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

After lunch, Michael excused himself and went back to the palace. Lucia was alone with her sisters. It was just as well. They were supposed to spend the next day at the Handhoff estate before she got married. Adela got into the back of her car, with their guards both following and leading their drive.

"Where exactly are we going?" Lucia decided to ask when she realised the drive was taking longer than she had expected.

"It's a surprise!" Caroline said, exchanging looks with Adela.

They were both sitting in the front, while Lucia sat in the back.

According to Caroline, the drive was not supposed to take more than four hours. She thought Adela should have let one of their chauffeurs drive, but the woman had insisted on getting behind the wheel of her beloved car—and no one argued with a queen. At least, that was what she told them.

The Surprise