RTBW CH 05

-Chapter 5-

“Oh yeah, I saw it too!”

All the kids started shouting at once.

“That was only because that jerk wouldn’t stop talking nonsense!” I snapped.

He’d been running around bragging that his mom would come get him soon, that he was different from the rest of us orphans—so I’d given him a tiny little reality check. That’s all.

“But last time, you kicked Akan’s leg too!”

“That’s because he—ugh, whatever! Anyway, as long as you behave, I’ll never hit you.”

“Got it! We’ll be good!”

“Aisha’s our leader, after all!”

Their faces lit up with pure smiles, and I couldn’t help but nod proudly.

“That’s right. I’m your leader. And what we’re doing right now—” I paused for dramatic effect. “—is a mission.”

“A mission!”

“Cool!”

“So, here’s what you do: act completely normal, just like always!”

“We don’t get to do anything cool? I wanna do something cool!”

“This is cool! You’re doing something only you can do!”

The kids exchanged serious looks and nodded like brave little soldiers accepting a top-secret job.

Once they went back to their posts, I slung the heavy bundle over my shoulder and headed toward the storage shed. Along the way, I also “borrowed” a few more things from the teachers’ supplies.

‘Wait for me, beasts—no, twins! I’m on my way!’

The bundle was heavy, but I couldn’t stop smiling. I felt like Santa Claus, trudging along with a sack full of gifts.

When I reached the shed, I hesitated for a second before peeking through the small hole in the wall.

“If you’re in there, take this!”

Like a merchant unloading goods, I started pushing the bundle through the gap.

“…”

“Hey, are you listening?”

Of course, there was no reply.

It was already my third visit—by now, I thought they’d at least stop glaring at me like I was about to attack them. But no.

In the end, I had to crawl through myself, using both hands and feet to shove the bag inside.

Honestly, I couldn’t blame them. After everything they’d probably gone through, it was no wonder they didn’t trust anyone.

‘The novel said the director came here regularly to torment them,’ I recalled.

So I didn’t expect them to like me.

This wasn’t about friendship—it was a one-sided effort. I knew that. And I knew my kind intentions might make them uncomfortable, too.

‘Still… I can’t just leave them like this.’

I was just a powerless orphan myself, but there was still one thing I could do.

I could make sure they didn’t have to live like animals.

So, hiding my disappointment, I plopped the bundle down in front of them.

“Here. It’s all for you. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing.”

The twins exchanged glances and inched closer cautiously.

If my memory was right, they were about seven years old now. Despite their malnourished upbringing, they still looked their age—thanks to the blood of the Grand Duke that ran in their veins.

They’d probably keep growing fast, too, so I’d even brought a few pairs of shoes in different sizes.

“Hmm… which ones will fit?”

The shoes were secondhand—hand-me-downs from other kids—but they were still better than going barefoot.

“Before that,” I said, “let’s deal with those claws of yours.”

“Grrr?”

“Even cats and dogs trim their claws. Yours are so long you’ll scratch your faces in your sleep.”

I pulled out a small nail clipper from the bundle. The younger twin, Lariz, tilted her head and then nodded in agreement.

“Aw, you’re cute,” I chuckled. She looked just like a shy little puppy.

“Looks like you’ve already scratched your face a few times,” I said, noticing faint red marks.

She blushed and quickly pointed at her brother.

“Oh, so he’s the one who scratched you?”

“…”

“Then let’s start with him. We’ll trim his nails first—and later, I’ll cut your hair. Your bangs are so long they’re covering your eyes. We’ll have to leave the clothes for now, but at least you’ll look tidier.”

I approached the older twin, Rohen, nail clipper in hand.

“Come here.”

“Grrr!”

“Relax. I’ve trimmed the neighborhood cats before, you know.”

But he didn’t move an inch. Instead, Lariz hugged the bundle and hesitantly held out her own hand toward me.

“You want to go first?”

She nodded, still keeping a safe distance.

Rohen looked uneasy and tried to step between us, but I was faster. In a few quick motions, I clipped her long nails and trimmed her toes, too.

She squeezed her eyes shut at first, but when it was done, she blinked at her short nails in amazement.

“Ah…!”

“See? Isn’t that better?”

“Mm-hm!”

She admired her hands for a long time, and Rohen, after glancing between us, cleared his throat and quietly held out his hand.

“You want me to trim yours too?”

No reply, just a small nod.

I grinned and got to work. When I finished, Lariz hopped around the room like an excited rabbit.

“You like it?”

“…”

Rohen didn’t say anything, but he kept staring at his neatly trimmed nails, clearly pleased.

“Should I cut your hair too?” I offered.

To my surprise, Lariz immediately sat down in front of me. The change was almost adorable—after all that wariness, she finally trusted me a little.

I gently snipped her messy bangs, speaking softly as I worked.

“Hey, tell me something… does the director come here often?”

“…”

“She doesn’t?”

No answer—no head shake, no nod. Just frozen silence.

That told me everything.
She did come. Regularly.

I sighed. “Well… at least she’s been in a good mood lately. When she’s mad, that’s when she starts hitting people. So she probably won’t come here for a while.”

When the director was upset, she’d beat the kids—because to her, we were nothing but money-makers.

“But someday,” I muttered, “I’m going to get back at her. No matter what. Especially if she’s planning to hurt the kids again.”

The scissors in my hand trembled. I could feel anger boiling inside me.

“Anyway,” I said more calmly, “I’ll make sure she doesn’t find you for now. I’ll handle it.”

I’d just finished trimming Lariz’s bangs when she suddenly flinched.

“Really? She won’t come anymore?”

I froze.

That voice—
It was her.

“…Wait. Did—you just talk?”

“…”

She clammed up again, but it was too late. My eyes went wide.

“You—you can talk?!”

I’d been sure they couldn’t! I thought they were feral—like wild animals who’d forgotten how to speak!

Lariz scratched her head shyly.

“I can… not well.”

“But you can! You actually can!” I said, completely stunned.

Her newly trimmed bangs framed her bright smile.

“Yep! Talk!”

“Haa… so you could’ve spoken this whole time?”

“Dummy,” said another voice flatly. “Did you really think we couldn’t talk?”

Rohen walked up confidently and sat down right in front of me, arms crossed like a little prince.

The nerve!

“You two never said anything!” I argued.

“Well, you never asked,” he shot back.

“Didn’t I—wait, did I not?!”

I blinked rapidly, trying to think back. My brain was spinning too fast for logic.

“And why are you so good at talking, huh?” I finally said.

“Lariz used to be good too,” he answered. “But she drank poison when we were little. That’s why she can’t speak well now.”

Even as he spoke, his lips trembled. It must’ve happened to him too—but he was forcing himself to talk.

“She’s better now,” he added quietly. “Anyway, stop staring and cut my hair too.”

“O-okay…”

Still reeling, I moved automatically, trimming his bangs just like his sister’s.

“So,” I asked when I was done, “why did you pretend you couldn’t talk?”

“Didn’t need to,” he replied simply. “Done?”

His tone was so casual it made me laugh.

“Y-yeah, all done. I just… can’t believe you can talk.”

“Is it really that surprising?”

“Well… yeah, kinda.”

I guess it shouldn’t have shocked me. They were of the Grand Duke’s blood—descendants of wolves.

They were known to have strong resistance to poison, almost unnatural endurance, and a sharp intelligence that let them learn faster than most adults.

‘Still,’ I thought, staring at them, ‘who would’ve guessed two uneducated, abused children could speak so clearly?’

“Oh!” I said suddenly. “Then… do you also remember your names?”