Linia Took in a Child - Chapter 4: The Pursuer (2)

Linia hesitated, glancing at Ruin. She was uneasy about leaving him alone in the room, but knowing the repair workers would be there gave her some reassurance. Besides, Ruin didn’t seem intent on stopping her, as if he had already discussed this with Russell in advance.

Seeing Linia nod quietly in agreement, Russell led her out of the room. As they walked down the hallway, he couldn’t help but tread cautiously, afraid something similar to his earlier fall might happen again.

When they reached the first-floor hall, Russell informed the estate manager about the nail in the floor and asked for a carriage to be prepared.

“Wait, Russell. Aren’t we going back to a room to talk?” Linia asked, confused. She had assumed they would talk somewhere inside the mansion, but it seemed he intended to go somewhere else.

Russell lowered his head slightly before responding.

“Linia… please, for now, don’t ask any questions and just follow me. I’m asking you to trust me.”

Linia didn’t press Russell further after his polite request. Instead, she quietly followed him into the carriage. As the carriage began to move, she leaned against the seat across from him, gazing out at the scenery passing by.

She admired the slowly shifting landscapes when Russell’s low voice broke the silence.

“I’m sorry for bringing you out here so suddenly.”

“It’s alright. It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed the view outside. But… what’s going on?”

“I thought it might be unsafe to discuss this in the room. Someone could overhear us.”

“Unsafe? What do you mean by that—?”

“Linia.”

His voice grew heavier as he called her name, and the tense atmosphere inside the carriage left Linia with no choice but to focus on what he was about to say.

“Have you ever heard of a man named Edwin Schpenhardt?”

“No, I’ve never heard of him,” she replied, her expression genuinely puzzled.

Russell paused, wondering how to explain. It was clear from her face that she was unfamiliar with the Schpenhardt family, one of the duchy’s prominent noble houses.

But his hesitation didn’t last long. Russell decided to tell her the truth plainly, without embellishment or omission. He told her that Edwin was a murderer wanted by the royal family for his crimes, and he described his appearance as well.

“They say he has silver-gray hair, like Ruin’s, and striking red eyes.”

At Russell’s words, Linia instantly thought of someone. A man with beautiful silver-gray hair and vivid red eyes. It could only be one person. However, she couldn’t tell Russell that she had seen him just two nights ago. She had no idea what Edwin might do if she revealed his presence.

“What I’m about to tell you will sound shocking and strange, but I need you to trust me,” Russell said, exhaling deeply, his voice tinged with unease.

“I believe Ruin might be Edwin Schpenhardt. …I think he’s been deceiving us, using the appearance of a child.”

“…I don’t understand what you’re saying. Deceiving us by taking on the form of a child? That can’t be possible…” Linia’s voice trembled with disbelief.

“As a skilled magician, it’s possible he could use magic to disguise himself as a child,” Russell replied, determined to explain. He recounted everything Sophie had told him, along with what had happened earlier in Linia’s room.

“…There was nothing there, but I felt something catch my foot. No, more than that—it felt as if something with a strong force deliberately grabbed my leg. Sophie also mentioned an incident where her hand moved against her will.”

Linia’s face had turned pale, but Russell felt compelled to continue.

“These inexplicable events share one common factor—they only happen when Ruin is present.”

“But… you don’t have any concrete evidence…” Linia quickly refuted his words, her voice laced with doubt. This was all too unbelievable. She couldn’t understand why Russell was so suspicious of Ruin. To her, it made no sense at all.

“Ruin is absolutely not that man… I’ve been by Ruin’s side all this time. I know him better than anyone…” Linia’s voice wavered as she tried to defend the boy.

“Do you truly know him?” Russell’s voice, cold and resolute, cut through her words. Linia fell silent.

“Do you know the child’s real name? Who his parents are? Where he came from? Why he arrived at the mansion injured? You know none of these things, do you?”

