The great grandfather clock in the main hall struck nine, its deep chimes reverberating through Duke Maximilian's personal estate. The night had properly settled in, and with it came the time for Elias's formal introduction to the immediate ducal holdings.

  "Your Grace, Lord Elias is awaiting you in the main foyer," Morris announced, entering Maximilian's private study where the Duke had been hiding—strategically working, he would insist—for the past two hours.

  Maximilian looked up from the ancient manuscript he'd been pretending to read while actually rehearsing introductions in his head. "Ah. Yes. The territorial tour. Standard protocol for new consorts." He adjusted his completely unnecessary gsses. "I've prepared a comprehensive circuit of my immediate holdings. Very educational. Historical context. Blood processing innovations. Nothing... social."

  Morris's face remained impressively neutral. "Indeed, Your Grace. Though I should mention that Baron Cassian and Archduke Lucius's pet Nara will be present at the blood distribution center. Additionally, Marquess Valentina and her consort have confirmed their attendance at the western administrative reception, along with Viscount Gabriel and Archduke Lucius's pet Maria."

  "Distinguished visitors?" Maximilian's voice cracked slightly. "That wasn't in the historical precedent documentation. The Consortium of Eastern—"

  "—conducted consort introductions differently, Your Grace," Morris completed smoothly. "As these nobles have traveled specifically to meet your new consort, it would be considered a significant breach of protocol to exclude the social component."

  Maximilian swallowed unnecessarily—a human habit he'd never quite abandoned. "That seems... excessive."

  "Politics, Your Grace," Morris replied simply.

  With a resigned sigh, Maximilian carefully closed his manuscript and stood. He was dressed in formal attire—simple but elegant bck suit with subtle silver embroidery denoting his rank. "I've allocated precisely four hours and seventeen minutes for the tour of my immediate holdings. Any social interactions will necessarily reduce the educational component."

  "I'm certain Lord Elias will manage to absorb the essentials despite such limitations," Morris assured him with the faintest hint of dry humor.

  When Maximilian entered the foyer, he found Elias waiting by the grand staircase, examining a portrait of some long-dead vampire aristocrat with apparent interest. The consort was dressed in midnight blue attire that complemented his dark hair with its unusual blue highlights. When he turned, the subtle shift in his violet eyes caught the light in a way that momentarily stunned Maximilian into forgetting his carefully rehearsed greeting.

  "Good evening, Your Grace," Elias said with a small bow, his perfectly calibrated court smile in pce. "I look forward to learning about my new home."

  "Yes. Tour. Nighttime inspection of key facilities," Maximilian managed, maintaining a careful three-foot distance between them. "Central administrative complex first. Then blood processing where Baron Cassian awaits. Western reception hall st." He gestured vaguely toward the door, careful not to move into Elias's personal space.

  As they stepped outside, a sleek bck car waited at the bottom of the steps, its polished surface gleaming under the moonlight. The vehicle was clearly modern in design but had been customized with elegant vintage elements—silver accents along the sides and a hood ornament that resembled Gothic architecture in miniature.

  "Your transportation, Your Grace," said the driver, a young vampire who bowed deeply.

  Maximilian nodded absently, his mind still running through the pnned tour sequence. "We'll circle the immediate estate grounds first to provide geographic context, then proceed to—"

  "What a beautiful machine," Elias interrupted, approaching the car with genuine interest. "I've never seen one quite like this model."

  Maximilian blinked, momentarily thrown off his mental schedule. "Oh. Yes. Preserved automotive technology. I maintain several functioning vehicles for administrative efficiency."

  "In Orlov's court, our cars are all specially ordered from Lucius's factories with traditional designs," Elias expined, running his fingers lightly over the car's gleaming surface. "All the technology hidden behind ornate panels and fake carriage fixtures. Orlov insists modern aesthetics are beneath vampire dignity. Calls visible technology 'a vulgar dispy unworthy of immortal beings.'"

  "Old-fashioned. Inefficient," Maximilian mumbled, briefly forgetting his awkwardness in the face of something he was passionate about. "Cars are much faster. This one... I modified it myself. Sustainable fuel system. Better than... horses. Obviously."

