Linia Took in a Child - Chapter 8: Ruin (4)

“Linia.”

At the sound of a young, boyish voice calling her name, Linia turned around. Before she could react, a small child threw himself into her arms.

“Let’s go to bed, okay?”

The child looked up at her with wide, innocent eyes, and Linia couldn’t help but laugh softly. Even without a child, Ruin often transformed into a childlike version of himself, saying he could fill that role.

“Alright, let’s go to bed,” she said with a smile.

Holding his tiny hand, she led him toward the bed. The moment they climbed onto it, Ruin clung to her side. If he were in his adult form, she might have scolded him, but in this small, childlike state, his behavior was nothing short of adorable.

“Linia, you smell nice,” he said, his small voice filled with admiration.

“Do I?”

“Yeah, I love it,” he replied earnestly, snuggling closer.

Linia found him so endearing in his shrunken form that she gently patted his short silver-gray hair.

“You’re so cute, Ruin.”

“Am I?”

“Mm-hmm. I wish you could stay like this forever.”

“That’s cruel… If I stay like this, we wouldn’t be able to share love in the way we usually do,” he grumbled.

Linia laughed at his playful tone and assured him it was just a joke, but Ruin buried his face further into her embrace, shaking his small head so vigorously that his hair became tousled.

“Liar. You like me better when I’m like this, don’t you? Now that I think about it, whenever I hug you in my normal form, you always push me away. You don’t even pat my head like this.”

“That’s because you get too clingy,” Linia replied, a touch of exasperation in her voice.

Whenever he was in his adult form, he would hold her tightly, practically trapping her in his strong embrace while letting his hands wander. She couldn’t help but push him away in such moments.

“Linia, you’re mean,” he said, pulling away from her with a pout.

Before she could explain herself, he had already turned his back to her, lying at the edge of the bed. His small, sulking figure was so endearing that Linia had to stifle a laugh.

“I’m sorry, Ruin. I like your adult form too.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. You’re dependable and handsome,” she said in a soothing tone. “If I give you a kiss, will you forgive me?”

Sitting up, Linia spoke as if she were coaxing a child. The room had grown a bit chilly with the night air, and she decided to get up to grab an extra blanket.

But just as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, a pair of strong arms reached out from behind and pulled her back.

“Then I’ll accept it in my adult form,” Ruin said.

Before she knew it, she was pressed back onto the bed, pinned beneath the weight of his adult frame. The man now looking down at her was worlds apart from the sweet child she’d been playing with moments ago.

“Give me a kiss,” he demanded, his crimson eyes glinting mischievously.

“…You’re only getting a kiss,” Linia warned, her voice firm.

She made it clear that he wasn’t to slip his tongue in or let his hands wander under her clothes. Ruin, however, merely smiled silently, offering no promises.

Linia felt a twinge of unease but knew she had little choice. She had learned from experience that he wouldn’t let her go until she gave in to his demands. Resigned, she leaned up to kiss him, knowing full well what might follow.

As Linia cupped his cheeks and gently pulled him down, Ruin obediently lowered his head, allowing her to press a soft kiss to his lips. When she tried to pull away, he immediately leaned back in, unwilling to let the moment end.

“Just one more, okay?” he whispered, his breath tickling her lips.

Linia knew that if she gave in, it wouldn’t end with just another kiss. Still, she was always weak to his gentle persuasion. The faint curve of his lips, the warmth in his half-lidded eyes—she couldn’t resist.

Just as she was about to close her eyes and surrender to his charm, a faint thud came from outside the window.

“Ruin, I think I heard something outside,” Linia said, her expression shifting to concern.

“It’s probably just a wild animal,” he replied, brushing it off as he reached out to play with her hair, clearly intent on continuing where they had left off.

But Linia couldn’t ignore the sound. While it wasn’t uncommon to see foxes or rabbits near their home, the noise seemed too loud to have come from a small animal. She gently pushed Ruin away, climbed off the bed, and grabbed her cardigan before heading toward the door.

