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 had let her mother guide her to where they were seating and found out that the seating was arranged in such a way that she was seated next to Prince Michael. He was reading the brochure in his hands. And his cousin was talking intently to the man next to her. Lucia hesitated.

"Go on take your seat," her mother said graciously but failed to completely veil the impatience in her voice.

Lucia said nothing and sat down. Prince Michael looked from his brochure. Delight lightened his eyes when they landed on her.

"Are you enjoying the night?" he asked her.

Lucia resisted the urge to make a face. She had wanted to make a difference but she hated these flamboyant events. She realised that these events were necessary but they were not the same as seeing the change with her own eyes. Making the changes with her own hands and talking to them and hearing their concerns.

Flashy Endurance