The Dryad's Loyalty

Chapter 28: Loyalty

As the days went by, Hazel and Bowser spent most of their time together, outside in the sun, so that the dryad's arm could get enough light to heal properly. 
They'd take walks, play with Junior and chit chat with the Koopalings.
Hazel liked those kinds of mundane activities, they'd almost missed it after months living a hectic life at the castle, and were thankful for those calm days, where they could just lay back and relax.

Today was precisely one of those relaxing days: everyone had gotten up at different hours, but still managed to have breakfast together, after which they all went to do their own thing. Hazel wanted to go outside and have their usual morning walk with Bowser, but he seemed rather lost in thought that morning and the dryad figured he might've wanted some time alone to work through whatever was on his mind.

Their morning wouldn't be boring regardless, because as soon as Hazel had been left alone, Junior, along with the two younger Koopalings had come up to them with a book in his hand.

"Mama! We- we found an old fairytale book in the attic!" Junior shouted, causing the dryad to blush. It was... definitely going to take a bit more time before they got used to being called that.

"A-a fairytale book?" they stuttered.

"Can you read it to us?! Come on, please!" Larry begged, hopping up and down excitedly.

Hazel couldn't help but smile; Larry was almost eleven already, but it was clear he was making the most out of having a step-parent as well.

Seeing how Hazel was taking a bit too long to agree for their liking, Morton spoke up as well, holding up a tray with some snacks "MORTON EVEN GOT COOKIES"

The dryad laughed "Oh my, you- you're really serious about this!" they sighed with an even wider smile on their face "Alright, you win... let's go to the living room, I'll read you a story or two while we wait for your papa to come back"

The three young koopas happily followed Hazel to the living room, where Ludwig and Iggy were playing a heated match of chess, with the green-haired Koopaling finding the most farfetched counters to Ludwig's moves, which were quickly running his patience short.
The dryad looked at them for a moment with a smile on their lips, before sitting down onto the carpet and opening up the book, Junior, Larry and Morton quickly sitting around them with great anticipation in their eyes.

Finally, Hazel began reading... it was a tale of koopa knights, going on adventures and rescuing people, while hunting down the greatest treasure known in the Darklands, resting in the depths of the cave systems underneath a volcano.
Being a children's story, it was still rather simple, the characters all had straightforward personalities and motives, but even Hazel found themselves enjoying it, and a quick look at the three little koopas was enough to understand they were also loving it too.

However... about halfway though the book, Bowser entered the room, looking in particularly high spirits, and Junior immediately got distracted, hopping up and running towards his father, who, without missing a beat, picked him up, chuckling.

"Papa!! You're back from the walk!" Junior yelled, happily hugging his dad.

 Bowser couldn't help but grin as he walked towards the group before sitting down right next to Hazel. "Yes, I am... and what where you four up to?" 

"We were just reading a book" Hazel calmly replied.

"Yes!! A really cool book, boss!" Larry added with a toothy grin.

The koopa king hummed and nodded to himself, before placing Junior back onto the carpet "Ah uh... yes, awesome" he quickly dismissed. Needless to say, he wasn't much of a book lover.