Forgiving Crystal

Ruby bought the food and fruits she grabbed at the canteen before walking into the ward.

Nine was as always, aloofly standing guard beside Ten while his brother was asleep. However, when the sound of her footsteps rang, both of them were alarmed and turned their heads to the sound.

Once they found Ruby, they immediately relaxed.

"Here. Eat first before sleeping."

Nine accepted boxes of warm food and skillfully prepared it for Ten.

Ruby wasn't hungry so she leaned on the wall, watching them chewing slowly.

Then she swept her gaze to outside the window and kept staring at the clouds in a trance.

Ten who saw she was dozing off, grumbled. Then as if remembering something, his hand paused mid-air. He spoke rather perplexedly, "By the way, how do you recognize us?"

Ruby laughed making Ten's face blushed.

There was mirth in her eyes, "Isn't it a little too late for that?"

Ten retorted fiercely, "So what?!"

Ruby tried her best to hold the urge to pinch his bulging cheeks.

Ruby lied through her teeth without changing her expression: "I accidentally heard about your mother's pregnancy."

"Well, since I didn't like her, it's a given I would investigate every secret she had."

Ruby shrugged her shoulders, "Just in case, I could use it for something or blackmail her."

"Mmm, then I became aware of your existence. Unfortunately, by the time I went to your orphanage, you had already gone."

The plot didn't explain why they run away from the orphanage but it's easy for Ruby to tell.

The reason was either they were abused or they were going to be sold.

Ruby scrutinized the twins and her eyes instantly darkened.

She hadn't realized it before because she put too much attention on her own problems. Now that, her eyes were thoroughly opened, she could see how skinny Nine and Ten was.

In fact, they were too malnourished that there was practically no meat, leaving only bones. Their skin was pale white without much color and the texture seems rough and cracked.

Ruby suppressed her chaotic feeling and casually grinned.

"Say, what if someday your mother wanted to rob you guys from me?"

"What would you do?"

Ten and Nine were startled by the sudden question that somehow poke the sore spot deep inside their hearts.

Ten's feelings had long been unstable so after he got hurt from Ruby's inquiry, his attitude turned slightly reserved.

His mouth was clamped tightly. He lost his appetite as he thought that the food he swallow taste bland.

Nine gathered himself for a minute before speaking in a detached, cold manner, "We won't go anywhere without your consent."

"Little guy, I didn't expect you are good with flattery."

Nine cleverly dodge the arrow, sneering as he said, "She would never do that though. You can rest assured."

"No one knew what the future hold for us."

"That's.."

Much to his shock, Nine's tongue was tied and he couldn't reply.

Ten sullenly said, "If I say we won't then we won't!"

"Alright, alright."

Ruby chuckled. She simply wanted to tease them a bit, confirming the stance they would take as Crystal was still their biological mother.

Ruby was afraid the twins would easily forgive Crystal just like how it went in the plot.