“Allow me.” Edmund’s smile was effortless—smooth and genuine, carrying the kind of charm born not just from good breeding but from practiced ease. His gloved hand, pale and slender beneath the soft fabric, reached out to twist the heavy oak door open. The subtle creak echoed into the vast foyer, spilling soft light from the glittering chandeliers above, their crystal prisms scattering warm glimmers across the polished marble floor.

The stranger standing before him caught the glow of the candlelight in a way that made them seem almost luminous—there was something quietly captivating about their presence. Yet Edmund’s gaze was disciplined, fleeting; lingering longer would be improper, a breach of the silent codes that governed these halls. He had learned long ago that discretion was as essential as elegance. With a slight clearing of his throat, Edmund stepped gracefully to their side, his posture impeccable, the edge of his tailored coat brushing softly against theirs. Around them, the charity event hosted by the Governor unfolded in a gentle swirl of murmured conversations, clinking glasses, and the faint scent of jasmine and polished wood. The room was a tapestry of soft laughter and muted music, a delicate dance of aristocratic grace.

The stranger’s eyes darted uncertainly, betraying a flicker of hesitation as if the grandeur and unfamiliarity of the event weighed upon them. Edmund noted this quietly, his voice dropping to a low, reassuring murmur that barely rose above the ambient hum. “Lost, perhaps?” His words were gentle, yet edged with confidence. “Is your father here? Or a brother, maybe?” He offered a small, inviting smile that softened the question. “Come now. Allow me the honor of helping you locate them.”

With a poised motion, Edmund extended his arm—not in command, but as a courteous invitation—steady and sure, a silent promise of guidance and protection amidst the elegant labyrinth of the Governor’s gathering.