The appearance is the most serious lie. The world is always deceived by it.
–William Shakespeare,
In fact, it wasn’t that my internal injuries worsened that I’m coughing up blood.
This is a natural occurrence after completing the first round of breathing exercises and activating the ridians during my healing process.
It was just a small amount of stagnant blood that had been gathered separately, coming out during the process of refining the ridians.
However.
“…My hands have gotten dirty.”
The sleeves of my robe, made from the fur of the Ancient Vicuña, repelled the blood perfectly without absorbing it, but my palms were covered in blood.
The state of my ridians isn’t good enough to ignite the blood with Buddha Fire.
Above all, if I carelessly scatter the ashes of incinerated blood on the carpet, the Etiquette Enforcent Special Maid Corps hiding in the floor and ceiling won’t leave alone.
I had no choice but to take out a handkerchief embroidered with the initials I.A. and wipe the blood off my hands.
Since I had used it once in the Grand Hall earlier, I had to use the side where the bloodstains hadn’t dried.
‘It’s sothing I have to return, but I’ve soiled it.’
As a gentleman, I felt a little sorry for the owner of the handkerchief.
Well, even if she is a criminal.
In fact, wiping the blood with the handkerchief was done with the confidence that my impression wouldn’t worsen to this extent.
There was another reason, but anyway.
Wasn’t it the other side that first hinted at having business with ?
‘…Irene Adler. She’s soone I need to speak to at least once.’
She was a client who used Moriarty’s cri consulting services before my regression, so she might be maintaining so kind of relationship with him in this world too.
She has already established her position in London’s social circles.
I haven’t yet t her, but she must have attended the royal ball.
It wouldn’t be bad to extract the necessary information from her.
If I get too greedy, it might result in exposing my existence to Moriarty, so it’s best to be as cautious as possible.
But first, the damaged ridians—
‘It’s a good thing I prepared in my own way… Otherwise, I would have suffered more severely.’
Fortunately, the extent of the internal injuries is manageable.
If I had to return without attending the ball, it would be quite disgraceful.
I assure you, if I had been wearing different clothes, it wouldn’t have ended like this.
What protected from the intense whirlwind of Essence was none other than the Henry Poole bespoke dinner suit.
Without this suit, which protects the wearer from tricks and hostile energy, I would have suffered twice as severe internal injuries.
Today, once again, my life is sustained by the help of others.
By Her Majesty, the tailors of the suit shop, and Watson.
Yes. Watson.
‘…It’s about ti she returns.’
Having refined the ridians and removed the stagnant blood, it’s ti to start proper treatnt with her help.
Is there about ten minutes left?
If I don’t begin treatnt within the next ten minutes, the damage to the ridians will linger, so I’ll have no choice but to use my Essence for self-healing, even if it’s a bit wasteful.
I walked to the window and watched the small fish tank with goldfish swimming in it, waiting for Watson.
I was looking forward to experiencing the effects of the dicantum Communionem which I had only heard rumors about.
If today isn’t the day, there’s nothing I can do.
If Watson brings the dicine, I’ll have to pretend to take it and hide it.
As I was thinking that.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Hols.”
Watson appeared, opening the door to the drawing room.
“Watson, you’ve co!”
As I answered Watson, I saw the face of the royal attendant over her shoulder.
“Once you’ve finished your treatnt and are resting, I’ll co to escort you before the Ball begins.”
The attendant, with an impeccable expression and attire, finished the greeting in a polite but emotionless tone and closed the door.
-Thud!
The room was left with just the two of us.
Watson, with a triumphant look, shrugged and showed the item she brought from the Wonder Drug Storage.
In her hand was a small wooden box marked ‘II’.
It was my first ti seeing it directly, but it seems to be the second pill of Factor VIII, the dicantum Communionem.
“I managed to bring it safely.”
“Amazing. I’ve never seen anything other than the first pill of Factor VIII. Thanks to you, I’m having a rare experience.”
“It’s nothing. After all, it’s thanks to you that I received an invitation to the royal ball.”
