Russell slowly awakened from sleep. The first thing he saw was the girl beside him capping her pen.
Mary, noticing the movent beside her, turned toward him and smiled.
"Awake?"
"Awake," Russell nodded, rubbing his eyes. He hadn't realized at all that he had been posing as soone else's model for several hours.
"Here's today's notes."
Mary closed her notebook and handed it to him.
As usual, Russell reached out, took it, and slipped it into his bag.
Mary gazed at the exchange carefully, then looked away with a satisfied expression.
"Let's go."
She stood up first and walked toward the door. Seeing her sowhat cheerful deanor, Russell couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
What's gotten into her?
The two of them left the classroom one after another. In the lingering glow of the sunset, their shadows stretched long across the ground.
"You seem to be in a good mood," Russell said, matching her pace as he walked beside her.
"Am I?"
Mary turned toward him. Her blue eyes sparkled in the sunset as she smiled. "Maybe it's because today's sunlight is so beautiful."
Seriously?
Russell unconsciously tightened his trench coat. "What's so great about it?"
"Well… maybe because the lesson was relatively easy?"
"What exactly is there to be happy about?"
"..."
Mary fell silent for a mont, then let out a quiet sigh.
"Asking too many questions can sotis make the other person feel awkward. I just wanted to share this joy with you."
Russell sighed.
"It seems like a terribly thick wall has already ford between the two of us."
The girl widened her eyes in silence. A faint look of helplessness appeared on her face.
"Yes, I admit it," she said softly. "It's just that I found sothing interesting."
"Sothing interesting?"
Russell's curiosity was piqued. "About what?"
Mary gave a mysterious smile. "It's a secret. I can't tell anyone."
"…Why are you so much like Charlotte?" Russell blurted out. "You all keep the sa kinds of secrets, don't you?"
"What happened with Charlotte?"
Mary asked with great interest.
"Yesterday, she gave a weird nickna."
Russell pursed his lips. "I asked her what it ant, but she wouldn't tell ."
"What was the nickna?"
"I'm not saying. It's way too embarrassing."
"Oh?"
Mary's eyes instantly lit up, her beautiful blue pupils sparkling. She leaned in, lightly nudged Russell's arm with her elbow, and spoke in a low, coaxing tone.
"Co on, tell . I promise I won't tell anyone."
"No."
Russell remained unmoved. "If this gets out, my dignity will be completely destroyed."
"Really no use?"
Mary asked again, refusing to give up.
"It definitely won't work."
"Can't be helped."
Seeing Russell's resolute attitude, Mary could only sigh in disappointnt, but the smile in her eyes grew even deeper. She looked away, clasped her hands behind her back, and walked forward with light steps. Her skirt swayed gently in the evening breeze.
"However," she said, as if rembering sothing. She turned back with a mischievous smile. "Even if you don't want to say it, I can probably guess that the nickna Charlotte gave you has sothing to do with cats, right?"
Russell paused for a mont, then quickly returned to his usual pace.
"I'm sorry, but your guess is wrong."
"Hm?"
The girl blinked, careful not to let her lie show. "That's a sha."
The two continued walking toward the school gate, engaging in light, trivial conversation.
"Well then," Russell said, stopping. "See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
Mary also stopped. She watched Russell's figure disappear around the street corner, then climbed contentedly into her own carriage.
Pleasant tis always passed by in the blink of an eye.
…
When Russell returned to 221B Baker Street and saw that the second-floor door was still closed, he realized that soone had once again gone the whole day without eating.
"Russell, you're finally back."
The mont Mrs. Hudson saw him, she looked as if she had seen a savior. Charlotte had shut herself in her room again and hadn't eaten anything all day.
"Mrs. Hudson, you'll get used to it eventually."
Russell lightly patted Mrs. Hudson's hand.
How on earth could anyone get used to this…?
"Leave it to , alright?"
Russell cut off Mrs. Hudson's complaints and picked up the sandwiches on the table.
He carried the still-warm sandwiches upstairs.
Standing in front of Charlotte's door, instead of knocking, he pushed it open and entered.
Inside the room, Charlotte was sitting in an armchair, surrounded by piles of docunts. She had changed into an oversized bathrobe at so point. Her hair hung loosely over her shoulders, giving off a languid beauty.
She heard the door open but didn't turn around. She simply said,
"If you're not here to help, just leave the stuff and make so coffee."
Drinking coffee on an empty stomach is not recomnded.
Russell walked over to her and handed her the plate. Charlotte's nostrils were instantly filled with the aroma of wheat and smoked at.
"Make soup first. Then I'll eat."
Charlotte turned her face, glanced at the beautifully arranged sandwiches on the plate, then looked at Russell and said,
"Eat first. Then I'll make the soup."
Russell didn't move an inch, his outstretched hand remaining exactly where it was.
The two stared at each other blankly. Finally, Charlotte gave in.
"Tch."
She clicked her tongue in annoyance, then picked up a sandwich and took a bite right in front of Russell.
"Satisfied?"
Charlotte muttered sothing incoherent. "Or do I have to swallow it in front of you and open my mouth so you can check whether it counts?"
"That sounds a bit perverted."
Russell said, then turned around to boil water for coffee.
He picked up the coffee cup. It looked as if it had been marinated, but after a glance, he frowned.
How many cups has she had today?
Do you keep track of how many slices of bread you eat?
"Eating too much bread might just make your stomach feel full, but drinking too much coffee can lead to sudden death."
As he spoke, Russell carried the cup—clearly stained with thick coffee residue—to the sink and carefully rinsed it with clean water.
Charlotte didn't argue. She chewed the sandwich in her mouth while shifting her gaze back to the docunts beside her.
"Any discoveries?"
Russell picked up the can of coffee grounds, thought for a mont, then set it down and grabbed the milk instead.
"Discovering that these people were evading taxes—does that count as a discovery?"
"That's wonderful. The tax office will be thrilled."
"But I'm not happy."
Charlotte said,
"The sample size is too large, so the chances of finding useful clues in a short ti are low."
"The only interesting thing was that there was an acquaintance on the list."
"Who?"
"Arthur Morstan."
"Arthur Morstan?"
Russell raised one eyebrow. "Mary's father?"
"Mhm."
Charlotte nodded. "His safe is in Vault No. 12."
"So… do you think he has so connection with the Professor? Or do you think he himself is the Professor?"
Russell poured the ward milk into the coffee cup, solemnly added two spoonfuls of coffee grounds, stirred, and handed it to Charlotte.
"It's just a coincidence. At the mont, there are no further discoveries."
Charlotte took the cup and drank a sip. Imdiately afterward, she frowned.
"Watson."
"Hm?"
"I asked you to make coffee, right?"
"Hm."
"Can you explain what this white liquid in my hand is?"
"Coffee."
Russell replied without changing his expression. "Just that there was a bit too much milk."
"You call adding less than 10 grams of coffee grounds to 500 ml of warm milk 'a bit too much milk'?"
…
…
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