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 was buttering her bread in the breakfast room. She was doing her best not to look at her sister, who was making eyes at her fiancé. She wondered what time they had come home the previous night, but didn't she care enough to ask. Caroline was a big girl and had always been able to take care of herself. Besides, she was safe with Prince Alex. Whether they were being safe on the other hand…

Lucia shook the lewd imagery out of her mind. Yuck! She did not need to envision her sister doing the deed. Besides, it was none of her business.

She heard a pair of feet moving with purpose in the hall. She looked up at the same time that her sister and Prince Alex did to see Prince Michael.

"Good morning," he said as he drew back a chair and took a seat.

Lucia noticed he was dressed formally. She was wearing a summer dress and a coat over it. It had rained sometime in the night, and was chilly.

Purses & Pockets