CHAPTER 331: CHAPTER 331 BLESSING FLAME CEREMONY

On the other hand, Julian was busy sorting through the carefully wrapped gift bags he and Ruby had collected during their journey.

He stood near the shelf, checking each tag. Ruby had written all the names with her elegant handwriting—Angeline, her husbands, Pillu and few nigherbour.

With a soft smile on his lips, Julian picked up the bag meant for Angeline and her husbands. It was a beautifully embroidered box filled with a delicate table runner, spice jars shaped like tiny animals, and a warm shawl that Ruby insisted would suit her perfectly. He had to admit—Ruby had an eye for these things.

He tucked the bag under his arm and grabbed the others, walking through the village with the late afternoon breeze brushing through his hair. It felt good. Familiar. Peaceful.

At Angeline’s home, she opened the door with her usual bright energy. "Oh! You’re back!" she gasped. Her eyes widened when Julian handed the gift with both hands.

"From Wife," he said, smiling politely.

Angeline blinked at the gesture, and her eyes softened. "She always remembers," She whispered, brushing her fingers across the bag. She hadn’t expected Ruby to bring her a gift, yet a smile appeared on her lips.

He went on to drop off the next gifts. Pillu was lounging on his porch, half-asleep, but immediately woke up when Julian called his name. He stared at the gift bag like it was a magical relic.

"What’s this?"

"A little something from us," Julian said. "You’ve always been kind to Wife."

Pillu stood up and clutched the bag to his chest, his ears turning red. "Tell her... I said thanks. And welcome home."

By the time Julian returned, he’d handed out most of the gifts.

***

After a whole day of nonstop work, Ruby finally came back home. Her eyes felt heavy, and her shoulders ached, but a soft smile touched her lips when she noticed that most of the bags near the living room had already been cleared. Someone had cleaned up the space. She kicked off her shoes near the door, walked in with a tired sigh, and quietly made her way to the bathroom.

The moment the warm water hit her skin, she felt her exhaustion slowly melt away. She stood under the shower longer than usual, letting herself breathe. After drying off and slipping into a comfortable robe, she made her way down the hall to her room.

Two hours later...

Just as she was about to lie down for a few minutes, a familiar knock came on her door.

"Wife! Dinner’s ready!" Karl shouted from the hallway.

Ruby sighed and chuckled under her breath. No rest for the wicked.

When she entered the dining room, the table was already set, and everyone was waiting for her. Adrian looked up and nodded at her calmly, his quiet way of saying he noticed her. Karl was grinning from ear to ear like a child waiting to tell her something exciting. Julian and Milo were moving around the table, placing bowls and plates with little clinks and soft chatter.

God knew how much she had missed this... the scent of warm spices floating through the air, the cozy sound of clinking dishes, and the sight of her family around the table. Nothing tasted better than home-cooked food—especially when you’d been eating from hotel kitchens and roadside stops for weeks.

They all sat down and began to eat together, the smell of warm food filling the room, the flicker of the ceiling light casting a soft golden yellow hue over everything.

Halfway through dinner, Milo suddenly raised his head, as if he just remembered something important. He quickly wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and turned to Ruby. "Wife! I forgot to tell you earlier!"

Ruby blinked. "What?"

"There’s not much written about Mistvine itself in book... but I found a section that talks about the kind of plants that grow best in specific soils or climates. And Mistvine sounds like the type that needs constant moisture and cooler air. I even asked Brother Kenji and Brother Leo! They said the same thing!"

Ruby’s face fell a little. "So... we won’t be able to grow them?" she asked softly, disappointed.

Milo shook his head fast. "No, no, Wife—listen! Brother Kenji said we can create a fake environment. Like using different soil mixtures or planting them near cooler areas, like lakes or shaded parts of the land. If we try a few things, maybe we can still grow them!"

Ruby looked at him, her eyes lighting up again. "You’re serious?"

"Of course! I’ll experiment slowly," Milo said, puffing up with pride. "Don’t worry, I’ll find a way."

