Melody took a step back when she heard William's voice. Quickly, she regained her composure. "That's right, Doris. You heard him." She lifted her chin and smirked. Doris almost had the nerve to be embarrassed for the girl.
"I wasn't talking to her, I was talking to you." William moved to step in front of Doris. Melody backed away a bit more, she even started to look nervous at the scene before her. She expected a night of love, not this.
"William, I don't understand-" Melody reached for her robe and quickly put it on. William didn't even lower his eyes to her body and Doris hated to admit how good that made her feel. Perhaps Beth was right, maybe he wouldn't desire another now that they found each other. "This maid just insulted me-"
"She can insult you all she wants. I invited you to come here to tell you that I no longer wish for you to be my lady." William said calmly. Doris glanced over his shoulder to see Melody's face collapse at his words.
"What? But-I'm- we're mates! I don't understand-"
William's back tensed at her words. "I don't like a fucking liar, especially when they lie to me in front of the entire kingdom." William grabbed Melody's arm and forced her against him. Her robe fell off one shoulder and the mark was gone. Melody's eyes widened and she quickly tried to cover it. Clearly she had forgotten to reapply the fake mark to her skin before she came here.
"No, I would never lie about this-"
"I know you're a fucking liar because I found my real mate! I don't need your fake mark to prove it." He growled in her face before he shoved her away from him. She stumbled to the floor and just barely caught herself. Melody's eyes went right to Doris who stayed quiet behind William.
"She's lying! She's not your mate!" Melody cried as she moved back away from William. "I'm your mate! You found me that day and I've been loyal to you! I waited here as you went to find who poisoned me!"
"I didn't go for you, I don't give a shit who poisons you." William spat at her. "I went to find other answers for myself."
Melody choked on her tears. "She can't be your mate, William! She's not meant to be your mate!"
William glanced at Doris for a moment and she could read it in his eyes. Doris knelt down near Melody and moved down her blouse to show her the mate's mark. "This hasn't faded in the slightest since he put it on me."
Melody stared at the mark silently. Tears dripped from her eyes that filled up with hate almost instantly. "You're nothing but a useless maid." She spat at Doris's shoes. "You're an ugly, useless maid that doesn't deserve to be here! I should have killed you when I had the chance you stupid bitch!"
William grabbed Melody by her arm and dragged her out to the door. Doris winced as she watched Melody try to struggle against his iron grip. "She is worth a hundred of you! Get the fuck out of here." William growled and forced her out the door. "I want her removed from the palace. Have her room emptied by morning and do not allow her back on the property."
"William!" Melody screamed, he slammed the door in her face without a hesitation. Her screaming continued down the hall and grew distant after a moment. It should have filled her with more of a satisfaction, but it didn't. She cursed her kinder side for always feeling bad for the people that didn't deserve it.
Doris nervously watched his anger followed him as he moved through the room. It was like a dark shadow that gripped onto him and marked every step he made.
"William..." Doris said calmly. He threw himself down on one of his chairs and she was only surprised it didn't crack with how hard he went down. She sat herself next to him. "I shouldn't have been here-"
"Why not? She needed to be faced with her lies. You are proof of it." He grumbled and stared at the fire. "I'm sure she'll go kicking and screaming the whole way out of the palace. A shame I couldn't keep it quiet for you."
"What do you mean quiet for me?"
"I know you don't want others to know about you. I'm sure she will scream it to the skies about how you're lying and she's not." William's fingers curved into the chair. "I would have asked for her to be beheaded, but I'm afraid there's enough tragedy around here."
"William," Doris frowned. She wasn't sure if he was serious or not. Something about the way he said it made her realize that he might have meant his words. "Are you alright? How did it go with your father?"
Doris moved a little closer and his hand found her lap. Her heart did a small leap in her chest and she wanted to curse the feeling.
"He's not well at all. He barely recognized me. I'm not sure how long he has left." William said quietly. "I always wanted him to suffer in his life for how he treated me. I thought I would be happy to hear he's on his death bed, but I'm not."
"It's normal to have resent for your parents if they wronged you. I know I do." Doris admitted. William threw her a curious look and it was then she realized she had never really told him about her past. He asked her once and she changed the subject. "My parents sold me to the palace when I was 16 and I haven't heard from them since. I think a big part of me resents them, but a smaller part will always want them to be alive and well. It's always going to be there, no matter how much time has passed."
William shifted a little so he could have a better look at her. "You still would wish them well, even after selling you as if you were an animal?"
"I do. I don't want them to die, but I also don't want to see them anymore. They didn't regret selling me and they never tried to get me back even years later. If I knew something bad had happened to them while I was here, I would be very sad."
William searched her face as if he could solve some sort of puzzle that wasn't there. "I don't know if I could forgive someone for doing that to me. My father may have treated my brothers better than me, but he never gave me away. I think you're brave for that."
Doris felt her cheeks heat. She hadn't expected him to say that. "Thank you."
William looked away and leaned back into the couch. "I haven't seen any of my brothers since I've come here. I tried to seek out Martin and Daniel, but neither of them have come."
"They might be grieving in their own ways." Doris whispered. "I'm sure they'll come around."
"I just... I know the Luna Queen is responsible for this. I know she's the reason he's sick. She's been trying to get rid of all the obstacles in her way so she can be the ruler of this kingdom through her idiot son." William stood.
"How will we stop her?" Doris watched as he paced the room again as if his thoughts had gone wild.
"If my father isn't well enough to hear my side of things... I will just have to take my crown forcibly."
"By harming Prince Martin?" Doris asked cautiously. He threw her an annoyed look.
"Not directly. I will bring an army. I have many followers here beyond my personal guards. Many men and women have sworn to stand by me if I ever wanted the crown. If Martin won't willingly give it up, I will have to call upon my army."
Doris sat speechless. She had no idea that William had so many people on his side. "Do any of these people hold weight towards the crown?"
"There are lords and ladies... I bet I can gain even more."
"William, you're ready to start a war over this? Is this wise? Perhaps we should wait to see if the king will recover-"
"If we wait it will be too late! Luna Queen is making her moves now while I'm distracted by my father. This is exactly what she always wanted to happen." William's steps turned into stomps. Doris stood.
"I know it's hard, but perhaps you should lay down to rest for a while. It might straighten out your thoughts."
"I know what needs to be done, Doris. You can either join me or stay to the side and watch me claim the crown that was meant for me."