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

People came and went. Lucia understood that. But she could not help grieving for Allie's family. They had lost a child at such a young age. Her heart broke for them. It broke for Allie. That poor little girl did not need to know what that kind of grief was. She probably did not fully understand.

"Are you okay?" Michael asked her.

She was supposed to be happy. They were supposed to be looking forward to their marriage. She was looking forward to her family. However, she was also sad for the life that had ended too soon. She looked at the little dove pin she had been given. The other one she had given to Michael. She thought about it for a second and then pinned it to her dress.

Rest in peace, little one, she thought.

Michael wordlessly took in what she had done and did the same. He took the pin she had passed to him and pinned it to the lapel of his jacket.

A Plethora of Reasons