Ruby crossed her arms, her red eyes gleaming with cleverness as she looked at Karl.
"But I have a better plan for you, Karl."
Karl blinked, his tears forgotten in an instant. "Huh?"
"A plan where you can lose weight, earn money, and even become famous."
Karl immediately straightened up from the floor, standing tall, his dramatic sorrow disappearing as if it had never been there.
"Really? REALLY?!" He grabbed Ruby’s hands excitedly. "How?! Tell me! I also want to earn money!"
Ruby smirked. Got him.
"Let’s talk in the living room."
Without another word, Karl rushed to the living room, dragging Milo along with him.
Ruby followed, sitting comfortably on the sofa, with Julian and Milo sitting across from her.
Opposite them, Karl sat eagerly, eyes shining with curiosity.
Adrian, who had been watching everything silently, also took a seat beside Karl, arms crossed as he waited to hear what Ruby had planned.
Karl leaned forward, practically bouncing in his seat. "Wife! Tell me, tell me!"
Ruby smiled. "It’s simple. When I sell my robes at the Diamond Moon Festival, you’ll wear my sample robe and be my model."
His eyes slowly widened as the words processed in his head.
Meanwhile, Julian and Milo exchanged glances.
Adrian simply raised an eyebrow.
"As you know, the Diamond Moon Festival," Ruby continued, "is the biggest festival of the year. The fair lasts an entire week, and hundreds of people will attend."
She leaned forward, her smirk widening. "And all of them will see you."
Karl’s mouth dropped open.
"Wait... wait..." He blinked rapidly. "You mean—like, I walk around wearing your robes and show them off? Like one of those fancy models?!"
Karl’s breath hitched.
His hands shook slightly.
He was about to be... famous?
He could see it now—people staring, gasping in awe, pointing at him, admiring his beauty.
Karl, the most stylish, handsome, and desirable model of the hollow wood village!
Milo clapped his hands excitedly. "Brother Karl, you’ll look so cool!"
Julian, however, looked slightly concerned. "Will this really work?"
Adrian, ever the observer, studied Ruby carefully. "You’re doing this for more than just showing off your robes, aren’t you?"
Her plan was much bigger than just selling robes.
She was about to create a brand.
He was going to be the walking advertisement.
Karl was already deep in his own daydream.
He imagined himself walking confidently across a grand stage, cameras flashing, fans screaming his name.
Directors and producers would fight to cast him in their projects!
Fashion designers would beg for him to wear their clothes!
And best of all...no one would ever call him lazy or fat again!
He gulped, his eyes shining with excitement.
’This... this is my destiny!’
But then, he caught himself.
He couldn’t just say yes immediately—no, no, no!
Since he was going to be famous, he had to start acting like a celebrity now.
Which meant—he had to play hard to get.
"Hmm..." Karl crossed his arms, leaning back with a fake, lazy expression.
"Give me a few minutes to think."
He casually waved his hand, acting as if Ruby’s offer wasn’t the best thing that had ever happened to him.
Inside, he was screaming with excitement.
He pretended to be calm, cool, and untouchable.
Ruby, watching his sudden arrogant transformation, raised an eyebrow.
Oh? He’s already acting like a celebrity?
She tapped her fingers against the sofa, her smirk growing.
If he’s now... how arrogant would he be if he actually became famous?
She had to admit...this was going to be interesting.
Karl, still pretending to be deep in thought, tapped his chin, his expression dramatic and serious.
"Becoming a model, huh...?" He sighed as if he were too important to make such a decision lightly.
But in reality his heart was racing with excitement.
In his mind, he was already walking on a stage, surrounded by flashing lights.
Fashion designers whispered in awe—
"Such confidence... such elegance!"
"His presence alone is overwhelming!"
"No, no, we must book him! Get him on the front cover of the Ghostly Vogue Magazineimmediately!"
Karl imagined himself nodding graciously, flipping his hair, rejecting lesser roles because he was too elite now.
But he couldn’t say yes right away.
Famous people don’t just accept jobs immediately.
He had to play it cool.
He crossed his arms and let out a deep sigh, acting like he was making a difficult decision.
"Hmm... this is quite an interesting proposal, Wife."
Milo, who was watching Karl closely, leaned toward Julian and whispered.
"Brother Karl is acting weird again."
Julian, who had been silently observing this ridiculous act, simply sighed and shook his head.
"He’s being dramatic."
Ruby, on the other hand, rested her chin on her palm, amused.
Karl’s fake hesitation was painfully obvious.
He was dying to say yes.
But he was acting like she needed him, not the other way around.
"I’ll think about it," Karl finally said, waving his hand as if this decision was beneath him.
"Oh?" Ruby smirked, leaning forward. "Are you sure? I mean, if you don’t want to do it, I can just ask Julian—"
Karl’s entire body stiffened.
His head snapped up so fast, it was a miracle he didn’t hurt himself.
"Who said I wouldn’t do it?!" He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "I—I mean, I might consider it, IF the conditions are good."
Ruby raised an eyebrow. "Conditions?"
Karl straightened up, now fully embracing his delusions of grandeur.
"Of course. As your lead model, I need special treatment. I need a fresh, stylish robe every day, a private tent, and..." He paused for dramatic effect. "A fan club."
Milo’s eyes widened. "You want a fan club?!"
Karl nodded proudly. "Yes. How else will people recognize my greatness?"
Adrian, who had been silent this entire time, finally sighed.
"So, basically, you want to be spoiled?"
Karl flipped his hair back. "Obviously. I am the star, after all."
Ruby’s lips curled into a smirk.
Oh, this was going to be fun.
She leaned back against the sofa, crossing her legs.
"Fine. You can be my model."
Karl puffed up proudly, barely containing his excitement.
"But—" Ruby added, her smirk deepening. "You also have to follow my orders, no complaints, no running away, and no dramatic breakdowns."
—To be continued...🪄