From a young age, the protagonist experienced the painful realization that while noble men, or "knights," were admired for their virtue, women often chose to engage with less scrupulous men, or "scoundrels." This lesson was shaped by his own early disappointments in relationships, reflecting a complex understanding of attraction and love.

As a mathematician, he navigates a world that is often dictated by emotion rather than logic. His observations reveal a dichotomy in gender dynamics, highlighting a tension between societal ideals and personal desires, a theme that runs deep throughout the narrative of Arturo Pérez-Reverte's work.