"In fact… yes. He is."
Mycroft somehow managed to keep his composure as he spoke.
"You may not know him, Your Majesty, but… he really is that bored."
"What do you mean?" The Queen frowned.
"I mean…" Mycroft took a deep breath, then said, "He spent an entire week collecting scandals on numerous prominent figures and aristocrats, even bringing back news of Lord Phineas Black's treason."
"And all of that had been nothing more than camouflage—an elaborate setup so he could infiltrate Buckingham Palace last night."
"For what?" the Queen demanded. "Just to get at my daughter's music box?"
"I don't know…" Mycroft admitted honestly. "However, this morning we made a new discovery."
"What is it?"
"A notice of intent."
As he answered, Mycroft slipped a hand into his pocket.
The moment those words left his mouth, Louise's heart lurched.
Did they discover the hidden message I sent?
She stared fixedly at Mycroft's movements and drew in a sharp breath when she saw him slowly take out a piece of stationery made of the exact same paper she had seen that day.
It's over… It's all over.
"Read it."
The Queen's command was calm, but brooked no refusal.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Mycroft nodded and began to read out the letter word by word.
Louise closed her eyes.
"'Your Highness, I would like to borrow your music box for a short time. I promise to return it to you in seven days. —Moriarty.'"
…Huh?
Louise's eyes flew open.
No, that wasn't right.
She was certain the message she had received that day had stated clearly: "I will come to take your most precious treasure."
And yet now, what Mycroft had read aloud was: "I would like to borrow your music box for a while."
Had that been a preliminary notice before an official proclamation?
Louise paused for a moment, then suddenly understood what was going on.
So that means… she still had a chance to meet Mr. Moriarty?
"Temporary?"
The Queen's voice, full of doubt and confusion, cut through Louise's thoughts.
"He went to all the trouble of turning London high society upside down just to… borrow a music box?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Mycroft folded the letter and tucked it back into his pocket, looking slightly at a loss. "Based on analysis of Moriarty's past actions, we can say with some certainty that he is indeed that sort of… well, capricious individual."
It was impossible to grasp his motives through common sense. He himself was synonymous with disorder and chaos.
"A madman," the Queen said coldly, delivering her verdict.
"Almost," Mycroft replied, carefully avoiding complete agreement.
The Queen fell silent, then turned to Louise again and softened her tone.
"My dear, is that music box really so important to you?"
"Well…" Louise nodded, then shook her head. "It was just… a birthday present from Father. It's old now, and broken."
"I see."
The Queen gently patted her hand in a comforting gesture. "Don't worry. Mr. Mycroft will take care of it."
"Scotland Yard will be assigning additional officers to strengthen palace security over the next week," she continued. "I will see to it that the thief cannot possibly get in."
"But… if he doesn't come, what will happen to my music box?"
Louise blinked, asking in all innocence.
"…"
For a moment, the Queen was at a loss for words.
After a brief silence, she changed tack.
"Then let him in. Once he returns the music box, bring him down."
As she said this, she turned to look at Mycroft.
"Mycroft, you'll take direct command of this matter. Do not disappoint me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Mycroft placed a hand over his chest, bowed, then withdrew from the room.
After he left, the Queen took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
"During this period, all your classes will be temporarily suspended," she told Louise.
"Ah, but… but I haven't finished my French lessons yet," Louise protested weakly.
"You talk as if you genuinely like it," the Queen teased, lightly tapping her daughter's nose. "You should be happy about this on the inside."
"Hehe…" Louise giggled in embarrassment, then suddenly remembered something.
"Um… I was supposed to have afternoon tea with Miss Mary today. Is she still allowed to come?"
"Afternoon tea?"
A tinge of surprise colored the Queen's voice, but when she saw the hopeful light in her daughter's eyes, the tense lines of her face eased a little.
"You mean that young lady from the Morstan family?"
"Yes." Louise nodded vigorously. "We made a promise…"
The Queen pondered for a moment.
"Very well," she said at last, relenting. "But just this once. You are not to leave Buckingham Palace. You must remain in your room."
"Of course!"
Louise's face immediately lit up with a radiant smile, as bright as sunlight sweeping away the oppressive gloom in the study.
"It's good for you to have more people around," the Queen said, shaking her head with a helpless but affectionate look. "That way you won't overthink things."
With her mother's permission secured, Louise finally felt as though a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
She stayed and chatted with the Queen for a while longer, mostly listening to her complain about that hateful thief and fret over the reputation of the royal family.
Louise listened quietly, nodding in agreement from time to time, though her thoughts were far away.
"Mother, if there's nothing else, I'd like to walk in the garden for a bit and get some fresh air," she said at last, seizing on an excuse and treading carefully with her words.
"Go on, then," the Queen said with a wave of her hand, the fatigue in her face now more obvious. "Don't catch a chill."
"Yes, Mother."
Louise dropped into a flawless curtsey, then turned and slowly left the study.
But the moment the heavy door closed behind her, the princess like dignity and grace she had been maintaining vanished without a trace.
She lifted the elaborate layers of her skirt and, in her delicate leather shoes, dashed down the long, red carpeted corridor like a bird that had suddenly been freed from invisible shackles.
She knew Mr. Mycroft couldn't have gone far.
Sure enough, at the end of the corridor, she spotted a familiar, upright figure.
"Mr. Holmes, please wait!"
Her clear, slightly breathless voice echoed down the empty hallway.
Mycroft stopped and turned around. He saw the princess running toward him, one hand holding up her skirts. His face still wore that gentle, mild smile.
"Your Highness," he said, inclining his head. "Do you have further orders for me?"
"It's about that letter… the letter," Louise said, hurrying up to him. The dash had left her a little out of breath, and a healthy flush colored her pale cheeks.
"The new notice Mr. Moriarty left—do you still have it?"
"Of course I do, Your Highness."
Mycroft was a bit surprised, but he still took out the neatly folded letter from his pocket.
"What is it?"
"Actually… um…"
Louise hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting about, then forced herself to arrange her face into something serious as she held out her hand.
"Mother said she wants to have a closer look at it, so… could you give it to me?"
It was a poor lie.
Anyone who thought about it for even a second—or didn't think at all—could see right through it.
Mycroft gazed at the girl before him. Her amber eyes, guilty because she was lying, unconsciously avoided his, yet she couldn't quite hide the excitement and anticipation shining in their depths.
For no particular reason, he was suddenly reminded of a certain equally troublesome little sister.
He chose not to expose her, only smiled, and courteously placed the letter in Louise's hand.
"Of course, Your Highness," he said. "Just be sure you hand it to Her Majesty yourself."
"O okay."
Louise took the letter as if it were a priceless treasure, gripping it tightly as though afraid it might be snatched away by the wind and vanish before her eyes.
"Thank you, Mr. Holmes."
She gave him a hurried curtsey, then, no longer able to contain her excitement, turned and ran back toward her bedchamber.
Mycroft remained where he was, watching her go. Her light, almost skipping figure made him shake his head helplessly.
Yet at the corner of his mouth there was the faintest hint of a smile, so slight that even he himself didn't notice.
"If only Charlotte were this easy to handle," he thought.