Chapter 237: A Father's Cunning

"Father, you can't! You don't even have your full strength back yet!" Lasinda pleaded with tears beginning to fall from her eyes. Her sadness was palpable. She definitely didn't want her father fighting her potential fiancé! 

Her father, Mernan, when he was king before he was sick, was extremely smart and cunning. He would say one thing, and then trick his opponents by doing the exact opposite. Of course, she didn't expect that he'd be shameless enough to almost instantly go back to his old ways!

He'd seemed like a meek man just a few hours ago, but now he was immediately back to his old self! He walked over to Howard and smiled before patting him on the head. The two of them smiled at each other like they both understood the others intentions.

'What is going on? Why are they both laughing?' Lasinda looked at her father's white hair and his large frame from behind, along with his massive shoulders. She hadn't felt intimidated of him in such a long time. 

He was no longer in his white gown from before and had changed into a set of regal green armor that made him once again seem like a king in command of his throne. Yet, hearing him laugh, it really did make her somewhat nervous! If he ended up kicking Howard's ass, would he even want to marry her anymore. And not only that, but when he got the Jade Stem Herb, his strength had probably increased! 

"Plesae! Please father! Please don't fight Howard." Lasinda said, jumping between them in a short green night gown. "Better yet… Why don't you fight him in the morning! He's tired from training."

"And let him sleep with my daughter? Has he proven himself yet?" Mernan said, nodded his head at Howard. He could tell that Howard was eager to test his strength as well. It was something about his eyes that seemed to be screaming he wanted a difficult battle. Well, as the leader of the Great Slavensen Nation, he was about to give him one!

"I-I don't mind fighting you," Howard said before he pushed himself to a stand. "However, I'm just wondering if I could talk to you first for a little bit. I'm actually quite worried about something. Something I noticed on the way here?"

"Oh?" Mernan said, sitting down on the bed and crossing his arms. "Well, it depends what you want to talk about. After all, I just met you and don't know if we can trust you yet."

"Father, he got you the Jade Stem Herb! What are you saying?!" Lasinda pushed her father as hard as she could in his chest but he barely budged. "He saved me from the Great Neck Men that stole all the plants that I found! How can you say that?"

"It's actually about those very men." Howard stood up and looked down at his torn clothes. He hadn't been able to pack any clothes, and his spare clothing he normally kept in his Ki Jar. However, without the Ki Jar, it only be a matter of time before his clothes would fall off from all the wear and tear! "Anyways, before we talk about it, do you mind if I get some new clothes? I'm a few days away from them falling off my body haha!"

"Ah, we just happen to be good at making clothes. Lasinda, go get our little guest some clothes from Alenx' room. If he asks why you're visiting, tell him a savior needs something new to wear."

"Okay," Lasinda smiled, "Haha, maybe you two aren't going to fight, after all?" Lasinda smiled and walked to the exit of the room while Howard looked at her briefly and then back at her father.

It was strange seeing them together, and she couldn't help but smile. She blushed and thought about soon how Howard would be sleeping in the bed with her. Her heart started to race as she walked out of the room. 

'He's going to be my first kiss, isn't he?' Lasinda closed her eyes tightly before she left and walked down the hall. Alenx personal quarters were too close to comfort. She couldn't help but wonder if he heard the same thing. 

At the same time, she hoped he heard her father and Howard talking. After all, she'd never let that jerk marry her! Not in a million years!

"Howard, did you want her to leave the room?" Mernan said, sitting down on his daughter's bed and tapping it with his hand. "Come on. Come tell me what you noticed. If you wouldn't mind, however, after I do really want to fight you. Not because I care about you sleeping with my daughter, but becuase I need some practice and you're the strongest one around!"

"Do you know if Alenx is here?" Howard said, trying to search for him with his intent but ultimately being unsuccessful. "He's the one with the orange hair right? The one with wanted to marry Lasinda?"

"Yes," Mernan sighed before he smiled. "He's quite a good aid. He does everything that I want and has saved countless lives with his generosity. What is it you want to talk to me about? Are you worried he'll be mad if you marry my daughter?"

"Well fear not!" Mernan laughed heartily before he opened his hands wide. "There are hundreds of beautiful women I'm willing to give to him for all the good deeds he's done! He can marry one of my other daughters from my other wives! You have nothing to worry about!"

"Is that so?" Howard couldn't get over this nagging feeling.

Alenx intent had been bothering him for quite some time. It seemed very familiar to an intent he'd sensed before. And at the time he'd sensed that intent, it had been when the Great Neck Warriors were attacking Lasinda.

Of course, it was possible that it wasn't him and that he was just making a mistake. Yet… he couldn't help but wonder why Alenx would have been there and not done anything. It was either he was waiting for the Great Neck Warriors to kill her, or he was waiting for the right time to rescue her. 

However, if this was the case, then why did he wait so long? Howard couldn't help but wonder if it was because he wanted the plants to be stolen first before swooping into save Lasinda. 

"It's just… The one question I wanted to ask you before I asked you anything else about Alenx is about the Great Neck Warriors. They are from another nearby Nation right? Is there any reason they'd attack your daughter. Did she tell you that I saved her when they were attacking her?"

"No, she left that part out about when exactly you appeared. She only told me men stole her plants," Mernan looked a tiny bit shocked but then shook his head. "Truthfully the Great Neck Nation is just one of the our enemies around here. My daughter probably ventured into an area they consider their turf. They are extremely territorial. They probably attacked her when she tried to take the plants growing on their land."

"But Alenx… Can you think of any reason he'd be friendly with the people of the Great Neck Nation. Any idea?"

"What are you suggesting? That Alenx would do something to hurt Lasinda. Haha! No boy!" Mernan shook his head and stood up while he heard footsteps in the hall. "Anyways, it's time for you to get changed and meet me outside. However, I'm sure you realize it's not okay to get changed around my daughter right?"

"It's not?" Howard laughed and nodded his head. "Haha, I promise! I will only change after she turns the other way!"

"You brat! She's not allowed to be in the room with you when your clothes are off! Now damn it! Lasinda, give him a spare set of clothes so I can kick his ass already! Hurry up and get in here! His ass isn't going to kick itself!"