Chương 384: Chapter 357. Hot Spring Questioning

" Haaahhhh..."" Dad, I get it, but seriously, we've been in the spring for 10 minutes already."" But... Lu... It's so comfy..." Les was enjoying the hot spring as Lucas was a bit embarrassed at his father's demeanor melting away. The eyes in Les's body were currently wiggling all about as they all seemed to relax like they've entered rem sleep. Les isn't the first one to relax after hitting the water here in the spring. King Leonard also acted like he was getting massaged by the heat of the water.

Les seemed to follow in King Leonard's footsteps. As for me, I'm used to hot baths and the like. Really, the novelty of the hot spring is what attracts me to using it, The tension draining out of my body is also nice. My Wives and the women of the mansion like it because of the benefits for their skin and the like. I'm just glad that Emily was able to put together this bathhouse so quickly. I asked what she wanted for a reward, but she told me that she was working something out with Sarah and Anna...

And for some reason, Ruby and Charlotte were also involved in those discussions for some reason?" Lord Matthew, can you help me out here?" Lucas called to me, but I doubt I could actually help with anything, it's not like Les and I have a relationship where I can just pull him out of the spring for something like embarrassing his son." What would you have me do exactly?"" Just... Something..."

Lucas had a look in his eyes like he just wanted his father to stop appearing so sloppy in the spring, I don't know why though, we closed the bathhouse to the public for this afternoon so we could all take a dip after lunch. At first, this was just to wash off the sweat we had from exploring the town, but now with the light sparring as well, it made the dip into the springs make even more sense." Are you sure about that?"

I ask Lucas one more time, because I know I do have a way for Les to tense up, but I don't think it's a good idea now that he was finally able to relax, but since we're the only people in the male bath, I could ask a question I've been wondering about since I agreed to take on Lucas as a Subordinate. Lucas looked back at me and nodded his head, so I shrugged my shoulders and asked the simple question that was on my mind." Les, has Lucas's reports on me answer the questions you had about me?

Or do you have anything you'd like to ask me since it's only us 3 here right now?"

"!" Lucas looked surprised at my words, I asked if he was sure, now he's slightly panicking. I really hope he wasn't this easy to read when I had him snooping around Bittersoul. Les on the other hand, did focus up and looked at Lucas with a look of disbelief." Since when?"" Since I arrived here. He's not a fool, Father. Isn't this town proof of that?" Les looked like someone whose hands were caught in the cookie jar, but I wasn't really upset with him.

I suppose I should explain since I'm just sitting with a neutral expression on my face right not." I should also say, I'm not particularly angry about being spied on by you, I understand why you would want to make sure about me. I just want to clear the air now, Lucas has been here for a little longer than a year, I'm sure he's informed you about how I treat Anna in relation to Sarah as both of My Wives. Is there anything that dissatisfied you that you read about?"

I asked a clearer question to Les, he seemed to feel some kind of weird pressure bearing down on him. I could see why, I told Lucas just to do as normal, I guess to him, that meant not reporting to Les that I knew he was spying on me. Since I had nothing to hide and I loved Anna just as much as Sarah, I didn't really see a point in acting any different around Lucas to "prove" anything." How did you know?" Les had a question for me it seemed. I decided to just answer honestly."

Lucas showed up and said he was a spy, he then answered honestly when I asked if he was going to be observing me." Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Les looked back at his son." He loves Anna, Father. And in the year I've been here, he's never shown otherwise, every time I ask Anna about him, she still acts like a kid experiencing her first crush.

Just like I said in my reports, I don't even think it's worth writing out since it's all the same, the only complaint honestly is that he spoils them both too much."" Even with that, how do you expect to be taken seriously as a Spy if you can't even hide it from a target like him?"" I spoil them?"

"?"

"?" Lucas and Les both looked back at me as I repeated the only thing that really drew my attention." See!? How are you still unsure?" Lucas pointed to me like I just proved his point, but I still didn't understand what he was trying to say. My confusion was easy to see, so Lucas explained it to me." Matthew... Actually, since no one is here... John. You've literally taken all of the responsibility and work that comes from the Governing of this town from Sarah and Anna, right?"" But they aren't supposed to, right?

