Sherlock froze for a moment. Seeing someone cut in line, he shrugged and decided not to make a fuss.
Unexpectedly, the person who had cut in turned around and looked at him. A pair of amber eyes appraised him for a few moments before he smiled and said, "Sherlock, right?"
Sherlock's body stiffened slightly. Without showing it, he took half a step back, growing wary. As far as he knew, almost no one at this banquet should have recognized him.
"You are...?" Sherlock asked cautiously.
"You don't need to know who I am. You only need to know that I know who you are," the other person said softly.
Sherlock's eyes flickered as he replied, "That's a bit of a tongue twister. My name is indeed Sherlock, but I really don't know you. Have you mistaken me for someone else?"
"There's no mistake. Not only do I know your name is Sherlock, I also know your full name is Sherlock Melrose, and that you come from the Southern Free Federation," the other person said in a low voice.
Sherlock clenched his hand, instantly on high alert. Looking at the other person, he nearly jumped as he guessed, "You... you were sent by the family to take me back?"
"Not at all." The other person smiled. "Don't worry. What I'm here for today has nothing to do with your family. Your family is currently searching for you in several capitals of the Soma Alliance. They won't find you here for the time being. You're safe."
"Then why are you looking for me?" Sherlock asked, somewhat puzzled.
"I need your help with something. Please deliver a letter to that friend of yours."
"Who?"
"Wizard Richard."
"Uh..."
The other person handed a letter to Sherlock, took a small sip of wine, and said,