Ruin, unwilling to let her go alone, quickly followed after her.

As Linia unlocked the front door and stepped outside, the cold air greeted her, and the snow-covered ground sparkled faintly in the moonlight. Scanning the area, her eyes fell on a small figure collapsed not far from the house.

Hurrying over, Linia knelt to check the child’s condition. The boy’s skin was an alarming shade of blue, as though he were suffering from severe frostbite.

“Ruin, there’s a child here…” Linia called out urgently.

Ruin immediately approached and, without hesitation, lifted the unconscious child into his arms. Together, they brought him inside the house.

“Linia, go rest now,” Ruin said gently.

“It’s alright. I’ll rest once he wakes up,” she replied, her voice soft but resolute.

Leaning against the doorframe, Ruin let out a quiet sigh.

Last night, they had placed the boy in an unused room, and Linia had stayed up all night tending to him. His frostbitten limbs, once in dire condition, were now miraculously on the mend thanks to her tireless care.

Concerned for her, Ruin draped a blanket over her shoulders. Her face, pale from exhaustion, looked even more fragile than the unconscious child’s.

“I’ll keep an eye on him. Go lie down and get some sleep,” he coaxed, gently helping her to her feet.

Linia hesitated, wanting to stay, but the worry in his eyes made her relent. She allowed herself to be guided back to their bedroom, where he tucked her into bed.

“If anything happens, I’ll wake you right away. Don’t worry,” he assured her.

“Okay,” she whispered, too tired to argue further.

After pulling the thick blanket over her and pressing a light kiss to her forehead, Ruin closed the curtains to ensure she could sleep undisturbed. He then quietly left the room and returned to where the child was resting.

Sitting in a chair beside the bed, Ruin observed the boy. He was still asleep, his pale forehead framed by tousled golden hair that faintly reminded Ruin of Linia’s own.

The boy appeared to be about five years old. His frail, undernourished frame was evident beneath the thin, tattered clothes he wore, which were wholly inadequate for the harsh winter. Seeing the boy’s pitiful state, Ruin understood why Linia had looked at him with such concern.

Still, Ruin couldn’t completely set aside his suspicions. Extending his hand, he used a trace of his magic to check whether the child might be something other than human.

‘He’s just a regular kid,’ he confirmed silently, withdrawing his hand.

Though he didn’t know what circumstances had led the boy to collapse here, he couldn’t deny that fate seemed to have intervened to keep him alive.

The boy remained unconscious until Linia woke up from her rest. She immediately went to check on him, her worry reignited when she saw he still hadn’t stirred. Just as she was beginning to suggest calling the village doctor, the boy finally opened his eyes.

Startled by the unfamiliar surroundings, the boy’s gaze darted around the room. When his eyes landed on Linia and Ruin, he visibly flinched and curled in on himself, his small body trembling.

His fearful gaze lingered on Ruin, whose tall stature and intense presence seemed especially intimidating to the frightened child.

“I’ll step out,” Ruin said as he removed his hand from Linia’s waist and left the room. Before he closed the door, he reminded her to call him if anything happened and mentioned he’d start preparing dinner.

Now alone with the child, Linia noticed the boy’s wary expression soften slightly. She met his gaze with a gentle smile and carefully sat down by the side of the bed.

For a moment, the boy stared at her in a daze, as though mesmerized by her kindness. Then, flustered, he quickly lowered his head, fiddling with his fingers. It seemed he was still surprised that his hands, once numb, could now move.

“Can you tell me your name?” Linia asked after giving him time to adjust.

The boy raised his head but didn’t respond, his large, confused eyes blinking at her silently.

“You don’t need to be afraid. We’re not going to hurt you,” she assured him in a soft, soothing voice.

“…”

“We just want to help you. Only if you’ll let us,” she added, her kind voice making the boy hesitate. Though he didn’t speak, Linia could sense his guard lowering ever so slightly.

“Did you come from the village?”

“…”

“Or… do you know where your parents are?”

At this, the boy hesitated, his small body shifting slightly as he avoided her gaze. Slowly, he shook his head.

