Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne
Chapter 26

Chapter 26 Can you handle this

That swammed Melody. Donis stepped back but of their way in haste. What happened to her?Daris caught a glimpse af Melody with wide, classy eyes and foam coming out of her mouth as theylited her from the ground and carried her off to the nedical ward. Doris placed her hand against herchest and tell her heart beat race beneath her hand. Was she allergic to the flower as well? Wasshe...

"What happened to her?” Prince William asked, his brows furrowed. He looked around the room asif the answer might come forward. Each and every one of the guests looked just confused andhomified as Prince William did.

Each of the royals glanced at each other with their brows furrowed in their own confusion. Guardscrowded around then with their blades drawn as if waiting for the prisoner to try and take one oftheir lives as well. Someone in this room put that in Luna Queen's soup and caused Melody'scollapse.

Oh no, Doris thought and gripped her checks. Melody wasn't truly dead, was she? Doris hated everyounce of her, but she would never wish death upon anyone. Even someone that almost killed herthe other might

Jack stood from his chair, it was only then that Doris realized he had been the only one still seatedduring this ordeal. “I saw exactly who did it!" Jack's gaze slid right to Doris, just as everyone else'sdid. He lifted his finger and pointed right at her, she

the soup before we delivered li Es Lily

M

y

Two sirds were her side in a breath, thay grabbed her arms tight as they could not couldn't eventhink to run, Doris Kasped from the TOTEKLIF and accusation. “I Do! I would never da such a thing“I think she intended the soup to be far Lumia Queen.” Jack continued, his eyes naftowed at Daris. “Isaw her switch them, thank the goddess that my mother hadn't had a chance to take a bite yet!”“Nal” Doris winced when their grip tightened. “I didn’t poison anyone! Especially not my own lady“Doris would never do such a thing.” Prince Martin spoke up calmly, he held out his hands is iftrying to ease the panic in the room. “I may not know her Very well, but,”

“Exactly! You don't know this maid very well at all.” Jack interrupted. “I heard rumors that this maidhad stolen from Lady Melody and beaten as punishment. Perhaps she wanted revenge—"

“No!” Prince Daniel spoke up next. Doris was a little startled that either prince had cared enough todefend her in front of everyone. She didn’t think anyone in this room Would ever have riskedSpeaking up for her. It would have warmed her heart if she wasn't so terrified of what was to come.Would they kill her for this? “Prince Martin is right, Doris would never do something like this toanyone! Even someone that was cruel to her, I know she has a wonderful heart. Please, let her go.”Prince Daniel pleaded.

"And how would you know what this maid is capable of?" Tack scoffed. “I saw her do it myself! 1else, though his face didn't h

ay much but hii

Prince William stayed silent he watched then argue before him. His lady w possibly dead, and hesaid nothing while Jack accused Doris of doing the unthinkable. He wore in emotionl mask, Doriswondered how he could possibly manage it after what they'd all just witnessed.

“My majesty, if you say you saw me poison the bowl. why didn't you say anything?” Doris asked Jackwith tears rolling down her cheeks. “Why didn’t you stop it if you saw me? Especially if you thoughtit might have been meant for your mother?”

It just didn't make sense for him to accuse her of this, he could have easily stopped her with oneshout and Melody would've been fine. Doris searched his face and only siw i small sense of surprisethat she would even ask him something like that.

"How dare you speak to me like that!”, Jack parted his lips, his cheeks slightly red. He quickly calmedhimself and cleared his throat. “It was too late, I didn't think you were doing what you did at thetime. When I heard Melody choke, I knew what you'd done and it it was too late.”

Prince Martin stepped forward, his gaze lingered sadly on Doris. “I believe Doris when she said shedidn't do what you claim. This has all been a terrible misunderstanding—

l.co

T ond thant!Daniel What to blind me Prince Martin. “Please, let her free. You're hurting ther.”

The guards loosened their grip just a little, but not much. Jack looked at the two princes andmarrowed. his eyes. Are you saying I'm a liar?

“Of course not, I'mo simply suggesting you're mistaken in your claims.” Prince Martin said andclasped his hands behind his back. We were all here, no one else saw Donis do anything with thebowls. I think anyone sensible would have spoken up if they saw her put poison in one of thebowls.”

