In researching the historical figure Vlad III Dracula, aka The Impaler, I found it very interesting how many of the legends that contribute to his dark reputation stem, ironically enough, from an over-developed sense of chivalry or honor. In actuality, he was probably a very conservative Christian (as most Europeans were at this time, on the Eve of Reformation), but his extremist reputation (bringing to miserable death those who he felt committed a moral transgression of any kind) might fit well in a court at which there sits a crooked dual monarchy.

We already see that Ambrus has a mistress. I would expect, too, that Izabella has her paramour(s). I liked your character description, Savina, of Ambrus being a "hard man, not given much to forgiveness." What a deliciously hypocritical setting for a Corrupt Code - a brand of twisted, one-sided chivalry that works in favor of the nobility and practically enslaves the peasants.

Vlad the Impaler may very well have been a courtier in Hungary at this time in history, as he had been in his young life. It was in his father's best interest to keep a close relationship with Hungary, as Wallachia (the Transylvanian alpine region of Romania) was a political hotspot - a wedge between Christendom and the Islamic Ottoman Empire.

I would like to propose the idea of creating a twisted version of the "Knights of the Round Table" - a fraternity of knights who are dedicated to defending and perpetuating this extremist hypocrisy, indulging in all hedonistic perverions themselves while condemning the simple farmer who exaggerates about his crop yield (for example). I would suggest making them the Order of the Dragon, but this may be too established an historical order to be used for this purpose.

I'd like to hear what others think!