When the Villains Unite - Chapter 2; Part 2

At dawn, the two masked men I had been waiting for finally broke into my room. They gagged me as I pretended to sleep. When I faked a panic struggle as if I had just woken up, they tied my wrists and ankles together. I struggled a bit more before turning limp, like someone who had given up the fight.

Sad thoughts, sad thoughts…

I opened my eyes as I thought about dying, not having a puppy, retaking the hell-like prep courses, and killing a few people close to me. Finally, the tears began to flow, soaking the cloth that covered my eyes.

“Ugh…”

I hadn’t washed for days, starved, and was shivering with tears pouring down my face. Poor little thing.

We entered the Duke’s residence and climbed the stairs. As we walked up, my face hardened. We entered the Duke’s office on the top floor.

Count Wright sat in the seat intended for Bellamy, showing his clear intent to become the next Duke.

The men sat me down on the leather couch and began to remove the ropes that bound me, one by one. Finally, they lifted the cloth that covered my eyes and I saw Count Wright.

Count Wright is the Duke’s chamberlain and servant. He is middle-aged, with pale, dusky blue hair that was neatly swept back. The blood of the first Duke runs so deep that even the most villainous roles aren’t ugly.

In public, he would lie and say that the Orca brothers were sent to the farthest part of the duchy to be educated at the Carmel Estate following the ducal couple’s death. Then, he took over the Duke’s duties from the young masters. He kept us locked up for the past week to prevent any contact between the Orca masters and the Imperial Family. That must be why he only called for me now.

“Uncle?”

The corners of his eyes furrowed at my words. His eyes narrowed as if he doesn’t like the idea of a low-born like me referring to him as family. However, Count Wright masks it with a benevolent expression. 

What a snake-like man. The look in his eyes made me nervous and my mouth went dry.

“Yes, Rose. This is our second meeting, isn’t it?”

I faked a sigh of relief and wiped the tears from my eyes.

“I thought someone was going to… kill me.”

“Oh, no one would harm you. You’re safest with me.”

You are the most dangerous person in the world right now, Count Wright. You are the one who holds mine and the Orca brothers’ lives in your hands.

Count Wright’s direct oversight of us means that he is currently the highest-ranking member of the family. Since he can’t directly pressure the heirs for the dukedom, he’s going to use a mole to do it.

He has set me up as a spy, so I have to answer him. If I’m wrong or lie, he might not give us food. I can’t ignore the possibility of being threatened by the Count since I don’t have Orca blood.

“A lot has happened, how is everything now?”

“Well, it’s…”

“Tell me about it.”

“For a week… I haven’t eaten anything resembling food…”

“That…”

In fact, I caught a glimpse of his amused expression earlier as I covered my face with my hands to wipe the tears from my eyes. I’m sure he wants to see us helpless, unaware that someone has stolen their seat.

He clicked his tongue a few times, then cut to the chase.

“Are Bellamy and Damian bothering you?”

Count Wright had finally asked about the Orca brothers. Now, it was the time to say what I had been preparing to say.

I involuntarily flinched, feeling nervous. The Count, thinking I was scared, lightly patted me on the shoulder.

Despite his intention to show comfort, his touch gave me goosebumps that made me stiffen more. It felt like something that should never touch me.

“Belle and Dami… they’re still grieving the loss of their mother and father.”

“…”

“But… Damian’s…”

“Keep saying what you need to.”

I pursed my lips, as if unsure about speaking. The Count pressed me on, wanting to know the rest of the story.

Meeting the Count’s gaze, I continued, “He’s been hitting me harder than usual… I can’t sleep well at night because of the pain… And Brother Belle is not willing to share his food with me, so… so…”

I clamped my mouth shut as if I couldn’t say more. I pricked my conscience at the fact I had already turned them into villains, even when they hadn’t done anything to me.

“How dare you, a bitch, insult Orca?”

“… What?” I asked in disbelief.

What’s with this sudden change in attitude?

Even though he showed offense, the Count was cupping his chin with his hand, looking very amused. He seemed to have completely unmasked himself as if everything he had said was a lie.

But this was a bit unfair. He had clearly told me to speak with ease, and when I did, he wanted me to bite my tongue.

The Count raised one corner of his mouth, smirking.

“But you, a supposed Orca, are not better than the rags on the streets. So, why should we become rags together?”

“…”

He gestured towards the door. At his signal, the servant knocked several times. After a moment, as if waiting, the door opened and another servant pushed a cart with a considerable number of plates.

The food smelled similar to what the Duke and Duchess usually ate when they were alive. I didn’t like the idea of acting how I did before the Duke passed because it was too soon. But, I must act like the child who knows nothing right now.

As the servants set the tables with all sorts of food, I gulped at the aromas. I hadn’t properly eaten in a while.

“Do you want to eat?”

I nodded, eyeing the delicious-looking turkey. I wouldn’t see any more meat while I was in the annex.

Man, it looks so tempting. Damian used to love turkey…

The sudden thought reminded me of Damian who had cried and inhaled the stir-fried tofu pasta at dinner last night. It helped increase my appetite.

“From now on, if you do your uncle a favor, I’ll buy you everything you want, even if it’s every day.”

“What’s the favor?”

“I want you to watch Bellamy and Damian and tell me what they’re doing.”

A greedy expression appeared on my face.

“Can I really… have everything?”

He seemed perplexed as he looked at me as if he wasn’t expecting such an expression from a child. All those hours of practicing in the mirror have paid off.

“Sure, anything.”

I grinned from ear to ear and grabbed my fork.

“Next time, please bring me macarons.”

With that, I began to inhale the food in front of me.

After I finished eating, I had a short conversation with the Count. Once we were done, his servants blindfolded me again and carried me to the annex, just like they did earlier.

I ate too much earlier.

I had to imitate a greedy, stupid girl, so I vacuumed the food in front of me into my mouth. I hadn’t eaten a lot in a week and I was uncomfortable in front of the Count, so I felt like shoving everything in my mouth.

Peeking out from under my blindfold, I saw the back door of the annex. They must have walked this way earlier.

Bellamy, the strongest of the three, had tried every trick in the book to open the door. He hadn’t opened it, so he used some sort of magical device, similar to the one I used to prevent the count from accessing the locked rooms.

The men dropped me off and hurried out of the annex. I heard a ‘clicking’ sound outside for a moment, then it was silent.

Whooshh.

The tension was released and I felt nauseous. I ran to the first-floor bathroom, on the verge of throwing up.

“Ugh…”

Tears trickled down my cheeks as I puked out stomach acid. I threw up everything I had eaten in front of the Count, and although my stomach was relieved, my throat was burning. I couldn’t believe I had to continue this for nine years.

Now, I will meet with the Count every Monday. I felt uncomfortable that I was seeing him more often than I expected. Did he see Rose this often in the original?

By the way, the Orca brothers must be sleeping since it’s so quiet. I can’t believe my brothers are sleeping like this after all the trouble their sister just went through…

As I cleaned up the bathroom and stumbled out the door, I bumped into something. I fell backward and landed on my ass.

What was that? I didn’t trip over anything…

The situation felt eerily familiar.

“Bellamy… Damian?”

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