When Rose saw Gilbert in front of her, her first reaction was to call him by name. But catching herself just in time — Dylan was sitting right next to her, and he wasn't supposed to know anything about her true identity, let alone her family ties to this strange guy — she quickly bit her tongue.
"Gil..." she cleared her throat, pretending she was just clearing it. "I mean... Payns? What are you doing here?"
Rose's younger brother had appeared before them so suddenly, as if he had sprung out of the ground. And, even stranger, his behavior was... completely uncharacteristic.
He ignored her question. Instead, he smirked, shoved his hands in his pockets, and gave them both a look full of feigned contempt.
"I can't believe the noble Arden Academy has been defiled by the presence of such a worthless creature!" His voice sounded theatrical, with false pathos that made Rose's ears itch. "You must have sat down here on purpose to spoil everyone's mood, right?"
Rose blinked.
She couldn't believe her ears.
Her brother — that same Gilbert who as a child was afraid to hurt even a fly, who blushed when someone raised their voice at him, who always hid behind her back — was now standing in front of her and talking like... like some cheap villain from a dime novel.
"Hey," Rose frowned, feeling irritation boil inside her. "What are you talking about?"
"Quiet, quiet," Gilbert smirked. "You're a noble, aren't you? So why are you hanging around with this... scum?"
"..."
"If I were you, I'd think about my reputation. Start messing with garbage, and before you know it, you'll become just like it."
Rose clenched her fists.
Her fists itched. They itched badly.
She didn't know what had happened to her brother. She didn't know why he had suddenly started acting as if he'd been replaced. But one thing she knew for sure — a little more, and she would forget that they were related.
Dylan, at whom all these insults were directed, sat silently. His face remained impassive, but Rose, sitting beside him, noticed how his grey eyes had darkened. A flicker of anger, which he carefully hid behind a mask of calm, barely glowed in their depths.
He didn't answer. Didn't defend himself. He just sat and silently endured the blows.
Rose understood why. Dylan was a commoner. If he got into a conflict with an aristocrat, no matter the situation, he would be the one at fault. The academy might have accepted him as a genius, but the rules here were still written for people like Gilbert — for those who had a title and a name behind them.
Since Dylan couldn't defend himself, Rose would do it for him.
"Gil... Payns," she stood up and stepped forward, shielding Dylan with her body. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
"Nonsense?" Gilbert tilted his head, and his smirk widened. "I'm just telling the truth. Trash belongs in the dump, not in the academy."
Rose looked him straight in the eyes.
Her brother's gaze flickered.
Just for a second. For one short, barely perceptible moment.
He always backed down when she looked at him like that.
But today... today he didn't look away.
"I demand," his voice suddenly became harsher, as if he were swallowing his own words, "that this trash get out of here immediately."
"What?"
"I came here to enjoy the view," Gilbert twitched his shoulder, as if shrugging off an invisible burden. "But instead, I'm forced to look at this worthless creature. I demand that both of you — or at least him — leave immediately. Otherwise..." he hesitated for a second, then immediately pulled himself together. "Otherwise, I'll make you do it myself."
Rose was stunned.
For the first time in her life, she heard her younger brother speak to her in that tone.
Gilbert, who cried when someone yelled at him as a child. Gilbert, who always hid behind her back at any sign of danger. Gilbert, who never, NEVER talked back to his older sister.
Now he was standing in front of her, playing the role of an arrogant aristocratic bully.
Had a demon possessed him?
Or had he simply... lost his mind?
Rose slowly approached him. Right up close. So close that she could see his pupils dilate.
"Gilbert," she whispered so that only he could hear. "Are you tired of living?"
Her brother flinched.
"I decided that our family would disown you," Rose continued in an icy whisper. "But since you're so eager to end up in the family crypt... I suppose I can accommodate you."
"..."
"Have you already picked out a spot? Next to Grandmother, perhaps? Or next to Father?"
Gilbert's face twitched.
For a second, it seemed like he was about to break, grab her hand, and start begging for forgiveness.
But no.
He clenched his teeth, swallowed his fear, and forced himself to say:
"Ha-ha... I don't even understand what you're talking about."
Rose narrowed her eyes.
"As I already said," her brother's voice trembled slightly, but he continued, "I demand that this bastard leave. I'm not going to tolerate this filth in front of my eyes."
Rose's patience snapped.
"I've had enough," she said coldly and grabbed her brother by the scruff of his neck. "We need to talk."
"What?!" Gilbert jerked, trying to break free. "How dare you grab me! Let go!"