“You don’t know where they are? Or… are they no longer here?”

Linia asked gently, studying his expression. The boy’s lips parted slightly, as though he wanted to say something, but no words came. Eventually, he hung his head low, silent.

Seeing his reluctance, Linia leaned in closer, noticing that his lips moved as if he were uncomfortable. The thought crossed her mind that he might have an injury in his mouth.

“Can I check inside your mouth?”

The boy hesitated but slowly lifted his head. Closing his eyes tightly, he opened his mouth, revealing the truth that made Linia’s heart sink.

His tongue was gone. It had been cut off.

“…So that’s why you couldn’t answer me,” Linia whispered, her voice trembling with regret. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize sooner.”

Though her heart felt heavy, she did her best to keep her expression calm, not wanting to alarm the boy further.

“Whatever happened to you… you don’t have to worry anymore. You’re safe here,” she said warmly, stroking his soft hair. Feeling her kindness, the boy relaxed a little and gave her a small nod.

As Linia gently asked if he was in pain elsewhere, a quiet grumble came from his stomach. The boy immediately clutched his midsection and glanced at her with embarrassment, making Linia’s heart ache even more.

“I’ll bring you something to eat. Rest here, alright?”

Patting his head once more, Linia stood and left the room. Even after she was gone, the boy stayed curled up on the bed, as though still unsure of his safety.

After putting the child to bed, Linia quietly stepped out of his room and walked down the hall to her own. Opening the door, she saw Ruin standing with his back to her, wearing just a shirt. The sight of his broad shoulders stirred an unexpected desire to embrace him.

“Is he asleep now?”

Turning to her, Ruin’s crimson eyes softened with a faint smile. Linia walked over to him without hesitation, wrapping herself in his strong arms.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“I just feel a little upset…”

“Tell me about it. Let’s sit down first,” he said, guiding her gently toward the bed.

A few moments later, lying beside him, Linia shared everything she had learned about the boy.

“He doesn’t even have a name… and his tongue… it’s been cut off,” she said, her voice heavy with sorrow.

Ruin’s expression hardened. “And he seemed so tense, like he was afraid someone might come in at any moment. Even when he fell asleep, he kept flinching at the smallest sounds, glancing at the door constantly.”

Remembering the boy’s frightened state, Linia felt her heart grow heavier.

“It’s possible he was sold into slavery when he was even younger,” Ruin said, his calm voice tinged with anger. “While slavery is forbidden in the Empire, it’s still legal in other countries. It wouldn’t be surprising if he had been treated cruelly before ending up here.”

Hearing this, Linia bit her lip, frustration and sadness welling up within her. She clenched her fists, unable to contain the rising emotions.

“If the boy was a slave, he must have run away with every ounce of strength he had. Escaped slaves are usually severely punished or even killed if they’re caught,” Ruin said quietly.

“He’s so young…” Linia whispered, her voice trembling.

The thought was horrifying, and the boy’s tattered, thin clothes—entirely unsuitable for the harsh winter—fit the description of a runaway slave all too well. Linia leaned her forehead against Ruin’s chest, clutching his shirt tightly. Imagining the boy running until he lost all feeling in his limbs made her eyes sting with unshed tears.

“Linia, from now on, we’ll protect him,” Ruin said softly, cupping her cheek and lifting her face to meet his gaze.

“He’s alive because he met you,” he continued, brushing his fingers gently over the corner of her eyes, as if to wipe away the tears that threatened to spill. His voice was steady, filled with the kind of warmth that soothed even the heaviest heart.

“That boy will find happiness. Just like I did when I met you,” he added, his tone brimming with conviction.

Linia found herself breathing a little easier, comforted by his certainty.

Ruin suggested they go to the village in the morning to buy clothes and other necessities for the boy. Linia blinked in surprise at his proactive suggestion but quickly smiled and agreed.

Determined to get an early start, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax. Wrapped securely in his warm embrace, she felt safe and reassured throughout the night.