Rest in Peace, Mrs. Klein (B/Solo)

It was late at night, darkness sweeping over Fiore's sky, illuminated with a myriad of stars and constellations. Alone in his suite, as per usual, was Louie. He had a tall glass of his favorite wine in one hand, and nothing in the other. Louie was a social drinker, but he had been drinking more often and in solitude ever since coming to Fiore. Well, he drank before ever coming to this country, but nowadays he's had more on his mind.

He had joined the guild of Fairy Tail for their connections, and lo and behold, that's what he found there. The people were simple and optimistic, and Louie honestly had never met such chipper people. Regardless, he didn't enjoy them. They were big, barbaric, and didn't have a modicum of value for fashion or appearances. The only people worth remembering was Arcadia and Nessa Cordelia Lux. Arcadia, or as Louie calls her, jailbait, was far more fruitful than he had originally anticipated from someone of her visage and demeanor. Not only did she use her connections to assist him in these troubling times, but the success also yielded from her opportunities proved most sufficient. Nessa Cordelia Lux, on the other hand, was nothing more than dull-witted and pretty. In fact, she was the only one who wasn't hard on the eyes when Louie first beheld them. For some reason, that held a lasting impression on the young millionaire.

From his joining of Fairy Tail, Louie had made a number of new acquaintances seeking a more professional relationship. One of them was a curious and pretty-faced man named Tomura Momochi. Tomura, or chiot, was an obnoxiously polite man who always spoke as if attending an etiquette class. While their relationship began as professional, Louie had begun to pay him for companionship and company alone, which eventually led to something so horrific that the thought made Louie feel physically ill. He did not even want to mention what sort of awful things that man had done to him, the sort of trauma he had inflicted upon his precious mind and body, the sensuality that Louie wouldn't have dared investigated if not for his intoxication. As a just punishment, Louie had smothered the life out of that man like pinching a flame from a candlewick. The blonde had never even taken into account how Tomura's death might affect the West Fiore Trading Company, and it was in times like these he was grateful he made such a priceless alias.

Looking at his hand, Louie stared at the mark of Lady Twilight—a symbol of their blood-pact, and evidence of his brilliant newfound power. But ever since he's donned such glorious marking, he couldn't help but feel off whenever he became self-conscious of it. He felt what Louie could only describe as hungry; for the souls of the pigs and people around him, and he'd feel queasy until he stopped contemplating it. Did all sorcerers have such uneasy feelings? Feelings of gaining something but losing one's self in the process? He had traded his very soul for this power, but he felt as if he was losing something else and he couldn't quite tell what it was. How... irritating.

Something that shouldn't have slipped his mind but often does was the Colosseum he built in Morgate Town just some weeks ago. He was what one might coin as "trigger happy." After unlocking the dormant powers of his mana deep within and discovering his almost instinctive desire for souls of others after losing his own, he had paid to have an enormous battlefield built underneath a forsaken town just so he could take unsuspecting men, women, and children from their common lives up above to battle it out below! Needless to say, the brutality resulted in the deaths of approximately one-hundred people. Despite this being what others might say atrocious, Louie couldn't help but forget that it happened sometimes. He would have to do it again.

Was it the wine or his own mind that made him reflect this much? What use was thinking about what has already happened? What purpose did these thoughts have than to not only plague his mind with feelings of greed now? Reflecting on all of this made Louie want to go out and do more and do better, but frankly, the alcohol had made his body feel loose and relaxed. He didn't want to move. He didn't want to think. He only wanted to drink, even though he only had good things to think about. These were grand achievements, but not grand enough for Louie Calvin Klein.

Somewhere along with his contemplations, his cousin came to mind. Beaux Phalcelia—a man he's never held in high regard but has most certainly fallen from grace since he's last seen him. Thinking about him and what he said to Louie that day only pissed him off.

Louie clicked his tongue and grimaced. "What a fool! A dimwitted fool! A public servant in Fiore? What a load of bullshit. Who chooses to sleep with the pigs if they could be owning that barn? Hmph!" he cursed at Beaux by himself, taking another sip of his wine. Suddenly, he perked up.

Alice Bisset, or Alice Klein if one was informed enough to know that she was Louie's legal bride. His wife was someone who had completely slipped his mind when he left Napedia to seek adventure in Fiore, but Louie had done so without any thought of her. It was an arranged, loveless marriage, and by the time Louie had left for Fiore, she must've been six months pregnant with their child. The blonde hadn't cared to know what the child's sex was, and the same was true even now.

