Chapter 5

The masquerade ball was an eclectic mess, like it always was. It was hosted in one of the many ballrooms the Royal Family owned, an edifice shaped like a cathedral, with glass walls made of colors that hurt Easter's eyes. Outside was a rose garden, where the egg hunt had been held in the afternoon. Inside was an extravagant red ballroom. Everybody wore brightly colored masts, painted with obnoxious colors, with giant boa feathers, or flowers too large to be real. He was unfortunately forced into this concoction of colors.

"Oh, who might this be?" somebody tapped on his shoulder, and he turned around. A boy of similar height and the same colored eyes smiled at him.

"The crowned prince," Easter replied. "May God bless you, Your Highness," he gave Osiris a bow, then turning around to leave. He was trying to avoid conversing with anybody.

"Wait!" Osiris grabbed his hand, pulling him back, mock hurt in his eyes. "Let's have a nice chat, Your Highness~" Easter sighed, rubbing his head.

"This is not an egalitarian society, Your Highness, and I wouldn't dare waste more of your time," Easter replied shortly. In fact, he didn't want to talk to anybody today. "I am still recovering from the ordeal two days ago."

"Oh my, you must be sick with worry. I'll make sure to write you a lovely elegy if you die of stress, Your Highness."

"..." Easter looked away, towards the direction of a coterie of noblewomen. "Your Highness, should I introduce you to some ladies?"

Osiris chuckled. "Hmm, why so suddenly?" Easter frankly just wanted to get rid of him.

"Did you read my letter?"

"Of course. Your letters are always eclectic messes. I read it while heading here, in fact, I have it right now." He fished the paper from out of his pocket and started to read. "Dear Osiris-"

Easter slapped his hand over his brother's mouth. "Shut up, you single asshole."

"And you are not single nor an asshole?" Osiris replied, prying Easter's hand away. "It's considered treason to offend the crowned prince, you know?" Osiris mocked. "I will host an edict to have your head chopped off."

"Apologies, Your Highness, I didn't know," A new tune started. "Ah- go find a lady to dance with, okay?" He pushed Osiris away. "Ah! Lady Margaret. My brother wishes to dance with you."

"W-what?"

"Don't be shy now~" Easter watched in amusement when the lady picked Osiris up and whisked him away. "What an egregious prick."

"I'm sorry, did you say something?" Easter almost slapped the person behind him on instinct. It was a lady with a bright yellow mask, a daisy design carved into it. Another person to come up from behind him. Was everybody in a line to go bother Easter?

"Ah- Do you need anything?"

"I would like to dance with you too, sir," she replied with a smile, dragging him off as well.

Easter wasn't necessarily good at dancing, and what made it harder was how emaciated and fragile the girl's waist felt by his arm. Her hands were bony, as if he squeezed too hard, they would break. It was like dancing with a skeleton hanging on strands of flesh. She was good, though, circling around him like the wind. The song was an emollient to her steps.

"I don't have empirical truth of Lord Sterin's doings, but I believe he has gone insane," she said, stepping into a twirl.

"...What?"

"Pff, Your Highness, I am the White Dove." It was the code name of the spy he had sent.

"Oh.. Back so soon?"

"His Lordship is not mentally stable." He held her waist in his arms and she kicked her legs upwards in a circle, landing in a perfect stance.

"Tell me more, Lady Dove." Osiris eyed them as he passed.

"I believe he's trying to restore his sister's body."

"Hmm, but his sister has been dead for a year now? Does he care for her that much?"

"...yes. He's probably been replacing her body parts." She kicked outwards, dragging Easter with her.

"Lady Dove, please elucidate your story. I don't understand your statements."

"Ah, well you will understand tonight."

The song ended, and they bowed to each other. She disappeared into the crowd as quickly as she appeared, and Osiris was by his side again. Easter opened his mouth to say something witty to his brother, but he was interrupted by a knight, who suddenly burst into the ball.

"Lady Meril has been murdered!"

Tsk. Easter rolled his eyes, but Osiris rushed forwards. Easter had no choice but to follow.

"Please elaborate, Sir Stephan." It was probably one of Osiris's knights, one Easter didn't recognize.

"Ah! Your Highnesses! Apologies for disturbing your ball." The knight got on his knees quickly. The lady Osiris danced with gasped, whispering to her friends.

"Get up and speak," Easter snapped at him.

"Y-yes, Your Highness. I went to go check on Lady Meril, but when I saw her, she was bleeding on the ground. Both of her eyes were gouged out, and her jaw was broken."

Osiris frowned, and Easter rubbed the bridge of his nose. "That's fine. At least we have one less encumbrance to worry about now," Osiris whispered. Easter groaned.

"You're saying you let an assassin into a highly guarded, secretive underground area? And you call yourself knights?" The knight lowered his head.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness."

Osiris cut in. "You are dismissed."

After he left, the ballroom broke into nervous muttering. Easter was unaware that his frustrated face emulated the aurora of a man about to commit a murder.

"At least this enervates the Tarnin family," Osiris whispered into Easter's ear.

"They killed the wrong sibling," Easter huffed. Osiris patted his head.

"Aww, are you worried about your big brother~? By the way, you weren't this easily angered before." He laughed, elbowing Easter's side.

The masquerade slowly started up again, uneasy whispers dissolving in the music, as the festive tone built up, a little more forced this time.

"So, who killed her?" Osiris asked.

"Are you really asking this in public?" Easter replied. "Remember my letter about Lord Sterin?"

"...But I thought this was connected with the organ stealing case." When Easter stared at him in a confused ennui, Osiris elaborated. "The one where somebody was going around murdering woman and stealing their organs every two months, but never left a trace?"

"Oh." Easter sighed. "I can't speak about this in public. I'll write to you."

"..."

"Honestly," Easter continued. "I feel less and less erudite about this the more it goes on. Somebody gave me a crazy theory, but now I'm wondering if it's true."

"What is it?"

"...I'll write to you." Osiris sighed.

"You're always so arcane, Easter."

"Sure."