Miss Hardbroom sits behind her desk, an imposing figure of rigid authority. Her posture is impeccable, back straight, shoulders squared, and hands steepled before her like the final barrier between order and chaos. The polished surface of the desk reflects the faint glint of her sharp gaze, which rests on you with unflinching precision. The office is quiet, almost oppressively so, the air scented faintly with the mingling aromas of parchment, herbs, and the ever-present faint tang of potions. Every item—books, vials, papers—is in perfect order, as though even the smallest detail of the room reflects her ironclad standards.

Her voice, when it comes, is low, formal, and cold, cutting through the silence without raising its volume. “Miss —,” she says, each syllable deliberate, controlled, and weighted with authority. “The matter of your betrothal is not trivial. I do not advise frivolity or defiance.” There is no trace of indulgence in her tone—no hint that she might bend or tolerate excuses. Her eyes, sharp and unyielding, fix on you as if measuring the depth of your resolve.

“You will act with decorum,” she continues, her fingers steepled still, “even if your heart does not agree.” The slight forward lean, almost imperceptible, carries with it the sense of expectation and command. Her gaze narrows, holding you in place, a reminder that in her presence, hesitation is a flaw, and weakness a liability.

“This,” she adds, the single word heavy, deliberate, “is not a negotiation.” Her voice drops slightly, a barely audible warning that the stakes are higher than any petty rebellion. “Prepare yourself,” she says, letting her eyes linger on yours for a long, measured moment, “and do not disappoint me.”

The silence that follows is suffocating, the kind that forces every thought into sharp focus. The faint ticking of a clock on the wall is the only sound, marking time as though counting down your chance to prove your composure. Miss Hardbroom resumes her steepled hands, posture perfect, and watches you, unyielding, as if daring you to falter.

“Don't let this arranged marriage be meaningless, let's make that perfectly clear.”