Ruby laid on her stomach, arms folded beneath her cheek as she rested quietly on the soft bed. Her long hair was gathered to one side, revealing the delicate curve of her bare back. The dim light from the lamp cast a warm golden glow over her skin.
Julian stood silently beside the bed, holding the lotion bottle in slightly trembling hands. He squeezed a little into his palm, warming it between his hands, then slowly leaned down.
He placed his hands gently on her back, rubbing the lotion in soft, circular motions. Her skin was warm under his touch, smooth and fragile, and he was incredibly careful not to press too hard.
"You’re really gentle," Ruby murmured, her voice half-asleep, making him pause for a moment.
"I... don’t want to hurt you," he whispered, continuing to move his hands up her shoulder blades, then down along the curve of her lower back.
Ruby didn’t respond, but her body relaxed completely under his touch. And Julian, though flustered, kept his focus more than anything, he just wanted to make her feel cared for.
"Wife... wake up," Julian whispered, gently shaking her shoulder.
Ruby let out a sleepy sigh, eyes barely opening. "Hmm?"
"You can’t sleep ," he said softly, trying not to look at her exposed back too much. "You’re still in a towel..."
Ruby blinked, her lashes fluttering like a drowsy kitten. "So warm... I don’t want to move..."
Julian’s ears turned red.
He reached quietly into her bag and pulled out a thin night robe...soft, light, perfect for sleeping.
"Wife..." he whispered again, crouching beside the bed, but Ruby didn’t stir. Her breathing was soft and steady, lost in deep sleep.
"You need to change," he said under his breath, though he already knew she wouldn’t reply. After a moment’s hesitation, he let out a sigh and gently draped the blanket over her towel-clad body instead.
As if sensing something, Ruby shifted, turning onto her side, her face now peaceful and half-buried into the pillow.
Julian quickly turned away, heart thumping, relieved that he’d covered her just in time.
Without making noise, he stepped into the bathroom to take a shower, letting the warm water calm his thoughts. After drying off, he returned to the room and slid into bed beside her, carefully keeping distance between them.
He didn’t dare inch any closer. She looked too peaceful, too soft. And he... he was too aware of her.
As the pale light of dawn crept into the room, Ruby stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, only to widen in sudden realization, her skin felt bare, cool against the sheets. She blinked, remembering the hazy moment she had fallen asleep while Julian was gently applying that cooling lotion to her back.
Ah... right. She’d been exhausted from the long drive yesterday and trying to reach the village before nightfall. Her body had given up the moment it hit the bed.
Ruby sat up abruptly, pulling the blanket closer before reaching for her towel and wrapping it snugly around herself. Her cheeks were slightly warm, not from embarrassment but from how deeply she had slept without even noticing anything.
The clock showed 5:00 AM.
She exhaled slowly, brushing her fingers through her hair as she glanced beside her. Julian was still fast asleep, breathing quietly, the blankets slightly slipping off his shoulder.
He must have been tired too...
Ruby got up quietly and began preparing herself for the day, deciding to let him sleep a little longer before waking him up. They had a long day ahead, and this morning, she wanted them both to be calm and collected especially before visiting the Ghost God’s temple.
"Jules," she called softly, patting his shoulder, "Wake up, it’s morning."
Julian groaned lightly and turned to the other side, still half-asleep.
Ruby leaned a bit closer and whispered again, "Julian..."
He finally opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was her standing so close, wearing light yellow robe, her collarbones glistening with tiny water drops, her red eyes calm in the morning light.
He blinked a few times and then his face turned completely red.
"I—I’ll go get ready!" he stammered and quickly got out of bed, avoiding her gaze as he grabbed his clothes and rushed into the bathroom.
Ruby chuckled softly and shook her head, then turned to dry her hair.
Inside, Julian stood in front of the mirror, trying to calm himself down. But something was wrong. Even after a cold splash of water on his face, he felt... weird.
His body felt too warm. Not feverish but heavy. Tired. Not the normal tired from waking early, but like something was dragging under his skin. He rubbed his chest unconsciously, a strange tightness lingering there.
"I just woke up thirty minutes earlier... why do I feel ?" he whispered.
But he didn’t want Ruby to worry.
So he washed up quietly, dressed, and walked out of the bathroom, hiding the strange feeling behind a soft smile.
"Let’s head out," Ruby said as she grabbed the smaller bag she had prepared last night filled only with the essentials. Since they had already booked the hotel for yesterday and today, they left their main luggage behind in the room.
Neither she nor Julian felt like eating breakfast. Maybe it was the nerves... or just the anticipation of visiting the Ghost God Temple. So, without wasting time, they got in the car and Ruby drove through the winding road.
Eventually, they reached the temple’s base.
She parked the car in the designated area. Vehicles weren’t allowed on the actual hill path. Ruby glanced ahead, there was a large counter and a signboard explaining ticket prices.
She walked up and bought two tickets, handing one to Julian.
Ahead, there seemed to be some kind of transportation system going up the hill. It wasn’t exactly a lift, but not quite a cable car either. Ruby tilted her head slightly, examining the long metallic path leading up the slope.
"Was it before...?" she murmured, but no memory surfaced from the original Ruby’s mind. It felt unfamiliar.
"Wife?" Julian asked gently.
"Hm? Nothing," she replied with a soft smile.
—To be continued...🪄