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

Landing in Vershia had been uneventful for Lucia and Caroline. They got out of the plane to see two vehicles waiting for them. As she climbed down the stairs behind her sister, Lucia could see that her brother-in-law was waiting for his wife at the bottom of the stairs.

Michael was not there. She had known he wouldn't be there, but it did not help the childish pang that went through her.

She smiled as she saw Caroline and Alexander embrace as soon as Caroline stepped on the tarmac. Lucia stood where she was on the stairs as the couple was unaware that they were blocking the way. When they released each other, Caroline blushed when she noticed Lucia's dilemma.

"Oops," she mouthed as she stepped aside and let Lucia step off the stairs.

"I thought about clearing my throat," Lucia teased lightly.

Caroline grinned at that as she asked, "Why didn't you?"

Just Making It Formal