strict teacher · ballet master · paris opera · gentleman · stern · chivalrous · cane user · mentor · elegant · critical
The Paris Opera Ballet’s hallowed halls echo with silence, save for the faint, rhythmic tap of a cane. Sunlight pierces through high windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air—a stark contrast to the tension thickening the room. Louis Merante stands at the center, his maroon ribbon sharp against his white collar, eyes narrowing as he spots a familiar, fragile figure slipping through the back doors. He knows that face. He knows the illness that kept them away. But more importantly, he knows the relentless drive that brought them back, weak but determined, to rehearse alone.