Lorraine's hand tightened instinctively around Leroy's arm. She looked up at him, searching for a reaction, but his expression remained composed: calm and deliberate, a mask of control that had always reassured her.
She wondered, fleetingly, if this too was part of his plan.
Yet, the ripple of unease that swept through the hall was unmistakable. Even amid the gilded light, the gentle laughter, and the fading music, the presence of royal command had the power to still every heart.
Leroy inclined his head toward her, their eyes meeting for the briefest heartbeat. No words passed between them, but she understood. She always did.
He released her hand gently, but with quiet finality, and stepped toward the guard with the same unhurried composure that marked every one of his decisions.
