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

Linia gently stroked Noah’s forehead as he slept. The day’s adventures had clearly exhausted him, and he had fallen into a deep slumber. She smiled softly, listening to his small, rhythmic breaths, occasionally patting his belly to comfort him.

The sound of the bathroom door opening drew her attention.

“He fell asleep early today,” Ruin commented as he stepped into the room.

“He must’ve been really tired,” Linia replied, glancing over her shoulder at him.

Ruin climbed onto the bed, leaning back against the headboard. His shirt was partially unbuttoned, revealing the defined muscles of his abdomen. He grabbed a towel and began drying his damp hair.

“You’ll catch a cold if you sleep with wet hair, Ruin,” Linia said softly, her tone carrying a hint of playful scolding.

Ruin chuckled quietly. The way she fussed over him sometimes made him wonder if she still saw him as a child, despite his imposing figure.

Knowing well how comforting it was to be cared for, Ruin leaned away from the headboard and turned toward Linia, flashing her a calm and expectant smile, as if waiting for her to fasten his buttons.

“It’s cold, Linia. Please button me up quickly.”

“You can do it yourself,” she replied, raising a brow.

“Are you embarrassed? You used to dress me all the time,” he teased.

“…That was when you were in your child form,” she sighed softly, realizing she had little choice but to oblige. She reached out, knowing from experience that if she didn’t give in, Ruin would only grow more insistent.

Careful not to disturb the sleeping Noah beside her, Linia began fastening his buttons. Every time her fingers brushed against the smooth skin of his abdomen, she noticed his muscles tense subtly.

She was fully aware of his unwavering gaze, his eyes fixed on her with increasing intensity. But Linia kept her focus on the task, fastening the buttons as if she hadn’t noticed.

Just as she reached the last button and began to pull her hands away, Ruin swiftly caught her hand. He leaned down, his lips pressing gently against hers.

His lips were soft and warm, brushing against hers in fleeting touches as if he were mindful of the sleeping child beside them. Linia closed her eyes, leaning into the kiss as it deepened, tender and unhurried.

After what felt like several minutes, Ruin pulled back first, leaving Linia momentarily breathless. She had expected to see his eyes ablaze with passion, but instead, they were calm and steady, his expression softened by a faint smile.

“Linia, there’s something I didn’t tell you today,” he said quietly.

“…Did something happen?” she asked, her tone laced with concern.

“It’s not a bad thing. Actually, it’s good news,” Ruin began, his expression growing more complex. “I met my mother today.”

Linia blinked in surprise, her gaze searching his face.

“But… I couldn’t tell her I’m her son,” he added, his voice steady but tinged with an emotion she couldn’t quite place.

He spoke as if it were a trivial matter, but Linia could sense the weight behind his words. She understood why he couldn’t reveal the truth. Edwin—his real identity—was someone who no longer existed in this world. Meeting his mother had meant assuming a different face, a different name.

Without a word, Linia reached out and embraced him gently, her arms wrapping around his shoulders in silent comfort.

“Are you sad?” she asked softly.

“I don’t think so,” he replied, pulling her closer. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he held her tightly.

“It still feels unreal that I even got to meet her. Maybe that’s why I don’t feel sad,” he admitted.

Linia stayed silent, letting him speak.

“And… I’m just grateful she’s alive. That I could see her, even like this.”

He paused, his voice quieter as he reflected. “If you think about it, it’s because I’m alive as Ruin that I had the chance to meet her. Even in this faraway place.”

For Ruin, the encounter felt nothing short of a miracle. Though he had never believed in miracles or divine intervention before, standing here now, he found himself reconsidering.

“I used to scoff at the idea of miracles or gods,” he said, his tone lighter now.

“But now?” he added, looking at Linia with a gaze filled with quiet devotion. “I believe. You’re the one who made me believe.”

Linia’s breath caught at his words, but before she could respond, he continued.

“It feels like every blessing in my life leads back to you, Linia. It’s as if I owe you thanks for everything.”

Once, Ruin had asked her why she had chosen the name Ruin for him. She had explained that it meant “one loved by the gods” and was often given to faithful followers of the divine.

Looking back, Ruin realized how fitting the name was. Through her love and care, his life had been saved—redeemed, even.

To him, Linia was no less than a deity herself. She had given him love, hope, and purpose when he thought none were possible.

And so, in his heart, Ruin vowed to live as her most faithful devotee, forever and always hers.

* * *

Sophie plucked a ripe, crimson fruit from the tree. Dropping it into an already overflowing basket, she grinned to herself. She’ll definitely love this. Imagining the young lady’s delighted smile, Sophie glanced around to see if there were any more perfectly ripened fruits she might have missed.

The estate’s garden was filled with various fruit trees, planted just a few years ago. Sophie had heard that the Count himself had them grown specifically for the young lady, who adored fruit.

“He’s a much better person than I expected.”

Of course, she hadn’t thought that way at first. When she first heard the news that the young lady was to marry a nobleman from a distant kingdom—not even a neighboring country, but one across the sea—Sophie had been deeply worried.

Traveling with Bessie to join the young lady, Sophie had been filled with anxiety. Although Bessie had assured her to trust in the young lady, Sophie couldn’t shake her unease until she could see things with her own eyes.

After two long months of travel, Sophie and Bessie finally arrived at the young lady’s new home. The estate was located on the edge of a small, remote territory. Greeted warmly, the young lady introduced her new family.

The nobleman who had supposedly “charmed” the innocent young lady into marriage looked just as dazzling as Sophie had imagined. Yet, contrary to his striking appearance, he seemed to live a quiet, modest life.

