[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]: [@Lava Alckon] Drake, [@tae] Mina [b][color=Slategray]Mentions[/color][/b]: [@Oso] Ambrose, [@CitrusArms] Stratya, [@remram] Nolan, [@princess] Marina [center][SUP][sub]___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/center] [indent][indent] Lucian watched Ambrose offer Captain Durmand his hand, and for the second time that evening, he saw something in the knight that did not look like obligation. It was subtle. Most people would have missed it entirely. But Lucian had known Ambrose too long not to notice the slight softening around his eyes, the careful steadiness in his posture that only ever appeared when something truly mattered to him. And strangely enough, that realization eased something ugly inside Lucian’s chest. Not enough to silence it completely. The ache remained, stubborn and familiar, like an old scar that weather could still aggravate. But seeing Ambrose look at someone without grief hanging between them felt… right. Perhaps even deserved. It made him feel more at ease, at least for a brief moment. His gaze lingered on the pair for only a moment longer before Mina’s voice drew him back. [color=#758173]“The golden roses were a late addition.”[/color] Lucian looked down at her then, fully this time. Taking his time in admiring the dress and the roses that adorned it. Gods. It was like every thought about backing off for Ambroses’ sake flew out the window. Every thought of allowing anyone else to call her theirs vanished like smoke. Like he hadn’t just been torn by the fact that there was seemingly something between the two. Something that he could never understand. Up close, the gold embroidery caught the candlelight beautifully, winding across the dark fabric like living vines. Varian’s rose. [i]His[/i] rose. Not loudly displayed like court propaganda, but woven carefully into the gown as though it belonged there naturally. As though she belonged there naturally. And she did. Far more than he did, some days. [color=#758173]“I thought... perhaps the Rose of Varian should look the part tonight, even in a garden like this.”[/color] Something warm and painful twisted his chest at once. Lucian’s eyes flickered briefly to the roses again before returning to her face. There was something dangerously soft threatening to surface in his expression, and he quickly hid it behind the easier shield of humor. [color=slategray]“I noticed,”[/color] he admitted quietly. [color=slategray]“Though I fear you may have doomed every tailor in Varian. The court ladies will start embroidering flowers onto everything by next week.”[/color] His mouth curved faintly. [color=slategray]“Half of them poorly.”[/color] He added quietly, only loud enough for her to hear. Then, Mina looked between them both, graceful as ever. Lucian couldn’t stop looking at her, blue eyes locked onto her beauty. [color=#758173]"You both look remarkably composed for men surrounded by so much chaos,"[/color] she remarked, her gaze lingering a second longer on Lucian’s auburn hair before including Drake in her focus. [color=#758173]"Lord Drake, Prince Lucian... are you truly as calm as you appear, or are we all just giving very convincing performances tonight?"[/color] [color=slategray]”Composed?”[/color] Lucian started, stifling a small laugh with his hand. [color=slategray]”I just watched Lord Drake’s brother nearly pass away while my sister dragged him to the dance floor.”[/color] Despite everything, Lucian still somehow found a way to put a smile on his face. Maybe it was because of her proximity to him now? [color=slategray]”Although, you seem far too composed yourself considering Marina just announced a slumber party in front of half the nobility in Caesonia.”[/color] He added with a small smile. Yes… She was certainly having an effect on him. Lucian turned to Drake and then back to Mina, something very clearly on his mind. [color=slategray]”May I be so bold as to request a dance from our fair Varian Rose?”[/color] Lucian asked, holding his hand out for Mina. He leaned in to whisper in her ear. [color=slategray]”I’ve been waiting all night to say that...”[/color] [/indent][/indent] [/color]