Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne
Chapter 207

Chapter 207

Chapter 207 A long time coming

The two brothers stared at each other for a long moment before William squeezed Daniel’s shoulder anddropped his hand. “I hope you replace a place that makes you happy. I’ll always be here if you decide toreturn. You will always have a place in the military as top general. Daniel nodded and stepped back awayfrom William. He glanced at Doris and offered a small smile. “I wish you luck as well, little one. You’ll getyour card when I settle. Don’t expect any sweets as well.” Doris stood and placed her hand on herstomach, Daniel instantly glanced down. “Don’t forget to send one for our baby.” “Baby…” Daniel’s eyeswidened. For a moment, she saw a glimpse of the old Daniel as he gripped his head and bounced on hisfeet. “What do you mean baby! Your baby?”

Doris laughed a little as he stepped up to feel her stomach. There wasn’t much yet for him to feel, butshe knew there would be soon. “I couldn’t wait to tell you. I hope one day you will want to meet them.”

Daniel’s gaze finally met her own, and it was so much softer than she expected. “Of course I will. Iwouldn’t miss that for anything.” He dropped his hands. “I hope you consider naming it after me.” Hewinked. Doris laughed. “We’ll have to think about that, but thank you for the suggestion.” William stoodback with his hands in his pockets again. He watched them with a faraway expression and she couldonly wonder what was spinning through his mind. Daniel pulled her in for a tight hug, she squeezed himas hard as she could. “I will miss you, Doris. Thank you for being a friend to me.” “I’ll miss you too.” Doriswhispered. “I’m always here as your friend, you know that.” When he pulled away from her, he sparedone last long look at William before he nodded. “Goodbye, William. For now.” He clapped him on theshoulder harshly. “Don’t mess it up with this one. She’s the only good thing in your life.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” William said sincerely. “Goodbye, Daniel.”

Doris stepped up to William’s side and took his hand. They watched as Daniel left without looking backonce. A flash of his grin from when he first met her entered her mind. He told her he was a simple guardjust because he wanted to be her friend. Now he was walking out of her life with only a hint of a promise

that he might one day return. William watched the door for a long, long moment. Doris stood next to himand leaned her head against his shoulder to remind him that she was there. He didn’t have to doanything, he could stand there all day and she would stay with him.

“I need you to come with me.” William said suddenly. “There’s something I have to do.”

“Okay, of course.”

William led Doris out of the library and towards the main halls. They didn’t stop walking until theyreached the throne room where only the most official sort of meetings took place. When they entered,Beth was there.

Beth stood the moment she saw them with a bit of confusion on her face.

“Doris!” She smiled. Doris looked up at William with her own confusion but he didn’t look down at heronce. He led her to Beth’s side and left her there as he stepped up to the throne and took his seat. Aservant placed his golden crown on his head the instant he sat down while another unrolled a long scroll.

“Bethany Reeves and Doris Goodwin, please step forward to the throne.” His servant announced. Dorisand Beth exchanged confused glances before they obeyed. What was going on? Doris tried to catchWilliam’s eye to ask, but he didn’t meet her gaze.

“Bethany Reeves. Your duties as a maid for this palace have been fulfilled.” William said. A servant camewith a quill for him to sign the scroll in front of him. “I officially free you from any future duties to this

appreciated.”

“What…?” Beth’s lips parted as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“I’m… free?”

Doris wanted to scream to the skies and jump on her friend. She wanted to throw a party and dance untildawn broke. Her heart swelled in her chest, Doris bounced on her toes as the servant placed the scrollthat freed her in her grasp. Doris quickly turned when she heard Enzo in the back of the room make astrangled noise in his throat, she hadn’t even noticed that he entered. He looked at Beth with wide,adoring eyes.

“You’re free.” William nodded. “Of course, you may stay as long as you need. My lady would rather youstay forever.” He glanced at Doris before he turned his eyes back on a speechless Beth. She read thepage over and over with tears in her eyes.

Doris wiped her own hot tears off her cheeks. They waited so long for this day… Doris almost swore theywould never see it in person. It was always so far away. They were always told that it would be coming,and it never came. Until today.

“Doris Goodwin.” William said. He straightened himself as his eyes finally met her own. She felt her heartstop in her chest. “Your duties to this palace are also fulfilled. I thank you for all the service you providedand know that your hard work was more than appreciated. You are no longer bound to this palace. Youare free to go where you wish or stay with me here forever as my other half.” The words burned her earsand implanted themselves in her mind. She once had dreams that those words of freedom would bespoken to her. She used to wake up and cry when she realized she was still a maid and no where nearbeing set free.

A servant stepped down the small steps and placed her scroll in her hands. She didn’t realize how muchshe was trembling until she went to open it to read it for herself. Doris Goodwin was a free woman. Shewas free, nothing held her anywhere. She could walk out those doors and go anywhere she wanted. Noone could punish her for doing what she wanted.

William stood from his throne. “Never again will someone own you two.”

And with that, he left with his guards. Beth threw herself on Doris and almost brought both of them to theground. She couldn’t hear anything over their laughter and tears. “We’re free!” Beth shouted to theceiling. She grabbed Doris’s hands and swung them around the room. “We’re free! We can go into town!We can go to an old nasty tavern and no one would stop us!” Beth

“I can’t believe… we’re free.” Doris breathed. She plopped down on one of the wooden benches. Whenshe glanced back at Enzo, he was gone. He must have slipped out while they were celebrating. “DidWilliam tell you he was doing this?” Beth asked. She opened her scroll again just to read it. “No… I didn’teven have the chance to tell him that I wanted you to be freed. I mean, he knew of course but I wasgoing to mention it when he settled down. And—I didn’t expect him to free me as well.”

“I got a letter that I was summoned to this room over an hour ago. No one told me what was going on soI just waited.” Beth took a long breath. “I thought I was in trouble for a moment…” “You? In trouble?”Doris laughed. “You know… I think it would be nice for us to get out of the palace alone. No guards, noone else. Just us. We should go into town tomorrow and enjoy our first day of freedom.” Beth brightened.“Oh Doris! That would be lovely! Remember all the times we swore we were going to sneak out and goto the nearest village to window shop?” “We can do that and go out for lunch!” Doris grinned. Shegripped Beth’s hands. “We can do whatever we want, Beth. We’re free now.” 1 Beth’s smile faltered alittle. “Yes. I… I can’t believe it.” Doris raised her brows. “Are you alright? You look a little down.” “Isuppose I’m just worried about my future.” Beth shook off the look and smiled at Doris again. “Tomorrowwe will have our day. There’s something I need to talk to you about and I think it would be

Doris felt her chest fill with a pressure she couldn’t describe. It was like she was scared and excited atthe same time. “Sounds like a plan, my lovely Beth. Tomorrow it is.”