"Oh; did you hear?"
"What is it?"
"I heard that the Koori family and their staff were brutally murdered!"
"What? No way! Didn't they have a daughter?"
"Yes; she's become the head of the family."
"But she's so young!"
"I know! She'll never manage!"
"Excuse me," The two gossiping young women looked to see a tall young man with black hair and glittering green eyes. "Both of you look very lovely; and you've caught my eye." That was a lie.
The two women giggled shrilly; like schoolgirls. "Oh, y-you're very kind, sir." They cooed softly.
"May I ask what you were chatting about?" He asked smoothly; taking the hand of one woman and lightly kissing it; doing the same to the other. He could practically see them melting beneath his touch. "O-Ohh, we were talking about the new head of the Koori family." The blonde-haired one revealed; batting her eyelashes as him.
"Were you?"
"Uh-huh," The red-haired one said; eager to catch his attention from her friend. "We were talking about the daughter of the previous Duke and Duchess Koori. What was her name again, Molly? Lucy, was it?"
"It began with 'L', I'm sure of that, Gwen. Lila, maybe?" Molly said thoughtfully. "By any chance, do you know, sir?"
"Oh, I don't believe so." He replied with a light smile. That was a lie.
"So, may we know your name?" Gwen asked; twirling a finger in her hair.
"My name is," He smiled. "Gilbert Bridge."
"Ohh; from the Bridge household? How cool!" Molly fawned.
"That's right. Would you two ladies like to come and play with me? I'd be very excited if you will." That was a lie.
He watched them exchange an excited squeal; as they clung to both of his arms. "Yes! Yes, yes, yes, let's go, Lord Bridge!"
He looked down at the two bodies that lay at his feet. Their throats were cut; and fresh blood still spurted out from the wound as he looked down at the knife in his hand. "Oh. Looks like I killed them," Gil murmured. His green gaze hardened. "They spoke badly about my Little Princess. They deserved this." He looked down at his watch. "Ah, I'll be late for tea with Little Princess at this rate!" Taking out a silk white handkerchief, he wiped the scarlet blood off the knife; sheathed the blade and strolled away from the bodies which lied in the ratty alley.
"Gilbert-niisan, you're late." Lucia murmured; as she sipped tea daintily from a black tea cup with gold printing. At the round, white-clothed table sat Lucia Koori; age 12 and his younger brother; Zane Bridge; age 13. 15 year old Gilbert sat down at the table; where Lucia's butler; Darius poured him some hot tea. "Sorry I'm late, Little Princess. I was finishing up some writing." That was a lie.
"Continue being late, and you'll have to make up for it." She murmured; munching on a small biscuit.
"Make up for it, huh? Like how?" Gilbert smiled; leaning towards her. With a sigh; she pushed him back a bit. "To make up for it, you'd have to clean my mansion." A small smile appeared on her lips, and Gil let out a laugh. Zane laughed too. "Hey Little Princess, please laugh more often."
"Hm? I laugh enough for my own good."
"Laughing is really good for you though! And…I love Little Princess' laugh." Gil smiled.
"Hey Aniki?" Zane said; coming in to Gilbert's study room.
"Yeah, what's wrong?"
"Uh…d-do you…like Lucia?"
"Of course I like Lucia. We've been childhood friends for a long time, right, little brother?"
"No, I mean; are you in love with Lucia?"
Gilbert blinked, and gave a soft smile. A heart-rending expression spread over his face. "Don't worry, little brother. I don't like Lucia that way." That…that was a lie.
"Gilbert, come here for a moment."
Gilbert lowered his book, as he looked over to where his parents were. Standing up, he walked over to them. "Yes?"
"We've found you a fiancée!" Sarah revealed with a smile.
"W-What?"
"Her name is Rosemary Dayl. Her parents are Earl Ian Dayl and Countess Crystal Dayl. Isn't that wonderful? They may not be a Duke and Duchess like we are, but they're still of noble blood. You'll meet her soon."
"Oh, thank you Mother and Father. I'm looking forward to meeting Lady Rosemary." Gil said with a smile; returning to where he sat and picked up his book. That was a lie.
A knock sounded on the doors. Gil saw Damien Raymond; Zane's private butler, go to answer the door. "Stand up now, Rosemary is here." Tristan Bridge said quietly. Gil nodded slightly and rose to his feet as a young woman with curly strawberry-blonde hair and dark green eyes stepped in to the house. She wore a silk pink dress that was trimmed with ribbons and lace. "That's a beautiful dress, Lady Rosemary." Gilbert said politely. That was a lie. It's pink and poofy. Little Princess would hate that dress.
"Thank you, Lord Gilbert."
"We'll leave you two to chat." Tristan said with a smile; exiting the room with his wife.
"So, um, will you tell me about yourself?" Gil asked with an awkward tone.
