A Queen Without A King

Chapter 2

I sit on my bed reading one of my many books when my parents both come into my room. I give them a questioning look because they don't come here unless it's very important.

My heart begins to race as they take a seat on the little couch near the window. I stared at them not daring to say anything, especially if I'm in trouble. Although, I haven't done anything wrong recently.

"Orillia, we have a proposal for you," my mother starts. I nod my head for them to continue. "For starters, the prince of Kabet, the son of one of our good allies, will be coming to stay at the palace for a little while. He's nineteen, just like you."

"No. Absolutely not. I will not entertain a boy just to break his heart when I tell him I am not interested," I say before my parents can even suggest an absurd idea.

"Just listen, please," my father urges. I sigh and let them propose their idea. "While he is staying here, you will try and give him an actual chance. You'll push aside the idea of ruling alone during his stay, and if by the end you still want to rule alone, that will be your choice. But you must really try this time."

"An actual chance? You want me to play pretend to date him?" Are they being serious? Do they realize how easy it would be for me to just pretend? There has to be more to this than they are telling me. "What's the catch? It can't be this easy."

"Orillia, have you noticed that every boy that has met you has run away within days of meeting you?" My mother has a point. I usually never give them a chance and make it clear within minutes of meeting them that I am not interested. "You can't just scare this boy away and say you've tried."

"So you want me to lie to the boy?" My mother sighs and looks to my father in hopes that he will explain even further.

"Orillia, honey. We're asking you to open up your mind to the idea and give it a try. You've never been in a relationship. You've never tried being with someone. How could you possibly know that you won't like it?" My father explained. Maybe I should give this thing a go. I'm sure I can pretend to put an effort into a relationship long enough to convince my parents I tried.

"Okay," I say standing up. "I'll do it. I'll try and give this boy a chance. But if it doesn't work out, I will be ruling Phaeacia alone."

I shook my father's hand and my parents leave my room.

As I go through my nighttime routine, I start bracing myself for the next while of torture. My parents told me that he'd be staying here for some time, so it'll probably be a couple of months, at the least. That means I'll have a few months with a lighter workload. I doubt my father will give me much work since he'll want me to focus on this relationship.

I let my mind wander a bit and think about what this boy will be like. What if he's annoying? I don't think I could put up with a boy for two months if he's obnoxious. I might have to call out of the deal in that case. Hopefully, he's like an average boy, simple and all, and probably full of himself. All the boys I've met are pretty good at keeping themselves entertained, keeping up the conversation and all.

I lay in bed trying to convince myself that a few months is not too long and that the prize, in the end, will be worth it. I'm not sure I believe it, but I just try to focus on the goal and not so much the in-betweens of it all.

***

I wake up the next morning and get ready for meeting this prince from Kabet. I choose my best casual dress and pin my hair out of my face and head downstairs for breakfast.

At the table, my parents inform me that our guests will be arriving just after breakfast. They give me quick reminders about my behaviour and press the fact that I have to try for the deal to go through. I assure them that I will try my best, but that I don't think it'll work anyways. Aveline giggles the entire time, making comments here and there about how I'll probably just scare him away by the end of the day. I join in on her laughter and add a few comments of my own. Eventually, our father puts an end to our laughing fit and breakfast comes to an end.