"Wife! We have to go tomorrow! Don’t ss the bag again!" Julian suddenly snapped, his voice sharper than usual as he stood near the edge of the bed, arms crossed and eyes narrowing at the open luggage on the floor.
Ruby, who had been sitting cross-legged and digging through the bag in search of a her missing hairpin, froze mid-movent. Her fingers paused over a yellow robe, and her red eyes slowly turned to look at him. For a second, there was complete silence in the room—only the soft sound of wind brushing past the window.
It took her a mont to register what just happened.
Julian... raised his voice?
Her wide eyes blinked in shock, and her lips parted slightly. She had never heard him speak in that tone—not to her. Not once
Not even when she’d slept diagonally on the bed and pushed him to the edge all night. But now? Over a bag?
Julian realized she was stunned, and a flicker of guilt passed across his face. He looked away quickly, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly regretting how harsh he sounded.
Ruby stayed silent for another beat before she slowly raised a brow. "You... shouted at ?"
"I didn’t shout..." Julian muttered quickly, eyes darting away from her gaze like a guilty child caught stealing a cookie. "I just... said it with emotion, that’s all." His voice trailed off, and a small blush began creeping up his cheeks. "I... am sorry."
Ruby blinked, a little stunned by his sudden shift in tone, then softly laughed. "It’s okay," she said, tilting her head as she watched him with a teasing smile curling on her lips.
Julian peeked at her from the corner of his eye, his face still flushed. "You’re... not angry?" he asked hesitantly, as if he still wasn’t sure what mood she was in.
Ruby chuckled, her laughter light and sweet as she leaned a little closer. "No," she said, her voice playful now. "Actually... you’re cute when you’re angry."
His eyes widened, and just like that—his entire face turned deep red. His ears, his neck, even the tips of his fingers seed to blush as he sputtered a little under her gaze.
"And besides," Ruby added with a grin, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, "it’s just that... you never raise your voice at . So when you did it today, even just a little... I was just surprised."
Julian looked away again, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "I... didn’t an to. It’s just—you were ssing the bag again and I thought we’d be late, and I just—"
Ruby placed a hand on his arm, stopping his ramble. "I know," she said softly, eyes gentle now. "It’s alright, Jules. You care too much. That’s all."
And Julian, still red in the face, gave her a small smile—the kind that only appeared when she understood him more than he expected.
Monts like this were warm and quiet. And secretly, Ruby liked this side of him..
The next morning, the sun had barely climbed over the misty hills when Ruby and Julian checked out of the inn. They carried their bags in comfortable silence, placing them gently into the car trunk. The early air was crisp, carrying the scent of wet soil and wildflowers.
Ruby brushed her white hair behind her ear as she slipped into the driver’s seat, while Julian walked around and quietly took his place beside her. The car gave a soft hum as it started, and just like that, their long journey back began.
Julian leaned back into his seat, his hand resting near hers as they occasionally talked, laughed, and sotis just sat quietly, enjoying the comfortable silence.
That trip had changed sothing between them. The fear they had faced, the dangers they survived, the people they t—all of it had brought them closer.
Julian seed more open now, his glances warr, his smiles easier. And Ruby? She felt lighter sohow, not just because of the new haircut or fresh air, but because of the mories she had made and the lessons she had learned.
She had co to the village hoping to explore a business opportunity, but she left with sothing far deeper. The journey to Dreadmire was over, but what lay ahead felt like the start of sothing new—a new Chapter, a new strength, and perhaps, a love that no longer feared closeness.
***
Julian and Ruby hadn’t told Karl, Milo, or the others that they were returning. They decided to keep it a secret, just for the joy of surprising them. The idea itself made Ruby smile to herself as she drove, glancing occasionally at Julian, who looked just as excited.
The journey back was long, the car winding through floating towns and mountain peaks adrift in the clouds, and every evening when they stopped for rest, they would go out hand in hand, quietly slipping into the cozy shops of each town they visited.
Julian would always carry the shopping bags, even if they were heavy, and Ruby loved how serious he looked while picking out gifts, comparing two pairs of gloves or staring hard at soap scents like it was a life-or-death decision.
"Karl will love this," she whispered once, holding up a robe dyed in soft green shades.
"And Milo should get sothing sweet," Julian added, choosing a box of candies shaped like tiny moons. It beca their little ritual—wandering the streets after dinner, laughing at the odd items, pointing at glittery scarves or handmade charms, and choosing gifts with warmth in their hearts. They collected small things—beautiful pens, warm socks, books (especially farming related), charms, and even a new scarf for Adrian that Julian secretly said looked like his "aura."
At night, back in their room, they would pack everything carefully and label it. The trunk slowly filled up not just with gifts but with mories.
When they finally reached the familiar village, a soft gasp escaped Ruby’s lips, and a wide, genuine smile spread across her face.
Ruby reached forward and rested her hand on the dashboard, almost like blessing it. "You brought us here safe," she murmured.
Julian chuckled softly, then leaned closer. "So... how do we enter? Loud knock or dramatic entrance?"
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