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

With the sun on her back and her head pillowed by her forearms, Lucia let out a happy little breath. Caroline, who was lounging on the chair beside her, gave her a look and smiled with pride.

She was on her belly too and thought that it was easy making Lucia happy—especially after the work the Kingdom of Rhodes had made her do. Sure, it was mostly public relations, where she had to attend events and be the face of the royal family, but it was also draining. Especially for a girl who liked to be in the shadows of the spotlight.

"I bet you feel the stress just leaching away," Caroline drawled lazily to her baby sister.

Lucia turned her head to her and said, "What stress?"

She was absolutely sun-drunk, and it showed on her face. There was nothing but bliss in her expression.

"That's a yes," Caroline said almost to herself.

Sun & Creams