A Queen Without A King

Chapter 5

Today, Owen and I have to go make an appearance at a children's hospital in the kingdom. The last time I visited here, I was much younger and didn't understand much. At the time, these were just other kids whom I got to play with. Now, I really know why they are there. 

As I get dressed for the event, I make sure to put on my most casual but princess-like dress. For the little kids there, I want to try and take their minds off of what they are there for and bring a magical adventure to it. I open a little drawer in my desk and pull out a small and dainty tiara. I don't usually wear one, but today is an exception and it'll add to my princess attire. 

Once I finish getting dressed, I go and eat a quick breakfast with my family before Owen and I head out. As I enter the room, Owen snickers after taking a quick look at me. 

"It's for the kids," I say as I take a seat. 

"The children are going to love it," my mother says with a gentle smile.

Owen keeps laughing discreetly, and when I begin to get annoyed, I kick his leg hard under the table. Owen narrows his eyes in my direction, but I just give him a satisfied smile. We finish eating quickly and excuse ourselves from the table early in order to make the event in time. 

A guard escorts the two of us to a limo waiting for us in the front of the palace. I crawl into my seat and Owen crawls in after me. 

"Your outfit is a little much, don't you think, princess?" Owen asks. I roll my eyes and fluff out my dress in my seat.

"It's a good distraction for the kids, and I'm sure they will appreciate it. Here," I hand Owen a crown I borrowed from Alex's room before leaving. He doesn't know I took it, but he won't notice it since he doesn't use it.

"No, thank you," Owen says pushing the crown back in my direction.

"If I'm a princess, you are my prince. Put it on." I place the crown in Owen's lap and wait for him to put it on.

"Your prince?" I cross my arms and continue to wait for him to put the crown on. "You really want me to wear it?"

"Please." Owen sighs giving up and places the crown on his head. I give him an annoyed look, he put it on crooked. 

"What? I put it on." I scooted over to sit next to him and reached my hands up to fix his crown. But before I even get a chance to move it, Owen grabs both my wrists stopping me. "What are you doing, princess?"

"It's crooked. Now let go so I can fix it," I say pulling on my wrists. Owen lets go with a sigh and I reach back up to fix the crown.

I pull it off his head and place it gently into my lap before fixing his hair. If I wanted the crown to sit properly, he'd need to have his hair sitting a little neater on his head. Owen stays still as I comb my fingers through his curls. I reach back down and take the crown and place it gently back onto his head. I lean back to make sure it's on correctly, nodding when I get it on my first shot, and I lean back in my seat. 

"I really think you have OCD, Orillia," Owen remarks. 

"I do not have OCD. I'm just a perfectionist, and there is a difference."

"Whatever you say, miss OCD." I shove Owen gently, enough to make him tip over a little bit and sit back up.

"Don't call me that."

"Wow. What else shouldn't I call you? 'Cause, you didn't like it when I called you "good girl". How about sweetheart? Or maybe honey? Are those okay with you, princess?" I don't answer his question and turn to face away from Owen. "I'll take that as a no."