AnotidaMandemwa

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?

[WSA 2024 Entry]

Regal Games

The apple pies had tasted as good as they'd looked. Lucia and Michael left a big tip for the waitress and walked out with happy smiles and contented bellies. A song came from the speakers, and Lucia and Michael followed it. Someone was having a live concert on the ground floor. Lucia saw that some people paused their shopping to watch the musician, while others took out their phones to record the artist.

"He is really good," Lucia said appreciatively.

"He is," Michael agreed as they both came to a stop and watched the young man gently let his voice flow.

Lucia felt Michael put his arm over her shoulder. She let him draw her to his side, settling into the moment. His warmth radiated towards her. He smelled slightly of pinecones. She wondered if he'd switched his usual cologne or swapped soaps.

A group of women walked past them, and Lucia saw that one of them was holding a book she had been looking forward to getting but hadn't yet bought.

The Temple Of Love