The Knight's Mysterious Maid-Chapter 419: A woman unlike any other (3)

"Where are your manners? You’re supposed to get up to welcome Annalise Woods. She’s the future leader of the border and our most important guest of the day," Mark said as they entered the room and there was silence.

No greetings to Annalise, Rafael, or Edgar.

Not greeting Edgar was something he understood, but they were here because of Annalise and what exactly had Rafael done to be ignored?

The king was going to be here soon so Mark thought they should get this awkwardness out of the way first. They had to talk to Annalise at some point during this meeting so why not get the introduction over with?

Mark had to bear with them talking too much the last few days and now they were silent when they were meant to talk. Had they not heard of the king getting rid of men he could not depend on?

"Saul," Mark called to the better of the three men.

Saul sighed, fixing his coat as he stood up. It was weird to be in the presence of someone from the border and that person was a woman. It was hard to grasp that this was what they were all here for. "Welcome to the court, Annalise Woods," he offered his best greetings.

It was hard to be welcoming when people he cared for had lost their lives because they were border guards fighting to take back what belonged to the king. He had never met with one of the kingdom’s enemies, but he was going to try to do his best to do what the king brought him for today.

Saul did not want to lose anyone else and though he wanted to yell at Annalise about the pain her people caused, he was thinking of the people they killed from her side.

"Thank you," Annalise gave a short response. She then looked at the two who weren’t making a move to stand up.

It was almost funny how they thought only their side had a right to be angry so they shouldn’t acknowledge her. Annalise had many things to be angry about but she came in here forgetting to have a proper conversation.

This was not a simple conversation of disagreeing or agreeing on if the sky was blue. This was a meeting about ending a war that was taking too many lives.

"I understand why they do not address me, but why not Rafael? That is what is making a tiny bit angry," Annalise said.

They could ignore her because she understood that, but the man who went around protecting the land was right beside her. She couldn’t take that they wouldn’t speak to Rafael.

"He’s a ruined man," Otto finally spoke. "A man seduced by a woman and forgot about his duty. You were sent to the border to end those bastards and returned seduced by one. Protecting her when you should have taken her to be imprisoned."

"It won’t be long before you are stripped of your title and begging to have it back. We’ve already put in the-"

"That won’t happen, Julius," Edgar said, interrupting Julius who was speaking a load of nonsense. "There is no one better than Rafael to lead the knights. Who will replace him if the king agrees to get rid of his title? Your sons? Do you think we aren’t aware of their scandals? Should I repeat them?"

"I am not one to care, but from what I have heard that you have done, you care about these rumours," Edgar added.

Otto slammed his hand down on the wooden table, angry that his family was being brought into this conversation. "That is not what we are here to speak about," he said, glaring at the young duke. Why was Edgar here when he was not part of the court?

"We are not here to speak on their relationship yet that was the first thing you attacked so why can’t I speak of your family? Like your son and all his bastards? His frequent visits to the red light districts that are not to see the women there. I’d stay quiet if I were you," Edgar said because he knew a lot about everyone in the room.

"I want them to speak. I was not able to come to Lockwood because of someone who might be in this room. I want to hear what else they have to say. I don’t care if you will not address me," Annalise said, walking toward the seat that she liked. "You will hear me today and I am sure I will say many things to upset you to have you finally speaking."

"A woman has no reason to be in court. A man from your side should have come. Someone of importance," Otto said. What could he possibly talk about with a woman about war or a truce? Where were the men from the border to speak about a truce?

Otto didn’t want to listen to a woman’s tears today when their conversation would get heated. Was that why she latched onto Rafael?

Annalise smiled as one of the rules she hated was brought up. She had been thinking as she walked into the court that there weren’t any women working there. Just these men who were full of themselves.

They didn’t think she belonged here yet they were so afraid that they wanted her checked for weapons. She was no stranger to hiding weapons to not notice something poking out of the man Edgar addressed as Julius.

Women didn’t appear as much in their eyes so why be afraid? She enjoyed how they had diligently watched which seat she was going to pick like they were going to move if she sat right in front of them.

"Where I am from there are women seated in my father’s circle. I will follow suit and pick those who deserve a seat not because they wield a penis. I am to be a leader after my father which makes me no different from your king. I should be asking why I am made to sit with you two and not just royals. But I am not so petty," Annalise said, taking a seat to face Mark.

Rafael joined Annalise in taking a seat. So far Annalise was able to handle her own against the men in the room. He wanted to speak up to protect her, but he didn’t want it to be like she needed him to help her against these men. Annalise could take care of herself and right now, he was going to let her show why she was here today.

Annalise was not a woman, men like Otto and Julius with their old views on how women should be, could not silence. Rafael looked forward to her angering them so that they could realise that they would not speak to her as they liked. That shouting would not intimidate her.

Rafael looked over to the left of Annalise where Edgar sat and as he expected, Edgar was enjoying the show.

Before Julius or Otto could respond to what Annalise said, the door opened and Hazel Castro walked in followed by Tobias.

Otto was confused by the queen’s presence since she was not needed here today. He had heard since the incident she was becoming more involved in palace matters but he didn’t think she would be here. What was the king thinking? First a woman from the barbarians and now this.

"What is with your face? Fix it," Tobias advised those on his left.

"No need to stand up when you all look so comfortable," Hazel said as she walked to the end of the table where Annalise sat. "Some of you look surprised to see me. On such an important day, I thought it was best that I be here. We are talking about ending a war."

Hazel knew the reason behind the looks she was receiving. Never before had she sat in these meetings that discussed important matters of the kingdom.

When she first entered the palace, she thought it was part of her duties to sit there, but she was wrong. Now she was changing that rule and becoming more involved. The queen should have a say in these matters and she was going to continue to let her voice be heard even when no one wanted to hear it. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

"Normally, matters of the kingdom are left to the king and the court-"

"That is changing from today. Do you really seek to argue with me today or talk about the truce, Otto? Surely you don’t wish to make our guests see that the palace is not together. I am staying here," Hazel said, taking her seat.

They would have to personally lift her to get her to leave.