Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne

#Chapter 2 Anyone meet Prince William?

“Doris!”

Doris slipped a little when she went to step out of the bathtub. The bathroom door slammed opened 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 searching for you—“ Beth held her tongue when she took in the sight of Doris shivering. A small sense of relief bloomed inside Doris to see her best friend stand before her, the look of anger melted off her roommates features and formed into concern. “What—why are you bathing now? The water must be freezing!”

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

Absently, she touched her long brown hair and made sure it still covered the mark on her neck from Beth’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 what happened yet. The words burned on her tongue as if they were poison, she closed her eyes and tried to banish the images of the night before from her mind.

and scratchy.” Beth grabbed another towel to soak up the puddle at her feet. “I told you never to take a

room after what Prince William did, Doris hid herself away and let her emotions take over every

last night?” Beth continued, seemingly distracted with her

her cheek to keep from crying again at the thought of Prince William. Her skin still burned from his hands, she could still feel his lips on her neck and she felt… ruined. On the inside and outside. Never before had she been touched in such a way, she still felt the shame like a fire inside her that refused to be put out. “I just had a lot to clean

Carson came by the servants’ quarters and requested

Doris almost squeaked. “Why would he

late.” Beth picked up the wet towels and carried them from the bathroom, leaving Doris alone with

want to see all of them? Was it because of last night? Had he seen her and pretended he didn’t? Doris picked at her nails nervously,“What should I do?” She

years inside the castle—of

ever allow herself to dream of another life when being a maid was all she’d ever known? It felt as if she were marching to her own funeral when she finally left her room to meet Beth. A small part

sounds of a chattering crowd. Whispers of gossip and quiet wonders of why

of her. She was only two years older than Doris, yet charmed her way into the position as the head of maids. Many of the others liked to claim it was because of her beauty, while Melody’s friends said

her arm and dragged Doris to the 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

each other—just another normal day in the Palace. Doris’s wandering gaze had accidentally met the eyes of Mr. Carson when they swept across the room. The sight alone made her body shiver, she looked down at her hands in fear he might remember her from the night before. Had he been staring at her this whole time? Was he here because of her?

into silence. “The Golden Palace appreciates all of the hard work each of you put into Prince Martin’s engagement