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 shook Mr Santoso's hand again. Prince Michael had the car door open for her.

"Thank you again for having me," she said solemnly.

"No, no," the man said with a smile, "It was a joy having you here."

Lucia smiled at him before she let herself be guided into the car. She scooted to the far end of the open door as Michael spoke to Mr Santoso. She realised that it had been good coming here. She got to see that she did not have to go far to offer help to those who needed it. There were people here in Vershia who needed a helping hand and she would be doing them a disservice if she decided to leave the country to help anyone.

Air In The Wind