Everything in the martial world was a memoir that reminded me of her.

–Emily Brontë of the Three Sisters of the Divine Pen, Wuthering Heights1

----------------------------------------

Her Majesty, seeing that Angerson had timeously grasped the royal will, much like the River Thames, withdrew her

wrath.

Had it not been so, those who spoke nonsense would have directly encountered a fateful event from a master of the Unrestrained realm.

Of course, they would have to bear the consequence of their jaws being turned.

“Indeed,

Her Majesty takes care of both the nobility and the gentry without discrimination!”

“Long Live

The Great Queen Victoria!!”

“Ahem, ahem…”

Returning with a more softened expression,

Her Majesty cleared the noisy ballroom with a couple of coughs.

Everyone, from the masters of The Royal Combat Society who had returned from the dining room, to the chaperones, the postmen, and even the gamblers and the Scotland Yard inspector hidden behind the one-way mirror, were all listening attentively to the

Queen’s Speech.

“Edmund Henderson, Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police, raise your head.”

“Your Majesty’s loyal servant, Edmund Henderson, is present.”

As Her Majesty called the Commissioner, the face of the murderer, Jonathan Drake, who had already turned pale, now turned a shade reminiscent of a blueberry.

Anyone unaware of the circumstances would think he was poisoned.

“Jonathan Drake is a criminal who violated the solemn laws of Great Britain and the rules of London Murim, and further, in a brutal manner, murdered his kin, thus defying the natural order. Edmund Henderson and his subordinate inspectors, arrest and escort him quickly, and punish him severely.”

“As You Wish, Your Majesty.”

In front of the Golden Gun, the inspectors who had shown a moment of fear surrounded the murderer with confidence, empowered by Her Majesty’s command.

“Y-Your Majesty!!

Ignoring the will of the late Queen Elizabeth embodied in the Golden Gun is not the right thing to do!!

The loyal subjects who have served the British Empire since the Tudor Dynasty will not stand idle!!!”

Even while being dragged away,

Jonathan Drake attempted a final act of desperation.

Despite having said with his own mouth that he had no complaints

about being judged by Her Majesty,

when it became a reality, he resisted by invoking the legitimacy of the Tudor Dynasty.

“…There is some truth in that.”

For some reason,

Her Majesty nodded in agreement with the man’s words.

-Thud.

Her Majesty, the Queen, walked towards the murderer with a gentle face, saying nothing.

The inspectors surrounding the criminal could not dare to guess her intention, but they stepped aside and bowed their heads.

In the world I originally lived in, such a thing would be unimaginable, but in this world,

Her Majesty the Queen is a master in the Unrestrained realm.

Everyone knew that Jonathan Drake’s skills

could not harm even a single hair of Her Majesty’s.

“What a truly dangerous weapon this is.”

Her Majesty picked up the long needle Jonathan used to murder his brother.

The needle, which Jonathan had lost while being beaten to a pulp by the debutantes I called onto the ring, had bent and dulled in the process of blocking several attacks, but the subsequent

words of Her Majesty seemed to disregard this entirely.

“When you wield such a sharp weapon, someone is bound to get hurt.”

It seemed that

Her Majesty’s standard of sharpness was quite different from mine.

Of course, I could fully guess her intention by saying that.

-Thud thud thud thud thud…

Her Majesty wielded the long needle with her right hand, pouring out formidable power, and soon a sharp needle aura emerged from the tip.

And in the next moment—

-BANG!!!!!

A deafening roar and shockwave swept through the ballroom.

Shards of the shattered chandelier were falling over people’s heads, but Her Majesty paid no mind and repeated the same motion several times.

-BANG!

-CRASH!

-BANG BANG BANG!

Precisely, when pierced with the needle infused with Enhanced energy, she repeatedly stabbed the fingertip of her left hand, specifically the ten vital points.

“Hmm. Is it still not working?”

