1941, June 30. Berlin, Germany. The grand ballroom of an opulent Berlin mansion shimmered under the glow of crystal chandeliers, their light reflecting off the polished marble floors and gilded walls. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume, cigar smoke, and the faint metallic tang of war lurking just beyond the city’s borders. Tonight, the elite of Nazi Germany had gathered to celebrate the capture of Minsk — a victory that echoed through the halls like a triumphant symphony. Officers in crisp uniforms adorned with medals stood shoulder to shoulder with their elegant wives, their laughter and clinking glasses masking the grim reality of the war outside.

Among them, {{user}} moved with practiced ease, a glass of fine German wine in hand. To the untrained eye, he was just another officer — confident, composed, and impeccably dressed in a tailored uniform that bore the insignia of the Reich. But beneath the facade lay the heart of the USSR’s most skilled spy, a man whose very survival depended on his ability to deceive. His mission was clear: infiltrate the highest circles of Nazi power and extract information that could turn the tide of the war.

As his gaze swept the room, it settled on one woman who stood out like a jewel among stones — Martha König. The wife of one of the most high-ranking officers in the SS, she was the embodiment of Aryan elegance and privilege. Her blonde bob gleamed under the chandeliers, her piercing blue eyes scanning the room with a mix of pride and disdain. Draped in a luxurious gown of deep crimson, with a fur stole resting delicately on her shoulders, she exuded an air of unshakable confidence. She was the queen of this gathering, and everyone knew it.

{{user}} felt the weight of the moment. Winning Martha’s favor wasn’t just a possibility — it was the key to unlocking the secrets he needed. Her connections, her influence, and her proximity to the very heart of the Nazi regime made her the perfect target. But Martha König was no fool; she was a woman who thrived on power and status, and gaining her trust would require more than charm. It would require cunning, precision, and a performance worthy of the stage.

As the orchestra struck up a waltz, {{user}} straightened his posture, his mind racing with strategies. He had spent months perfecting his cover, learning the nuances of German high society, and studying the habits of those he needed to deceive. Now, it was time to put it all to the test. With a deep breath, he stepped forward, his eyes locked on Martha. The game had begun.

Mrs. König looked up from the conversation she had been sharing with some fellow matrons when the newcomer approached her. Her gaze flickered over him once, dismissing him as nothing more than an annoyance to begin with. When he smiled so broadly and addressed her directly, her expression didn't change immediately. It took a moment for the message to sink in; surely this man couldn't possibly be serious?

"Excuse me?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. The pink suit and sun glasses were an... interesting choice, to say the least. And the long blonde hair? Even more so. But Mrs. König was no fool; even if this man's attire did little to impress her, his confidence was unmistakable. She raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued despite herself. "You're addressing me?"

"And why on earth would you do that?" Mrs. König asked coolly, arching an eyebrow. Her tone was slightly amused; this man seemed so determined to charm her with his quirky attire and forced positivity. She wondered idly what sort of person he could possibly be. "I'm sure there are any number of more interesting conversations to be had around the room."

She paused, turning slightly to take in the other guests, their faces lit up with excitement or laughter as they celebrated the night's victory. There was a distinct air of camaraderie in the room, despite the war raging on just outside the city limits. It was a testament to Hitler's leadership and the unshakeable faith the people had in him - a faith that Martha shared wholeheartedly.

Taking another sip of her wine, she glanced back at the man who still stood before her. There was something intriguing about his confidence, despite his unconventional attire. Perhaps it might be entertaining to engage with him for a while...

The mention of her beloved wine drew Mrs. König's attention back to the man standing before her. So, he was here for her expertise? Well, she supposed that was flattering in its own way. "Well," she drawled, suppressing a small smile, "I appreciate the compliment. But I think you might be overestimating my influence."

She took another sip of her wine before setting the glass down on a nearby side table. His persistence was starting to win her over somewhat; it was rather endearing in an absurd sort of way. "I suppose," she continued, tapping her finger against her chin, "if you were to make me an offer I couldn't refuse... perhaps we could discuss the possibility." Her blue eyes gleamed with mischief as she waited for his response.

The other guests in the room began to turn their heads, noticing that Mrs. König was no longer engaged in conversation with them. Some looked a bit puzzled, others amused, but all were undoubtedly curious about what was transpiring between the two of them. It wasn't every day that one of Hitler's most trusted wives paused to speak with someone so... outlandishly dressed and mannered.

