CHAPTER 403: CHAPTER 403 LIFE WITHOUT KARL

Ruby leaned closer, her voice softer now. "If you get sick, you tell Miranda. If you’re confused about anything, you ask her. And if you’re upset, you call me. I don’t care if it’s about laundry, food, or someone being an idiot—you call me."

Karl nodded, though his eyes were already a bit watery. "Okay, wife."

She reached up, adjusting the collar of his robe like she always did at home. "And remember—this is your job now. Be polite, be professional, and make me proud."

Kaelan raised an eyebrow, muttering just loud enough for her to hear, "Sounds like he’s going off to military training, not a film set."

Ruby shot him a cool glance. "In this industry, it’s not so different."

***

After leaving Karl, Ruby carried a strange heaviness in her chest, a quiet unease that refused to settle. Even as she went back home, trying to distract herself with the thought that she would see him again in a week, the feeling clung to her like a shadow. The evening passed in small, automatic motions, and the next morning she buried herself in routine, arriving at her office and immediately beginning to check through every file, every update, making sure nothing had been overlooked.

To her relief, she noticed her workload had lightened considerably—thanks to Adrian. While she had been away, he had managed the entire company with an ease that surprised her, leaving nothing for her to fix. She had to admit, his skills in accounting were impressive; numbers that would have taken her hours to balance were neatly tied up under his meticulous care. Watching him work was almost a comfort, though she would never say it aloud.

Life without Karl at home felt strangely incomplete, as if the house had lost its liveliest spark. The quiet stretched through the rooms, not the peaceful kind but the sort that made every creak of the floor feel louder. Julian kept glancing toward Karl’s usual spot, as if expecting him to stroll in with that familiar grin and some absurd comment to break the monotony.

Milo tried to busy himself with small tasks, yet his mind wandered—he would catch himself halfway through a story and stop, realizing the one person who always laughed the loudest wasn’t there to hear it.

Even Adrian, though he wouldn’t say it outright, seemed more withdrawn, his focus sharper than usual as if burying himself in work could mask the absence. The three of them went about their routines, but in quiet moments their gazes would drift, each silently counting the days until Karl returned.

And Ruby and Adrian had begun to grow closer in a way that neither of them had planned, their bond forming quietly in the spaces between work and everyday life. It started with small things—Adrian staying a little longer at her desk after delivering reports, offering to handle errands so she could take a breather, or casually dropping by with a cup of tea when she was too focused to notice the time. He had a calm, steady presence that balanced her intensity, and she found herself relying on his quiet competence more than she realized. Sometimes, they would linger in conversation after office hours, talking about everything from company plans to trivial, almost silly topics that left them both smiling.

In those moments, Ruby noticed the way his guarded demeanor softened when he was with her, and Adrian, though he never said it aloud, had started to look forward to her voice, her sharp wit, and the rare laughter she let slip when he teased her just right.

***

Ruby heard from one of the neighbors that an old ghost named Master Elric Wrenford had recently arrived from the capital. He wasn’t just any ghost—his name carried weight even among the living. For decades, his paintings had been displayed in grand halls, auctioned for prices that made ordinary folk dizzy, and collected by those who wanted a piece of beauty that could never fade. Now, after retiring from the whirlwind of the capital’s art scene, he had chosen to settle quietly in their region. But what caught Ruby’s attention wasn’t just his fame—it was the fact that he had announced he would take in only two students, personally train them, and pass down every secret, every technique he had guarded for years. It was the kind of opportunity that could change a person’s life forever.

That evening, as she sorted through the papers on her desk, Ruby found her thoughts drifting back to Milo. He had always been good with his hands, his brushstrokes carrying a strange mix of precision and feeling, even when he was just sketching idly. She could already imagine the spark in his eyes if he heard about this. If Milo was selected, he wouldn’t just have a hobby—he could build a name for himself, maybe even a career that would give him both recognition and the freedom to create without limits. The thought made her lips curve into a small smile. She decided she would tell him later in the evening, picturing the way his entire face would light up at the news.

And Ruby’s game project was also moving forward steadily. She knew she still had a long way to go, but the progress felt satisfying. Every day was a mix of learning and creating, piecing together ideas and code like fitting parts of a puzzle. It was slow, yes—especially because she was doing it entirely on her own but that only made each small success feel more valuable. There were moments of frustration, nights where she stared at her screen for hours trying to solve a problem, but the thrill of seeing something she built come alive always pulled her back in. Being a solo developer meant the workload was heavy, yet it was hers, entirely hers, and she wasn’t about to give up.

Before she realized it, the week had flown by, and the day had finally come for her to head out and check on Karl. She was eager to see how he was doing.

To be continued... 🪄