[sup][h1][center][img]https://i.ibb.co/bgXwm4CG/Picsart-25-11-29-11-57-03-374.jpg[/img][/center][b][center]  
[color=#000000] ʟ ᴜ ᴄ ɪ ᴀ ɴ  ᴄ ᴀ ᴍ ɪ ʟ ɪ ᴀ [/color]
[color=#8a1902]ʟ ᴜ ᴄ ɪ ᴀ ɴ  ᴄ ᴀ ᴍ ɪ ʟ ɪ ᴀ [/color][/center]
[/b][/h1][/sup][COLOR=#a2a2a2]
[b][color=Slategray]Time[/color][/b]: 6PM
[b][color=Slategray]Location[/color][/b]: Grand Ballroom
[b][color=Slategray]Attire[/color][/b]: [url=https://i.ibb.co/V0ZsThkp/Chat-GPT-Image-Jan-14-2026-09-44-45-PM.png]Lucian's Outfit[/url]
[b][color=Slategray]Interactions[/color][/b]: 
[b][color=Slategray]Mentions[/color][/b]: [@princess] Marina, [@Oso] Ambrose
[center][SUP][sub]___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/center]
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He had said his goodbyes to the last young woman who had seen him in passing and had stopped to say hello. He couldn't quite put his finger on how he felt right now in this moment. It was as if everyone in the room were simply shades of grey. He'd been greeted by a beautiful woman and he knew her to be, but... There was no color there, no spark, no joy. It was performative. A smile here, a gentle kiss to the back of their hand, a nodded hello to a fellow gentleman. He couldn't get past the way it all felt so... dull. 

He had closed his eyes for a moment, tired, and was about to try and get himself back into the swing of things. He had a goal, he needed more information and he needed to look like he was in search of a wife. When he opened his eyes again, he heard the herald announce a familiar name and he couldn't help but glance over just in time to see his sister's grand entrance. She, unlike the others, was full of color and life. It pulled a small smile to his lips, despite himself. As irritating and dramatic as she could be, he was happy to see her. 

And then he noticed Ambrose behind her and a familiar wave of conflicting emotions washed over him. He was happy to see him. Happy to see him with his sister, guarding her, knowing that she was safe. He was guilty. He was... He could never manage to look Ambrose in the eye, not fully and never without some far away look his eyes like he was having an out of body experience any time he had to. 

...And then they were walking towards him. He had half a mind to turn tail and run, find literally any reason to step into conversation and avoid the both of them. As much as Marina was a comfort to him, the man behind her was not. The man behind her was a walking, barely talking, bubble of discomfort and one he'd often rather avoid when he could. However, Lucian also knew the lengths his sister would go to to see him. The hoops she would jump through to get what she wanted. He knew better than anyone. Jaw set as if bracing himself for a storm, Lucian turned with a smile towards his sister as he waited for her to approach. 

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