The next day, the house was far from peaceful. Adrian had already stormed out at dawn, his robe billowing behind him as he muttered about "nonsense dates with fat ghosts" and went straight to the office, clearly refusing to witness what was about to unfold.
Karl, however, stayed behind, pacing the hall like a lion in a cage. His eyes were dark, his jaw tight, and when Ruby finally stepped out of her room, he nearly exploded.
"WIFE!!!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the house. "Are you really, really going on a date with that fat Louis??" His eyes nearly popped when he saw her. "And you’re wearing a red robe?? Red?? Are you trying to tell the whole world you’re romantic with him??"
Ruby froze, taken aback by the volume, then glanced down at her robe. It really was a deep crimson, elegant and sharp. She sighed helplessly, pressing her fingers against her temple. "Karl, it’s just a robe, don’t shout like that."
Julian appeared from the side, arms folded, his expression not much better than Karl’s. His voice was calm, but the weight of it made Ruby’s shoulders sink. "Brother Karl is right this time, Wife. Red makes it look too romantic. And I don’t like it either."
Ruby rubbed her forehead harder, exhaling. "Fine, fine. I’ll change..."
Minutes later, she came back out in a soft pink robe, the fabric flowing gently around her as if she were wrapped in morning light. She looked calm, gentle, almost too charming.
But Karl’s face crumpled even more. "No no no, this is worse! You look like some shy romantic bride! He’ll faint and cling to you like glue!" He stomped his foot, pointing dramatically at the robe. "Change it!!"
Ruby groaned, glaring at him. "Karl, you can’t just reject every robe I wear!"
Julian tilted his head, studying her in pink. He let out a slow breath. "Brother Karl is overreacting, but I agree it makes you look... softer. Too soft. Louis doesn’t deserve to see you like this." His voice softened, but his frown deepened. "Try another."
With clenched teeth, Ruby disappeared back into her room.
When she came out again, she was in blue, calm, cool, a little distant, like the sky.
Karl’s jaw dropped. "No no no, this one makes you look beautiful! He’ll think you’re a goddess from the heavens! Wife, why are you trying to torture me???" He threw himself onto the couch dramatically, burying his face in his hands.
Ruby’s patience snapped. "Karl, stop acting like a child!"
Karl peeked through his fingers, his voice muffled. "Because you’re my Wife, not his! I don’t want him seeing you in any color!!"
Julian pinched the bridge of his nose, his calm finally cracking. "Brother Karl, she has to go whether we like it or not. But Wife..." he turned to Ruby, his eyes steady, "if you wear blue, you’ll stand out. If you wear pink, you’ll look romantic. If you wear red, it’s too much. Just wear something simple, plain. Don’t let him see your beauty today."
Ruby sighed deeply, looking between the two men who were glaring at robes as if they were rivals themselves. She muttered under her breath, "I don’t even know who I’m today dating anymore, Louis or my own jealous husbands."
Karl shot up, pointing at her. "Exactly! That’s why you shouldn’t go!!"
Julian dragged him back down to the couch, his grip tight. "Sit. If you ruin her plan, Wife will be angry. Do you want that?"
Karl froze. The memory of Ruby’s furious glare and cold silence flashed in his mind. He slumped instantly. "...No..."
Ruby finally turned, her expression sharp, though her eyes softened a little as she looked at them. "Just trust me, both of you. I know what I’m doing."
Karl pouted like a sulky child, Julian stayed silent but tense, and Ruby... Ruby exhaled, already bracing herself for the exhausting day ahead.
Ruby’s patience was running thin, but she still tried. She stepped out first in a simple gray robe. The color should have been plain, dull even, yet on her it wrapped like mist and shadows, giving her an air of mystery that made both Karl and Julian freeze.
Karl groaned, running his hands through his hair. "Gray?! Wife, why does it make you look mysterious instead of boring? Now he’ll stare even more!"
Ruby rolled her eyes and went back inside. Moments later, she returned in black. The effect was immediate, sharp, sleek, almost dangerous. The robe hugged her in all the right ways, and the glow of her skin against it made her look effortlessly hot.
Julian’s face flushed, and he looked away quickly. "No. Absolutely not. Black makes you look... too much. He’ll faint before the date even starts."
Karl threw himself dramatically onto the couch again. "Why do you have to look good in every color? Wife, maybe we should just hide you under the bed until this date nonsense is over."
Ruby gritted her teeth, glaring at them both. "Fine." She vanished back into her room and returned in purple. The deep shade made her glow, elegant and alluring, like a queen stepping down from a painting.
Karl and Julian both froze, their mouths half open, eyes narrowing like they were ready to reject it before she even spoke.
Ruby snapped. She placed her hands on her hips, her voice low and sharp. "Both of you, if you don’t shut up right now, I will go naked."
Silence dropped like a stone.
Both ghosts’ eyes widened instantly, their faces burning red as they whipped their heads away, ears glowing. They exchanged panicked glances, then sealed their mouths shut, deciding one glare from Ruby was more dangerous than fat Louis himself.
Ruby smirked in victory and adjusted her robe. Finally, there was peace.
Just then Milo came out of his room, rubbing his sleepy eyes. He blinked at Ruby, then his face lit up with that innocent smile. "Wife, you look so pretty! But maybe you should wear something different... like green? Green is nice," he said in his usual sweet, clueless voice.
Karl and Julian turned their heads toward each other at the same time, their lips twitching. For the first time that morning, they both broke into a quiet, secret laugh, shaking their heads.
Ruby groaned, throwing her hands up. "This house is going to kill me before Madame Shades does."
To be continued... 🪄