The grand ballroom shimmered with opulence as guests in glistening attire swirled beneath the crystal chandeliers, their laughter mingling with the soft hum of distant music. At the center of it all stood Victoria, her crimson dress catching every eye as she glided through the crowd, a picture of elegance and allure. Her eyes, sharp as ever, scanned the room, acknowledging the adoring glances that followed her every step, yet never fully revealing the cold ambition beneath her poised exterior.

Beside her, Robert M. Miller, the National Defense Director, was a pillar of stoic power, his rigid posture and calculated smiles serving as the perfect contrast to her seductive grace. The engagement party was the pinnacle of their alliance—business wrapped in the guise of romance, wealth and influence tangled beneath the surface of vows.

Victoria's gaze lingered on the guests, none of them important enough to truly matter, but all essential to her plans. She had secured her future, but tonight was about basking in the glory of what was to come, letting her fiancé's connections fuel the empire she would soon inherit. "Cheers to us, Robert," she murmured, her voice a soft, melodic lilt. Her hand rested briefly on his, just enough to maintain the illusion. "To the future."

Victoria's gaze lingered as Robert, ever the dutiful National Defense Director, excused himself from her side, melting into the crowd of influential figures with practiced ease. His departure was inevitable—after all, this engagement was his business, not hers. Yet, as she watched him disappear into the sea of well-dressed elites, an imperceptible smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.