Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne

Chapter 140 Respect is easy to gain

Guards stood behind the men’s chairs as they seated themselves at the table. No food was yet offered to them and it didn’t seem like it would be until the deal was set in stone. They looked ragged and tired, but William looked as if he had slept the whole time they were in there despite not leaving his chair once. He was fresh, alert, and ready for any sort of battle about to be thrown his way.

“Talk.” William commanded. Her eyes lingered on the stumble that formed around his chin again. She imagined how scratchy it would feel against her skin and suddenly she realized how tired she was. 1

Edward cleared his throat. “We realized that their suffering was worse than we thought it would be. We don’t have much experience with going hungry.”

“I’m sure you don’t.” William braced his elbows on the table. “That is not what I wanted to hear. You don’t sound as if you understand them at all. I watched as children offered to give up their only meal to help the rogues that were close to their death. You missed one meal and suddenly you can understand what they’re going through?”

“We want to make things right.” Mal said nervously. His clothes were wrinkled and sweaty.” We may have cut back a portion of their food inventory for some of the villages, but we want to double it-“

“You’re going to send four times the amount.” William interrupted. Their eyes grew a little wide and Doris only felt a strange attraction for him. She’d never seen him in action like this, was he always so… kingly? No room for objections, only his demands.

“Prince William-”

“I don’t want to hear it. The north is full of good people just as this kingdom is. Their bad reputation doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to be treated like people. You can’t withhold food and expect them to survive, that would kill thousands.” William narrowed his eyes. “They pay their monstrous taxes just for you to cut them their earned food?”

Edward shifted in his seat. She saw a bead of sweat trail down his forehead. “I never took you for a leader, Prince William. I thought you had no interest in politics.”

for my people and I won’t let money hungry wolves try to take down

felt a bit delirious from lack of sleep, because she only wanted to laugh. “How long have you been like this, William? We all thought you were reckless and didn’t have a care in

eyes flickered to Doris on William’s side and she prayed that her face wasn’t as red as she felt it was. She clenched her hands into fists under the table the second he looked   Respect is easy to gain away from

ran with it, that is not my concern. My concern

food sent out by this afternoon.” Edwards said suddenly. Mal glanced at him in

had been previously in Edward’s eyes. He almost looked, impressed by the way

How do you suppose you’ll do that when your brother is the one set to take the throne?” Edwards tilted his head. “Are you planning on helping

She could tell that he

raised his brows as if he didn’t expect this to become of their conversation. “That’s true. I always thought your brother was too-soft to take on a role like this. He never once took matters into his own hands or thought about

quietly, but they all had heard him just fine. William didn’t show

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a prince so determined to make sure things went through the way he wanted. Perhaps your brother could learn a thing or two from you instead of following your fathers

brother would ever hope to make it.” William’s eyes glanced over the room at each face as if he was now talking to all of them. It sent chills down

this kingdom to appear weak and selfish to outsiders. My father hasn’t been the same sort of ruler since I was born. He was once passionate about what he believed in,

had just been watching silently the entire time.

things into their own hands and allow this to happen. They would throw

fear leaking from his words, not admiration. Did William put them under some sort of spell that left them mesmerized by him? He was probably the only man in the world that could lock another

She couldn’t tell if he was just as surprised as