The Knight's Mysterious Maid
Chapter 136: A walk together (3)

Chapter 136: A walk together (3)

"You shouldn’t eat so many at once when you have no water. I am regretting my decision to buy them," Rafael said, tempting to take the bag away from her.

"Then you should not have bought one gold coin worth of candy."

"I was not going to buy one gold coin worth in the beginning. It is you who interjected and said we needed to get the coin worth," Rafael clarified as she was the reason they ended up with so many.

"What?" Annalise replied, confused by what he meant. It looked like he was paying for four and only had a gold coin so he did not mind giving it away.

"I expected to be given coins back. It is your fault that I wasted a gold coin if anything," Rafael explained, taking the bag from her hands while she was distracted.

"But I thought..." Annalise muttered, feeling like a fool for not thinking about asking for coins back instead of buying more.

"As long as you keep them away from where ants might seek them out, you can keep them in your room for a while and eat when you are in the mood for it so it is not a waste. The one in your hand will be your last one for the night. I will hold the bag," Rafael said, folding it up smaller so it would fit in his pants pocket.

Annalise looked down at the red candy she held. "Since you have bought them, it is only fair that you eat one. I can find water for you if it is too sweet. Here," she held out the candy to him.

Rafael stared at the little ball which wasn’t something he would normally eat, but with Annalise holding it to him, it was hard to resist. Rather than trying to ignore that he did want to be given the candy by her so he could quickly get rid of his feelings, he leaned down so that it would be easier for her to place it in his mouth.

Before he could tell her to place it in his mouth, he looked around at how many eyes were on them. Though he normally did as pleased, he had to think about Annalise to not have her suffering from rumours. He could ignore what was being said about him, but as a maid, Annalise would be burdened by questions.

Rafael regretted not making an effort to wear a cloak as Annalise said to hide who he was. There were plenty of knights his size for it not to be easy to tell who it was under the cloak.

He reluctantly took the candy from Annalise with his left hand and put it in his mouth himself. The sweet taste bothered him and he needed water right away, but Annalise smiling as he ate it made him unable to send her for water. He could have to stomach the sweet taste for now and drink water later.

Annalise folded her lips to resist the urge to laugh at Rafael, but then she had to say, "You really do not like sweets. You can spit it out if it is that bad."

"I do not mind sweets as long as there is not too much sugar used. This taste of nothing but sugar. There are better ones my mother used to buy when I was younger. I do not know if they are still made. They tasted of oranges. Do not buy any more sweets for the night," Rafael said, trying his hardest not to spit it out.

"Please be reminded that you were the one to buy these. I will share them with the other maids instead of keeping them to myself. I only wanted to try one. The apple was much better. You do not seem to smoke, drink, or enjoy sweets. You puzzle me," Annalise admitted.

She saw all the men with his status walking around with a cigar in their coats so she figured it was something they just had to do. Then there was the collection of expensive alcohol in his storage she saw when she had to clean it. She thought he was someone who drank a lot, but he did not from what she had seen so far.

"How so? Do you still judge me based on what you heard others say before I arrived?" Rafael asked.

"I have a picture painted of you in my head before I came to this town and you are nothing like it. I wasn’t listening to just gossip but what I believed to be true tales about the great commander. How you were like a giant and could drink a barrel of wine in one go. I am saddened that I will never be able to witness that, but I am also glad that you are not a drunken bastard. It would have made it hard to be around you," Annalise said, looking off to the side at what else was selling.

"What else have you heard? I am a bit curious about all the tales," Rafal said as he had heard many things about himself that sometimes made him start to wonder if they were true because of how detailed the stories were.

"There was a story about you taking on a group of thirty men alone. I am curious to hear how you killed all of them by yourself. I cannot-" Annalise paused since she almost revealed something about herself. "I cannot imagine it."

"It was only ten men and I was left with many wounds from that fight. Last I heard, it was eighteen men and now the tales are saying that it is thirty. I am waiting for the day they will say that I have slain a dragon. The tales help to keep their faith that their lives are in good hands, but I would like them to stop thinking I am some sort of war God," Rafael said and then bit into the last of the candy to finally get rid of it.

"You are skilled since they speak so highly of you. I-"

"Rafael," the soft voice of a woman was heard behind them. "It is you. I thought I was mistaken. It has been so long since I have seen you."

Annalise turned around to see the young woman was a small dog in her hands, smiling at Rafael. From the jewels on her dress and those that decorated her brown hair that was pinned up into the perfect bun, she knew that the young woman came from a family with money.

’Another one looking to court him? Hopefully, she does not put him in a bad mood,’ Annalise thought.

To Annalise’s surprise, Rafael patted the young woman’s hair only to have his hand swatted away.

"You know that I hate it when you pat my head like that. My maid has spent so much time doing my hair and I will not have you ruining it."

"I was only testing how tall you have grown, Grace. You were shorter the last time I saw you. Where is your escort?" He looked behind her. It was not safe for her to be alone.

"I came with my father, but he is speaking with a friend. I ran here when I saw you walk by. Since you are alone, you should walk with me. I want to hear the stories of your travels. And to show you my new dog," Grace said, holding up the newest gift from her father to show Rafael. "There is a lot that I have done since you were away. I must catch you up."

Annalise felt like this was her time to leave him alone so he could speak to the lady. "I will find some water for you, Rafael. Excuse me," she said, stepping back and then leaving to find water somewhere in the market.

She wondered who the young woman was for Rafael to pat her head without thinking when there were so many eyes watching him.

This chapter is updat𝓮d by fre(e)webnov(l).com