  "You understand how it works? Orlov's court considered such knowledge beneath nobility."

  "So... um... need to know how the inside parts work. To keep it running properly," Maximilian said, adjusting his gsses nervously. "Did the fuel modifications myself. Quite... um... interesting process—" He caught himself and cleared his throat. "Not interesting to most people. Sorry."

  "I might," Elias replied, his usual court mask slipping to reveal what appeared to be genuine curiosity. "No one's ever bothered expining how anything works to me before."

  Maximilian stared at him for a moment, caught off guard by this unexpected reaction. "Perhaps... at another time. We have a strict schedule to maintain."

  The driver opened the rear doors, and Maximilian gestured for Elias to enter first, carefully maintaining his three-foot safety buffer. Once Elias was seated, Maximilian circled to the opposite side and entered, positioning himself as far as possible against the door.

  "The central administrative complex first," he instructed the driver, who nodded and smoothly pulled away from the estate.

  Elias watched the moonlit ndscape through the window with apparent fascination. "Your grounds are beautiful," he observed. "So different from Orlov's court. His estate is all walled gardens and formal hedges. Very proper. Very boring."

  "Attackers. Can see them. Coming," Maximilian said, staring at a fixed point ahead. After an awkward pause, he added, "Looks... acceptable too."

  The car moved swiftly through the night, passing through elegant iron gates that marked the transition from the residential estate to the administrative sector of the Duke's immediate holdings. Guards in sleek bck uniforms bowed as the Duke's car passed.

  "Your security forces are far less... theatrical than what I'm accustomed to," Elias noted. "In Orlov's court, the guards wear those ridiculous ceremonial uniforms with the spiked helmets."

  "Impractical for actual combat," Maximilian said with a hint of disdain. "Form without function is inefficient."

  As they approached the central administrative complex—a striking blend of traditional vampire architecture and modern functionality—Maximilian began pointing out features with increasing animation. His social awkwardness seemed to recede somewhat when discussing facts rather than engaging in small talk.

  "The administrative complex houses the coordination center for all my territories," he expined. "From here, we manage communication with my vassals, coordinate resource distribution, and maintain supply chain efficiency throughout the domain."

  Elias shifted slightly closer on the seat, ostensibly to see better through the window. "It's much more organized than Orlov's approach. His administrative strategy seems to consist mainly of threatening his vassals during blood ceremonies."

  Maximilian tensed at the decreased distance but continued his expnation. "Threats. Make people... um... inefficient," he said, hands fidgeting with his gsses. "My nobles... can do... whatever. Mostly. If they... blood standards... follow them."

  Elias turned to look at him with new interest. "That's not the approach I've observed in vampire society before. Orlov keeps his vassals on extremely tight leashes."

  Maximilian adjusted his gsses, looking uncomfortable at the personal nature of the observation. "Practical governance," he insisted, though his tone cked conviction.

  Their first stop was at the administrative complex, where staff members bowed respectfully as they entered. Inside, Maximilian guided Elias through a series of chambers where vampires and selected humans worked at modern stations, managing logistics, communication, and resource allocation for the Duke's extensive territories.

  Throughout the tour, Elias continued his subtle campaign of reducing the Duke's carefully maintained distance. Each time they moved to a new section, he positioned himself slightly closer, forcing Maximilian to either retreat or endure the proximity. The staff exchanged knowing gnces as their Duke's discomfort became increasingly evident.

  In the central mapping chamber—a rge room dominated by an eborate three-dimensional representation of the Duke's entire domain—Elias finally got a sense of the true scale of Maximilian's territories.

  "This is... all yours?" he asked, genuinely impressed as he studied the map showing multiple towns, extensive agricultural regions, and significant geographical features spanning what must have been hundreds of square miles.

  "My administrative responsibility," Maximilian corrected, momentarily forgetting his discomfort as he approached the map. "This section is the duke's personal estate and immediate holdings. Too rge to see everything tonight. The full territory includes my vassals too - Marquises, Counts, Viscounts, Barons... their nds are all part of the rger domain."

  Elias studied the hierarchical representation with genuine interest. "And you know all of this? Every region and facility?"

