Chapter 2

Easter sighed, rubbing his temples. The puppet stared at him with its silent blank eyes. Easter wondered if he knew he was writing about him. Easter smiled quietly, running his finger across his words, smudging them a little. He picked up the letter from his mother. It was a photo of a man, with dark distinct eyebrows and a sharp jawline. He was slightly taller than Easter, but that just meant Easter needed to wear thicker shoes. Easter sighed again, laying his head on the table.

"Puppet," he said. The puppet perked up. "Are you really related to me?" The puppet said nothing. He never did, really. Blood started forming at Easter's nose again, and he wiped it off. The puppet handed him a handkerchief, and he accepted it.

"You should refrain from moving," the puppet said.

"Who gave you the right to speak?"

"The queen, Your Highness." Easter groaned, putting his head in his hands.

"Puppet, this Nico Sterin boy, do you know him?" The puppet nodded. "Hmm? Tell me what he's like."

"Quite aloof," the puppet replied. "Trying to act like the crowned prince."

"He manipulated the Marion family," Easter told him. "Miss Elizabeth fell in love with him, and shared aaall of her family's secrets with him, and private information Mother told them." He hit the table half heartedly. "Apparently she was going to run off with something important, so she was killed." He raised his head, leaning back in his chair. "Mother wants me to disguise myself as him and say random bullshit in public, to make anything else he says unreliable." He didn't know why he was venting his problems to the messenger boy, but he was stuck in his room, and there was nothing better to do. He got up, rolling up his letter and tying it to the white bird's foot, putting on his suit. He shooed the bird away.

"Anyway. I'm going to go on a walk." He beckoned the puppet to follow him. He grabbed the door handle, but it didn't respond. He groaned, shaking the handle harder, until it almost rattled off its screws. He hit his head on the door when it didn't react. "What a shit day today."

Next he jumped out of the window. The puppet followed him.

The puppet followed him silently, holding his hand. They walked through the garden, Easter occasionally glancing at the windows where Osiris's room was.

They walked without a carriage, silent. Easter's only attempt to disguise himself was an old cloak he borrowed from the servants, and the puppet made no attempt. As they entered the town, bustling with people, the puppet's eyes seemed to widen. Easter smiled slightly at him, a chuckle coming from his mouth.

He bent down to talk in the puppet's ear. "Are you hungry?" The puppet shook its head hesitantly. "Hmm, well I am." It was true. After the ball, he had thrown up all the food he attempted to eat, then nose-bled through the time he was supposed to eat. Afterwards, he had thrown up more. Essentially, he was miserable today. "Is there anything you want to try?"

For some reason, the puppet decided to speak. "The maids recommended a bakery down the street," he said. Easter smiled, patting its head.

"What a vocal little boy," he chuckled. The puppet simply nodded silently.

They entered the bakery, following the puppet's instructions. It was lit quite nicely, filled with an aroma of spices and freshly baked bread. Easter brought commoner-money today, a few silver and bronze coins. He handed them to the baker, ordering two of the most popular items on the menu. Not that he was trying to blend in, but handing out gold coins is the worst use of money, and also the best way to be found out as a noble.

Easter sat down by the window, the puppet sitting down beside him. He took a sip of his tea, then a bite of the pastry he had ordered. It didn't make him feel less tired, or less hungry. It tasted rather dry in his mouth, or perhaps, anything he looked at or tasted would always be dry.

"Puppet, I wonder when they'll discover it," he said, idly stirring his tea with the teaspoon. The puppet nodded quietly. "They'll find out soon, I bet. She is quite distinguished."

They roamed around town aimlessly after that. "Nico Sterin... my name is Nico Sterin," Easter muttered half-heartedly. "I'm really cool and like to seduce women." He brushed his hair back with his hand, parting it to two sides. "Puppet, do I look like Nico Sterin this way?"

"You look just like him," the puppet replied.

"Puppet, what should I say as Nico Sterin?" Easter asked. The puppet didn't respond. "Maybe I'll call the northwest mines the southwest mines, no, the eastwest mines. That'll confuse many people. And perhaps they'll dig stone instead of iron. Iron for their pearl necklaces and rings on each finger, ten bracelets on each arm." The puppet laughed a little. "Maybe I'll do a little dance too. Does Nico Sterin do silly things when he's drunk?"

"I'm not sure," the puppet replied, but he seemed to like the idea. "Her Majesty wouldn't like it if you acted too out of line." Easter smiled.

"Maybe she'll let it slide if I can pull it off correctly." As they neared the garden, Osiris was speaking to some guards, a carriage beside him. The puppet left Easter's side, most likely to go back to the Queen, stating that he was gone for long enough.

"Oh? My dear brother. Where are you headed off to?" Easter asked, putting a hand up to his mouth.

"Hmm, simply preparing for the chaos, Easter. Should I not see you there, I'll be surprised."

"Have you not read my letter?" Osiris nodded.

"I wish you well on your assignment."

"Yes. Good day to you, Brother."

"Good day."

Sitting back onto his armchair, resting his head against it, Easter grabbed the morning paper, reading it idly, watching the carriage leave.

"Margaret, have they announced her death?" Easter asked, eyeing the maid.

"Yes, Your Highness," she replied, bowing her head. "Elizabeth Marion's body has been found, near the forest beside the Tarnin Manor."

"Pff. How petty of Mother," he laughed, sipping his tea.