Linia Took in a Child - Chapter 3: The Man with Red Eyes (4)

After the incident in the dining room, Ruin refused to leave his room. He claimed he didn’t want to risk running into Sophie, even for a moment. Linia, in turn, stayed with him, not stepping outside either.

Rather than feeling confined, Linia found herself oddly relieved by the situation. She wasn’t sure she could face Sophie and act as if everything were normal. While she had once believed Sophie when she said spilling the bowl on Ruin was an accident, this time Linia couldn’t help but think Sophie was lying.

Though she hadn’t been fully paying attention during the dining room incident, she distinctly remembered hearing Ruin’s playful tone. His cheerful “Catch it!” had sounded innocent and excited. The claim that he had suddenly tried to stab Sophie’s hand felt incongruous.

“Linia.”

The sound of her name pulled her from her heavy thoughts. She turned her head to see Ruin holding a single grape between his delicate, pale fingers.

“Try this, Linia. It’s really good,” he said with a bright smile, his cheeks puffed slightly from eating a grape himself.

His adorable expression made Linia smile. She leaned forward and let him feed her the grape.

As she bit into it, the sweet juice burst in her mouth, momentarily lifting her mood. She smiled warmly. Ruin, pleased by her reaction, quickly plucked another grape and offered it to her.

“Is it good?”

“Mm-hmm, it tastes even better because you’re feeding me. Thank you,” Linia said, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to his cheek.

Ruin beamed and continued feeding her, his soft brown eyes fixed on her face, seeking approval. His intentions were so transparent that Linia couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Ruin’s need for affection filled her with warmth. She felt an almost overwhelming desire to shower him with even more love than he seemed to crave. Just as she leaned in to kiss his soft cheek again, a soft knock came at the door.

“Linia, it’s me,” came Russell’s voice from outside.

Linia rose quickly, her face lighting up with recognition. She opened the door, greeting Russell with a warm smile.

Behind her, Ruin’s face turned cold, as though the warmth from earlier had never existed. He stood silently, watching Linia and Russell exchange friendly words. Their growing closeness over the past few days was obvious, even to him.

“Have you had a chance to visit the garden yet?” Russell asked. “The gardener’s done a wonderful job with the flower beds—it’s worth a visit.”

“No, I haven’t had the chance yet,” Linia admitted, her curiosity piqued.

“Well then, how about a walk in the garden with me?” he suggested.

Linia hesitated, considering his proposal. Before she could respond, Ruin approached her and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, resting his head against her as he shook it vigorously. His tousled hair swayed with the motion, making his refusal clear.

Linia gave Russell an apologetic smile, feeling a little torn. She didn’t want to leave Ruin alone in the room, knowing he still felt anxious when left by himself. But declining Russell’s invitation outright also felt wrong, especially since she owed him so much for his hospitality.

Gently, Linia tried to reason with Ruin. “Ruin, why don’t you come with us to the garden? You’ve been cooped up in the room for days. A little fresh air might make you feel better.”

“I don’t feel cooped up at all,” Ruin replied sulkily, staring at the floor.

Linia crouched slightly to meet his eye level. “There’ll be beautiful flowers to see, and the breeze will feel nice. I think you’ll enjoy it, don’t you?”

As she spoke, she reached out and gently smoothed his tousled hair, as if combing it with her fingers. Ruin’s pout lingered for a moment longer, but then he gave a small nod of assent.

Holding hands with the child, Rinea strolled alongside Russell into the garden behind the mansion. The garden, filled with vibrant flowers and trees, resembled a small forest. Walking slowly beside him, Rinea marveled aloud, her voice tinged with awe.

“This is the most beautiful garden I’ve ever seen. The flowers are all so lovely.”

“Do you like flowers?” Russell asked with a polite curiosity.

“Yes, they calm my heart whenever I see them,” she replied with a soft smile.

“…Is there a particular flower you like?”

“I’ve never thought about a specific kind, but I like white or yellow flowers,” she answered before glancing down at the child.

Ruin, seemingly captivated by the outdoors, was busy looking around with curiosity. Smiling at his innocence, Rinea turned her attention to the flower beds, her gaze settling on an unfamiliar bloom.

“I’ve never seen these flowers before,” she commented, admiring the vibrant purple blossoms.

“They’re likely Phlox,” Russell explained.

As she listened to him, Rinea bent down to take a closer look. Her long golden hair spilled over her shoulder, catching the sunlight as she tucked it behind her ear and leaned in to inhale the flower’s fragrance. The gentle, calming scent brought a natural smile to her lips.

Watching her serene expression, Russell’s own lips curved into a soft, unspoken smile.

For a while, Rinea remained engrossed in admiring the flower beds, paying no attention to the passage of time.