“My son would never lie about such a thing!” Luna Queen said loudly. She glanced at the areaMelody had been a moment before as if she were wondering if it could have been her. “This majdhas been nothing but trouble since my birthday started, and how she has murdered her own lady!""Why did you switch the soup?” Jack neared Doris, Prince Martin and Prince Daniel stepped a littlecloser in case he decided to put his hands on her. 1

“I only switched it because I thought it had an ingredient that Luna Queen was allergic to! I didn'tknow the soup was poisoned. I would have never given it to Lady Melody if I'd known.”

Her defense fell on unwanted ears, Jack turned away halfway through her explanation as if he neverwanted it. “Take her to the prison, Ill get the truth out of her one way or another.”

“No! I swear I would never harm anyone!” Doris cried, her eyes locked with Prince William but unlikehis brother, he didn’t say a word in her defense. They began to move her out towards the

co

Ww

AT

inched her go, his hands faldad inta tists

"Haw could you let them do this to our mante? Waylon growled inside him. “You know thewouldnt be capable of this! They're going to kill her in there if we don’t do something — 1

"How do I know she didn't poison Melody? You know they didn't like each other.” William silentlyresponded to his wolf.

“You didn't like Melody much either. Waylon Shapped. “If that was the case, half the palace wouldbe responsible for her poisoning. You can't let thern do this to our mate!”

William shut down his wolf when he saw the Alpha king step up to him. The king had two guardsHanked on each side of him as if they were afraid the alpha was next up on the poisoning list.“William, since she was your lady I want you to make the judgement for yourself.” King Charles said.His voice was deep and allowed no room for questions or hesitations. “Listen to all sides before youlet the anger cloud your mind. Can you handle this?

ess

Chapter 27 I believe Prince William will Bring me Justice

The cell was dark and dingy. The back stone wall looked wet and the bed in the comer had only oneEhin sheet on it to use as the blanket Doris searched for the source and found there wilis a tinywindow that was much too high for her to even out of, but it had to window and allowed rain todampen the small room. They shoved Doris inside the cell and threw a prisoner gawn at her feet.-Change into this.” Was all the man said before the cell door made of bars slammed shut andlocked. Doris slid down the wall and hugged her knees to her chest. She'd felt it ther, the dam insideher break as her tears poured out. She tried to silence them, even when she choked. She didn't wantanyone to hear her misery, she pressed her face against the prison gown and tried to muffle everysound. Why was this happening to her? She wasn't even supposed to be at the party! She wassupposed to be resting

Oh, what will they think when they all realize Melody had beaten her just a few days before herbeing poisoned? They'll surely think it was her, just 25 Jack had said. Not even Prince Martin orPrince Daniel had a say in her defense out there, they all listened to Jack. What if everyone believedhim?

What if they sentenced her to death for this?

It'd felt like days had passed in the cell. The outside was gloomy, though she couldn't remember ifnight had passed or if it was all in the same day. It

couldn't be, it felt like in eternity had gone by since she saw Melody collapse night in front of her.Doris changed into the black prison gown and her own uniform had been collected almostimmediately after she slipped it discreetly off her body. It felt as if they erased her title as maid andreplaced it entirely with prisoner the second she stepped through the cell door.

A creak echoed through the hallway outside her room. A light knock tapped along the bars of hercell before a boy sild the door open and slipped in silently. Doris quickly stood when she saw it wasDa—Prince Daniel.

-Doris!” He moved further in, but a guard came in with him and stood by the wall as if he wen ashadow of the prince. “How're you doing? I'm so sorry they put you in here I've tried convincingthem to put you somewhere more... comfortable.”

Doris smoothed down her dress and looked at her hands. It felt strange speaking to him face to facenow that she knew he was royalty. She'd acted so comfortable with him before as she cleaned hisface and teased him about cake. Doris felt her cheeks warm. “I appreciate you and Prince Martin forstanding up for me.”

Prince Daniel took a step towards her, her head snapped up at his movements. He stilled, a smallflash of emotion she couldn't place crossed his features. “Are you upset with me for lying about whoI am?” He whispered.

“I'm not upset, Prince Daniel. I was just confused I suppose.” Doris admitted.

