Linia Took in a Child - Chapter 7: The Capital (5)

Edwin returned precisely two days later. As soon as he arrived at the mansion, he went straight to Linia’s room. Exhausted from the journey and sleepless nights, he immediately infused her heart with magic before collapsing onto her bed and falling into a deep sleep.

He remained unconscious for half a day, waking late at night. His first sensation was the coolness of a damp cloth resting on his forehead. He picked it up, realizing it must have been placed there by Linia. Yet, when he looked around the room, she was nowhere to be seen.

It seemed she had moved to another room, likely because he was occupying the bed.

Placing the cloth aside, Edwin got up and left the bedroom. As soon as he stepped into the wide hall, he spotted Linia standing by the window.

She seemed to be gazing at the moon, her long hair cascading down her back, illuminated by the pale silver glow. The moonlight framed her figure like a halo, casting an ethereal aura. Drawn to her as if under a spell, Edwin approached her quietly.

With careful, deliberate movements to avoid startling her, he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. Linia didn’t resist or pull away; she remained still, letting him hold her.

Edwin tightened his embrace, burying his face in her soft hair.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Edwin experienced a sense of peace. Even after hours of sleep, he hadn’t felt rested—but holding her like this, everything in him finally seemed to settle. This, he thought, was what true rest felt like.

“Linia,” he murmured softly.

She didn’t respond, continuing to look out the window.

“When will you give me an answer?” Edwin asked, his voice low and steady. “Just one word—just say that you want to live.”

Though he had asked her the same question countless times before, Linia had never given him the answer he longed for. The familiar frustration welled up in him again, but he forced it down and continued speaking.

“I found a way to save you,” he said, his voice deceptively calm. “A way to do it without sacrificing anyone else.”

It was a lie, one he delivered with practiced ease.

“All you have to do is agree.”

Even if she refused, even if she begged him to stop, Edwin was prepared to move forward without her consent. He had already decided that her protests wouldn’t change his course. If she hated him for it, so be it. This was the last chance he had to convince her.

Just as he was about to speak again, Linia’s voice broke the silence.

“I heard about this family,” she said quietly.

Edwin froze for a moment before loosening his grip and letting his arms fall away from her waist.

“…And what did you think?” he asked, his voice steady but guarded. A moment ago, he had wished for her to turn and face him. Now, he was relieved that she wasn’t.

“This wretched place,” he said, his tone bitter. “This is where I grew up, Linia. And it’s where your brother was killed.”

For the first time, Edwin confessed the truth he had worked so hard to keep from her. There was no longer any point in hiding it.

“Are you disappointed?” he asked, lowering his gaze. “Though I wonder if there’s even anything left to be disappointed about.”

He hesitated, then cautiously reached out to place his fingers over hers. Would she pull away?

“I’ve always wanted to leave this place,” Edwin admitted. “I was terrified that I’d end up like my grandfather—losing my mind the way he did.”

Linia remained silent, her back still turned to him. Edwin’s grip on her hand tightened slightly as he continued.

“Even after I left, the misery didn’t end. I was hunted, injured—constantly on the run, wondering if each moment would be my last.”

He let out a bitter laugh. “I told myself I didn’t care if others had to die as long as I survived. Then I met you. In that quiet little house in the woods.”

He could still vividly recall the moment he first saw her behind that modest mansion. Her green eyes, warm with concern, had been the first thing to make him hesitate before taking a life.

“At first, I thought I’d only stay there for a short while, just long enough to rest…”

But who could have guessed that he would come to care for her so deeply? Who could have known she would become the sanctuary he had been searching for his entire life?

Edwin let go of her hand. If he had lost his one place of refuge, it was his own fault.

Sometimes, he wondered what his life might have been like if he had grown up in a normal family. If he had learned how to love and cherish someone properly, maybe he could have loved her without all the pain.

“…I’m sorry,” Edwin said, his voice heavy with regret. “For all the pain I’ve caused you.”

Edwin hoped that his voice wouldn’t sound repulsive to her. After lingering for a moment, staring at Linia’s back, he averted his gaze.

Though he had managed to confuse their pursuers for now, it wouldn’t be long before they tracked him down. Time was running out. Tomorrow, as planned, he would set everything into motion. Even if he spent the entire night in the mansion’s underground chambers studying his grandfather’s notes, it would be tight.

“I’ll be going now. You must be tired—get some sleep,” he said, gripping the cold doorknob, masking his bitterness. He hadn’t expected a reply, but then he heard her voice.

“…I’ll live, Ruin.”

Her voice was small but resolute, carrying a quiet determination. Edwin froze mid-motion, his hand still on the doorknob, and turned back toward her.

Standing bathed in the pale moonlight, Linia was facing him now, her expression steady but soft.

“I’ll do as you say. I’ll keep living… I won’t give up,” she said.

“…Are you serious?”

“Yes,” she replied, her voice faint yet firm. It was a spontaneous decision, and she wasn’t entirely sure it was the right one. But before she could second-guess herself, she was pulled into a warm, tight embrace, his arms wrapping around her as if afraid to let go.

The next day, Edwin set everything in motion once preparations were complete. He gently lifted Linia and laid her down on the bed. She looked up at him, her gaze uneasy, clearly nervous.

“Don’t worry, Linia. There’s no chance of failure,” he said, smiling faintly down at her. He was willing to stake his own life to ensure the magic’s success.

To ease her tension, Edwin sat beside her on the bed and spoke in a warm, reassuring tone.

