All eyes turned toward the sound, anticipating its origin. Before they knew it, a playful puppy burst into the room, barking excitedly.
As soon as the small dog caught sight of Anna, it dashed towards her, wagging its tail excitedly and barking with joy at the unexpected encounter.
Elis arrived at the door. Holding the fra of the door, she panted to catch her breath from her frantic attempt to seize the dog.
She had spotted the puppy running towards the small garden nearby and had rushed over to intercept it.
All the servants in the mansion were made aware that the grand duke disliked pets. The only animal he showed any favour towards was his own warhorse, Maximillian.
The princess picked up the puppy, barking at her feet. Seeing this, Elis quickly approached Anna.
"I’m sorry, but you must hand the dog, please," she pleaded. "I need to get it out of here before Mr. Foster finds out."
"Why?" asked Anna, confused.
"I was told that His Highness dislikes animals. It’s better to get rid of it before he sees it. Please don’t misunderstand . I don’t hate puppies and actually love them. But they can’t stay here," explained the maid.
Just as Elis finished speaking, Ayden quickly introduced Anna to Elis, saying, "Miss Canton, this is Lady Anna Raychard, His Highness’s wife."
"Oh, please pardon my behaviour! I didn’t know! We’ve never t!"
Elis quickly bowed in respect to the princess, realising her earlier mistake of boldly asking the princess to hand over the puppy to her. As a maid, she was told to maintain a respectful distance from the nobility unless instructed otherwise.
"So, you are Miss Elisabeth Canton. Clara just ntioned you!" Anna’s voice raised in joy as she t the other important person who contributed to bringing the knightess to the mansion.
"For your information, my lady, Miss Canton also assisted and Ayden during the surgery on Da Verns. She is currently learning how to change wound dressings and nursing her under Ayden’s guidance. Her contributions have been invaluable in Da Verns’s journey to recovery," Rafe explained, emphasising Elis’s significant role.
Anna’s smile widened as she addressed the maid directly.
"Thank you so much for your help, Miss Canton!" Anna expressed her gratitude, genuinely appreciative of Elis’s efforts. "You have such a kind heart and not to ntion a beautiful appearance too!" she complinted, her words sincere.
Elis, though taken aback by the princess’s complint, remained humble.
"Please call Elis, my lady. I am just a re maid carrying out my duties. And I must respectfully disagree. I am not a beautiful person. On the other hand, my lady possesses outstanding elegance surpassing anyone I’ve ever t," Elis responded, her voice filled with admiration.
As Anna listened to the maid’s speak, her attention naturally shifted from Elis’s maid’s attire to her overall appearance. The princess couldn’t help but notice the neatness and charm that radiated from Elis, drawing her admiration. The kind words exchanged between them were accompanied by Anna’s growing appreciation for the inner and outer beauty she saw in her.
The princess’s gaze caught on Elis, captivated by her striking blue eyes that shimred like sparkling jewels. They seed to hold a depth of wisdom and warmth that she found intriguing.
Elis’s black hair, neatly tied into a bun, added to her appearance’s elegance. The princess couldn’t help but appreciate the maid’s fair complexion, which seed to effortlessly accentuate her features. She thanked her again, delightedly.
"You’re welco, my lady. I’m so glad I could help Da Verns," Elis replied sincerely.
As the maid spoke, Anna noticed a hint of blush grace her cheeks, causing them to turn a delicate shade of red. The sight only enhanced Elis’s natural beauty and added a touch of innocence to her deanour.
She observed the maid more closely and couldn’t shake the feeling of a hint of sadness lingering in her beautiful blue eyes. It was as if Elis carried a hidden depth of emotion within her despite her composed exterior. Anna’s intuition picked up on this subtle lancholy, and it piqued her curiosity.
Another observation that caught Anna’s attention was Elis’s avoidance of direct eye contact with any n in the room. Whether it was a conscious effort or a subconscious reflex, the maid seed to make a deliberate effort to keep her gaze averted.
Anna couldn’t help but wonder about the reason behind this behaviour, as it seed to indicate a certain unease or fear around n.
However, she chose not to pry or ask Elis about it, sensing that it might be inappropriate. She respected the maid’s boundaries and understood that everyone had their own personal experiences and sensitivities.
As the conversation continued, the little dog in Anna’s hands barked again, drawing her attention. The princess’s forehead creased as she turned her gaze towards the puppy, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"Wait... Why is this puppy so familiar?" Anna questioned, her voice tinged with curiosity. She studied the puppy intently, trying to rember. Suddenly, her eyes widened with recognition.
