The Knight's Mysterious Maid-Chapter 420: Fight for what you want (1)

"Rather than focus on why I am here, we should turn our attention to our guest, Annalise Woods. It has been too long since we have sat with our neighbours at the border. So many people have been lost over land. I think it is time we try to fix what was done wrong in the past and try to live with each other. Putting our differences aside to live in peace," Hazel said, starting off the meeting.

As Hazel spoke, Tobias took his seat beside Hazel. He had been concerned about her travelling after the recent events in the palace, but since she was hellbent on being more involved in kingdom matters to make her crown feel worth something and take some responsibility off of him, he was not going to stop her.

Annalise enjoyed seeing how the queen dismissed the men who did not want her to be present. How could they possibly think for one second of not having the queen here? Hazel shared equal power with Tobias in Annalise’s eyes. More because of the hold Hazel had on Tobias.

The king seemed ready to do anything for his wife. Even if it would go against what the court wanted.

"The land at the border belongs to our people," Julius said, taking the lead in the meeting. He was not going to let the land that was there slip from the kingdom’s hands when there was so much to gain.

So much wealth around the land that the people there didn’t know what to do with it because they didn’t know what it was worth. It was evident by how plain-looking the woman in the room was. It was funny in his eyes to take a look at the well-decorated queen and then the plain woman who was meant to be a princess.

"Those barbarians came and settled on your family’s land, claiming it as their own. We have tried to be kind by reaching out to have them pledge their loyalty to our kingdom in exchange for staying there, but they have turned down our offers. It is time for the land to rightfully go back to its owner. Your people must leave," Otto declared.

There was plenty of land for the king to offer as a gift to the men around him. Otto overheard Rafael requesting land near the border be given to him as a reward for all his victories. Whenever the king asked what Rafael wanted for his work, Rafael didn’t ask for anything so some would say give him the land.

Otto didn’t think Rafael had a right to ask for something because he claimed most of the treasures his knights discovered after killing their enemies and only sent some to the palace.

Many of the men in court were trying to argue that Rafael could not be awarded land since he already had his manor.

Annalise chuckled, thoroughly entertained by how they believed their words to be true. That her people came and claimed land when it was the other way around.

"Care to share what you find funny?" Mark asked. He wanted to know the reason behind everything today. Behind every laughter, every smile, and every frown.

"I find it funny that you have convinced yourselves that the land belongs to you when maps from other lands will show that we are not on your land. We are very careful about travelling around this kingdom, but we travel to our neighbours from time to time. Not often because the path there can be tricky with nature and thieves all around-"

"What does that have to do with this?" Otto questioned, interrupting Annalise.

"You are saying that others who map outside of this kingdom have acknowledged that land as your own," Saul said, seeing the point Annalise was trying to make before she was cut off. "I have read books of history from outside our kingdom talking of your people. It almost matches our history though there are a few differences here and there."

Julius turned to Saul who had to be out of his mind for thinking books from outside this kingdom knew better than their own history books. "No one here uses those books to teach children about our history therefore they had no value here. We shall stick to what is written by our own," he said.

"Because it helps you to ignore the fact that before the Castro kingdom was properly formed, there were already people living near our border. They stayed out of the way when we fought to claim this land. Marking off what was our own so other lands knew where they could not step foot and not be attacked. I did some reading on history," Edgar said, smiling the more Julius fumed.

It was evident to him that the land didn’t belong to the Castro kingdom, but they were trying to claim it. Should they need to march out to war that way, they didn’t want to need anyone’s permission. Then there were tales about the resources the land had to offer.

"We’ve always been here. There are many tales about when the king’s family came to settle here. We have always been open to living in peace with you, but what we will not do is bow down to the king and change the way we are to follow your rules. And we are not barbarians so do not address us as such," Annalise said, staring at Otto who used that word.

She wanted to pat herself on the back for not losing herself in anger from hearing that word.

"I agree that the word shouldn’t be used today. It is disrespectful to address anyone as a barbarian when it is clear they dislike it. The same can be said for wild or savages," said Tobias. He was yet to know what Annalise called the people of her land, but he knew barbarian was not it and saying it would lead to a fight.

Tobias didn’t want a fight to happen when Hazel was present because it wouldn’t be easy to rush her out of there and should anyone cause her any pain, he was going to kill them no matter who it was.

"Our land does not belong to the king. You have plenty of land under your name and plenty in other places that you have claimed after getting rid of your enemies. You will never be able to claim our land or get us to bow to the king. I propose you acknowledge that the border belongs to my family. Leaders who are similar to your queens and kings. We will work with you as long as you stop trying to get us to follow your ways," Annalise proposed.

They could not get anywhere if it was not acknowledged first that her people would not be changing their daily lives for anyone here. Following rules that made no sense.

Annalise wasn’t here to try to force the people of this kingdom to follow her ways. Each side was different, but they could coexist. Proof of this was her relationship with Rafael. Different backgrounds but they had grown to accept each other’s ways.

Rafael had not tried to change anything about her and likewise. Everyone around her had viewed her as somewhat normal when she worked in the manor. There was nothing for her people to change to fit in here.

Otto wasn’t impressed by the conversation and suggested, "King Tobias, I think we should make use of her here and get what we want. Have her father give the land in exchange for his daughter."