Led by a maid, the two of them passed through the corridor and arrived before the door of Louise's bedroom.
"From here on," Charlotte halted at the doorway, turning her head to give Russell one last reminder.
"Your task begins. Remember what I told you."
"Mm." Russell nodded. "Understood."
Charlotte said nothing more, only giving him a long, deep look before turning and walking away, her figure soon vanishing around the bend of the corridor.
The maid pushed the door open for Russell. "Mr. Watson, please."
Russell drew a deep breath and stepped inside.
Within the bedroom, Louise was seated before her dressing table, a maid combing through that head of soft, golden hair for her.
Today she wore a pale blue dress, its hem adorned with white lace, making her look like a hyacinth on the verge of blooming—fresh and delicately charming.
She looked for all the world as though she had dressed up in her finest, awaiting the arrival of a certain someone.
"Good morning, Your Highness." Russell came to a stop a short distance behind her and gave a slight bow.
"Good morning, Mr. Watson." Louise watched Russell in the mirror, a bright smile blossoming across her face.
After arranging the last of the princess's hair into a bun, the maid at her side curtsied and withdrew, leaving only the two of them in the room.
"Where's Miss Holmes?" Louise rose to her feet and asked curiously.
"She and Mr. Mycroft have more important matters to attend to," Russell explained. "So today it's just me keeping you company."
"I see." Louise nodded thoughtfully, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger.
"Oh, that's right, Mr. Watson." The girl suddenly thought of something, rising from her chair and walking up to Russell.
"Hm?" Russell looked at her curiously. "What is it?"
"What do you think of this outfit of mine?" Louise gave a nervous little spin.
"I mean... from the perspective of a man, how does it look?"
At her words, Russell was momentarily taken aback, and then a knowing smile spread across his face.
"I think... Mr. Moriarty should quite like it."
Hearing this answer, a flush rose swiftly to the girl's cheeks.
"I... I didn't mean it like that... it's just..."
Louise stammered, trying to defend herself, but looking into Russell's smiling eyes, in the end she could only swallow the words back down, lowering her head in some embarrassment.
Russell did not go on teasing her about it, instead turning his gaze toward the window and steering the conversation elsewhere of his own accord.
"The sunshine is lovely today, Your Highness. Would you like to go out for a walk?"
"May I?" Louise's eyes lit up instantly as she looked out the window.
"I thought I'd have to stay cooped up in the room all day long."
"My task is to ensure your safety, not to restrict your freedom," Russell said matter-of-factly.
"Of course, we can't go too far, and we must stay within sight of the others."
"What... what if I get scolded for it?"
"Then just say it was my idea." Russell gave a slight smile. "Besides, I don't think Moriarty will show up at a time like this."
"I... I think so too!" Louise nodded vigorously.
"Then wait for me a moment—I'll go find a shawl."
So saying, she turned and pulled open the wardrobe, searching for a shawl suitable for going out.
Russell watched the girl's busy, eager figure before the wardrobe, then quietly shifted his gaze to the waist-high storage cabinet of padauk wood standing beside her.
The cabinet was of an elegant style, carved with intricate rose patterns, looking more like a work of art than a piece of storage furniture.
Most importantly of all—it was not locked.
While Louise had yet to find the shawl she fancied, Russell slowly approached that storage cabinet.
Then, he drew that music box out of the pocket of his trench coat.
He gently pulled open the cabinet door, settled the music box steadily into the most open spot within, and then soundlessly closed the door again.
His upgraded [Stealth] and [Sleight of Hand] were pushed to their utmost in that moment.
The whole process was as smooth as flowing water, done in a single breath, taking less than three seconds.
By the time he had returned to his original spot and resumed that relaxed, casual posture with both hands tucked in his pockets, Louise had at last reached her conclusion.
She had chosen an orange-yellow shawl, complementing the pale blue dress she wore perfectly.
"How is it, Mr. Watson—does it look nice?"
The girl's face brimmed with a radiant smile, those lovely amber eyes filled with the light of anticipation.
"Of course," Russell was not stingy with his praise.
"It makes you look like the brightest sunflower in the whole garden."
"Really?"
Receiving the compliment, Louise's smile grew all the more radiant.
"Let's go, Mr. Watson! We're off to the garden!"
She took the initiative to tug at Russell's sleeve, running toward the door like a little bird that couldn't wait to fly out of its cage.
"Slow down, Your Highness," Russell, being pulled along by her, reminded her somewhat helplessly. "Careful you don't trip and fall."
The two of them walked out of the bedroom, one ahead and one behind.
The guards at the door, seeing the two of them emerge, instinctively made to follow, only to be stopped by a single glance from Russell.
"We're just taking a stroll in the garden—we won't leave your line of sight," Russell said.
The guards hesitated for a moment, but recalling Mycroft's earlier instructions, in the end they nodded and withdrew to their posts.
The royal garden today was even more heavily guarded than the night before.
At nearly every junction and every corner stood at least two fully armed royal guardsmen.
Their gazes were sharp, sweeping over every corner of their surroundings like hawks, letting not the slightest suspicious movement slip past.
Louise seemed entirely unaffected by this tense atmosphere—or perhaps it was that she had long grown accustomed to this ever-present surveillance.
Still in high spirits, she pulled Russell along through the garden, introducing him to all manner of flowers.
Russell listened patiently, and always offered the most fitting remark.
The two wandered from the garden to the gallery, and along the way happened to run into Charlotte.
"Good afternoon, Miss Holmes." Louise took the initiative to wave to Charlotte in greeting.
At this, Charlotte was first taken aback, then nodded and gave Louise a smile by way of response.
"What are you two doing here?"
She asked softly, her tone sounding gentle, yet Russell read a trace of chill within it.
"Her Highness felt the room was a bit stuffy, so I brought her out for a walk."
Russell answered before Louise could open her mouth, shouldering the responsibility himself.
Charlotte shot him a glance but said nothing, only letting out a flat "Mm."
"Is Miss Holmes on patrol as well?" Louise asked curiously.
"Just taking a look around." Charlotte withdrew her gaze, her tone returning to its usual calm.
"Then... have you found anything?" Louise's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Regrettably, nothing for now." Charlotte shook her head. "Perhaps I'll have to go look elsewhere."
"Then may I come along with you?" Louise asked hurriedly. "I mean—Mr. Watson and I, following along with you."
Hearing this, Charlotte couldn't help but frown. She wanted to refuse, yet didn't quite know how to put it.
And so, in the end, Charlotte could only turn her gaze toward Russell.
—You know what to do.
Seeing this, Russell raised an eyebrow, and then it dawned on him.
Got it.
"Your Highness, Charlotte says she doesn't mind."
"?"
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