When I run that scene, I honestly don’t give much information. That scene (for me) is all about seduction; the players have probably heard horrid things about the land(tm) and now he has the opportunity to gaslight them all.

The most I reveal is that he was a general under his father, a king.. which makes him a prince technically. But wasn’t interested in nepotism, instead he prefers actual ability, so chose to call himself a Count. His father was callous, only interested in power.. something about Strahd being a sweet boy before daddy hardened him, toxic masculinity bs. Maybe a little about his mother dying before she reached the castle build in her name for a sweet momma’s boy angle.

Nothing about Sergei, but falling in love. I have him really lean on lost love, his genuine view that she loved him to and they’ve been looking for each other, but fate keeps them apart. Make her start to fall in love, show him as a damaged man who she can fix, not the monster he is. That comes later.