Snippet #1899160

Bella
I snorted. "As if my family would ever leave my thoughts. Maybe some day they won't be the top thing in my thoughts, but that day's unlikely to be here at any time. I'm not likely to be willingly married, am I?"
Lucius started talking about the painting, and I smiled, pleased. "I'm glad, but it can't be that good. Those are commissioned, and only the best artists get the commissions."
"Till dinner! Lucius, you're harsh!" I pouted and crossed my arms over my chest. "That's hours and hours and HOURS away!"
"Poor Lola. Tell her to feel better soon, and I promise to remind the guards." I added, dropping my begging manner.
I laughed. Lucius had a refreshing sense of humor. "If you must know, it took an entire company of two hundred to force me into the dress!" I joked, before turning serious. "It actually took only a few. I don't have my regular clothes yet; the laundresses kidnapped them, and all the other dresses were the encrusted with gems and shot with real gold or silver kinds, if that makes any sense to you. Usually it wouldn't, but you've seen some of the more... icky fashions of the court haven't you? Like the latest style which involves utterly impractical trailing sleeves, and brings back the two color weave fabrics. I like the two color weaves, but I hate the sleeves... And I am not beautiful! You're just blinded by your brotherly love. It's what brothers are supposed to do, after all."
I sighed. "The plan seems to be working just fine, Lucius." I froze at his next words, then saw the sense of it. "It would be wonderful. You understand me almost as well as any of my family, and you'll let me be how I want to be. And you're one of Father's favorites. And you have a sensible, diplomatic head. But then the alliance would be broken and we'd be at war again and more of the people would die. Why isn't there a way to solve this mess so everyone could be happy?!?!"
I stamped my foot on the ground, hard.