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 sat on the floor and watched as her brother flapped his arms around. The men, Prince Michael and Prince Alex were shouting random words at him. They were playing Charades. There were four women and three men. The ladies had offered to let one of the women sit out, and Lucia had volunteered. The boys had refused that offer.

"Bird!" one prince yelled and the women giggled.

Lucia grinned as she watched Leroy shake his head with frustration. They were running out of time and "bird" had been yelled out and rejected several times.

"Flies?" the other prince yelled out, and Lucia grinned.

She was certain they were never going to get the word. She choked out a laugh when she saw her brother waving his hands in front of him while jumping around from left to right. How could the princes not get this one?

"Ostrich?" Prince Alexander said in confusion.

Line's Bachelorette