Chapter 331 - Midnight Thoughts

"What has been troubling you my Sire?" Spoke a fine lady, in a delicate tone that would calm down any soul or spirit, as she gently massaged his neck.

"Just Castle stuff." King Zar answered, not panicking about this lady in a way invading his personal space because he has become quite used to it. Massages have become more common is what I'd like to specify. "Why are you up this late?"

It is past midnight now, King Zar should be in bed a couple of hours ago but he is sitting on his throne. Rather unnecessary and in other ways it shows a slight form of paralysis by thought if not physical disability. The past few months he hasn't been able to sleep well, and the reasons behind it are more than just Castle affairs. They are more than he is willing to tell.

"Because you are awake." Answered the lady directly, seeing how the King is already feeling just a little bit more relaxed thanks to her light massage. "How can I go to bed if you aren't well?"

"You don't have to be concerned Crisa, this has become the usual for me." Zar answered boldly, not wanting to hurt her in any way but at the same time not wanting to reveal his burdens to her.

"That's why I'm worried, before the battle here you never stayed past 10pm." Crisa revealed her knowledge, as if she has been monitoring the King's behaviour before it.

With a bottle of Beer on his hand spiraled down until the middle, he has become used of the midnight blurry vision and blank thoughts. But yet, he is capable enough to remain with a admirable etiquette. He isn't cursing, nor shouting and furthermore he isn't using the nice lady here to his advantage.

"Well, the battle... My father. Yes, that's the problem. My father." Zar tried to explain but at the same time he didn't want to explain, he swallowed another mouthful of Beer which in a way blurred his mind even more, his sentences are coming out equally blurry to his vision.

"Your father what?" Crisa asked, now that the King is as drunk as his idiot brother he might as well reveal his Burden to this fine lady.

"He clearly wanted me dead." Zar answered directly for once and afterwards his vision became more and more blurry until he passed out. His bottle of Beer fell on the floor, but it didn't crack.

It only spilled all around, but no big issue. Because after all Crisa is paid to clean up such a mess, she is a maid here. Fairly the youngest actually, only being 25. A nice ill.u.s.tratian lady, in other words she isn't physically unattractive either although she just breaks the normal by a hunch.

"Passed out on the throne, again..." Crisa felt a bit bad about his behaviour and recent schedule, this is no behaviour for a man whose attitude is like an opposing mountain, unbreakable. "I should get him to his bed..."

But yet again that might not be the easiest task, he is a 100 Kilogram man who barely has any fat on him. Getting him up to his bedroom might not be the easiest task alone and she doesn't want to wake up any of the maids, as for Guards they have become very scarce here after the Battle.

Grabbing him from underneath the shoulder, she started lifting him from his throne and used to her advantage the fact that he is slightly conscious, enough to walk on his own two feet just slightly instead of spreading around like a ragdoll.

One step after the other, although she has to use up all her strength. She helped him make his way up the staircase, where his bedroom wouldn't be too far after that. Helping him walk up the stairs, walking on a flat surface after would feel like a breeze.

With the last bit of her strength she rolled him on his bed, and was about to leave the room now that she secured the King's well being or best described physical comparability. As for well being, obviously a lot seems to be troubling him.

She was about to leave... but instead she felt a firm grip right above her wrist. Turning around, it is of course none other than the King. Almost unconscious, he murmured. "Stay."

If she stayed now and continued with this affair, when they wake up in the morning it will look like she used his current condition to her advantage. There isn't another way for this to play out, it is all based on status and how things roll.

"I really shouldn't..." Crisa tried to get rid of his grip but no it was locked in like a shackle, a bit concerned about her safety but mostly concerned of his mental well being she added. "I'm not your wife... It is not for me to stay.

With his consciousness fading, he finally knocked out and his grip found ease, letting go of Crisa. Feeling sympathy for the King's situation, she refused to panic and covered him with the thin blanket. Although she found it removing his armour a bit impossible and considering this rate it can go for the worse.

...

Crisa has known King Zar for a few years now, although most topics just included greets until recently. She seeked employment about 3 years ago, and was quickly accepted due to the fact that most 22 year old would be at their pique physical form, meaning they can work a lot more.

Now the topics have become deep enough for the King to share a burden or two, it is fair to say that they are just friends. She is the nice lady who asked the King to dance, in the feast after the battle of Pameres Kingdom. From there, Zar has come to consider her unique characteristics. He sees her more than just an attractive maid now.

She grabbed a rag, and wiped what bit of Beer was left on the wooden flooring, that neccesarily became the easiest part of her job this night. Afterwards she grabbed the bottle and just carried it along to the Kitchen, since it can be reused if plugged again.

"The Sire isn't well... What did mother call it?" Crisa debated with herself as she walked towards her bedroom, it is a small bedroom but she has found it appropriate to sleep here since her shifts are 12 hours long. "Mental illness or was it mental distress? Depression maybe?"

She continued to debate what it is, and furthermore she tried to think of a solution. Because if the King becomes in no condition to host this Kingdom, they can kiss this sweet life Goodbye. The maids even started getting a salary now and she over heard that all maids will get a 40 gold coin increase.

She doesn't want the ill.u.s.tratian Alliance to rule again although she doesn't really care about the Ignites enough to hate them. As for the King she sees him as an approachable figure, obviously more than worthy of his title.

As she tried to think of a solution, her other plans came in to thought and she almost forgot what she was thinking about previously. Tommorow along with three days after it is her day off. Maids only work 4 days a week, example 5 of the maids take a 4 day shift than the other 5 maids take the other 4 day shift.

It just goes on like this every week, but it is a good living. The King isn't like others who would tempt or worse, order a maid to share a bed with him although he has that type of privilege. Furthermore the maids here are mostly middle aged, so Crisa never had any problems with them. Such as she wasn't slapped by another maid who sees her as competition, a competition for the King's affection that is.

She decided that before she leaves for her days off, to visit her family and share a dinner with them and maybe help her mother with the daily duties. She will talk with King Zar, although in no way she would want to embarrass him, this problem has to be solved. The King shouldn't be wasting his intelligence with Alcohol.

...

"May we talk my King?" Crisa approached calmly, with her tone low and her intention clean but she has changed her intention a tad bit.

Remembering last night in a blur, he wasn't sure if the fact that he asked her to stay was a dream or reality. With embarrassment, his face started to become slightly red and he hoped that he didn't do anything more stupid in his drunk state. He answered, "Of course, is it important?"

"Yes... Um I'm about to go to my family, would you like to join me for breakfast there?" Debating it in the morning, she found it best not to torture the King's thoughts with the slightly embarrassing acts he did while drunk but instead she wanted to help him find some type of relief, perhaps talking more or leaving the Castle might help?

"My little brother has been dying to meet you, but every time you were on the town he was either asleep or playing somewhere else." She continued to explain, in hopes of convincing him more.

Feeling that this might not be the topic she wants to talk about but at the same time feeling that he owns her a solid here considering all the help she is trying to provide, with his face calming down he answered. "I'd love too."