaze away from the two and instead focused on the scenery outside the carriage. The forest lining the path was dense, casting a shadow even during the day. Familiar landmarks passed by, and Sophie found her thoughts drifting to the story Linia had shared with her the previous evening.

The chilling events still sent shivers down her spine. Even though it had only been one night, Sophie had been so frightened that she ended up sleeping in Bessie’s room to feel safer.

Now, the exhaustion of a sleepless night was catching up to her. Sophie felt her eyelids grow heavy, and before she knew it, she had leaned her head against Bessie’s shoulder and begun to doze off. As she slept, the carriage rolled steadily onward, leaving the forest behind as it approached the Earl’s estate.

“Sophie, we’re here now,” a soft voice roused her.

Sophie blinked her eyes open and glanced outside the window. Squinting against the bright sunlight, she let out a small gasp as the estate came into view.

A sprawling garden stretched out before them, with a white fountain at its center and a grand mansion with a blue roof in the distance. It was a stunning sight, its beauty impossible to miss.

The carriage came to a stop in front of the mansion, and a steward waiting at the main entrance approached to greet them. Linia followed the steward into the mansion with the others in tow. It wasn’t long before Russell appeared in the lobby to welcome them.

“Thank you for sending the carriage. It made the trip very comfortable,” Linia said with a warm smile as she approached him.

“I’m glad to hear it. Let’s have a meal first, and afterward, I’ll show you to the room where you’ll be staying,” Russell replied.

“Oh, and your family…?” Linia asked, glancing around.

“They’re at the family’s main estate. This mansion used to belong to my grandparents, but now it’s solely in my care,” Russell explained.

As they continued their conversation, the two began walking side by side. Sophie trailed behind them, observing their interactions. There was an ease between them, a warmth that made them seem almost like a married couple or lovers.

If Linia could have married, Sophie thought, she might have chosen someone like Russell. After all, wasn’t it fate that he had wandered to their mansion by chance? Falling for Linia at first sight and continuing to visit her ever since—it felt like the stuff of a romance novel.

‘And he seems like such a good man,’ Sophie thought.

He was kind, even extending his hospitality to Bessie and herself. It might have been to win Linia’s favor, but Sophie couldn’t deny that she liked him. His blue eyes always radiated kindness, though they softened especially when looking at Linia, exuding a gentle warmth that was impossible to ignore.

Sophie sat down next to Linia at the dining table, claiming the seat before Ruin could take it. As a result, the boy stood silently, staring at Sophie as if trying to pierce her with his gaze. Ignoring his look, Sophie casually pulled out the chair beside her and motioned for him to sit.

She had decided to take care of Ruin during the meal to give Linia and Russell a chance to converse without distraction—even if it wasn’t exactly what Sophie wanted to do.

“I’ll take care of Ruin today, my lady. Is that alright?” Sophie offered with a cheerful tone.

“Of course, that’s fine,” Linia replied with a pleased smile.

The real problem, however, was the boy. Sophie worried that he might refuse to sit or, worse, cause another scene, like the time he broke a plate. To her surprise, Ruin sat down quietly, behaving perfectly in front of Linia.

Sophie barely managed to suppress a scoff at the absurdity. How convenient, she thought.

At that moment, a servant entered, pushing a tray of food. The table was soon laden with exquisite dishes, their presentation as elegant as their aroma was enticing. Sophie couldn’t help but feel thrilled at the opportunity to try such luxurious cuisine.

As the meal began, Sophie eagerly cut into the tender meat on her plate and took a bite. The flavor was divine—rich juices and delicate seasonings melted on her tongue. She savored every bite, momentarily forgetting her surroundings.

Her enjoyment was interrupted by a clattering sound from beside her. Turning her head, she saw Ruin awkwardly wielding a knife, his small hands struggling to cut through his meat.

“Give it here,” Sophie sighed, holding out her hand to take the knife.

Ruin raised the knife high, out of her reach, with a mischievous grin. “Catch it,” he said playfully.

“What? Just give it to me,” Sophie said, her annoyance growing.

“Catch it first. If you don’t, I won’t give it back,” he teased, waving the knife.

Sophie’s eyes narrowed, following the knife’s erratic movements. Suddenly, the blade stopped—hovering directly over her open palm.

A strange chill ran down her spine. She instinctively pulled her hand back, but before she could retreat, Ruin’s other hand darted out and grabbed her wrist. The grip was shockingly strong, far too strong for a child.

