Linia Took in a Child - Chapter 8: Ruin (2) (M)

Linia stepped out of the parlor and embraced Sophie, who had leaped to her feet the moment she entered. Sophie clung tightly to her, her warmth a comfort Linia hadn’t realized she missed so much. Moments later, she greeted Bessie with a warm hug as well. The three of them soon settled onto the sofa.

“How have you been? You both look healthy, which is such a relief,” Linia said, her voice light with genuine happiness.

“We’ve been doing well, my lady. But what about you? Have you been healthy? You didn’t push yourself too hard, did you?”

“I’m fine now, truly. I’m healthier than I’ve ever been,” Linia assured them with a soft smile.

Sophie sniffled, dabbing at her teary eyes. “Thank goodness… That’s such good news.” Even Bessie, who was usually composed, beamed brightly, her joy unmistakable.

As Sophie tried to compose herself, Bessie filled Linia in on their lives.

“We’ve officially become maids of the Count’s household,” she said with a smile.

“Really? That’s such a relief.”

Bessie explained that she and Sophie now shared a spacious room in the servants’ quarters, one large enough for four people. They were living comfortably and without complaints.

“Sophie always read aloud the letters you sent,” Bessie added. “Honestly… we were so worried when you said you were leaving so suddenly.”

Linia nodded, understanding their concern. She had never ventured far before—never beyond the cathedral during her time as a saintess, and only within the small forest estate afterward due to her illness.

“But when we read your letters, we realized there was no need to worry,” Bessie said.

Every word in those letters had been filled with curiosity, excitement, and wonder—emotions Linia had rarely shown before. Bessie could sense how much Linia was enjoying her newfound freedom, exploring the world for the first time.

“…You’re going to leave again, aren’t you?” Bessie asked hesitantly, her voice tinged with sadness.

Linia gave a small nod. “Yes. This time, I’ll be going even farther. …I’m sorry for leaving again so soon.”

“Don’t apologize,” Bessie said firmly. “We’ll wait for you here. Please, go and see as much of the world as you can.”

Sophie, though visibly crestfallen, eventually mustered up the courage to speak. “Just promise us one thing. Two years. Come back within two years, okay? If you don’t, we’ll come looking for you.”

Linia chuckled softly at Sophie’s stubbornness. “Alright. I promise.”

The playful banter filled her with a comforting warmth, like she was truly home again.

As the conversation carried on, the time for her departure crept closer. Linia rose from her seat, pulling Sophie into a tight embrace when the young maid clung to her with teary eyes.

“Wait for me,” Linia whispered gently. “I’ll come back for you.”

“Of course, my lady. I’ll be right here, earning lots of money,” Sophie replied, forcing a cheerful smile.

Linia gave Bessie a grateful look, then spoke with sincerity. “Thank you both for understanding. Sophie, Bessie, stay healthy until I return, alright?”

“You too, my lady! Be careful, please,” Sophie said.

“We’ll be waiting for your letters. Have a safe journey,” Bessie added.

As she left the Count’s estate with their warm farewells behind her, Linia found it hard to keep walking. The weight of leaving behind people she cared so deeply for made her steps feel heavy.

“I’ll write often,” she called back, waving gently before turning away.

When she exited through the back gate, Russell was waiting for her. In his hand was a large travel bag.

“The maids packed everything you might need for your journey,” he said, handing it over.

“Thank you, Russell.”

“I’ll escort you as far as the carriage,”

Russell said as he started walking. Linia followed alongside him, matching his pace.

“You’re leaving for another country now, right?”

“Yes, staying in the Empire seems too dangerous. Thank you so much for everything. Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything on my own.”

“I’m just glad I was able to repay the favor from that day.”

When they arrived at the carriage, Russell extended a hand toward her. As Linia stepped forward to take her bag, he wrapped an arm around her back in an embrace.

“If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to contact my family, Linia,” he said softly, his voice lingering near her ear.

Linia blinked at the unexpected closeness. As he stepped back, she looked up at him and gave him a gentle smile.

“I will.”

She felt a deep sense of gratitude knowing there were people who cared for her. As she stood facing Russell near the carriage, the door behind her suddenly swung open.

