-Chapter 12-
“Ah.”
Lariz’s voice softened. “We couldn’t find a real doll… so Oppa told me to think of the blanket as one. That’s why I kept hugging it. Unni’s gift is really nice too, but… Oppa worked really hard to make mine. Hehe. At first, he even tied it up with string to look kind of like a doll!”
She looked torn—wanting to keep both gifts—and her small face looked sad.
I clapped my hands together suddenly. “Then let’s do this! We’ll make your doll some clothes using that blanket. That way, you’ll have both.”
Her eyes widened, then sparkled like the stars.
“Wow! Unni, you’re a genius! I’ve never met a genius before!”
Lariz threw herself into my arms, laughing joyfully.
“My Unni is a genius!”
“Genius, huh…” I mumbled, scratching my cheek in embarrassment.
Right then, the bathroom door burst open—and out stepped Rohen, holding a towel tightly around his waist like it was armor.
“What do you think? I’m done washing. I’m clean now.”
He stood there proudly, like a kid who wanted praise.
“Rohen, that’s amazing!” I said, clapping my hands.
“Hmph. This is nothing,” he said, pretending to be casual but clearly pleased. His shoulders twitched slightly, betraying his pride.
“So, what now?”
“Now you put on your clothes so we can go eat. It’s almost dinner time.”
“If you wish, then I’ll allow it,” he said, looking down at me with the air of a little prince.
I just smiled and held out their clothes.
“Tada! Clothes prepared just for you two!”
“They’re the same,” he said flatly.
“Yeah, Oppa, they’re the same,” Lariz echoed.
“…Why?”
“Why do people think twins like matching clothes?” he grumbled.
The two of them stood side by side, identical faces frozen in the same unimpressed frown.
For a second, I blinked—then laughed.
“Still, let’s wear them! Unni picked them out for you,” Lariz said brightly.
“…Fine. I’m only wearing it because you want me to,” Rohen muttered.
“Okay!”
“Let’s just do it.”
“Let’s!”
Without further complaint, they got dressed. The matching short overalls looked adorable on them.
“They’re even cuter than I imagined,” I said with a satisfied sigh.
Ah, so that’s why mothers love dressing twins the same way. If I had a camera, I’d have taken a hundred pictures right there.
“Hehe. But Unni’s even cuter,” Lariz said.
“Really?”
“…Not cute at all,” Rohen quickly added, trying to hide his smile. “Anyway, I’m hungry. Where’s the food?”
“We have to go downstairs.”
“…I don’t want to meet people,” he said quietly.
“Me neither,” Lariz murmured, eyes dropping. “When we used to sneak out of the orphanage through the dog hole, people at the market… they’d hit us.”
My heart clenched. So that’s why they were so afraid of others.
“Wait…” I blinked. “You mean—you weren’t locked up the whole time?”
“No. We used to go out through the little hole in the wall,” Rohen said.
“No wonder you talk so well,” I muttered.
“But Unni,” Lariz said quickly, “no one ever treated us kindly. You’re the first one who did! Right, Oppa?”
“…Yeah. Whatever. Anyway, I don’t wanna go down there. Bring the food here.”
This brat… using me already.
But still, dragging the twins down to the dining hall when they clearly didn’t want to go would only make things worse.
So I sighed and headed down by myself.
Normally, you weren’t supposed to take food to the rooms—but maybe because of the saint’s visit, the teachers allowed it. They even gave me extra trays.
Of course, the orphanage bullies couldn’t resist trying to start something.
“Hey, you think you’re special now or what?” one sneered.
I looked him straight in the eye and smirked. Then I kicked him square in the shin.
“Don’t mess with me,” I said sweetly. “Touch me or my kids, and you’ll regret it.”
They froze.
“Wh-what are you gonna do?”
I tilted my head and let my eyes drop to the most sensitive part of their bodies.
“Oh, I can think of lots of ways,” I said with a bright smile.
They paled immediately.
“Y-yeah, she’s crazy. Let’s just go,” one hissed, dragging the others away.
Satisfied, I picked up the trays and headed back upstairs.
When I set them down, Rohen frowned.
“That’s it?”
“Hey, it’s not bad! The saint visited today, so there’s meat. And milk!”
“But… Unni,” Lariz said softly. “Why are there two trays?”
“Oh, well, I have two hands! And if I grab two, they give me more food,” I said cheerfully.
