Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne
Chapter 2

#Chapter 2 Anyone meet Prince William?

“Doris!”

Doris slipped a little when she went to step out of the bathtub. The bathroom door slammedopened and she barely had the chance to cover herself before the shouting continued.

"Where on earth have you been all night? Do you even realize how many miles I walked searchingfor you—" Beth held her tongue when she took in the sight of Doris shivering. A small sense of reliefbloomed inside Doris to see her best friend stand before her, the look of anger melted off herroommates features and formed into concern. “What—why are you bathing now? The water mustbe freezing!”

Beth stepped closer, Doris shakily stepped out of the tub entirely and tried to ignore the water thatdripped from her skin as she tied her towel around her. It formed a puddle at her feet, one shewould have to clean later. What a ridiculous thing to worry about after what happened to her lastnight.

Absently, she touched her long brown hair and made sure it still covered the mark on her neck fromBeth's view.

“I felt...” Doris hesitated, her voice sounded hollow to her own ears. Numb. “Tainted.”

“Tainted?” Beth's brows furrowed. “Doris...what happened?”

"I..." Her voice cracked, Doris almost flinched from the sound. She couldn't possibly tell anyone whathappened yet. The words burned on her tongue as if they were poison, she closed her eyes andtried to banish the images of the night before from her mind.

"Are you feeling alright? Your voice is all hoarse and scratchy.” Beth grabbed another towel to soakup the puddle at her feet. “I told you never to take a cold bath, Doris!"

Doris watched her friend clean the water that dripped from her skin. Her throat hurt, she couldbarely speak, she knew it was because she'd been up crying all night. She couldn't have justreturned to her room after what Prince William did, Doris hid herself away and let her emotions takeover every ounce of her. She cried until she choked, until she couldn't breathe. It didn't makeanything better, it only left her empty and disconnected from everything around her.

"Why didn’t you come back last night?” Beth continued, seemingly distracted with her ownthoughts. “I was up all night worried about you.”

Doris bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying again at the thought of Prince William. Her skinstill burned from his hands, she could still feel his lips on her neck and she felt... ruined. On theinside and outside. Never before had she been touched in such a way, she still felt the shame like afire inside her that refused to be put out. “I just had a lot to clean after the party, it was quite themess.” Doris offered weakly.

"Well, whatever the reason, I'm here to let you know Mr. Carson came by the servants’ quarters andrequested that everyone to be present.”

“Mr. Carson?” Doris almost squeaked. “Why would he be here?”

“No clue. Most likely to give us more orders. Anyway, dress yourself and don't be late.” Beth pickedup the wet towels and carried them from the bathroom, leaving Doris alone with her horriblethoughts.

Her mind raced the moment the door closed. Why would Mr. Carson want to see all of them? Was itbecause of last night? Had he seen her and pretended he didn't? Doris picked at her nailsnervously,"What should I do?” She whispered and wrapped her arms around herself.

Freedom was something Doris had been looking forward to since she was 16 years old. The day shemight finally be allowed to leave the Palace was still a faraway dream, but one she held on to. Fivelong years were spent quiet yet dedicated to serving the Royal House Arnold as best she could. Fivelong years inside the castle—of being told what to do and who to serve. She always made sure tokeep her head down and out of trouble. The more invisible she was, the better. A maid like Doriswasn't even allowed outside of the Golden Palace without the Alpha King's amnesty. She was quiteliterally a slave to all those higher up than her.

But after what happened the night before, Doris couldn't help but feel as if her chance at freedomhad just been shattered to a million pieces. All the nights she dreamed of a land far from the GoldenPalace slipped from her mind as if the dream were already taken from her. How could she ever befoolish enough to think she could one day be free? Why did she ever allow herself to dream ofanother life when being a maid was all she'd ever known? It felt as if she were marching to her ownfuneral when she finally left her room to meet Beth. A small part of her wished that she came cleanto her friend about what Prince William did to her. Then, perhaps, she might have one person onher side. Even if she was punished in front of everyone else.

When Doris arrived to where the servants’ gathered, she could already hear the sounds of achattering crowd. Whispers of gossip and quiet wonders of why they were gathered, Doris onlyhoped she remained unseen during this meeting as she slipped in through the back door.

In the front of the crowd, Mr. Carson stood with Melody Harford by his side. Doris did her best notto frown at the sight of her. She was only two years older than Doris, yet charmed her way into theposition as the head of maids. Many of the others liked to claim it was because of her beauty, whileMelody’s friends said it was because she was smart and sociable. Doris begged to differ. Melodywasn't exactly the best or kindest maid here.

"What took you so long?” Beth appeared at Doris’ side, it almost made her flinch. “Careful, someonemight notice you're late.” Beth whispered as she grabbed ahold of her arm and dragged Doris tothe empty spot beside her. Reluctantly, Doris smiled at Beth and tried to blend into the eager crowd.She was surprised to see everyone else so awake when all she felt was exhausted. Though, shedoubted any of them had been attacked like she was. She doubted they spent their busy nightcrying in a dark room.

Doris surveyed those around her while they waited. No one else looked nervous or scared like shewas. Many had their heads bent in conversation with each other—just another normal day in thePalace. Doris's wandering gaze had accidentally met the eyes of Mr. Carson when they swept acrossthe room. The sight alone made her body shiver, she looked down at her hands in fear he mightremember her from the night before. Had he been staring at her this whole time? Was he herebecause of her? Her heart pounded louder than those around her.

“Quiet.” Mr. Carson finally spoke. The crowd quickly simmered into silence. “The Golden Palaceappreciates all of the hard work each of you put into Prince Martin's engagement last night.”

He paused, Doris felt as if she couldn't breathe.

"Although, it seems not all of you were dedicated to making sure the evening ran smoothly.” Doriswiped her palms on her skirt as he spoke, his dark eyes roamed the crowd. “I heard at least one ofyou were slacking off far from your duties last night. Just remember that no one will cover for you ifanything turns up wrong.”

Was he talking about her? Could everyone else hear how loud her heart thundered? The room washot—

“However,” Mr. Carson continued, piercing her thoughts. “Alpha King Charles was kind enough tosend along an extra tip to each of you for your dedicated work. He was quite pleased with the party,as was Prince Martin and his lady. I hope you're all thankful to the Royal House for their generosity.”Slowly, Doris allowed herself to breathe again. Mr. Carson wasn't looking at her suspiciously, or at allanymore. He wasn't here to take her—he was here to tip them all.

A line eagerly formed to collect their tips. Doris stayed towards the back while her heart calmeddown. For a minute, she thought she was about to be in trouble for—what Prince William had doneto her. It was silly, she didn't do anything wrong other than stray from her duties for a moment. Shewas the one that was attacked, not the other way around.

Once it was her turn, Doris kept her head down while she accepted her tips with a polite curtsy.“Thank the Royal.” She said properly before she turned to leave.

Just as she turned, Mr. Carson spoke again. “One more thing before you all leave. Did any of youhappen to meet Prince William last night away from the party?”

At his words, silver coins clattered against the stone floors and echoed through the room—shockingeveryone into silence. Their eyes all landed on Doris at once and it took her a moment to realizewhat she had done.

Doris stood there at a loss, staring down at her discarded tips on the ground