章節 16: Snakes (2)

"It has not been one day since we returned, and we are already getting word from the border about trouble," Logan Brett, one of Rafael's knights, said while placing down the letter Rafael gave him to read. "They must have known we'd be back by now to send this. I'm a man who loves fighting, but I want to enjoy a good drink and women for a little while.

Logan looked at Rafael, who did not respond to his words. 'What the hell is he looking at?' He thought as something outside the window was taking up all of Rafael's attention.

"It won't be long before the King wants to send you back out again. They've been trying to control the border for now. Your mother will faint if she hears you have to go back out again," Logan said.

"We won't be leaving soon," Rafael replied.

He squinted his eyes to get a good look at the person walking around in the bushes down below. It couldn't be a thief or enemy since his land was well guarded. When the person turned, he saw their clothing and realized it was a maid. It was a little bit late for a maid to be outside doing chores now. Not even the guards were made to train this late unless Rafael thought they were slacking off.

"That's good to hear. We have a new batch of men who need to be well-trained before ever lifting a sword in a fight, or we'll be bringing back their corpses to their families. I split the men up into groups as you requested, and the training grounds plans have started, so the first competition will start as planned. I did good, right? Rafael," Logan frowned. He didn't do all of this work to not be given a compliment from Rafael.

"What are you looking at?" Logan muttered, standing up and walking to the window to see what was distracting Rafael. "A maid? Is she a secret lover? Of course not," Logan smacked his face since Rafael, of all people, would not have a secret lover. "Did someone hire a maid to spy on us again?"

Rafael continued to watch the maid, who he now knew to be the maid named Annalise. She wasn't putting a good image of herself inside of his head. She seemed to be always doing something to get herself in trouble.

"I hope she doesn't stay down there too long. A few of the men were near there this morning and spotted a few small snakes. We're going to take care of them tomorrow so no one accidentally steps on one of them. Do you want to have the honor of telling her?" Logan asked, as it would be a good conversation starter between Rafael and the maid he could not take his eyes off of.

"Tell her," Rafael said, moving away from the window.

"Of course, he isn't going to yell at her. He only yells at us when we're training," Logan muttered.

"Keep talking to yourself, and you'll never have to worry about going out to war again," said Rafael.

"Hey! I am not crazy," Logan clarified and then poked his head out the window. "Hello there," he called down to Annalise. "There might be some snakes in those bushes, so you should hurry up and get out of there. See, that wasn't so hard, Rafael. You really need to work on your people skills," Logan said, bringing his head back inside.

"You can sit here and continue to be a ghost, but I am going to get dinner before those hungry brutes get all the good meat. Your mother will soon arrive to drag you out of this room, and I think your father has arrived. Dinner should be fun for you," Logan said, knowing that it would not be fun. "Delilah has yet to return home. Hurry up and give the young lady what she is yearning for before-"

"Get out," Rafael touched a book on his desk.

Logan put his hands up, giving up before Rafael could throw the book at him. Rafael had a stunning woman ready to throw herself at his feet and yet, he was here spending his time looking out his window at a maid and reading letters that came from the border.

"I'm just saying," he said. Logan knew where he would be right now. "The men curse your name to the mountains and back because of the endless chances you get to be with some of the town's most sought-after women, but you turn them down. Honestly, what makes them, not your type?"

Rafael sighed, tired of the conversations about women when there were other things that needed his attention. "I am too busy to entertain a relationship right now," he answered to get it over with.

"Who said anything about entertaining a relationship?" Logan asked, dramatically looking around the room for who mentioned relationships.

"Just because you spend your days whoring around does not mean I have to engage in the same thing. Then I'll be at the doctor right beside you trying to figure out what is wrong with my body," Rafael said.

"How cruel. I will leave you alone to overwork yourself. There are plenty of maids for me to enjoy my time here with you. Goodbye," Logan lazily waved his hand as he left Rafael alone to overwork himself. "Oh hello, he's inside."

Rafael looked up at the door to see who Logan was talking to.

"Good night," Delilah entered the room and knocked on the door. "Your mother sent me to tell you that you must come down for dinner," she said, closing the door behind her. "If you're busy, we can stay back a little, pretending we were having a conversation and lost track of time. I cannot remember the last time I came into your study. I didn't know you use it often."

"I don't," Rafael replied, putting away the letters from the border. "I'm ready to leave, or is there something more you wish to say to me?"

"I just wanted a moment to ask about your travels. I've been worried like everyone else. I've kept your mother company from time to time when you were away. She missed you dearly. I missed you," Delilah said, slowly walking to where Rafael stood. She had to make a move before some maid or lady ended up capturing his attention. "Your mother offered me a room so I can-"

"Go home," Rafael interjected, as he knew where this was going. This was about more than her taking one of the rooms to spend the night since it had gotten late. He didn't make her stay so late to now have to spend the night at his home. "I will have someone escort you back. Your parents will be worried."

"But," Delilah's shoulders slumped from disappointment. She was hoping he would catch on to what she was trying to hint at. Delilah liked how much of a gentleman Rafael was, but now it was ruining her plans. "What would it take for me to have your heart? I have been doing all that I can to get you to open your heart to me."

"I have no-

"Time for relationships," Delilah bitterly smiled. "You haven't changed."