“You may not know this, but I’m the greatest mage in the Empire.”

“That sounds like a lie,” she retorted softly, as if trying to mask her own fears.

Edwin chuckled, a rare, genuine laugh escaping his lips. “You don’t believe me? It’s true, though…”

He trailed off, taking a moment to study her face. Her bright green eyes, gazing up at him, were mesmerizing. He felt an overwhelming urge to lean down, kiss her, and lie beside her for just a little longer.

“This might be the last time we have a conversation like this,” he said suddenly.

“The last time?” she asked, her voice quiet and questioning.

He swallowed his hesitation and steadied himself.

“I have something I need to do. When you wake up, I won’t be here. If you need anything, my father will take care of it.”

Edwin spoke calmly, as if it were a simple goodbye, but the weight in his words was undeniable.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out an ornate object resembling a pocket watch. Opening the silver lid, he showed Linia what lay inside—a compass.

“This compass will show you where I am,” he explained, placing it in her hand. His lips curved into a faint smile as he added, “If you need something from me, or if you ever feel like seeing me, use it to find me.”

Linia looked at him silently, her face tinged with unease. She wanted to say something but had the distinct feeling that she shouldn’t ask the questions swirling in her mind.

While she remained silent, Edwin continued.

“And this,” he said, pulling a necklace from his pocket, “I’ll be keeping.”

The necklace, adorned with a red gemstone, was the one he had given her as a gift. The compass had been designed to respond only to the magic embedded in this necklace.

It was a pitifully desperate creation, a lingering remnant of his attachment to her. A part of him couldn’t let go of the hope that, just maybe, she would forgive him one day and come looking for him.

“When you wake up, go wherever you want. You can visit those women in the count’s territory or go see the ocean. It’s your choice.”

Edwin refrained from asking her to come find him. Perhaps it would be better for her to forget him entirely. Perhaps that would make her happier.

“Live freely, as if you’ve been given a new life,” he said softly.

Lowering his head, he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Linia slowly opened her eyes, the effects of the sleeping potion starting to take hold. Her vision blurred, her body growing heavy and languid.

Even in her drowsy state, she could feel his large, warm hand stroking her hair. Sensing the tenderness in his touch, she instinctively reached out, her fingers clutching the edge of his clothes.

Edwin couldn’t bring himself to ask if this would truly be the last time he’d see her awake. He didn’t have the courage to question where he was going or why, if he claimed to love her, he would leave her side.

“I shouldn’t forgive you…”

He was, without a doubt, a villain—a man who had committed countless atrocities and caused her so much pain. Yet, because he had stayed with her, she had learned what it meant to love someone and to feel cherished.

Linia thought to herself that she wanted to stay by his side. Even if he was someone who didn’t deserve forgiveness, perhaps just one person could grant it to him. Perhaps just one person could choose to remain with him.

As her consciousness blurred and sleep overtook her, Linia reached out and grasped his warm hand, holding it tightly in hers.

Edwin gently swept Linia’s long hair behind her ear. His gaze and touch drifted over her body, checking her condition. Her breathing and heartbeat were steady, calm. The magic he had infused into her heart was stable, no longer leaking but instead encasing her heart protectively.

The magic had succeeded. With that, his reason to stay by her side was gone. Yet as he sat beside her bed, looking down at her sleeping form, he found himself unable to move.

For a long time, he remained there, unmoving, watching over her. Only when the light of the setting sun began to seep through the curtains did Edwin finally rise.

Leaving the bedroom, he descended to the study where his father was likely to be. Before he left this place, he intended to exchange a few words with him.

When Edwin opened the door to the study, Liam, who had been going over documents, immediately rose from his seat. His expression was tense as he asked, “How is the saintess? Did the magic work?”

“She’s sleeping now. The magic was successful,” Edwin replied with composure.

“…That’s a relief.”

“There’s a body in the underground chamber. Take care of it,” Edwin said matter-of-factly.

Liam’s thoughts immediately went to Baron Crencia, who had been sacrificed for his daughter’s life. Whether it was justice for his crimes or an act deserving of mourning, Liam couldn’t say.

“When Linia wakes up, prepare a carriage for her. She’ll likely want to go to Count Damon’s territory. Make sure she has enough knights to escort her safely.”

“And what about you? Have you decided where you’ll go?”

“I’m planning to stay far away for a while to throw off the pursuers,” Edwin replied.

“…Before you leave, could we talk for a moment?” Liam’s expression softened, tinged with sadness. He wasn’t sure how many years would pass before he saw his son again.

Edwin hesitated but nodded. “There was something I wanted to ask anyway. Sure.”

He walked over to the sitting area, settling onto the sofa. Liam followed and took the seat across from him, facing his son.

Just as Liam was about to speak, Edwin’s quiet voice broke the silence.

“I heard from Linia that you told her about this family,” Edwin said.

“…So she told you,” Liam replied softly.

“Was she upset? It’s not exactly a story anyone would enjoy hearing,” Edwin asked.

Even though his actions had been forced by his grandfather, the reality remained—he had killed people. Some of them could have been his siblings, others his mother. That was a truth he could never escape.

“She told me that she felt she needed to seek your forgiveness,” Liam said after a moment of hesitation.

Edwin blinked in surprise, caught off guard.

“She said that your childhood wounds likely still hurt you and that if I carried any guilt toward you, I should apologize.”

“……”

“I don’t expect forgiveness now—not for what I’ve done. But… I still want to say I’m sorry. For not protecting you when I should have.”