The Knight's Mysterious Maid-Chapter 202: The hunt (3)

Annalise let go of her dress when she got out of the water. Some of it was wet, but it was better than walking around in it with all of her dress being soaked. "How do you and the knights get over when you have to come to this side to train? Do you get wet each time?"

"It is meant to be like we are out at war. We travel through water many times so they should get used to passing through the river. Sometimes the river is low when there has not been a lot of rain so they step on the big rocks to get across," Rafael answered.

"I see. I don’t mind the water since it helps to cool down my feet, but I wouldn’t be a fan of doing this each time I need to cross over. Again, a bridge would be better than this even if you want the knights to get used to going through water," Annalise said, carefully putting the quiver on the ground to put back on her shoes.

Walking through the water made her feel like sitting in it to enjoy the coldness to cool her down. The rain was needed once again to cool down the ground. She slept with her window open, but the night air was warm.

"It would be far better if you would let me carry you across, but I already know the answer. It isn’t about too many eyes since there is no one around. It is about you not needing help," Rafael guessed.

"I am not a lady who needs to be picked up to get over a little river. I like doing things for myself," Annalise answered. It was how she was raised and most likely how she would stay. Then there was her grandmother’s way of thinking that she would have to owe Rafael for carrying her.

"Aren’t you curious how it would feel to be carried by a man? It is okay for you to play like you can’t do something for your own amusement."

Rafael gathered the sacks and bows so they could start moving to put some distance between themselves and anyone who would come this way.

Annalise picked up the quiver and took out one of the arrows to playfully pat Rafael’s chest with. "Who says I have never been carried by a man and one of your size? I am also quite popular like you are back at home. I have nothing to be curious about. If I were to let you carry me, it would be because I want to play a dangerous game."

Rafael took the arrow from her hand. "Of course you are popular. I’ve already heard from Logan that his crush on you has come to an end because you said it was uncomfortable," Rafael spoke as he led the way into the woods.

"I did tell him that. It is different from what I planned to do to get him to stop. I was going to flip him onto his ass-"

"And what would that solve? Did you think being beaten by a woman should shame him into getting rid of his feelings for you?" Rafael asked, puzzled by what she planned to get from flipping Logan."If you have not realised it by now, Logan has no shame. I have known him long enough to know."

"It was advice I got from Jonah. He told me to let Logan down hard. Is it not to hurt him?" Annalise asked, now feeling like she had misunderstood what Jonah said because of how Rafael’s shoulders shook from laughter. "Why are you laughing at me?"

Rafael tried his best not to laugh, but he could not stop it. His mind was filled with Annalise flipping Logan because she misunderstood what the cook said. Now he had to worry about what she might do to him.

"I don’t enjoy you laughing at me. I thought that was what Jonah’s advice meant. I have never had to tell anyone to get rid of their feelings for me and I did not know what to do since Logan wasn’t listening to me. Flipping you seems like a good idea right now," Annalise said, tempted to do it since there was no one around.

Who would believe that she could flip Rafael? He would sound crazy for accusing her of doing it.

"You have to understand that I did not expect that answer, Annalise. It doesn’t mean for you to physically hurt anyone. It is for you to be blunt and not stop even if you were to hurt his feelings. What would you think about me flipping ladies as a way to turn them down?" Rafael asked, hoping to paint a picture of how her logic would look.

"The answer you expect to hear should be that it would be wrong for you to do as a man, but I honestly want to see it. Can you imagine the shock on everyone’s faces and screams? Can I ask you for a favour?" Annalise asked, approaching where Rafael stood to push him against the closest tree to them.

All of the humour Rafael felt about her wanting to flip Logan was gone now that Annalise had him pressed against a tree.

Annalise tiptoed and placed her hand on the back of his neck to help bring him down to her. "I’m sure you’ve heard someone following us. When I left the manor to attend the competition, my room felt disturbed. I feel it is the same person. I must apologise now for this, but I have to get rid of any suspicion of us suddenly stopping."

Rafael didn’t know what she meant until he felt her left hand under his skirt, once again touching his skin.

"Anyone who is going this far to follow us and not call out your name has to be in trouble so, how about we enjoy a real hunt? I will hand you an arrow. Please pretend to hunt and leave me alone for a moment. Trust that I will remain safe," Annalise promised.

It could be some maid looking to see what would happen when they were alone and that was why Annalise disregarded when she first heard someone following them, but then the steps became silent. Too silent for a maid. Someone used to hunting was here with them, making little to no sound.

The rushing river they long walked away from helped to hide the fact that they were being followed, but now, this area was quiet, and in between the breaks of talking to Rafael, she heard the cracking noise from dried leaves.

Rafael settled his hands on her waist. "That is a big favour for you to ask of me to leave you when there could be danger. I could just find this person, but I suppose that would not be fun for you. In return for me doing this, come to my bedroom tonight-"

"What!" Annalise exclaimed.

Rafael was quick to move his head before she could head butt him from the way she turned her head. "You should have let me finish because it is not like you think. I have a gift for you waiting in my room. That is all. I was going to wait for us to set off on the trip out of town, but I would rather give it to you before then so my mother does not see."

"Oh. Then I will come to you tonight," Annalise answered, finding it to be a fair deal on her end.