“Why don’t we take a short rest?” Russell suggested thoughtfully, glancing at the child. “Ruin must be getting tired from walking.”

Noticing the boy silently following them, Rinea nodded in agreement. Nearby stood a white gazebo with a rounded roof, and she began to head toward it. Just as she took her first step, Ruin released her hand.

“I want to go look around more,” he said, his voice brimming with excitement.

“Alright, but don’t wander too far, okay?” she replied, her voice gentle but firm.

Ruin nodded before turning back the way they had come. Rinea watched his small figure disappear into the garden path before stepping into the gazebo. The stone seat inside was cold, and she shivered slightly as she sat down.

Russell, as if waiting for the moment, broke the silence.

“Rinea, I have a question. Could you tell me when Ruin’s birthday is?”

His sudden question caught her off guard, and she blinked rapidly, unsure how to respond.

“Why are you asking…?” she stammered, her tone betraying her surprise.

Russell’s calm demeanor didn’t falter. “I heard that Ruin isn’t actually a relative’s child. I wanted to confirm if that was true,” he admitted candidly, offering her an apologetic look.

The straightforwardness of his statement startled Rinea, and she blinked again, processing his words. Finally, she managed to offer a hesitant smile.

“It’s alright. I’m sorry for lying about it,” she said softly. “I didn’t know how to explain Ruin’s situation, so I said he was a distant relative’s child.”

“You don’t need to apologize. If I were in your position, I would have done the same,” Russell replied, his tone understanding.

He truly did understand. Ruin’s circumstances must have been challenging to explain to others, and he didn’t blame her for choosing to keep it simple.

Russell’s calm voice cut through the moment as he approached.

“Ruin came to the estate injured, I’ve heard,” he said, watching Rinea closely.

“That’s true. Did Sophie tell you that?” Rinea asked.

“We were talking, and it came up,” Russell replied, his voice steady, though he paused briefly as if to choose his next words carefully. When he spoke again, his tone was gentler, more deliberate.

“Forgive me for asking, but… do you think Ruin is the kind of child who would deceive someone?”

Rinea blinked, startled by the unexpected question. “…I’m not sure why you’re asking, but Ruin isn’t the type of child to lie or do anything bad,” she answered firmly.

Beneath the stone table, her hands curled together tightly, though her voice carried an air of calm conviction.

“He’s been through a lot, so it takes time for him to open up to others. But he’s a child who deeply understands people’s feelings—more than anyone else.”

“I don’t think Ruin is a bad child either,” Russell reassured her.

In truth, Russell found it hard to believe the accusations Sophie had mentioned—that Ruin’s hand had suddenly moved on its own as if someone pulled it, or that he deliberately broke a plate. There were no witnesses, no real proof.

That’s why he wanted to understand more about Ruin—and about how Rinea viewed him. After hearing her thoughts, Russell began to wonder if he had been wrong to harbor any doubts about the boy.

As he sat with these thoughts, the sound of small, hurried footsteps echoed in the distance. Russell turned his head to see Ruin approaching quickly.

When the boy reached the gazebo, he stopped in front of Rinea and held out something he had been hiding behind his back. It was a small bouquet, made of white and yellow flowers he had picked himself.

“It’s a gift,” Ruin said with a shy but proud smile.

“You made this for me?” Rinea asked, her eyes widening slightly.

“Yeah, I thought you’d like it,” Ruin said, his face bright with anticipation.

As Rinea took the bouquet from his small hands, a warm feeling swelled in her chest. The simple but thoughtful gesture filled her heart with a gentle happiness.

“I’ve never received flowers before. Thank you so much,” she said sincerely.

With a soft smile, she leaned down and placed a light kiss on his forehead.

Russell, meanwhile, had not taken his eyes off Ruin. The boy’s unguarded, radiant smile and the innocence it carried only reinforced the impression that he was just a child longing for affection.

*

Later, the faint sound of humming filled the air.

Perched on a high windowsill, Ruin swung his legs idly, his voice soft and light as he hummed a tune. Sunlight poured in through the window behind him, warming his back as he gazed at the vase on the table.

The flowers he had picked for Rinea sat inside, arranged neatly.

He recalled how, for the past two days, Rinea had repeatedly glanced at the flowers, smiling quietly to herself. The memory brought a flicker of satisfaction to Ruin’s lips. He hadn’t expected her to be so delighted by them—after all, it had just been an impulsive gesture.

Flowers were something lovers typically gave to one another, and while he and Rinea weren’t technically lovers, they had shared intimacy enough times to feel like something close to it.

Unfamiliar with such gestures himself, Ruin had hesitantly picked a few flowers from the garden, wondering if she would like them. Her genuine joy and gratitude had surprised him, leaving him with an oddly pleasant feeling.

