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

<p>Josephine walked into the hotel with her head raised high. Each step was long and graceful. She looked over to the side and her daughter kept pace with her. She loved that she had managed to get Lucia to come along. She had been pleased when it had taken very little convincing for her daughter to go with her. Maybe that was due to the fact that she had said that they were going to discuss a charity with some sponsors and had not told her daughter with who.</p>

<p>As they moved deeper into the lobby, Josephine thought that the hotel's interior designer did a good job with the earthy colours that enveloped the space. The walls, painted in rich, warm tones, were adorned with paintings that depicted serene landscapes and vibrant abstracts. Whoever it was managed to skilfully blend seamlessly with the natural hues of the decor. She loved how her shoes clicked on the smooth, cool surface of the marble underfoot, contrasting with the warmth of the room's ambience.</p>

No Right