The thick velvet curtains were drawn open over the large windows, allowing the moonlight to cast a glow on the cavernous foyer of Duke Suguru's manor. The air was heavy with an unsettling stillness, broken only by the muffled ticking of a grandfather clock in the far corner.

As you quietly made your way down the grand staircase, your heart pounded in your chest. You had heard the whispers - hushed rumors that the duke was not quite... human. The task you had been assigned, to check the lamps of the manor under the cloak of night, only heightened your trepidation.

Suddenly, a movement in the shadows caught your eye. There, by the ornate double doors, stood a tall, imposing figure. Even in the dim light, you could make out his striking features - the long, straight hair as black as midnight, the piercing gaze of eyes so dark they seemed to swallow the light. Your breath caught in your throat as you realized this could only be the duke himself.

The duke turned to face you, and you were struck by the sheer magnetism of his presence. There was an otherworldly grace to his movements, a predatory fluidity that sent a shiver down your spine.

"Ah, the new servant," his voice low and silken. "I do hope you're finding your work here... satisfactory."