Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne

#Chapter 14 I didn’t realize you were good at scheming

Doris followed Melody back to her own chamber in silence. Each step closer to the room only made Doris’s nerves flare through the ceiling. Melody’s posture was more stiff than usual, she’d probably already made a list of things to scold Doris about that went beyond what just happened. Doris silently wondered if Melody was secretly excited to have an excuse to unleash all of her wrath upon Doris when they got back to her room.

As they turned down the hall, there was a group of ladies blocking her door. Doris immediately recognized a few of them as the ones who’d been talking behind Melody’s back and spreading those vicious rumors that kept Melody hidden away for so long. Now they surrounded her with acceptance, excitement, and… gifts. News of her night with Prince William must have traveled much faster than Doris expected. It made her wonder if there even was anyone trustworthy in the castle, she could only assume it was Prince William’s footman who tipped off the gossip—unless someone else saw them on their way to his room.

“Lady Melody, there you are!” One of the ladies pushed her way to the front, her voice was dripping with false sweetness. “I should have visited you much sooner but I heard you weren’t feeling well. I thought it was better to let you rest more, I brought you a welcoming gift!”

“Oh, that’s quite alright Lady Daphne.” Melody smiled widely as she unwrapped the gift to see a shining gold bracelet. “How lovely! Thank you my dear.”

“Well well, girls. Since Lady Melody is fully recovered I bet Prince William won’t get enough of her company now!” One of the ladies near the back said, Doris almost rolled her eyes.

Another lady pushed a gift in Melody’s hands with a bright smile. “I had a custom perfume made for you, my lady.”

Doris stepped back and watched Melody grow overwhelmed with the amount of gifts presented to her. Extravagant necklaces and dresses, delicate roses and purses. Doris couldn’t believe they showered her with such beauty all because she’d spent the night with Prince William. Did all of the ladies get this treatment?

“Thank you ladies for coming!” Melody said over the chattering voices. She looked over the crowd and noticed Lady Jane was one of the few missing from this show of affection. “I’ll have the kitchen prepare some tea, why don’t you all join me?”

“Oh, yes!”

“That would be lovely!”

“Finally, some girl time…”

waited until they all stepped fully

second her foot hit the carpet. “Get out and kneel

shock, her face grew red from embarrassment. Everyone’s eyes fell on her at once as the room went silent enough to hear the sound of her own heartbeat. Humiliation scorched every inch of her body and she

kneel!” Melody shouted again, her voice like a gunshot through

her eyes to keep in the tears that tried to escape. Of course she would choose now to punish Doris,

were frozen in their own shock, they glanced at each other—confused and worried. “What has she done?” Lady Daphne asked cautiously as if she were talking to

Prince William’s chest in hopes he would notice her.” Melody scoffed and seated herself on one of the

Melody was referring to, they knew she’d heard the gossip they all spread about her. She took her opportunity to make a statement by abusing Doris and using her as an example. By the looks on their faces, it had worked. “I’m the lady that Prince William chose himself and titled. Not a silly maid anymore. If any of you think of continuing to speak of me so little, I’ll make sure to repay the favor.” The ladies stared at Melody with their lips parted, after a moment she smiled brightly again as if it never happened. “Now, let’s not let this nonsense ruin

Doris as someone closed the door in her

back against the wall as her vision blurred. After a horrible sleepless night, she finally felt the exhaustion tug on her senses. Doris closed her eyes for just a moment

face, Doris woke with

you’re being punished!” Melody stood with one hand on

straightened herself and dried some of the water from her face. “Sorry,