For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish me, huh? Louie began to snicker and then boomed into laughter. How precious were those vows? Is there a more holy and honest recital?

Smash!

Abruptly, Louie through his glass of wine across the room, the glass crashing into the thick, large windows and splashing its sanguine fluid across it. He could see his venomous, spiteful glare in the reflection. "What a load of bullshit. She's never loved and lied straight to my face about it! She had the privilege of being fxcked by a man sculpted from beauty itself, and she lies to me? What a bxtch, what a bxtch, what a bxtch...!"

Through the shattering of glasses and clenching of fists, Louie had finally paused. He inhaled deeply, and through the transparent, sanguine reflection of the wine-stained windows, Louie saw the rage in his crimson eyes. He could see the pink tinge of the alcohol blush his cheeks, his mind slipping away into intoxication.

"All they ever do is lie to me, and for that, she'll pay."

---

That same night, Louie had booked a same-day flight to Napedia. Normally, it would have been impossible to do such a thing so late, but it was astonishing what clout and money could accomplish if combined. The common inconveniences of everyday people vanished with the benefit of Louie being Louie Calvin Klein, and he relished it as if it was his very sustenance. Louie was alone on the plane for twelve hours, bringing nothing with him except for his iLac. He was still drinking the wine they had provided for the trip, not wishing to lose the buzz he was already feeling. He needed something good for what was about to happen, after all. The trip was a blur, as only thoughts of anger had seized his thoughts.

When Louie had finally arrived back in his home country of Napedia, it was already late at night. He took no time to relish the familiar streets or the new buildings they had built since he had last been there since he had no intention of staying until dawn. In fact, he had already booked his flight to leave in just six hours, as the business he had here would take no longer than that.

Louie had two estates here in Napedia that he primarily dwelled in: the family home, which consisted of his mother, aunt, and servants, and his own home which was purchased in anticipation for his and Alice's unborn baby. He remembered telling Alice to stay in that estate, but seeing as their whole marriage was built off of lies, who knows what had happened since he left? What servants was she sleeping with before he had bedded her? Had she contaminated his flawless visage with the stench of a lower class? Most likely! It is certain! A whore as well, as it seems!

The blonde man had arrived home, and all the lights were off except for the one in the bedrooms above. He could see her silhouette from outside, and he never wished to tear a shadow apart quite like he did when he saw hers. When he stepped inside, all was silent. There was not a sign or symbol of any life existing in this home. Every vase and flower pot, every chair and table had been placed in such an artificial way. His home looked like a design in a magazine, never used or indulged. The fruit on the table, although real, had an air of decoration more than sustenance. The wine wasn't meant for drinking, and the "happy, wedded couple" that took ownership of this property was all but such an item. He didn't like Alice before and he detested her now.

From his suite to the plane and then to his own home in Napedia, Louie maintained the same, venomous glare and wrinkling frown on his face the entire time. There was no space in his eyes for reason, and there was not an ounce of compassion left for Alice Bisset, and there never was.

When Louie made it upstairs to their shared bedroom, he could see the light from a lamp creep out from underneath the door. He could feel her walking around inside, and then closer to the door until he could her hand slender, fragile fingers coiled around the knob, twisting it open.


When Alice opened the door to see the husband that was supposed to be away in Fiore, she had dropped her tea kettle, the porcelain shattering and the brew splashing against the floorboards, filling the air with scents of lavender and ginger.

She went pale. "M-Monsieur Louie? Forgive my curiosity, but w-what are you doing home so—"

Louie looked down at her with his fixed glare. He never smiled at her kindly. "Do I need a reason to be in my own home? Since when did this become your house? I'm the one who's allowed you to live here, oui?"

"O-Oui. It's just that—"

Louie closed the door behind him and interrupted Alice once again. "Why haven't you picked up those broken pieces yet? Do you expect me to do it?"

Almost instantly, Alice had crouched down to pick up the broken pieces of porcelain, plucking them from the floorboards. She had long, brown hair and deep green eyes that reminded him of pine forests. She dressed modestly and preferred wearing skirts if not long, pastel dresses. The only status and prestige Alice Bisset had was being the daughter of a wealthy CEO from Minstrel, and Louie's mother and aunts were the ones who made the decision to arrange their marriage. With her beauty and Louie's, their visages and power combined could continue the legacy of the Bissets and Kleins together, like so many Napedian families had done for generations. Her green eyes reminded him of his mother, and he hated her for it.

