Chương 363: Chapter 345. Hot Springs Dip 2

Warrick Dreadnaught's Point Of View" I understand why our Ancestors visited these places so much in the past... I wish the Shadow Forest had a place like this as well..." King Leonard slowly sank into the hot water as the tension in his body seemed to give way to the heat of the water entering his body. I could understand the feeling. I was also sinking deeply into the water. These tubs for the hot springs were big enough for even a Demon as tall as I am, to stretch my legs and relax." Dad, don't get so sloppy.

It's embarrassing."" You're only saying that because you've grown accustomed to it, Del."" Yeah, Del. How can you think it'd be abnormal to act like this? I bet you fell asleep in here the first time you entered..." The men of the Nyx Family were having a petty spat between the three of them. They were all sitting to the left of me, meanwhile...

"..." John was huddled against the wall of the tub like a Solider looking for a moment's reprieve. Perhaps my thinking about the past few days was wrong... I originally only wished for John to take a break from Governing for a few days. What exactly did the Nyx Family do to make him look so tired and defeated? Also, shouldn't his Recovery Ability be heightened by being a Paladin? Maybe the fatigue isn't from his body, but his mind? This is definitely not what I wanted for him.

I only wanted him to feel refreshed at the end of our visit here. Maybe I shouldn't have stepped in here at all? Should I have just requested for King Leonard and Queen Crystal to visit us in Blackstone? I guess it's too late to wish for something like that... I'm sure the next few days will be more relaxing for him since Aqua and I won't need any guides for walking around Paradise." He's still like that? I wonder if we should take him out of the hot springs?"

Prince Donatello spoke under his breath as he turned to see the state that John was in, I couldn't help but ask the thing that's been on my mind for a while now." What did you guys do to him? I thought he only acted as a tour guide for the Nyx Family?" Prince Donatello listened to my question and his answer was somewhat surprising to me." That's exactly what we had him do. The issue however, wasn't the guiding part of his job. I'd argue all of the stress came from when he joined us for meals."" Meals?"" Yes, meals.

You see... My Family got a little... Too spirited when it came to asking him questions. While some of them were mostly harmless, things like Mel asking what his favorite color was... The questions from my Parents however were a lot more difficult to answer for him."" What kind of questions?"" Oh, you know... It started simply enough.

"How much would a home be to purchase here?" to "how exactly do you enact these ideas of yours?" Then they morphed into other questions that required... A more delicate touch since he was answering to a King and Queen."" Don't tell me... More marriage talks?" Princes Donatello laughed at me for saying that." He wishes it was something like that! He probably has some good answers for them if that was ever to come up with them." Prince Donatello eventually calmed himself from all of his laughing.

He looked at me and with a straight face he began to continue his answer." More like "what do you enjoy about living here in Diablos?" or "how come we don't have one of you around?" I don't think it's hard to imagine how difficult answering those kinds of questions would be coming from a King and Queen that you're trying to have enjoy their time in your City. To be honest with you, my Parents didn't seem to mean it with any kind of ulterior motives about it, at least none that I'm aware of.

He just seems to bring that kind of curiosity out of them, maybe it's based on the fact that they expect him to become their Son-In-Law at some point and really want to see how he ticks? I can't say for sure." Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions." It's almost like you're working damage control for them."" I'm sure all children wear a few hats when it comes to discussing their parents."" Hats, eh? I can understand that."

Prince Donatello looked at me in surprise as I said that. I wondered why? I mean, before I was a King, I was a son as well... Hell even as a King, I still wear a few hats... And I've dusted off more since he arrived." You..."" Kings are still people, just like Princes, Prince Donatello. Being a Son, a King, a Father, a Friend... I've worn many different hats throughout my time. I've recently worn many others as well. Recently, I've felt that I've made a few mistakes wearing them."" Mistakes?"

Again, he just seemed confused... Maybe it's because I'm simply just sharing some of my personal thoughts about my current roles when it comes to speaking with John? I looked at Prince Donatello again and began to explain some of my thoughts." Don't misunderstand me, some of these "hats" are just different parts of me that I can let come to the surface when needed. I'd say the only person who sees me for being nothing more than "Warrick" would be My Wife.

Really, the issues with these "hats" of mine is when it comes to dealing with him." I looked back at John. Conversations I have always seemed to float back to him since he's arrived. All of the Nobles just continually harping on him in their petty debates trying to make me exile him. I ignore them as much as possible and then my resolve is renewed as I see and remember the faces of My Daughters because of his presence in their lives.

It really does just reiterate the feeling that all of the arguments from the Nobles are just that, petty. But from all of that, I'm still somewhat as guilty as those Nobles. I've yet to really open myself up to him. My feelings start to flow through my mouth as I think and ruminate on them... Maybe the heat took the tension from my mind instead of my body?" The hat of a King to a Noble... A Father-In-Law to a Son-In-Law.... A Boss to an Employee... Teacher to Student.... Kidnapper to Victim.

There's nuance to it, but it doesn't help the matter that Aqua and I more or less forced those restrictions on him as well as ourselves. To this day I still believe it to be the correct thing to do to protect him from others, but I no doubt forced it onto him. I've always wondered how he really feels about that, but it's one of the few things that I fear the worst for. Maybe all of this time, I really just needed to put the hats away and just be Warrick to him?

I've tried and those sentiments are still there and returned, but to pretend that he doesn't treat me differently because of his Noble Title would be a lie. When we meet, we joke a bit, but he really does keep things quite brief and business-like... I just assu-... No, I hope that it's because his work is important to him." I look back at Prince Donatello and to no surprise to me, the boy doesn't know how to answer to what I've said.

I can understand that, I doubt it's quite normal for a middle-aged father to discuss his issues with a Prince... No, I suppose I'm a King, aren't I? Regardless of my thoughts, Prince Donatello seemed to work up the courage to respond to my grumbling." For what it's worth, King Warrick... No, if you'll allow me to, Warrick." I nodded to his request." Warrick, I don't think he dislikes you, this "kidnapper" thing you said... I don't think he sees you in that light, I doubt he sees you in any negative light.

In fact, it's the opposite to that in my eyes. He talked about you and Queen Aqua while he was with us. Usually, I'd think whenever a Subject compliments his Sovereign, I believe it's mostly horseshit... If you'll excuse the expression. Mostly because when they praise a King or Queen, it's some of the most fanatical crap I've heard. He didn't do that.

Instead, he complimented you both with sincere eyes, not as some out of reach existence the way a Noble may compliment a King, but as a man speaking about a married couple that he respects greatly. As for the obvious want to have a closer more personal relationship, you'll find that hard to do."" Why would that be?" His last few words confused me." Not because you can't, but because of both of your schedules... And honestly, his stubbornness when it comes to his work here.

Unless he was forced to do something that was expected of him or when a question was asked, you could tell that he was watching his city as we walked by anywhere, you could see the wheels in his head turning, thinking of ways to improve things. As for you, do I really need to mention the time a King must put in to keep a Country from falling apart? While it's not impossible, I think that you'll most likely have to wait for a break in either of your schedules to get what you want... Or move him closer to you.""

Hmmm..." Prince Donatello's words swirled into my mind as certain memories circulated in my mind... Mostly from the time before they left for Paradise... It was fun... But he still needs to grow as a person, he can't be bound by anyone.... Maybe I'm just getting old and selfish?" Hey! Dad!" Prince Delcan yelled at King Leonard, I laid my eyes on them and saw that King Leonard had fainted from the heat of the bath... Maybe I should drag John out as well?