"Hello." Russell nodded politely. Charlotte, standing beside him, hummed a light tune in place of a greeting.
"Your rooms are ready," Mycroft said, stepping aside. "If you'd like, please take a look first and let us know if there's anything else you need. Feel free to ask for anything. Buckingham Palace will do its utmost to accommodate your wishes."
"Do we really need to make such a fuss for just one night?" Russell couldn't help but blurt out.
"Even for a stay of just one day, as honored guests of Buckingham Palace, you should naturally be welcomed with the utmost courtesy." Mycroft laughed. "Allow me one correction, Mr. Watson. It will be two nights."
Mycroft gestured for them to enter and led them into the magnificent palace.
The interior was far more luxurious than Russell had imagined. He had visited once before, but that time he had come with a clear purpose. With limited time and workload, there had been no opportunity for sightseeing. This time was different.
The soaring dome was adorned with intricate murals, and the enormous chandeliers shone brilliantly like frozen waterfalls.
The floor beneath their feet was gleaming marble, and the walls on both sides displayed precious portraits of monarchs from past dynasties. Servants and maids, all dressed in crisp uniforms, moved quietly down the corridors with perfect manners. Each time Mycroft and his party passed, they bowed respectfully.
"Your room is on the third floor of the west wing," Mycroft said as he led the way. "It offers a wide view overlooking most of the gardens and is not far from Her Highness's bedroom, making it the finest vantage point."
He explained the situation at a leisurely pace, but Russell listened absentmindedly, his gaze fixed on the surrounding security measures. Compared to last time, the security arrangements this time had clearly undergone a qualitative leap in improvement. Fully armed royal guards could be seen roughly every ten meters. Their placement was extremely clever, forming a perfect crossfire with no blind spots.
"You've really gone to a lot of trouble," Charlotte remarked.
"It's never too late to mend the fence even after the sheep are gone." Mycroft replied in a calm tone.
The three soon arrived at the guest room area prepared for Russell and Charlotte. Mycroft pushed open one of the doors. "This is your room, Mr. Watson."
When Russell stepped inside, the space was even larger than he had imagined—nearly the size of the entire ground floor of 221B Baker Street.
"If you need anything, simply pull the bell beside the bed at any time." Mycroft finished speaking and pushed open the door to the adjacent room. "Charlotte, this one is yours."
Charlotte stepped inside, casually looked around, and then came back out.
"When does dinner start?" She asked in a tone completely devoid of politeness.
"Precisely at seven o'clock in the banquet hall." Mycroft glanced at his pocket watch. "You still have two hours. You may rest a little or take a stroll around the palace."
"I need the complete security layout and information on the points where Moriarty is most likely to infiltrate." Charlotte requested directly.
"Of course," Mycroft nodded. "It's all prepared. It's in your room. Any questions?"
"Not for now."
"Watson?"
"I have none either."
"Very good." Mycroft smiled and said, "Then I won't disturb you two any further."
With that, he turned and left. His tall figure quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Russell tossed his bag onto the bed and sank down into it.
"So soft…" he exclaimed from the bottom of his heart, then rolled over.
"So, when the time comes, should I follow your instructions or Mycroft's?"
"Listen to me." Charlotte answered without hesitation. "You just need to stay by the princess's side. The only condition is that you never take your eyes off her."
"Is it really that simple?"
"That's all there is to it." Charlotte nodded.
"I thought I'd be sent out on patrol or something."
Russell sat up on the bed.
"You aren't needed for patrol duty. Mycroft has already arranged for the guards. Compared to beginners, they are clearly professionals."
"Then why aren't you going to guard the princess?" Russell asked again. "Isn't Moriarty's target the princess?"
"I don't like stakeouts to catch people. It's pointless." Charlotte said. "Moriarty's ultimate goal is the princess, but there must be a process before he achieves it, right? So, you're planning to… intercept it?"
"You could say that." Charlotte still avoided making any firm statements. "Tonight, I intend to inform Mycroft of the arrangements and have all the security personnel around the princess dismissed. Tomorrow night will be private time with just the princess and you. And the only thing you need to do is—"
"I'm the only one who can get close to the princess, right?"
"That's correct." Charlotte nodded. "No matter who you see or whose voice you hear—whether it's me, Mycroft, or even Her Majesty the Queen—they're all the same. We will not approach you or even enter your line of sight. If anyone else appears, it must be Moriarty. Understood?"
"Understood." Russell nodded.
"Very good." Charlotte nodded in satisfaction, then turned and headed to her own room.
He was the only one left in the room. Russell rolled around several times on the soft bed, savoring the luxurious feel of the fine fabric against his skin, and couldn't help letting out a contented sigh. "It's been so long since I slept in such a soft bed."
He lay on the bed, staring at the dazzling crystal-and-gold chandelier hanging from the ceiling, lost in various thoughts. Charlotte's plan seemed perfect. She would eliminate all security forces around the princess, positioning herself as the sole line of defense, then attempt to intercept the princess midway. It was like a mantis stalking a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it, lying in wait for the princess.
The most important point was that Moriarty did not harm people indiscriminately. That was precisely why she had boldly placed the seemingly most incompetent person—himself—right beside the most important princess. Even the most useless person could at least open their mouth and scream, right?
"Hey, listen up? My vocal cords are locked at home."
This had become the perfect stage for him. Who could have imagined that the man lurking beside the princess was actually Moriarty himself?
At that moment, all he had to do was use a magical tool to make a little noise, vanish from the princess's sight, find a hiding spot, and then launch a bold attack in Moriarty's form.
This move is called—The enemy is at Hidden in plain Sight!