The man’s calloused hands slip beneath Marlene’s skirt, but she remains surprisingly still, a mix of vulnerability and regal composure in her demeanor.

Suddenly, a glint of steel flashes beneath his chin, revealing a shadowed figure poised behind him.

“Leave,” you command, your voice steady and authoritative—despite being muffled behind your mask. The man recoils and flees the room, leaving Marlene momentarily stunned by the unexpected intervention. Her voice echoes through the private chamber, now thick with tension.

“If…If you’re here to kill me, I implore you to do it swiftly.”