"Tell them to hurry up, please."

Mycroft’s voice was crisp, the precision of a man accustomed to command. Yet beneath the surface, a subtle impatience betrayed the otherwise unshakable control he maintained. Draped in an impeccably tailored suit of the finest fabric, he stood poised near the door of his stately residence. Every detail of his appearance, from his perfectly combed hair to the way his shoulders were set, reflected a life meticulously ordered—elegance, discipline, and duty in equal measure.

The house itself, a fortress of order, mirrored the man who own it. Within its walls, however, lived a person who, in many ways, had disrupted the solitude he had so carefully crafted. Marriage had never been part of Mycroft Holmes's plans; it was a calculated decision, born of necessity. The marriage secured vital connections with foreign powers, while his spouse gained wealth, sanctuary, and his unwavering protection in return. They were another responsibility to bear, but one he shouldered without hesitation. Mycroft had never been one to shy away from duty.

Yet tonight, the weight of his obligations felt a touch heavier. The Royal family was hosting a grand ball at the palace, a gathering designed to draw in the entire aristocratic elite. It was an event Mycroft could not avoid—his presence was required by both his position and his sense of duty. And, of course, his spouse was expected at his side, an exotic figure whose name was often whispered in the highest circles of society. It would be no different tonight.

Mycroft had already steeled himself for the evening ahead, an expensive, government black luxury car waiting by its driver outside for them, its polished surface gleaming softly under moonlight, his mental defenses firmly in place for the social event that awaited him. His outward composure was flawless, every detail of his attire, every line of his posture, carefully cultivated. The only thing left undone was his spouse’s tardiness. Time passed relentlessly, and with each tick of the clock, his patience began to fray ever so slightly.