Daniel looked down at her hand as if he wanted him

just thought you would've treated me differently as a friend if you knew who I really was, I nevermeant to deceive you.”

“I know you didn't.” Doris said quietly, she cleared her throat. He wils a kind boy, that wils one thingshe knew for certain. But it didn’t change the fact that they weren't meant to be friends. “You musthave known there was never any hope for us to remain friends. You're a prince-you're not meant tospeak with a maid like me.

* And why can't 1?” Prince Daniel raised his chin as if daring her to challenge his decision. “As yousaid, I'm a prince and I can make any choice I want. I can be friends with whomever I want. my titleshouldn't prevent that.”

“But it does!” Doris shook her head sadly and lowered her voice. “You know it's not proper. Aprince is a prince, and a maid is a maid. We're in completely different worlds and you knew thatwhen you told me you were a guard.”

Prince Daniel frowned as he looked down at her. Sadness coated his features and she wished shewasn't the cause of it. She wished he really was a guard and it wouldn't be wrong to call him afriend. “I'm sorry you feel that way. Doris.” He said quietly. Doris looked down at her hands again.She was sorry, too.

Daniel scratched the back of his head and glanced back at his guard before his light eyes landed onher again. “You know, the alpha king assigned Prince William to be the judge of your case. He thinkssince it was his lady that was poisoned, he should be the one to decide what happens to you.”ROLT to be the judge Doris W n't sure while that should make her feel, but she didn't feelcompletely hopeless. At least I wasn't Prince Jack though perhaps Prince William hated her just asmuch. A chill ran through her. Would be be fair, or blindedi by revenge for his ex lover?” He musthave cared a lot for Melody. didn't he? Did he believe she was capable of killing her own lady justbecause they didn't get along? He witnessed what Melody did to her, perhaps he would believe itwas possible.

But it wasn't surely he had to

me that.

***Prince Martin and I are trying to replace a way to get you out of here. We've been looking into whoprepared the soup and anyone else that might have had access to it before you helped pass themout.” Doris flinched at his words, the quickly softened his tone. “We both know you didn't do that,Doris, Prince Martin sid he was looking at you the entire time and didn't see you once polsonMelody’s bowl. We don’t know why Prince Jack is claiming it was you, perhaps he was justconfused.”

“I don't understand why he wouldn't have stopped me if he said he did see me poison her.” Dorispicked at her nails and started to pace her cell. She didn't have much toom, it only took a few stepsto walk between each wall. “I only switched the bowl because I thought someone had accidentallyput something in Luna Queen's bowl that she was allergic to. I didn't think

Prince Daniel stepped in front of Doris and put his hands on her shoulders to still her. “I know yourintentions were harmless. Doris. You didn’t mean to give her a bowl of poison, and I know forcertain that you weren't the one to put it in the bowl to begin with. Someone else must have had itout for

co

either Melody or Luna Ouren. Do you know anyone else that might have done something like this?A maid or a servant

“No! I know many other maids weren't fond af Melody, but nobody hated her enough to kill her!"Doris took a breath a closed her eyes for a moment, Melody had more foes than friends, but nonethat Doris would suspect. As for Luna Queen, Doris didn't know anything about her to even guesswho might not like her. She supposed it was possible anyone might have it out for a royal, but noone would be ridiculous enough to harm her at her own birthday party-would they?

Her shoulders felt warm, Doris glanced at his guard who watched both of them like a hawk. Shequickly stepped out of Prince Daniel's hold, his hands dropped to his side as if defeated. She knewhe meant no harm, but she couldn't help but feel sad when she thought about the friendship theycould have had if he wasn't a prince. It wasn't time to think about something like that, they hadmuch more important things to think about.

As for Prince Jack-Doris had never met him before the party. She'd heard of him, of course. Butnever had she crossed his path enough for him to dislike her or accuse her of something so serious.Did he truly think Doris slipped something into the bowl? In front of an entire crowd of people?Doris knew it didn't make sense, she was alone with Melody all the time and not once had shethought about harming her

“I'm sure Martin and I can talk to William and try to reason with him.” Daniel took a step back andScratched the back of his head again. “I know he can be a pain in the a

“I believe Prince William Doris said.

will bring me justice.”