“Enough goodbyes—it’s time to leave,”

Ruin called out as he stepped out of the carriage, briskly closing the distance between them. Without hesitation, he grabbed Linia’s bag from Russell, then bent down and, in one swift motion, scooped Linia up into his arms.

“Ruin!”

Linia gasped, startled by the sudden shift in her view as she was lifted high above his shoulders. Clutching onto his broad frame, she looked down at him in surprise. But even while carrying her and holding the bag, Ruin showed no sign of strain as he placed her inside the carriage.

“That’s it,” he said curtly, shutting the door behind her without delay. Just before the carriage set off, Linia managed to open the window and exchange one final farewell with Russell.

Once the count’s estate disappeared from sight, Linia finally closed the window. She let out a soft sigh, then turned to look at Ruin seated beside her.

“…Why did you do that so suddenly? I almost didn’t get a proper goodbye.”

“You’re not saying his face swayed you, are you?”

He countered her question with one of his own, his tone slightly sharp. Linia, confused by his unexpected response, stared quietly at him.

“Don’t we make a good match, Linia?”

He reached out, his large hand lightly covering hers before intertwining their fingers.

“It’s just my face that’s changed; my body is still the one you’re familiar with. I just wanted to make sure you hadn’t been shaken,” he said softly.

Linia realized then why he seemed so uneasy. The fact that he had once taken on Russell’s appearance to share intimacy with her must have been weighing on his mind.

Looking back, she could have figured out sooner that he wasn’t the real Russell. Knowing his personality, he would never have made such risqué comments so casually.

“Linia, are you seriously reconsidering becoming my lover again?”

“……”

“Is it my face? Do you not like it?”

His voice, slightly whiny, sounded as though it belonged to a child sulking. Linia glanced at his hand, which was now gripping hers more tightly, before raising her gaze.

His face was now so close she could see every detail. The hood he had removed revealed his striking features—mesmerizing eyes and full, red lips that were undeniably captivating.

For a moment, Linia took in the sight of the man before her, blinded slightly by jealousy.

“You said you wanted to stay with me, didn’t you? Surely you don’t mean you want me to stay with you as a child.”

Even as he spoke, dissatisfaction was clear in the faint crease between his brows. Linia laughed softly without a sound, raising her face to meet his. When her lips brushed against his, she noticed the crease disappear immediately.

Moments later, as he parted his lips slightly to deepen the kiss, Linia responded by gently moving her tongue against his.

It had been a while since they kissed, and it left her breathless. She focused entirely on him, letting his warm breath wash over her. The grip on her hand grew tighter, and she could almost hear the sound of his racing heartbeat.

When Linia finally pulled away, Ruin reluctantly let her go. His eyes were hazy, and he stared at her with a dazed expression.

“Was that answer enough for you?”

Linia thought his eyes were beautiful as she gazed at them from such a close distance.

Instead of answering, Ruin pulled her hand closer, drawing her body near to his.

“…Would you hate it if I laid you down like this?”

He simply held her close, not going any further. Linia found his restraint endearing. She reached out to his nape and ran her fingers through his hair, gently stroking the soft strands as she spoke.

“If you can hold out until tonight, I’ll let you do whatever you want.”

“Linia, are you sure you won’t regret saying that? You’re trusting me too much just because I’m your lover.”

“You wouldn’t do anything I hate, would you?”

She knew he wouldn’t act recklessly toward her. He wanted to be loved by her, not hated, so he would never do anything that might push her away.

“Ha… you really do know me too well.”

Sighing as though resigning himself, he muttered softly and held her tighter.

Inside the moving carriage, Linia stroked his soft silver-gray hair for a while, her touch gentle and comforting.

* * *

Snow was falling outside. Linia sat on the chair by the window, gazing out at the serene landscape. The tree branches were laden with soft layers of snow.

Here in the Kingdom of Kiet, winter arrived earlier than in the Empire. The region where Linia was staying was at the northernmost edge of the kingdom.

It had taken two full months just to cross the border. As the days grew colder, Linia had suggested staying in one place until winter passed. Of course, she had meant staying at an inn, but the next day, Ruin surprised her by purchasing a small, cozy house for the two of them to live in.

The house was located slightly away from the village, surrounded by a forest that offered plenty of privacy. It had already been about two weeks since they had settled into this home.

“Linia, would you like to try this?”

