Xabier Vecchia was born the heir to a famous winery in Italy, one of the first Dainty companies to break through the stiff competition to success. Just a few days after his fourth birthday, his parents were killed after someone set fire to the grounds: after the arsonist testified that his crime was rooted in anti-Dainty prejudice, the case went viral, and the resulting national outcry lead to a petition and the solidification of anti-discrimination laws in the area. The case happened to attract the attention of the philanthropic Marquis of Tanucci, a famously well-connected woman in her late forties. She had married young and had several children, all estranged; she had left all of their care and education to nannies in favor of parties and socializing in her youth, and though she deeply regretted it she had never been able to reconnect with them as adults. The moment she saw the tiny child, the Marquis fell in love, and she adopted him after a long legal process.

Xabier grew up knowing he was adopted: his mother always empathized what trouble she went to to adopt him, peppering in assurances of her love. The Marquis was a permissive, even indulgent parent, dressing Xabier in the best clothes and encouraging his interests, but because of the ongoing case he was never allowed to socialise with anyone outside the house. As a result he grew stern and inflexible, his natural unsociability intensified by how his mother kept him near her almost all of the time, impressing her love upon him to make up for the lack of attention she gave her children. Xabier obediently tolerated her over-the-top displays, but was always somewhat discomfited by them; she and the mostly silent household servants were the only frame of reference he had for other people throughout his childhood, which only increased his distaste for company.

Xabier was kept from the prying eyes of media until he was around thirteen, when the Marquis judged that her son could start speaking for himself and started bringing him to the social events that she herself had taken to a duck to water. She had naturally assumed that Xabier, being her son, would do the same, but instead the abrupt public attention changed him for the worse. For the first time in his life he was made to feel self-conscious about himself, and he took it very badly. The Marquis introducing him to hundreds of complete strangers night after night, feeling tongue-tied and dumb as he tried and failed to make small talk, feeling a sea of people judging him for things he couldn’t control… it was too much, and over a few months Xabier developed an eating disorder to counter his developing body image issues and emerging dysphoria (to which the oblivious Marquis only praised him for “how trim you're looking lately!”) which cumulated into his body going into cardiogenic shock during the midsummer celebration.

Xabier was in intensive care for a few weeks, during which the media speculated wildly about how badly the Marquis had treated her adopted child, but he did emerge eventually and was promptly assigned a social worker and a psychiatrist, the latter whom diagnosed him with type 1 anorexia and gender identity disorder. The Marquis, genuinely upset and repenting, gave the go-ahead for HRT effective immediately, and after months of therapy Xabier no longer fit the diagnostic criteria for his disorders, though his dissatisfaction with his body persisted. Eager to put this behind them, the Marquis gave Xabier the solitude he asked for and the freedom to do whatever he wished, and in the absence of parties and plays he rediscovered his legacy. His mother had told him, in passing, about what his biological parents had done for a living, but it had been quickly buried under reassurances of how much she loved and supported him. Now, alone, Xabier began learning everything about the Vecchia winery, and what he was entitled to as its heir, that he could get his hands on. For the first time he had a taste of the outside world that he had control over, and he was hooked.

Of course, Xabier had no illusions that the Marquis would agree to any of this. He broached the subject carefully, in terms he knew would interest her: he told her his ambitions to rebuild the Vecchia winery, to bring it back to its former splendor. As he expected, the Marquis didn’t take this well, but to his surprise she cited his health, and it was clear that she feared that he’d have a mental breakdown or worse. When it became clear that Xabier wouldn't be swayed, the Marquis put her foot down and told him that she would provide for him, and a spouse and children if he wanted any, if only he would stay near her. In response, Xabier told his mother, more seriously than he’d ever spoken to her in his life, that she didn’t understand: that this was something that he needed to do, and that even at his lowest he felt like the Vecchia winery was calling for him. They had a few more arguments after that, but in the end the Marquis agreed to support him no matter what he wanted to do, though she couldn't quite hide the reluctance in her eyes. Xabier couldn't find it in himself to care. He was free.

An ambitious workaholic who's trying his best. Easily stressed out and hates this about himself; at least part of the reason for this is because he routinely pushes himself past the point of burnout. Not very good with people due to being impatient and difficult to please, and tends to grouse far beyond the point of most people's patience when forced into teamwork. A perfectionist who prioritizes doing things "right" over efficiency. Stubborn, really doesn't like being criticised or pushed around and can become aggressively judgemental in response. Holds grudges for a long time, refuses to let things go (for good or for ill). Has a tendency to isolate himself due to his emotional independence, believing that this makes him more productive, although his mental state would likely benefit from having a few people around in the long-term. Despises clinginess and lovey-doveyness and rejects the idea of romance as well as having a cynical view towards marriage in general, disliking the idea of a binding transaction with a million different ways to go wrong. Has never really had friends, only a few distant acquaintances his own age due to being homeschooled his whole life. Primarily motivated by work and outside factors and has no idea how to express positive feelings towards people. Despite this, he doesn't believe everyone is bad and/or out to get him; his pessimistic outlook is more a byproduct of being a compulsive planner than any innate hurt. He is very conscious that he has lived a privileged life and has plans to give back to the community once the winery is flourishing.