Her Majesty sighed while gazing at her finger for a moment, then with a determined expression, she struck down with the needle at a speed invisible to the eye.

-BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!!!!!!!!

Fragments of the shattered floor scattered in all directions, brushing past my cheek.

“Good. It’s done.”

In less than five seconds, the ballroom was devastated.

As Her Majesty fanned the iron fan she wore on her waist, the thick dust rose and was swept out of the ballroom by a fierce gust.

“Sir Henderson.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty. I am here.”

As she looked around the cleared interior,

Her Majesty called out to the Commissioner and showed her left index finger.

Amazingly, at the end of the straight

jade-like finger, a small red drop of blood had formed.

“Though I forgot in the heat of the moment, I sustained a scratch earlier when subduing Jonathan Drake, from the needle he swung.”

“…?!”

“Let me ask, what crime has this person committed?”

After a brief silence, the Commissioner raised his head and reported to Her Majesty.

“To have wielded a weapon against Her Majesty and caused injury is a clear act of treason.”

Jonathan wore an expression of utter disbelief, but there was no one to defend him.

Logically, it is impossible to injure a master of the Unrestrained realm with just such a long needle.

Yet, as Her Majesty, the victim, was speaking directly, who would dare contradict her?

“Jonathan Drake!! Do you acknowledge your crimes?! Guards! Beat this man severely!”

As soon as Commissioner Henderson shouted, the inspectors rushed in and began to beat Jonathan.

“To witness the Hundred-and-Eight Inspector Formation in action and even see an offensive shift, how lucky.”

The inspectors resumed the arrest only after applying legal sanctions to Jonathan until he was nearly breathless.

“This long needle is a divine weapon capable of scratching my Diamond Indestructible body, so it shall be securely stored in Buckingham.”

Her Majesty watched as the treasonous criminal’s teeth scattered everywhere, thus erasing evidence, and no one could raise an objection.

“The accomplishments of the rising prodigies who attended this Debutante Ball have achieved remarkable accomplishments, and I commend them for it. Are the elders of The Royal Combat Society present?”

Following this, the members of The Royal Combat Society, who co-hosted the assembly with Wenham, bowed in response to Her Majesty’s call.

“Present the highest-grade reward to Little Heavenly Demon Sherlock Holmes and his partner, Discharged Medical Maiden, for their greatest contribution to solving the case. Distribute the remaining rewards according to the rules, starting with the three who contributed to subduing the criminal.”

“As Your Majesty commands.”

As soon as the Queen finished speaking, the couriers approached and handed a glass container with the inner core of the Unicorn Salamander to both me and Watson.

“Your Majesty’s

grace is immeasurable.”

After the greeting, the gaze

of the Queen was quite different from before.

It was as if

she was appraising a tribute offered to the Royal Family. I felt a chill down my spine.

“……”

Fortunately,

Queen Victoria did not question my impudence.

“Poppins.”

At Her Majesty’s call, a young lady-in-waiting, disguised as a chaperone, stepped forward with an umbrella.

“Send an invitation to the Buckingham Ball to Sherlock Holmes.”

“As Your Majesty commands.”

To invite me to a ball without even confirming my consent.

Her Majesty, without the slightest regard for my wishes, continued speaking with the same innocent smile she wore when playing the role of Lady Sunshine.

“Let’s have a game of chess or a sword duel next time.”

“It would be an honor beyond my means. I will train my utmost for that day.”

If I refused, I would surely end up like Jonathan over there, so I had no choice but to bow deeply and express my gratitude.

“I hope you can entertain me as much as your master did.”

“…?!”

-Flutter!

As soon as Her Majesty finished speaking, her maid opened an umbrella, and the two figures disappeared through the ceiling of Willis Room into the sky.

The story of my master defeating Her Majesty in both chess and duels, which I thought was a lie, turned out to be true.

“…How much did he tease her to make her say that?”

The grudges of the martial world are endless, and my master’s karma is being passed on to me in full.