Watson scratched her head as if embarrassed.
“I was a bit late, but please understand. The Wonder Drug Storage is large, so it took ti to find it. Plus, the withdrawal procedure is rather complicated.”
“It’s not the royal palace for nothing, I guess. Rest assured. There’s still plenty of ti to use it for self-healing.”
“That’s a relief, but…”
Was the anxiety she had hidden in front of the royal attendant starting to show? Watson’s voice was trembling slightly.
It seed that watching perform precarious acrobatics in front of her earlier made her feel as if her ridians were being torn apart.
I could sowhat guess why she didn’t get angry with despite the repeated extre situations.
‘That must an she trusts that much.’
I have an obligation to repay Watson’s trust.
Even if not just for friendship, constantly worrying my assistant and physician is sothing I must avoid as an excellent consulting detective.
For now, while the royal attendant was away, I honestly wanted to express gratitude for her courage in requesting rest on my behalf in a situation that might incur Her Majesty’s wrath.
“Isn’t it astonishing? Just looking at the box containing the pill, you can already guess its value.”
Watson’s hand, holding the box with the dicantum Communionem, was trembling slightly.
Co to think of it, she showed a similar reaction when receiving the Unicorn Salamander’s Seasoned Pill at the Yongbong eting.
She seed nervous in front of a precious elixir she wouldn’t normally have the chance to touch.
Considering how she confidently gave her opinion as a physician in front of the Sword Queen and requested the dicantum Communionem from the royal attendant, it doesn’t seem like she’s lacking courage.
Is she worried about whether she can properly harness the power after administering the dicantum Communionem to ?
“Watson.”
“Hmm?!”
“I’m always grateful to you.”
“Wha-what’s with the sudden outburst?”
“I never imagined you’d ask for the dicantum Communionem there. I thought you’d ask for the usual dicine used in hospitals.”
When I spoke, Watson, with a startled expression, began to shift her eyes and look around.
She seed to recall the trials of the Forbidden Palace and the existence of the Etiquette Watch, which I had repeatedly emphasized a month before attending the royal ball.
“Th-that is…”
Isn’t she too scared even though we’re not openly bad mouthing Her Majesty?
“It’s okay. I know why you asked for the dicantum Communionem, so you don’t have to say it.”
“As expected of Hols. This is what it ans to have a kindred spirit.”
Watson, relieved that she didn’t have to say sothing that the Etiquette Watch could use to punish us, smiled slightly.
The reason Watson boldly asked for the dicantum Communionem, even though I could proceed with self-healing with ordinary elixirs, was simple.
She clearly chose the option that would most help improve my internal energy, using my injury as an excuse for treatnt.
Factor VIII, from the start, is not sothing easily accessible in daily life except for the first pill.
Because this is Buckingham Palace, boasting one of the largest reserves of elixirs in Great Britain, the dicantum Communionem is rely sleeping in the third Wonder Drug Storage. It’s rare to find the second pill even in the private vaults of wealthy or noble families.
“Considering your achievents, I thought Her Majesty wouldn’t mind a few elixirs.”
Watson boldly demanded the precious dicine from the royal attendant, relying solely on Her Majesty’s order to provide us with the necessary dicine.
With the certainty that the attendant couldn’t refuse.
“I don’t know what to say when you put it like that. It’s not like I did anything great.”
“Excessive humility isn’t helpful.”
Watson smiled slightly, as if she read my thoughts.
Excessive bravado and arrogant remarks are subject to punishnt under the strict rules of the Forbidden Palace, so I was intentionally being more humble than usual.
This isn’t just talk, my position has risen unbelievably, both subjectively and objectively.
At just twenty-eight, my posthumous index managed to resolve an issue that could have escalated into a diplomatic dispute with Italy, involving the Zion Clan’s headquarters, the Apostolic See in Ro.
Moreover, the person involved holds a secret that even the Sword Queen covets.
Such an important figure has suffered internal injuries.
What could this possibly an?
