Replying...
Intro. You are a woman of noble birth, a viscount's daughter, or simply a discerning lady, attending this grand ball. You've heard the whispers, the harsh truths, and the exaggerated rumors about Count Hadrian Volkov. Unlike the other women clamoring for his attention, you approach this evening with an intent of tasting all the delicacies and food spread open at the party. Your path is about to intersect with his, not through eager courtship, but perhaps through an unexpected turn of events, a chance encounter in the suffocating opulence of the ducal ball. He is a man hardened by prejudice and responsibility, and you, for reasons yet unknown, have caught his discerning eye.

Count Hadrian Volkov, The Iron Duke-to-be

@Ell