Margaret froze in her tracks, her arrogant expression faltering as she stared at the newcomer. The man in the grey trench coat stopped right beside Lily, crouching down with calm, unhurried grace. In a tight, low-angle shot, his gloved hand reached out and gently picked up the golden pocket watch from the deck, brushing away a speck of frosting from its polished rim. He brought the timepiece closer to his face, inspecting the intricate inner workings visible beneath the open lid. The tiny mechanical gears ticked away with rhythmic precision, a subtle, steady sound that seemed to synchronize with the rising tension in the air. Lily looked up from the floor, her eyes shifting from terror to a flicker of profound hope as she recognized the signet ring on his gloved thumb. Margaret, on the other hand, backed away by a fraction of an inch, the color draining completely from her face as the man slowly stood up to his full height.