His expression was pitiful—his blue eyes blinking fast like he might cry again, his lower lip trembling just a little.
"Angry?" she repeated sweetly.
"No, no. I’m proud of you."
Her voice dripped sarcasm.
"So proud, in fact, I might build a statue for how you almost got sold to a brothel chasing your big dreams."
When Ruby went to the Civil Protection office, they showed her the official statement detailing how everything had happened. To be honest, she was deeply disappointed in Karl.
Karl winced. "Wife..." he whispered again, head lowering, ears red.
"Heh." Ruby let out a dry chuckle and crossed her arms.
"So? Tell me. How exactly did this brilliant path to stardom begin, huh?"
Karl gulped and looked away, clearly feeling the weight of her anger.
"...I-I don’t know... she was crying... and I thought she was in trouble. She said she was a director. She said she knew you too... and I believed her..." he said in a small, ashamed voice.
"So you just followed a crying stranger because she said nice things and called you pretty?" Ruby raised a brow.
"I—I just wanted to become a star..." he mumbled.
"I thought if I worked hard and did something big, you’d be happy. I didn’t want to be the dumb one anymore... I wanted to shine too."
Ruby stared at him for a long moment.
His words made her heart stir with something painful because she knew, beneath all the silly choices and childish pride, Karl always just wanted to be loved, needed, praised.
But still... she couldn’t forgive him that easily. Not yet.
"...Then maybe next time," she said coldly, "Try shining somewhere that doesn’t nearly get you killed."
She pulled her wrist free gently and walked past him into the room.
And Karl stood there alone in the hallway, biting his lip and wiping at his eyes.
Ruby sat at her desk, shoulders tight with frustration as she glared at the half-finished draft in front of her. She knew Karl’s heart. She knew he was childish, impulsive, and too easily swayed by sweet words but still...
Because of one careless decision.
She exhaled sharply through her nose, trying to calm her pounding heart. Her fingers absentmindedly adjusted the papers on her desk, and her eyes fell on the bag she had brought from the market earlier.
No. She couldn’t let this anger linger. She had work to do, a business to grow, and too many people depending on her.
So she forced her mind into focus, the scratching of her pen against paper slowly soothing her thoughts.
The clock on her wall ticked quietly—
There was a gentle knock.
And then, the door creaked open.
Julian stepped inside.
Ruby turned in her seat and nearly laughed.
His face was crimson.
Cheeks red, ears pink, and hands fidgeting with the hem of his soft robe.
"W-Wife..." he said softly, voice almost a whisper.
He looked like someone walking into a sacred temple... or like he was about to confess a terrible secret.
Ruby blinked at him for a moment.
Then leaned back in her chair, one brow rising slowly.
"So," she said with a knowing smirk, "You actually came."
Julian nearly stumbled over his own feet trying to close the door behind him. "...You told me to..." he mumbled, refusing to meet her eyes.
Ruby stood. Her robe swished softly around her legs, and the moonlight caught the edge of her earrings. She took slow steps toward him.
Julian’s heart was pounding.
She stopped right in front of him. Smiled.
"Then stop looking like you’re walking to your doom."
She reached up and lightly flicked his forehead.
Julian blinked, startled and Ruby laughed under her breath.
"Come on, Mr. ghost," she said teasingly, turning toward the bed. "You can sleep beside me tonight."
Julian’s knees almost gave out.
He had no idea how he would survive this night but he was already sure–it was going to be the best sleep of his life.
Julian nervously sat on the edge of the bed, his hands resting stiffly in his lap. The blanket felt too soft beneath him, and the air in the room too warm. He bit his lower lip, eyes trailing up just in time to see Ruby close the door with a soft click.
Her steps toward him were calm, graceful but to Julian, every inch she moved felt like the ground beneath him was tilting.
His heart was thumping so hard, he was scared it might actually jump out of his chest and land right on her pillow.
She walked up to him close. So close.
Julian gulped, his breath catching as her shadow fell over him. His eyes were wide and blinking too fast, cheeks glowing in crimson.
"...Wife," he whispered, his voice trembling just like his fingers. "Do you... do you..."
He didn’t even know what he was trying to ask.
Do you want to cuddle?
Do you know I might faint?
Ruby leaned in, her lips just beside his ear. Her breath tickled his skin.
"You know I’ve already accepted you as my husband," she whispered, her voice low and smooth, like silk sliding across his nerves.
Julian’s ears turned a violent shade of red. He nodded fast, unable to speak. Wife just called me husband. Help. I can’t breathe.
His gaze dropped right to her waist. It was so close. So perfectly wrapped in her robe.
Should I hold her? Just a little? Maybe—
No! Julian, control yourself!
He closed his eyes for a second, trying to calm the storm of very unholy thoughts flashing through his innocent mind.
But oh... it was so hard.
Looking at him like that.
His hands were practically shaking from resisting the urge to reach out and gently touch her waist.
"Goodness..." he thought, burying his face in his hands.
Ruby, meanwhile, stood there with an amused smile tugging at her lips.
He looked like he was fighting for his soul.
She was enjoying every second of it.
—To be continued...🪄