Lucian

Biodata

Background

Lucian is the son of Viscount Attwood, owner of the cruise ship Noah. He attends the University of London, where he shares a lecture and major with Lanny 22 26 41.

Appearance

Lucian bears some resemblance to his mother, Mrs. Attwood. He was meticulously dressed for the Noah’s sailing celebration 41.

Personality

Lanny describes Lucian as frivolous and easygoing, but notes that he keeps his word. Lucian is talkative and socially adept: he can tell stories vividly, read a room, and quickly adapt when a situation becomes awkward 22 27.

Lanny considers Lucian unreliable under serious pressure and believes he is afraid of his parents and authority. Lucian nevertheless shows concern for Lanny, offering to help him find a lawyer and gathering students to support his alibi 28 31 41.

Skills

Chess

• Lucian says he has learned chess as a hobby since he was three 50.
• He enters the Noah’s chess tournament as the shipowner’s son, although he tells Lanny that arrangements will ensure he reaches at least the top eight 50.

Relationships

• Lanny (He Xue) — A fellow student whose notes Lucian borrowed before a quiz. Lucian calls him a friend and repeatedly seeks his company, though Lanny often finds his enthusiasm tiring 22 27 39.
• Frida — Lucian’s girlfriend. Fearing his parents would disapprove of her middle-class background, he asks Lanny to present her as a university friend 39 41.
• Mrs. Attwood — Lucian’s mother. He proudly introduces Lanny to her at the sailing celebration and is surprised when Lanny calls out her dismissive treatment 41.
• Watson — Lucian chats readily with Watson at dinner and later helps him gather students to support Lanny’s alibi 27 31.

Story Role

University and the murder investigation

Lucian borrows Lanny’s notes on behalf of several students and scores 72 on a difficult quiz. When Lanny later asks for people to pose as his friends, Lucian initially believes Lanny is offering to help him get high scores. A crowd of students gathers at the planned dinner, but Lucian sends them away after the misunderstanding becomes apparent 22 26 27.

After Inspector Lestrade takes Lanny in for questioning about a murder, Lucian offers to help find him a lawyer. At Watson’s request, he leads students to Scotland Yard to provide information supporting Lanny’s alibi 28 31.

The Noah cruise

Lucian invites Lanny aboard the Noah, hoping he will help conceal Lucian’s relationship with Frida from his parents. He also shares gossip about businessman Ivan Taber and Maren Flynn’s planned voyage, which interests Sherlock. Once Lanny agrees to attend, Lucian arranges two additional first-class tickets for his companions 39 40.

At the sailing celebration, Lucian introduces Lanny to Mrs. Attwood, who apologizes after Lanny challenges her behavior. Later, Lucian brings Lanny news of fortune-teller Valentine Butler’s challenge and leads him to the exhibition hall. After Butler and Maren are arrested, Lucian recounts how Maren used impersonators and Butler’s curse business to obtain Talbot’s money 41 46 47.

During a Liverpool excursion, Lucian and Frida invite Lanny ashore. Lucian later enters the ship’s chess tournament and is happy to have an excuse to spend time with Frida while watching Lanny play 49 50.

Manga account of Frida

Manga comments describe a separate account in which Lucian planned to propose to Frida, but an unnamed villain manipulated and drugged her, leading to her suicide. In that account, Lucian suffered a breakdown and stayed away from school until Professor Moriarty uncovered the circumstances. Lanny learns this while Frida is still with Lucian and worries that she may be in danger 48.