"Well, because my parents are an Earl and a Countess, I'll be marrying you to gain the title of 'Duchess'." Rosemary said; dropping her sweet essence and flopping on to the couch.
Gil narrowed his eyes. "Pardon?"
"I'll say it clearly; because it's obvious that you don't understand. I don't want to be known as Baroness Everhart; wife to Baron James Everhart. Such a low title. I want to be a Duchess. So I'll be marrying you. Once we're married, I'll have a title that fits me."
"You're just marrying in to my family so you can gain a title?" Gil hissed.
"That's right," Rosemary smirked. "My parents were thinking of engaging me to a Baron; James Everhart. But I changed their mind; I heard of the Bridge Family; who were close friends with the famous Koori Family. Too bad the Koori Family didn't have any sons for me to take; but whatever. I'll do fine marrying you. So make sure to act like you're in love with me, alright?"
Gil forced a smile. "Of course, darling Rosemary. I'll be sure to act in love with you." That was a lie.
Rosemary was found a few days later; murdered in the gazebo that was in her family's flower garden. Her throat had been slashed, and a bit of an uproar occurred; which eventually faded once word had spread that the one and only Ice Princess was given the case. Gilbert attended the funeral with his brother and parents.
"I'm sorry dear; that your fiancée died like this." Sarah said gently; squeezing Gil's shoulder comfortingly.
"It's alright Mother. I'm really sad though." That was a lie.
"You must be so heartbroken, son." Tristan said.
"Of course, Father." That was a lie.
"Aniki, will you try to find the murderer?"
"Little Princess will find the murderer for sure." That was a lie. Little Princess…she won't be able to find who it was. After all…
Gilbert glanced at the glossy black coffin that held the dead Rosemary Dayl. I was the one who killed her.
"Hey Little Princess." Gil greeted as he strolled in to the garden behind the Koori mansion.
"Hello, Gilbert-niisan. Have a seat."
Gil sat down across from her. He gazed at the white bandage that covered her right eye. He always wondered what was wrong with her right eye. Was it damaged? Was it missing?
"Hey, Gilbert-niisan?"
He blinked. "Yes, Little Princess?"
"It's you, isn't it?"
Gil felt his blood run cold. "What do you mean?"
He met her icy gray stare as she looked up from her cup or tea. "You're the one who killed Rosemary Dayl. Do tell me why, Gilbert-niisan."
Gil bit his lip. "W-Why do you think it was me?"
"Well that's easy. Shall I enlighten you? You just stuttered. You hardly looked sorrowful at her funeral. You're sweating an awful lot as well. And you have the aura of someone guilty." Lucia listed off calmly.
Gil opened his mouth to say something; but then thought otherwise. With a slight chuckle, he swept a hand through his black hair. "Ah, you've got me, Little Princess. You're so smart! You're right. I was the one who murdered Rosemary. It was because…I didn't love her. Not one bit. She was only marrying me so she could get the title of 'Duchess'. So, I killed her."
Lucia simply sighed. "Gilbert-niisan, I'll have to report this."
Gilbert smiled weakly. "I'll take what punishment is set upon me."
"Gilbert-niisan…"
"Don't worry, Little Princess. I'll be fine." That was a lie.
Lucia never told anyone that I was the one who murdered my fiancée. She instead brought in a well-known drug smuggler and murderer as the one who killed her. She stated that he may not have been the one who killed Rosemary; but he was the one who killed many others. My sweet, sweet Lucia…I had been completely in love with her all along.
"Gilbert-niisan, Duke and Duchess Bridge told me that you've been failing a subject in your studies. What's going on; you're never like this."
Gilbert sleepily opened his eyes to see Lucia standing beside his desk. "Eh…Little Princess, what're you doing here…?"
"I'm here, because you're going to tell me why you've been failing. Hurry up."
"Okay, okay. I'm just…tired, and I'm not understanding some stuff..."
"Fine," She plopped herself on the chair beside him. "I'm going to help you study. What're you having problems with?"
"Uh…this one."
She looked where he pointed. "Oh. That's easy. You just…"
"Gilbert-niisaaaaaan!" He heard the familiar cry of Lucia as he saw her wide gray eye and her pretty face that was framed by her pitch black hair. Oh…Lucia…my…Little Princess…
He felt himself plummet down from the balcony. Closing his green eyes, he exhaled a deep breath. I'm sorry for giving you so much trouble. My sweet Princess. But…maybe…the reason behind it all was for your attention. Maybe what I really wanted…was for you to save me. And you saved me so many times. I'm so glad that I could save you this time. I love you, Little Princess.
He opened his eyes to meet the gray gaze of Lucia as he hit the ground with a dull thump. Blood pooled out from his head. Hey, Lucia; my Little Princess. I'm dead.
A/N: Hello! Exams are OVER! In this chapter, it shows some of Gil's memories. Bold and italics; thoughts within the memories; just saying. xD I hoped you enjoy; coming up next; an Ice Princess omake. ~