Ruby stared at him in awe. "You really researched all that?"

Milo puffed up proudly. "Because you gave me a mission."

She reached across the table and gently flicked his forehead. "You’re too cute."

Karl pouted. "Hmph. I also read something today."

Julian raised a brow. "What did you read?"

Karl pointed at his empty plate. "That dinner is best enjoyed with gifts. Wife, where’s my next gift?"

Everyone burst out laughing, and Ruby just leaned back with a smile on her face.

~~~

"Wife, when is that movie releasing—you know, the one you worked on... editing, mixing, or whatever it’s called?" Karl asked Suddenly, leaning forward with hopeful eyes, his plate licked clean.

Ruby blinked as she finished her water, then her lips parted slightly. "Oh! It’s releasing next week!" she said, a little surprised she forgot.

"Next week!?" Milo gasped, nearly dropping the spoon he was absentmindedly chewing on.

"Yeah... Sylvia told me she’ll give us tickets. I forgot to mention it," Ruby added with a small laugh, wiping her hands with a cloth napkin.

Karl instantly clutched his heart like he had been blessed by the cinema gods. "Are you serious!? Wife! You didn’t tell us this earlier! I need a new outfit! I can’t just walk into the theatre looking like a rotten Tamato!"

Julian chuckled as he started stacking empty bowls. "You already do."

"Hey! Betrayal!" Karl gasped dramatically, pointing at Julian like he was the villain of the story.

****

Next day, Ruby spent her entire afternoon sorting through her papers, double-checking Dreadmire shipment receipts, and finalizing fabric trial schedules with her staff. Her head throbbed slightly by evening, and her shoulders were sore from leaning over her desk too long.

By the time she reached home, the house smelled like something sweet and spiced, and voices filled the space with unusual excitement. She stepped inside, placed her bag on the side table, and kicked off her shoes with a sigh. Julian greeted her at the door with a towel in hand, gently patting the sweat from her forehead.

"Welcome home, wife. Guess what?" he said, smiling.

"What now?" Ruby asked, stretching her neck side to side.

Julian smiled softly. "There’s a village festival coming up."

Before she could respond, Milo peeked from the kitchen with a notepad. "It’s the Blessing Flame Ceremony, wife! Remember?"

Of course she remembered. Ruby paused for a second and leaned against the wall. Blessing Flame Ceremony—

It was an old village tradition held just before the monsoon arrived, where people lit large lanterns, made offerings, and prayed to their land spirits and ancestors. It wasn’t just a celebration—it was a hopeful plea for protection.

According to the original owner memory, they believed if the gods were pleased, the rain would be kinder that year.

"Right," Ruby muttered, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "It’s that time already."

After the long day, Ruby finally slipped away to take a much-needed shower. The warm water poured down her tired body, washing away the dust and tension clinging to her skin. She let her fingers run through her damp hair, eyes half-closed as she thought about everything—the fabrics, the staff, the incoming rains, and now... the village festival.

She dried off and changed into a soft, comfortable robe. It was lighter than her usual ones, a pale lavender shade with tiny embroidery near the collar. Something about the loose sleeves and soft fabric made her feel more at ease. As she walked to her room, she caught the distant sound of Karl’s voice from the kitchen—probably arguing with Milo over how much salt to add.

Ruby closed the door quietly behind her and sat on the edge of her bed.

Her mind wandered again—to the Blessing Flame Ceremony.

I should probably prepare something to wear... she thought as her body leaned back. Her head touched the pillow just for a second—

But she didn’t get back up.

The calmness, the warmth, and the quiet all pulled her down like a lullaby.

When she opened her eyes again, it wasn’t the stars or dreams that greeted her but Karl’s loud voice right next to her ear.

"WIFE!! Are you alive?? It’s dinner time already! I thought you DIED!"

Ruby jolted up, eyes blinking in confusion as Karl clutched his chest.

"You—you scared me!" she said, yawning and rubbing her eyes.

—To be continued...🪄