AnotidaMandemwa

[This book is complete]
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

Another month passed, and Lucia found herself in her reserved apartment in the Vershian Royal Palace. A dozen flower arrangements were laid out before her. She had to choose the one she would hold as she walked down the aisle. It should have been easy, but each arrangement contained the same flowers in different styles.

She had met a florist who had happily put together flowers with meaningful symbolism, intended to bring blessings to her marriage. Sure, the woman was superstitious, but Lucia was willing to take every blessing that came her way.

Michael walked into the apartment and found her sitting in the living room, elbows on her knees, chin resting in her hands. A slight frown creased her face as she studied one arrangement, then another, and back again.

"What's going on?" he asked, though he suspected he already knew.

"I can't decide which one I want," she admitted without taking her eyes off the table.

Perfect Petals