The Knight's Mysterious Maid-Chapter 29: Different (2)

Annalise didn’t see the reason why she needed to go with Rafael. She wasn’t hurt and the only place she wanted to go was back to her room to get another dress before too many people could see the torn one she wore now. "I will change my dress-"

"I said come with me," Rafael said, letting go of Connor. He didn’t care about the damage he had done or if dropping Connor would cause more. Rafael took off his coat as he approached Annalise. He didn’t miss the way she stepped back like she did not want to be near him.

Rafael mistook the small action as her still shaken up by Connor.

Rafael placed his coat on Annalise’s shoulders and pulled the sides to hide where her dress had been torn. "I apologise that you had to go through this," he apologised, not for Connor, but as his servant, he had not protected her well.

To Rafael, his servants just like the knights counted as his people, and he was never happy when even a single person got hurt.

Annalise didn’t need any apologies from Rafael nor did she want to hear one from Connor, but she could see that Rafael was truly apologetic. The only apology she wanted was from his people to her own.

"You need to take care of your hand," Rafael said, looking down at her bruised knuckle.

"You need to take care of yourself first, young master. Your hands," Annalise pointed to his hands that were covered with blood. Mostly Connor’s blood and it was unlikely that Rafael was wounded, but she didn’t think Rafael should keep Connor’s blood on him for so long.

Rafael held Annalise’s hand so she could not claim to be fine and walk away.

"What is going on here?" Mavis pushed through the servants to see who dared to enter the room. "Y-Young master," she panicked, seeing Connor laying on the floor and Rafael with Annalise. "What happened here? Should I call for the doctor?"

Rafael kept watching Annalise who also panicked upon seeing Mavis. If he could read her mind, it would be nothing more than her worrying about being scolded by Mavis. With Connor taken care of for now, he was back to being curious about how she had taken him down. That was part of the reason he wanted her to come with him.

"Call for a doctor to this room, but have one of the knights guard this door and not let Connor leave. Find his father and tell him I wish to speak about him. I will be taking Annalise to check for wounds," Rafael said and then looked behind Mavis at the servants who still stood by the door. "Get back to your work!"

Mavis was puzzled by what was happening. Why was Connor laying unconscious and why was Annalise here? She stepped to the side to get a better look at Annalise. It was now she noticed that Annalise was wearing Rafael’s coat to cover her dress.

"Did they?" Mavis pointed at Annalise and then at Connor.

"I want a list of all the maids who felt uncomfortable around Connor by morning. You and Edwin are my two pairs of eyes when I am not around. I trust that you did not tell those women to keep quiet," Rafael said and then pulled Annalise out of the room.

Annalise avoided looking at Mavis to anger her. Yesterday her relationship with Mavis started to get better. She hoped this would not ruin it or her chances to serve the king. She quietly walked behind Rafael, staring at the hand he was holding onto. She wished that he would release her. Annalise did not enjoy his touch.

"Rafael!"

’Thank you,’ Annalise sighed in relief. For the first time, she was happy to see Delilah. ’Please take him.’

Delilah let go of the side of her dress she had picked up to move around quickly to find Rafael. "I was worried about you since you did not return. What is happening here?" She looked at the coat Annalise was wearing and then at the two holding hands.

Delilah had put to rest that there was something between Rafael and his maid, but why was it that he had left her side and was now holding Annalise’s hand? After he didn’t look too pleased to be by her side, just having her by holding onto his arm. ’Why?’ Delilah gripped her dress, but she masked her emotions from revealing them on her face.

Before Delilah could read too much into why he was here with Annalise and add more attention to Annalise who needed to change, Rafael answered, "Connor tried to attack Annalise. I am taking her to be tended to. Do not tell anyone about what happened yet and returned to the hall," said Rafael.

Delilah relaxed after hearing that it wasn’t as she thought. Rafael was just being his normal self saving others. She turned to Annalise with an expression full of pity. "I’m sorry you had to go through something so terrible. It will get better soon," she placed her right on Annalise’s shoulder for comfort.

Annalise looked down at Delilah’s hand on her shoulder. She found it hard to understand the actions of the people here sometimes, but right now, she picked up that Delilah was anything but sad about what happened. Annalise got the feeling that Delilah was annoyed that her time with Rafael was interrupted. Delilah’s intense gaze was what confirmed it.

"There is no reason why the two of you should hold hands, right?" Delilah asked, wanting the two of them to let go. Annalise looked perfectly fine. It was enough that she was wearing Rafael’s coat. Annalise should not get to hold his hand.

Delilah disliked the fact that Rafael looked comfortable holding Annalise’s hand. He was someone who used any opportunity to avoid contact with others.

Annalise pulled her hand away from Rafael’s when his hold became loose. She stepped to the right to not be so close to Rafael.

"Shall I come with the two of you-"

"No," Rafael said, declining Delilah’s offer. "I will be back shortly to help you find a new escort. Follow me," he said to Annalise. This time, he didn’t try to hold her hand.

"Excuse me," Annalise said to Delilah, and then she continued to follow behind Rafael.

"She has to go," Delilah softly said. It was the only way to get rid of the uneasy feeling she had. Delilah believed she had good intuition, and right now, it was telling her that Annalise would become a problem in the future. It was frustrating that she was the only one to notice it.

"What is it?" Rafael finally gave in and asked, since Annalise kept looking over her shoulder as they walked.

"Nothing," Annalise replied, folding her lips.

"You are allowed to speak freely this once," said Rafael. Anything to get her mind off of Connor.

"You shouldn’t have left the lady alone. I am truly fine, and I do not need your help. Honestly, I just want to change and get back to my work," Annalise replied.

"You are free to stop here for the night. You will still be paid, and I will provide money for your ruined dress. Before you go, tell me how you did it. How did you get Connor off his feet?" Rafael asked.