Russell’s sharp observation struck a nerve. Linia suddenly realized that she indeed knew almost nothing about Ruin.

“I intend to send a letter to the royal family this afternoon,” Russell said, softening his voice as he noticed Linia’s growing unease. He estimated it would take several days for the letter to reach the capital and at least a week for a royal mage to arrive at the estate.

“When the mage arrives, they’ll be able to confirm Ruin’s true identity. If he’s not the man I suspect, that will be a relief. But if he is…” Russell’s tone darkened. “Then we’re all in grave danger, Linia.”

His words were clear and serious, but Linia couldn’t bring herself to believe them. She couldn’t imagine that Ruin—the sweet, innocent boy she cared for—could be the same man who had tormented her in the shadows. The idea that someone could wear the guise of a child by day and commit such horrors by night was too much to accept.

“Linia.”

Russell’s voice pulled her out of her spiraling thoughts. She lifted her head to meet his gaze.

“Are you alright?”

His concern was evident, but Linia couldn’t even muster the strength to respond. She simply lowered her head, staring at her lap as her trembling fingers betrayed the shock she felt. Russell reached out, taking her hands firmly in his.

“Nothing has been proven yet, but… please, be cautious around Ruin. And for now, I think it would be best if you stayed in a separate room from him.”

Feeling the warmth of his hand over hers, Linia nodded slowly, her movements stiff and hesitant.

*

The heavy silence inside the carriage lingered for a while. Once Linia seemed calmer, Russell instructed the coachman to return to the mansion. By the time they arrived, the sun was setting, casting a dim golden light over the estate. Russell personally escorted Linia to a new room he had arranged for her.

“From now on, please use this room.”

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness,” Linia replied softly. “I’ll go pack my things now.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to have a maid bring over the essentials for you?”

“No, it’s fine. Ruin will only understand if I speak to him directly,” she explained, her gaze meeting his. Russell hesitated, his face betraying his unease at the thought of her returning to the room where the boy waited.

“Alright, then. Be careful,” he said reluctantly.

Linia forced a composed smile and turned to leave. As she walked away, her hands clenched into fists, her knuckles white from the pressure.

‘It can’t be…’

She repeated the thought to herself over and over as she walked through the corridor. There was no way Ruin and that man could be the same person. Russell must have misunderstood, she told herself. Once the royal mage arrived, everything would be cleared up.

She had to believe in Ruin. She had to trust that he was a kind and innocent child. And yet, her heart was gripped by a gnawing unease that refused to leave her. Russell’s unsettling words echoed in her mind, filling her thoughts with doubt.

Linia stopped in front of the room she had been sharing with Ruin. Her hand trembled slightly as it reached for the doorknob. After hearing such shocking accusations, she didn’t know how to face the boy.

Taking a deep breath, Linia turned the knob and opened the door. Ruin, seated inside, immediately turned to look at her. The setting sun streaming through the window cast a reddish tint over his silver-gray hair.

With his usual sweet expression and angelic face, Ruin approached her. Linia tried to act as if nothing was wrong, but her lips felt heavy, refusing to move. Then, Ruin wrapped his arms around her waist in a warm embrace.

Startled, Linia instinctively pushed against his small shoulders, gently but firmly.

“Linia?”

Linia quickly withdrew her hands, but Ruin, startled, tilted his head up to look at her. His jet-black eyes were as clear and innocent as ever, reflecting nothing but purity. Unable to hold his gaze, Linia looked away and began to walk further into the room. Behind her, the sound of small footsteps soon followed.

“What did you talk about with that man?” Ruin asked.

“Nothing important,” Linia replied, doing her best to keep her voice calm and steady, concealing her unease. She busied herself at the vanity and dresser, gathering only the essentials she would need for the night.

“What are you doing?”

Ruin, peeking curiously over her shoulder, tilted his head slightly, his expression hinting at dissatisfaction. He didn’t seem pleased that she had started doing something else as soon as she returned.

