After dinner and washing dishes everyone settled into the living room. It had become their little ritual—after meals, they all gathered together with books or notebooks, ready to learn something new from Ruby. The rain outside tapped lightly on the windows, and the warm yellow glow of the lights made the room feel extra peaceful.
Julian was already placing a cushion on the floor to sit properly with his notebook. Adrian had his favorite pen ready, silently flipping through the pages of a book on economics Ruby had given him last week. Milo, sitting cross-legged on the rug, had a sketchbook half full of doodles and pretty lettering, and his fingers were already stained with ink. Karl, as usual, was last to sit—flopping beside Ruby with a yawn and stretching like a lazy cat.
Ruby smiled as she looked around. Just a few months ago, none of them knew how to read or even write their names properly. And now, watching them so focused—well, minus Karl who was currently balancing a pencil on his nose—made her heart feel proud and full.
Tonight, though, instead of opening her laptop, Ruby remained still, a strangely wide smile playing on her lips as her eyes settled on Karl.
Karl raised a brow, blinking at her. "What?" he asked, shifting uncomfortably under her gaze. "Why are you staring like that, wife? Do I have something on my face?"
"No," Ruby said, biting back a grin.
Karl touched his cheek anyway, as if imagining some crumb stuck there. "Is it because I look especially handsome today?" he teased, his ears turning pink. "You can just say it, you know."
Ruby chuckled, her eyes twinkling.
"What’s going on?" Milo asked curiously, looking between them.
"I don’t know," Adrian muttered, closing his book.
"Wife?" Julian said softly, "You look like you’re hiding something."
Ruby finally sat up straighter and folded her hands. "I received a letter today," she said, her voice light but clear.
"A letter?" Karl repeated, still confused.
"Yes." Ruby turned her full attention to him now. "And it’s for you."
"You’ve been offered a role in a Soulstream movie."
The room went silent.
Karl blinked again. "...Huh?"
Ruby nodded, her smile widening. "A production company reached out to me. They’re offering you a role in an upcoming movie. But only if I agree to join the production team."
"What!?" Karl jumped to his feet, nearly knocking over his ink pot. "A movie?! You’re serious?!"
Milo gasped. "Karl! You’re going to be in a movie?!"
Julian sat up straighter, surprised.
"And they mentioned your name in the letter. You were recommended by Director Sylvia." Ruby said proudly.
Karl looked like he’d just forgotten how to breathe. His blue eyes went wide with disbelief. "M-Me?! Director Sylvia—she remembered me?! She recommended me!?"
"Seems so," Ruby said, enjoying the way his expression flipped between shock and joy.
Karl grabbed her hands suddenly. "WIFE! What kind of role!? Do I get to cry dramatically? Will I have a sword?! Oh my god—what if I get to be a prince? Or a heartbroken ghost prince who sings sad songs in the moonlight—!!"
Ruby laughed, nearly choking. "Calm down! They haven’t mentioned the role details yet. Another letter will probably come soon."
Adrian, who had remained quiet, finally spoke. "You haven’t even said yes yet, have you?"
"No," Ruby replied, her voice softer now. "I’ve been declining all invitations. But for this one... maybe I’ll accept. For Karl."
"You always said you wanted to be star," Ruby said with a gentle smile.
Karl’s lips quivered. "Wife... you mean... you’re going to take a whole job... just so I can chase my dream?"
"You’re not chasing it alone," she said. "You’ll be doing it with me."
Karl made a loud choking sound and dove at her, wrapping his arms around her tightly and burying his face in her lap.
"I love you!!" he cried.
"I know," Ruby sighed, patting his back. "Now stop drooling on my robe."
Milo clapped excitedly. "Karl’s going to be famous!"
Julian smiled warmly. "You better practice your handwriting for autograph seriously now."
Adrian smirked lightly. "Don’t let it get to your head."
"It’s already there!!" Karl wailed dramatically, still hugging Ruby. "I’m going to be a star! I’m going to need sunglasses indoors!!"
Ruby rolled her eyes with a laugh. "Only if you don’t trip over the carpet on your way to the kitchen."
The room filled with laughter.
This was the beginning of something exciting.
"However," she said, her voice teasing as she ruffled his messy hair, "a star needs better acting skills. You can’t just rely on that pretty face and big eyes."
Karl pouted dramatically, pulling back just enough to frown at her. "I do practice! Every day! You’ve just never seen it."
"Oh really?" Ruby raised an eyebrow.
"Yes! I cry in front of the mirror, I dramatically fall on the floor when I stub my toe, and sometimes I pretend I’m a lonely prince lost in time—"
Julian choked on his saliva nearby.
Ruby covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. "Alright, alright," she said, "but if you want to really improve, you’ll have to watch real scenes and practice from them."
"That’s what I’ve been saying!" Karl said, eyes lighting up. "If you buy me Soulstream, I can watch shows, copy the expressions, learn how to cry beautifully like those tragic leads..."
Ruby gave him a knowing look. "Okay."
"I said okay. I’ll buy it."
Karl’s mouth fell open. "Are you kidding me?"
"No," Ruby said, keeping a straight face.
"You can’t take that back!" he shouted, pointing a dramatic finger at her.
"I won’t," she said, amused.
Karl’s eyes filled with sparkles. "Wife!!" he wailed and hugged her like his life depended on it. "You’re the best! The most beautiful! The most generous! My dream-sponsoring goddess!! I’ll never let you go!!"
Ruby let out a small sigh, patting his back. "You already said you love me earlier, now this? At this rate, you’ll propose again."
"I would!" Karl cried.
To be continued... 🪄