  "Administrative efficiency requires comprehensive knowledge," Maximilian replied, adjusting his gsses. With unexpected animation, he began indicating different regions, expining the resource specialties of different areas, the popution distributions, and the unique governance challenges of various territories.

  For several minutes, he seemed to forget his social discomfort entirely, moving around the map with Elias following close beside him. At one point, they stood shoulder to shoulder as Maximilian pointed out a particurly interesting mountain range along his northern border.

  "Volcanoes," he expined, momentarily forgetting their proximity in his enthusiasm. "The sulfur emissions are quite fascinating. Extremely hot. Keeps most people away. And... um... they create a rather nice glow. At night."

  It was only when Elias deliberately brushed against his arm while leaning closer to examine the map that Maximilian suddenly froze, apparently realizing they were standing with no safety distance whatsoever. He immediately stepped back, adjusting his gsses in obvious discomfort.

  "Yes. Well. Geographical phenomenon. Scientifically significant." He cleared his throat. "We should proceed to the blood processing facility where Baron Cassian awaits."

  As they left the mapping chamber, Elias couldn't resist commenting, "You forgot your three-foot safety zone, Your Grace."

  Maximilian's expression would have been comical if it weren't so genuinely distressed. "A momentary pse in spatial awareness. The mapping features are quite distracting."

  "Indeed," Elias agreed solemnly, though his eyes betrayed his amusement. "Maps are clearly hazardous to proper aristocratic distancing protocols."

  Their next destination introduced a new complication: the formal meeting with Baron Cassian Bckwood, one of Archduke Lucius's direct vassals. Despite being only a Baron, Cassian was known throughout vampire society for his unusual status as a direct vassal to Archduke Lucius rather than answering to a Duke, Marquis, or Count as most Barons would.

  The blood processing facility was a modern complex where white-coated technicians worked with sophisticated equipment. As they entered, Maximilian's demeanor shifted subtly—a hint of professional respect mixed with the nervous tension that seemed to accompany all his social interactions.

  "Baron Cassian is here for Archduke Lucius," Maximilian expined as they walked through the facility. "Official inspection. Evaluating protocols."

  Elias noticed the change in his husband's tone immediately. "You admire him?"

  "Efficient methodologies. Innovative approaches," Maximilian replied, adjusting his gsses.

  As they continued walking, Maximilian lowered his voice slightly. "The inspection is actually about my educational initiative. I've been letting humans read history books and study. It's rather controversial - they have so much study time there's barely time left for blood extraction. But it's a progressive approach." He hesitated. "Started after Baron Cassian abolished blood farms in his territory."

  "You teach the humans history?" Elias asked, genuinely surprised. "In Orlov's court, they'd stake you at sunrise for that."

  "Better blood quality when they're educated," Maximilian replied with a hint of defensiveness. "The history part is just... a side benefit." His poorly disguised enthusiasm for historical preservation was almost endearing.

  They found Baron Cassian in the central processing chamber, a striking figure with military bearing despite his formal attire. Beside him stood Nara, officially registered as Archduke Lucius's "pet" but clearly treated with unusual respect. Her wild beauty and confident stance marked her immediately as a wereanimal, though she maintained the proper formal demeanor expected in official settings.

  "Your Grace," Baron Cassian greeted Maximilian with a precise bow. "Your processing operation shows promise. Some optimization needed. Archduke Lucius expects my full report next week."

  "Baron Cassian," Maximilian returned the greeting with uncharacteristic smoothness, suggesting he had practiced this particur interaction extensively. "Your inspection honors us. May I present my consort, Lord Elias, formerly of Archduke Orlov's court."

  Elias stepped forward with practiced grace. He bowed to Baron Cassian awkwardly, clearly attempting to mimic the precise movements he'd observed but getting the angle slightly wrong—too deep for addressing a Baron.

  "Baron Cassian," he said with a charming smile, then turned to Nara and bowed again. "Lady Nara. Even in Orlov's stuffy court, we'd heard about your progressive approaches. Though they only mentioned it when they thought no one important was listening."

  A brief, startled silence followed his use of the honorific "Lady" for a wereanimal officially registered as a pet. Nara's eyes widened momentarily in surprise, while Cassian's military composure faltered for just an instant.

