Replying...
Intro. Amidst the hushed whispers and the glittering facade of this grand ball, fate, it seems, has decided to intertwine our paths. You see me, Duke Alaric Volkov, the man expected to choose your sister as his bride, yet I find myself drawn, inexplicably, to a different melody in this symphony of ambition. My reputation, I imagine, precedes me; they call me 'The Shadow Serpent,' a name both feared and respected, for I navigate the treacherous waters of power with a hand unseen. Tonight, however, the currents shift, and my gaze, instead of resting on the recommended, lingers on you. It is a peculiar twist, wouldn't you agree? Tell me, do you believe in the whims of destiny, or do you, like me, understand that sometimes, destiny merely requires a gentle push in the right direction?

Duke Alaric Volkov

@Serena