She stepped past him, not pushing, not hurrying. Just walking away with a grace that made him feel small.
Karl’s legs didn’t move. His heart throbbed in his chest, and all he could do was whisper to himself, barely audible, "...But I missed you so much."
She didn’t turn around.
And somehow, that silence hurt more than any yelling ever could.
Ruby closed the door to her room quietly, the soft click echoing louder than it should have. Her shoulders slumped the moment she was alone. She leaned back against the door, closing her eyes and only then did the tears finally gather.
She didn’t want to be cold to him. She didn’t want to push him away.
But if she didn’t say it like that... he would never understand.
Karl, with his wide blue eyes and foolishly brave heart, didn’t realize just how much he meant to all of them. To Ruby he was the soul of the family.
The one who made noise in the silence.
The one who sulked loudly when ignored.
The one who made them all feel like home wasn’t just walls, it was laughter and noise and emotion.
If something happened to him... if she hadn’t found him in time...
Ruby swallowed hard, pressing the heel of her hand against her chest where it hurt the most. How would they have survived the guilt? The pain? How would she have lived, knowing she let him wander away for a dream she could’ve helped him reach?
She wasn’t angry because he wanted to be a star.
She was hurt because he didn’t trust her enough to say it. He trusted stranger....
"...Idiot," she whispered softly to the empty room, voice cracking. "Why can’t you understand... you’re not just someone. You’re ours."
She wiped her tears and walked toward her desk because no matter how much her heart ached, life wouldn’t wait. But in her chest, that small fear lingered like a shadow.
She had to make him understand. Before it was too late.
Ruby stood frozen for a second at the sight.
Karl was sitting on the floor against the wall, his face buried in his knees, crying like a child who lost everything. His cries echoed through the house—loud, heart-wrenching, completely without shame.
Julian sat beside him helplessly, patting his back, whispering, "Karl, please... don’t cry so loudly..."
Milo had both hands on Karl’s shoulder, eyes wide and teary himself. "You’ll hurt your throat! And... and all the neighbors will come!" he said anxiously.
But Karl didn’t care.
"Woooooaaaaaaahhh!!" he howled even louder, shaking with sobs. "She hates me! My wife hates me! She doesn’t love me anymore!!"
Ruby’s face twitched. If she didn’t stop him right now, a crowd would start forming outside thinking someone died.
She rushed toward him, her robe fluttering behind her, and the moment Karl caught a glimpse of her—he wailed even louder.
"WIFEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"
Ruby knelt down in front of him quickly and covered his mouth with her hand. "Are you trying to wake the entire village?!"
Karl blinked up at her, tears streaming down his face like a fountain, and when she finally removed her hand, he sniffled and hiccupped pitifully. "I thought... I thought you don’t love me anymore..."
Ruby sighed, her shoulders softening. She pulled out the folded paper she had written earlier and gently placed it on his lap.
"...What’s this?" he sniffled.
Karl blinked and opened it with trembling fingers. Inside, in her neat handwriting, was one line:
"I was never angry because you wanted to become a star... I was scared you’d disappear before we could tell you how much we love you."
His lips quivered again. "W-Wife..."
And without warning, he jumped forward and hugged her so tightly she nearly fell backward. "I’m sorry!! I’m sorry, I’ll never go again without telling you!! I don’t want to be a star anymore—I just want to be with you all!"
Ruby laughed softly through her nose as she hugged him back. "You can be both, you silly ghost... just not like that."
Julian wiped his forehead with relief. "Thank god..."
And Milo, eyes shining, nodded seriously. "This is why we don’t let Brother Karl go anywhere alone."
Karl blinked, his nose still red from crying, as Ruby narrowed her eyes at him.
"However..." she began, her voice low and cold.
Karl immediately sat up straighter, his heart jumping. "H-However...?" he asked, eyes wide.
Ruby crossed her arms and walked toward him before sitting down firmly on the floor. "You have to follow rules."
"Rules?" Karl echoed nervously, looking around like he was hoping someone would save him. But instead, Julian and Milo quietly sat down beside Ruby, their faces serious like it was time for family court.
Ruby nodded. "Yeah. Rules. And not just for you. But especially for you."
"Rule 1," Ruby began, holding up one finger, "You can’t trust strangers."
"Rule 2: Don’t take food from strangers."
"Rule 3: Don’t go anywhere without telling us."
"Even if it’s the washroom?" Karl whispered.
"Especially then," Ruby deadpanned. "That’s when your ideas seem to hit."
Julian covered his mouth to hide a laugh. Milo didn’t bother and giggled.
"Rule 4: If you want something—talk to family. Not a random suspicious witch in the middle of the night."
Karl looked down at his fingers guiltily. "...She said I looked like a star."
"She also said she had a set and then sold you to a brothel," Ruby snapped. "So if anyone outside this house ever calls you handsome again—run."
Karl whispered, "Okay..."
"And," Ruby continued, eyes narrowing, "There are more rules. You’ll write them down yourself. Recite them. And until then, you’re not allowed to leave the house without permission."
Karl gasped. "W-What? That’s house arrest!"
Julian leaned closer. "Rule 5: Don’t argue when wife is right."
Milo grinned and added, "Rule 6: If wife’s eye twitches, it’s too late to apologize. Just run."
Karl looked at Julian and Milo with disbelief in his eyes.
Those two?! He blinked slowly.
He looked at Julian, who was sitting quietly with serious face, and then at Milo who was nodding like good ghost beside wife...
Since when they became ?
Weren’t they his partners? His brothers? His team?
He secretly narrowed his eyes and glared at both of them.
Backstabbers! He cursed them silently.
Julian looked away, pretending not to notice, while Milo smiled at him sweetly and waved.
Karl gritted his teeth.
Wait till we’re alone, you little traitors.
—To be continued...🪄