----------------------------------------

Holding the hand of the maid-in-waiting who performed the Jacob’s Ladder, they disappeared into the sky.

A sigh escaped my lips as I watched Her Majesty.

It wasn’t particularly because I was worried about the hole in the ceiling of Willis Room.

It was simply because,

I was seriously anxious about not being the only one who had provoked Her Majesty’s temper.

“Umm…”

The Queen seemed to remember the defeat Master had handed her.

And I was going to be the one to fully bear that anger alone.

“Holmes. Am I dreaming right now? As if obtaining the inner core of the Unicorn Salamander wasn’t enough,

I got invited to Her Majesty’s ball.”

Meanwhile, Watson looked dazed, as if she couldn’t believe the series of fortunate events she experienced.

“…If this is a dream, it must be a nightmare.”

I muttered that, but it seemed Watson, who was quite excited, didn’t hear it.

I could have obtained the inner core with my skills even if there hadn’t been a murder case.

The important thing was

that Her Majesty was quite angry with me.

It seemed to be a problem that I had revealed her identity in front of people.

At least her anger seemed to have subsided due to the genuine tears of a sensitive 17-year-old boy.

Next month, Watson and I will be summoned to Buckingham for an awkward meeting with Her Majesty.

The problem is, as a person, I never preferred such gatherings. Having to put on airs in front of the noble lords gathered there.

Above all, I didn’t like the fact that there was a high chance Mycroft would attend the ball.

He is one of my few uncomfortable adversaries. I would prefer not to encounter him if possible.

“Bartholomew Turner. You are under arrest for your involvement in the murder of Francis Jacob Drake.”

As I was contemplating such thoughts, Lestrade’s voice, as loud as if he had swallowed a train whistle, resonated.

Turning my gaze toward the gamblers hidden behind the mirror, I saw an accomplice being dragged away.

It must be the man who informed the culprit about the mechanism that raises the ring.

He might have cooperated thinking the culprit merely intended to rig the match, but since a murder occurred, life sure is ironic.

“Strange.”

The gamblers slipped away while everyone was distracted by the accomplice being taken.

Watson, observing this, tilted her head as if something had occurred to her.

“Is something bothering you?”

“No. It’s just odd that no one is held accountable for betting on the duel outcomes without the knowledge of The Royal Combat Society.”

“Gambling isn’t exactly a crime. Don’t you often lose money playing cards in pubs?”

“How on earth did you…?”

“I followed you a few times and could tell.”

“…When?!”

It was a joke, but her reaction was excessive. Just like the Watson I knew before my regression, this Watson seems unable to resist gambling.

“Of course, there would have been those attempting match-fixing at last year’s or earlier Debutante Balls.”

“Yes! Match-fixing should be judged by the law.”

“Annoying as it is, we can’t know who did such things now. The police will probably let it slide this time.”

“That’s unfortunate. Indeed, quite some time has passed, so evidence of match-fixing tied to last year’s and the previous duels wouldn’t remain.”

Watson, nodding, suddenly started staring intently at my face.

“Is there something on my face?”

“It seems a shard grazed past earlier. There’s a small cut under your eye.”

“Hmm.”

As the hilt of the Heavenly Demon Cane was pushed with the thumb, my reflection appeared on the exposed blade. Just as Watson said, a thin streak of dried blood could be seen.

“Let’s hurry back home. I’ll apply some healing powder.”

It was then that a young woman in a purple dress suddenly slipped between us as Watson finished speaking.

Adorned with a luxurious mask encrusted with jewels, she exuded an enchanting aura. Her ear shape and eye color were familiar.

Another distinctive feature was the conspicuous mark beneath her unusually red lips.

“How do you do?”

“……”

A familiar face.

The face of a criminal I had faced before the regression.

1. TL/N: The original quote is as follows—Every cloud in the sky, every tree on the moor, the heather underfoot, all reminded me of her. ️