My five ghostly husbands-Chapter 206 Happiness

Karl, standing beside him, was just as overwhelmed.

At first, he had just wanted to enjoy himself, show off a little, and bask in the attention.

But now?

Tonight had turned into something far more special.

More than just fun, more than just business—tonight, he had found something else.

A goal.

A dream.

A happiness he never expected to feel.

Karl exhaled slowly, watching the flickering lantern in his hands, and for once, he didn’t have any dramatic words to say.

Because for the first time in his life, he didn’t need to say anything.

And Adrian?

He didn’t even know how to put his feelings into words.

For so long, his life had been a battle.

A battle against hunger. Against survival. Against fate.

He had lived with envy, bitterness, and exhaustion, watching others enjoy things he never thought he would have.

And yet... here he was.

Standing with people he cared about.

Holding something as fragile as a lantern, yet feeling something as strong as hope.

He had spent his whole life worrying about tomorrow.

But tonight, for the first time...

He just wanted to live in this moment.

The five of them stood side by side, the cool night air brushing against their skin as they held onto their glowing lanterns. The soft silver light of the Diamond Moon reflected in their eyes, making everything feel dreamlike.

For a moment, time seemed to pause.

The sound of the festival in the distance became nothing more than a faint hum, and all that existed was this moment..just them, the river, and the sky.

"Alright, let’s let them go together," Ruby said softly, her voice filled with warmth.

She looked at each of them—at Julian, whose gentle smile held emotions too deep to put into words. At Milo, whose eyes shining with excitement, his cheeks slightly flushed. At Karl, who, for once, wasn’t making a dramatic scene but simply staring at his lantern like it held something precious. At Adrian, who stood quietly, his grip steady but his heart uncertain.

And finally, she looked up at the sky..so vast, so endless, so full of possibilities.

"One... Two... Three!"

They all lifted their lanterns at the same time, releasing them into the night.

For a split second, the lanterns hovered in the air, as if reluctant to leave their hands.

Then, slowly, they began to rise.

Higher.

And higher.

The soft golden glow of the lanterns blended into the moonlight, flickering gently as they floated above the river, joining the hundreds already drifting into the sky.

The reflection on the water shimmered, as if the stars had come down to meet the earth.

Milo clasped his hands together, his eyes wide with wonder. "They’re so pretty..." he whispered, watching them disappear into the vast night.

Julian let out a slow breath, a look of quiet contentment on his face. "I never thought I’d get to do this," he murmured.

Ruby turned toward him, her red eyes softening. "Then let’s do it again every year."

Julian glanced at her, and for a brief moment, the silver moonlight made her look almost unreal...ethereal, like something out of a dream.

His chest tightened slightly, but he said nothing, simply nodding.

Karl, on the other hand, smirked as he stretched his arms lazily. "Well, I think my lantern was the prettiest one."

Milo huffed. "They all looked the same, Brother Karl!"

Karl raised an eyebrow. "Nonsense. Mine was clearly the most elegant."

Adrian, standing slightly apart, watched the last of the lanterns disappear into the heavens.

He didn’t say much, but in his heart, he made a quiet wish.

A wish that this moment–this feeling—would last.

Ruby smiled as she turned her gaze back to the sky.

The Diamond Moon shone above them, steady and bright, as if blessing them, guiding them toward a future they never dared to hope for before.

And for the first time in a long time...

None of them felt alone.

The night was calm as Ruby locked up her shop, making sure everything was secure.

She carefully clutched her new bag, where all the hard-earned money of the day was safely stored. It was the first time she had made so much in a single day, and she wasn’t going to take any risks.

With her husbands by her side, she led them home safely.

On the way back, they stopped by a small restaurant, the warm glow of lanterns welcoming them inside.

The place wasn’t grand, but the smell of freshly cooked food filled the air, and after a long day, a hot meal was the best reward.

They ate together, chatting softly between bites.

Milo, still excited from the festival, talked about his favorite parts, while Karl kept bragging about how many people had admired him today.

Julian and Adrian were quieter, simply enjoying the moment, letting the warmth of food and company settle the exhaustion from the day.

Ruby, though tired, felt a quiet happiness settle in her chest.

It was a simple moment, but it felt special.

By the time they reached home, the weight of exhaustion fully settled in.

Ruby sighed, stretching her aching muscles.

Her entire body felt heavy, but it was the good kind of tiredness—the kind that came from hard work, from achieving something meaningful.

She wanted to count the money.

She really did.

But right now?

Her body was begging for rest.

Still, before anything, she headed to the bath.

The luke warm water instantly melted away the tension in her muscles. As she sank into the bath, she let out a slow breath, closing her eyes for a moment, feeling the exhaustion ease just a little.

Meanwhile, Julian yawned as he entered his room.

With practiced ease, he adjusted the bedsheets, took out his old robe, and then grabbed another one for Karl as well.

When Karl stepped into the room, he saw the neatly folded robe waiting for him.

"Thanks, Julian," Karl said, giving him a lazy smile as he stretched.

Julian just nodded, too tired to say much.

After Ruby finished, Julian and Karl took their turn, followed by Adrian and Milo.

—To be continued...🪄

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