The Knight's Mysterious Maid-Chapter 492: The more the merrier (2)

"Is there anything more the two of you must share with us?" Beatrice asked.

She was seated on a chair Annalise was so kind to bring for her to sit on. Beatrice was yet to recover from being told there was another child to be called her grandchild.

Annalise seriously thought over what else was happening in her life and if it was of any importance for Beatrice to know. "Not that I can think of. It was only our coming wedding and child that we had to share. Along with Lydia of course," she said, looking up at Lydia still on River’s shoulders.

"Good. I cannot take any more news at the moment. Had I not travelled here, I would have been in the dark about so many changes. I understand why the two of you need to part as there are matters to be taken care of, but this timing is just wrong,’ Beatrice said, disliking that they were preparing to take trips back to their homes.

"We’ve already talked about it and we will get through it. It won’t be long before I come to visit the manor with Lydia," Annalise answered.

"Still," Beatrice said, not happy about it. She wanted them to be together to enjoy this time.

Beatrice knew that it would work as she once had to stay home alone while pregnant with Rafael. River had to be out doing his role as a knight and working to make money for the family. She was always quick to update him with any changes and he went out of his way to spend as many days as he could with her.

"Should I-"

"No," Rafael interjected before she could propose going to the border with Annalise. "You are to go back home with me."

"Why can’t I go so that I can meet her parents and help take care of Lydia? She won’t need to hire anyone with me around," Beatrice proposed. She had nothing to do so whenever Annalise was busy, she could care for Lydia.

"Siena will be going with Annalise and she has her parents there. Why don’t you want to return with me? You always want to stick close by when I return from a trip," Rafael said, thinking of his last return from a long trip. It was at that time he had met Annalise.

"Well, I am doing as you want now, which is to leave you be after your trip. You’ve disliked my many visits to your home when you return so now I am granting you peace by going with Annalise. She will need all of us around," said Beatrice.

To Annalise, this sounded like they planned to do everything for her. While this would sound nice to others, it scared her.

"You are coming back to the manor with me. There is much for us to speak about and I want to spend time with you. You will see her when she comes back to the manor. Is your offer to help me cook still there?" Rafael asked so they could move on.

"Now you want me around. Are you jealous that my attention is now on the children and Annalise? You still hold a place in my heart that no one can take," Beatrice said, standing up from the chair to go to Rafael.

"I will leave the two of you alone," Annalise said, giving them space to catch up and enjoy each other’s company. Beatrice could comfort the jealous giant in private. "Do you wish to stay? I can take Lydia with me. You also have not seen Rafael for many days."

"Our playing has come to an end," River told Lydia as he carefully moved her from his shoulder and placed her on the floor.

"Bye," Lydia waved to River and then took Annalise’s hand so they could walk together. "When are we leaving?"

"Hmm. I have not started to pack my things and there will be many things to pack for you after your grandmother goes shopping. Perhaps the day after tomorrow is when we’ll need to leave. I have an important job to do at home that cannot wait any longer. I’ve been looking forward to it since I was your age," Annalise replied.

"Really? What is it?" Lydia asked, curious about what Annalise wanted to be when she was young.

"It is something like a queen," Annalise responded as it was the best way to explain it to Lydia.

"You will be a queen? Then, am I a princess?" Lydia shyly asked.

"Of course you are. You are already being spoiled like one," Annalise replied. She had a feeling that Lydia might soon have the nickname little princess. "One day if you seek to be a queen like I am, I will make sure that no one gets in your path. Always remember that regardless of what anyone says, you are my daughter."

Annalise didn’t think everyone would be kind enough to not mention around Lydia that she was the adopted child. Lydia was going to hear it at some point during her life as a slip of the mouth or an insult.

What Annalise wanted was for Lydia to remember that she was her daughter. Regardless of what anyone said or thought, what mattered most was who she was to her and Rafael.

Lydia stayed silent, walking with Annalise toward the front door.

"It is a good day so we can have a little walk around the house while Rafael talks to his parents. I need to help Siena by sending her out with Logan for more meat. Where did those two wander off to?" Annalise asked herself, trying to think of where she saw them last. "Maybe she has found a better time to speak with him."

Annalise closed the front door behind them and led Lydia around to pass the kitchen window so Rafael would see that they were outside.

"Will you let me ride a horse?" Lydia asked, still remembering what Annalise promised her.

"I will," Annalise answered, planning to let her do it when they had time. " I will start teaching you how to ride one and when you are ready, you will have a horse of your own for you to care for. One that is young for you to grow with and ride in the future. It is what my father did with me. Is there anything else you want to learn?"

"Be a knight like Rafael," Lydia quickly answered. She had listened to many stories about knights from the boys at the orphanage.

"You want to know how to use a sword?" Annalise inquired, surprised by this. She wouldn’t have thought Lydia would have any interest in being a knight.

Lydia shook her head. "No, we can’t play with swords."

"Oh, do you want to wear his armour? Tiny armour would look cute," Annalise said, seriously considering having a set made.

"No," Lydia shook her head again.

"Is it that you want to do something Rafael likes?" Annalise asked.

"Yes."

"I’m afraid he might not be so thrilled to teach you anything about being a knight while you are so young. I might have welcomed it in the past but I can see it being dangerous now. There is something that Rafael and I like to do," Annalise said, stopping to look at the rocks placed around a plant in the garden. "We like collecting pretty rocks. You can have him help you find the best ones."

"Should we have a shelf in our home for all the pretty rocks we find?"

"Yes," Lydia answered. From now on, she’ll save any pretty rocks she might come across and show them to Rafael.