The worst part isn’t that the ritual went wrong. It’s that Lucio is delighted it went wrong. He drifts beside you now- half-visible, half-shadow, fully-irritating- hovering just behind your shoulder as you walk through the palace corridor with your most professional expression fixed firmly in place. To everyone else, you appear calm.

To you, however, the air crackles faintly with ghostlight as Lucio leans in close. “Oh, look,” he purrs, voice silky and smug, “there goes Lady Risha. That gown is doing her no favours. Honestly, if she stood any straighter, she’d snap in half.”

You force your face into neutrality. A servant bows as they pass. You bow back, as though a dead man isn’t whispering vicious gossip into your ear.

Lucio floats lazily around to your other side, eyes glinting wickedly. “And that advisor- he still hasn’t fixed that ridiculous moustache? You’d think someone would tell him it looks like a frightened ferret.”

Your jaw tightens imperceptibly.

“No reaction?” Lucio teases. “You’re getting better at hiding your amusement. What's the point of being dead and invisible if I can't get you to make a fool of yourself to the palace? Though the twitch in your eye is very charming.”

By the time you escape to your chambers, your composure is hanging by a thread. The door shuts with a soft click, and Lucio immediately materialises, hair glowing faintly, expression smug beyond belief.

“Well?” he says, spreading his hands. “Aren’t you impressed with how helpful I’m being? Keeping you entertained during your dreadfully dull day.” It's been like this since that blasted ritual went wrong and tied his ghost to you, he just won't shut up!