When Julian woke up, the sky outside the window had already turned a soft shade of red. For a mont, he blinked slowly, confused by the silence.
Ruby wasn’t beside him.
The spot next to him on the bed was empty, the sheets cool. His heart fluttered, disappointed like a child who woke up from a beautiful dream.
He sat up, rubbing his eyes and brushing his ssy hair out of his face. "She let sleep this long...?" he muttered, half-guilty and half-worried.
After freshening up, he stepped quietly out into the hallway, still blinking sleep out of his lashes. The house had a soft, lived-in calmness, faint clatter from the kitchen, a few birds chirping in the distance, and distant voices from one of the rooms.
He followed the sound until he peeked into one of the side rooms and smiled softly.
Karl was sitting cross-legged on the bed, gesturing wildly with his hands. Jett sat beside him, listening with wide eyes and a small smile, as Karl dramatically reenacted sothing, probably exaggerated.
Seeing that Karl and Jett looked fine and relaxed, Julian quietly slipped away and walked into the living room.
He glanced around the space—pillows slightly out of place, a few cups left from earlier, and blankets not folded. It was nothing ssy, but Julian’s hands itched to tidy it up.
"If I don’t do it, no one will," he mumbled with a fond smile.
He straightened the cushions, folded the blankets, dusted the low shelf near the window, and even fluffed Milo’s favorite pillow on the corner chair. Once everything looked neat and peaceful again, he padded into the kitchen and began making tea.
The kettle hissed softly as the scent of herbs filled the air. The sky outside was dusky and warm, casting long shadows across the table. Julian prepared five cups, careful to make each one the way they liked it. He set them out with a gentle clink of porcelain and called out,
"Tea’s ready!"
Monts later, Karl ca in with Jett, the latter looking freshly washed and calr than before. Julian gave him a warm smile, but his eyes drifted imdiately to Karl.
"Brother Karl, do you know where wife is?"
Karl waved a hand cheerfully.
"Oh! She went to the market. Said she wanted to get sothing special."
"Alright..." Julian said softly, nodding.
Just then, Milo ca bouncing in, rubbing his eyes like he had just woken from a nap, and Adrian followed, calm and expressionless as always.
Julian poured the tea and handed each cup carefully, making sure everyone got theirs just the way they liked.
But while he smiled and spoke softly with everyone, his mind was elsewhere.
It kept drifting back to that mont earlier—Ruby’s teasing voice, her soft touch, the way she leaned in close and whispered things that made his whole body warm.
If she was that flirty in the afternoon...What would she be like at night?
Julian blinked as the thought hit him. His heart gave a loud thump. Then another.
He tried to sip his tea casually but his hand trembled slightly, and he almost spilled.
"Calm down," he whispered to himself. But his mind was anything but calm.
Across the table, Karl raised an eyebrow.
"Why do you look like you just saw a spirit?"
Julian shook his head quickly.
"No reason! Just... just hot tea!"
But in truth... his thoughts were all wrapped up in one witch.
Ruby.
And the night that was slowly approaching.
***
When Ruby returned ho that night, the red moon had already claid the sky. Her robe fluttered behind her as she stepped in. The house slled faintly of tea and candlelight.
They all gathered around the table, enjoying the quiet warmth of a late dinner. The mood was peaceful, almost cozy. Jett ate quietly, and Karl kept sneaking glances at Ruby hoping to catch even a flicker of warmth on her face, but she barely looked his way.
After the last spoonful was finished, Karl stretched and casually asked, "So... where’s Julian going to sleep tonight?"
Everyone turned to look at him. Even Jett paused mid-sip.
Karl cleared his throat, trying to sound nonchalant.
"I an, Jett is sleeping in our room, so... Julian’s bed is taken, right?"
The words on the tip of his tongue were: so maybe I should sleep with wife tonight but he didn’t get that far.
Ruby looked at him.
Expressionless. Cool. Calm.
But her gaze was like ice.
"He’s sleeping with ," she said simply.
Karl’s smile twitched and died.
His heart? Absolutely shattered into glittery fragnts.
He didn’t need a mirror to know his soul just left his body for a second.
"W-With you? How is that possible?" Karl stamred, looking betrayed.
Ruby tilted her head slightly, her red eyes gleaming.
"He is my husband, right?" she said with a small, unreadable smile. "And I’m his wife. So, of course he can sleep with ."
Karl opened and closed his mouth like a stunned fish.
Why did that sound so official?!
Milo blinked. Still chewing his food. "Huh? But can’t we all sleep with her sotis?"
Ruby cleared her throat.
Julian blushed so hard he almost fainted into his plate.
Adrian didn’t look surprised at all. He just took a calm sip of water, like he had been watching this entire storm brew silently for days. "They’ve already progressed," he thought.
Julian had disappeared into the kitchen with Milo, the sound of clinking cups and quiet laughter echoing softly from the other side of the house. Jett followed behind, offering to help with cleaning, his voice gentle and a little shy.
Adrian had gone to the room, silent as always.
Ruby, anwhile, turned down the hall toward her bedroom, her steps calm but her mind was anything but. Her chest still held a lingering fire, a mix of relief, anger, and disappointnt that she hadn’t allowed to burn out just yet.
But before she could open the door—
Karl caught her wrist.
His grip wasn’t tight, but the desperation in it was unmistakable.
"Wife..." he whispered, his voice soft. "Are you angry at ?"
Ruby paused, slowly turning to face him.
—To be continued...🪄
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