Chapter 162: Haunted (3)
"Now you speak highly of him. I warned you not to get caught up in the life of a maid. You are only there to listen and if needed, kill him or his guests. I’d hate to think-"
"That somehow I have come to love, Rafael Callahan? Because he showed me kindness or is that what you believe from seeing the two of us walk side by side? It is not the first time you have seen me with a man and because I do not speak badly of them, you think I am in love. Romance is the last thing between me and Rafael. Do not assume it anymore," Annalise replied, tossing her dress up onto the grass.
Love was the last thing on her mind now and she would not love anyone from the enemy’s side. She could see her father down on his knees crying if she were to ever tell him that she fell in love with a knight. He’d grab his sword and travel to where the man was to have his head.
Annalise smiled as she imagined her father weeping while her mother tried to calm him. For such a leader who was always seen as tough, he was quite emotional when it was just the three of them. He cried for days when she played a trick and said she loved a childhood friend more than her father.
"It was only an-"
"I don’t want to hear it again, Thomas. You know me and you know the position that I am in. That sooner or later, my father expects me to marry the son of others just like us so we have more allies to go against the kingdom. Rafael Callahan is the last man on my mind so for the last time, do not assume it anymore," Annalise replied.
"I apologise," Thomas said, not wanting to anger her any further. "It is not my place to question your feelings or loyalty. It is more than you that I worry about. It is the man beside you. I know nothing of what he is like and he is our enemy so I must worry."
"He has countless women ready to throw themselves at his feet like he were a king, but he sends them away. He has made it clear that he will never be with one of his maids. I hear some of the other maids complaining that there is no chance for them since he pays them no mind. I am not telling you there is nothing for you to worry about because I have feelings for him. I have been listening and looking to form my own opinion," Annalise said.
She spent a lot of time alone with Rafael and all the man did was tease her or force her to eat. Of all the ladies who visited him, what would make Rafael so crazy to let her be the one he finally wanted to be close to? It was ridiculous.