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>Lucia was floating. She felt as though there were a pocket of air between her and the ground. She looked at her lap and could hardly believe it. There was a ring on her finger. Yes, she had said yes. She had never thought about what kind of ring she wanted before, but this... This was it. It had a pigeon's blood ruby surrounded by tiny white diamonds. The gemstone arrangement was nestled in a thin gold band that looked like two strands of metal woven together. She loved its simplicity and brilliance. It reminded her of fire.</p>

<p>Michael took her hand in his and laced their fingers together. She looked at him. He was sitting with one leg crossed over the other, a tablet resting on his knee, supported by one hand. All his attention was on the tablet.</p>

Floating