The Knight's Mysterious Maid-Chapter 273: Hurt (4)

Annalise was confused by the question at first, but then she figured River was looking to have small talk with her since they were the only ones in the kitchen. When she was around River, she never got the chance to speak with him as much as she would like to because she would get so caught up with Beatrice.

Annalise wanted to know more about River since he had fought her father and he was the only person she ever heard her father complimented from this side. There were still petty insults here and there, but she could always tell from the way he spoke of River that he liked the challenge.

Her father would like a rematch since he claimed that he had gotten better and would now be able to take down the old knight. Annalise would rather he not fight River if there was ever a chance. One, because it would make things more complicated with Rafael, and two, he had more important issues to deal with than settling an old fight.

"Yes. The farm my parents have is a little far from both towns," Annalise replied.

She went back to putting together the leaves for Rafael’s tea.

"Is it a farm that you really come from? Tension with the border seems to be gradually increasing every day," said River.

Annalise didn’t stop making the tea because of his question since River was watching her every move. For her to look startled or caught off guard, he would confirm what was on his mind now. "I don’t hear much about the border these days. Maybe it is because we are a little far away."

Annalise picked up the pot of water to start pouring it into the cup with the leaves. "What are you hinting at, River? I don’t like beating around the bush. Are you trying to figure out if I am from the border?" She asked.

He wasn’t being discreet that it was what he thought. She wondered what she had done to alert River that she wasn’t who she said she was.

"I saw you looking at the markings on the orphanage gates and your calmness now tells me that I might be correct. Anyone else would be getting defensive over being suspected to be one of the people they refer to as barbarians. Wild people," River said, watching how Annalise gripped the pot handle. "From my past run-ins with people from the border, they really hate those two words." free𝑤ebnovel.com

Annalise felt like she was getting a dose of bad luck again. First, she couldn’t sneak outside and now, River was on to her being from the border. She wanted to come clean and ask what he wanted from her, but she was smart enough to know to deny his claims.

As well as people knew her, their attitude could change from simply knowing she came from the border.

Annalise couldn’t find it in her to come clean to Rafael so how could she possibly reveal it to River? She was not going to admit it to anyone even if they had evidence.

"I am quite tired at the moment so I don’t have much energy to react to your claims. I don’t know what marking you speak of and why you would wish to speak of me being from the border. That is a dangerous claim to make. Is it because you don’t want me to be with your son?" Annalise asked.

She was pretty much in the background when it came to River and now she was suddenly getting more attention from him than she did all the other times she was around him.

"It is because I don’t want to see my son getting hurt. My wife and son are all that I have left. I owe you for protecting Beatrice today. I will never forget that you kept her safe, but when it comes to Rafael, I need to know what your intentions are with my son," River said.

As much as he liked Annalise, he had to think of Rafael’s safety first.

Annalise smiled as she put down the pot. He suspected she was the border and seemed to accept that fact, but he was concerned for Rafael. He should be considering the dangers Rafael could find himself in. If she were in River’s shoes, she would think that she was using Rafael’s feelings to get something out of him.

She was here to kill Rafael if needed at first, but then she decided to just get information from him. All her thoughts about hurting Rafael these days were playful. She didn’t have any plans of letting Rafael be hurt because of her or doing something to him.

"I won’t hurt him," Annalise answered. "I care for him."

"If you are from the border, you must tell him the truth. Tell him why you are so far away from home. Don’t wait too long for someone else to share your secret. Hearing it from your mouth should diffuse his anger should there be any," said River.

Annalise was surprised River didn’t plan to go to Rafael about this. He was giving her the chance to be honest with Rafael. "If you suspect that I am from the border, why wouldn’t you tell your son? You have fought at the border and you are a former knight, loyal to the throne. If you have any suspicions, you are to take me to the nearest court."

"Some of the people in the court can get ahead of themselves when it comes to questioning people they suspect to be enemies of the kingdom. I don’t have proper evidence that you are from the border and if I did, since you have not been a threat so far, I would just ask that you go home. That and the fact my son would never forgive me if I took you to the court," River answered.

He could deal with Rafael getting angry with him for keeping his suspicion about Annalise being from the border a secret, but with how smitten Rafael was with Annalise, his relationship with his son would change more if he were to send her to the court or tell her to go home. That was why he advised her to tell Rafael the truth.

"Once you sit him down and speak with him, he might get angry, but he will try to understand you. To find out any other way might anger him to the point he would not want to look at you. I am giving you the benefit of the doubt that you are not here to hurt my son, but if you are, I will kill you where you stand if something happens to him. You should be careful touching the hot cup," River said, looking at the cup on the counter.

Annalise watched River until he exited the kitchen door. She took a deep breath, now able to relax that he was gone. Now she wished she had just stayed in bed with Rafael instead of trying to sneak out. She picked up the teacup by its handle and also a small plate to cover the tea with as it cooled. She then proceeded to leave the kitchen before anyone else could find her.

She didn’t mind River’s threat since he was only protecting his son. Annalise would be upset with him if he was calm about this and didn’t think of how Rafael might be in danger. She wanted to tell him that there was nothing to worry about since she would be leaving soon, but she didn’t want to take the chance of this getting back to Rafael.

Annalise returned to Rafael’s bedroom, finding the door wide open so she would not have to struggle with getting it open and not spilling the tea. Rafael was still awake, looking out of the window until he heard her.

Annalise closed the door behind her and before going to join him in bed again, she placed the teacup on a small night table on Rafael’s side. She covered the teacup with the small plate so nothing could drop into the tea as it cooled and then she climbed over Rafael to lay with him again.

Annalise laid her head on his chest and rested her left hand on his chest.

"Did something happen?" Rafael asked since she was acting differently from how she left him.

"No," Annalise replied, closing her eyes to try going to sleep this time.