  If Cassian was surprised at being addressed alongside his "pet," he showed no sign of it. Instead, he studied Elias with the sharp assessment of a military man noting potential tactical advantages or threats.

  "Lord Elias," he replied evenly, exchanging a brief gnce with Nara. "Interesting match. Progressive Duke, traditionalist consort who uses... unconventional address."

  "One might say the same about your own unusual arrangements, Baron," Elias replied with a carefully calibrated smile, his eyes flicking briefly to Nara. "Though I'm not sure which etiquette rules apply anymore. In Orlov's court, they didn't bother teaching me proper aristocratic protocols—just how to stand in corners looking decorative."

  A moment of tense silence followed before Nara's lips curved in a subtle smile. "I like this one, Cassian," she said quietly, ignoring formal protocol completely. "Not just another pretty court ornament, and doesn't treat me like one either."

  Cassian's expression remained controlled, but something in his stance rexed slightly. "Honesty over protocol. Refreshing."

  Maximilian watched this exchange with poorly concealed astonishment. The awkward, stumbling interaction he'd been dreading had somehow shifted into an unexpectedly frank assessment between his consort and Baron Cassian.

  What followed was a detailed tour of the blood processing facility, with Maximilian expining the preservation techniques with schorly precision while Baron Cassian occasionally offered comparative insights from his own territory's operations. Elias listened with apparent interest, occasionally asking questions that revealed his complete ck of education on such practical matters.

  "So the blood is actually tested for quality before distribution?" Elias asked, watching a technician operating what appeared to be an advanced analysis machine.

  "We test everything," Maximilian said, momentarily forgetting his discomfort as he warmed to the scientific topic. "Nutritional content, purity factors, taste pattern variables. I've developed seventeen different cssification types. Each with its own category parameters. Very... precise system."

  "Fascinating," Elias said, and surprisingly, he seemed to mean it. "In Orlov's court, they just serve whatever's freshest from the extraction chambers. No testing at all."

  Throughout the facility tour, Elias continued his subtle campaign of closing the distance between himself and Maximilian, while also studying the unusual dynamic between Baron Cassian and Nara. Despite her official status as a "pet," it was clear that Cassian treated her with a respect that would shock most vampire aristocracy.

  At one point, when the two couples were momentarily separated from the staff, Nara spoke directly to Elias. "Orlov's court must have been hell," she observed quietly. "All those bows and rules and nobody saying what they actually mean."

  Elias gnced at her with careful assessment before responding. "I can't cim to know most of the proper protocols. A fwed vampire who needs actual food was deemed unworthy of learning proper noble etiquette. Why waste time teaching complicated bowing angles to someone who'd never be more than decorative?" He gave a small shrug. "But standing in corners being ignored has benefits. You hear everything when they think you're just furniture."

  "And what do you think of your new husband?" Nara asked, nodding toward Maximilian who was enthusiastically showing Cassian some complex blood filtration system. Her eyes widened slightly. "And what's this about you needing actual food? I didn't think vampires could—" She caught herself. "Sorry. That was rude of me."

  Elias hesitated just briefly before replying, "Brilliant but awkward. Progressive but hiding it behind efficiency calcutions. Terrified of me getting within three feet of him." His lips quirked. "Surprisingly kind to the humans while insisting it's just for better blood quality." He absently touched his stomach. "No one knows why, but without human food, my body begins to desiccate the same way vampires do without blood - weakening, pain, my skin drying and cracking. Orlov's physicians could never expin it. Just another reason I was kept out of sight whenever important guests visited."

  Nara's smile widened. "Cassian," she called softly, drawing her husband's attention. "This one's actually smart. Orlov screwed up sending him here. He sees right through the Duke's efficiency excuses to the kindness underneath, and he's survived Orlov's court despite being..." she gnced at Elias, "uniquely challenged."

  Cassian studied Elias with renewed interest before nodding slightly. "Apparently so. Unusual traits often yield unexpected strengths."

