Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne
Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Chapter 54 You‘ve opened my eyes.

She could be free here. For the first time in five years she could be free. D She could start over in aplace where the palace wasn’t able to control her. She could live among those that fought to be free andlived peacefully away from the terror of the palace and the corruption that dwelled there. No more politicsor being pushed around. No more wondering if she was going to be screamed at that day or not. Nomore Melody trying to embarrass her and make her regret the day she was bom. 1 Here, they offered hersomewhere to live free with no restraints… they didn’t realize how much that meant to her. How manynights she dreamed of running far from the kingdom where they would never be able to reach here. Thiswas… all she ever wanted. But But-Beth. “Would you excuse me? I just need some air.” Doris stoodquickly and almost knocked over the stool in front of her.

You’ve opened my eyes “Of course, are you alright-” “Thank you.” Doris quickly hurried out the door andinto the cold to take a deep breath of fresh air. She felt suffocated and dizzy from her thoughts. Shecrunched across the snow and seated herself on a fallen log-far from the eyes of anyone nearby. Howcould she forget Beth? If Doris ran away, Beth would be forced to stay there forever. There would be nofreedom for her under William’s say. Doris would never be able to live with herself if she knew that Bethwas suffering. Her friend would never do that to her-ever. She always had Doris’s back and was there totake care of her when she couldn’t take care of herself. She stayed with her throughout her most awfulnights and never once complained. Beth-Beth was her best friend Doris brought her legs up to her chestand hugged them tightly. It was strange wearing pants, she never owned a pair at the palace since it wasproper and was always used to wearing dresses. Not that she minded, she liked dresses too. But it feltso good to have a pair of pants for whether like this. She laid her forehead against her knees and closedher eyes tightly—the only thing she saw was

You’ve opened my eyes Beth’s face. How could she even think to trust these people after a day? Theycould be showing her some type of utopia on the surface to lure her in. Once she did, she would be atrisk of their cruelty and betrayal. But… it was getting harder to convince herself of that. Enzo seemed too

kind to be acting. Sir Anthony was kind to her in the cell and healed her wounds not knowing that oneday she would be in the north. Their kindness was too bright to be false. Wasn’t it? If she returned, therewas always a chance that she wouldn’t be granted her own freedom. William could speak against it andkeep her there, or the king could cancel it altogether and she would never get to feel the fresh air on herskin again. She would never get to travel and see the world and live free. She would only be known as amaid and treated like one. But what kind of monster would she be if she stayed? “Doris?” Doris turnedher head to see Enzo standing behind her. He was alone with his hands deep in his pockets and concernon his face. “May I join you? Or

You’ve opened my eyes if you’d rather be alone, I can leave.” She lowered her feet to the ground againand shook her head. “You can join me.” Enzo seated himself next to her and looked out at the frozenlake in front of them. The air was still and quiet, though in the distance she heard a bit of laughter. “Haveyou ever skated on ice before?” He asked without looking at her. “Oh! No, I would probably fall.” Dorissaid, she pulled at the hem of her sleeve.” During the winter, the small lake at the palace freezes over.No one goes near it except the children. Sometimes they like to skate around it if it’s thick enough.” “It’squite fun. I could show you to if you’d like.” Doris offered a weak smile but didn’t respond. He finallylooked over at her, but she wouldn’t meet his gaze. “Staying troubles you. Is it the prince you’re worriedabout?” Enzo asked. “No-well, sort of. It’s more of my friend at the palace.” Doris said. “A lover?” Enzoasked with raised brows. Doris laughed and shook her head. “Oh, no. I don’t have a lover.” Enzo tiltedhis head a little. “My best friend, Beth. She was to be on the amnesty that’s

You’ve opened my eyes. being signed to free her. I was too, actually. We were going to leave togetherand get as far as we could away from there but-” Doris paused. Enzo spoke lightly, “But what?” “But Iwas sent on this journey with Prince William. If I don’t return, she’s not allowed to ever be free.” A mix ofunderstanding and a new confusion fell across his face. “Why would it depend on your return?” “Theywanted to make sure I wouldn’t have run off somewhere… exactly as I’m considering doing now. Theyknow we’re close and they know I would never leave her to that fate.” “I see.” Enzo let out a sigh andcrossed his leg over the other. “It’s not easy having people to care about. Our minds make us think of

them before ourselves and we’re forced to be unselfish.” “Exactly.” Doris said. “All I’ve dreamed about forthe past five years of my life is being free. I went to bed every night pretending I was somewhere far fromthere where I wouldn’t be punished if I dropped a plate or yelled at to clean someone’s laundry. I wouldbe free to live how I wanted. So much of my time

You’ve opened my eyes has been stolen, but I don’t think I could allow Beth to grow old there because ofme. She deserves to be free, too.” Enzo hummed in agreement. He scratched his jaw in thought. “I couldkidnap her and bring her here. Then she could live free with you.” He tossed her a grin, Doris laughed alittle. “I don’t think the palace would appreciate you taking two of their servants. I wouldn’t want a warstarted over this.” “If you return home and they allow you both free, would you choose to live somewherelike here?” Enzo asked quietly. Doris thought for a moment. She looked around at all the snow and tookin the sounds of laughter. “I don’t know. I don’t think I would want to stay in one place so soon. I think Iwould travel first and see more of the world before I decided where to stay. Who knows, perhaps thiswould end up being my favorite place and I would come right back here.” There was also the darker sideof the rogues that concerned her. Sure, most of them seemed nice enough. But she experienced whatdarkness was in this pack and she didn’t want to meet more

You’ve opened my eyes of them. She didn’t want to live in a place where she would be afraid to look overher shoulder. The men at the tavern sent chills down her spine. Were they just as bad as the ones thattook her? “I think you’re brave for wanting to return to the palace for your friend. Many people would runthe first chance they got and never look back, no matter who it hurt. Your heart is too good for that. Yourfriend is lucky to have you.” Enzo lightly bumped his shoulder against her own. Doris offered a small, sadsmile. “You’ve opened my eyes, Enzo. I feared the north for so long but now I know what it’s like.Perhaps others like me would replace their place here once they were free, too.” “We would welcomeanyone like you, Doris. Count on that.” Enzo stood and held out his hand to help her up. Doris stood andsmoothed out her sweater. “We’ve lost sighting on where your prince is, but I’m sure he will show upsooner or later. He wasn’t very happy with my pack the last time he saw them.” Enzo said as they

walked. “If he hasn’t forgotten about me, that is.” “Oh, I don’t think he’s forgotten about you. As yourecall, he was pretty

You’ve opened my eyes. desperate in his search for your wellbeing.” Doris snorted and then blushed ather own sound. That wasn’t very proper for her to do, but Enzo only laughed. William must have feltguilty she was captured

since he was the one that made her come on this journey. At times, she felt they had some what of abond but other times she wasn’t sure. Enzo broke off from her to walk with Elena down another path.Doris tried to remember the one that led back to her room and got a bit turned around when she foundherself lost in thought. “Ay, you!” A deep, gruff voice called from behind her. Doris hesitated before sheturned to see a tall man at the end of the road. “Get over here, I’m talking to you.”