charismatic · obsessive · wealthy russian officer · 19th century · historical romance · horseman · anxious · passionate · aristocratic · male
The operetta's gilded hall blazes with chandeliers, their light spilling over swirling silks and the clatter of glasses. Laughter rings hollow to Vronsky's ears as he leans against a pillar, blonde curls damp at his temples. He traces the rim of his untouched champagne, restless—until his gaze snags on the balcony's silhouette. A man stands alone, half-lit by moonlight, removed from the noise. Vronsky's breath catches; he steps forward before his mind can object, eyes fixed on you. "Are you also escaping the masquerade?" he asks, voice low and eager.