"Shut up," Rose barked and dragged him away, not even glancing back at Dylan.
She hauled her brother until they reached a secluded corner of the park, hidden from prying eyes by thick lilac bushes. Only then did Rose finally stop and release her grip.
"Maybe you'd like to explain what that was?" she turned to him, her violet eyes flashing lightning.
Gilbert, who had just been playing the role of an arrogant aristocrat, instantly deflated. His shoulders slumped, his head drooped, and he looked like a naughty puppy who knew he was about to be scolded.
"Well?" Rose crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm waiting."
"Sister..." he began, but immediately stumbled.
"You have five seconds to explain yourself," Rose continued in an icy tone. "Or I'll cut out your tongue and feed it to the dogs."
"How... how can you be so cruel!!!"
"One... two... three..."
"Alright! Alright!" Gilbert waved his hands as if surrendering. "I... I just don't want you to be with him!"
Rose froze.
"With him? With who?"
"With that commoner!" Gilbert blurted out, and his face broke out in red blotches. "You're... you're in love with him, aren't you? I saw the way you look at him! And I... I object! I don't want my sister dating someone like him!"
Rose stared at her brother as if he were insane.
"...Are you serious?" she asked slowly.
"Absolutely!" Gilbert straightened up, trying to regain at least a shred of dignity. "He's not worthy of you! So, if you really are in love with him... abandon those feelings immediately!"
"Gilbert," Rose stepped forward, and her voice turned dangerous. "Are you an idiot?"
"I'm serious!"
"You just publicly insulted a person who is innocent of anything," Rose raised her voice. "You acted like a complete scoundrel! And all of that just to tell me that I shouldn't associate with him?"
Gilbert hesitated only for a moment.
"E-exactly!"
Rose sighed and ran a hand over her face.
"Listen, Gilbert," she said wearily. "I'm not in love with Dylan. We're just roommates. And tutor and student. That's all."
"Don't lie!" Gilbert stamped his foot. "I saw the way you looked at him! You had... you had such eyes!"
"What kind?"
"Well..." he hesitated. "Not the way you look at me!"
"So, not like I look at a dead cockroach?"
"Sister!"
"Gilbert," Rose took another step forward, and her brother instinctively stepped back. "If I see you near us again, I'll personally make sure your spot in the family crypt is occupied. Do you understand me?"
"But..."
"Do you understand me?"
Gilbert swallowed and nodded.
Rose turned and walked away, not even glancing at him.
"Think about what I said!" her brother called after her. "Don't date him!"
Rose just waved her hand and quickened her pace.
She returned to the bench, but Dylan was no longer there.
It seemed he had already managed to leave...
Rose sighed and trudged off to class.
Meanwhile, in the secluded corner of the park...
Gilbert was on his knees.
Before him, on the bench, sat the person Gilbert feared most in the world.
Black hair. Grey eyes. A beautiful face twisted into a slight smirk.
"Your acting was absolutely disgusting," Dahlia Valentino drawled lazily.
She sat leaning back, twirling a cigarette between her fingers. Thin streams of smoke rose into the sky, mingling with the scent of cherry petals.
Gilbert swallowed.
"Y-your Grace..." he began in a trembling voice. "I apologize, but smoking is prohibited on the academy grounds..."
Dahlia slowly shifted her gaze to him.
"Did you just say something?"
Gilbert felt a chill run down his spine.
"N-no! You must have misheard!"
Dahlia smirked and took another drag. Smoke streamed thinly from her lips, and Gilbert felt as if she were exhaling not smoke, but actual darkness.
"Your sister turned out to be smarter than I thought," she said thoughtfully. "She almost fell for your act."
"I tried my best," Gilbert squeaked.
"Tried your best?" Dahlia raised an eyebrow. "If you act that disgustingly again next time, I might just change my mind."
"What?" Gilbert paled.
"You still want to marry me, don't you?"
Gilbert's eyes filled with tears.
This marriage proposal didn't sound like a proposal at all. It sounded like a threat.
What's more, it was simply mockery of him.
While the girl before him, in her academy uniform, sat brazenly on the bench and smoked, brazenly ignoring one of the most important school rules, Gilbert, without hesitation, dropped to his knees before her.
"...Lady Valentino," he whispered, lowering himself even further so that his forehead nearly touched the ground. "Please, do not doubt me!"
"Hmm?"
"I, Gilbert de Rosmund," his voice trembled, but he continued, "am your faithful dog. I will do whatever you command. Anything to help you... carry out your plans!"