"Kae! Don’t worry, I found a lead. That racer is actually from our circle," Roman said, trying to sound excited as he glanced at Kaelan, who was wiping sweat off his forehead after the shoot.
Kaelan looked surprised, a smile curling on his handsome face. "Really?"
"Yes! And her eyes are also red. She knows how to handle the car in land races too. I can’t believe it..." Roman said, pretending to be amazed.
"Who is she?" Kaelan asked, his excitement growing. He couldn’t believe he was finally going to meet his future wife.
"She..." Roman paused, seeing Kaelan’s eager face, and smirked. "I’ve already arranged a meeting for you. So, get ready."
Kaelan playfully shoved him. "You’re trying to be all mysterious..."
"Of course! I have to keep the suspense," Roman said, laughing.
After Ruby looked around for a ride back to her village, she wandered the area, her eyes scanning the surroundings. During her roam, she noticed a group of small wagon drivers gathering nearby. Some witches were standing there, laughing, and their eyes fell on her.
"Where do you want to go, miss?" one of them called out, while another shouted, "Seat on my wagon!"
Ruby approached them, glancing at the wagons. "I want to go to Hollow Wood Village," she replied, and at her words, the shouting abruptly stopped.
"You can come inside. We’re heading that way," another witch said, gesturing to one of the wagons.
"Sure," Ruby agreed, walking over to take a seat inside. As she entered, she noticed a ghost already sitting there. He froze when he saw her, his blackish-yellow cat-like eyes widening in shock. He was holding two bags, and his gaze flickered to the bags Ruby was holding — one filled with expensive snacks he longed to try, and the other with fabric.
Levi blinked in disbelief. Ruby was not the same person he had seen before. She used to be an alcoholic, reckless, and indifferent to everything around her. He had once suggested to his mother that Julian marry Ruby.
But the witch sitting before him now was different.
The driver witch began to steer the small wagon into the sky, and Levi’s eyes remained locked on Ruby. Her long white hair flew freely in the wind, and the sunlight made her face glow with an ethereal beauty. Her skin was fair, her eyelashes long, and her lips pink. But most striking of all was the calm strength in her eyes — so different from the witch he had once known.
Ruby turned her gaze toward him, sensing his stare. "It’s rude to stare," she said flatly, her eyes locking with his. It wasn’t the first time she had encountered strangers who couldn’t seem to look away, but it didn’t bother her. People often stared, curious or judgmental, but she was used to it by now.
However, Levi’s heart was already burning with jealousy and frustration.
How could Julian deserve such a beautiful wife like Ruby? He thought bitterly. It didn’t seem fair. How was someone like Julian—kind but average in every other way—blessed with such a stunning witch?
Levi’s own marriage had been arranged with another witch, but she was nowhere near as attractive as Ruby. Sure, his fiancée earned well and was better than most, but her beauty paled in comparison. He had accepted the match because it was practical, yet deep inside, he craved something more.
And now, seeing Ruby walking around confidently, looking so normal yet breathtaking, stirred a fear in his chest.
Ruby didn’t pay much attention to him, though the ghost sitting across from her seemed shocked, his wide eyes fixed on her. His intense stare made her feel uneasy.
What if he knows me? she wondered, rummaging through her memories to recall if they’d met before.
Nothing came to mind.
Since she couldn’t place him, she decided he wasn’t worth her concern. Ignoring him, she focused on the road ahead. When they finally arrived at Hollow Wood Village, Ruby climbed down from the carriage, paid the driver, and suddenly remembered something: her house didn’t have any groceries.
She headed to the village market, where people turned to look at her with wide eyes. The news had clearly spread—the useless, alcoholic witch of the village had not only sobered up but had even bought herself a house.
The vegetable sellers who once mocked her were now glaring with sour expressions. Ruby, however, smirked and deliberately bought her groceries from the older, kinder vendors instead.
Though Ruby struggled to remember faces she hadn’t seen in a while, she had no trouble recalling people who caught her attention. And right now, she was sure these judgmental witches wouldn’t be worth remembering.
After gathering all her bags, Ruby began her walk home. Ever since arriving in this world, she had been walking much more than she was used to. Her stamina had improved, but she didn’t seem to notice how much stronger she’d become.
What she also didn’t notice was the figure following her at a safe distance, moving carefully to avoid being spotted.
After about ten minutes, Ruby reached her home. She stopped in front of the house, rang the doorbell, and waited patiently.
From a hidden spot nearby, Levi stood observing her, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. He clenched his fists tightly when his gaze landed on the house. It was larger and bigger than his own arranged fiance house. His jaw tightened further when the door opened, revealing Julian stepping outside.
Levi’s eyes burned with coldness as he noticed Julian wearing a new robe. His mind churned with anger. How did he get that? Levi thought bitterly. He knew how much such a robe cost, and it irked him deeply to think Julian had managed to obtain one.
His anger deepened when he saw Ruby hand over her bags to Julian. The gentle smile on Julian’s face—a smile Levi had hated since childhood—made his blood boil.
Ruby said something to Julian, though Levi couldn’t hear it from his hiding spot. The two of them then walked inside the house, the door closing firmly behind them, leaving Levi seething in silence.
Just as he stood there, lost in his intense emotions, a voice from behind startled him.
"What are you doing here?"
—To be continued...🪄