Lucius makes another trip to Ephesus in the middle of the Roman-Parthian war, perhaps in autumn 163 or early 164, to be married to Lucilla, the second daughter and third child of his adopted brother, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, and Roman Empress Faustina the Younger.

Lucilla's thirteenth birthday is in March 163; whatever the date of her marriage, she is not yet fifteen.

Marcus had moved up the date: perhaps stories of Panthea had disturbed him.

Lucilla is accompanied by her mother Faustina and M. Vettulenus Civica Barbarus, the half-brother of Lucius' father.

Marcus may have planned to accompany them all the way to Smyrna (the biographer says he told the senate he would); this did not happen.

Marcus only accompanies the group as far as Brundisium, where they board a ship for the east.

Marcus returns to Rome immediately thereafter, and sends out special instructions to his proconsuls not to give the group any official reception.

Lucilla, who becomes Lucilla Augusta, will bear three of Lucius' children in the coming years.