Princess Principal: A Game of Shadows

A Hidden and Forbidden Relationship

Keep in mind, this is one of my many first attempts at writing and completing a crossover fanfiction, so no burns, please. Constructive criticisms only.

I don't own Princess Principal, Moriarty the Patriot, the Sherlock Holmes original stories, or any other adaptations of Sherlock Holmes. I don't own any of its characters, or the image I used as the cover above. The only thing I own is the idea behind this crossover fanfiction.

As Ange predicted, Control ordered Ange and Dorothy to infiltrate the palace. She knew the assassination of Prince Edward would have far-reaching consequences.

Through their new assignment, Team White Pigeon proved their worth once more in the eyes of their employers, Control.

While they obtained critical information in the palace during their infiltration as servants, the hunt for the Lord of Crime was up to the Principal Team's remaining members.

Princess Mary was tutored extensively as she was now the first in line to the throne. She worked diligently. The Queen had asked for a tutor who wouldn't burden her too much, but still allow her to learn her future responsibilities as the future Queen.

She's still young, after all.

Prince Richard was ordered to return to the Kingdom after all his businesses in the New World were settled, which was due in a matter of weeks.

Princess Charlotte was ordered to remain in the palace for the time being. It's for her security. And it's good for her. She had more time with the Queen and the Royal family.

Security. Stability. Safety. All those things go hand in hand in the highest office of them all. In the eyes of one person in particular.

But it was easy to feel secure now as everything had been quiet in the palace since then. The same goes for Albion as a whole. Not a peep. No one played their hand in the game of shadows.

No one made their move. Yet.

It seemed that the Queen had become more cautious since... it happened. Despite presenting his reasoning to strengthen the Kingdom, she continuously refused the Duke of Normandy's request to use Princess Charlotte for altar diplomacy with the Russian Empire. Marrying her off to the Crown Prince, the heir apparent to the Tsar's throne.

Furthermore, her priority was Princess Mary. She wanted Princess Charlotte to stay in the Kingdom, to support Mary if she did ascend to the throne. Diplomacy with the Russian Empire could be handled by someone or something else besides altar diplomacy. There were always alternatives.

But, to the Queen, Mary's ascension was not a matter of if. It's a matter of when. She knew she would be leaving soon. What mattered was what she would leave behind.

The last thing she wanted was to send Charlotte off to marry a man she didn't love or leave Mary to sit on the throne alone, with no one by her side.

And she knew Charlotte and Mary were close to one another.

The Duke took it as a sign of weakness, but he didn't do anything beyond that. Despite being... who he is, he would never think of implementing coercion or threats when it involves the Queen. He respected her that way.

No one made their move in the game of shadows.

Until... another fateful meeting happened.

It was late May. Summer was just around the corner.

It was in yet another ball. Set for a special occasion.

The Duke of Normandy was there. Professor Moriarty was there. So was Albert James Moriarty. There was no sign of Louis there.