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 sitting on her bed and just reeling. She had kept it together the whole day. She couldn't believe that her relationship with Michael had changed. She was still upset with her mother and the last time they had spoken was in the car when they were leaving the hotel. Her mother had wanted to know what was going on with Prince Michael and Lucia had advised that her mother should stay away from it.

A soft knock sounded on her door and interrupted her musing.

"Lucia," a voice said, "Are you decent?"

She rolled her eyes, "Come in, Lee!"

The door opened and her brother walked into the room. He was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. He looked well. That probably meant the company was doing well in her father's absence.

"What is going on?" she asked him.

They were close but it took urgency for him to seek her out.

"Mum is upset," he said and she felt a touch of guilt.

Leroy Remembers