The Knight's Mysterious Maid-Chapter 401: Reunion (1)

"There you go. When he comes inside, he might look scary at first because he is a giant, but once he gets closer you will see how handsome he is. Do your best to look cute before him so I get to keep you," Annalise said, watching the kitten cautiously explore the room she would be sharing with Rafael.

A kitten wasn’t the pet she was looking for, but seeing it alone and close to freezing outside, she had to take it in. Since Rafael was not a fan of her spider or the snake she intended to get, the kitten would be something they could both enjoy having around.

How could Rafael say no to having a kitten as a pet when the little one convinced her to take it in?

"It is not cold here as it was back at the manor. There isn’t much snow falling," Annalise said, looking out the window.

She stood up from the bed and walked to the window to get a glimpse of the palace that looked like it was on a hill. It was grander than she envisioned it to be. A big place to keep the king nice and safe.

They had time to look around Lockwood before she needed to go to the palace. It was exciting for her since this town was said to have everything so she wanted to see what new weapons she might come across.

Rafael was not excited for them, but Annalise wanted to see a gun. Even though she couldn’t use it yet, Annalise wanted to get her hands on one to see what was causing so much damage. Why were people afraid of guns getting in the wrong hands and not worried about swords which she considered to be dangerous?

Annalise continued to look outside as the door opened.

"All the bags have come in. Breakfast will start shortly and then we can go anywhere in the town that you wish to visit," Rafael said, closing the door behind him. "We won’t be seeing my friends yet. One is running away from his mother and Edgar seems to stay close to his wife based on what I hear from Tobias."

"I do not mind the first day being with you or taking Heidi and Siena along with us. About what I was hiding-"

"Why is there a kitten in our bedroom, Annalise?" Rafael asked, looking down at the little creature running off to where Annalise stood. "When did you find a kitten?"

Rafael didn’t have a single clue that a kitten was in their bedroom or the manor. He never went across to the room that now held Annalise’s dresses as he wanted to stay away from accidentally stepping on her beloved spider. How was she succeeding in getting a kitten and a spider to be in the same room? Or was the spider no more?

"Meet the newest member of our family. I have not given it a name yet. I am not certain if it is a girl or a boy. I don’t want to lift it to check what it is since that is rude. I wouldn’t want anyone to do that to me. I thought you would be thrilled to see that it is a kitten and not another spider. We’re keeping it, right?" Annalise asked, but her mind was already made up to keep the kitten.

They would go back to not sharing a room if Rafael didn’t want it around.

Rafael sighed, knowing he couldn’t say they were not keeping the kitten, but they had an agreement. "You were to put together the room for all your pets first and then we would talk about what you are bringing into the manor."

"I did not plan on getting a kitten. I found it near death outside and brought it inside to warm it up. I hid it because I knew you wouldn’t let me bring it along on the trip. Now, surprise!" Annalise said, pointing to the kitten. "You look like someone who enjoys cats."

"When they are not in my bedroom. Are there any more pets I must know about? Are any here with us now or back at the manor?" Rafael asked as then she would have to give up those pets. They were going to be too busy and travelling too often to have many pets.

"It is only this one and Herbet. Again, I wasn’t looking for a pet. It was injured and I took it in. Wouldn’t I have been a terrible person then if I let the kitten die?"

Rafael approached Annalise, careful not to step on the kitten which went back to running around. "We’ll keep the kitten, but you are the one taking care of it. I’ve sent word to my parents that we’ve safely arrived and I informed the king," he said.

From this moment on, there might be some people passing by, mostly from the court trying to get a good look at Annalise before she would enter the palace.

Annalise didn’t look like a monster but those who wanted her land would try to paint her as one so the land could hopefully be shared around them. It was not only the king who wanted the land at the border. Other men in the palace felt entitled to it because of their work in the palace. As if they do more than sit around at a table and complain when something was not going their way.

It was going to be hard and he knew that Annalise could take care of herself, but he was here to deal with the fools who would try to ridicule her. He didn’t have the best relationship with many of the men in the court to care about not offending them so he would speak as he liked to defend Annalise. He was not worried about being labelled a traitor who was doing this all for a woman he fell in love with.

It was true that he was doing this because of his love for Annalise, but he was not a traitor.

"I wouldn’t be surprised if town or palace guards start walking by our gate suddenly. I am trusting your friendship with the king that this will not be an ambush to take out the next leader when I step foot into the palace or even as I rest my head here," Annalise said, sharing her doubts.

She could never stop thinking that no one here would not want to attack her. Especially if they were to know that she was the next leader of her people. They could try hard to get rid of her and leave her father having to look for someone else to lead after them.

Should they attack her, Annalise wasn’t going to think about the truce and defend herself. She hoped that Rafael wouldn’t get upset with her for fighting if she were only defending herself.

"If they attempt to ambush us to get you, they have gone against what was promised to me and that is a big problem. I will not let anyone hurt you here, Annalise. I’ve made it clear in letters I sent without your knowledge that should someone try to hurt you, my knights will come to your defence. As many guards the palace has, it does not want a fight," said Rafael.

The palace had the men needed for a fight, but if possible, Tobias would try to avoid a fight. Rafael trusted that Tobias would not betray him and try to do something to Annalise. He believed in the friendship they had over the years that Tobias brought Annalise here with the sole intention of speaking of a truce.

Tobias would kill anyone trying to hurt his wife Hazel, so he should understand Rafael’s rage should someone come after Annalise and Tobias had anything to do with it.

"You sent threatening letters for me? I would have loved to read them before you sent them away. I am sure that it will all go well. It is only my mind trying to think of every bad situation so I can be ready. If you don’t mind, I am going to rest for a little more and then we can go out to see the town," Annalise said as she didn’t want to spend all day inside.

She was tired from the long travel, but after an hour she would be ready to leave and see places Rafael once frequented. See if the capital of this kingdom was anything like she had heard.

"The town is busy all day. I will ask Edgar to arrange for you to meet with his wife. You should also meet with the queen as I think you will like her. Just as you found friends around the manor, I am sure you will find friends here," said Rafael.

"I hope to. Making friends has been helping to distract me from missing my parents. Are you joining me in bed or going somewhere?" Annalise asked as Rafael had not started to change out of his clothes. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

"I am stepping out for a moment to speak with someone. I will be back before you are finished with your rest. Should someone be foolish to attack you, we could use Edgar’s help as he hands an army he commands. Sleep well, Annalise," Rafael said, turning around to leave to give her peace to rest.