The Fun Begins
The minute Apple White marched up to him and told him that she would never accept him as the villain of her story, Rotbart realized that tormenting Apple would be a thousand times better than tormenting Duchess.
For one thing, he didn't like her. He had never interacted with her before that moment, but he instantly found himself wondering how she could be so popular. Everything about her seemed annoying to him. Her utterly boring perfect-princess appearance. The stupid little crown headband perched at a perky angle. Her (currently shrill) sing-song voice. Her self-righteousness. Her pettiness. And all the entitlement that seemed to ooze out of every pore of her white-as-snow skin.
He was pretty sure that he wouldn't fall into the same trap he did before; there was no way he'd wind up falling for this girl!
She probably thinks her shit is ice cream, he thought, as he listened to her boldly declare how she wasn't going to get the likes of him ruin her story. He didn't say a word as she ranted, he just let her get all of her princess angst out her system.
As Apple lectured Rotbart about the importance of adhering to destiny, she struggled not to let on how terrified she really was. She wasn't happy about having any villain other than Raven in her story and Duchess had mockingly told Apple that Swan Lake sorcerers were the worst. According to her, the men in Rotbart's family were almost as powerful as the Wicked Queens and twice as thorough; they left no stone unturned, were always one step ahead, and would guarantee that every possibility for happiness would end in misery (of course Duchess completely failed to mention that this particular sorcerer had purposely switched stories to give her a better chance of finding a Happily-Ever-After. She felt there was no need for Apple to know that).
Apple could easily believe everything that Duchess said just from looking at Rotbart. He looked dangerous and utterly merciless as he gazed down at her from his great height. Like an owl contemplating whether or not it should eat a little mouse. He didn't respond or react to her pleas and demands at all; he just stood there with his arms crossed and an irritating smirk on his face.
As Apple tried to act brave and queenly in front of this scary-looking guy, all she could think was: He can't be in my story. He can't be in my story. He CAN'T be in my story!
Apple finished her tirade by saying: "So long as you're in my story, I will never, ever eat another apple again!" And then she flounced off.
It was a very stupid thing to say to Rotbart. He took it as a challenge.