"What bloodbath?" I asked Bridget, eager to know more.
She cleared her throat and smoothed her dress, a guilty look on her face. "I hate to gossip." she said as she pursed her lips.
"Mhmm, I know dear. You do not have to tell me anything." I cooed, a smile tugging on my lips as I waited for her to spill what she had. "Any moment now." I murmured to myself.
"I really hate to gossip." she repeated, sounding more and more unconvinced.
I nodded my head in agreement, "Of course not."
"It would be very bad to badmouth others." she said to herself, then turned to me to further explain, "I mean my nanna always preached how it's unbecoming for noblewomen to spread lies."
I nodded again, "But it's not very bad when your words are true, you'd only be a messenger."
Bridget let out a deep sigh, "You're not wrong." she sat up straight, her movement slow and careful as her baby-bump was more prominent in this position. "And it's not like others don't know about it."
Others know too? "Who exactly knows?" my voice had raised a notch, why do I not know of this?
"You know… everyone else?" she answered me in a quiet voice.
"Everyone?" that can not be true, "who's everyone else?"
"Like… everyone else." She used her hands for emphasis. "Like every other person in Esteria, every noble and every citizen."
I was truly baffled. What exactly happened and why didn't I know of it?
"I see." I acknowledged it, this is not the time to duel on my lack of information. "So there is no reason for us not to talk about it." I propped further.
After a moment of silence Bridget said in a monotonous voice, "I guess it's time you know."
'Excuse you? What do you mean by that?' was what I ought to say, but I swallowed it.
"If you say so…" and I let the silence stretch between us.
"Well… you know how the duke IS the duke of Whingston? Yeah, well he wasn't born to take that position." she said, matter-of-fact-ly.
"No?" I urged her for more.
Bridget shook her face and pursed her lips, "No, it was his older brother's."
"It wasn't Hebron's to take?"
Another shake.
"Yet he took it anyway?"
A nod.
Ha… this is interesting.
"And how did he take the title for himself?" I asked the very-obvious question.
"He killed his brother of course." she answered me as she popped a cherry into her mouth.
No he did not! "You don't know that for sure, do you?"
"Oh no, everyone knows it. He had even killed his uncle when he tried to interfere. Collateral damage or whatever." she waved her hand nonchalantly.
"Bridget dear, I am very concerned by how easily you're delivering such words."
"Eh," she shook her shoulders, "It's not that big of a deal, he had always seemed too ambitious, and it was a matter of time before he took the title from his brother."
"I see." I nodded, trying to maintain a straight face. "Do you know why it's such a taboo topic abroad? I've never heard this story before and you speak as if it's so normal."
"Oh dear, it's not taboo abroad, it's just taboo in front of you!"
"What do you mean?"
Bridget laughed lightly, "Oh silly! The duke was keen on you and did not want you to know he had such a scary side to him. But I guess it's useless now since you're a done deal."
I stared, in a loss of words. What in the world was she talking about?
"Don't look at me like you don't know it! Everyone was talking about how the two of you shared a kiss, very publicly as well a few weeks ago, don't play dumb." she playfully pushed my arm. "My husband always played the gentleman around me, though I know he's ruthless in war. I can not count the war crimes he had committed, but do I care? No. as long as he concealed everything from my sight."
"Ah yes, I guess it's the job's requirements." I responded absently.
"Exactly! You know it." she beamed at me as she stuffed more food into her mouth.
"And when did it happen? The bloodbath, I mean."
"I think it was four years ago, he had tried persuading the king for help. As you know, the king can appoint the head of the family if he wishes so, yet the king was very adamant at not letting him have the title. I do not know how he did not retaliate after it had happened."
two years after our graduation? And why was the king wary of his ambition?
I needed some air, I needed to leave immediately.
"I think… I think I need to go on a walk." I told her.
"Oh in that case I shall take my leave." she struggled as she sat up.
"Let me walk you out, my lady." I winked as I escorted her out of my room.