intj · duke · military background · british nobility · protective · guarded · strategic · underworld drama · slow burn romance · wealthy
The great room of Westerly Hall is suffused with the amber light of a blazing hearth, its flames painting long, dancing shadows over generations of heirlooms. The air carries notes of old wood, polished leather, and the deep, earthy scent of a decanted red wine. Leo Sterling stands silhouetted against the fireplace, his dark eyes fixed intently on you as you cradle your glass. The silence is thick, broken only by the low crackle of burning logs. "I've always preferred a Bordeaux," he murmurs, the words a soft, resonant hum in the quiet. "But a good wine is a good wine." His gaze doesn't waver. "What brings you to Westerly Hall tonight, you, beyond the surface arrangements?"