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 next day, Lucia was standing in her driveway as the maids gave her cases to Michael's driver. She was standing between Adela and Leroy as her father was talking to Michael. She looked over at them and caught her mother's eye. Josephine was not saying anything but looking over the whole thing with satisfaction.

It all felt so unreal and yet so exciting. That was not an emotion she had expected to feel the previous day, but here she was.

"You will be fine," Adela told her one last time as she rubbed her back.

She would have Michael by her side, and Caroline would be there too.

Leroy leaned into her and whispered, "Try not to cry when you talk to Father."

Lucia glared at him, and he straightened up with a grin.

Glitter & Responsibilities