The Knight's Mysterious Maid-Chapter 238: Envy (2)

"Somehow, I feel like this is your doing, grandmother. I just know it is," Annalise said, looking around to check if her grandmother was near.

There weren’t many who believed in her grandmother’s talents, but she did.

"If you really are watching over me, you mustn’t tell father about what you saw. He will kill Rafael and then tie a rope to our hands so he can keep an eye on me," Annalise said, already feeling the rope tight around her hand.

Annalise touched her lips where there was still the lingering feeling of Rafael kissing her. The man was skilled in many ways. The women in town were missing out, but this was a secret she would keep for now so she didn’t have to deal with more women trying to court him to check if he was a good kisser.

Annalise smiled as a couple walked by her. She wondered if they stared at her because they were trying to place who she was or if her appearance needed to be fixed. She could only imagine what was going through their minds to see Rafael and her alone when the ball was just starting.

Annalise did not want to go back inside yet so she wouldn’t have to see Rafael and Siena together so soon. She also did not want it to look like he had disappeared to get her.

She knew not to stay in the garden where the knights were not present and there were spots with not enough light and places for someone to hide while they stalked her. Annalise walked back up the steps that would lead her into the ballroom. She would stay outside for a moment and then go in to look for Beatrice or stand in a corner by herself.

Annalise hoped to not be approached by curious young men or men old enough to be her father looking for a young wife. Rafael Callahan was the only man she could be bothered by at this point. Anyone else would test her patience.

Annalise stopped when she reached the top of the stairs and found Siena looking out at the garden. She thought of turning around to find somewhere else to hide for most of the ball, but then she didn’t feel like running.

Why was Siena here alone when Annalise sent Rafael to stay by her side?

"Did he find you well? The garden looks big for anyone to get lost," Siena said, keeping her gaze on the garden instead of Annalise, who she noticed coming.

She hid when she saw Rafael heading her way to return to the ball. Siena did not want to see him yet.

"Are you going to deny that he went to find you after you ran away? I am not a fool. Do you think that I would be upset about it?" Siena asked.

"Who wouldn’t be upset?" Annalise replied.

Siena smiled as it was true. "I was angry at first, but then I remembered that I cannot get angry when he was never mine. I am sorry for asking you about dancing. That was wrong of me. My jealousy got the best of me and if I hurt your feelings, I am truly sorry."

"You didn’t hurt my feelings. It takes a lot more than that to hurt me. You did succeed at reminding me that I am out of place amongst the people inside, but I am used to that. You did help me to realise something so I guess it worked out in the end," Annalise answered.

Siena looked away from the garden to Annalise. "I am glad to hear that. There is nothing between Rafael and I though you must already know that from the way he ran after you. I see now why he wanted to escort me to the ball. I got my hopes up for nothing, but he brought me back to reality. That my father and his uncle are fools."

"I really envy you, Annalise. Why do you look so surprised?" Siena chuckled as Annalise’s shocked expression was funny. "I come from a wealthy family so I suppose everyone thinks I have everything and there is nothing I should complain about. I try not to complain since I am in a position of having an easy life compared to others, but there is something that I really want."

Annalise walked close to the edge of the balcony where Siena stood. She was curious about Siena since she got the feeling more than once that Siena wasn’t happy. Annalise never thought money would make everyone happy.

Most of the people inside the ball wore clothing worth more than what she made as a maid in a month, couldn’t all be happy since they were so focused on others. Looking around for someone to talk about to make others’ lives as miserable as they were.

"What is it that you want?" Annalise asked.

"Freedom," Siena answered. "I only have a choice of what dress I want to wear, but even then there are days my mother disagrees with my choice and picks for me. I have to be careful to say what everyone wants to hear. I’ve lived a life being spoiled and now I am pushed into a corner to feel like I must marry to repay those who spoiled me."

’That is why I envy you. I don’t know what troubles you have in your life, but I would gladly switch with you. You get to go after the man you love and most of all, you get to act as you want. I would enjoy that even if it was just for a day so would you switch with me? It might only last for a few hours, but I will make the most of it."

Annalise couldn’t help feeling sorry for Siena who was like many other young women almost forced to marry who their family wanted them to most likely for more money or something to do with status and connections.

Annalise was able to wake up one day and decided she was leaving home to see what the people on the other side of the kingdom were like. Her father never approached her with a list of young men he thought she should marry. Her father never tried to change the fact that she took an interest in things boys liked to do.

She was free to do as she wanted aside from the fact she had to take her father’s place as leader one day. Then there was the rule about not being with someone from this side, but she had long broken that and she didn’t fear the consequence of anyone finding out right now.

"My life isn’t as simple as it seems. There are many things I must listen to from my father and not disappoint him, but recently I have started to do as I want because it is my life. Whatever I will face in the future for my decisions, I will accept. I want to experience the little happiness before me since I am not getting younger. We cannot go back in time to do the things we regretted not doing right now," said Annalise.

"It will be hard, but if you do not wish to follow your father’s words, you should plan a way out. While they are distracted, thinking that you are following their command, start plotting an escape. I am not saying this because I like him. It is because I know him. Rafael will not marry you because of your connection to his uncle and because he doesn’t love you."

"With a marriage to Rafael out of the question, your family will move on to another man. Unless you want to be back trying to get another man you are forcing yourself to love to have an interest in you, stand up for yourself. You don’t even need to run away. Just speak. Speak even when they look offended by your words," Annalise advised Siena.