"...What do you think, wife?" he asked hesitantly, biting his lip, afraid she’d laugh or brush it off.
"Okay," she said simply.
"...Oh?" he blinked again, surprised at how quickly she agreed.
Ruby smirked, reaching for her hairpin and fixing it lazily.
"Anyway, I was planning to visit a town for some special fabric soon. You can come along with me. We’ll go to the temple on the way."
Julian’s face lit up. He smiled, eyes full of relief and warmth.
"Really." She gave him a playful look.
"Close the door," Ruby said suddenly, her voice smooth and a little too calm.
"Why?" he asked, already blushing like someone caught stealing candy.
Ruby finally looked at him, her eyes glinting like she knew exactly what was going on in that fluttering heart of his.
She tilted her head, smile slow and dangerous. "Do you want to know?"
Julian shook his head immediately, face burning.
But his hands still moved to gently close the door behind him, as if possessed by a spirit of curiosity.
Ruby stood up from her desk, stretching lazily like a cat.
Julian’s heart stuttered.
Here?? In broad daylight??
He bit his lip and walked over slowly, his steps uncertain and full of internal screaming.
The moment he reached her, she grabbed his wrist and before he could yelp, she tugged him straight onto the bed.
Julian gasped. "W-Wife?! Isn’t it a little too bright for... um... this?"
His entire face was tomato-red.
"She’s so impatient!" he thought. But also: "This is it. This is how I die from happiness."
Then she touched his knee.
And in the next moment, she gently pushed him down onto the bed, her body leaning just close enough that he could feel the warmth of her breath near his cheek.
Julian’s heart was going to explode.
Her lips moved closer.
She patted his head. Rubbed his hair gently and kissed his forehead.
"You’re so hardworking, Jules," she whispered sweetly.
Julian’s eyes shot open. "...Huh?"
He blinked up at her, betrayed by reality.
Where was the kiss on the lips? Where was the burning romance? The fireworks??
He looked up at her with wide, confused eyes like a puppy expecting treats but getting a gentle "no."
Ruby smirked, clearly enjoying every second of his stunned silence.
"What’s that face for?" she teased. "Did you want something else, Mr. Ghost?"
Julian turned crimson and covered his face with his hands.
"Noooooo!" he wailed. "Why are you !?"
Ruby just laughed, her voice full of mischief, as she sat beside him. "Because your reactions are adorable."
Julian sat up with a pout, his cheeks still flushed, hair a little messy from being thrown on the bed like a feather. He stared at her with those soft, serious green eyes—the kind that tried to look stern but only made him more adorable.
"You can’t make fun of me like that," he said firmly, crossing his arms. It was supposed to be threatening.
Ruby blinked, caught between surprise and amusement.
When did he get so serious?
And why did that tiny little frown on his face make her heart flutter like a leaf in the wind?
She looked at him—really looked.
This gentle, hardworking ghost who cooked for her, worried for her, followed her into storms and never once asked for anything in return.
Her expression softened, a slow smile blooming on her lips. She tilted her head innocently.
"Oh?" she said sweetly, resting her chin in her hand.
"When did I make fun of you?"
Her voice was a teasing whisper. "And more importantly... why would I ever do that?"
Julian’s eyes widened.
He opened his mouth—then closed it again.
"...You—" he pointed at her, completely speechless.
He had proof, he was sure! The teasing smile! The forehead kiss! The fake seduction! But under that amused red gaze of hers, his brain failed to produce a single example.
Ruby chuckled, reaching forward to fix the strands of hair falling into his eyes.
"See?" she whispered. "You can’t even remember because I didn’t do anything."
Julian’s mouth moved, but no sound came out.
He was completely, utterly defeated.
And she just Stood stright with a satisfied look, knowing full well that she had absolutely made fun of him and he’d fallen for every second of it.
"You’re dangerous," he muttered under his breath, lips twitching.
"Only for you, Jules."
And this time, it was Julian who blushed all the way to the tips of his ears.
"Give me space," Ruby said, stretching her arms above her head with a little yawn.
Julian blinked, confused.
She glanced at him sideways, smirking. "Did you forget this is my bed?"
Julian immediately scooted to the side like he’d just been caught stealing from the heavens. "S-Sorry!"
But inside, his heart was doing cartwheels.
Wife wants to sleep next to me?! On purpose?!
His heartbeat jumped up and down like a toddler on sugar.
As she slid into bed beside him, Ruby sniffed the air and narrowed her eyes in fake suspicion.
"Huh? Why does my bed smell so nice tonight?" She leaned closer, nose twitching.
"Smells... sweet and warm."
Julian turned red so fast, he looked like he’d swallowed a firefruit.
"W-Wife!" he stammered.
Why is she flirting with me so much?! He couldn’t handle this. The teasing! The closeness! The warm bed and her sleepy voice!
He clutched blanket and sat up. "I can’t take it anymore, wife!"
Ruby turned to him lazily, head propped up on her arm, her hair falling over her shoulder like moonlight.
"Hmm? What is it that you ’can’t take anymore’?" she asked, voice low and amused.
Julian’s lips trembled.
"You! You’re too sweet! Too close! Too...everything!"
Ruby’s smile widened as she scooted closer, just to see him panic. "Oh? So should I go back to being cold and distance again?"
"No!" he said too fast.
She laughed and pulled the blanket up to her chin, her red eyes twinkling.
"Then be quiet and sleep, little ghost.."
Julian huffed, heart pounding, face glowing. He turned away and mumbled under his breath.
"She’s gonna be the death of me."
And from the other side of the bed, Ruby smirked.
—To be continued...🪄