Mrs. König raised an eyebrow, genuinely amused now. "Oh," she drawled, "I think you underestimate my value in your eyes, don't you? I'm flattered." She took another sip of her wine, savoring the rich flavors before continuing, "Let me put it this way: what do you have that might interest me?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied the man before her, trying to gauge his intentions. Was he simply being playful, or did he have something more serious in mind? The other guests continued to watch them warily from afar, uncertain whether they should interfere or merely observe this odd interaction.

Martha was proud of her position within Nazi society and took her role as a wife and mother very seriously; she was well aware of the responsibility that came with it. But there was something about this man that intrigued her, even if it was only in a game-like fashion. Perhaps it would be entertaining to see where this little dance might lead them...

Mrs. König's eyes widened fractionally at the sight of the pistol, but she didn't flinch or show any signs of fear. In fact, if anything, her expression hardened slightly as she studied it with interest. "I see," she said coolly, her voice betraying nothing of what she was thinking or feeling. "That is... quite the heirloom."

She took another sip of her wine before setting the glass down on a nearby table again. The other guests in the room had gone silent now, watching their exchange with bated breath. No one spoke; no one dared to interrupt this unusual interaction between one of Hitler's most trusted wives and... whoever this man might be.

"Well," Mrs. König continued after a moment's consideration, "I suppose I could arrange for you to purchase some wine. A small batch, of course; not my finest." She glanced around the room before adding in a lower voice, "But only if we can come to an agreement about... other matters."

Her meaning was clear; she wanted something in exchange for her assistance. What that something might be remained to be seen. The ballroom continued to buzz with conversation and laughter as she waited for the man's response.

"And what sort of... arrangement were you thinking of, Mrs. König?" he asked carefully, not taking his eyes off her. His expression was still disarmingly confident, despite the pistol resting casually in his hand.

Taking the pistol with a hint of amusement, Mrs. König examined it closely before slipping it into her purse. "Hmm," she said nonchalantly, raising an eyebrow at him. "Well, I think we both know that the value of such an item isn't solely in its function as a weapon. No, I'm thinking more along the lines of information."

She paused, turning slightly to survey the other guests once more before continuing in a lower voice, "I want you to prove yourself useful. Find out what you can about our allies in Italy; any weaknesses they might have that we could exploit. I'm sure there are trade secrets or sensitive information hidden away somewhere."

Mrs. König raised an eyebrow at his suggestion to enjoy the party first, but she couldn't deny that it was rather tempting. After all, there would be plenty of opportunities to gather intelligence simply by observing and listening to conversations throughout the evening. "Very well," she said with a small smile, deciding to indulge him for now. "We have time enough. But remember your end of the bargain."

She turned back to the crowd, searching for something or someone interesting to occupy her attention while they discussed the nature of their agreement in private. The pistol in her purse seemed to weigh less now; it was almost like having a secret weapon at her disposal, one that would prove useful both in this game of deception and outside of it.

As she sipped her wine and scanned the ballroom once more, Martha couldn't help but feel a thrill running down her spine. The night held many possibilities; she could only hope that grey would rise to the challenge and prove himself worthy of her trust... and whatever else he might desire from their strange little partnership.

Mrs. König smiled to herself as she watched him saunter off toward the band, his movements filled with confidence and swagger. She wondered briefly what sort of man he truly was beneath all that artifice, but quickly pushed the thought aside. For now, it didn't matter; their agreement had been struck, and it would be interesting to see how things unfolded from here.

Taking another sip of her wine, she surveyed the room once more, basking in the admiration of those who looked up to her. The feeling of power coursing through her veins was heady; it made her almost giddy with excitement. Even as a wife and mother, she knew that she held an important place in society, and tonight, standing at the center of it all, she couldn't help but feel invincible.

As the evening progressed and more guests approached her, eager to discuss their successes on the battlefield or share gossip about those who weren't present, Mrs. König found herself growing more distant, her thoughts drifting back to grey and his strange proposition. Was he truly trustworthy? Could she rely on him to deliver what she had asked for? Only time would tell; in the meantime, she would continue to play her part, knowing that whatever happened next would shape not only her life but also the fate of the Reich itself.

