The Knight's Mysterious Maid
Chapter 173: Future daughter-in-law (1)

Chapter 173: Future daughter-in-law (1)

"What can I do for you?" Annalise asked when she stopped in front of River. She glanced at Rafael who backed her and because of this, she could see the old wounds on his back. ’What happened to someone who would have to touch me in a fight?’ She questioned in her head.

"Forgive me. I already forgot what I called you for. Rafael and I are done so you can tend to him. He will need some water and perhaps a fresh change of clothes," said River, pointing at Rafael for her to go to.

Annalise nodded her head and moved to see what Rafael would need. She went around him so she could see his face. "Can I get you water and new clothes?" She asked, resisting the urge to not stare at his exposed chest. She was not a pervert as he called her.

It had to be some sort of crime for a man who was supposed to be her enemy to be so good-looking. She should be able to call for the town guards, they understand her predicament and take Rafael away.

Annalise looked off to the side to stare at anything other than Rafael. She would rather chase around chickens right now.

"Annalise," Rafael said, puzzled by her asking him a question and then looking everywhere, but at him. "Are you certain you were not the person sneaking glances at the men while they bathe?"

Annalise whipped her head around to face Rafael since he was calling her a pervert once more. "That was not me! I thought we had moved past you calling me a pervert. The only man I have seen bathing is you and it is not like I want to see your private areas on purpose," she argued.

"Is this how you speak to your employer?" Rafael asked.

Annalise lowered her head in shame. "Of course not. How could I be so rude as to talk back to you?"

River felt a little bit out of touch with the conversation about someone being a pervert so he left the two of them to speak while he would see what Beatrice was up to in his absence.

Annalise needed some clarity from Rafael for when she could speak freely and when she had to hold her tongue. When they spoke to each other, he urged her to say what was on her mind, but now he was mentioning how she spoke to her employer.

’Wait! Is he teasing me?’ Annalise wondered, lifting her head to see him. She was met by him smiling down at her. ’This little,’ her fists trembled.

When will everyone else wake up and realise that Rafael was not as sweet and innocent as they believed him to be? The man was the devil, using her as a toy to have fun.

"Now you are glaring at your employer. After I was kind to you this morning by feeding you. I am deserving of a smile, don’t you think?" Rafael asked, folding his arms as their conversation became more amusing by the second.

Annalise bit her tongue. He was really pushing it today but what could she do when she was supposed to listen to him? She regretted ever becoming his maid. This was torture.

Annalise dug her nails into the palm of her hands and forced the best smile she could come up with at the moment. "Happy?" She muttered.

Rafael tilted his head, put off by the smile that looked more like she was in pain. "Anyone who’s watching us might think I have said something cruel to you and you are fighting back your tears. You may stop now. It is starting to look like it truly hurts you," he said.

Annalise tried to get rid of the smile, but the first time she tried, her cheeks ached and the smile did not go away. "Ah," she said to get her jaws to move. "Much better. I swear to you Sir Rafael that I was not the person peeping at your knights. None of you are men I would be sneaking glances at as you bathe."

Rafael frowned, getting a feeling that someone had punched him in the chest. "And why is that?"

"I have no interest in any of you. You are far from the type of man I would want to court. I say that with respect," Annalise added since he was her employer. The fake smile made its way back to her lips as Rafael’s face darkened. She looked up at the sky for a moment, expecting there to be dark clouds forming because of his gaze.

"N-Not that there’s anything wrong with you. You are a good-looking man and you are kind to the people around you. Any woman would be happy to be with you since you are the great Sir Rafael Callahan. Woo!" She cheered for him, raising her hands in the air as she did so. "My words do not matter. Why should they? I am just a simple maid. My type of man can just be horrible."

"I agree," Rafael replied, smiling as he walked by her. "You have horrible taste in men."

Annalise stood alone, taking in his response. She said it as a joke to cheer him up since he looked offended, but hearing him say it felt like a jab to her heart. "I have excellent taste in men or whatever that means. Who is he to say otherwise?"

Annalise turned around to follow Rafael to wherever he was going. She stared at his bare back as she walked behind him. Why would she ever have to sneak around peeping at men when this sight was before her? Once she reached the yard, there were shirtless men all around.

Courting them was something she would never do, but that didn’t mean she could not enjoy the beautiful portrait before her. If only she was good at painting to sell what she was seeing to the young ladies obsessed with him, she might be able to become as rich as the king or richer.

Rafael stopped walking to allow Annalise to catch up to him. "What did my mother speak to you about?" He asked. He did not trust his mother to not let it slip that he liked Annalise or to talk about strange things hinting to the fact she believed Annalise might become her future daughter-in-law.

"We spoke about balls and that I might be travelling with you out of town while you attend a ball for a family friend. Then we spoke of children and what I would like to have. Our conversation was interrupted by Logan and I left the two alone to get water. We went back to talking about balls until your father called out to me," Annalise answered.

"If you are worrying if I was scolded for eating with you, Lady Beatrice said she doesn’t mind what she saw. I should accept you being kind enough to offer me some food, but I don’t think it should happen anymore."

"You are Rafael Callahan and I am just Annalise. You are kind to your servants, but people like to talk," Annalise said as she had seen the maids gossiping about what they saw.

The gossip never left the manor, but there might one day be someone bold enough to speak of what they saw in Rafael’s manor to those on the outside. Annalise had to avoid being a part of big gossip so no one looking for her would hear her name and come here to get her.

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