She forced a small smile, trying to ease the tension. "Um... you don’t need to thank me, Julian."
Her voice was gentle, warm.
"I should be the one thanking you. You always prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner for everyone without asking for anything in return."
She looked at him with genuine warmth, hoping to reach him.
Hoping he’d look at her the way he always did.
But instead Julian’s eyes darkened.
A hint of bitterness appeared in his expression, something unfamiliar...
"That’s why," he said, his voice sharp. "I don’t get anything in return."
Her brows knitted in confusion.
Something about the way he said it, the meaning behind his words, felt too serious, too bitter.
Her stomach twisted uneasily.
"What are you saying, Julian?" she asked, her voice firm but confused. "What’s wrong with you?"
She didn’t care about the coldness in his voice now.
Something had changed.
And she didn’t understand why.
"What’s wrong with you, Julian?" Ruby asked again, her frown deepening.
She wanted to understand why he was acting .
But Julian’s jaw tightened.
"Nothing," he said flatly, his voice emotionless.
Ruby’s brows knitted even further.
She could feel the coldness in his tone, the way he refused to meet her eyes for too long.
But... he was injured.
He had gone through something horrible.
She didn’t want to overwhelm him with questions just yet.
So she swallowed her frustration, forcing herself to stay calm.
"There’s a washroom behind that door," she said, nodding toward it. "You can change there. Just make sure the water doesn’t touch your injuries."
She picked up the bag of robes she had bought for him and held it out.
Julian hesitated for a moment before lowering his eyes, hiding the storm of emotions flickering within them.
"Alright," he muttered, taking the bag from her hands.
He slid to the edge of the clinic bed and carefully lowered his feet to the floor. Standing up, his legs wobbled.
Ruby immediately reached out, steadying him.
Her hands wrapped around his arms, holding him gently but firmly.
"Julian, be careful!" she said, her voice filled with concern.
But before she could help him further, Julian shook her hands off.
His movements were sharp, almost resentful.
She watched as he forced himself forward, his posture stiff as he walked toward the washroom.
Her chest felt tight, heavy.
Something was terribly wrong.
But instead of pushing him, she simply sighed, rubbing her temples.
Maybe what happened to him had shaken him deeply.
So, without saying another word, she followed behind him, stopping just outside the washroom door.
She stood there, listening carefully.
If anything happened, if he so much as collapsed or needed help—
"You both are such a loving couple!" Healer Amie chuckled as she tidied up her herbs. "You don’t know how much your wife was scared when she brought you here!"
Julian forced a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
Ruby, however, wasn’t smiling at all.
She was just looking at Julian.
His reaction was different.
There was no warmth in his face, no grateful glance toward her, no softness in his voice like before.
That was all he said.
His reply was dry, indifferent.
Ruby’s chest tightened.
The feeling of having someone who was always gentle and kind to you suddenly turn cold and distant...
It was worse than anger.
It was worse than being yelled at.
Coldness was unbearable.
She felt like she was standing in a room where the warmth had been sucked out, where everything that once felt familiar now felt foreign.
And she couldn’t tolerate it.
Ruby gave Julian a small smile, though there was a trace of hesitation in her eyes. "Julian, wait here. I’ll find a wagon driver and come back for you," she said gently.
Julian only nodded. His response was short, quiet, and missing the warmth he once had.
As Ruby walked away into the busy market, Julian stood outside the clinic, letting his gaze wander. People passed by, chatting, laughing, carrying baskets of fresh vegetables and bread. Some were haggling with shopkeepers, while others hurried to finish their morning errands.
He barely noticed any of it.
A soft breeze moved through the street, stirring the loose strands of his blue hair. They fell over his face, brushing against his fair skin, but he didn’t push them away. His green eyes lowered, watching the dusty ground beneath his feet.
His mind was full, heavy with thoughts he didn’t want to have.
Memories came, unwanted and painful, making his chest feel tight. He clenched his hands, trying to steady himself, but the ache inside him didn’t go away.
He stood there, silent and still, waiting.
When Ruby returned with the wagon, she quickly climbed down from the back seat and motioned for Julian to get on. He moved silently, his steps slow but steady, and she made sure he climbed in safely before pulling herself up beside him.
The wagon lifted smoothly, soaring into the morning sky.
The air was cool and fresh. The clouds were soft and thin, stretched across the sky in pale shades of blue and silver.
Julian sat beside her, his posture straight but stiff, his mossy-green eyes focused on the open sky ahead. His face was unreadable, almost too still.
Ruby watched him for a moment before speaking. "Do you want to talk about it?" Her voice was quiet.
Julian’s brows furrowed deeply at her words, a flicker of something dark passing through his expression. "Talk about what?" he asked, his voice sharp.
She looked straight at him. "Your injuries, who caused them?"
For a second, he didn’t answer.
Instead, he turned, looking at her with an intensity that made her chest tighten. His eyes searched her face, as if trying to find something—confirmation, guilt, anything.
Then, he suddenly laughed.
It was sharp, bitter, completely unlike him.
"Don’t act innocent," he said, his voice filled with mockery as he looked away.
—To be continued...🪄