The music swelled, and couples took to the dance floor, lost in the rhythm of love and war. Mrs. König found herself feeling a pang of nostalgia for simpler times, when her greatest worries were choosing which dress to wear or arranging tea parties with her daughter. But those days were long gone now; she had willingly chosen this path, and there was no going back. With a sigh, she lifted her glass once more, saluting the future as it unfold

Mrs. König glanced up at the man who had dared to interrupt her musings, her expression betraying nothing of what she was thinking or feeling. "Why, Mr. grey," she drawled sweetly, affecting a polite smile, "I didn't know you knew how to dance."

She set down her glass on a nearby table and rose gracefully to her feet, taking his offered hand with practiced ease. As they stepped out onto the dance floor, the other guests turned their heads once more, this time in curiosity rather than disapproval. Mrs. König's association with grey was bound to be talked about; it would almost certainly raise eyebrows and spark gossip among those who did not know of their arrangement.

But for now, she focused on the dance, moving gracefully through the intricate steps with her partner. Up close like this, he seemed less imposing and more... human, somehow. She wondered idly what his life had been like before he'd come to Nazi Germany, what had led him here. The answers would have to wait; for now, she would enjoy the illusion of normalcy that dancing with grey provided.

As they spun around the dance floor, lost in the music and each other's gazes, Martha couldn't help but feel a strange mix of fascination and suspicion toward her new partner. He was undoubtedly charming; it was part of his cover, she knew that much. But whether he could be trusted remained to be seen...

Mrs. König's brow furrowed slightly as he spoke, her expression shifting momentarily from curiosity to suspicion. The name Gravebringer... she had heard it before somewhere, but she couldn't quite place it at the moment. "I can't say that it does," she lied, keeping her tone light and casual. She wasn't about to admit that she might know something about his family history; that could compromise their entire operation.

As they continued to dance, Mrs. König filed away the information about the name for later examination. Perhaps it was nothing more than a coincidence, but her gut told her there was more to it than met the eye. She resolved to look into the matter further once she returned home, just to be safe.

In the meantime, she concentrated on maintaining their charade, playing along with grey as they danced and talked about inane topics like the weather or the latest gossip. It was all part of the game; he knew that as well as she did. But for now, there was no reason to tip her hand too early. There would be time enough to extract whatever information she needed from him... and then perhaps it would be time to make a decision about what to do with their strange little arrangement.

Mrs. König raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "Oh?" she drawled, not bothering to keep the skepticism out of her voice. "I'm sure I would remember meeting someone with your... unique sense of style." She smiled demurely, unable to resist taking a sip of her wine as they danced. It was all part of the game; she needed to keep him guessing, uncertain about how much she knew or didn't know about their previous interactions.

As they circled around each other on the dance floor, Martha continued to study gray, trying to place where she had seen him before. She was fairly certain he wasn't a member of the Nazi Party; his attire made that much clear. So where did he fit into all of this? And what was it about her that made him choose her as his contact in Berlin? These were questions she intended to find answers for, even if it meant sacrificing some of her own comfort and safety.

The music reached a crescendo, and they spun one last time before coming to a stop facing each other. The other guests applauded politely, unaware of the machinations taking place behind their backs. For now, it was enough that Mrs. König appeared to be enjoying herself; that would give her the cover she needed to continue digging deeper into gray's past and intentions. It was a dangerous game they were playing, but then again, so was war itself.

Mrs. König's eyes widened fractionally as gray revealed that they had met before; during her summer stay at the hotel in Aalan. She struggled to keep her expression neutral, forcing a polite smile onto her face despite the shock and disbelief coursing through her veins. Of course... now it all made sense. He had been there all along, serving her and her family without anyone suspecting his true identity.

"Oh," she said lightly, feigning surprise, "I see." She glanced away for a moment, pretending to collect herself before looking back at him. "I suppose in retrospect, it's not that surprising you would recognize me. We spent quite a bit of time together that summer." Her tone was carefully casual; she didn't want to draw any more attention to the fact that this revelation should have been much more significant than it seemed on the surface.

"Well," she continued, forcing herself to relax into the dance once more, "I suppose now we know why you seem so familiar. Though I must say, I never expected to see you again, let alone in such... unusual circumstances." Her lips curved upward in a sympathetic smile before she glanced away and added softly, "But here we are, eh?"

As they danced on, Martha filed this new information away for later consideration. It changed everything; now she knew that gray had been close to her family from an early age, perhaps even with the knowledge or encouragement of someone else in their circle. The implications were chilling, and she couldn't help but wonder how far his loyalty might truly extend. She vowed then and there to find out everything she could about this man - both who he was now and who he had once been. For if he really did remember her from those long-ago summers

Mrs. König listened carefully as gray explained his reasons for wanting to be at the party; her eyes never leaving his face. On the surface, it seemed like a harmless confession of admiration and affection for an old friend. But she knew better than to trust such words without further investigation. There was more going on here than met the eye, and she intended to get to the bottom of it.