Louie could see the wrinkles on her face when she bent down, feeling the burden of carrying their unborn baby weigh on her with every movement. He couldn't help but wonder how she's managed here, alone. "Have you been here alone?"

Briskly plucking the final pieces from the floorboards, Alice looked up at Louie with bright eyes. She seemed relieved that he had finally shown some interest in their child-to-be. "I'm afraid not. Why there's a lovely servant girl that's accompanied me these last few months. She's such a hard worker. Would you like to meet her?" Alice sprung up and excitedly reached over for the door again, "I'll summon her for you—" Abruptly, before she could open the door from behind him, Louie's hand slammed onto Alice's wrist, grabbing it with tightness.

"That won't be necessary, mon amour. I've come all this way for you alone, you know." Louie was glaring at her, but the smile on his lips had returned. He wanted to do this quickly.

Alice blushed lightly. "V-Vraiment? For me?"

Louie loosened his grip on her wrist and gingerly held her smaller, more fragile hands in his own, leaving a red mark of where his hand was on her wrist. "Oui. Ever since yesterday, you haven't left my thoughts. I haven't been able to eat or sleep once I started thinking of you. It's just been..."

Alice smiled, intertwining her fingers with his. "Hard? Terrible? Troubling, mayhap?"


A look of hatred dawned on his face for only a brief moment. It wasn't a look of lovesickness or even endearment. There was no hint nor a modicum of love or compassion in those eyes of his. The crimson looked closer to blood than rubies in that instance, but then the feigned warmth in his smile returned milliseconds after. Alice noticed this but pretended like she hadn't. "Well, I've missed you too, Monsieur. It has been awfully quiet ever since you left. I had to get used to not hearing you drive around in your Lexas or Mercediez!"

Silence. After her giggles faded, there was an awkward, tense silence between them. Alice always avoided looking Louie in the eyes, even now. When she looked away, the hatred returned to his visage, and on the off-chance she mustered up the courage to behold him, the smile returned.

"L-Louie—"

"Alice, do you remember the day of our wedding?" Louie took both of her hands into his own, slowly leading her to the bed.

"I'd never forget..." she leaned into him.

"Do you remember the color of your dress? Do you recall, mon amour?"

"Optic white, monsieur?"

"Ah, oui! It was the color of snow. White is such a fine color, don't you think? Pure. Innocent. Honest and holy. It almost doesn't fit you." he whispered, both of them inching closer to the side of the bed. "What color were the roses, mon amour?"

Alice slowly laid down onto the sheets with Louie hovering above her, his golden hair hanging down from his face. "White, monsieur. Like snow. But do you recall the music?"

Louie felt his fingers glide over her neck and arms, his smooth digits rubbing against thighs. "Oh, the music! The music, mon amour! Incroyable! What a day, mon amour. What a day!" He whispered into her ears, his hand creeping underneath the pillow next to them.

She kissed the hand that fell close to her neck, looking at him. "It is my most cherished day, monsieur."

Louie held her hand once more, holding it against his lips. "Aha... is that so, mon amour?" he chuckled bleakly, pulling out a small handgun from the pillow next to them, stroking his cheek with the barrel. It was the handgun meant for self-defense should bodyguards fail, as they normally do, to do their jobs. "Because I regret it with every fiber of my being. Marrying a bxtch like you, that is."

The color drained from Alice's face and a look of horror overtook her complexion. "Louie! Bon Dieu! What on Earthland are you doing, my love!—"


The barrel was no longer stroking her white cheeks. Now, it had been pressed into that enlarged, pregnant belly of hers, piercing it and the baby within with a golden bullet. She stifled her shrieks, choking on them along with the horror of what Louie had just done to their child and herself. Her green eyes were wide and full of tears, silently rolling down her wrinkled face. Then, she let out the most horrific, ear-piercing shriek he had ever heard a human being make. It was an inhuman, bestial cry.

Louie frowned. "I was a fool to privilege you with carrying that child. My only flaw was entrusting you with carrying my name. You never loved me, oui?" he shot again, and again, and again, and he kept shooting until all the bullets had escaped from him. He could taste the wine in his throat.

