Ruby simply nodded. "Yes. But I won’t be able to come today. My husband is ill, and I need to take care of him."
She didn’t reveal any more details.
Sylvia didn’t press further, she just nodded in understanding.
"Alright. I’ll let you off today."
When Sylvia’s assistant returned with the money, she handed Ruby her payment.
As Ruby reached out to take it, Sylvia reminded her with a firm voice, "But don’t neglect your work next week. We’re moving locations to Hollowwood Village."
Ruby froze for a moment.
Her eyes widened in surprise, then lit up with excitement.
"Oh! That’s my village!" she blurted out, unable to hide her reaction.
Sylvia raised a brow, amused. "Oh? Then that means you can come to work daily, right?"
Ruby hesitated for a second. She wasn’t sure if she’d be able to manage everything once she returned home.
"I’ll see... Maybe," she replied vaguely, not making any promises.
The assistant handed her a paper, requesting her to sign off on her payment.
Ruby quickly signed her name, acknowledging receipt, then gave a quick wave of farewell before heading toward the market.
She walked past the rows of shops, glancing at the displays of fabric, herbs, and household goods.
Her first stop was a clothing shop.
She stepped inside, the scent of fresh fabric and dye filling the air. Her eyes immediately scanned the shelves, looking for Julian’s size.
She found a modest yet comfortable robe, perfect for him to wear once he woke up. The fabric was soft, in a soothing shade of cream.
She also picked out a new robe for herself, realizing that she still wore yesterday’s wrinkled clothes.
After paying, she moved on to the breakfast Shop, picking up fresh bread, a small portion of fruit, and a warm herbal drink.
She didn’t know when Julian would wake up, but she wanted to have food ready for him.
Once she had everything she needed, she made her way back to the clinic.
As she entered, she noticed a few sick patients waiting in the main area.
The clinic smelled of medicinal herbs, and the quiet murmurs of people talking filled the space.
She carefully navigated past them, heading straight to Julian’s bed.
When she stepped inside, she found Healer Amie mixing some herbs at a wooden counter.
The healer glanced at her, then at the bundle of clothes and food in her hands.
"You’re back quickly," Amie noted, her sharp gaze assessing Ruby. "Got the money?"
Ruby nodded, walking over to the table beside Julian’s bed.
How much?" asked Ruby.
"20 coins," said Healer Amie.
"Yes, here," Ruby replied, pulling out some coins she had left as change from the cloth shop and breakfast shop. She handed them over.
Amie took the money without hesitation, giving an approving nod. "Good. You’re responsible—I like that."
Ruby sighed in relief, setting the food down before turning to Julian.
He was still unconscious, but his breathing was steadier.
His face had regained a little color, but the bruises and dried blood on his forehead were still painfully visible.
She carefully placed his new robe bag on the chair beside the bed before sitting on the edge of the mattress.
Her hand instinctively reached for his.
She wrapped her fingers around his cold ones, rubbing slow circles on his palm.
"Jules," she whispered softly, "I got breakfast for us. You need to wake up, alright?"
Healer Amie, finishing her herbal work, turned toward them.
"He should wake up by midday or evening," she said, her voice calm but firm. "His body is exhausted, but he wasn’t poisoned. Just physically injured and mentally drained."
Ruby nodded, feeling a little relief.
At least he wasn’t in any immediate danger.
But the questions in her mind remained.
Who had done this to him?
Why was he left on the streets, bleeding?
She didn’t press Amie for answers, those would come when Julian woke up.
Instead, she unwrapped the small food parcel she bought earlier, revealing fresh bread, fruit, and tea.
She quickly ate her portion, knowing she needed to keep up her strength.
Once finished, she tucked the blanket more securely around Julian, making sure he was warm.
Leaning closer, she brushed his soft blue hair away from his forehead.
"You’ll feel better when you wake up, Jules. I promise."
Adrian, Milo, and Karl had spent the entire night restless.
Neither Ruby nor Julian had returned home, and as the hours dragged on, their worry deepened.
