The Knight's Mysterious Maid-Chapter 394: A day with women (4)

"Why did you make me think it was something important? That is not funny, Annalise. The town guards will come for you even if it is to be a joke. I’ve seen it happen and children are the only ones to get away with it, but after a lengthy lecture. I’m sure no one here will spread your joke," Giselle said, looking around the table.

Siena didn’t think it was a joke because of how serious everyone else at the table appeared. As if they were holding their breaths awaiting their reactions. The continuation of the party depended on it.

"Are you really from the border?" Siena asked.

"I am. My father is the leader and I am to soon take his place. I didn’t want to continue hiding that from you. It is not a joke," Annalise said, looking over at Giselle on the other side of the table. "Everyone but the two of you knew. It is fine if it troubles you and you want to leave."

"Calling the town guards will do nothing," Annalise added as they wouldn’t be taking her anywhere.

"What do you mean by that? Would you kill them?" Giselle asked, her fear growing the more it dawned on her that this was true. Who hadn’t heard all the tales about the people at the border? Savages, barbarians, or wild people as they were called.

"If they try to take me somewhere I don’t want to go, yes. However, these days I am trying not to solve everything with violence so maybe we can talk. Then fight," Annalise whispered the last part.

Siena stared at Annalise, trying her best to get used to the fact someone from the border was sitting right next to her. All the stories passed around scared her, but Annalise was the same person who helped her when she fell from the window, offered her a room at the manor, and gave her plenty of dresses Rafael bought for her.

It was hard not to think of the stories she had been told, but Siena thought it would be rude to judge Annalise when she had been nothing but kind. It was her turn to repay the favour.

"Is the border the place you were going to take me but couldn’t explain?" Siena questioned, recalling their conversation about a new place she could call home. A place that her parents would not dare step foot on.

"Kind of. Rafael will be building another manor to be near the border so hopefully, a new town will go up. I was going to take you there if you didn’t want to be around your parents anymore. We have to go to the palace to speak about a truce to end the war. Most of what you’ve heard about my people is false. We live similarly to you except for all the rules and all the titles," Annalise explained.

"No lords, dukes, or even a baron?" Giselle said, amazed by this. She thought it was only faraway lands without titles.

"The only title would be leader and father doesn’t live like a king. We have a house much smaller than this one. From time to time, everyone will bring us gifts. Fruits, cloth, animals, or something more as a thank you for protecting the land. We don’t use carriages unless we are taking a lot of supplies to another town-"

"There’s more?!" Giselle explained. "I’ve only heard there is one group."

"No," Annalise said, shaking her head. "We’re spread out around the border. It is a lot of us. You would never know because we’ve made it impossible for you to come onto our land."

"I see. There’s much we’ve been misinformed about. What I thought of the people there doesn’t look like you. I’m sorry," Giselle apologised because she had imagined the worst.

"It’s fine. You’ve never been to the border so you were listening to stories from the guards when they travel. They know nothing about our daily life so they can only speak of our warriors and paint them to be monsters. A lot of stories have been passed around to scare you so you can run to the town guards to expose us," said Annalise.

"There’s been a few bad stories about your side too. To persuade us not to leave because there’s no way to return home when you are caught. Do you wish to leave now that you know the truth?" Annalise asked, giving them the chance to leave now.

"I would like to stay," Siena answered. There was much she wanted to know about the faraway land. To see the truth with her eyes and as Annalise said, her father wouldn’t follow her there.

"You suddenly make sense now," Giselle said, nodding her head.

"I wish you would all stop saying that," Annalise said, sighing but she was relieved that neither one wanted to leave.

"This might be an ignorant question, but do you know how to fight?" asked Giselle.

"I can," Annalise answered. "Why? Do you want to learn? I can teach you how to kill someone with this little knife," she said, picking up a knife from the table.

Beatrice panicked because this wasn’t on the list of things she was planning to do with them today. "Perhaps we should leave that to another day. A party for learning how to use a weapon."

Annalise liked the sound of this party. Beatrice had done well today, but a party teaching anyone to fight so they could protect themselves was much better. Everyone should know how to use at least one weapon because you never know when someone will attempt to take your life.

"Would you join us in learning to use a knife?" Annalise asked Beatrice. Even though Travis was now in River’s hands, it didn’t mean there wouldn’t be someone looking to harm her. She heard from Rafael that Travis kept going on and on about his parents coming for him.

"I’m open to learning as long as it isn’t too much for me. I am not young like all of you-’

"But you look so young!" Giselle exclaimed, interrupting Beatrice. She slapped her hand over her mouth, embarrassed by what she did. "Sorry."

"Oh no. I enjoy the compliment," Beatrice said, smiling because of the comment.

"You look younger than some of my peers. Is there something you use on your face?" Giselle asked, desperately needing a book to write down all the secrets she would get today.

"There are a few things I have tried. I will take you to my bedroom later to look around. So many creams for your face are sold in the market these days, but not all are good for you. I find the best come from Lockwood, but then they are quite expensive by the time they reach here," said Beatrice.

"Then, it only makes sense that I go with Annalise and Rafael when they go to Lockwood," Giselle declared.

Annalise coughed, almost choking on the juice she took a sip of. She liked Giselle but she didn’t know how Rafael would handle being on a trip with her. "It’s not certain when we’ll be going and I might go home to the border. Maybe you can go another time when Siena and I travel."

"Deal," Giselle agreed.