The sharp tip of the knife began to descend toward her palm. Panicked, Sophie reacted on instinct, shoving Ruin’s small body with all her strength.

The boy toppled off his chair, his light frame crashing to the ground. Utensils clattered noisily to the floor alongside him. The loud commotion caught everyone’s attention. Linia, who had been deep in conversation with Russell, turned her head in alarm.

The dining room was a mess—broken dishes, scattered food, and, in the middle of it all, Ruin lay on the floor, groaning softly in pain.

Linia quickly stood and rushed to the boy’s side, helping him sit up as she anxiously examined him for injuries.

“…Ruin, what happened?” she asked, her face pale with worry.

Ruin kept his head down, whimpering. Finally, he lifted his teary eyes to Linia and spoke in a trembling voice. “I just wanted to… play a little joke to get closer to her… but she suddenly pushed me so hard…”

“Liar!” Sophie shouted, her chair scraping loudly against the floor as she stood up abruptly.

Her voice trembled as she pointed an accusing finger at the boy. “He tried to stab my hand with the knife! I swear, I was so shocked, I—”

Linia glanced down at Ruin’s hands, still holding him protectively. She gently examined his small fingers and then raised her head to meet Sophie’s gaze.

“Sophie, are you absolutely sure you saw a knife?” Linia asked, her voice tinged with doubt.

Caught off guard, Sophie quickly looked down at Ruin’s hands. What she saw made her blood run cold.

In his hand was not a knife, but a round silver spoon.

“No… That’s impossible,” Sophie stammered, her voice faltering. She darted her eyes around the room, searching for the knife. But it was nowhere to be found. The oppressive weight of the moment pressed down on her, suffocating.

“It was a knife! Please, you have to believe me! He had a knife, I’m certain—”

Sophie’s trembling lips moved as she pleaded with the others, her voice a mixture of desperation and disbelief. But the young lady, the one Sophie had thought would stand by her side, avoided her gaze.

“I think Ruin was really shaken. I’ll take him to the room now… Could you please show us the way?” Linia said cautiously, her soft tone carrying an unspoken dismissal of the incident.

Russell nodded and rose to escort her. Linia held Ruin close, guiding him out of the dining room. Sophie watched their retreating figures, her heart sinking further with each step they took.

As the door closed behind them, Sophie lowered her head. The scene had played out as though she were the guilty party. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides as shame and frustration churned in her chest.

Her mind felt blank, utterly overwhelmed. No matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t figure out how to clear this misunderstanding. She stood frozen, staring vacantly at the floor, until a quiet voice broke the silence.

“I don’t think you acted without reason,” Bessie said gently from across the table. “But… he’s just a child, Sophie. Even if his joke went too far, you should have let it go.”

“Bessie… I’m not lying. It wasn’t just a joke—he really tried to stab me,” Sophie whispered, her voice trembling with conviction.

Bessie let out a deep sigh, shaking her head. “Let’s drop it. Talking about it won’t change anything.”

With that, Bessie fell silent, her expression unreadable.

Sophie felt the last fragile thread of hope snap. She had thought, at least, that Bessie would believe her. But even that small solace had been stripped away. The weight of isolation bore down on her, leaving her feeling as though she had been pushed to the very edge of a cliff with nowhere to turn.

*

Sophie lay on the bed in her room and cried for a long time. It was the first time she had stayed in such a spacious room, but her mood was too heavy to appreciate it. As dinnertime approached, a maid knocked on her door. Despite the maid’s offer to bring her meal to the room, Sophie repeatedly declined.

She had no appetite, no desire to eat. The thought of how to resolve the misunderstanding consumed her, making her head feel like it would explode. But her deep contemplation was interrupted by another knock at the door.

“Are you inside?”

This time, it wasn’t the maid’s voice but that of a steward. Sophie opened the door slightly, cautious not to reveal her swollen, tear-streaked face, and peered at the man outside.

“The young master wishes to see you,” the steward said.

Without much choice, Sophie followed him, her spirits low. They walked past the guest room corridor and up a flight of stairs, arriving at a hallway lined with several doors. The steward stopped in front of one and knocked.

A deep voice from within replied, “Come in.”

Sophie’s heart sank. Was she being summoned to be punished for causing a scene? The thought made her nervous, and she hesitated for a moment before cautiously stepping into the room.

The space was a study, lined with large bookshelves that covered the walls. In the middle of the room sat Russell, lounging on a deep brown sofa.

