'Finding Lucius'

'Hah. This is just pissing me off even more.'

Florian clenched his fists, the irritat4rion coiling like a spring ready to snap. For the past thirty minutes, he had been scouring the castle for Lucius, and every dead end only fueled his growing fury. The grand hallways that once felt stately now seemed endless and mocking, their polished surfaces reflecting his scowl as he stalked through them.

He had questioned countless maids and knights, each one fumbling to provide an answer. None were helpful.

"He's talking to the event planner," one had said, their voice dripping with false certainty.

"He's in the ballroom," another offered, only to be immediately contradicted by someone nearby.

"No, no, I believe he's with the royal chef."

"He might be preparing letters for the nobles?"