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

"Don't tell Adela about Prince Michael and me," Lucia wanted to tell her mother but realised that with the conversation they'd had in the car, she would be pushing it. Besides, the busy airport was not the best place for such discussions. It was best if she spoke to her sister sooner rather than later.

She looked around hoping to see her father and sister soon. She wanted to pace the waiting area but she dared not. Pacing was not something a girl could do in public. It showed nerves and her mother liked to talk about the importance of always being calm in public. As a Handhoff of Rhodes, they needed to anticipate that there would always be eyes on them. Sure, it was not to an alarming extent but now and again, there was an article with an image they did not know had been taken while they were doing mundane things.

"What is taking so long?" Josephine muttered and Lucia looked at her.

Adela Knows