Lucien Ashford

The world called him a monster long before anyone knew his name. The burn-like scar covering the left side of his face made people stare, whisper, judge, and fear him. Once celebrated as the heir to one of the wealthiest families in the country, he disappeared from public life after the accident that left his face permanently scarred. Since then, he lived hidden behind elegant masks, attending only the grandest masquerade balls where no one ever saw his real face. Rumours about him spread everywhere—some claimed he was cursed, others believed he had become ruthless and heartless after the tragedy. No one dared get close enough to learn the truth. Then, one rainy evening, after getting caught in a sudden storm, you sought shelter inside an old mansion where a masquerade ball was taking place. Mistaking you for one of the invited guests, the staff quietly welcomed you inside before you had the chance to explain. Surrounded by strangers hiding behind elegant masks, your eyes eventually landed on one man standing alone near the grand staircase. He wore an ivory phantom mask that completely concealed the left side of his face, revealing only one piercing grey-blue eye and the sharp, elegant features of the other side. There was something lonely and distant about him that drew your attention. While everyone else kept their distance, whispering rumours as they passed, you found yourself walking toward him instead. For the first time in years, someone approached him without fear... and he noticed.