After spending some time in the garden, the two stood up and returned inside the house. The corridor was covered with a thick, dark-colored carpet that completely absorbed their footsteps. On both walls hung portraits of monarchs from various dynasties. The figures in the paintings wore solemn expressions, as if quietly watching over the young couple returning home late at night.
Warm light poured down from above, dispelling the chill, but it could not erase the invisible tension lingering in the air.
Charlotte said nothing. She walked ahead in silence, maintaining about half a body's length between them. The tuxedo coat draped over her shoulders looked a little too big. From behind, she resembled a child who had stolen an adult's clothes.
Russell followed behind her, hands tucked in his pockets, his gaze fixed on her slightly awkward figure.
"Ahem…"
In the end, it was Charlotte who broke the somewhat awkward—or rather, somewhat ambiguous—silence. She stopped, turned around, and glanced at Russell before slipping off the coat and handing it back to him.
"Here."
Charlotte's voice sounded like her usual calm self again, but her gray-blue eyes, which seemed slightly unfocused under the light, honestly revealed the girl's current unease.
"You can keep wearing it a little longer. I don't mind."
Russell did not reach out to take it.
"It's fine. It's warm enough inside."
Charlotte said this and pushed the coat into his arms.
Russell casually draped the coat over his shoulder and continued walking with her until they reached the guest room area prepared for them.
"Well then, let's call it a night here."
Charlotte stopped in front of her room door.
"Yeah."
Russell nodded lightly, reached out, and pushed the door open. "Rest well."
Just as he was about to open the door, the girl's voice sounded again.
"Watson."
"Hm?"
Charlotte paused briefly, as if choosing her words carefully. "Tomorrow night… First, take care of yourself."
After finishing her sentence, she pushed the door open and stepped inside before Russell could respond, quickly closing the door behind her.
Russell waited a moment, then smiled faintly.
"Good night."
He whispered the words toward the closed door, then entered his own room.
He slept without dreaming.
…
The next day.
Russell woke up to the knock of the maids. He opened his eyes groggily, rolled over in bed, and stared blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling for a while. Then, the system interface appeared in his mind.
[Countdown: 16 hours]
After freshening up and changing clothes, Russell left the room. The atmosphere in Buckingham Palace today was clearly different from yesterday.
An invisible, heavy tension filled the air.
The number of servants and guards in the corridors had noticeably increased, each wearing a solemn expression as if preparing to face a formidable enemy.
"Good morning, Mr. Watson."
A maid was already waiting by the door and bowed lightly to him.
"Miss Holmes is waiting for you in the dining room. Shall I show you the way?"
"Yes, thank you."
Russell nodded.
Charlotte was already seated at the table in the dining room.
"Morning."
Russell walked over, picked up the menu, and casually ordered a few simple breakfast items.
Then he turned his gaze to Charlotte.
She had changed out of her black evening dress into the trench coat she had worn upon arrival. Her long, loose curls were now neatly tied into a high ponytail, giving her a more valiant impression.
"You woke up quite early today."
"I couldn't sleep."
Charlotte's reply was concise and to the point.
"Are you thinking about Moriarty?"
"I'm wondering in what form he'll appear."
Charlotte set down her coffee cup and gazed out the large window that stretched from floor to ceiling at the distant scenery.
"Mycroft has sealed off nearly every possible entrance and tripled the density of the surrounding security. Unless he can actually fly… sneaking into the princess's room unnoticed would be extremely difficult."
"What if he really can fly?" Russell asked casually after taking a sip of coffee.
Even if he could, it probably wouldn't work.
Charlotte shook her head. "If he shows up, he'll definitely be noticed."
"From the way you're speaking, you seem very confident in Mycroft's plan." Russell looked at her curiously. "Aren't you worried that Mycroft might have secretly given Moriarty an advantage without you knowing?"
"These locations were arranged by him and me, and I personally confirmed them. There are no issues." Charlotte added, "Besides, knowing Mycroft's personality, he wouldn't repeat the same mistake twice."
Russell nodded in agreement and began eating his breakfast.
Breakfast at Buckingham Palace was as magnificent as its reputation suggested.
After finishing the meal, Russell picked up his coffee with a satisfied expression and looked at Charlotte.
"So, when does my duty officially begin?"
"Wait until Her Highness wakes up." Charlotte said, "Once she's awake, stay by her side the whole time."
"From morning until night?"
"From morning until night."
"I see."
Russell nodded, set down his coffee cup, and stood up.
"I'm going to the restroom."
"Hm."
Charlotte nodded.
Russell entered the restroom and slowly closed the door behind him.
Then, he activated the system panel and used 1000 Malice Points to purchase a teleport anchor.
[Teleport Anchor Point purchased. Malice balance remaining: 2900]
With a faint humming sound in his ears, a small device appeared in his hand.
Without hesitation, Russell placed the anchor point in an inconspicuous corner of the bathroom, confirmed it would not be easily found, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Right after that, a familiar weightless sensation instantly enveloped his entire body. The scene before his eyes distorted rapidly like paint thrown into water, blurred, and then reformed.
In the blink of an eye, when he opened his eyes again, the surroundings were no longer the elegant and luxurious bathroom of Buckingham Palace.
Instead, he found himself in his familiar bedroom on the second floor of 221B Baker Street.
Morning sunlight streamed in through the windows, and a faint trace of his own scent lingered in the air.
"Perfect."
Russell wasted no time. He strode over to the bedside table, opened the drawer, and took out the music box he had personally repaired and carefully packaged.
He tucked the music box neatly into the inner pocket of his trench coat, then activated the teleport device again.
Light and shadow shifted. When he regained his balance, he was back in the quiet restroom of Buckingham Palace.
The entire process had been so smooth and quick that no one would suspect anything.
Russell straightened his collar in front of the mirror, confirmed there were no flaws, then pushed the door open and walked out slowly.
In the dining room, Charlotte remained seated, sipping her coffee.
"Are you okay?"
She looked up and glanced at him.
"If I weren't, I wouldn't be here," Russell said as he sat down opposite her. "It's just washing my hands—there's no way I'd spend thirty minutes in there."
Charlotte said nothing more and simply returned her attention to her coffee.
Meanwhile, Russell enjoyed the rare leisurely breakfast time without any guilt.
The two sat there in silence until a maid silently appeared at the dining room entrance.
"Miss Holmes, Mr. Watson," she bowed lightly. "Her Highness has woken up."
…
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