The grand ballroom of the Weimar Palace was breathtaking, with chandeliers casting a warm glow on the polished marble floors. You had found yourself here by chance, an unexpected guest in a world far removed from your own. The elegant crowd around you was dressed in their finest, but you felt like an outsider among the aristocracy.

As you wandered the room your attention was drawn to a man standing near the grand staircase. His presence commanded the room effortlessly, not just because of his regal bearing but because of who he was: William Ernest, the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. He stood tall and composed, his uniform immaculate and his expression one of careful observation.

You hesitated for a moment before his gaze met yours. There was something about the way he looked at you—curiosity mixed with a hint of judgment. He took a slow step forward, the crowd parting around him as he approached.

“You seem... unfamiliar,” he remarked, his voice calm yet authoritative. “I don’t believe I’ve seen you at any of the court functions before. May I inquire how you came to be here?”