Next week was nothing short of chaos—good chaos, but chaos nonetheless.
Ruby’s schedule was packed from morning to night. A powerful delegation from the Capital had arrived, their expensive robes and polite manners setting them apart the moment they stepped into her office. They weren’t just ordinary clients; these were high-ranking representatives from the central commerce guild, interested in a long-term partnership with Ruby’s rainwear and fabric innovations. It was a huge opportunity.
Ruby handled each meeting with calm precision, her tone polite, her posture confident, and her ideas clearly laid out with printed portfolios and product samples. After every presentation, she’d feel a rush of pride seeing even the sternest faces nod in approval.
On top of that, a thick envelope had arrived earlier that week—another letter from the film production team, stamped with the Soulstream logo and wrapped in fine-quality paper. Inside was a printed script, a brief about the character, shooting schedules, and a note requesting a short audition for Karl.
She smiled to herself.
Karl, on the other hand, had started acting... strange.
Every now and then, he’d burst into fake tears in the middle of dinner, only to dramatically clutch his chest and whisper, "No... don’t leave me." At first, Milo thought something was seriously wrong—until Karl dramatically gasped and then smiled, saying he was "just practicing for the role."
He’d spend hours in front of the mirror, pulling faces, reciting lines from made-up monologues, sometimes even dressing up in new robes and asking everyone, "Do I look like a prince who lost his kingdom?"
Ruby didn’t stop him.
She watched quietly, letting him explore the excitement of this new world. After all, she believed real growth came naturally. Once Karl stepped into a proper audition room, once he faced cameras, directors, and real scripts—he would learn. And he would shine.
But her mind wasn’t just on Karl. Managing her company, paying all the salaries, ordering new fabric, getting machines serviced, and working late nights on her game—all of it drained her. Still, she had secretly been setting aside savings—just so she could buy that Soulstream TV.
So when the Capital meetings wrapped up, she took a break.
She traveled to the City with Angeline and another witch from the village. The city felt crowded and bright compared to her calm little village, but Ruby moved like she belonged. Together, they visited the authorized Soulstream distributor, browsed available models, asked for warranty and upgrade options and finally, Ruby bought it.
A brand-new Soulstream TV.
And since she knew there would be drama at home if she didn’t do things properly, she even picked up a matching cabinet.
After Ruby reached home, she barely had time to park before a large carrier carriage rumbled up beside her.
One of them stepped forward politely, holding a delivery note. "Ma’am, we’ve brought the furniture and Soulstream unit. Where would you like us to place it?"
Ruby brushed back her loose hair and sighed. "Wait here for a moment," she said, then quickly walked toward the house and knocked.
The door opened just a second later, and Julian stood there—his mossy green eyes going wide as they shifted from her face to the large carrier carriage behind her.
"Wife??" he blinked, stepping aside. "What is that...?"
"I bought the Soulstream," she said casually, as if she had just bought some tea leaves. "And some furniture to go with it. Help me figure out where it should go?"
Julian nodded quickly, still a little stunned, and stepped outside to guide the delivery helpers. "Please bring the cabinet first—there, in the living room near the window," he said. "And the side tables, just along that wall."
As the delivery witches carefully carried the Soulstream and new furnishings inside, the noise drew attention.
Karl and Milo came rushing out of the hallway, both still wearing soft robes and holding books in their hands.
Milo’s mouth opened into a perfect O-shape.
"Is... is that—" Karl’s voice cracked. "Is that the real thing? The one with the silver logo that glows?!"
Ruby didn’t even look at him. "Yes. The one you cried about for more then two weeks," she said dryly.
And just like that, Karl let out a loud squeal and dropped his book to the floor as if the sky had cracked open. Milo looked at Ruby with glittering eyes full of wonder, and even Julian smiled as he adjusted the cabinet’s placement carefully.
Their small, cozy living room had never looked more alive.
After the Soulstream TV was finally placed in the center of their living room, everything in the house shifted. The once-quiet evenings turned into lively, bright hours filled with chatter, laughter, and the glow of new stories. Now, every evening, all of them naturally gathered around it like it was a sacred campfire. Karl and Milo often sat cross-legged on the carpet, hugging pillows. Julian always chose the left couch, hands busy preparing light snacks, and Adrian leaned on the wall beside the window, quietly enjoying the shows without saying much but his eyes always gave away his interest.
Even Angeline’s husbands started showing up regularly. Hugo would bring warm tea, Kenji helped Julian in the kitchen, Leo and Max always argued over which show to watch first, and Finn and Jace lounged casually on the rug like it was their second home. Sometimes, even a few curious neighbors dropped in to watch Soulstream. There was laughter, teasing, playful fights over the remote... and always, Karl.
Because the highlight of their night wasn’t always the show.
After dinner, he’d rush to grab his carefully folded script and declare, "Tonight! I shall perform Act Two, Scene Three! Prepare your hearts!"
And surprisingly... he wasn’t bad. He’d read each line with dramatic flair, change his expression for each character, and even try to mimic their walking style. Sometimes he slipped and fell, sometimes he forgot the lines halfway, but everyone clapped anyway. Milo gave him flowers made of paper. Julian would cover his smile with the back of his hand.
To be continued... 🪄