They had searched the market, walked through familiar alleys, and even asked a few vendors if they had seen them but there was no sign of either of them.
Milo had been the most anxious, pacing back and forth, while Adrian tried to remain logical, though his face was clearly tight with worry. Karl, on the other hand, was grumbling under his breath, frustrated that they were missing.
By the time the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, the three of them had no choice but to return home, exhausted and empty-handed.
Their clothes were dusty from all the searching, and their feet ached, but they couldn’t just sit around doing nothing.
As soon as they got home, they quickly freshened up, barely spending any time resting.
Adrian rubbed his temple, pacing back and forth inside their living room, his brows knitted tightly in thought.
"What do you think happened?" he muttered, mostly to himself. "Julian left home behaving weirdly... and if Ruby didn’t come home overnight, we can at least understand. But Julian? He never stays outside this late. Ever."
His voice was filled with concern and frustration.
Karl sat on a chair, his expression completely blank.
He hadn’t spoken much since they returned from their failed search in the market. His hands rested limply on his lap, and his usually lively eyes looked dull and unfocused.
Milo, sitting on the floor with his knees pulled up to his chest, let out a deep sigh.
"Maybe they’re stuck with some kind of problem," he murmured, his tone quieter than usual.
His brown eyes darted anxiously across the floor, his fingers tugging at a loose thread on his sleeve.
"We don’t even know if they’re together or if they went missing separately."
That was what made everything worse.
If they were together, Ruby would take care of Julian. But if they were separated...
Milo’s chest tightened at the thought.
Julian’s eyelids fluttered open, his vision still spinning slightly as his body struggled to adjust.
His throat felt parched, dry like sandpaper.
He instinctively licked his lips, trying to ease the discomfort, but it did little to help.
"Water," a familiar voice broke through the haze.
His brows furrowed slightly at the sound, a strange unease creeping into his chest.
Everything from yesterday came flooding back.
The ghost holding Ruby.
His fingers curled against the thin blanket, his breathing shallow.
Slowly, he turned his head, and his eyes met hers.
She was sitting beside him, dressed in a new robe—dark black, smooth, elegant.
The deep contrast of the fabric made her skin appear even fairer, her red eyes glowing in the soft light of the room.
Locked onto him. Watching.
She lifted a glass of water toward his lips.
"Have water," she repeated, her voice steady.
Julian didn’t move at first.
A sharp, coldness flashed through his mossy-green eyes.
He finally looked away from her, glancing around the room.
It was an unfamiliar place, the faint scent of herbs and medicine lingering in the air.
So she had brought him here.
His pride refused to let him embarrass her in front of strangers, so he finally accepted the glass and took a sip, drinking slowly.
But his eyes remained distant.
The gentleness that was always present in them was gone.
Ruby felt something shift.
She had expected him to be tired, weak, even shaken from whatever happened to him.
But she hadn’t expected this.
His eyes–his always warm, beautiful eyes were now cold.
It was like she was looking at a different Julian.
And she didn’t understand why.
"Are you okay?" Ruby’s voice was soft, filled with concern as she reached out, her fingers moving toward his cheek.
But the moment her skin nearly touched his face—
It was a sharp, instinctive reaction, like her touch burned him.
Ruby’s hand froze mid-air.
Her eyes widened slightly, startled by his response.
Was he still feeling weak?
Her mind raced with possibilities, trying to reason why he had pulled away so suddenly.
"Are you hungry?" she asked, quickly hidding her confusion. "I brought breakfast for you."
She reached for the small breakfast bag beside her, carefully unwrapping it.
The faint smell of warm bread and fruit filled the air.
But Julian wasn’t looking at the food.
He was looking at her hands.
The same hands that had been touching someone else last night.
His chest tightened, his stomach twisting in an unbearable knot.
Instead, he just stared at the food, silent.
"Thank you," Julian said, his voice cold and distant.
Ruby blinked, her fingers still holding the wrapped breakfast.
Something about the way he said it felt wrong.
Too formal. Too detached.
—To be continued...🪄