The flowers were nothing special—just common blooms from the garden. Yet because they came from him, Rinea had treated them like treasures. It was an unusual experience for Ruin, and while it didn’t match the deep fulfillment he felt when holding her in his arms, it was still… nice.

Lost in thought, he continued staring at the flowers, unsure of how much time had passed until the sound of a door opening brought him back to the present.

He blinked once, his crimson eyes shifting to black in an instant.

“Ruin, sitting up there is dangerous.”

Rinea entered the room, quickly noticing Ruin perched on the windowsill. Her expression turned concerned as she spoke gently, “Ruin, it’s dangerous to sit up there.”

Walking over to him, she took his hand and helped him down. Ruin held her hand tightly as he stepped off the sill.

“You won’t climb up there again, will you?”

“I won’t. I promise,” he replied with a small nod.

“Good boy,” she whispered softly, pulling him into a warm embrace. Ruin nestled into her, savoring the unusually warm sensation of her body, which had just come fresh from a bath. The faint, pleasant fragrance that clung to her only added to his comfort, and he rubbed his cheek against her damp hair, closing his eyes.

“Will you help me pick out what to wear?” she asked in a gentle tone.

“Okay,” he agreed, though inwardly, he preferred the thin dress she was wearing now. He didn’t voice this, instead following her obediently into the attached dressing room.

“This one looks the prettiest,” he suggested, pointing to a dress made of light green fabric.

“Alright, I’ll wear this one,” she replied with a smile, holding the dress up to her body to see how it looked.

“Ruin, would you mind turning around?”

Even though Ruin was still a child, Rinea couldn’t help but feel self-conscious changing in front of him. She vividly remembered the last time she had done so, and how he had curiously stared at her, his innocent fascination making her feel even more flustered.

Once Ruin turned away, Rinea began to undress. She glanced at the full-length mirror in the corner of the room as she slipped out of her current dress, her gaze catching on the faint bite marks on her shoulder.

The sight brought back memories of that dark night in the forest.

Though she hadn’t seen the man since, the marks he had left on her body remained as vivid as ever, as though claiming her as his possession no matter where she went.

She wondered if he had returned to the mansion in the forest. Perhaps he was angry that she had fled without a word. The thought chilled her—if he found her here, would he harm the people around her in retaliation?

“Rinea, are you done?” Ruin’s voice broke through her dark thoughts.

“Yes, you can turn around now,” she replied, brushing the heavy feelings aside as she adjusted her dress.

She gathered her long golden hair over one shoulder and turned slightly toward him. “Ruin, could you help me fasten the buttons in the back?”

Ruin approached her and began fiddling with the small buttons with his little hands. Just as Rinea opened her mouth to thank him, a knock sounded at the door.

She stepped out of the dressing room to open it, finding a familiar servant waiting for her. After exchanging a few brief words, she returned to the room where Ruin was waiting.

“I need to go downstairs for a moment,” she said.

“Why?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.

“I’m not sure, but someone’s waiting for me,” she replied cautiously. “Will you be okay waiting here by yourself?”

Ruin hesitated but eventually nodded. “Just come back quickly. It’s scary being alone…”

“I’ll be as quick as I can,” she reassured him, placing a soft kiss on his cheek before leaving the room.

Once she was gone, Ruin flopped onto the bed, rolling onto his side to stare at the empty space beside him. His cheek pressed into the soft blanket, catching the faint scent of her lingering there.

Lately, he found himself wondering what it would be like if this peaceful life continued indefinitely. Though it wasn’t in his nature to crave comfort, he had grown accustomed to being cared for—and even liked it. The only drawback was the strain his guise placed on his magic.

I’ll need to find another victim soon, he thought, his black eyes narrowing. His reserves of magic were running low, and tonight, he would need to channel some of it back into her heart.

For now, the search for the culprit within the estate appeared fruitless. Even if they found evidence, no one would suspect a child.

Sliding off the bed, Ruin wandered over to the window. Resting his arms on the sill, he gazed out at the estate grounds, considering his next move.

There were plenty of potential victims among the staff working here—no need to venture far. His eyes scanned the people below, his detached gaze weighing each one as if they were objects on display.

Then, his attention was drawn to a carriage pulling up in front of the estate. A man with dark hair stepped out, holding a large bouquet of flowers.

Ruin watched as the man walked purposefully toward a familiar figure—Rinea, dressed in the green dress he had chosen for her.

From his vantage point, he saw her surprise as she accepted the flowers, her expression softening into a shy smile—a smile he had never seen before.

Even from a distance, it was clear how captivated she was by the bouquet, unable to take her eyes off it.

Ruin didn’t feel disappointment or sadness at the sight. Instead, a single thought consumed him: I need to get rid of him.

* * *