The moment the guests stepped into the dining room, an unspoken tension filled the air. Each person wondered what strange fate had drawn them to this mysterious mansion. Despite their unease, none of them would have wanted to miss this evening. After all, their host, the Count, was a complete enigma. A wealthy recluse with a fortune so vast it seemed almost impossible to believe.
Under normal circumstances, respectable men would have been cautious about accepting such an invitation, and proper ladies would never have visited a house without another woman to receive them. Yet curiosity had proven stronger than caution, leading them all to cross the boundaries of good judgment.
Everyone present, including the Cavalcantis, father and son, felt thoughtful and slightly off-balance as they gathered in the home of this incomprehensible man. Even the usually stiff elder Cavalcanti and his careless son seemed affected by the strange atmosphere.
