Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne

Chapter 14

#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…”

The crowd excitedly filed into her chamber, Doris waited until they all stepped fully in before she started to enter herself.

“Not you!” Melody shouted the second her foot hit the carpet. “Get out and kneel at the door!”

Doris froze in 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 wished it would have burned her alive right there.

“Are you deaf? I said to kneel!” Melody shouted again, her voice like a gunshot through the room.

Doris fell to her knees at the sound, she had no choice but to obey. The cold from the ground chilled her entire body, Doris closed her eyes to keep in the tears that tried to escape. Of course she would choose now to punish Doris, in front of a crowd like always.

The other ladies 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 a wild animal that might snap at any moment. She wasn’t wrong to treat Melody that way—she was always a small misstep away from screaming at someone.

“She’s nothing but a shameless maid. She fell on Prince William’s chest in hopes he would notice her.” Melody scoffed and seated herself on one of the couches between the ladies. “She clearly believes the ridiculous rumors that he’d take any maid to bed.”

The loudest silence Doris had ever heard filled the room, not one lady dared to respond. They all knew what 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 our day. Let’s have some tea.”

Melody waved her hand and locked eyes with Doris as someone closed the door in her face, still kneeling on the cold ground.

Her knees grew numb, soon the chattering continued behind the door and it seemed the awkward moment was already forgotten. The sounds grew distant to her ears, she moved to lean 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 and soon the world faded away from her.

Cold water splashed on her face, Doris woke with a gasp.

“How dare you sleep when you’re being punished!” Melody stood with one hand on her hip and the other clenching an empty glass.

Doris hadn’t realized she’d fallen asleep, slowly she straightened herself and dried some of the water from her face. “Sorry, my lady.”

Melody snorted and crossed her arms. “You honestly think you should be the one to take my place, don’t you?” Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Of course not.” Doris paled. “I have no desire to ever take your place.”

“Right.” Melody gripped her chin to stare into her eyes. “You should take a good look at yourself. Do you think this is the face that could ever win Prince William’s heart?” Melody snorted. “What a joke.”

“No, my lady. I know what my place is in this castle, I never wanted Prince William’s attention. My only job is to serve your needs, please believe me.” Doris wasn’t lying, she didn’t wish to be in Melody’s shoes. The only thing she wanted was to make her happy enough until the amnesty was signed and she was free—nothing more despite what Melody thought.

Melody narrowed her eyes before she loosened her grip. “Good. I hope you don’t forget your own words. Now rise.”

Doris gripped the wall to stand on shaky legs she could barely feel. “Thank you, my lady.” Doris bowed her head and watched the drips of water slide off her face.

“Get out of my sight.” Melody said with a disgusted expression, but all Doris felt was relieved at her words.

It wasn’t a far walk to her room from Melody’s, but it might as well have been miles. She slowly walked on her numb legs with her hand clenched to the wall so she wouldn’t fall. The only thoughts that kept her going was her own warm bed and a bath to rid her of the past 24 hours.

An elegant figure appeared at the end of the hall. When Doris noticed it was Lady Jane, she curtsied but the woman walked right past as if she didn’t even notice Doris.

“I didn’t realize you were good at scheming.” A voice said from behind her.