“Play with me. I was bored waiting here alone,” he said, his tone tinged with a faint whine. “Please?”

“I’m sorry, Ruin. I can’t play with you right now. …I’m moving to a different room. I came to pack my things,” Linia said, her voice soft yet firm.

“Really? What room are we moving to?” Ruin asked, his voice brimming with innocent excitement.

Linia turned cautiously to face him, her expression as gentle as she could manage.

“I’m moving alone, Ruin. Just for now. I’m not feeling well, so I’ll be staying in a separate room until I recover… Is that okay?”

“Linia, did something happen?” Ruin asked, concern creeping into his voice.

“Nothing happened. I just don’t feel well, that’s all,” Linia replied, her tone soothing, as if trying to comfort a child.

Turning back to her packing, Linia’s focus was interrupted when Ruin suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. He buried his face against her back, his voice soft and pleading.

“So, I’ll be left here all alone?”

“It’s just for a little while. Once I feel better, I’ll move back…”

“But I don’t like it,” Ruin interrupted, his voice trembling slightly. “I’m scared. What if a bad person comes to take me away again, like before?”

“You can lock the door. You’ll be safe here. Besides, nothing like that has happened since you came to this mansion, right?”

“Still… What if they find us? What if they come looking for us here?”

His arms tightened around her, his fear palpable in the strength of his grip. Linia froze, uncertain of how to respond. For a moment, she stood there silently, her thoughts in turmoil. Then, gently, she reached down and pried Ruin’s arms away from her waist.

“Please, Ruin. Just let me have some time to rest alone for now,” she said, her voice quiet and strained.

Ruin reluctantly let go, stepping back a pace, but his dark eyes remained fixed on her. There was something unsettling about his gaze—it wasn’t the innocent curiosity she was used to. His eyes, now unusually intense, seemed to search her face as if trying to uncover a hidden truth.

* * *

In the deep silence of the night, with all the mansion’s lights extinguished, rain began to fall. Droplets tapped softly against the slightly ajar window, slipping inside. Ruin approached the window and closed it, his gaze turning toward the woman lying motionless in the middle of the dark bed. The outline of her body, visible beneath the thin blanket, traced elegant curves.

Ruin sat beside Linia on the bed. Her long, golden hair spilled across the white sheets like a soft decoration. He reached out, gently taking the ends of her radiant, sunlit locks in his hand. As he lifted them, a faint, pleasant fragrance reached his nose.

“Linia, are you asleep?”

She didn’t answer. Her pale complexion and shallow breathing were so faint that she seemed lifeless. Ruin let the hair slip from his fingers and placed his palm against her chest. The steady beat of her heart pulsed beneath his small hand.

‘Could it be a lack of magic power?’ he thought, but the magic he had infused into her heart the day before remained intact. Instead, he placed his hand on her forehead.

“No fever,” he murmured, his voice carrying a faint trace of amusement. He gently ran his fingers through her hair. Just as he suspected, her excuse about being unwell had been a lie.

After returning from her outing with the man, Linia had suddenly declared that she needed to move to a separate room. Ruin doubted she’d heard something as mundane as a love confession. What kind of story had she been told that made her want to distance herself from him, even going so far as to lie? He could guess the answer all too easily.

“Get better soon, Linia,” he said softly.

Even though she had lied to him, he decided to let it slide—for now. Ruin leaned down and kissed her pale cheek lightly.

As he pulled away, he glanced down, his sharp gaze fixed on her. He smiled to himself. She was pretending to be asleep, her trembling body giving her away. It was almost amusing how desperately she tried to suppress her fear, unaware that she had already been caught.

‘How many will they send this time?’

The royal trackers were surely on their way to the estate by now. Ruin’s thoughts lingered on this for a moment before he lay down beside her. Her familiar scent filled the space, calming him.

Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to drift into a deep sleep.

*