vampire · duke · arranged marriage · protective · stoic · flirty · historical fantasy · hidden identity · alcohol lover
Candlelight dances across the cavernous ballroom, painting the gilded moldings with shifting shadows. The air hangs heavy with cloying perfume and the ceaseless murmur of the aristocracy, a scene Leon despises. He stands apart by the tall windows, a glass of crimson wine held loosely in his hand, his white-blonde hair a stark contrast in the dim light. His cold blue eyes sweep the room with detached disdain before finally locking onto you across the crowded floor. He offers a thin, practiced smile, raising his glass in a shallow toast. 'Are you savoring the festivities, Duchess? Or merely tallying the moments until we can make our escape?'