11 Days Before the Diamond Moon Festival
Ruby stood in the long line at the village government office, wiping sweat off her forehead.
The crowd of merchants and business owners waiting to register was endless, stretching far beyond what she had expected.
She sighed, shifting her weight from one foot to another, feeling the ache in her legs from standing for so long. The sun wasn’t helping either.
"I should’ve come earlier..." she muttered under her breath.
By the time it was finally her turn, she was already feeling tired and frustrated.
She quickly registered her name as a merchant for the Diamond Moon Festival.
Then came the next question—
"How much space do you need?" The officer asked, his voice neutral but firm.
Ruby paused, thinking. The bigger the space, the higher the price.
She couldn’t afford to overspend, but at the same time, if she took too little space, she wouldn’t be able to display her robes properly.
After a brief hesitation, she decided—she needed a large space.
"I’ll take a bigger stall."
The officer nodded and scribbled something onto a paper.
"That will cost 50 coins."
Ruby’s heart skipped a beat. Fifty?!
Thankfully, she didn’t have to pay upfront. The payment was due after the festival, meaning she had to sell well or she’d be in trouble.
"Understood," she said, taking the registration slip and leaving the office.
As she walked home, her mind was already racing.
She had thirty robes ready.
If she sold each for 5 coins, she’d only make 150 coins.
Once she deducted Rowan and Elias’s salary, Ethan’s bills, and other festival expenses—she’d barely have any profit left.
Even if Rowan and Elias managed to make 50 more robes, bringing the total to 80 pieces, it would still only make 400 coins.
Ruby frowned, deep in thought.
She had to do something.
She had to increase her profits...fast.
As Ruby walked down the dirt road, deep in thought, suddenly her eyes lit up.
Yes! She knew exactly what to do.
A smirk slowly crept onto her lips. This plan would make her a big profit without needing to rely too much on the number of robes she had.
She hurried home, her mind buzzing with excitement.
As soon as she stepped inside, everyone turned to look at her.
"I’m going to the market," she announced, grabbing her purse from room.
Milo blinked. "Now? But you just got back from the village government office, wife!"
Karl raised an eyebrow. "You need something?"
"Yes." Ruby nodded, but she didn’t explain further. "I’ll tell you later."
Julian glanced at her before sighing. "Alright. Just be careful."
She waved him off and quickly left the house, making her way to Uncle Otis’s wagon service.
"Going to the market again, Ruby?" Uncle Otis chuckled.
"Yes, Uncle Otis. And hurry! I don’t have time to waste."
He laughed and started the wagon. "Alright, alright, no need to rush me. Let’s get you there."
After searching through the busy market streets, Ruby finally spotted a familiar stationary shop.
She stepped inside, the smell of books and ink filling the air.
"You’re back!" The shopkeeper, an elderly witch with a kind smile, greeted her.
"I need supplies," Ruby said without hesitation.
She quickly picked out the best materials
Expensive paint colors
High-quality card sheets
The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow as she stacked her items on the counter.
"Quite an interesting selection," She remarked. "Starting a new project?"
Ruby grinned. "Something like that."
After paying for everything, she hurried back home, carrying a heavy bag of supplies.
The moment Ruby walked through the door, she was met with three very confused faces.
Milo, Karl, and Julian stared at the bag she was carrying.
Milo tilted his head. "Wife... what’s all this?"
Karl squinted at the items. "Did you start painting as a hobby?"
Julian simply crossed his arms, watching her silently.
Ruby smirked, placing the bag on the table.
"I’ll explain later," she said, her red eyes sparkling.
Because if this plan worked—
She wasn’t just going to sell robes.
She was about to sell a dream.
Ruby didn’t waste any time.
she headed straight to the kitchen and grabbed a bowl of water.
Milo, Karl, and Julian, who were still watching her with confusion, exchanged glances.
"Wife... what are you doing?" Milo asked curiously, tilting his head.
Karl squinted. "Why do you need water? Are you cooking something? But wait—you also brought all those papers and paints earlier. Are you planning to mix them together or something?"
Julian, who had been observing silently, sighed. "Whatever she’s doing, she clearly doesn’t want to explain yet." He simply leaned against the doorframe, waiting.
Ignoring their stares, Ruby carefully carried the bowl and the art supplies into her room before shutting the door behind her.
She sat on the floor, spreading out the materials around her.
First, she grabbed a thick stock card and placed it in front of her.
With a steady hand, she picked up a pencil and began sketching.
At the center of the card, she outlined the name of her brand—
She had already decided on the font—Voga. It was elegant, modern, and luxurious, exactly the kind of impression she wanted to create.
Once the outline was complete, she reached for the bowl of water and dipped her paintbrush in. She carefully painted the stock card background black, leaving space for the font. Then, she swirled the paintbrush in the water again, gently cleaning it before picking up the golden paint.
With slow, precise strokes, she filled in the letters, watching as the gold shining against the deep black background.
The contrast was striking. The golden letters stood out powerfully, exuding elegance and authority.
She sat back, admiring her work. A slow smirk played on her lips. This wasn’t just about selling robes anymore. She was creating something bigger. She wasn’t just making a product, she was building something that meant more, something that could last.
She was building a brand.
—To be continued...🪄