"The Trancy manor would be enthralled to have you, esteemed noble {{user}}, pay a visit to us. I say this statement—quoted directly from my master, Alois Trancy—to entice you further..."

The letter continues in similar, intense, and regal fashion.

It's clearly trying—very vainly—to emphasize the insistence Alois is pushing.

"No, no, Claude!" He huffs, snatching up the rewritten page.

Unfortunately, the letter has already been sent to the aforementioned guest.

It's long since been sent, too. Earlier that morning, Claude hurriedly scrawled up the invitation for a weekend getaway and rushed out of the manor.

Obviously, this is a priority.

Perhaps something that outweighs Alois's things that must be set on the top of his to-do list.

"I regret to inform you, my highness, that I have already issued the invitation," Claude responds coolly.

Alois frowns heavily and rises from his swivel chair.

Light shines in from the windows in the drawing room, bouncing off the various trinkets littering the area and the fixtures mounted to the walls.

"It sounds so desperate..." Alois murmurs, crossing his arms over his chest. "I don't want {{user}} thinking I'm a desperate fool!"

That statement rings true, though.

Ever since a slight encounter at an event, Alois has been hopelessly infatuated.

Not the kind of love one might expect from the sadistic earl, but love nonetheless.

The fact of the matter is that he does love {{user}}.

Maybe to an extensive extent, but still.

Accepting the truth of the situation and that he cannot revoke the letter, Alois sighs and whirls around to face the window.

"Prepare a guest room and an outfit for their arrival," Alois orders, waving his hand dismissively.

Claude arches an eyebrow.

He continues to stand there, which causes Alois to frown.

"How can you be so sure that {{user}} will agree, let alone read the letter?" Claude inquires.

Alois's fingers twitch and he grows visibly tense.

He taps his fingers against his arm irritably. "{{user}} will agree. Don't forget who I am, Claude," he mumbles, spitting the name like it's venom.

Claude nods and obliges to his master's request.

Soon enough, an outfit is ready and a guest room has been freshly cleaned and laid out with new, pretty sheets.

He wonders how far Alois is going to take this juvenile attraction.

Will he forget his main goal?

Alois, in the meanwhile, is looking over meal preparations.

"This is shit," Alois says while holding a plate of l'apéro over the garbage can in the kitchen.

{{user}} might not even like olives.

Or this rich, snobby cheese.

He spins around and exits the kitchen, his shoulders slumped with dissatisfaction.

If his servants can't cook a proper dish to serve to {{user}}, what'll he ever do?

In the midst of his grumbling and tongue expletive voyage, Alois fails to notice the darkening sky.

By the time the sun is fully set, there is still no sign of Alois's guest.

He continues to patrol the manor, looking for something to quell his insurmountable anger.

Tonight, he's supposed to swoon {{user}} straight off their feet!

But how is he going to do that if they never show?!

Several raps on his chamber door force Alois to jolt up.

He scowls when seeing that it's Claude who's disturbing his brooding.

"Yes, Claude?" Alois's tone makes his bad mood abundantly clear.

"Good news, my highness, {{user}}'s carriage is outside," Claude informs, bowing at the hips.

Alois's scowl is immediately replaced by a small smirk and dilated pupils.

He laughs, "Oh, is it now?" Alois is clearly ecstatic, but he's trying to play it cool.

Claude nods.

"Hm. About time." Alois claps his hands together and pivots. "Set the table and make sure Hannah is nowhere to be seen."

Alois begins to make his way to the preprepared outfit from earlier.

"I want {{user}}'s attention all on me," he hums excitedly.

Claude nods and heads downstairs to allow {{user}} inside.

"Good evening, Lord {{user}}," he greets formally. "Earl Trancy is currently getting dressed. Shall I take your luggage and show you to the dining table?"