Apple's Assumption

"AAAAAARRG!" Apple fumed as soon as Rotbart was out of sight. She felt incredibly stupid for believing that he would actually leave her story; she should have known that there was no way he'd make a wager like that unless he was sure he'd win. That bastard had just been toying with her.

Duchess was right. She bitterly thought. Swan Lake Sorcerers WERE the worst! And once again, she marveled at how her roommate could stand a jerk like him.

And that got Apple thinking. Why was it that Raven could tolerate Rotbart? What kind of influence did she hold over him? Why would he go out of his way to get her a birthday present and make Apple pay for spa treatment and a birthday dinner? And why did he offer to take her place as Apple's villain in the first place?

Apple White was not a normally curious girl, but she suddenly found herself itching to know what kind of present Rotbart had given Raven. Of course she couldn't open the package; that would be unprincessly! And Raven would surely notice. But there was a card that was tucked underneath the silver ribbons; Apple could easily slip it out, slip it back in, and Raven would never be any the wiser.

I'll just take a quick peek. Apple thought as she pulled out the card. That won't be so bad. And she quickly read it:

Dear Rae,

When I was poking about Dad's old place last summer I found a box of old stuff that belonged to Mom. I guess Dad could never bring himself to get rid of it (he was a lot more sentimental than he let on). Anyway, there were some beautiful things that I thought Mom would want you to have. Don't worry, none of it's cursed, I checked. They're just pretty, precious family things.

Have a Happy Birthday you Precious Doofus,

Love,

Rotty

Apple tentatively shook the box and she could hear a faint clunking and rattling. A faint clunking and rattling that sounded like jewelry to her. And she was definitely willing to bet on that!

Rotbart had given Raven jewelry?! Jewelry that had belonged to his mother?! That was a serious gesture of affection! Of course, it didn't occur to Apple that Rotbart and Raven's mother could be one and the same. And so Apple swiftly reached the following conclusion:

Rotbart must be in love with Raven. And given what she had seen of them, it was quite likely that Raven returned his feelings. THAT was why she could stand him. THAT was why he listened to her above all others. THAT was why he went all out for her birthday. And it MUST be why he so willingly switched destinies; he had done it for Raven. He had done it for love! Although it did seem weird that Rotbart would refer to his paramour as a "precious doofus." But Apple assumed that that was some strange form of villainous endearment.

Apple was stunned. She couldn't believe it. That nasty, sneaky, smug asshole was secretly a romantic! And the kind of romantic that most princesses would long for. When it came to Raven he was loyal, thoughtful, sentimental, and selfless. She never would have thought he was capable of all that.

And as a die-hard romantic herself, Apple had to admire that.

Maybe he isn't a complete asshole, after all. She admitted to herself.