"Rhen?"
The puppy barked in response and affectionately licked Anna’s hand. Finally paying attention to the dog, Noah stepped forward and looked closely. His face filled with surprise as he realised that the puppy in Anna’s hands was the sa one Arl used to carry in his sling bag. Rafe, too, was bewildered, not expecting it to be the sa little dog Anna had found near the camp last ti.
"It is you! Oh, you’ve grown bigger than the last ti!" Anna exclaid, her astonishnt evident.
Ayden, who had been listening attentively, couldn’t help but inquire, "Who’s Rhen?"
Anna’s gaze remained fixated on the puppy, a broad smile etched on her lips.
"Rhen is the na of the puppy that I gave to Arl," she explained, a mixture of joy and sentintality in her words.
The unexpected reunion with the puppy brought back mories of her dear friend, Arl, and the bond they shared.
"You know the puppy? How did it suddenly end up here?" asked Emily.
Elis chid in, adding, "I don’t know where it ca from. It just suddenly dashed in from the main entrance. I’ve been trying to catch him, but he ran so fast."
As the puppy continued to bark, Ayden couldn’t help but wonder about its behaviour.
"Why is it barking like that?" he asked, seeking an explanation.
Clara, drawing from her knowledge and experiences, offered a possible insight.
"Perhaps it’s trying to tell you sothing," she said. "I’ve trained eagles before, and when animals make repeated sounds, it could indicate a warning or so form of communication. Try to put it down. See how it behaves," suggested Clara.
Intrigued by the knightess’s suggestion, Anna followed her advice and gently placed the puppy on the ground. Instantly, Rhen began barking and jumping anxiously, displaying signs of restlessness.
Clara observed the puppy’s behaviour.
"I think it wants you to follow him," she concluded.
Anna, trusting the knightess’s instincts, agreed. "I think so too," she replied, recognising the possibility that the puppy was attempting to tell sothing important.
Noah, however, remained cautious.
"My lady, we can’t be certain if this is the sa dog. The resemblance may be misleading," he warned, concerned about potential false assumptions.
Anna’s conviction remained strong as she addressed the knight, asserting her belief. "But, I’m sure this is Rhen, Sir Brooks. I’m really certain," she insisted, her voice filled with determination and conviction.
"Let just take the dog and check on this matter," the knight suggested, hoping to confirm or dispel any doubts about the puppy.
As Noah approached Rhen and attempted to pick him up, the little dog growled and barked, displaying an apparent aversion towards the knight.
Noticing the change in Rhen’s behaviour, Anna remarked, "He doesn’t seem to like you. His barking tone is different from before."
Once again, Rhen approached Anna, this ti biting her skirt to get her attention. The dog’s persistence only strengthened her resolve.
"He really wants to follow. Let go and see what he wants to see," she declared, understanding that the dog held an urgent ssage or purpose.
Clara, supportive of Anna’s decision, encouraged her to go.
"Yes, you better go and see for yourself," she agreed, recognising the significance of Rhen’s actions.
However, Noah, concerned for Anna’s safety, warned her again.
"My lady, don’t go alone. We don’t know where the dog wants to take you," he advised.
Anna reassured the knight, dismissing his worries.
"Don’t be too worked up, Sir Brooks. We’re inside the mansion, not outside. This is not a dangerous place. I’m sure it’ll be safe. Just give a mont to follow him," she responded, remaining confident in the familiar surroundings.
Noah’s concern persisted, and he couldn’t bear to let Anna go alone.
"I’ll go with you!" he offered, determined to ensure her safety and accompany her.
Elis, torn between her duty as a maid and her concern for the dog’s presence, made her decision.
"I must follow as well. Mr Foster will be angry if I let the dog roam freely in the mansion," she explained, aware of the strict rules enforced by the steward and feeling responsible for the situation.
Rafe’s thought about the potential arrival of the teenager who had caused trouble in the camp lingered in his mind. Determined to prevent disruptions, he expressed his desire to join Anna, Noah, and Elis.
"Oh, I want to go too!" he exclaid.
If Arl had indeed sent Rhen, locating him and ensuring his imdiate departure was important.
Appreciating the healer’s concern and his willingness to accompany them, Anna agreed wholeheartedly.
"Then, let’s go!" she responded excitedly.
The quartet, consisting of Anna, Noah, Rafe and Elis, set off to follow Rhen, leaving Emily and Ayden behind to accompany Clara.
Soon, they would face an unforeseen event at the mansion and et unexpected guests.
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