It was the most wonderful of days to travel, and the most wonderful of days to attend a ball of such magnificence and importance. The sky was washed clean from the clouds that covered it all long winter, and the sun shone amid it like a gleaming jewel, following a single carriage that quickly made its way through the woods, pulled by a quartet of grey stallions. One could even call it blessed - though, maybe the important guest that was carried in the chariot might not, considering how little importance he gave blessings and curses. After all, this was no land of mages and fae, but Connlaoth!
Miracles and magic had no place here. How ironic that he was the exact man that took care of something almost miraculous, the fireworks that would be the pinnacle of opulence of this evening.
How ironic. His thin lips formed a slight smirk at the thought. Fireworks...
The carriage made a slight turn, barring on the road to follow it into beautiful gardens, and trees disappeared to make place for blooming flowers of great beauty. The rays of the sun almost as if stroke them with their long fingers, and they shone even through the windows of the carriage to fall upon a figure of a man, deep in his thoughts. It was only for a short moment, and then, the self-same man was embraced by shadows again. His rather expensive-looking chariot stopped in front of a beautiful residence, and the door opened, though remaining in the shade the walls cast at it.
It was truly a relief to step onto dry, warm earth once again after that dreadful winter was what Lucien thought upon stepping out, carrying himself casually elegant as always. One of the servants, garbed in white, that accompanied him, picked the long coat that trailed behind him up, and together with his cape, he softly laid it down behind his master's feet, to avoid even the corners getting stuck in the door that closed soon after Lucien made his way out. His typical white coat, lined with the soft grey fur of wolves at its collar and sleeves, was half hidden by a long grey cape, pinned by an exquisite brooch at his shoulder. With one smooth move of his arm, he pushed it aside to reveal the robe underneath, buttoned by even more exquisite silver at his chest, to open widely at his waist, and trail behind him in the wind. The servant bowed deeply as he made his way away from the carriage, and towards the residence.
Duchess Melora's ball. What a good opportunity to strengthen political alliances... Good that he provided the fireworks. They will yet be of good use to him, he was sure of that. And the Duchess herself - he grew quite fond of her. She was a magnificent woman to say the least. But even she was sinking into the spider's net like a fly, slowly approaching. She, too, could, like a firework, bring him higher and bloom to scatter and disappear. Sure, she could still do much. After all, a duchess was a woman of great importance. But she was only a woman, and he needed her for one thing only - to bring him closer to other nobles. A little attraction was a side product, a pawn on the chess table that could help him win the game, but it was something he could still easily get rid of. Besides, Melora was no choice for marriage, partly since she was already in one, and partly since she, by herself, could not even rule a duchy without her husband.
What he'd need would be a wife that could. That was what he would be looking for this evening - though, only rather discreetly.
"Sir, your invitation, please?"
The voice of an old man broke the regent of Connlaoth out of his thoughts, but he didn't let on how much it surprised him, and rather quickly pulled the envelope from beneath his coat. His white-gloved hand raised to hand the paper to the man. While he read it, a servant stepped to him.
"Sir, may I take your cape?"
With a slight nod, Lucien unpinned the long grey cape, and without a word handed it to the boy, which bowed, and exited.
"Sir Thornwood, it is a pleasure to welcome you. Your fireworks are regarded highly." the man welcomed him upon reading the invitation, and bowed, too. "Though, it is surprising to see you without an escort..."
"It's a pleasure to attend, too. However, I feel no need for an escort." Lucien responded in a silky voice, gracefully waving his hand at the remark. It was rather rude to point something like that out...
For the position of a regent, Lucien was slightly eccentric in some ways. Over thirty and unwed. Coming from a questionable noble family. Living all alone. Truly, not the standard for someone of his status, but he made up for it with his manners and behavior. And expensive gifts for his noble acquaintances - he had once gifted an Essyrni dancer to a man for a favor, even.
Like that, he made his way to the grand hall, naturally searching for the Duchess.