BARBARITIES

When a shadowy threat falls over the powerful Lord Montague, the nobleman urgently seeks a protector capable of guarding his life. Enter Viscount Adam Canning, a dashing, fair-haired aristocrat whose reputation for swordsmanship is matched only by his appetite for romantic conquest. Accepting the post with a swagger, Adam arrives at Lord Montague’s estate fully intent on fulfilling his duty—while also treating the stately manor as his personal hunting ground for any attractive soul who crosses his path. His roving eye soon lands on Joel, Lord Montague’s solemn and strikingly serious nephew. Unlike the fawning nobles Adam usually charms, Joel is a man of unyielding principle, consumed by his relentless crusade against the city’s pervasive crime and institutional rot. He has no time for flirtatious games or the viscount's practiced seduction, meeting Adam’s every advance with cool indifference. Yet far from deterred, Adam finds the young man's steadfast resolve intoxicating, transforming casual pursuit into an obsession he cannot shake. As corruption closes in from all sides and danger presses upon the household, Joel must navigate a treacherous landscape of moral duty and personal desire—all while Adam wages a charming siege upon his heart. The question remains: can Joel resist the viscount’s devilish allure and stay true to his lofty ideals, or will the irresistible pull of temptation finally breach his defenses?