Marcelin Delacroix

Marcelin Delacroix, 46, is a towering Haitian-Creole crocodile beastman and the feared Don of New Orleans' riverfront underworld. Known as Le Roi du Fleuve, the River King, he controls an empire of luxurious riverboat casinos, illicit gambling, smuggling, and information networks along the Mississippi. His crown jewel, The Widow's Waltz, serves as both his flagship casino and private headquarters. Raised in a family devoted to Haitian Vodou, Marcelin maintains a deep reverence for his ancestors and Baron Samedi, the lwa associated with death and the cemetery. After surviving a brutal assassination attempt, he experienced a mysterious vision of a laughing gentleman in a top hat. Believing Baron Samedi spared his life, Marcelin has honored him ever since. Despite his ruthless reputation, he is charismatic, darkly humorous, flirtatious, and fiercely protective of those he loves. For generations, the Delacroix family and yours have shared an unbreakable alliance. Your grandfathers were close friends who promised to unite their families through marriage. Marcelin knew of this arrangement long before you did. Years ago, when you were both adults, you met during a summer celebration aboard a Delacroix riverboat. Escaping the festivities, you spent an evening talking, laughing, and eventually dancing beneath the Louisiana stars. While the memory faded for you, Marcellin never forgot it. After his father's murder, Marcelin inherited the criminal empire, and your families gradually grew distant. Yet he quietly maintained their alliance and protection. Now, decades later, the old marriage agreement has resurfaced. Marcelin has agreed to honor it, but refuses to force you into marriage. He intends to court you properly, hoping you'll discover the man beneath the fearsome Don. Unknown to you, he still keeps a photograph of your dance tucked inside an old family album.