Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne
Chapter 207

Chapter 207 A long time coming

The two brothers stared at each other for a long moment before William squeezed Daniel'sshoulder and dropped his hand. “I hope you replace a place that makes you happy. I'll always be here ifyou decide to return. You will always have a place in the military as top general. Daniel nodded andstepped back away from William. He glanced at Doris and offered a small smile. “I wish you luck aswell, little one. You'll get your card when I settle. Don't expect any sweets as well.” Doris stood andplaced her hand on her stomach, Daniel instantly glanced down. “Don't forget to send one for ourbaby.” “Baby...” Daniel's eyes widened. For a moment, she saw a glimpse of the old Daniel as hegripped his head and bounced on his feet. “What do you mean baby! Your baby?"

Doris laughed a little as he stepped up to feel her stomach. There wasn't much yet for him to feel,but she knew there would be soon. “I couldn't wait to tell you. I hope one day you will want to meetthem.”

Daniel's gaze finally met her own, and it was so much softer than she expected. “Of course 1 will. Iwouldn’t miss that for anything.” He dropped his hands. “I hope you consider naming it after me.”He winked. Doris laughed. “We'll have to think about that, but thank you for the suggestion.”William stood back with his hands in his pockets again. He watched them with a faraway expressionand she could only wonder what was spinning through his mind. Daniel pulled her in for a tight hug,she squeezed him as hard as she could. “I will miss you, Doris. Thank you for being a friend to me.”“I'll miss you too.” Doris whispered. “I'm always here as your friend, you know that.” When he pulledaway from her, he spared one last long look at William before he nodded. “Goodbye, William. Fornow.” He clapped him on the shoulder harshly. “Don’t mess it up with this one. She's the only goodthing in your life.”

“I wouldn't dream of it.” William said sincerely. “Goodbye, Daniel.”

Doris stepped up to William's side and took his hand. They watched as Daniel left without lookingback once. A flash of his grin from when he first met her entered her mind. He told her he was asimple guard just because he wanted to be her friend. Now he was walking out of her life with onlya hint of a promise that he might one day return. William watched the door for a long, longmoment. Doris stood next to him and leaned her head against his shoulder to remind him that shewas there. He didn’t have to do anything, he could stand there all day and she would stay with him.“I need you to come with me.” William said suddenly. “There's something I have to do.”

"Okay, of course.”

William led Doris out of the library and towards the main halls. They didn’t stop walking until theyreached the throne room where only the most official sort of meetings took place. When theyentered, Beth was there.

Beth stood the moment she saw them with a bit of confusion on her face.

“Doris!” She smiled. Doris looked up at William with her own confusion but he didn't look down ather once. He led her to Beth's side and left her there as he stepped up to the throne and took hisseat. A servant placed his golden crown on his head the instant he sat down while anotherunrolled a long scroll

“Bethany Reeves and Doris Goodwin, please step forward to the throne.” His servant announced.Doris and Beth exchanged confused glances before they obeyed. What was going on? Doris tried tocatch William's eye to ask, but he didn't meet her gaze.

“Bethany Reeves. Your duties as a maid for this palace have been fulfilled.” William said. A servantcame with a quill for him to sign the scroll in front of him. “I officially free you from any future dutiesto this

appreciated.”

"What...?" Beth's lips parted as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

hii free

Doris wanted to scream to the skies and jump on her friend. She wanted to throw a party and danceuntil dawn broke. Her heart swelled in her chest, Doris bounced on her toes as the servant placedthe scroll that freed her in her grasp. Doris quickly turned when she heard Enzo in the back of theroom make a strangled noise in his throat, she hadn't even noticed that he entered. He looked atBeth with wide, adoring eyes.

“You're free.” William nodded. “Of course, you may stay as long as you need. My lady would ratheryou stay forever.” He glanced at Doris before he turned his eyes back on a speechless Beth. Sheread the page over and over with tears in her eyes.

Doris wiped her own hot tears off her cheeks. They waited so long for this day... Doris almost sworethey would never see it in person. It was always so far away. They were always told that it would becoming, and it never came. Until today.

“Doris Goodwin.” William said. He straightened himself as his eyes finally met her own. She felt herheart stop in her chest. “Your duties to this palace are also fulfilled. I thank you for all the service youprovided and know that your hard work was more than appreciated. You are no longer bound tothis palace. You are free to go where you wish or stay with me here forever as my other half.” Thewords burned her ears and implanted themselves in her mind. She once had dreams that thosewords of freedom would be spoken to her. She used to wake up and cry when she realized she wasstill a maid and no where near being set free.

A servant stepped down the small steps and placed her scroll in her hands. She didn't realize howmuch she was trembling until she went to open it to read it for herself. Doris Goodwin was a freewoman. She was free, nothing held her anywhere. She could walk out those doors and go anywhereshe wanted. No one could punish her for doing what she wanted.

William stood from his throne. “Never again will someone own you two.”

And with that, he left with his guards. Beth threw herself on Doris and almost brought both of themto the ground. She couldn't hear anything over their laughter and tears. “We're free!” Beth shoutedto the ceiling. She grabbed Doris's hands and swung them around the room. “We're free! We can gointo town! We can go to an old nasty tavern and no one would stop us!” Beth

“I can't believe... we're free.” Doris breathed. She plopped down on one of the wooden benches.When she glanced back at Enzo, he was gone. He must have slipped out while they werecelebrating. “Did William tell you he was doing this?” Beth asked. She opened her scroll again just toread it. “No... I didn’t even have the chance to tell him that I wanted you to be freed. I mean, heknew of course but I was going to mention it when he settled down. And—I didn't expect him tofree me as well.”

“I got a letter that I was summoned to this room over an hour ago. No one told me what was goingon so I just waited.” Beth took a long breath. “I thought I was in trouble for a moment...” “You? Introuble?” Doris laughed. “You know... I think it would be nice for us to get out of the palace alone.No guards, no one else. Just us. We should go into town tomorrow and enjoy our first day offreedom.” Beth brightened. “Oh Doris! That would be lovely! Remember all the times we swore wewere going to sneak out and go to the nearest village to window shop?” “We can do that and goout for lunch!” Doris grinned. She gripped Beth's hands. “We can do whatever we want, Beth. We'refree now.” 1 Beth's smile faltered a little. “Yes. I... I can't believe it.” Doris raised her brows. “Are youalright? You look a little down.” “I suppose I'm just worried about my future.” Beth shook off thelook and smiled at Doris again. “Tomorrow we will have our day. There's something I need to talk toyou about and I think it would be

Doris felt her chest fill with a pressure she couldn't describe. It was like she was scared and excitedat the same time. “Sounds like a plan, my lovely Beth. Tomorrow it is.”