I mean, it's all just paperwork, permits and tax forms, right? Why would they want to do any of that?"" Yes, that is your "Responsibility", but usually, the Wife... or in this case, Wives of the Fief Lord would usually be involved in charitable activities or the beautification of the city. You've handled any charity when it's come up, whether it be free food or housing for the influx of refugees until they were able to pay you back after Paradise's economy exploded during these last 6 months.

As for the beauty of the town, you've made a Committee that handles that for them with them being able to optionally attend the meetings, they do go, but you and the people at the Committee are simply following their whims. That's not to say they aren't doing anything, as I'm sure they're advising you on different things and doing other things, but yes. I do believe that you're spoiling them, quite severely."" I see..." Lucas might have a point, I mean...

Warrick didn't really tell me what part a woman should play when she's married to a Marquess or anything and since Sarah and Anna didn't say anything, I just assumed there wasn't any issues to worry about. I mean it's not like they do nothing. They are who I go to first and foremost whenever I need to make a decision.

Sure, in the cases of things like dairy products and what I saw the future of Paradise looking like, I had to slowly explain a lot of it to them, but once they all realized what I was planning, they were always on board. Add onto that, they more or less control the Servants and Personal Security of the mansion as well as training day and night to master their new abilities, they honestly make me feel like I'm not doing enough in the day." Why do you look as if that's not a big deal? Is what Lucas saying true?""

I mean, more or less?"" Why do you say it like your confused?"" Well... I don't find it to be that big of a deal? It's not like they're just sitting on the furniture in our home and doing nothing, they're usually out training a bunch and they're always more than happy to hear my ideas and offer their insights to me. I at least don't think they're wasting away or anything, so I don't really find our current lives being that big of an issue.""

Wait, but Lucas said that you spend a good amount of time with them every day? How do you do that?"" Well, a normal day is my waking up at 6 am, working through my work until the afternoon or an hour longer depending on the workload. I take lunch, then I train for a few hours with and without Sarah and Anna. Then I have dinner. And after dinner, I basically spend the entire night with Sarah and Anna until we head to bed around 9 or 10 pm."" Hmm... This is every day?""

Unless we're traveling or have something else on the itinerary, like with you guys visiting, yes."" Why are you working so much?" Les seemed confused about something, it must be from the idea that a Marquess would usually have Subordinates to delegate tasks to. That's apparently the norm of this world when it comes to Governing." To be honest, it's because I lack the people needed to fill the positions that are empty. I find it's way simpler to do it myself until I find someone to fill that space.

For instance, Anna, the Human girl, she's my Secretary, the only reason I took her on as one was because Sarah and Anna insisted on it. That and I have a Financial Advisor for my Business. I added him to the payroll quite recently."" You're quite responsible for a Human."" Well, I can't truly speak for Promethians, I'm not from there. But what I can say, is Emily has spent every day working in the trenches with me. I'd say that you'd probably just met Humans that aren't really worth their salt, Les."" Perhaps..."

Les took a moment to think before saying his next question." Are you certain that no matter what, you'll always love Anna, John?" Oh, it's something like this? I actually prepared for a question like this when I originally met Les, but then the spat between us happened." I can confidently say yes, I will always Love Anna. Everything that I've done since arriving here in Paradise is for preparing us for the future." Les was surprised by my answer." You mean all of this economic growth is for your wives?""

Yes, in a nutshell... Well, that's technically not true either. My work is balanced between making a place for Sarah and Anna to live without having to face any discrimination for Marrying me and the other half of it, is making a place for our Future Children to have a place where they can grow into proper adults."" Because they'd be half-Humans..." Les seemed to be thinking of certain things after I gave him my answer. I decided to let him be..." He's thinking that far ahead..."

Lucas looked surprised that I was thinking so far ahead into the future... Though to be honest, I plan on trying for kids in around a year anyways... If everything goes well.