CHAPTER 410: CHAPTER 410 DO IT

Ruby drew in a long, heavy breath, her chest rising slowly as she steadied herself. The fire in her eyes dimmed, and when she lifted them back to Kaelan, they weren’t burning with anger anymore—they were dark, weary, carrying a heaviness that made the corridor feel smaller. Her lips trembled before curling into a sad smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

"I’m sorry, Kaelan," she whispered, her fists clenching at her sides. "I don’t have any right to shout at you like that." Her voice cracked softly, the anger now peeling back to reveal the truth beneath. "Actually... I was scared. Scared because of what happened out there. I can’t stand the thought of losing any of you."

Her gaze softened on him, breaking his armor in a way her shouting never could. "Thank you for helping my husbands," she added quietly, the words both sincere and raw. Kaelan shifted uncomfortably under her stare, his arrogance suddenly feeling like a brittle shield.

"I know I shouldn’t have pulled everything on you," Ruby continued, rubbing her jaw absently as if to ease the tension there. The sound of her steady breathing filled the silence, her words clinging to the corridor walls.

For the first time, Kaelan didn’t have a sharp reply ready. The weight of her apology, mixed with the quiet sadness in her eyes, pressed against him harder than her anger ever had.

"I–I... it’s okay," Kaelan said at last, his voice quieter than before. He avoided her eyes, his usual sharp tone softening in a way that almost surprised himself.

Ruby gave him a small smile, the kind that was still a little fragile but warm enough to ease the weight between them. "Let’s go back?" she asked gently.

Kaelan hesitated only for a heartbeat before nodding his head. "Yeah."

Without another word, the two of them turned and walked side by side down the empty corridor. Their footsteps echoed softly against the floor, the earlier fire between them cooling into an uneasy calm.

***

The next day, before the sun had even fully risen, Ruby gathered everyone and took them back home.

Once they reached, life slowly fell back into its familiar rhythm. Ruby threw herself into her work again, her mind always busy with projects and schedules. Milo, meanwhile, could hardly contain his excitement. For days he had been talking about his lessons at Master Elric Wrenford’s house, and now that he was finally going regularly, he came home glowing with energy. He’d chatter about the incredible art pieces Master Elric showed them, about the different student he was learning alongside, and about the ideas they exchanged. His eyes would sparkle each time, and Ruby would listen with quiet pride.

Ruby had taken the day off today, something rare for her, though she hadn’t let herself fully relax. She had asked Adrian if he wanted a break too, but he had shaken his head with a small smile. He liked the office now—it wasn’t just about work, it was about the people. He had made friends there, real friends, who spoke to him like he wasn’t just the quiet one in the corner. It helped him ease out of the shell he had worn for so long, and Ruby couldn’t take that away from him.

So the house was quieter than usual. No Karl running around, no Milo’s constant chatter, no Adrian coming in and out with his careful steps. Just Ruby and Julian.

After knowing it would only be the two of them at home, Julian had been feeling giddy in his stomach all morning, a mix of excitement and nervousness that made his heart beat just a little faster than usual.

**

Ruby had been working quietly in her room, her laptop glowing faintly in front of her. She was half lying on the bed in her loose home robe, tapping away with that focused look she always carried when she was buried in her projects.

Julian stood by the open doorway, his cheeks warm, his fingers twitching nervously at his sides. He told himself he only came to check on her, but the moment he saw her sprawled comfortably like that, her robe sliding casually at her shoulders, his chest tightened.

"Wife," he said softly, stepping in.

Ruby’s head lifted at once. "Jules," she said with a little smile, patting the space beside her without a second thought.

He sat down carefully, peeking at her laptop screen. Numbers, cuts, graphs, endless visuals—none of it made sense to him. But the way her hands glided so naturally over the keyboard, the way her focus shifted so smoothly from screen to notes, it mesmerized him. She made even work look beautiful.

Julian bit his lower lip, his heart hammering. Do it, Jules... or else you’ll never get a chance like this, he told himself, swallowing hard.

"Wife..." he muttered again, but this time his hand trembled as it slid gently across her back.

Ruby stiffened for a moment, her eyes widening in surprise. She turned her head slightly, and when she caught sight of his face—flushed deep red, his gaze darting nervously away—her lips parted. He wants it? she thought, her pulse skipping. Slowly, she closed her laptop and set it on the bedside table, the soft click sounding louder than it should.

Julian’s heart pounded so hard it almost hurt, the thrill of it making his chest feel light and heavy at once.

"Jules," Ruby said softly, turning toward him, but before she could say more, he reached up with both hands, cupping her cheek gently but desperately, and leaned in.

Ruby barely had time to react before his lips pressed against hers in a sudden, clumsy kiss—sweet, raw, and full of the nervous courage he had finally mustered.

Ruby froze at first, her eyes wide as Julian’s lips pressed against hers. His kiss wasn’t perfect or practiced—it was shaky, urgent, the kind of kiss that came from someone who had held it back for far too long. His thumb trembled against her cheek, his other hand clutching her jaw like he was afraid she might pull away at any second.

Her heart stuttered in her chest. The room felt suddenly smaller, the air thicker. She could feel the heat of him so close, his breath mixing with hers, the faint nervous hitch every time he moved his lips against hers.

To be continued... 🪄