Chapter 10

The Anonymity raised his hand to the door, biting his lip. He lowered it, then, with a little bit more confidence, raised it again and knocked on the old wood. The rolling cart he clutched in his hand was a bright pearl color, a significant contrast to the dark shades of red inside the second prince's annex.

When nobody answered, he took the doorknob, turning it hesitantly. Three maids had come in here before, only one coming back unharmed. His fingers trembled slightly and he pushed the door open with one hand, his other gripping the cart.

The second prince was sitting upright in his chair, facing the window behind his desk. He didn't seem to hear the Anonymity's knock, nor the soft creaks of the door as it opened. Or, perhaps he chose to ignore them. His head was turned to the right, looking past the fringes of the glass and into the gardens.

The Anonymity coughed. "You're Highness.."

The second prince turned his head, but his eyes were blank. He laughed bitterly, covering his mouth with his hand.

"Oh? So the maids are too scared now, so they sent you? How awfully pitiful you look, Anonymity." The Anonymity gulped, bowing his head and pulling the rolling cart into the room.

Compared to the first prince, who was brash and arrogant, the second prince seemed cold and forlorn. The Anonymity had met him a few times with his fiancé, but there was always a distant look in his eyes, as if his mind was somewhere else. Even when he was bickering with Lady Rose, or writing empty letters to the crowned prince, his eyes always looked blank. It was an expression he sometimes saw in the crowned prince's eyes as well.

"Anonymity, come here," The second prince suddenly said, motioned with his arm. The Anonymity flinched, hands falling off the rolling cart and walking slowly towards the second prince. Outside, nervous eyes looked at him when they passed.

He walked until he was right up to the desk. The second prince turned around, standing up until they were face to face. He grabbed his face, not in an aggressive way, but still a threatening way.

"Anonymity- No, Oliver Tarnin. Have you seen Mother recently?" The Anonymity shook his head.

"N-No, Your Highness. I never saw Her Majesty at all." The second prince's eyes widened. 

"You... never saw Mother?"

"No, Your Highness." The second prince frowned, his eyes narrowing. 

"How about this, has she ever made a request to see you?" When the Anonymity shook his head, the second prince's frown grew. He sighed, letting go of the Anonymity face, holding his head and massaging his temples.

The Anonymity returned to his cart, flinching slightly when the second prince stood up.

With a loud sigh, the second prince grabbed the Anonymity's shoulders, closing the door. For a few seconds, there was silence. The second prince then raised his hand, and the Anonymity's eyes widened.

--

As Osiris hummed quietly, walking along the palace halls, flipping idly through the investigation papers, a letter tucked beneath them, he met a panicked-looking maid.

"Your Highness!" She exclaimed, a scared but relieved expression on her face. "P-Please help us, it's the.. the second prince-"

"What?" Easter? What did he do?

"Your Highness... He..." She looked away. Ugh, why weren't the maids answering?

"Just tell me where he is," he sighed. She nodded, running off in the direction of his room, the direction Osiris had intended to go anyway.

By his door, there were a few maids standing there and whispering silently. Inside the room, he could hear the sound of furniture being knocked over, the dull thumping of a body and pained gasping noises.

'We shouldn't let that kid...'

'Shush, don't make a sound'

'It... It sounds awful..'

'I'm worried..'

Osiris burst open the door.

Just as he had expected, furniture was strewn everywhere. There was blood too, mixed in with broken glass and papers and turned over chairs. In the middle, his brother stood there, laughing manically as he held the Anonymity by his neck, pinning him on his desk. Ink had spilled onto the Anonymity's pale face, rolling down the desk and dropping on the floor.

Easter spun around, and Osiris instinctively drew out his sword, a guarded look on his face.

"Oh? Who is this? My dear brother, or the beloved crowned prince of the kingdom?" Easter seemed unfazed by the blade pointed at his neck, but Osiris gulped, lowering his sword. His instincts made him draw it, and he was standing in the perfect stance he stood in too many times... the one he stood in while facing an enemy.

For a split second... only a second, had he seen his brother as an enemy. An enemy he needed to strike down.

He squeezed his eyes shut, sheathing his sword and looking away. The papers he had been holding before laid on the floor around his feet, mixed in with the blood.

"Easter... what are you doing?"

"Causing a scene," Easter replied coldly. He grabbed the Anonymity by his neck, throwing him onto the ground in between them.

"W-Why?" Osiris looked back, then down at the limp boy. He gulped again, flinching when Easter laughed.

"Why are you so scared of an unconscious body? You've killed so many people with that sword of yours." Osiris looked back at Easter, into his empty red eyes. He couldn't figure out what his brother was thinking.

"Easter, you... you changed."

"Oh?" His red eyes turned dark. "What do you mean? Just because I hit some defenseless boy a few times? Ha! Did you know I killed the Puppet? You know I was the one that locked up the Flower in her room until she withered?"

"W-What?" Osiris's eyes widened, his hand flying to the hilt of his sword again on instinct. He dropped it quickly, but Easter noticed.

"Get out of my room, Osiris." Easter snapped. Osiris bit his lip.

"E-Easter... You're still only the second prince." He looked warily at his brother. "...From now on, as the crowned prince... I forbid you from leaving this room. Nobody will be allowed to come in or out, and you will have a monitor."

"Ha!" Easter laughed bitterly, and Osiris clench his fists.

"Maids, take the boy out and treat him," Osiris snapped. He turned to Easter, who had his arms crossed, smiling at him wickedly. "Easter Agnes, I don't want to speak with you until you get rid of this side of you."