Angeline smiled. "Exactly. That’s why they filed your name under Trusted Civil Contributor. You’re in the records now. If you ever report something, or ask for help—they put your case first. Even above normal cases. Because they owe you."
Ruby hadn’t thought much about it then.
But now... watching the panic on the witches’ faces... she was starting to understand.
Somehow, her past kindness had created a shield stronger than any spell.
And now, the witches were fidgeting, whispering to each other.
"What if she’s not bluffing?"
"The officers can arrive any minute..."
"I thought she was just a normal Villager..."
Ruby smiled slightly.
And sure enough... within moments, the sound of boots echoed across the path.
The Civil Protection Officers arrived.
Five tall figures in deep green and silver uniforms walked through the village. They moved with quiet authority, eyes sharp and voices calm.
Everyone stepped aside.
Even the villagers, who had been watching the drama, stood still as the officers made their way to the witches.
The lead officer raised a silver scroll, sealed with the official crest.
"By order of the Royal Governance Council," he said firmly, "You are being detained under suspicion of theft, trespassing, magical misuse, impersonation, and illegal trade involving unregistered fabric."
"W-Wait!" one of them shouted.
Another tried to step back, but the officers were faster.
They put cuffs around their wrists.
"You better stay silent," the officer snapped, eyes blazing. "Because every single word you speak from now on will go straight to the Royal Court and trust me, they won’t be as patient as I am."
The villagers gasped softly, whispering among themselves.
Ruby stood calmly in the center, watching as the ten witches—who had stormed in with so much pride were now being led away like lost, trembling shadows.
One of them turned back and glared at her, but Ruby didn’t even blink.
And far away, inside the Lex Corporation, chaos had already begun.
News had reached the capital. Documents were spreading. Evidence, statements, and records were all submitted to the right hands.
Lex Storar–the powerful, untouchable name behind the fabric empire was now being sued for a list of crimes longer than her business contracts.
Fraud. Theft. Power misuse. Exploitation of low-class villages. Tax evasion. And unlawful product distribution.
Her empire was cracking from the bottom.
And Ruby didn’t even need to lift a finger.
She just stood in the sunlight, arms folded, watching the last witch disappear in Civil officers car.
Lex Storar was furious.
The sound of shattering echoed through her private chambers as she threw yet another vase against the wall. Papers flew from her desk. A mirror cracked. Shelves rattled.
Everything in her office trembled under her rage.
She had just been bailed out easily, of course. Money had power, and Lex had plenty of it.
But no amount of money could erase the humiliation.
And it didn’t take long before her people, those few loyal witches who had escaped the arrests came crawling back with whispers.
"There was a witch... not from here. A smart one. With white hair and red eyes. She’s the one behind it all."
Lex’s cold eyes sharpened.
White hair... red eyes...
That wasn’t a name. But it was enough to hunt.
She made her decision that very night.
Without her usual army or guards, Lex wrapped a long scarf around her head and face, hiding her sharp features. She wore a simple robe and took only two trusted followers—one for backup, the other for silence.
They entered Dreadmire Village before sunrise, when the streets were quiet and dew still touched the ground. The market slowly opened, villagers beginning their daily chatter.
Lex walked through the narrow dirt road, her boots silent, her scarf hiding the anger on her face.
As she passed by a fruit stall, she heard the words that twisted her heart like a knife.
"She deserves it," a ghost whispered.
"Karma came for Lex Storar," another muttered.
"Did you hear? The entire village was saved because of that white-haired witch!"
Lex’s eyes turned icy.
She walked further, keeping her head low but her ears open. Her followers stayed behind her like shadows.
At the edge of the market, she approached a group of older witches near a herb cart. Her voice was calm, low, but sharp.
"Do you know who helped this village?" she asked.
One of the witches looked up, eyes lighting with admiration. "Oh, yes! Ruby. She was amazing. Smart, fearless. She’s the reason Lex’s people were exposed!"
But inside her chest, something burned.
She turned quietly and left.
By the time the sun had fully risen, Lex had already returned to her old, Mysterious and Cold mension.
She didn’t speak to anyone.
She walked straight to her room, removed her scarf, and shut the door behind her.
Her face was like ice.
She sat down slowly at her long wooden desk, picked up her phone, and dialed a number.
Then a deep voice answered.
"Name," Lex said coldly. "I want everything you can find on someone named Ruby. White hair. Red eyes. Currently staying in Dreadmire Village."
She paused, then added with a whisper:
"And don’t stop until you find something I can destroy her with.".
Lex sat alone in the quiet darkness of her room, the phone still resting in her hand.
The silence around her was heavy...thick with rage, shame, and a storm she could no longer hold back.
Her lips trembled from fury.
Her eyes, once sharp and calculating, now glowed faintly with something deeper.
She gripped the edge of her desk, her knuckles turning white as she leaned forward slightly.
Her voice dropped into a whisper—low, dangerous, and full of venom.
"I don’t care who you are. I don’t care what you’ve done in the past. I don’t care if the whole world sings your name."
"You destroyed me," she whispered, her breath shaking.
"I will destroy you personally."
She stood slowly, walking to the tall window where the cold wind poured in, pushing the long black curtains aside.
Her voice was still soft... but dripping with poison.
"I will not let you go."
—To be continued...🪄