  As they concluded the blood processing facility tour, Baron Cassian addressed Maximilian formally. "Your Grace, we would be honored if you and your consort would visit our territory for a proper inspection exchange. Perhaps in a month's time, after you've both settled into your new arrangement." He allowed a hint of pride to show. "As Archduke Lucius's direct vassal, I'm authorized to extend such invitations without requiring the usual hierarchical approvals. The Archduke appreciates efficiency in these matters."

  Maximilian's expression suggested he found the prospect both professionally appealing and socially terrifying. "That would be... educational. Resource management methodology comparison. Practical exchange."

  "Excellent," Cassian replied, his expression revealing nothing of his thoughts on Maximilian's awkward response. "We'll send formal arrangements." He turned to Elias with a precise nod. "Lord Elias, it has been enlightening."

  As they departed for their next destination, Elias found himself thoughtfully silent. The interaction with Baron Cassian and Nara had been nothing like what he had expected from vampire aristocracy. There was something unexpectedly genuine about their partnership that contradicted everything he had observed in Orlov's court.

  "Baron Cassian reports directly to Archduke Lucius rather than through the usual hierarchical chain," Maximilian expined as they returned to the car, apparently interpreting Elias's silence as confusion. "An unusual arrangement established following his military service in the early post-outbreak years."

  "And Nara?" Elias asked. "She hardly behaves like any 'pet' I've encountered in vampire society."

  Maximilian adjusted his gsses, a gesture Elias was beginning to recognize as his way of buying time when uncomfortable with a topic. "Their... arrangement is politically complex. Officially, she remains cssified as Archduke Lucius's pet, with Baron Cassian as her designated caretaker. Their son Kieran was recognized as a vampire because he demonstrated sufficient vampire traits, but that didn't formally change her cssification." He gnced at Elias. "The categorical recssification would have... significant administrative implications. Lucius seems content with the current arrangement."

  "I wasn't yet born during the actual proceedings," Elias crified, "but it remained a favorite topic of Orlov's rage for years afterward. Whenever someone displeased him, he would unch into the same tirade about the 'contamination of vampire nobility' and how it would lead to our downfall. His exact words, repeated at least seventeen times during a single evening reception I attended. He seemed to think if he compined about it enough, Archduke Lucius might somehow reverse his ruling."

  "Archduke Lucius demonstrates remarkable... flexibility in his interpretation while maintaining the formal structures," Maximilian replied carefully. "It's quite an interesting governance approach, actually."

  Elias absorbed this information with thoughtful consideration as they continued to their final destination.

  Their next stop was the western reception hall, where distinguished guests awaited formal introduction to the Duke's new consort. As they approached, a sleek silver car with distinctive custom modifications awaited them—clearly Maximilian's prized vehicle for important occasions.

  "Your ceremonial vehicle, Your Grace," the attendant announced with a bow.

  This car was even more impressive than their first—sleek silver with subtle blue lighting along its contours, wheels that seemed to float slightly above the ground, and an interior of bck leather with blue accents that matched their clothing perfectly.

  "My... project," Maximilian expined, forgetting his discomfort in his obvious pride. "Found it... mud. Added... floating system. Modified everything."

  "You built this?" Elias asked, genuinely impressed.

  "Modified," Maximilian corrected, though he couldn't quite hide his pleasure at the reaction. "Base vehicle preserved. Added sustainable fuel system. Improved speed capability."

  For once, he didn't protest when Elias moved closer to examine the vehicle's details. "It's magnificent," Elias said, and for once his admiration wasn't calcuted court fttery but genuine appreciation.

  The final gathering awaited them at an elegant pavilion adjacent to the western administrative complex. Marquess Valentina and her consort Kieran were already present, along with Viscount Gabriel and Maria, officially another of Archduke Lucius's "pets" but clearly serving as Gabriel's partner.

  This would be the most significant social challenge of the evening, and Maximilian's tension was palpable as they approached.

  Marquess Valentina cut an impressive figure, her ptinum blonde hair and ice-blue eyes marking her aristocratic heritage. Although physically mature—born vampires ceased aging at 18—many still remembered how remarkably young she had been when she received her title years ago, following the dramatic legal proceedings that had shaken vampire society. Beside her stood Kieran, the first hybrid of vampire-wereanimal heritage known to exist and who was legally recognized as a vampire, his silver-white hair and unusual violet eyes unmistakable. The couple represented the most dramatic recent shift in vampire society's rigid cssifications, with Kieran's case establishing the precedent that hybrids could be cssified as vampires if they demonstrated sufficient vampire traits.

