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

Prince Michael was not in the box anymore. He was in the stables looking at his polo pony as Lucia's brother had told her. She could not see him, but now was the time to watch the king give his speech about another peaceful and prosperous year, thanks to the sacrifices of the people who died to keep the country going when there was a week-long coup some five generations back.

She made sure to sit with her legs tucked under her chair and her hands folded on her lap. Her back was straight. She could feel the glare of the cameras pointed her way. She pretended not to see the cameraman and the drones pointing their lenses in her direction. She did everything not to look in their direction. She knew that once the games started, she would forget about them and would enjoy herself. The problem was that this somber moment was not helping her in any way.

A King's Interest