In simple terms, if the royal attendant, at their discretion, refuses to provide the elixir the physician requested for treatnt, it might upset .
This ans the likelihood of not accepting the Sword Queen’s proposal increases.
It suggests that I might promise the secret of the Indulgence Talisman to soone else for a reward, or be satisfied with the conditions presented by the Apostolic See and accept them, then remain silent forever (whether it’s by voluntary cooperation or not is another matter).
“You always surprise , but this ti it was twice as shocking as usual. How on earth did you learn the secret of the Zion Clan?”
It was then that Watson posed a difficult question.
For a mont, an old music box hidden in the corner of my lodging ca to mind, and I was overwheld with a strong desire to satisfy Watson’s curiosity, but I calmly suppressed it and answered.
“It’s hard to say it here, so I’ll tell you that story later when we return.”
“Oh dear. You’ve told over and over. That there are many ears listening in the palace…”
I nodded in affirmation.
“Yes. Besides the court ladies, there are many who listen in to our conversations. For example—”
I tried calling a na as a test.
“Like Mycroft, who’s eavesdropping over there.”
-Swish!
The next mont, the fish tank by the window turned pitch black in an instant.
The ink, disguised as water and goldfish with the power of Essence, revealed its true form inside the tank.
“What’s that…?!”
“It’s Mycroft’s unique weapon, Dusk Ink.”
“Ink?”
“Yes. Ink. It looks no different from ordinary ink, but it changes color and shape and moves freely according to the martial artist’s will.”
While I was speaking, the Ink in the tank was quickly crawling up the glass like a living creature.
“He was probably eavesdropping on our conversation by detecting the vibrations of our voices with the Ink poured into the tank.”
“Isn’t Mycroft your older brother? For what reason…”
“That’s what the butlers of the Secret Intelligence Service do. They’re a breed that lives for the joy of extracting others’ secrets.”
Before I could finish speaking, the Ink crawling up the window quickly began to take the form of letters.
“Eye skills, my foot. I just saw the empty tank through the window before entering the palace.”
I spoke to Mycroft, who was controlling the Ink from sowhere, with my back turned to Watson.
“I wouldn’t mind a request, but I’d prefer to avoid personal matters.”
With that short reply, the Ink seeped into the wall and disappeared completely.
“…That’s peculiar. Using ink as a unique weapon.”
“There are all sorts of eccentric people in the world.”
It wasn’t a big deal to , so I answered lightly, but Watson suddenly looked startled and wiped her face dry.
“Oh dear. Look at . This isn’t the ti to be chatting idly. We need to comnce the treatnt.”
“I was about to ask you anyway.”
“Alright. Then quickly swallow the dicantum Communionem and turn around. While you manage the pill’s energy and circulate it, I’ll proceed with the acupuncture.”
I obediently turned my back to Watson and sat cross-legged as she instructed.
Watson’s white hand appeared from outside my view and fed the dicantum Communionem, and I imdiately began to absorb its energy.
However.
-Snap!
Suddenly, a fingertip filled with a large amount of Essence struck my acupoints with lightning speed.
-Zap!
In an instant, without ti to react, movent of my entire body was sealed.
“…?!”
Unable to even turn my head, I struggled to speak, and the person who had perford the acupressure walked directly in front of , leaning in uncomfortably close.
“Watson?”
I could instinctively tell. I was sure.
The being in front of took Watson’s form, but it was definitely not the Watson I knew.
It wasn’t disguised with a Skin Mask or Face-Changing technique.
It was clearly mimicking another’s form with a strange sorcery from an Unorthodox Kung-Fu sect unknown to .
Judging by the hand movents during the acupressure and the Qi Frequency emanating from in front of , the opponent was a master surpassing .
The one I was talking to just monts ago was definitely the real Watson, so when did they switch?
“Who are you? Reveal your identity.”
“…Hee.”
Watson’s eyes, Watson’s nose, Watson’s mouth.
The stranger, with familiar features, instead of answering, smiled by stretching its lips wide to the sides.
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