The Knight's Mysterious Maid

"I am going to try making soup for everyone to get a bowl full. I sent someone out to buy a lot more bowls and spoons for us. Next time you are returning, I would love for you to try sending a message in advance so we can have a proper welcome home feast. I need to convince your father to do a feast for all the town to enjoy," said Celine.

"It would be more fun if we took the knights out on a hunt to get some of the meat we would need. I cannot remember the last day we went on a hunt and then had a feast the next day with everyone bringing a dish. Now that the war is coming to an end, we should start having more days filled with fun. For the children to play," Annalise said, looking out the kitchen window at everyone passing by.

"Your father plans to pass on his seat to you soon so you will need to give the order of what days we will have feasts or festivals. I don’t want to upset you, but would it hurt if you stayed here when Rafael leaves with his knights? There is much for you to catch up on and prepare for," Celine said, looking beside her at Annalise.

Celine was more than happy to send Annalise off with Rafael so the two could be together, but there was a lot of work for Annalise to do here, and then if the two wanted to build up a town and a home for where they would live, someone had to stay here to start it off.

There was no one better than Annalise and Rafael to be around to give orders on exactly what kind of home they wanted to build. Annalise had to take over from Phillip and it couldn’t be prolonged when Phillip was already announcing it.

"I planned on going back to the manor with him, but with all the time I spent away from home, it might be best that I stay here," Annalise agreed with her mother.

She didn’t want anyone to think she had given up on becoming the leader and was more interested in her relationship with Rafael. They both knew that their relationship would consist of them being separated sometimes because of their responsibilities. To be together more often, she should stay here and start putting together what was needed for the town.

"It won’t be long before you see him when he leaves and he’s spending a couple of days here, isn’t he? You don’t need to do as I say. I only wanted you to remember that there is work you need to do here and maybe you two could do with a little distance. You seem to be together all the time," said Celine.

"Oh!" Siena groaned, dropping the knife she was using to look at her injured finger. "That was close."

"I thought at first she was lying to get out of helping me, but she has never used a knife before. You’ve lived like a princess. Let me have the knife before you cut your fingers," Celine said, leaving Annalise’s side to help Siena.

"No!" Siena said, covering the knife with her hand. "I want to keep trying. I have already helped to cut so many."

Celine inspected the odd-looking shapes of the vegetables Siena cut for her. Luckily they were making soup so it didn’t matter how anything was sliced. "You don’t have to try cutting fast to keep up with others. Start slow and then you’ll find yourself in a good rhythm."