Snippet #1485946

Lionel grimaced when the only sound in the room that could be heard was Adelaide's slow, sarcastic clapping. Ouch. Didn't know I was this unpopular.

But in truth, he had. War was his intention, had always been his intention since he was a child. He couldn't fix so he broke, stirring up conflict and misery wherever he went. And he was good at it too. The events of tonight would not only split House Winsler, but House Greyhardt as well. Lionel had known for years that the Greyhardts were only a reluctant ally, backing House Damian not for moral reasons but for their own survival. By wedding Leliana, he would no doubt lose the support of some, but those who truly cared for Lord Greyhardt's daughter would offer Lionel unlimited support. In a way, Leliana was now his hostage…although he was sure she didn't mind.

On the other hand, as for Adelaide…the stupid little wench would get what was coming. She may have thought she was clever, attempting to humiliate him like that, but if Adelaide had learned anything in the past fifteen years, it was that Lionel always got his revenge. She and Raban had tried getting back at him before, only to realize that standing up to him was futile. Trying to defeat him was laughable. No matter what they did, Lionel would only take it and twist it and use it against them. And then he would be angry, and lash at out them with even more fury than before.

And this was a case in point. Adelaide thought she had the upper hand, thought she could shame Lionel with her words. But Lionel was always three steps ahead of her. He had conversed with their father, knew of the king's plans. She didn't. He knew the risks and benefits of choosing Leliana, and could easily trade half of House Greyhardt's fighting power for a war and a girl. Father wouldn't dare risk the humiliation of forcing Lionel to marry Isabel, especially not after Lionel had just won a tourney for him. But poor, poor Adelaide… Wedding Leliana would have repercussions, but wedding Kervall… If a war started, then Adelaide would have no one to blame except herself and her own foolish heart. If she had never displayed her affection, never given Father the opportunity, then House Winsler would not be in uproar.

He shot his sister a silent smirk, satisfied. I'm not the selfish, childish one. You are. House Winsler will declare war, and it's all…your…fault.

"What now?" Leliana had asked him. Lionel turned back to look at her, suddenly feeling very, very giddy.

"Now, we just sit down and wait for war to start." he murmured back, a grin on his face. "Want some wine?"