The Knight's Mysterious Maid
Chapter 142: Strange day (1)

Chapter 142: Strange day (1)

"Why is he injured?" Edwin asked, moving from side to side to get a better look at the small blood stains on Rafael’s shirt. "How?"

Annalise could only smile in response since she did not want to bring up the hole and Rafael saving her from a hard landing. He was walking perfectly fine like he had not fallen with her body on top of him. He only needed to wipe up the blood, soak in water for a while to relax, and then go off to bed.

Edwin’s panic made her start to think that Rafael was not fine even though he was.

"I will bring the cream from the palace right away," Edwin said, running off to find where he had it stored.

"It might have been better if we snuck in," Rafael said, shaking his head at Edwin panicking over nothing. Edwin had been working here long enough to see him come home in the worst states. This was fine.

"Are you really alright?" Annalise questioned, stepping forward to get a good look at him.

"It is bad enough that I have to deal with Edwin. Do not add on to annoying me, Annalise. You watched me from the moment we left the field and returned to the manor. There is nothing wrong with me," Rafael answered.

"Edwin’s panicking makes me think differently. Once I see you resting in bed, then I can relax and be on my way. I don’t think I will need to be around to take care of you since Edwin will be here to do it. I doubt he will want me around. I will wait around outside until you are in bed. Should I get a warm bath started for you? Pick out a change of clothes-"

"You are starting to sound like Edwin and I only need one of him. You are covered in grass that you need to pick from the dress and your hair," Rafael said, looking to his side at her messy hair.

"I will go to the river-"

"Do not," Rafael interjected. "How could a woman possibly go down there this late and with the water being so cold?"

"There won’t be any water left in the servant quarters so I will have to get some on my own. The water down by the river isn’t as cold as you think. Some spots are surprisingly warm and it is not like I plan to jump in. I can stand at the edge and clean myself. Or if that worries you, I will just get a bucket of water from somewhere else on the manor,’ Annalise said.

She could feel Rafael’s worry, making the air feel thick. He was almost as bad as Edwin.

"You will catch a cold if you clean yourself with cold water now. Take as much warm water as you need from my bathroom. The grass will itch you if you do not properly wash it off. That is why you should not have run around in it," Rafael said, trying his hardest not to scold her since she was not aware of the hole that was filled with grass. "You are dismissed for the night. I will have Edwin bring warm water to your room."

"Thank you," Annalise replied, bowing her head as she stopped following him. There was no point in arguing with an injured man she owed a favour to. Especially when she would enjoy the hot water over the cold water she planned to use.

She did plan to jump into the river to help stop the burning sensation she had to itch her skin, but she would stay in her room with the warm water. If the itching would not stop, she would be down by the river. It couldn’t be as bad as the flower she hated to make her get up to go down by the river.

"I will be here bright and early to help you," Annalise spoke out loud before he could enter his bedroom. She had to make up for what happened tonight so he wouldn’t remove her from his maid. "This is bad," Annalise said, scratching her neck. She turned around to go down to the river instead of waiting for the water from Edwin.

Morning came quicker than Annalise would have liked. She was unable to sleep most of the night since she scratched her skin through most of it. Running through the grass was one of her greatest mistakes in life. The cold water from the river helped to stop the itching until her skin touched a blanket and spots that needed to be scratched cried out to her.

"Annalise."

Annalise straightened up and turned around to greet Mavis. "Good morning," she greeted Mavis with a smile. She looked at the tray Mavis carried in her hands.

"I am yet to see if it is a good morning. I heard that Rafael returned with bruises after his trip to town with you. I hope that is not yr doing. Explain now," Mavis requested. She had a feeling that it was because of Annalise that he got hurt.

"He took me somewhere his mother spent time with him as a child. There was a hole that I was not aware of and he saved me. I am sorry for letting him get hurt in my care. I will do better next time," Annalise apologised.

Mavis was more surprised to hear that Rafael took her somewhere private than caring about the apology. First, he went to the festival after she had failed many times to convince him to go in the past, and now this. She made a mental note to call the doctor to check on him.

"You should do better in the future. I heard that you immediately brought him back to the manor for Edwin to care for him so you did good. Next time, pay more attention to your surroundings. He has requested to have his breakfast inside his bedroom. He says he does not need a doctor, but he will rest in bed for the morning. Take this and do not let it spill. I will open the door for you," Mavis said, pushing the tray toward Annalise.

Annalise took the tray from Mavis and slowly turned around to follow her to Rafael’s bedroom. If he was claiming to be fine, why was he eating his breakfast in his bedroom?

Annalise watched Mavis practise the smile she wanted to wear in front of Rafael before she knocked on the door. Mavis opened the door and walked inside, leaving enough space for Annalise to enter.

"Good morning, Rafael. Your breakfast is here. If there is anything else you need, you can send Annalise down to the kitchen to get it from the cook. There was a letter delivered for you just now. The seal is from the duke," Mavis said, walking over to the bed to give it to him.

"Thank you, Mavis. You can leave now," he dismissed her. He opened the envelope and started to read the letter that came from Edgar. Since Edgar left, there weren’t any letters from him so this was a good surprise.

"Good morning. Will you be eating at the table or on your bed?" Annalise questioned, not certain where to place the tray down.

"On my bed, since today is a change day," Rafael muttered, looking at the envelope to make sure it had the seal of a falcon to have come from Edgar. It had to be a joke that someone sent him a fake letter speaking of Edgar getting married to the daughter of the baron he hated.

Rafael picked at the seal to see if it was fake, but he could not find a single flaw in it.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