Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne

Chapter 186 An offer you can’t refuse

while you’re ahead.” Doris felt her heart leap in her chest. She knew he wouldn’t have given her up, but part of her had always worried how far he would go for the crown. Clearly there had always been a line, and she was it. “Answer me this, William. When did you start to pursue the crown? I always thought you had better things to do than care about your own kingdom. I don’t remember you in any of the lessons when we were children. You were always off doing your own thing.” “I’ve always wanted the crown. I just knew that our father would never take me seriously enough to hand  it over.” William raked his fingers through his hair aggressively at the thought. “When we were young, he wouldn’t even consider giving me a pack. He insulted me in front of everyone by calling me useless-he made it clear that I was never going to be anything to him.” “The packs he assigned us were for show, you know that. They held no real weight for anything. I remember when I fist got mine. I felt so important. I quickly learned that my word meant nothing to them. They smiled and agreed to whatever I said, but they were clearly run by someone within the pack. I quickly forgot about them, as did Jack and I believe Daniel did as well.” “It doesn’t matter if they were for show. That might make it even worse because I was never given one. I always thought I could be what our father saw me as and(This novel will be daily updtaed at www.noveljar.com) it wouldn’t make a difference what I truly wanted. Whenever I tried to show a. a shine at my own leadership, our father would laugh it off as if I was a fool.” William shook his head at the memory. “Nothing I did mattered to that man. I tried for years until I realized I had to do it on my own.” “I don’t understand. Why would you act like a scoundrel in the palace? It ruined your reputation for everyone. No one considered you an option for anything serious. We all thought you were fine being what you are. Having as many lovers and sleeping throughout the days-everyone thought that was all you were good for.” “I couldn’t fight the seed that father already planted about me. I couldn’t change his mind or try to prove myself when he would treat me like a fool when I tried. I lived as the son he expected me to be, and I began my own plans for the future.” William looked at Martin closely. “I knew you were never happy as the prince. I could see it from day one. Why did you agree to be the crown prince if you weren’t happy?” Martin cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. “It was easier to go along with what they wanted. They saw me as the perfect candidate and I tried to be that for them.” “But it never made you happy, did it?” Martin stared at William for a long moment. He shook his head silently. “No. It didn’t matter, it made my mother happy. It made our father happy. Their feelings were what mattered in the palace, not mine.” “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you truly happy. Not even when you got engaged to Grace.” “I didn’t want her. My mother wanted me to build the stronger alliance and I didn’t even know a thing about her. It sent me to a dark place and I only found a way out when I met Doris.” Martin glanced at where Doris was hidden. She froze. “Do you know Doris, Martin? Do you know anything about her?” “I didn’t need to. She was the opposite of everyone else in this castle. She had a kindness that couldn’t be forced. She cared when I came to the library, I know she did.” Doris frowned a little. Martin had barely ever spoken with her before this. She understood that most people form infatuations with people in their mind before they ever speak to them, but she didn’t realize the impact she had on Martin when all she did was say hello to him once in a while. It hit her then, as she looked at the two brothers. How much both of them felt lost their whole lives and clung onto the one thing that they thought would make them happy. Martin didn’t know her, not like William did, yet he convinced himself he would be happy if only he had her. He would have a taste of simplicity with her and an easy love if only he had her. He would have the life he always wanted if he had someone like her to love him.   William convinced himself the same about the crown. If only he had it, he would be happy. He would be better. He would be a great leader and therefore finally prove himself to the world that doubted him. Only, they were both wrong. William was already a leader with or without the crown. And Martin, she couldn’t give him instant happiness to make up for a lifetime without it. He had to find that on