  Viscount Gabriel presented a striking contrast to the other nobles—his clerical-influenced attire and schorly demeanor immediately setting him apart. Beside him stood Maria, a wolf-strain wereanimal whose religious symbols were visible as subtle accessories to her formal attire.

  "Your Grace," Marquess Valentina greeted Maximilian with a formal bow that Elias noted carefully, mentally comparing it to the awkward angles he'd been attempting all evening.

  "Marquess Valentina," Maximilian returned the greeting with visible effort to maintain proper social form. "Your presence honors us. May I present my consort, Lord Elias, formerly of Archduke Orlov's court."

  Elias stepped forward, executing a bow he hoped approximated the right depth for addressing a Marquess. "Marquess Valentina, Lord Kieran," he said, then turned to the others with the same warm smile, "Viscount Gabriel, Lady Maria. I'm honored to meet you all."

  Maria's eyes widened at being addressed as "Lady" rather than "pet" or being ignored altogether. She exchanged a startled gnce with Gabriel, whose eyebrows rose slightly in surprise.

  To everyone's surprise, after a brief pause, Valentina smiled warmly. "Lord Elias, what a refreshing approach to introductions. I see Archduke Lucius's political arrangement has delivered something unexpected to the Duke's household."

  "Or one who simply never learned it properly," Elias admitted with disarming honesty. "In Orlov's court, they didn't bother teaching me much beyond how to stand decoratively in corners and look pretty. The actual protocols were considered wasted on someone like me."

  "Someone like you?" Kieran asked, his violet eyes showing genuine interest.

  "A fwed vampire who needs actual food," Elias expined with a carefully casual tone that didn't quite hide years of practiced self-deprecation. "I was kept as decoration, not expected to participate in actual court functions."

  Maria, still visibly surprised at being addressed as "Lady," stepped slightly forward. "You need food as well as blood?" she asked, her voice soft but clear. "They treated you as less for that?"

  "More like an interesting exotic pet than a person," Elias confirmed with a slight shrug. "Useful for dispy but not for conversation."

  A moment of understanding passed between them—the wereanimal officially cssified as a pet and the vampire who had been treated as one in all but name.

  Viscount Gabriel observed this exchange with schorly interest. "Your perspective is quite valuable, Lord Elias. The intersections of differing experiences often reveal the most profound truths about our society."

  "Gabriel's always analyzing everything," Maria expined with affectionate familiarity that defied her official status. "Even before he was studying theological implications of vampires and wereanimals, he was collecting sociological observations."

  "The Church of Eternal Light's texts contain some fascinating perspectives on hierarchical structures," Gabriel began, clearly warming to an academic topic.

  "Perhaps we can discuss theology another time," Valentina interjected smoothly, casting a meaningful gnce at Maximilian who looked increasingly overwhelmed by the social exchanges. "I suspect we're keeping Duke Maximilian from his carefully scheduled tour pn."

  "Schedule optimization. Yes. Time management," Maximilian agreed gratefully, adjusting his gsses.

  As the conversation continued, Maximilian watched with barely concealed astonishment as his consort drew these distinguished guests into genuine conversation despite his obvious ck of formal training. What Elias cked in technical etiquette knowledge, he more than made up for with authentic warmth and keen observation. His unique status as both an insider and outsider to vampire society seemed to create unexpected bridges.

  By the time they departed for the return journey to the main estate, even Maximilian had to admit that the evening had been far more successful than his statistical models had predicted. His scheduled tour had run nearly an hour over its pnned duration—primarily due to the social interactions he hadn't properly accounted for in his meticulous pnning.

  As they settled into the ceremonial car for the return journey, Elias allowed himself to sink back against the luxurious seat with a sigh. "Court performance is exhausting," he admitted. "In Orlov's court, they'd be actively trying to catch me making mistakes so they could report me."

