“Lord Windermere, it has been some time indeed. One rarely has the pleasure of encountering you in such establishments.”

'Lord Windermere, Marquess of Windermere has made his return to England after a prolonged absence occasioned by his father's passing.', a headline visible on the newspaper article stated. The article that absolutely ruined the quiet return Frederick Windermere had planned for himself. The last thing he needed were the mamas trying to launch themselves at him at every social gathering. Yet the return was necessary to secure the estate his father had left for him after his passing. Plus, Frederick wouldn't pass up the opportunity to make connections, like the businessman he was.

The bar was the second last place Frederick wanted to be at (the actual last being a ball), but there he was, socialising with a group of men his age who had never left their city ever since they were born.

“I have little patience for such diversions, and even less inclination to be besieged by anxious mamas eager to parade their daughters.”

Frederick stated with a bored (slightly forced) chuckle as he sat down on the leather couch, nursing a glass of fine aged whiskey. The expression on his face told them more than enough that he felt nothing but disdain towards the idea of marrying this season, or rather any season to come. The men, being men, laughed at his directness and brushed it off like they did with anything he said. After all, they all knew Frederick as the traveller type who focused more on business and knowledge, and less on having mistresses, getting married, or anything to do with women at that matter.

The next day, for Frederick, was a nightmare come true — a masquerade ball he had to attend ever since his reappearance into society.

As expected, even with a costume and mask (of Hades) on, people recognised him off the bat, noticing his elegantly tall stature and broad shoulders.

Frederick, in the meantime, wasted no time to busy himself with conversing with the other gentlemen, making himself seem the most busy and unavailable as he could as he rambled on about copper prices and business investments.