But what terrified Julian, Karl, and Adrian the most wasn’t each other—it was Milo.
They had all heard the rumors. Milo was Ruby’s childhood sweetheart.
If she favored anyone, it would definitely be him.
However, even after the grand wedding ceremony, none of them were taken to a proper home. Instead, Ruby’s aunt dragged them all to a slum house that looked like it might collapse with a single gust of wind.
Their eyes widened in horror when her aunt simply pointed at the wobbly structure and said, "From now on, you’re staying here with Ruby," and then left, without a single explanation.
They couldn’t believe it! Was this really their married life? This was worse than expected! But, considering their past situation, at least they had a roof over their heads... even if it looked like it might fly away with the next strong breeze.
But another problem was already forming.
Julian, Karl, and Adrian all had the same burning question in their minds— "Who is going to spend the wedding night with wife?"
Julian took a deep breath and suddenly turned around, his expression deadly serious. "All of you, GET OUT! I am going to spend the night with my wife!" he declared, his gentle voice turning authoritative.
Karl’s eyes widened in disbelief. "WHAT THE HECK?! You’re not the only one who married her! I’m spending the night with her!!!" he roared back, stepping up aggressively.
And just like that, chaos broke loose.
Julian, usually calm and composed, jumped at Karl, grabbing his collar. Karl didn’t back down and kicked Julian’s shin. Julian yanked Karl’s hair, and Karl grabbed Julian’s robe, trying to wrestle him down.
"You! Stay AWAY from her, you mop-head!" Julian growled, tugging Karl’s sleeve hard.
"HUMP! As if I’d let you have her, soft Ghost!" Karl shot back, landing a slap on Julian’s back.
Meanwhile, Adrian watched the scene with amusement, arms crossed, eyes filled with calculation. If these two idiots knocked each other out, he would get to sleep beside Ruby by default.
Milo, standing in the corner, looked completely terrified. His big brown eyes darted between his fighting new family, sweat dripping down his face.
He had zero plans to fight, but also zero courage to claim the spot next to his wife.
Would they all survive the night? No one knew.
Meanwhile, Ruby, completely unaware of the storm she had left behind, was out somewhere drinking.
Back at the slum house, Julian’s hair looked like he had lost a fight with a tornado. Karl’s hair? It was defying gravity, standing up as if he had just stuck a fork into an electrical socket. Adrian and Milo sat on the floor.
Then, Ruby stumbled in like a champion returning from a battlefield, except instead of weapons, she carried the strong scent of alcohol and bad decisions.
"Wife!" Karl immediately charged forward, his eyes blazing with suspicion. "Who are you going to spend your wedding night with?!"
Ruby, completely drunk and barely understanding human language at this point, thought for a moment. Her glazed-over eyes blinked lazily. Oh! They must be asking how many bottles of alcohol she wanted.
"F-Four," she slurred proudly, holding up three fingers.
The room collectively stopped breathing.
Julian, still suffering from his earlier battle, choked on air.
Milo looked like he was about to faint.
Adrian’s soul fully left his body.
Karl? Karl collapsed onto the floor, clutching his chest.
"What the heck, are you crazy, wife?!" he shouted, his voice cracking slightly. "You can only have one of us tonight!" His face was turning red, and Karl and Adrian, who had been standing silently, were equally stunned.
Ruby, however, blinked at him in confusion. She didn’t understand why he was reacting so dramatically. She tilted her head slightly, then, as if trying to explain, held up her four fingers again.
(Ruby: I want four bottles of alcohol)
Julian’s lips parted in shock, and his brain felt like it had short-circuited. Karl had stopped breathing entirely, and even Adrian, who usually had an expressionless face, looked like someone had hit him with a hammer.
And then before anyone could react further Ruby’s body swayed, her vision blurred, and she fell forward.
"WIFE!!" Julian lunged forward, catching her just in time before she hit the floor.
"WIFE!!" Karl shouted, standing up straight from the floor and running toward her, his big baby-blue eyes filled with panic.
Adrian, who had been frozen, quickly stepped forward, his hands hovering near her, unsure of what to do.
Milo, who had been quiet this whole time, finally spoke, his soft voice breaking the tense atmosphere.
"Don’t worry," he muttered, playing with the hem of his robe. "Nothing happened to her... she just passes out when she’s too drunk."
"...and that’s what happened," Karl said, finishing his story as he looked at Ruby, who was staring at him in shock.
"So you guys actually fought because of me... when I married you?" Ruby raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching as she tried to hold back a smirk.
Karl clicked his tongue, glaring at her. "Very funny. Then we realized your true face and became best friends... and then like brothers! I hope we never see those days again," he said, crossing his arms.
Ruby couldn’t help but laugh, shaking her head. "And I don’t think that day will ever come again," she said confidently.
Karl still looked annoyed, but his lips twitched like he wanted to smile.
"Alright... now we have to figure out what’s wrong with Julian. That shithead must have done something—or said something that got stuck in his skull," Karl grumbled, crossing his arms.
Ruby hesitated before speaking. "Maybe we should just ask Julian directly?"
Karl clicked his tongue in frustration, shaking his head. "No, you don’t get it. Once Julian decides something, he follows through no matter what. Even if you try to talk to him, he’ll dodge, deflect, and avoid you at any cost." His voice was firm, filled with irritation.
Ruby frowned, deep in thought. If Julian had truly made up his mind about something, then Karl was right—he wouldn’t budge easily. But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t try.
—To be continued...🪄