The Knight's Mysterious Maid-Chapter 211: Stalked (1)

"Why does it feel like the ride to get here was much longer than usual? We should have reached here sooner," Beatrice said, accepting River’s hand to help her out of the carriage.

"We had to deal with a tree that fell in the road while you were asleep. You can head up to our room while I take out bags from the carriage," said River.

"I will stay out here with all of you. It wouldn’t be fair for me to go inside while you all take things from the carriage. I have a few small bags I can help carry inside. They are not heavy," Beatrice promised so River wouldn’t worry. "Why hasn’t Rafael come out of his carriage? Did more than dealing with a tree happen while I was resting?’

Beatrice found it odd that she wasn’t seeing her son who should be out of the carriage, directing his knights to where they would be spending their time here. It couldn’t be that Rafael had already gotten out and she missed him since River woke her right as they reached the gates.

Beatrice let go of River’s hand and walked over to Rafael’s carriage with River right behind her to see what was wrong with Rafael and Annalise. She watched the coachman walk to the door and peep inside, hesitating to open the door after.

"I will open it," Beatrice said, sending the panicked man away.

The coachman made way for Beatrice to get a look at what he saw just now. He would rather it be the lady to disturb Rafael than it be him.

Before she tried to open the door, Beatrice stepped forward to look into the window to see what had made the coachman panic. "R-River," she stuttered, stepping away from the door. "We mustn’t disturb them. Have everyone find their rooms and then come back for the bags. They could all do with a moments rest instead of getting the bags right away."

River looked at the sky, fearing there might be rain so they shouldn’t leave out the bags. It would be better to take down the bags first and then everyone retire to their beds before the sun would soon light up the lands. "There might be rain-"

"I said everyone must find their rooms," Beatrice spoke softly as she walked away from the carriage.

River stared at Beatrice and then at the carriage. "What did you see?"

"My grandchildren," Beatrice clapped her hands.

"Do not get ahead of yourself. He will not be happy to hear you say that when she is near. Please go inside out of the cold air. I will have the bags quietly removed and then I will wake Rafael. He cannot stay in the carriage as it is uncomfortable," said River.

On the inside of the carriage, Rafael wished everyone outside would stay quiet so he would not exit the carriage with Annalise to an awkward moment with his mother thinking too much into him resting his head on Annalise’s shoulder.

Rafael sighed as he leaned away from Annalise. He did rest for a moment during their travel, but Annalise refused to go to sleep since she was so distracted by seeing the land they passed so he pretended to rest, but truthfully he stayed awake with her.

It took hours for Annalise to give in to her tiredness and fall asleep. He followed her soon after, but he woke up long before they arrived. He was only resting his head on her shoulder with his eyes closed.

Rafael looked down at Annalise, sleeping with her head pressed against the carriage. If he tried to lift her now when she was in deep sleep, he wouldn’t be surprised if her fist would make its way to his face. He would love nothing more than to lift her to her bed, but there were too many eyes around. His mother in particular would not shut up if he were to lift her out of here.

When it was time the town would be awake and moving around, he would take her to see more of the land. She wouldn’t have to be his maid then.

"Annalise," he said, pushing her hair away from her face. "We have arrived. My mother will start throwing my knights away from this carriage if you do not wake now. Annalise," he called once more, tapping her shoulder to wake her.

Annalise stirred in her sleep and moved around until she hit her head on the side of the carriage. She opened her eyes, startled by the fact the carriage had stopped moving, but she was not quick to notice it even in her sleep.

"I imagine this must be the look those rabbits had when they realised you were aiming the arrow at them. Why are you so afraid, Annalise? I said that I would protect you," Rafael said, resisting the urge to lean over to comfort the woman who looked scared out of her mind. "You are still here with me. Where did you think you were?"

Annalise calmed down now that she remembered where she was. Annalise pushed her fingers through her hair, trying to calm her mind. She had gotten too comfortable to not pay attention to the carriage stopping.

She never let her guard down even when she slept in her room at the manor. She was to stay aware of her surroundings because there could always be danger for her.

"I am sorry for not waking up sooner. Were you waiting for the door to be opened?" Annalise asked, trying to stand but her body was not fully awake. She touched her head to wait for her vision to be less blurry.

"Take your time, Annalise. You stayed awake for most of our trip so your body must be terribly tired. I will escort you to your room once you have gathered yourself. You have a few more hours to rest before the day becomes busy. We also need to stay here a little longer to avoid my mother," Rafael said, looking out the window at his father taking his mother inside.

"The ride was quick," Annalise noted. The sky was lighter than when they left the manor which meant morning would soon be here. "I am ready to head to my bedroom. I don’t want to keep you waiting in the carriage with me and I am awfully tired. So tired that I did not notice the carriage had stopped."

"Excuse me," Rafael said, leaning forward to grab her bag. He opened the door on her side before she could object to him holding her bag for her. "This place is a bit different. There are still a few people who like to talk too much and are a bit judgmental, but you can relax here. There is no one around right now who will spread rumours about me holding your bag."

"I think you might not be aware of how much your knights gossip. They will certainly speak of you carrying my bag when I am to be carrying your bags. At least let me carry it to the door until we are out of sight," Annalise added to sway him. fгeewebnovёl.com

Rafael opened his door so he could get out with Annalise’s bag since she was being stubborn. "The knights won’t say a word to anyone if I order them not to. The threat of having to increase training would make them like a mouse. Get out of the carriage unless you wish to spend the night here with me."

Hearing this, Annalise exited the carriage. She had spent more than enough time with Rafael in such a small space. She looked around the home that was smaller than Rafael’s manor. From what she saw so far, she knew that it was a quiet place. The moment she did not have to be by Rafael’s side tomorrow, she would explore to see what this land had to offer.

Annalise got out of the way of the knights taking the bags from the carriage and followed Rafael inside to find her room. She wished she had listened to him and gotten some rest in the carriage so she wouldn’t be this tired now. She was supposed to stay awake while Rafael slept.

As they entered the house, Annalise could not make out much of the decor since it was dark. No servants seemed to be awake at this time.

Annalise followed Rafael to the second floor, puzzled by the fact that the servant quarters were in this place instead of out of the way on the first floor.

"This is your bedroom," Rafael said, opening the door of the room she would be staying in for her. "Should you need me, come knock on the door to your right."

"That is where you are staying? Why am I on the same floor as you?" Annalise asked, now understanding why there were not many rooms here for other servants to be resting.

"What if I were to suddenly need you? Wouldn’t it be much better to have you near?"