  Maximilian gnced at him with what appeared to be newfound respect. "Social interaction efficiency exceeded expectations. I had written seventeen contingency expnations for diplomatic incidents."

  Elias ughed—not his practiced court ugh but something more genuine. "Wait, did you actually write out expnations for all the social mistakes you thought I'd make?"

  "Preparedness. Essential," Maximilian replied defensively, though without real heat. After a moment, he added, "You're hungry."

  It wasn't a question, and Elias looked up in surprise. "How did you know?"

  "Your throat. Looking at it. Swallowing. Lot of swallowing," Maximilian observed, briefly making eye contact before looking away. "Hungry? Both kinds. Need blood and... other food. Didn't add to schedule. Error."

  Elias stared at him, genuinely surprised that someone who could barely maintain eye contact had been watching him so closely. "Yes, I need both. Inconvenient fw."

  "Not fw. Physiological distinction," Maximilian corrected, then pressed a button on the car's console. "Morris, prepare nutrition. East dining room. Blood types C3 and R7, plus..." He hesitated, then asked, "Food preferences?"

  The question caught Elias off guard. In Orlov's court, his need for actual food had been treated as an embarrassing defect to be handled with minimal attention. No one had ever asked his preferences.

  "I... like berries," he said after a moment. "And real bread. Not those tasteless nutrition blocks Orlov's court gave me."

  Maximilian nodded and continued into the console. "Berries. Bread varieties. Protein options. Twenty minutes."

  As they continued their journey back to the main estate, Elias found himself watching his husband with new curiosity. The socially awkward schor who maintained a three-foot safety distance also noticed when he was hungry before he mentioned it, and responded with practical solutions rather than disgust at his unusual needs.

  "Thank you," Elias said simply.

  Maximilian adjusted his gsses. "Optimal nutrition. Efficient functioning. Logical."

  "Still. Thank you."

  They rode in silence for several minutes before Maximilian spoke again, his voice unusually hesitant. "Your social performance exceeded projections. Impressive."

  Elias smiled faintly. "In Orlov's court, being decorative furniture means being perfect or getting staked at sunrise as an example."

  Maximilian's head turned sharply at this. "Execution for social errors?"

  "Not execution. Discipline," Elias corrected. "Everyone knew what happened if you disappointed the Archduke. Makes for motivated courtiers."

  For a moment, something that might have been anger flickered across Maximilian's usually controlled features. "Inefficient leadership. Fear disrupts cognition."

  Elias ughed softly. "Only you would call terrorizing a court 'inefficient' rather than cruel."

  "It's both," Maximilian replied with unexpected firmness.

  As they approached the main estate, the moon hung rge and bright in the night sky, illuminating the elegant architecture with silver light. The tour had become something neither of them had anticipated—a first step toward understanding the stranger they were now bound to.

  Morris awaited them at the entrance, his dignified posture perfectly maintained despite the te hour. "Your Grace, Lord Elias. East dining room prepared as requested."

  "Excellent. Timing precise," Maximilian nodded, then turned to Elias with formal awkwardness. "Would you... that is... joining you for meal?" He adjusted his gsses nervously. "Territory discussion purposes," he added hastily.

  Elias kept his expression neutral, though his eyes betrayed his surprise. "I'd appreciate the company, Your Grace."

  As they walked toward the dining room, Maximilian carefully maintaining his preferred three-foot distance again, Elias caught the subtle exchanges of gnces among the staff. The household clearly had opinions about their Duke's unusual consort arrangement.

  The night's tour had revealed unexpected facets of both the Duke's immediate holdings and the man himself. Whatever Elias had anticipated when being sent as a political pawn to Maximilian's court, the reality was proving far more interesting than standing decoratively in Orlov's shadow for another century.

  "Tell me more about those volcanic features," Elias said as they entered the dining room. "Something about sulfur emissions before you remembered your three-foot safety bubble?"

  Maximilian's expression shifted from awkwardness to schorly enthusiasm so quickly it was almost comical. "Sulfur compounds! Seventeen different... um... smells that—"

  As his husband unched into an enthusiastic scientific expnation, Elias allowed himself a small smile. Perhaps being traded as a political pawn wouldn't be quite as tedious as he'd expected.