“You called for me…?” Sophie asked hesitantly.

“Please, have a seat,” Russell said in his usual gentle tone, motioning to the sofa across from him.

Sophie felt a small wave of relief and carefully took the seat he offered. Russell poured her a cup of warm tea, and she held it in her hands, waiting anxiously for him to speak.

“I called you here because there’s something about the child that has been bothering me,” Russell said, his voice calm yet serious.

He paused, looking at her intently. “You mentioned that the child tried to stab your hand with a knife, which caused you to push him.”

“Yes, that’s exactly what happened!” Sophie replied urgently, her voice trembling. “I swear he was holding a knife! I’ll swear it before God—I didn’t see it wrong!”

Her words came out in a rush, her tone filled with desperation. Russell, his expression thoughtful, remained silent for a moment before finally responding.

“When the child fell… I caught a glimpse of something,” he said slowly.

Sophie froze, her heart racing.

“It was brief,” Russell continued, “but I did see a knife in his hand before he fell.”

Sophie’s eyes widened. Relief flooded through her as she realized someone had finally seen what she had.

“Then you believe me?” she asked, her voice trembling with hope.

Russell held up a hand to temper her relief. “I saw the knife, yes. But I didn’t see what he intended to do with it. Whether it was an accident or deliberate, I can’t say. But something about it all doesn’t sit right with me.”

He leaned back slightly, his brows furrowed as he reflected on the incident.

“When the boy fell, he swept the utensils off the table with his arms,” Russell said. “It didn’t look like he was trying to grab the table to steady himself. And if he did swap the knife for a spoon, he must have done so on the floor. But why? It’s as if he deliberately switched them to make it look like nothing happened.”

Russell’s voice trailed off, and he frowned slightly, as if hesitant to give voice to such suspicions about a child.

“I admit it sounds far-fetched,” he added after a moment. “But I can’t think of another explanation. The entire sequence of events is just… strange.”

“…If the boy truly tried to stab you, Miss Sophie, then he would have to completely discredit your story to cover it up,” Russell said, his voice calm yet thoughtful.

“You mean… you believe me?” Sophie asked, her voice trembling with a mix of hope and relief.

“If I hadn’t caught that glimpse of the knife in his hand, I probably wouldn’t have,” Russell admitted.

The boy had insisted it was all a joke and had skillfully hidden any trace of the knife. This, more than anything, raised Russell’s suspicions. It was clear the boy knew how damaging the truth could be and had taken great care to conceal it.

But why… Russell wondered.

If the boy was indeed cunning enough to deceive the adults around him, what could his motive be? Was it simply to create chaos, or did he have another goal in mind? Russell couldn’t determine the answer, but one thing was clear—this behavior was far from ordinary for a child.

With a sigh, he handed Sophie a handkerchief. The weight of knowing someone believed her brought Sophie overwhelming relief, and she began sobbing uncontrollably. After a long moment, she clutched the handkerchief tightly and spoke again.

“Actually… this isn’t the first time something about him felt off,” she said hesitantly.

Sophie began to recount the moments that had unsettled her, the things she had kept bottled up because she thought no one would believe her.

“That boy… he’s no ordinary child. He lies so effortlessly, and all his actions feel so… malicious. There’s something strange about him. I can feel it every time I look at him. He’s not just a normal kid—he’s wrong.”

“…I see. I had heard he was a distant relative of Linia’s. Do you think Linia is aware of these behaviors?” Russell asked, his voice low and contemplative.

Sophie frowned and shook her head. “A distant relative? No, that’s not true. He just showed up at the mansion one day, covered in blood.”

“Covered in blood?” Russell repeated, his expression sharpening.

“Yes,” Sophie confirmed. “From his right shoulder all the way down to his arm—it was soaked. He was wearing these oversized clothes, clearly meant for a grown man. It was bizarre, even back then…”

Russell listened intently as Sophie continued.

“He didn’t even know his own name. Miss Linia nursed him back to health, took care of him, and even gave him the name Ruin.”

An unknown boy, appearing out of nowhere, drenched in blood—it was a detail that only deepened the mystery. Russell recalled the moment last night when he had locked eyes with Ruin. That unshakable sense of unease he’d felt now made more sense.

“I think we need to investigate the boy further,” Russell said after a pause. “Until we uncover the truth, let’s keep what we know about the knife between us. Agreed?”

“Absolutely. I won’t breathe a word of it to anyone. But if you find out anything, please tell me.”