Linia Took in a Child - Chapter 8: Ruin (7)

The long winter had passed, and spring was swiftly approaching. The snow had melted away, giving rise to new life sprouting from the earth. Linia found herself marveling at how quickly time had flown.

She glanced around the house, now bathed in golden sunlight. In the three months they had lived here, they had created countless memories together. Though she wished to stay in this cozy home forever, she knew they couldn’t.

After much discussion with Ruin, they had decided to leave in search of a place to settle down. This house, so close to the empire’s border, was too dangerous for long-term residence. They planned to travel far away, to a distant country where they could find safety.

It might take months, possibly even years, to find the right place to call home. The long journey would likely be difficult for Noah, and Linia felt a pang of worry about how he would handle it.

She resolved to talk to him about it today. Sitting on the sofa, she waited for Ruin and Noah to return. Just as she thought it was about time for them to arrive, the sound of a carriage pulling up outside reached her ears. Moments later, Ruin opened the door and stepped inside.

“Welcome back,” Linia greeted warmly, rising to her feet.

Trailing behind Ruin, Noah entered, clutching a lollipop in one hand. The boy ran to her eagerly, and Linia steadied him before he could trip, holding him gently. Noah looked up at her with a wide, joyful smile.

“Did Ruin buy that for you?”

Noah nodded enthusiastically, his innocent delight bringing a smile to Linia’s face. She led him to the sofa, gently stroking his hair as he sat down.

“Do you remember when I said yesterday that I had something important to tell you?”

Noah paused mid-lick of his lollipop, looking up at her curiously. Setting the candy aside, he focused intently, clearly preparing to listen carefully.

Ruin, who had gone into the kitchen, returned just then. Exchanging a glance with him, Linia began to speak cautiously.

“Ruin and I are planning to leave this place. We’re going on a journey to a faraway place.”

She kept her words simple so that Noah could understand, but his face scrunched up as though he’d just heard something incomprehensibly difficult. His soft brows furrowed in what looked like frustration or sadness. Linia lightly pressed a finger to his furrowed brow to smooth it out and continued.

“It might be a long and challenging journey for you. That’s why, if you’d prefer, I can help you find a new family, Noah.”

She thought it might be best to find him a stable, loving home with a couple who could properly care for him. Though it hurt her to say it, she asked the question as calmly as possible.

Deep down, Linia wanted to bring Noah along. She had grown attached to him over these months. But she also knew it wouldn’t be right to force the child to follow them if it wasn’t what he wanted. Giving him a choice seemed like the fairest option.

However, Noah didn’t seem to hear it that way.

Large tears suddenly welled up in his eyes, and before Linia could say another word, he burst into sobs. The lollipop he had been holding fell to the floor as his cries grew louder, raw and unrestrained.

Noah had never cried like this before, and Linia was completely taken aback.

“Linia, I think he misunderstood,” Ruin said as he stepped closer, extending his arms to pick Noah up. Holding the boy’s small, trembling body, he gently patted his back.

“I think he heard it as, ‘We’re leaving you behind,’” Ruin explained softly.

“Is that what you thought, Noah?” Linia asked, her voice tinged with concern.

With his face buried in Ruin’s shoulder, Noah gave a small nod. His stifled sobs and hiccups made Linia’s heart ache.

Ruin continued to rub the boy’s back, his touch calming. Slowly, Noah’s sobs subsided, and once he was more composed, Ruin set him down gently beside Linia.

Noah’s round cheeks were streaked with tears, his eyes swollen and red. Linia couldn’t stop herself from apologizing over and over, wiping away his tears with her fingers.

Even as he sniffled and hiccupped, Noah nodded as if to show he understood. Linia couldn’t help but smile at how endearing he looked, even while trying to regain his composure.

When his trembling finally stopped, Linia pulled him into a gentle hug.

“I don’t want to be apart from you either, Noah. I asked because I wanted to know what you thought,” she murmured, stroking the back of his head until he fully relaxed.

A moment later, she pulled back slightly, just enough to meet his gaze. Her voice was soft but steady as she asked, “Will you come with us?”

Noah nodded firmly, his response immediate. Encouraged by his eagerness, Linia posed the question she had truly wanted to ask.

“Noah, would you like to become part of our family?”

“…”

“Ruin and I… you’re so precious to us. We might not be perfect parents yet, but if you’re okay with it, we’d love to be your mom and dad.”

Before Linia could add that there was no rush to answer, Noah leaned forward and threw his arms around her. Startled for a moment, Linia quickly smiled, her arms wrapping around him in return.

Noah reached out one small hand, grasping Ruin’s hand tightly. The gesture was simple yet powerful—an unspoken declaration that the three of them were a family now.

* * *

As the ship docked, passengers began disembarking, a mix of nobles traveling to foreign lands, bustling porters and merchants, young couples, elderly pairs, and many others.

Among them was a family of three. A young woman wearing a wide-brimmed white hat walked hand in hand with a child. Both had bright golden hair that fluttered in the sea breeze. Beside them was a middle-aged man with gray hair and a mustache, whose rugged appearance stood in stark contrast to the beautiful mother and child.

“Noah, are you very hungry?” Linia asked, glancing at the boy beside her.

Noah looked up and shook his head as if to say he was fine. But a moment later, a small growl came from his stomach, betraying him.

“Let’s head to the inn quickly,” Linia said with a laugh, quickening her steps.

Leaving the port, they entered a bustling street lined with carriages waiting for passengers.

The middle-aged man stepped ahead, paid the driver of one carriage, and instructed him to take them to the finest inn. He then helped Linia and Noah climb in before loading their luggage onto the carriage.

