AnotidaMandemwa

[WSA 2024 Entry]
Everyone is playing a regal game. Everyone except Lucia (who probably should).

After her father faced accusations of trying to seize the throne from his father and king, he was exiled along with his family. They were no longer royalty, but his wife would not have it. She was friends with the queen of Vershia and used that to her advantage. Her two older daughters were the right age to marry the two princes, and she would make that happen come what may.

That became a problem when the oldest daughter was ignored by the crown prince, who formed a friendship with the youngest of the girls. There was still hope; Lucia could become the future queen. But Lucia was not groomed for this role. She did not want to live for the type of marriage she could snag. She did not want to take the man who had been planned for her sister.

But that’s the thing with plans, isn’t it? She never planned to fall in love with the man, and there she was: an unwilling participant in the regal games. Would she capture the crown? How would everything affect her relationship with her sister? Was there ever pleasing her mother?

Regal Games

Lucia watched as the cars cut through the city. Some people stopped and waved; others went on with their business. Caroline opened her window and began waving back. If it was a secret the future bride of Prince Alex was in the car, it wasn't now. More people waved back and others took out their phones and began filming the cars making their way through the slow-moving traffic. There was a huge smile on Caroline's face. Lucia wondered if this was the appeal.

"Please close the window," she told her sister.

"Why?" Caroline exclaimed with a laugh in her voice, "This is fun!"

Lucia shook her head and went back to people watching through her window. She was aware that the closer they got to the royal palace, the bigger the crowd. Everyone wanted to take a look at royalty. They were like fancy animals in a fancy fish bowl. She could not see the appeal.

As the car came to a stop at a red light the partition separating them from the driver lowered.

Not A Hair Out Of Place