Her little head tilted to the side. “Then what about you?”
“Me? I don’t need any. You two eat.”
“You’re… giving it to us?”
“Don’t think too much about it. Just eat,” I said, smiling. “You too, Rohen.”
He didn’t move. He just stared at me silently.
“What? Am I too cool or something?” I joked.
“…You’re weird,” he said. “Why are you so nice to us?”
His tone was flat, but his eyes—clear and blue like the sea—were serious.
I met his gaze. “Because you’re pitiful.”
“…What?”
“You’re just too pitiful.”
You weren’t born to suffer like this. You didn’t choose to be abused. You didn’t choose to become villains later. You were just… kids.
At first, I only helped them to survive. But the more time I spent with them, the more my heart ached.
“Pitiful, huh…” Rohen murmured, lowering his eyes.
“So if you hate my help,” I said gently, “then just try to live like normal kids. That’s all I want.”
Because one day, your real family will come for you.
“Now, eat up, twins.”
“Unni, you’re sure you’re not eating?”
“I’m sure! I’m giving it all to you.”
Grow big and healthy, you two.
Finally, they started eating, and I sat back, quietly watching them
***
The days after that were peaceful—almost ordinary.
To erase the twins’ bad memories, I spent every day with them, playing, talking, laughing.
“Hey, do you two know what a sweet potato is?” I asked one afternoon.
“What’s that?”
“Never heard of it.”
“It’s super special! I found some before, so I planted them behind the orphanage.”
If I could, I’d have taken them apple-picking at the orchard, but it was too far to walk—almost half an hour away.
So instead, I went to my “secret treasure garden” and dug up the sweet potatoes myself.
Rohen wrinkled his nose at the weird, knobby shapes.
“This? What even is this?”
“You’ll see! When you roast them, they’re delicious. We’ll try it tonight. Or don’t—more for me.”
He didn’t look convinced. Poor kid didn’t know what he was missing.
Ah, the thought alone made my mouth water. Roasted sweet potatoes with kimchi on the side… Heaven.
I wiped my mouth before he noticed.
“…You drooled,” Rohen said flatly.
“I did not. You’re seeing things.”
“Sure. But aren’t you supposed to be careful right now?”
“What do you mean?”
“The director’s been looking for you all day.”
“Oh, right.”
Unfortunately, contrary to my hopes, the investigation against the director ended quickly.
Three days—that’s all it took for her to regain her position.
Apparently, she had powerful people backing her up. Even Saintess Melodia’s temple ended up embarrassed by the outcome.
One of the holy knights told me that himself. After that, the temple still sent knights to “monitor” the orphanage—but they didn’t care about us.
In short, the whole situation with the twins was swept quietly under the rug.
‘Which means the director’s the queen of this place again,’ I thought bitterly.
“Haa… guess I better go,” I sighed.
Rohen wasn’t wrong. I stood up, brushing dirt from my hands.
The basket was already full of sweet potatoes.
“Unni! Are we really going to roast those later?” Lariz asked excitedly.
“Of course!”
“…You’re unbelievable,” Rohen muttered, but he followed us anyway.
I held Lariz’s hand tightly, carrying the basket as we headed back toward the orphanage.
We talked happily about how we’d roast them—until our smiles froze.
Standing by the back door, waiting for us, was the director.
“I see. And where have you been, Aisha?” she asked in her sharp, cold voice.
“Ah, Director.” I forced a polite smile.
“You’ve finished your morning chores before wandering off, I assume?”
“Of course!” I said brightly.
Her expression darkened. She looked at me, then at the twins, like we were dirt beneath her shoes.
“Good,” she said curtly.
“Were you looking for me, Director?” I asked.
“Yes. From now on, those children will be put to work too. Those who don’t work don’t deserve to eat.”
“Yes, ma’am!” I answered cheerfully.
“…You’re quite the smooth talker,” she muttered, glaring.
She was still as nasty as ever—like she’d eaten nothing but sour lemons her whole life.
“Was that a compliment?” I said with a grin.
“No. So don’t expect a reward.”
“Oh no, that’s too bad. I really do love getting praise from you, Director!”
Her eye twitched. “…Aisha. You really should learn when to stop talking.”
“But I’m listening so well! Did I do something wrong?” I said, widening my eyes innocently.
Her lips tightened, clearly uncomfortable—but she couldn’t quite find the words to answer.
