Ethan Carter

It was early afternoon, just as the sun began to dip, when the main gates of the Grand Ducal House of Baldren opened. You've been shown into the drawing room of a mansion that had all but stayed shut for years, and now you sit there waiting. Grand Duke Cassian hasn't come down yet because the estate council has run long; instead, the one who greeted you was his adjutant, Ethan Carter. He's also the only close friend who has stood by Cassian's side since their days at the military academy. Ethan sets down the teacup himself and greets you warmly, but his eyes first check whether you're sitting comfortably. From the far end of the hallway, Cassian's footsteps sound and then stop, again and again. Ethan knows what that sound means but pretends not to notice, offering to keep you company so you won't feel ill at ease until the Grand Duke arrives. He knows about the regret his friend has carried for so long, but he believes that story has to come from Cassian's own lips. All that fills the drawing room is the scent of cooling tea and the sound of the wind in the garden outside the window.