The Knight's Mysterious Maid-Chapter 433: Why I can’t stay (1)

"I am going to try making soup for everyone to get a bowl full. I sent someone out to buy a lot more bowls and spoons for us. Next time you are returning, I would love for you to try sending a message in advance so we can have a proper welcome home feast. I need to convince your father to do a feast for all the town to enjoy," said Celine.

"It would be more fun if we took the knights out on a hunt to get some of the meat we would need. I cannot remember the last day we went on a hunt and then had a feast the next day with everyone bringing a dish. Now that the war is coming to an end, we should start having more days filled with fun. For the children to play," Annalise said, looking out the kitchen window at everyone passing by.

"Your father plans to pass on his seat to you soon so you will need to give the order of what days we will have feasts or festivals. I don’t want to upset you, but would it hurt if you stayed here when Rafael leaves with his knights? There is much for you to catch up on and prepare for," Celine said, looking beside her at Annalise.

Celine was more than happy to send Annalise off with Rafael so the two could be together, but there was a lot of work for Annalise to do here, and then if the two wanted to build up a town and a home for where they would live, someone had to stay here to start it off.

There was no one better than Annalise and Rafael to be around to give orders on exactly what kind of home they wanted to build. Annalise had to take over from Phillip and it couldn’t be prolonged when Phillip was already announcing it.

"I planned on going back to the manor with him, but with all the time I spent away from home, it might be best that I stay here," Annalise agreed with her mother.

She didn’t want anyone to think she had given up on becoming the leader and was more interested in her relationship with Rafael. They both knew that their relationship would consist of them being separated sometimes because of their responsibilities. To be together more often, she should stay here and start putting together what was needed for the town.

"It won’t be long before you see him when he leaves and he’s spending a couple of days here, isn’t he? You don’t need to do as I say. I only wanted you to remember that there is work you need to do here and maybe you two could do with a little distance. You seem to be together all the time," said Celine.

"Oh!" Siena groaned, dropping the knife she was using to look at her injured finger. "That was close."

"I thought at first she was lying to get out of helping me, but she has never used a knife before. You’ve lived like a princess. Let me have the knife before you cut your fingers," Celine said, leaving Annalise’s side to help Siena.

"No!" Siena said, covering the knife with her hand. "I want to keep trying. I have already helped to cut so many."

Celine inspected the odd-looking shapes of the vegetables Siena cut for her. Luckily they were making soup so it didn’t matter how anything was sliced. "You don’t have to try cutting fast to keep up with others. Start slow and then you’ll find yourself in a good rhythm."

"Like me," Giselle said, holding up her knife. This wasn’t her idea of fun, but since everyone was helping to make something warm to eat, she didn’t want to be the only one not helping. After this, she could go around saying that she knew how to make soup. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

"Yes, like you," Celine said, looking over to the other side of the table. Annalise had brought home friends who weren’t like her and Celine liked it, but at the same time, she wondered how all the friendships started. "How did all of you come to know each other? Besides Heidi. I already know that she worked with Annalise at the manor."

"Well," Giselle said, not sure if to tell the full truth that she once liked to chase after Rafael. It would come out sooner than later if the knights started to open their mouths about how odd Annalise’s friendships were. "Maybe I used to visit the manor a lot with the excuse of seeing my brother so I could speak to Rafael because I liked him."

"You liked Rafael?" Celine repeated in disbelief. She didn’t think she would have a day where a woman who used to like Rafael would be sitting at her table as Annalise’s friend. "Well, I can’t blame you when he is a handsome man. He must have many women looking to speak with him even now when he is with my daughter. And what about you, Siena?"

Siena smiled, sharing Giselle’s feeling of awkwardness. "I was meant to marry Rafael. I met Annalise from me trying to speak to Rafael."

"Oh," Celine said, sitting down as she needed to hear more about this. "You are all an odd bunch. Did you have any feelings or were meant to marry him too, Heidi?"

"I wasn’t engaged to him, but like many of the maids, I did spy on him when he walked around the manor. Your son-in-law is popular with many admirers. I assure you that he never entertained any of us having an interest in him. That’s why the maids were so shocked by his relationship with Annalise. He has never looked at any of his maids," said Heidi.

If he did, he had kept it a good secret because it never reached her ears.

"I see. Well, you were meant to find each other interestingly. I’ve had a few friendships start in odd ways too. You think you’ll hate someone, but they turn out to be the best friends to walk into your life. As we cut, is there anything someone wants to ask me? I’ve noticed all three of you staring at me and then looking away when I turn around," Celine said, pulling out a chair to join the others at the table.

"Well, I’ve been curious about how it is to be the wife of the leader. Is there anything you have to do like fighting? Are you where Annalise gets her talent from?" Giselle asked.

"Oh no. Annalise’s love of fighting and her ability to use weapons comes from her father. I might use a sword from time to time, but it is not something I enjoy. Soon you’ll hear about how I made them move all the weapons they had hidden around our home. I help with adding poisons to our weapons," Celine answered, hoping they would take an interest in her hobby.

"P-Poisons?" Giselle repeated, wondering if she heard wrong.

"It is as you heard. Upset my mother and you might start feeling weak before your time in this world comes to an end. Lovely, isn’t she?" Annalise asked, proud of the name her mother made for herself when it came to poisons.