RTBW CH 02

-Chapter 2-

“Haa…”

“Arwooo!”

I sighed and took a step closer to the kid who was growling and barking at me in a mix of sounds, trying to scare me off.

Her hair—so matted and dirty that I couldn’t even tell if it was supposed to be silver or gray—hung in clumps, but her eyes were unmistakably blue.

The same piercing blue eyes described in the novel.

There was no doubt about it. This kid was the villain—the future mastermind or “evil girl” of the story.

“Damn it,” I muttered, clutching my throbbing head.

Then I snapped, half-annoyed, half-confused.

“Just pick one. Are you a dog or a wolf?”

…That sounded weird even to me.

“But you look human, though.”

As I stepped closer, the feeling of danger that had prickled earlier faded away completely.

The one trembling with fear wasn’t me—it was the beast-like child in front of me.

Like a hedgehog raising its quills when frightened, her fear and tension came through so raw and sharp that I could almost feel it myself.

Sure, her claws—or, well, fingernails—looked a bit threatening, but there was no intent to attack in her eyes.

‘She’s scared,’ I realized.

Just like an abandoned animal that’s lost its parents.

My chest felt tight for no reason.

All I’d wanted was to check if this world really was the one from the novel, but now I was getting all emotional.

‘Funny. I used to hate villains and masterminds so much.’

I’d cursed them out countless times for making the heroine suffer, for ruining the male lead’s life.

But seeing one now—so young, so pitiful, not even human-looking—I couldn’t find it in me to feel disgust or hatred. Only a strange, bitter kind of pity.

“…Wait. Don’t tell me—you’re alone?”

A sudden thought hit me, and I asked carefully.

If this kid wasn’t a twin, then maybe—just maybe—this wasn’t that story after all!

But she didn’t answer. She just crawled on all fours and curled herself into a small, tight ball.

“You’re not gonna answer? If you tell me, I’ll leave right away.”

“Grrr…”

“Hmm… how can I get you to talk?”

Maybe she didn’t understand me. Or maybe she just didn’t want to respond.

Well, if I were her, I wouldn’t either. I was basically an intruder in their territory—an outsider, a stranger.

Still, getting someone to drop their guard isn’t that hard. Especially if they’re a hungry kid.

“What if I give you this?”

I pulled a chocolate bar from my pocket with a rustling sound.

Yeah. I’d actually stolen it from the storage earlier this morning—just in case.

A rare treasure. Something you could only get if you stole it first.

I held it out toward the beast-like child, though my hand trembled with regret.

‘My precious chocolate bar…’

My fingers twitched.

‘Wait, they probably don’t even know what chocolate is, right? It’d be a waste—maybe I should give them something el—’

Before I could finish the thought, the chocolate bar seemed to decide its fate on its own and tumbled out of my hand.

“Oh no, no, no!”

Panicked, I reached for it, but my flailing only made it bounce even farther—right toward the kid.

“…”

“…”

The air turned tense.

“Uh, you’re not gonna eat that anyway, right? So…”

“Grrrr…”

Ignoring my hopeful words, the kid snatched the chocolate bar in one swift motion.

“Ah…”

Not only that—she tore the wrapper open effortlessly with those long claws of hers.

And when the long bar slipped from her fingers, she did exactly what a puppy would do—grabbed it in her mouth.

But that was as far as she went. She didn’t eat it. Instead, she looked at me uncertainly.

“Don’t worry,” I said softly. “It’s tasty.”

“…”

“You don’t believe me?”

Like a cautious little animal, she set the bar back down on the wrapper, bit it in half with her teeth, and stared straight at me.

“…You want me to eat it?”

She nodded.

“Wait, seriously? You want me to eat what you just had in your mouth?”

I groaned. “This is so unfair.”

Not only had she stolen my precious chocolate, now she wanted me to taste-test it for her? Like I was some royal poison tester?

But what could I do?

I picked up the smaller piece she’d bitten off and popped it into my mouth.

It was a tiny amount, but the deep, rich flavor of cocoa filled my mouth immediately.

A pleasant tingle ran down my spine. Ever since I became Aisha, I hadn’t had anything sweet, so even this little bit was overwhelming.

Still, I forced a cough and looked away, pretending to be calm.

“It’s really good!” I said, exaggerating a little.

But the child didn’t react to my enthusiasm.

Instead, she tilted her head and watched me carefully—like a predator making sure its prey was dead before eating.

Once she confirmed I was still alive, she turned around and disappeared behind a pile of boxes.

“Hey, where are you going?” I called after her.

I’d eaten her slobber-covered chocolate for nothing!

Feeling cheated, I followed and peeked behind the stack—only to see another kid.

Another child, smaller, hiding under a dirty blanket.

“Oh… you’re really two of you.”

The hidden one flinched and ducked back down as soon as our eyes met.

“So you are twins.”

“…”

“And judging by how quiet you both are… you probably can’t talk, huh?”

Questions crowded my head. Especially the big one: were they really the lost twins of the Grand Duke, just like in the novel?

But no matter what I asked, the kids didn’t respond—or even seem to understand me.

“Um, listen,” I tried again. “I’m not dangerous, okay?”

They gave no reaction.

“Woof? Bark bark? I… can help you, woof-woof?”

No response, of course.

Instead, the one who had taken the chocolate—probably the older one—moved in front of the smaller one, blocking me.

Protective.

So I stayed back and just watched them quietly.

It was hard to tell their faces apart under all that hair, but their actions gave them away.

‘If this is the novel world,’ I thought, ‘then the one in front must be Rohen, and the one hiding behind him… Lariz.’

That’s how it always was in the story.

Rohen always protected Lariz.

Even though, ironically, Lariz was actually the stronger of the two—physically tougher and braver than her brother.

But Rohen always pitied her, saw her as fragile.

That’s why, when the Grand Duke finally appeared, Rohen went with him first.

He wanted to make sure Lariz would be safe before leaving her behind.

Thinking about that scene, I knew without a doubt who these kids were.

“…Yeah,” I murmured. “No matter how I look at it, it’s really you two.”

They still didn’t say anything.

I sighed and plopped down on the dusty floor.

Now that I was sure this world was the one from the novel, there was only one thing I could do.

“Hey, listen, kids.”

Talking to them felt like talking to myself, but I kept going.

“I have a dream, you know? I’m gonna become the head of this orphanage someday.”

“Why?” I grinned. “Because the best way to crush an evil headmaster… is to become the headmaster.”

That was the plan. I’d save them—and survive.

Sure, the orphanage was awful, but leaving now would only get me killed.

Besides, I’d known for a long time what kind of person the director really was.

That’s why I’d behaved so perfectly.

To grow up properly—so the adults would all like me.

Even the director thought I was a model child.

All for one purpose: to someday overthrow her and survive.

“So,” I continued, clenching my fists, “if I want to live, I need to raise you two properly.”

My plan was simple—when the Grand Duke eventually came looking for his lost twins, I’d make sure this orphanage stayed intact long enough for me to take it over.

Once I’d taken all the director’s property as my own, then I’d let the place burn for all I cared.

I stood up, brushing off the dust.

“So wait here, okay? I’ll bring you something to eat.”

“…”

Still no answer. But the sharp wariness from earlier had faded a little.

See? Sharing even a little food really does make people closer.

Even if that “sharing” meant losing most of my precious chocolate.

My heart still ached, but I told myself it was a small sacrifice for a big cause.

“Alright then, I’ll be back soon,” I said, straightening my clothes. “Just wait here for me.”