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 aroma of cooking vegetables began to fill the kitchen. Michael opened a simmering pot, inspected his concoction, and closed it. He turned off the heat and went to open a cupboard and pulled out a pair of plates. He placed them on the counter top and opened a pot, beginning to plate the food. Lucia was standing at his elbow and watching his every move with fascination.

"Is this enough?" he asked, indicating the serving of forbidden rice on her plate.

She looked at the plate he was indicating and nodded. He nodded and set aside the pot. He went to open another pot but stopped with his hand hovering on the lid before he walked over to another counter and opened a drawer. He pulled out two sets of forks and spoons and came back. He placed all but a spoon on the counter. Lucia watched him open the pot and then took a spoonful of vegetables and presented them to her with his hand under the spoon in case of a spill. Lucia looked at him questioningly.

Dual Tensions