[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]: Evening [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]: [@princess] Marina, [@remram] Nolan [b][color=Slategray]Mentions[/color][/b]: [@princess] Charlotte, [@tae] Mina, [@Oso] Ambrose, [@Lava Alckon] Drake, [@samreaper] Kazumin, [@CitrusArms] Stratya [center][SUP][sub]___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/center] [indent][indent] [quote][color=#9E664C]“Of course, my Prince.”[/color] Ambrose replied with a similar tone.[/quote] Lucian nodded solemnly as Ambrose replied to him. He couldn't imagine Ambrose's position, serving the very man responsible for his sister's death. Keeping him and his siblings safe from danger when Lucian himself hadn't been able to save Ambrose's sister. He could understand his hatred, empathize with it in some way. [quote][color=#6C72C6] "The question-pelting addiction is a work in process."[/color] Marina had informed him promptly, her expression smug.[/quote] Lucian rolled his eyes at her reply, knowing full well she wasn't really working on it at all. More often than not, she would speak whatever thought first crossed her mind. It was something he found both refreshing and concerning. One could see why he might worry about her. [quote][color=#6C72C6]“I’ll just love you double then,”[/color] she whispered, her voice low enough for him alone, [color=#6C72C6]“to make up for Ambrose.”[/color] [/quote] Lucian said nothing at this. He didn't think Marina would take his actual thoughts very well. As much as her love was appreciated, he wasn't sure it would be enough to make up for his own self-loathing. How could he accept her love for him when he didn't really even know how to forgive and love himself? How could he do that when there was a part of him that didn't want Ambrose to forgive, that didn't want to let that wound heal, to forget her? He didn't see how it could help but he didn't want to let her know that. He squeezed his sister back in return, holding onto her. [quote][color=#6C72C6]“But under all that pain…”[/color] she added more quietly, [color=#6C72C6]“you know he still loves you, don’t you?”[/color][/quote] He had meant to hold onto her longer, to keep her from seeing his expression but she had pulled away sooner than he'd had time to react. He wasn't sure he wanted Ambrose love him, he wasn't sure he deserved to be loved by that man. The realization of that hit Lucian like a sack of bricks and his expression soured like month old fruits. [quote][color=#6C72C6]“...You talk to anyone of interest yet, Lucian?”[/color][/quote] Lucian didn't speak for a moment, his eyes practically glazing over the sea of people. He watched with disinterest as a blonde man entered and began to perform. If he weren't so upset right now, he might have truly enjoyed it. It was refreshing and heartwarming in a strange way. Reminded him of simpler times. He turned back as the performance ended and caught a glance of Mina as she bumped into Ambrose. His expression immediately shifted. First relief, the sight of her alone bringing him comfort. He first noticed how striking she looked in that dress and had half a mind to offer her a cover for it, but he knew better. Then, his gaze settled on the golden embroidery along the edge of the body of the dress. The roses that settled there like they were always meant to be there. A smile grew on his lips at the thought. The Rose of Varian. Exactly as she was meant to be. [quote][color=#758173]"Ambrose,"[/color] she breathed.[color=#758173]"I... I apologize,"[/color] she said, [color=#758173]"I wasn't looking where I was going. This crowd is... overwhelming."[/color] [/quote] He didn't think too much of her words, other than the expression that seemed to follow. She took a step back, his expression shifting to one he had come to know as a mask, one he'd slipped on all too often. But he couldn't fathom why she'd have that reaction to Ambrose. Yes, he was a wall of a man and as stiff as one too, but he didn't warrant that kind of reaction, right? [quote][color=#9E664C]“Lady Blackwood…”[/color] He muttered, voice losing the knightly confidence that was usually on display. [color=#9E664C]“I…”[/color] Ambrose began but stopped.[/quote] Lucian's expression turned to one of confusion. He [i]never[/i] saw Ambrose falter like that. Well, maybe once or twice when they were younger and Ambrose was talking to one of the girls he liked- Lucian froze, watching the two of them now. His gaze shifted from Mina to Ambrose and then back again and he wasn't sure he could put words to how he felt. His gaze strayed as he tried to be literally anywhere else right now, Marina's question completely forgotten, as Charlotte entered and she was not at all how he remembered. His eyes went wide for a fraction of a second as he tried to collect himself. It was like seeing Sophia's face on someone else's body. [i]Maybe if Sophia had been more like that... No... That wouldn't have done anything... [/i] Lucian shook his head slightly and shifted his gaze back towards his sister, anywhere other than other pair near him, just in time to see another pair emerge beside her. This was becoming far too many people surrounding him... He watched with mild interest as the younger boy introduced himself as Nolan Edwards. Ahhh, yes. He'd heard rumors. His gaze shifted for a moment back to Lady Charlotte, watching her walk up to another man and touch his chin. He turned back quickly, his eyes wide. Why did that make him jealous? What the fuck were his feelings at all? Here he was both heartbroken over Mina and wanting Ambrose to finally have something good and then feeling heartbroken all over again to feeling jealousy towards a woman who was not his merely because she looked like his dead wife. He needed a drink. A strong one. [quote][color=#B3EBC0]"It's great to see you again, Princess Camilla. You look..."[/color] He trailed off.[/quote] Lucian's gaze pivoted to the Edwards' boy, a sudden keen interest in him. This... This could prove to be a good distraction. [quote][color=#B3EBC0]"You look lovely tonight,"[/color] was all he could say. His lips curled up into a warm smile that met his bright green eyes. [color=#B3EBC0]"Very lovely."[/color][/quote] His eyes narrowed for a moment, as Nolan continued. [quote][color=#B3EBC0]"I, uh, I hope this night has found everyone well so far. Have you all been able to enjoy your stay in Caesonia?"[/color] asked the young lord in hopes of shifting the topic.[/quote] [color=slategray]"No, but I think I know someone else who has."[/color] He leaned over to whisper to his sister quickly. [color=slategray]"It's been excellent so far, Lord... Nolan, was it?"[/color] Lucian replied, an amused smirk on his face despite himself. At least, in this, he could forget his own messy feelings for a moment. He turned as he waited for Nolan to reply, watching as a woman walked over to Ambrose and Mina. [quote][color=peru] “Ambrrose,”[/color] a gentle, coaxing call for his attention. [color=peru]“Would you dance with me?”[/color][/quote] His eyes narrowed again for a moment, suddenly much more interested in Ambrose's reply than Nolan's. [/indent][/indent] [/color]