TV Special
Description
Gill Cowell Vespaland is the crown prince of the kingdom of Vespania and the elder brother of Princess Mira Julietta Vespaland. He is the son of Queen Sakura Aludia Vespaland and the nephew of Duke Gerard Musca Vespaland. He appears in the story only through the circumstances of his death and the investigation that follows, as he dies before the main action begins.
In terms of background, Gill was present during a hunt in the royal family's private hunting grounds when Queen Sakura was shot and killed. At first, all evidence suggested that the prince had accidentally shot his mother and then, overcome by guilt, immediately took his own life by shooting himself in the temple with a pistol held in his right hand. His uncle, Duke Gerard, discovered his body and reported that it was too late to stop him. The incident was reported worldwide and created a political crisis for the kingdom. The true nature of this event is uncovered later in the story, revealing that the apparent murder-suicide was in fact staged.
The truth is that Gill was naturally left-handed, though he had been trained from childhood to use his right hand for activities such as writing and eating. Because the hunting rifle he carried had its loading bolt on the right side, he handled the rifle with his right hand, which led the real culprit to assume he was also right-handed with a pistol. In reality, the prince could not have fired the shot that killed his mother, because Queen Sakura disapproved of killing animals and his rifle had not been loaded. The actual killer was Duke Gerard, who shot the queen, placed a pistol in the prince's right hand, and then killed him to make the deaths look like an accident followed by suicide. The duke also exchanged rifles in order to hide the evidence.
As for personality, Gill is portrayed after his death as a devoted and considerate son. He knew how much his mother treasured the cherry blossom tree at the hunting site, and he would never have fired in a way that could damage it, a detail that becomes important in proving his innocence. His disciplined willingness to train himself out of his natural left-handedness shows a dutiful and controlled nature. His younger sister remembers him with grief, and the loss of both her mother and brother shapes her emotional state throughout the story.
Because the prince dies before the story begins, his personal motivations are not explored directly. What is clear is that he shared a close bond with his mother and that his death, together with hers, fundamentally changes the royal succession. His apparent suicide makes his sister Mira the heir to the throne, a role she initially rejects because she mourns her family and does not consider herself the rightful successor.
In the story, Gill serves as a tragic catalyst. His death sets off the succession crisis, fuels public doubt about Mira's fitness to rule, and leads to the attempts on her life. The central mystery of the narrative is the question of who truly killed the queen and the prince, and solving that mystery clears Gill's name while exposing the duke's plot to seize control of the kingdom.
Regarding key relationships, Gill was the son of Queen Sakura and shared a loving relationship with her. He was the older brother of Princess Mira, and his sudden death leaves her without both her mother and her predecessor in the line of succession. His relationship with his uncle, Duke Gerard, is defined by betrayal, as Gerard murdered him and used his body to frame him for the queen's killing. The loyal court official Count Keith Dan Stinger is also deeply affected by the tragedy, as he works to protect Mira and later comes to suspect the duke.
Gill does not develop as a living character, but the revelation of the truth brings development to those who survive him. Mira, after learning what really happened and visiting the site where her mother and brother died, overcomes her earlier cynical and fatalistic attitude and decides to accept her responsibility as the future queen. In this way, the clearing of Gill's memory helps restore stability to the kingdom.
In terms of notable abilities, the story highlights his training as a hunter and his practiced ability to use his right hand despite being naturally left-handed, a detail that becomes the key to solving the crime. It also emphasizes his thoughtfulness, particularly his awareness of his mother's attachment to the cherry blossom tree, which ultimately helps prove that he could not have been the one who fired the fatal shot.
In terms of background, Gill was present during a hunt in the royal family's private hunting grounds when Queen Sakura was shot and killed. At first, all evidence suggested that the prince had accidentally shot his mother and then, overcome by guilt, immediately took his own life by shooting himself in the temple with a pistol held in his right hand. His uncle, Duke Gerard, discovered his body and reported that it was too late to stop him. The incident was reported worldwide and created a political crisis for the kingdom. The true nature of this event is uncovered later in the story, revealing that the apparent murder-suicide was in fact staged.
The truth is that Gill was naturally left-handed, though he had been trained from childhood to use his right hand for activities such as writing and eating. Because the hunting rifle he carried had its loading bolt on the right side, he handled the rifle with his right hand, which led the real culprit to assume he was also right-handed with a pistol. In reality, the prince could not have fired the shot that killed his mother, because Queen Sakura disapproved of killing animals and his rifle had not been loaded. The actual killer was Duke Gerard, who shot the queen, placed a pistol in the prince's right hand, and then killed him to make the deaths look like an accident followed by suicide. The duke also exchanged rifles in order to hide the evidence.
As for personality, Gill is portrayed after his death as a devoted and considerate son. He knew how much his mother treasured the cherry blossom tree at the hunting site, and he would never have fired in a way that could damage it, a detail that becomes important in proving his innocence. His disciplined willingness to train himself out of his natural left-handedness shows a dutiful and controlled nature. His younger sister remembers him with grief, and the loss of both her mother and brother shapes her emotional state throughout the story.
Because the prince dies before the story begins, his personal motivations are not explored directly. What is clear is that he shared a close bond with his mother and that his death, together with hers, fundamentally changes the royal succession. His apparent suicide makes his sister Mira the heir to the throne, a role she initially rejects because she mourns her family and does not consider herself the rightful successor.
In the story, Gill serves as a tragic catalyst. His death sets off the succession crisis, fuels public doubt about Mira's fitness to rule, and leads to the attempts on her life. The central mystery of the narrative is the question of who truly killed the queen and the prince, and solving that mystery clears Gill's name while exposing the duke's plot to seize control of the kingdom.
Regarding key relationships, Gill was the son of Queen Sakura and shared a loving relationship with her. He was the older brother of Princess Mira, and his sudden death leaves her without both her mother and her predecessor in the line of succession. His relationship with his uncle, Duke Gerard, is defined by betrayal, as Gerard murdered him and used his body to frame him for the queen's killing. The loyal court official Count Keith Dan Stinger is also deeply affected by the tragedy, as he works to protect Mira and later comes to suspect the duke.
Gill does not develop as a living character, but the revelation of the truth brings development to those who survive him. Mira, after learning what really happened and visiting the site where her mother and brother died, overcomes her earlier cynical and fatalistic attitude and decides to accept her responsibility as the future queen. In this way, the clearing of Gill's memory helps restore stability to the kingdom.
In terms of notable abilities, the story highlights his training as a hunter and his practiced ability to use his right hand despite being naturally left-handed, a detail that becomes the key to solving the crime. It also emphasizes his thoughtfulness, particularly his awareness of his mother's attachment to the cherry blossom tree, which ultimately helps prove that he could not have been the one who fired the fatal shot.