I squinted in the mirror, and brushed my skirts with my hands. I neatened my hair, and puffed out a breath. 

"LAVINA MADELENA BARLOWE! GET DOWN HERE. NOW."

Jumping, I rushed out of my room, almost tripping as my shoes clicked on the stone floor. Rushing down the stairs, I ran straight into Aloysius, my twin. Pushing him aside, I said,

"MOVE! Aunt Giovanna is going to KILL ME!"

Louie stepped back and put his hands in the air.

"Okay, uh, bye?"

He said as I rushed away, my skirts flying behind me. Moments later, I arrived outside of the main room, and paiting, I shoved the doors open. The room was absolutely silent. My aunts sat in their chairs at the front of the room. A majority of my family was lined up on the sides of the room, including a couple unfamiliar faces. I realized I was staring, and straightened up. My Aunt Giovanna sighed, rolled her eyes, and she put her nose in the air. 

"Lavina. Thank you for joining us. As everyone knows, you have recently turned 15, and it is time to find a husband before you turn 18. So today our fist candidate is Prince Mercurio, prince of the neigboring place to Anistatia Bartola."

I looked over to were he was standing. I rolled my eyes and sighed. He was a typical, blond hair,blue eyes, strong, manly man. Not my choice. Aunt Giovanna gestured to the 2 of us, and then to the door. We nodded, and left the room. There was an akward silence between us.

"So, uh, my name is Lavi. Uh, how are you." I said,akwardly shoving my hand out for a handshake.

He looked at my hand with distaste. "Mhm. Okay. MY name is Prince Mercurio Genoa Milan Christan the third. Mercurio Genoa is fine. Look, I don't want to marry a commoner like you. I'd rather marry a rich beautiful princess, not a.....rat... like you."

My cheeks flushed and I rolled my eyes again. "Not like I WANTED to marry you in the first place. A  big, dumb hunk like you. You've probably never done a day of work in your LIFE. So no, im not interested EITHER."

Looking really offended he scoffed, turned around, and walked back into the main room, his head held high. Rolling my eyes once again, I turned and walked back up the stairs to my room, my shoes still clacking on the floor. Shortly after I got to my room, there was a knock on the door.

"COME IN!!" I yelled, walking over to the door.

Louie walked in.

Winking, he said, "So how'd it goooooo?"

I rolled my eyes, grinned, and threw a pillow at his head. "Terrible. He was a big, dumb dude who has everything done for him and hasn't done a day of work in his life."

"Oof. Well lucky for you, Aunt Giovanna has already found a 'nice' suitor for next week, and is livid at you for introducing yourself as Lavi."

Laughing, I said, "Meeeehh. I'm not quite interested in marrage yettt."

"Oh well lucky for you, The Maze of Florenstein takes place in Anistatia Bartola this year, and our family has been picked."

Grinning, I said, "Oho. This, THIS is going to be fun."