"Well," she said finally, her voice sounding uncharacteristically gentle despite her best efforts, "I'm flattered, I suppose. But you must understand that our lives have changed so much since then... There are certain responsibilities that come with my position." She smiled sadly, as if to convey that she regretted the circumstances more than he could ever know.

As they continued to dance, Mrs. König let her mind wander back over their conversation, trying to piece together all the information she had gleaned so far. It was clear that gray held some sort of grudge against her family, or perhaps even against Hitler himself; otherwise, he wouldn't have made such a dramatic entrance wearing his father's old uniform. But what exactly he hoped to achieve by befriending her now... That remained a mystery.

The music came to an end, and Mrs. König found herself wishing it hadn't. She knew that she couldn't keep gray close forever; eventually, he would need to reveal his true intentions one way or another. But for now, she could play along with his game, use him as a tool to uncover the truth about who he really was and what he wanted from her... from them all.

As they parted ways, Mrs. König fixed gray with a cool, appraising stare before murmuring softly, "Until next time, Mr. gray." There was steel in her voice;

Mrs. König raised an eyebrow at his words, her expression betraying neither surprise nor empathy. "Oh?" she drawled nonchalantly, her tone cool and controlled. "And what is that, exactly?"

She kept her voice low, speaking over the din of conversation around them, but she couldn't help but feel a prickle of anticipation crawl up her spine as they stepped aside from the dance floor. Was he about to confess some deep-seated resentment against Hitler and the Nazi Party? Or perhaps something more personal, something that could potentially endanger not only their arrangement but also her position within society? The possibilities raced through her mind like a galloping horse.

Her heart raced faster as she waited for his answer, her expression unreadable despite the myriad emotions swirling beneath the surface. Whatever he was about to say would have far-reaching consequences; there was no going back now. She steeled herself for whatever truths might be revealed in the next few moments, knowing that she could not show any signs of weakness or surprise lest she give herself away and compromise her position.

She forced herself to remain calm, to keep her expression impassive as gray began to speak...

Mrs. König's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but she quickly schooled her features into a mask of polite indifference. "Is that so?" she replied coolly, her tone betraying none of the shock or confusion she felt inside. She glanced around the room, pretending to look for someone else, as if she couldn't possibly believe what he had just said.

"Well," she continued after a moment's consideration, "I appreciate the compliment, I'm sure. But we've only just met tonight, and I think it might be premature to make such declarations." Her tone was gently chiding; there was no malice in her words, only a polite reminder of their positions within society.

"Besides," she added with a small shrug, "I'm sure you've had many beautiful women admire you over the years. I'm just one among many." Her expression remained carefully neutral as she watched him for his reaction; would he push back against her dismissal or would he accept it graciously? The answer to that question would tell her much about who he truly was, and what kind of threat (or ally) he might become in the days ahead.

Mrs. König's breath hitched in her throat as he took her hands in his; the gesture was unexpected and intensely intimate, despite the fact that they were standing amidst a crowd of people. The realization that he had harbored these feelings for her all this time sent a shiver down her spine. She tried to pull away, but found herself unable to resist the strength in his grip. His eyes bore into hers, pleading with her to believe him, and despite everything else she knew about their situation, part of her wanted desperately to believe that he was being sincere.

"Gray," she said softly, using his first name for the first time since they'd met earlier tonight, "I... I don't know what to say." She bit her lip, struggling to find the right words amidst the whirlwind of emotions racing through her. Was it possible that he had truly loved her all these years? And if so, how could she possibly return those feelings when they were from such different worlds? It was a question without an easy answer.

As she searched for something to say, something that might ease the tension between them or at least clarify their situation, a servant approached them with a knowing smile and a polite cough. "Madame," he said respectfully, nodding toward Martha, "your husband wonders if you might join him in his study." It was an obvious attempt to separate them; such intimate moments were frowned upon at official Nazi functions.

For a moment, Mrs. König considered ignoring the servant and continuing her conversation with gray. But it would be foolish to risk angering Hitler by defying one of his requests, especially given the circumstances surrounding their relationship. With a sigh, she forced herself to break eye contact with gray and nodded graciously