“Announcing Governor Ennius Grimoire and Madelaide Grimoire!” a voice cried.
Murmurs and applause electrified the room.
Lucan, who was courting an elven elder for support, turned upon hearing his daughter’s name.
“What the actual f—”
“Daddy!”
Lucan dropped to one knee as his daughter ran to him.
“Sweetheart, this is unexpected,” he said.
Madelaide was wearing a white designer dress, and a silver tiara in her hair. She smiled at Lucan with a smile full of missing teeth—one that would have normally melted his heart. Now, it made him suspicious.
“Uncle Ennius brought me!” Madelaide said. “He said it would be fun to surprise you.”
“Yeah, I’m surprised,” Lucan said.
“Is it true that there’s going to be dancing?” she asked, pointing to a wooden dance floor nearby.
“Yeah, but it’s pret
