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

She had forgotten how big a deal it was the first time she had come here. The people of Vershia loved to make a big deal of the royal family checking out the chapel before the wedding, and hers was no exception.

They stood on either side of the road, waving balloons, flowers, ribbons, and banners with her and Michael's names or faces printed on them. Lucia was glad to be sitting next to Michael. With him beside her and holding her hand, she felt the courage to open her window and wave at the crowd. After all, they were here for them.

Michael smiled at the way she was more confident in her public persona. Some time ago, she would have found a way to shrink into the shadows. He would never have believed that she would be the one to step forward and interact with his people.

When the car came to a stop, she closed the window, giving herself a moment of privacy as she glanced at him with a self-conscious smile on her face.

"Do I look alright?" she asked him.

"You're Allie's Aunt!"