Once he climbed aboard and leaned back against the seat, his face began to change. The coarse features melted away, replaced by the refined and elegant visage of Ruin. His transformation was seamless, as though he had donned an entirely new face.

Noah, accustomed to this magic, simply grinned at him, his expression filled with familiarity and amusement.

“Are you going to keep that mustache on?” Linia teased, eyeing the fake mustache still stuck to Ruin’s upper lip.

“Oh, right,” Ruin replied, pulling it off with a small laugh. He twirled it around his finger idly before catching Noah’s curious gaze from across the carriage.

With a mischievous smile, Ruin leaned over and stuck the mustache under Noah’s nose. The boy wrinkled his nose instinctively, the mustache twitching with his movements. The sight was so comically adorable that both Linia and Ruin burst out laughing.

The carriage arrived at the largest inn in the area in less than half an hour. Once there, the three unpacked their belongings and enjoyed a late lunch together.

After resting briefly, Linia suggested exploring the town. She stepped outside with Ruin and Noah, her spirits lifting as she took in the unfamiliar streets. The scenery was a refreshing change, and the vibrant hues of the town’s architecture made it clear they were in a foreign land.

“The whole town seems to have a soft blue glow. Isn’t it beautiful?” Linia asked.

Even the rooftops and alley walls carried a faint blue tint. She glanced at Noah, who was busy looking around, his head swiveling as he took in the sights. His excitement was contagious, and Linia found herself smiling along with him.

Blue eyes were apparently common here, as most passersby had irises of varying shades of blue. Seeing so many people with the same eye color as his, Noah beamed brightly, his joy evident in the way he grinned at everyone.

Noticing Noah’s delight, Ruin came to a stop. He bent down, slipped his hands under the boy’s arms, and hoisted him up onto his shoulders, seating him securely.

Startled by the sudden height, Noah froze for a moment, gripping Ruin’s large hands tightly for support. But as Ruin began to walk, the boy’s expression changed to one of amazement. Soon, he relaxed and resumed his sightseeing from his new vantage point.

“Better view from up there?” Ruin asked, and Noah nodded enthusiastically. His cheeks flushed slightly with excitement as he gazed out over the lively streets.

Ruin leisurely strolled through the town with Noah perched on his shoulders, the boy’s laughter bubbling up every so often. Watching the pair, Linia couldn’t help but smile to herself.

After walking for some time, they spotted a small bench and decided to take a break. Ruin gently set Noah down on the bench before speaking.

“Who’s thirsty?” he asked.

Noah quickly raised his small hand, and Linia followed suit with a playful smile. Satisfied, Ruin nodded.

“Stay here, and don’t wander off.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll stay right here with Noah,” Linia assured him, holding Noah’s hand as she spoke.

She gestured toward their matching magical accessories—a ring on her finger and a bracelet on Noah’s wrist. Both items were enchanted with tracking magic to ensure Ruin could locate them instantly if needed.

After confirming the charms were in place, Ruin turned and headed off in search of a vendor selling drinks. Though he had disguised his eyes to appear the common blue shade, he kept his hood pulled low, cautious of anyone who might recognize him.

As he walked through the streets, something unusual caught his attention: an older woman with striking silver-white hair. It wasn’t the dull white of old age but a shimmering, silvery hue that was rare and eye-catching.

Ruin found himself momentarily captivated, his gaze lingering as she passed. Just then, the woman dropped the shawl draped over her shoulders. Without hesitation, Ruin stepped forward, picking it up before she could bend down herself.

When Ruin handed the shawl to the woman, she looked momentarily startled before her blue eyes softened. Though faint wrinkles framed her eyes, her face was undeniably beautiful.

The middle-aged woman accepted the shawl with a small bow and said something softly. Her words carried the accent of a dialect from another region of the kingdom, making it difficult to understand entirely, but it sounded like a polite thank you.

Ruin stood silently for a moment, watching as the woman turned to leave. Finally, he spoke, his voice breaking the stillness.

“May I ask for your name?”

The woman paused, her steps halting at the sound of the Empire’s language. She turned back toward him, her expression cautious.

“…Sylvia,” she replied after a brief pause. “Thank you for picking this up.”

As the reply came in fluent Imperial, Ruin clenched his fist at his side, the tension in his hand visible. For a moment, he opened his hand, then closed it again, as if struggling with himself.

Sylvia, noticing the young man’s hesitation, waited quietly. There was something about his demeanor that suggested he had more to say.

After a long pause, Ruin finally spoke again, his voice calm but weighted.

“Do you know someone named Liam?”

Sylvia’s eyes widened in shock. The name—so familiar, yet one she hadn’t heard in so long—caught her off guard. She stared at the man before her, disbelief clouding her expression.

“How…?” she murmured, her voice trembling too much to finish the thought.

“He’s waiting for you at the estate. Alone,” Ruin said evenly, his gaze steady.

Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a small object and placed it in Sylvia’s weathered hand. Her hands, roughened by years of hardship, clutched it tightly.

“If you want to go to him, then go. If not…” Ruin’s voice softened. “This item is valuable. You can sell it to a jeweler if you’d prefer.”

Sylvia looked down at the pendant in her hand. Smooth and polished, it bore the crest of the Schopenhart family.

“Then, I’ll be on my way,” Ruin said curtly, turning to leave.

“Wait! Your name…?”

Sylvia’s trembling hand reached out and grabbed his sleeve. Though her grip was feeble, it conveyed her desperation to hold onto him.

Ruin glanced down at her hand, then back up into her tear-filled eyes. A polite smile crossed his face as he replied.

“My name is Ruin.”

“Ah…”

As her grip faltered and she let go of his sleeve, Ruin gave her a slight nod and began to walk away. Moments later, the sound of muffled sobs reached his ears, but he didn’t look back.