The young lady explained how she and the Count had met during a journey, how they had fallen in love at first sight, and how he had proposed to her. She also shared that they had adopted a son and now lived as a family of three.

Even after hearing the whole story, Sophie found it hard to fully accept the situation.

The Count was polite, often asking Sophie and Bessie if they were comfortable or needed anything. But Sophie couldn’t shake a lingering unease about him. For some reason, seeing him brought back memories of a child who had disappeared years ago from the Damon estate.

The name “Ruin” matched, as did the silvery-gray tint of his hair. Although the eye color was different, Sophie couldn’t help but wonder if this was how that child might look if he had grown up.

Perhaps this resemblance was why the young lady had fallen for him so quickly. Sophie remembered how much the young lady had cherished that child when he was still with them.

She also recalled how despondent the young lady had been after the child’s sudden disappearance. Though nothing had been explicitly said about him, Sophie suspected that the troubling incidents in the Damon territory at the time might have swept the boy away.

Even the young lady’s sudden decision to embark on a long journey afterward seemed like it might have been to search for him.

Sophie let out a small sigh as she lifted her brimming basket. Even if he was a troublesome child, he left an impression. I suppose even grudging affection still lingers.

Shaking off her heavy thoughts, Sophie was about to leave the garden when she spotted a small figure running toward her.

“Master Noah!”

She crouched down, smiling brightly, as the boy flung himself into her arms, wrapping his small arms around her neck with a radiant grin.

“Oh my, aren’t you adorable. What brings you here all of a sudden?”

When Sophie asked why Noah had come to find her, he stepped back and spread his hands. A small light appeared between them, and soon, glowing letters formed in mid-air.

“Ah! You want me to join you for dessert in the back garden?”

Reading the words “garden” and “cake,” Sophie exclaimed in admiration. Unable to speak, Noah often used magic to communicate his thoughts. His ability to wield magic so effortlessly at his age was nothing short of genius.

“All right, let’s go,” Sophie said, grabbing her basket with one hand and taking Noah’s small hand with the other. Together, they walked toward the estate’s garden.

The back garden had a table set for tea. Linia and Bessie were already seated, chatting warmly with each other.

“We’re here!” Sophie called out.

“Oh, Sophie! Are those fruits from the garden?” Linia asked.

“Yes, they’ve grown so beautifully this year. I picked only the ripest ones. Let’s have them as dessert after dinner,” Sophie replied proudly as she sat next to Bessie. Linia chuckled softly at Sophie’s enthusiasm and agreed.

Meanwhile, Noah climbed into the seat next to Linia. He seemed proud that he could now sit in the high chair all by himself. As he eagerly dug into his cake, smearing cream around his mouth, Linia laughed softly at the adorable sight.

The table was filled with the sweet aroma of tea, the sound of light laughter, and cheerful conversation. Together, the four of them enjoyed a peaceful and happy afternoon.

“That looks amazing on you!” Sophie exclaimed, admiring Bessie as she stood in the doorway. Bessie was wearing a green coat, a birthday gift from Linia. The elegant color complemented her brown hair perfectly.

A moment later, Linia and Noah came down the stairs dressed for their outing. The three of them were heading into town—Bessie needed to shop for a few things, and Linia planned to have new clothes tailored for Noah, who had recently grown taller.

“We’ll be back soon,” Linia said, smiling at Sophie, who watched them with a hint of envy. When Linia promised to bring back a small gift, Sophie’s face lit up with excitement.

“Have a safe trip!” Sophie called after them, waving as they left in the carriage.

Returning to her room, Sophie lay on her bed, staring idly at the ceiling. She was bored. Back at the Damon estate, every day had been busy, filled with endless tasks. But here, life was peaceful, almost too calm.

When they first arrived, Linia had told Sophie and Bessie there was no need to work in the estate. “You’re family,” she had said, “so please feel at ease here.”

“Family…”

The word still made Sophie’s heart swell with joy. As a child, she had been bullied for being an orphan, but now she had people she could truly call family. Smiling softly, Sophie closed her eyes, savoring the thought.

It seemed like she was truly a lucky person. Sophie thought it was all thanks to having met the young lady, when a knock sounded at the door.

Sophie quickly opened her eyes and sat up. She naturally assumed it was the maid coming to clean the room, but when she opened the door, a man with silver-gray hair was standing there. It was the Count.

“I made some snacks. I tried making them myself, but I’m not sure how they turned out.”

He extended a plate toward Sophie as if asking her to take it. On the plate was a neatly arranged stack of pancakes topped with fruit, looking rather pretty.

“Wait, you made these yourself, Count…?”

“Cooking is a hobby of mine,” he said with a light smile in his blue eyes.

But Sophie found it hard to believe that he had personally stood in the kitchen and cooked these pancakes. After all, he looked like a refined nobleman who wouldn’t have the slightest idea how to cook. Living in such a remote estate was one thing, but it seemed he had a surprisingly humble taste for someone of his appearance.

Sophie accepted the plate from him. Whatever the case, it was something he had made for her, so she was grateful.

“Thank you, I’ll enjoy them,” she said.

“Good, enjoy,” he replied before turning around and walking away.

Sophie couldn’t help but think once again that he was a decent person. Maybe he was only being kind because of the young lady, but regardless, she appreciated that he was the one making an effort to grow closer.

Back in her room, Sophie took a fork and cut off a piece of the warm pancake for a taste. The pancakes were much more delicious than she had expected.

The End of “Linia Took in the Child”