Alice, miraculously, was hanging onto the sliver of life that began to flee from her. "Why, Louie? Why? Why? My baby...! Oh, my baby...! Why? Why...? I've been good. I've been good... why... why..."

Louie clicked his tongue, "Good god, won't you shut up?" he cursed, smashing the handle of the heavy handgun against her face. After that, Alice never spoke again. She died right then and there. Louie, on the other hand, wiped the blood that had found its way onto his hands on the bedsheets. "I'm starting to hate the sound of your voice. Your mouth is so filthy."

---

Ten minutes passed, and Louie hadn't bothered to clean up the mess. Instead, the first thing he did was take out his iLac, open his direct messages with Aeluri (or Gorilla in his iLac), and send her a video of the entire scene.

The video consisted of Louie standing next to the bed, raising the iLac so that it could see the corpse behind him and the petrified look of horror stained on her face. The blood hadn't stopped dripping from her enlarged belly, but that was to be expected. Two lives bled more than one, after all, but each was collectively worthless in the young millionaire's eyes. Louie was a little red from the wine from earlier. In fact, he was completely intoxicated. His mind had been relieved of thoughts of the late Alice Bisset, and to be candid, he felt as if an itch had finally be scratched.

"Saluuuut, Gorilla!" Louie started in the video, "This'll be the first of many messages in our DMs, and be sure to respond as quickly as possible. You shouldn't keep me, Louie Calvin Klein, waiting, you see. In any case, I thought you would be delighted to know that I am in great condition after tonight! Wine simply doesn't do the trick quite like disciplining your wife, oui? Oui! Oh, I never informed you that I was married, have I? Well, I was. But, not anymore, as you can see. You can see it, oui?"

The video went on for a couple more minutes, and in that time, the young blonde had dabbed, danced (orange justice, as Fioreans regarded it), and even played with the dead face of Alice Bisset when, abruptly, someone entered the room. It was the servant Alice spoke so highly of, and it was a Desiertan girl.

Her face was struck with horror. "M-Monsieur! Madame Alice—"

Louie glared at her and sent the video prematurely. "What an ugly mongrel you are. This is my home, did that dung brain of yours forget whose presence you were in? Why didn't you make yourself known by knocking?"

The servant girl swallowed and almost sobbed. "B-But Monsieur—"

Louie sighed and stroked his jaw curiously. "I just had a fantastique idea, servant girl! Ask me what it is!"

The servant girl hesitated at first, but knowing Louie's short fuse, she continued reluctantly. W...What is your idea, Monsieur Klein?"

Louie smirked chipperly, taking the empty gun and placing it in her hands. "The Klein family's servant girl has always loved the flawless, beautiful Louie Calvin Klein and resented his marriage with his wife. In a fit of insurmountable jealousy, she empties a barrel of bullets into Mrs. Alice Klein, killing her and her unborn child without mercy while Louie is away in Fiore, attempting to bring greater riches to their name!" The servant girl went pale, and Louie chuckled. "A fitting story, oui? Don't look so pale. What're one or one million lives if it means maintaining my status? This is an honor, servant girl. Dying for me, that is. Cherish it."

The servant girl was speechless. Maybe out of fear, she did not speak, but without a doubt, she knew nothing she said could ever weigh against this story. Her life meant nothing to Napedia, a country so bent on keeping scandals like this under rugs made of silk and cotton.

After that, Louie left his home. Whenever the police would arrive, and they would arrive, Louie would not be there to greet them. Instead, he went to the airport to await his plane.

---

The next day, Louie had Alice Bisset's murder out of mind. He had spent a couple of hours preparing a GoFundMe in Fiore so that the pigs of that country to send him jewels for the "emotional distress" and "trauma" Alice's murder had caused. It was funny, really. The pea-brained pigs of Fiore sending a millionaire money for his troubles? How delightful, truly!

Before he left his home, he had told the servant girl to say that it was a man who went by Prada who killed Alice if she was truly so ungrateful as to take the blame herself. Either way, Louie was in the clear. All he had to do on his part was get rid of his bloody garments, not wishing to carry a remnant of that filthy whore's death if he could help it.

Alone, Louie sat there on his computer, lounging in a bathrobe with a miserable look on his face. Not because of what he did, however.

---