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

The wind hit her skin, and Lucia shivered. The family-only engagement party was over. She was standing in the garden, just trying to think. She couldn't sleep. Caroline had been right. The Queen had come to her, asking for a wedding date. She had told the woman that she would discuss it with Michael and then come back to her. The Queen had taken that well, but Lucia had sensed some impatience in her. She had proceeded to tell Lucia the date she was holding the official engagement party. This was a little over a couple of weeks away. The Queen had also told her to meet her the next morning.

Lucia felt that this side of things she had been ignoring was getting real. She was being pushed into her future role as princess. A part of her did not feel ready. She doubted she would ever feel ready.

"Are you okay?" A voice she loved startled her by asking.

Together