Dorian Mataro

Dorian Mataro is the son and heir of Count Balian Mataro of Emesh, recently come of age. He is warm and good-natured, loyal to those he likes, but without the political cunning of his sister Anaïs.

Dorian's succession is not as assured as it appears. Count Mataro privately hints to Hadrian that if Anaïs's children with Hadrian carry superior genetic lineages, the count would consider adjusting the succession in favor of that line -- placing Dorian's position as heir in quiet competition with his sister's potential offspring.