Luciana

I've been at my fathers mansion for a while. I've been trying to get use to my fathers presence but every time my body fills with tension and I get mad at him for making me leave. Yesterday I found 2 letters in the mail.

One was about how my father needed to go back to the army force to fight yet another war...or train. I was annoyed because I'd be left here yet again. The other one was an invitation to a wedding, Mr Brown and Mrs Quickly's wedding to be specific.

It was soon, and when I told Alyssa about it, she squealed and ran through the house jumping up and down shouting 'the love birds will be reunited!'. She was a nice girl, but also a very loud and obnoxious person at times. "I'm going to make you look gorgeous!" I recalled her saying.

"Oh please, make me look like myself and not a clown." I replied to her. I sealed the letter from the army base back up and forwarded it on to father but was still deciding when to show him the wedding invitation. I wanted to see the kids, even though it hadn't been that long.

I was also hoping it wouldn't be awkward between Simon and I if I actually went. The last thing I wanted was our relationship to be ruined but I doubt he'd let something like that ruin us. Before father could go to sleep, I caught him in his room. He was laying on the huge king sized bed, eyes closed as he sat up.

"Father.." I knocked on the door lightly as his eyes snapped open, he stood up quickly and walked straight over to me. "I got this in the mail" I held up the wedding invitation and waved it in front of his face before he took it from my hands. His eyes scanned over it quickly before he looked back at me, a disapproving look on his face.

"Can I go?" I asked hopefully as he handed the letter back to me. "Luciana, this isn't worth my time." He answered, looking unsure but I refused to take this as an answer.

"But..I have to go! If I don't I might as well run away!" I spoke quickly, panic arising through me as I tried my hardest to get my point across.

"Oh no, you've got that look in your eye, your mother had that same look when she stared at me when we were younger." Father didn't seem happy about that, but I didn't get what he meant. "Huh?"

"Your in love with one of Cedric's sons aren't you? Oh god, I warned Sophie about this but she didn't listen to me all those years back." Had my mother known that I'd fall in love with one of them. Or at least hoped? "Which one is it?"

"His name's Simon Brown, and he's the oldest of the siblings." I inquired father but he still didn't look impressed. "That creature? Luciana you can do much better than that and I'm sure he doesn't deserve you. Did he force you to say these things?"

"No father, I really do like him. I just don't know if he likes me back. And I'm the one who doesn't deserve him" I was pleading now, I had to let him take me.

"Ugh" He groaned out in frustration before kneeling down to my height and looking me dead in the eye. "Do you really feel that way?" He asked me in a quiet voice.

"Yes father, I really do feel this way," He nodded before straightening back up.

"Very well, we shall go to the wedding but if he doesn't return the feelings by the end of the ceremony, you stay with me. If Simon does, you can legally live with them once more."

• • •

The day of the wedding rolled up quickly and Alyssa spent all morning trying to prep me and make me look beautiful. I expected her to take a while, but after half an hour or so, she proclaimed she had finished. I looked into the mirror to see my face looking flawless but also somewhat clear of makeup. My blonde silky hair was split, half in an updo and the other falling down my back in ringlets.

I was hoping Simon liked me back and if he did he confessed it. My fate was riding on his shoulders and he didn't even know it. Alyssa took out a light green silky dress that fitted me perfectly, hugging my small frame. It brought out my eyes and contrasted with my skin perfectly.

I looked breathtaking, and all the while still innocent like I was still my age.

"Ok Luciana, use your manners and be nice, just because they're your old friends doesn't mean you go back to old habits." The footmen whispered to me when I sat in the carriage.

"That's right Lucy, if the wedding goes terrible wrong we're leaving and if you protest, punishment will be required." My father spoke, an edge in his voice as we began the long journey to the Brown's house.

A/N

This is a short one before next week. Thank you so much for the 1K reads...it means a lot to me
xx

Thank you for everything!

~ Emilia :)