Hearing a low voice from behind, Linia turned her head. Ruin approached her without her noticing and held out a steaming cup.

“Be careful; it’s hot,” he said.

“Thank you,” she replied, accepting the cup with a soft smile.

The warm cup held a dark brown liquid, and as she blew on it gently, the sweet scent of chocolate wafted up.

“I thought you’d like it, so I made it with chocolate,” Ruin explained.

“…It’s delicious, Ruin. How did you make this?”

“I followed a recipe I found in a book. It’s really simple—just melted chocolate mixed with milk.”

Linia took another sip of the cocoa. While he spoke as if it were nothing, she was amazed at how delicious it was. She herself had failed countless times trying to boil milk without burning it.

Because of her mishaps, Ruin had taken over all the cooking. After purchasing a recipe book from the village, he had been preparing a new dish every day. Remarkably, he usually succeeded on his first attempt.

His keen sense of taste ensured the seasoning was always perfect. The meals he made were as good as those prepared by Sophie, who had once been Linia’s trusted cook.

“It’s really delicious,” she complimented again.

“Is it?” Ruin’s lips curved into a pleased smile. He stood beside her chair, gazing down at her with a look that suggested he was waiting for something.

When she finally finished the cocoa, he swiftly took the empty cup from her hands as if he had been waiting for that moment.

“Now that you’re done, won’t you praise me a little more?”

Placing the empty cup on the windowsill, Ruin reached for her hand and gently pulled her to her feet. Startled, she found herself rising and being swept into his arms.

Even without looking, she could tell he was heading toward the bed. As he laid her down and climbed atop her, Linia looked up at him.

“Ruin, wait a moment…”

But before she could finish, his thick tongue invaded her mouth. His movements were already fervent, the way he pressed and rubbed his tongue against hers dripping with intensity. Unable to resist his eager lips, Linia looped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.

“Mmh…”

A gentle heat spread through her as their lips remained locked. The lingering sweetness of the cocoa in her mouth mingled with his, intensifying the strange, intimate sensation.

Their bodies pressed tightly against each other as if there were no space between them. Linia, lost in the feverish kiss, only regained her senses after their lips finally parted a long while later.

He lifted his lips from hers and lowered his head, pressing gentle kisses to her neck. The warm touch of his breath, as he whispered against her skin, sent shivers down her spine. When Linia squirmed slightly from the ticklish sensation, Ruin firmly secured her waist with one arm, holding her in place.

“…Sweet.”

He murmured in a low voice as he continued to plant soft kisses along her body. Though the lingering taste of chocolate in his mouth had surely faded by now, to him, she still tasted sweet.

Raising his head, Ruin reached for the hem of her skirt, slowly lifting it to reveal her pale legs. Fixing his gaze between them, he chuckled.

“Can I taste here too?”

Before the question had even finished leaving his lips, Linia’s face flushed with embarrassment. Her rosy cheeks only fueled his excitement as he lowered his head again. Draping her slender legs over his shoulders, he began to gently kiss and lick the delicate area between them, which was now as pink as her face.

“Ah… it’s embarrassing, stop that.”

At her protest, Ruin only deepened his motions, his warm tongue exploring further. His soft breaths brushing against her sensitive skin made her toes curl uncontrollably.

“Stop… Why do you keep… licking there?”

Summoning her strength, Linia pushed against his head with her hands. Reluctantly, he lifted his head, his crimson tongue glistening as he licked his lips. A transparent trail of her essence glimmered faintly in the firelight.

“Because you look like you’d taste too good to resist,” he said with a teasing smile, lightly licking his bottom lip. He then shrugged off his shirt and tossed it aside, revealing his toned body, made even more alluring by the flickering glow of the fireplace.

“Not tonight, Ruin. We overdid it yesterday…” Linia said softly, her voice tinged with hesitation.

“But you enjoyed it, didn’t you?”

Ruin leaned down, pressing a sweet kiss to her cheek. The playful affection in his touch was almost enough to make her resolve falter.

Avoiding his crimson gaze, Linia turned her head slightly. She knew that if she so much as kissed him again, she’d quickly find herself entangled with him once more.

Living under the same roof, it felt as though they had been losing themselves in each other endlessly. For the past two weeks, they hadn’t gone a single day without sharing their bed, and tonight, she felt it necessary to take a break.