Chapter 195


    Chapter 195 Something blooms


    William called his men in the tent after Doris had left. She sat by the open fire and tried to embrace its


    warmth. Part of her wanted to seek out Beth and spill out all of her thoughts, but a bigger part wanted to


    wait for William toe out. No matter how long that might take. Almost an hour had passed before his


    guards exited the tent. Many went straight for their horses and took off through the trees without a single


    nce back. Her heart rate quickened, were they off to end the war? Was the blood lust finallying to


    an end?


    Enzo caught her eye and nodded at her before he went to talk to the rogues that hovered nearby. It was


    like weight lifted off her chest to know that the war was finally being called off. She silently prayed that


    this would be the end of unnecessary deaths for the kingdom. If William was crowned king, it could be a


    new start for so many lives. He didn’t realize how much hope his leadership could bring for his people. 6


    William exited the tent when everyone else seemed to be gone from it. He headed straight for her


    without lifting his gaze. As if he knew exactly where she would be. It felt like her heart tugged him closer


    to her as if there was an invisible string that connected them.


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    Doris moved over a little when he seated himself. He leaned forward and stared at the fire that was


    growing dim before them. “It should all be over within the next few hours. I ordered my army to step back


    and to return to the pce to recover.” Doris gripped his hand. He squeezed it tightly. “I’m proud of you.


    You fought for what you believe in.” “My father still has the right to deny me the crown. As you said, he


    might see me as a traitor for all of this. He knows I would never be a king like he was-he wanted Martin


    to be a copy of himself.” William stared down at their hands. “He could still give the crown to Daniel. I


    refuse to fight Daniel for it.” “Daniel has no interest in bing king, William. He never has had that on


    his mind. He told me that he wanted nothing to do with politics once.”


    “It doesn’t matter. If my father wishes it, it will be. Even if Daniel doesn’t want it. He could give me the


    crown after our father passes, but every one would know that it wasn’t what the true king wanted.”


    “I think you’re letting your mind get the better of you. Your father hasn’t once had interest in making


    Daniel king. Don’t stress about tomorrow before today is over.”


    William said nothing. Doris leaned her head against his shoulder. “Do you wish to return to the pce


    soon? To see your father?” “Not yet.” William said simply. Doris knew better than to push him about it. A


    loud horn made Doris and William jump off the log. He immediately moved in front of her to hide her from


    view of whoever was about to enter the camp. Usually they only had horns blow like that at the pce


    when a lord was visiting.


    As it was, a group of men slowly steered their horses into the camp. A man with white hair and fancy


    clothes looked down at William with his chin raised.


    “Prince William? We heard you hadn’t yet arrived the pce. I’m d we caught you here before you


    left.” “The war is over. I’ve already called it off. You might as well turn back now and swallow whatever


    you came to say.”


    “Oh yes, we just heard as we wereing in here.” The man slid down from the horse. “We’re not here


    about that right now, though.” “What is it you want, Lord Edgar?” William asked. Another man pulled up


    and slid off his horse as well. The rest of the men stayed mounted on their horses but watched closely,


    Doris only guessed they were guards. “And Lord Theo. What brings you all the way out here?” William


    looked at them as if he didn’t trust an ounce of their presence. Doris hadn’t heard much about either of


    them to know if this visit would be bad or good. “We heard what happened to your brothers and the Luna


    Queen. We heard everything.” Lord Theo sald. He wasnky and tall, unlike the shorter man beside him.


    William’s Jaw clenched at his words as if he wanted to know who was feeding them that information. The


    men nced at Doris behind William, he moved more in front of her until their eyes snapped back to the


    prince. “Is there anything I can do for you?” William asked sternly. “As I said, the fighting is over.” “We


    came to lend our support, Prince William.” Lord Edgar said. “In what way would you be lending your


    support?” William asked. He kept his guard up even with the kinder look in their eyes. “We’re going to tell


    your father that we think you should be named the next king.” Lord Theo said. He sped his hands in


    front of him calmly. “No man that has gone through this much trouble should be casted aside. You


    wed your way to the top and didn’t care who went down in the meantime.” Doris chewed on the inside


    of her cheek as she watched William. His face was a mask of stone, she wondered if his words hit him


    more than intended. “We also heard tales that you brought the rogues to back you up in this war. No


    leader from this kingdom has been able to do that in decades. The rouges have always hoped for our


    kingdoms downfall.” Lord Edgar said. “How did you manage to get them to join you in this fight?” “We


    saw him as the leader that could help pave our path to peace.” Enzo said from behind them. They turned


    with wide eyes when they saw the lord of the rogues stroll up to them. “You’re right to put your trust in


    William. He has proven himself time and time again that he was always meant to wear that crown. For


    the first time in history, he made the rouges want to fight for royalty instead of fight with them.” The men


    studied Enzo as if they weren’t sure what to make of his appearance. For so many years, the rogues


    were enemies to this kingdom. Now William has brought them here as if they were equals. “Not even the


    king could unite the north with the kingdom.” Lord Theo observed. “He’s tried, he came back with a mate,


    but even so they still stayed separated. We all thought the north would be open to us when he was


    mated, but it seemed to only push back more.” “The difference between William and his father is that


    William is sincere in his promises. His father was only out for his own needs and the rogues saw right


    through him.” Enzo said. He pped William on the back. “He has made us see a world that is far better


    than the one we were forced in because of his fathers actions.” The lords exchanged a nce. “When


    you get back to the pce, we would love to have a meeting with you about the future of this kingdom,


    Prince William.” Lord Theo bowed his head. “We want to hear the ideas you have to better the future.” “I


    won’t take any meetings unless the crown is on my head. My path is not set in stone yet and I won’t


    pretend it is.” William said, his fists opened and closed at his sides.


    LIVE TO JUMENTY Dlooms “We only ask for your time when you’re settled, of course. Not a moment


    sooner,” Lord Edgar smiled. “I have to admit, it’s been a long time since we’ve had a king that fought for


    what he believed in. Your father has always expected everything handed to him and when he didn’t get it,


    he gave up or forced it to go his way.” “My father has given up on a lot in his life.” William muttered. He


    nced through the trees as if he could see the pce from where he was standing. “I will not take after


    his ruling in the slightest if I’m crowned king,” “We don’t doubt that, your majesty.” Lord Theo bowed


    again. “Please excuse us, we have to seek out your father. I’d say it’s time toy the past to rest. New


    order is due.”