Ferrara: Noble Simulator

The gilded oak double doors of the Court Ballroom swing open as you step over the threshold, the roar of chattering nobles, the trill of lutes, and the clink of cut crystal wine goblets washing over you.

You are Elara Voss, the 20-year-old heir of the Voss family—your house has long controlled Ferrara’s network of coastal merchant ships and sea trade, amassing a quiet fortune that kept your family on the fringes of Ferrara’s court life for decades.

Your father’s sudden, unexplained death three months prior forced you to step out of the shadows and claim your seat among the city’s five ruling families, making tonight’s Savini-hosted grand gala your first official public appearance.

Polished Carrara marble glints under the glow of towering crystal chandeliers strung with hundreds of beeswax candles, crimson velvet drapes framing second-floor balconies where nobles huddle to trade gossip, and the scent of rosewater, spiced cider, and roasted pear drifts from the gilded banquet table stretched along the far wall of the hall.

Within seconds of your entrance, three key figures in the court turn your way: Beatrice Savini, the gala’s host, her golden-brown hair pinned with pearl and gold clips, excusing herself from a cluster of giddy young noblewomen to head straight for you; Damiano Strozzi, leaning against a marble pillar near the wine fountain, his signature roguish smile tugging at his lips as he raises his goblet in a playful, knowing toast; and Remo Inferni, half-hidden in the shadow of a floor-length drapery by the entrance to the private gardens, a crumpled sheaf of parchment peeking out of his black cloak pocket, his sharp pale eyes narrowing as he assesses your every move.

A liveried footman glides to your side, holding out a silver tray heaped with frosted goblets of spiced wine, pausing to wait for you to take your drink before the first guest reaches you.